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Potato, a component of global food security and economic stability, is cultivated extensively worldwide due to its adaptability to diverse climates and soil types. Ongoing research and technological advancements, including the use of unconventional products destined to fight the most harmful pathogens, are essential for enhancing productivity and resilience in potato farming. The current study aimed to identify the most appropriate fertilizers and phytosanitary treatments in order to attain optimal potato yields, dry matter, and starch contents, under climate-specific environments. The experiment was conducted in the northwest of Romania in 2023. The research was organized as a trifactorial experiment with the factors variety, fertilization, and phytosanitary treatment. XLSTAT (2022.2.1v.) was utilized for data processing. Mineral fertilization combined with conventional phytosanitary treatment led to the highest average yields in both potato varieties. Also, a combination of organic fertilization and treatment with 4% A. cepa extracts led to notable results, which suggests the possibility of successfully using these inputs in organic agriculture. The study shows the importance of selecting appropriate agricultural inputs to optimize potato yields, achieve specific levels of dry matter and starch content in a specific area, and promote sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Geomorphic environments play a crucial role in influencing the preservation and characteristics of tsunami deposits. This paper introduces a global database of tsunami deposits, encompassing information on deposit locations, thematic data such as geomorphic environments and proxies and bibliographic details. Additionally, the database features maps incorporating environmental parameters and the precise locations of tsunami deposits. The primary utility of this database lies in assessing progress and identifying gaps in knowledge. It also involves analysing the relationship between environmental parameters and interpreting areas with varying probabilities of tsunami deposit preservation. The files are readily compatible with GIS software and can seamlessly integrate into spatial databases associated with tsunamis or other hazards. This contributes significantly to disaster risk management, enhancing preparedness and response efforts by providing a comprehensive historical dataset on tsunamis. Future applications of the database include the incorporation of modern deposits, boulders and new data from paleotsunami and historical studies. By enhancing data with thematic information, such as dating techniques and creating timelines, the database facilitates a more comprehensive understanding. The correlation between geomorphic environments and proxies aids in selecting sampling sites and identifying suitable proxies for analysis. Encouraging an open‐access approach, this database invites all interested researchers to include and modify additional information. The information compiled for this database serves multiple purposes: (1) assessing the global distribution of tsunami deposits; (2) identifying knowledge gaps in tsunami deposits; (3) guiding the selection of study areas for further research and finally; (4) enabling a meta‐analysis of the information gathered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Environmental parameters along elevational gradients affect the number of butterflies and the variety of species. However, which variables play significant roles and how they operate can be difficult to untangle. Here, we examine the relationships between observed butterfly richness (overall and subgroups) at different elevation gradients and remotely sensed environmental variables (vegetation productivity, surface temperature, landscape heterogeneity, and moisture stress) using generalized linear models. We surveyed butterflies with a fixed‐point count method in 19 elevation bands within 1600–5200 m above sea level in Manang district, trans‐Himalayan region, north‐central Nepal. The number of butterflies in each elevation band was studied and estimated, then interpolated across the lowest and highest elevation to estimate butterfly species richness. Then, the selection of models was performed on butterfly richness and elevations to test the best model support based on the lowest value of the Akaike information criterion and a multimodel averaging for other environmental variables. Altogether, 94 butterfly species, representing 20 subfamilies and six families, were recorded throughout the study periods. We obtained cubic model support for overall species richness, Papilionidae, and Hesperiidae, quadratic to Nymphalidae and Pieridae, and the linear model to Lycaenidae. In our study, vegetation productivity was found to have a significant positive impact on butterfly communities. Our study further suggests species richness of Papilionidae and Hesperiidae has a strong positive correlation with surface temperature and landscape heterogeneity and negative associations with moisture stress but other subgroups of butterfly communities including overall species richness showed insignificant relationships with these variables. This study provides significant information related to the responses of montane butterflies to environmental variables along elevational gradients from the Himalayas Nepal. However, further detailed studies on the functional behaviors of butterflies potentially offer more insights into their distribution patterns and ecological relationship in the montane environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nitrogen-cycling processes in the deep sea remain understudied. This study investigates the distribution of nitrogen-cycling microbial communities in the deep-sea surface sediments of the western South China Sea, using metagenomic sequencing and real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR techniques to analyze their composition and abundance, and the effects of 11 environmental parameters, including NH4+-N, NO3−-N, NO2−-N, PO43−-P, total nitrogen (TN), total organic carbon (TOC), C/N ratio, pH, electrical conductivity (EC), SO42−, and Cl−. The phylum- and species-level microbial community compositions show that five sites can be grouped as a major cluster, with sites S1 and S9 forming a sub-cluster, and sites S13, S19, and S26 forming the other; whereas sites S3 and S5 constitute a separate cluster. This is also evident for nitrogen-cycling functional genes, where their abundance is influenced by distinct environmental conditions, including water depths (shallower at sites S1 and S9 against deeper at sites S13, S19, and S26) and unique geological features (sites S3 and S5), whereas the vertical distribution of nitrogen-cycling gene abundance generally shows a decreasing trend against sediment depth. Redundancy analysis (RDA) exploring the correlation between the 11 environmental parameters and microbial communities revealed that the NO2−-N, C/N ratio, and TN significantly affect microbial community composition (p < 0.05). This study assesses the survival strategies of microorganisms within deep-sea surface sediments and their role in the marine nitrogen cycle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Geomorphic environments play a crucial role in influencing the preservation and characteristics of tsunami deposits. This paper introduces a global database of tsunami deposits, encompassing information on deposit locations, thematic data such as geomorphic environments and proxies and bibliographic details. Additionally, the database features maps incorporating environmental parameters and the precise locations of tsunami deposits. The primary utility of this database lies in assessing progress and identifying gaps in knowledge. It also involves analysing the relationship between environmental parameters and interpreting areas with varying probabilities of tsunami deposit preservation. The files are readily compatible with GIS software and can seamlessly integrate into spatial databases associated with tsunamis or other hazards. This contributes significantly to disaster risk management, enhancing preparedness and response efforts by providing a comprehensive historical dataset on tsunamis. Future applications of the database include the incorporation of modern deposits, boulders and new data from paleotsunami and historical studies. By enhancing data with thematic information, such as dating techniques and creating timelines, the database facilitates a more comprehensive understanding. The correlation between geomorphic environments and proxies aids in selecting sampling sites and identifying suitable proxies for analysis. Encouraging an open‐access approach, this database invites all interested researchers to include and modify additional information. The information compiled for this database serves multiple purposes: (1) assessing the global distribution of tsunami deposits; (2) identifying knowledge gaps in tsunami deposits; (3) guiding the selection of study areas for further research and finally; (4) enabling a meta‐analysis of the information gathered.

With the advancement of communication technology, many innovative applications have developed in agriculture as a result of the integration of the Internet of Things (IoT) with unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), leading to the modernization of agriculture. This study seeks to propose an effective and low-cost platform for comprehensive monitoring of environmental parameters using IoT and drones.The preparation of this paper was based on a platform that was tested in a realistic environment on a farm near the city of Al-Median in Tunisia, where the platform was built to suit the realistic environment of a farm in Baghdad, through the use of sensors above and below the ground, which meets the experimental work and standards for automated and real-time monitoring. For environmental standards, the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology model was used, which is a model based on four basic elements: 1) expected performance, 2) expected effort, 3) social impact, and 4) facilitating conditions for obtaining results. The unique integration of IoT sensors with drones has shown impressive experimental results, indicating the possibility of performing both automatic and manual actions by humans. These smart moves contribute significantly to promoting precision agriculture, leading to a significant increase in agricultural production and conservation of natural resources.

Salinity, light intensity, and oxygen concentration are key environmental factors that significantly affect biological processes and the composition and dispersion of Moina biomass. Evaluating the effectiveness of probiotic enrichment in improving population density, growth rate, and neonate production can provide valuable details on the effectiveness of probiotics in enhancing the resilience and viability of Moina micrura under suboptimal circumstances. The purpose of this research project is to assess the efficacy of two probiotics, Bacillus pocheonensis strain S2 and Lysinibacillus fusiformis strain A1, in improving the population density, growth rate, and reproductive output in M. micrura across various environmental conditions. Moina micrura were treated with each probiotic at a volume of 5 x 105 CFU/ml under different levels of salinity (0, 2, 4, and 6 ppt), light intensity (800, 1,000, 1,500, and 2,000 lux), and oxygen concentration (80, 70, 60, and 50%). The results indicated that M. micrura treated with L. fusiformis A1 at 0 ppt attained the highest population density (6 ± 0.90 Ind./ml), growth rate (0.355 ± 0.030 µ), and number of offspring production (5 ± 0.75 Ind./ml). The highest point of population density (5 ± 0.07 Ind./ml), growth rate (0.381 ± 0.002 µ) and number of offspring (7 ± 0.41 Ind./ml) of M. micrura were obtained while treated with B. pocheonensis S2 at light intensity of 1,500 lux. Similarly, the highest population density (5 ± 0.60 Ind./ml), growth rate (0.365 ± 0.190 µ), and offspring production (2 ± 0.25 Ind./ml) of M. micrura were observed during enrichment with B. pocheonensis S2 at 70% oxygen concentration. Therefore, these results suggested that the optimum conditions for enriching M. micrura with B. pocheonensis S2 are salinity of 0 ppt, 70% oxygen concentration, and a light intensity level of 1,500 lux. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study proposes to discuss the seasonal water bird diversity, habitat preference, assemblages of water bird species and their conservation problems in different agroecosystems. Field visits were done once in a week during Jan. 2021-Jan. 2023. Freshwater and saline agroecosystems are the study areas used for the water bird survey. The water bird study was conducted by direct observation method, point count method and line transect method. Observations were made using binoculars (10 × 50 Nikon) and video camera (Nikon Coolpix p1000). Based on the pilot study in 2020, we decided to concentrate on 16 species of waterbirds coming in the 3 different orders i.e., Order Pelecaniformes, Ciconiiformes and Suliformes. Compared to the different study areas, a greater abundance of water birds was recorded in the winter season, while a lesser abundance was observed in the monsoon season. The species richness was highest in saline agroecosystem and water bird congregation was more in freshwater agroecosystem. Saline agroecosystem was the most preferred habitat used for water bird species. Agroecosystems support the globally threatened water bird species such as spot billed pelican, darter, black headed ibis and painted stork. Many factors that are listed below threaten the agroecosystem and it causes the decreasing assemblages of water bird species. They are high water intake due to heavy rain, electric lines, high growth of water hyacinth, fishing nets, solid wastes and garbage deposited from toddy shops, pesticides used in fresh water rice farming, tourism, crackers, high level of fishing activities, habitat destruction, communication towers, predators and white flags were introduced by farmers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

LoRa systems are emerging as a promising technology for wireless sensor networks due to their exceptional range and low power consumption. The successful deployment of LoRa networks relies on accurate propagation models to facilitate effective network planning. Therefore, this review explores the landscape of propagation models supporting LoRa networks. Specifically, we examine empirical propagation models commonly employed in communication systems, assessing their applicability across various environments such as outdoor, indoor, and within vegetation. Our investigation underscores the prevalence of logarithmic decay in most empirical models. In addition, we survey the relationship between model parameters and environmental factors, clearing their nuanced interplay. Analyzing published measurement results, we extract the log-distance model parameters to decipher environmental influences comprehensively. Drawing insights from published measurement results for LoRa, we compare them with the model's outcomes, highlighting successes and limitations. We additionally explore the application of multi-slope models to LoRa measurements to evaluate its effectiveness in enhancing the accuracy of path loss prediction. Finally, we propose new lines for future research in propagation modelling to improve empirical models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Environmental parameters along elevational gradients affect the number of butterflies and the variety of species. However, which variables play significant roles and how they operate can be difficult to untangle. Here, we examine the relationships between observed butterfly richness (overall and subgroups) at different elevation gradients and remotely sensed environmental variables (vegetation productivity, surface temperature, landscape heterogeneity, and moisture stress) using generalized linear models. We surveyed butterflies with a fixed‐point count method in 19 elevation bands within 1600–5200 m above sea level in Manang district, trans‐Himalayan region, north‐central Nepal. The number of butterflies in each elevation band was studied and estimated, then interpolated across the lowest and highest elevation to estimate butterfly species richness. Then, the selection of models was performed on butterfly richness and elevations to test the best model support based on the lowest value of the Akaike information criterion and a multimodel averaging for other environmental variables. Altogether, 94 butterfly species, representing 20 subfamilies and six families, were recorded throughout the study periods. We obtained cubic model support for overall species richness, Papilionidae, and Hesperiidae, quadratic to Nymphalidae and Pieridae, and the linear model to Lycaenidae. In our study, vegetation productivity was found to have a significant positive impact on butterfly communities. Our study further suggests species richness of Papilionidae and Hesperiidae has a strong positive correlation with surface temperature and landscape heterogeneity and negative associations with moisture stress but other subgroups of butterfly communities including overall species richness showed insignificant relationships with these variables. This study provides significant information related to the responses of montane butterflies to environmental variables along elevational gradients from the Himalayas Nepal. However, further detailed studies on the functional behaviors of butterflies potentially offer more insights into their distribution patterns and ecological relationship in the montane environment.

Abstract The presence, abundance, and distribution of aquatic macrophytes and their growth forms in the river Krka in Slovenia were studied. The studied slow‐flowing lowland River Krka is also called a »green river« since it is overgrown with macrophytes from its source to its outflow to the river Sava. The environmental parameters of the river ecosystem were also assessed using the modified version of the RCE (Riparian, Channel, and Environmental Inventory) method. Within 24 sections reaching from 100 to 250 m, 23 taxa of macrophytes were found. Sections were distributed noncontinuously from the source to the outflow more or less equally along the river course. The invasive alien species Elodea canadensis reached the highest relative abundance, followed by Ranunculus trichophyllus, Potamogeton crispus, Myriophyllum spicatum, Ceratophyllum demersum, and Potamogeton nodosus. Potamogeton crispus was present in most of the studied sections followed by Nasturtium officinale and M. spicatum. The river offers suitable conditions for the high diversity of macrophytes regarding the type of substrate, low flow velocity, heterogeneity of habitats, and relatively high concentrations of nutrients. In comparison to the survey performed in 2003, when the river Krka was surveyed continuously from the source to the outflow, we found that seven of the submerged and natant macrophytes were not detected in 2020. Macrophytes, growing in the river Krka, indicated meso‐ to eutrophic conditions. Five species recorded in the river Krka are listed on the Red list of endangered species in Slovenia, indicating the need to conserve the river ecosystem.

Abstract The community structure and co-occurrence pattern of eukaryotic algae in Yuncheng Salt Lake were analyzed based on marker gene analysis of the 18S rRNA V4 region to understand the species composition and their synergistic adaptations to the environmental factors in different salinity waters. The results showed indicated that the overall algal composition of Yuncheng Salt Lake showed a Chlorophyta-Pyrrophyta-Bacillariophyta type structure. Chlorophyta showed an absolute advantage in all salinity waters. In addition, Cryptophyta dominated in the least saline waters; Pyrrophyta and Bacillariophyta were the dominant phyla in the waters with salinity ranging from 13.2 to 18%. Picochlorum, Nannochloris, Ulva, and Tetraselmis of Chlorophyta, Biecheleria and Oxyrrhis of Pyrrophyta, Halamphora, Psammothidium, and Navicula of Bacillariophyta, Guillardia and Rhodomonas of Cryptophyta were not observed in previous surveys of the Yuncheng Salt Lake, suggesting that the algae are undergoing a constant turnover as the water environment of the Salt Lake continues to change. The network diagram demonstrated that the algae were strongly influenced by salinity, NO3 −, and pH, changes in these environmental factors would lead to changes in the algal community structure, thus affecting the stability of the network structure.

Freshwater insects like Ephemeroptera are more comprehensive and direct indicators of the biological impacts of pollution. During the study period (2018-2020), a total of 4,374 individuals of mayflies were collected and categorized under nine families, 27 genera, and 36 species. The family Leptophlebiidae was found dominant with 13 species. In the post-monsoon season, a higher species diversity of Ephemeroptera was noticed in the river's upstream section with a Shannon-Wiener index value of H' = 1.814. ANOVA revealed a significant difference (p <0.05) except for Ephemeridae (p >0.05). Protecting rivers requires a holistic approach and collaboration among stakeholders is essential for successful implementation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper describes an integrated monitoring system designed for individualized environmental risk assessment and management in the workplace. The system incorporates monitoring devices that measure dust, noise, ultraviolet radiation, illuminance, temperature, humidity, and flammable gases. Comprising monitoring devices, a server-based web application for employers, and a mobile application for workers, the system integrates the registration of workers' health histories, such as common diseases and symptoms related to the monitored agents, and a web-based recommendation system. The recommendation system application uses classifiers to decide the risk/no risk per sensor and crosses this information with fixed rules to define recommendations. The system generates actionable alerts for companies to improve decision-making regarding professional activities and long-term safety planning by analyzing health information through fixed rules and exposure data through machine learning algorithms. As the system must handle sensitive data, data privacy is addressed in communication and data storage. The study provides test results that evaluate the performance of different machine learning models in building an effective recommendation system. Since it was not possible to find public datasets with all the sensor data needed to train artificial intelligence models, it was necessary to build a data generator for this work. By proposing an approach that focuses on individualized environmental risk assessment and management, considering workers' health histories, this work is expected to contribute to enhancing occupational safety through computational technologies in the Industry 5.0 approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Advanced sensor technology, especially those that incorporate artificial intelligence (AI), has been recognized as increasingly important in various contemporary applications, including navigation, automation, water under imaging, environmental monitoring, and robotics. Data-driven decision-making and higher efficiency have enabled more excellent infrastructure thanks to integrating AI with sensors. The agricultural sector is one such area that has seen significant promise from this technology using the Internet of Things (IoT) capabilities. This paper describes an intelligent system for monitoring and analyzing agricultural environmental conditions, including weather, soil, and crop health, that uses internet-connected sensors and equipment. This work makes two significant contributions. It first makes it possible to use sensors linked to the IoT to accurately monitor the environment remotely. Gathering and analyzing data over time may give us valuable insights into daily fluctuations and long-term patterns. The second benefit of AI integration is the remote control; it provides for essential activities like irrigation, pest management, and disease detection. The technology can optimize water usage by tracking plant development and health and adjusting watering schedules accordingly. Intelligent Control Systems (Matlab/Simulink Ver. 2022b) use a hybrid controller that combines fuzzy logic with standard PID control to get high-efficiency performance from water pumps. In addition to monitoring crops, smart cameras allow farmers to make real-time adjustments based on soil moisture and plant needs. Potentially revolutionizing contemporary agriculture, this revolutionary approach might boost production, sustainability, and efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The community structure and co-occurrence pattern of eukaryotic algae in Yuncheng Salt Lake were analyzed based on marker gene analysis of the 18S rRNA V4 region to understand the species composition and their synergistic adaptations to the environmental factors in different salinity waters. The results showed indicated that the overall algal composition of Yuncheng Salt Lake showed a Chlorophyta-Pyrrophyta-Bacillariophyta type structure. Chlorophyta showed an absolute advantage in all salinity waters. In addition, Cryptophyta dominated in the least saline waters; Pyrrophyta and Bacillariophyta were the dominant phyla in the waters with salinity ranging from 13.2 to 18%. Picochlorum, Nannochloris, Ulva, and Tetraselmis of Chlorophyta, Biecheleria and Oxyrrhis of Pyrrophyta, Halamphora, Psammothidium, and Navicula of Bacillariophyta, Guillardia and Rhodomonas of Cryptophyta were not observed in previous surveys of the Yuncheng Salt Lake, suggesting that the algae are undergoing a constant turnover as the water environment of the Salt Lake continues to change. The network diagram demonstrated that the algae were strongly influenced by salinity, NO3−, and pH, changes in these environmental factors would lead to changes in the algal community structure, thus affecting the stability of the network structure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bacterial pollution is the presence of harmful bacteria in aquatic ecosystems, which can cause health problems if ingested. These bacteria originate from a variety of sources, including human and animal waste, agricultural runoff, and untreated sewage. This study aimed to assess the levels of bioindicator bacteria and their associations with various environmental parameters in surface water samples. The samples were collected seasonally from five stations along Riva Stream between March 2018 and January 2019. Indicator bacterial levels were determined using membrane filtration. Temperature, salinity, pH, dissolved oxygen, and conductivity values of the stations were measured in situ during sampling using a multiparameter (YSI). As a result of the sampling, maximum total coliform, fecal coliform, and intestinal enterococci levels were recorded as 24 x 103 CFU/100ml, 18 x 103 CFU/100ml and 24 x 102 CFU/100 ml, respectively. During sampling, the indicator bacterial levels were above the limit at all stations. When the FC/IE ratios were analyzed, the maximum FC/IE ratio was recorded as 52.10 during the winter sampling period at the station. The detection of bioindicator bacteria levels above the standard limit throughout the sampling period (especially during the summer period) was associated with a high level of domestic waste in the region. The results showed that more frequent and detailed monitoring studies should be conducted in this region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Beverages are an important part of the diet, but their environmental impact has been scarcely assessed. The aim of this study was to assess how changes in beverage consumption over a one-year period can impact the environmental sustainability of the diet. This is a one-year longitudinal study of 55–75-year-old participants with metabolic syndrome (n = 1122) within the frame of the PREDIMED-Plus study. Food and beverage intake were assessed using a validated food frequency questionnaire and a validated beverage-specific questionnaire. The Agribalyse® 3.0.1 database was used to calculate environmental impact parameters such as greenhouse gas emission, energy, water, and land use. A sustainability beverage score was created by considering the evaluated environmental markers. A higher beverage sustainability score was obtained when decreasing the consumption of bottled water, natural and packed fruit juice, milk, and drinkable dairy, soups and broths, sorbets and jellies, soft drinks, tea without sugar, beer (with and without alcohol), and wine, as well as when increasing the consumption of tap water and coffee with milk and without sugar. Beverage consumption should be considered when assessing the environmental impact of a diet. Trial registration: ISRCTN, ISRCTN89898870. Registered 5 September 2013. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Invasive species threaten native biodiversity, potentially leading to a decline in endemic aquatic species. Thus, understanding their physiological responses and evaluating ecosystem impacts is crucial. The study investigates adaptive responses to oxidative stress in the invasive Sinanodonta woodiana in Lake Candia (northwest Italy). This approach represents a novel perspective in environmental monitoring, utilizing invasive species to gain insights into ecosystem health and potential ecological threats. The investigation delved into oxidative stress biomarkers, including superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione S-transferase, glyoxalase I, glyoxalase II, and lactate dehydrogenase, in mussel tissues (gills and digestive gland). Concurrently, environmental factors such as temperature, dissolved oxygen, pH, and conductivity were measured at four stations in Lake Candia during the summer. Environmental factors exhibited homogeneity across selected stations, with positive correlations observed only for temperature and conductivity with catalase and glyoxalase I. A distinct pattern of oxidative stress response was consistently observed in both mussel tissues throughout the sampling period across all monitoring stations, with more pronounced alterations observed in one specific station. This observation aligns with IBRv2 scores, indicating the station's highest impact. Gills exhibited a transient and severe oxidative stress response, while heightened antioxidant defenses in digestive glands suggested the adaptive ability of Chinese pond mussels to environmental disturbances. Proactive inclusion of invasive species in biomonitoring programs reduces reliance on native populations, enhancing strategies for controlling non-native mussels in protected areas like Lake Candia.

The objective of the investigation was to explore the abundance, composition, and diversity patterns of the fish fauna along the temporal and spatial scale and study the influence of environmental parameters on the fish assemblage in the Rihand reservoir, a large sub-tropical Indian reservoir in India. On the temporal scale, the highest abundance was recorded in the summer season and the lowest in the monsoon season, while on the spatial scale, the highest abundance was recorded from the riverine and the minimum from the lacustrine zone. The highest species richness and diversity were recorded from the riverine zone followed by the transitional and lacustrine zones, respectively. The analysis of the variance of fish abundance revealed insignificant differences between the riverine and the transitional zones. The trophic guild analysis indicated the dominance of carnivores. The output of canonical correspondence analysis depicted the significant influence of the physico-chemical traits on the abundance of fish species. The transparency and specific conductivity were found to be the most critical factors affecting fish assemblages in the Rihand reservoir. This study generated important baseline ecological information that would be useful for the monitoring, conservation, and management of the reservoir ecosystem. HIGHLIGHTS This study quantified the abundance and diversity patterns of the fish fauna in the Rihand reservoir.; The species richness and diversity are arranged in GIS.; The trophic guild analysis indicated the dominance of carnivores.; This study suggested the inclusion of the riverine and transitional zones in management and conservation strategies.; The new information on fisheries and ecological complexity would be useful for sustainable management.;

The structure of plant communities and their response to temperature variations are an essential basis for evaluating the ecological structure and function of tea plantations. However, field surveys and quantitative evaluation of plant communities and ecotea plantations remain challenging. In this study, a novel strategy was proposed for rapid surveillance of plant community structure and its response to changes in weather conditions in tea plantations. This strategy aims to construct the normalized tea plantation ecological index (NTEI) by synergizing environmental parameters with multisource remote sensing data; establish the fitting and inversion model of NTEI by cascading the Fourier function with the convolutional neural networks gate recurrent unit (CNN-GRU) network; and evaluate the variability of the plant community in tea plantations by analyzing the variation characteristics of the NTEI and the measured temperature. The study revealed the following: First, the NTEI can objectively characterize the plant communities of tea plantations, and its variation characteristics were consistent with the changes in vegetation phenology and temperature; second, the Fourier function has the potential to quantify NTEI, and it is fitting R2 for the NTEI of nine plant communities ranged from 0.840 to 0.921; third, the CNN-GRU has the most advantage in establishing the prediction model of NTEI, and its prediction accuracy was Rp2 = 0.955 and RMSEP = 0.314; and fourth, the plant communities with high species richness increased regional ecological stability, had a strong buffering capacity against temperature changes, and had less variability in NTEI. The results provide significant guidance for building plant community structures and improving the ecological benefits of tea plantations.

Abstract We investigated the spatio-temporal dynamics of phytoplankton composition, chlorophyll-a as a proxy for algal biomass, and abundance in relation to environmental parameters in four Ethiopian soda lakes: Arenguade, Beseka, Chittu, and Shala. Triplicate water samples were collected from each lake from January to December 2020, four times in different seasons. Lake Chittu had the highest chlorophyll-a concentration, followed by Lake Arenguade, Beseka and Shala. Chlorophyll-a concentrations generally increased during the post rainy and dry season. The results of LR models are high for lakes Arengude, Beseka and Chittu. Lakes Shala and Beseka had the highest number of phytoplankton taxa, with both taxa composition and abundance dominated by Bacillariophyceae. Cyanoprokaryota, particularly Limnospira fusiformis, predominated in the abundance of Lakes Arenguade and Chittu. Water temperature, Secchi depth, turbidity, electrical conductivity, soluble reactive phosphorus, nitrate and silica significantly influenced the phytoplankton community structure. Long-term trend analysis revealed changes in phytoplankton biomass and lake taxonomic composition. The alteration in phytoplankton biomass and species composition of the lakes could be attributed to three factors: (1) frequent high-velocity explosions conducted for seismological studies in the past. This impact caused a dramatic increase in lake level in the case of Lake Beseka leading to a drop in nutrient concentration; (2) climate change and (3) salt content. Overall, our findings suggest that phytoplankton composition, biomass, and abundance varied according to seasonal fluctuations, emphasizing the possible effects of anthropogenic and natural causes on their community structure.

In underground mining, the real-time monitoring of environmental parameters plays a pivotal role in ensuring the safety of mining operations and personnel. This article explores the integration of Long Range (LoRa) wireless communication technology and the Internet of Things (IoT) to bolster safety measures and prevent potential accidents within underground mines. The environmental parameters in underground mines include Oxygen (O2), Carbon Dioxide (CO2), Carbon Monoxide (CO), Methane (CH4), Nitric Oxide (NO), Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2), Sulphur Dioxide (SO2), Hydrogen Sulfide (H2S), Ethylene Oxide (EO), Temperature and Humidity. Currently, underground mines in India use portable multi-gas detector devices to measure environmental parameters. HPD13A LoRa 868 MHz based Real Time Environmental Parameters Monitoring System (RTEPMS) is designed and developed to facilitate real-time data collection in underground mines. In addition, the developed RTEPMS system is tested and evaluated at the open surface level and in one of the underground mines in India. The experimental results represent successful LoRa-based wireless communication established in an underground mine with data acquisition and real-time processing. Major parameters exceeding threshold limits in the underground mine environment include O2, CO, CO2, NO2, and EO. The data correlation between LoRa-based RTEPMS and multi-gas detector devices is 69.47% for CO2 and 72.38% for CO, while the values for CH4 and H2S are nearly zero, indicating their presence in underground mines is almost negligible. The RTEPMS is an affordable solution for smaller and less affluent underground mines. It alerts mine workers if environmental parameters exceed threshold limits during emergencies.

Seagrasses demonstrate complex ecological functions, and their morphological and physiological indicators are affected by various environmental factors. In this study, we conducted six sampling surveys of a Thalassia hemprichii seagrass bed in Xincun Bay, Lingshui, Hainan in 2019. The morphological and physiological characteristics of seagrasses in January, March, May, July, September, and November of a single year were studied, and the effects of various environmental factors on the morphological and physiological characteristics of T. hemprichii were analyzed. The results demonstrated markedly differences in leaf length and width, rhizome length and thickness, and root length across different months. The highest value [(15.05±6.13) cm] of leaf length occurred in May, and the lowest value [(7.19±2.55) cm] in September. The highest [(11.93±1.68) mm] and the lowest [(8.73±1.96) mm] values for leaf width were recorded in November and September, respectively. The highest value [(5.22± 1.71) mm] for rhizome diameter occurred in November, and the lowest value [(4.06±0.74) mm] in March. The C content of the underground seagrass tissues was significantly different across months, with the highest value (31.23%±0.94%) in November and the lowest value (24.90%±3.48%) in March. Seawater temperature had a significantly positive correlation with leaf width and C content of the underground tissues. Salinity was significantly positively correlated with the leaf and rhizome lengths of T. hemprichii and had a negative relationship with the C content of the underground tissues. There was a significant positive correlation between pH and leaf length, leaf width, and C and N content of the underground tissues. The ammonium level in seawater was significantly positively correlated with the N content of aboveground tissues. Nitrate level of seawater was negatively correlated with the C/N ratio of the aboveground parts. There was a significant positive correlation between the dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) in seawater and the N content of the underground parts. Sediment organic carbon had a negative relationship with leaf length and width, and rhizome growth. The results demonstrated that the growth of T. hemprichii in Xincun Bay was greatly affected by temperature, salinity, and pH. A high nutrient level in Xincun Bay may have a negative impact on T. hemprichii. In order to protect the T. hemprichii meadow, measures should be taken to limit the input of nutrients in Xincun Bay. The results of this study may provide data support and serve as a scientific basis for the restoration of declining seagrass.

Nitrogen-cycling processes in the deep sea remain understudied. This study investigates the distribution of nitrogen-cycling microbial communities in the deep-sea surface sediments of the western South China Sea, using metagenomic sequencing and real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR techniques to analyze their composition and abundance, and the effects of 11 environmental parameters, including NH4+-N, NO3−-N, NO2−-N, PO43−-P, total nitrogen (TN), total organic carbon (TOC), C/N ratio, pH, electrical conductivity (EC), SO42−, and Cl−. The phylum- and species-level microbial community compositions show that five sites can be grouped as a major cluster, with sites S1 and S9 forming a sub-cluster, and sites S13, S19, and S26 forming the other; whereas sites S3 and S5 constitute a separate cluster. This is also evident for nitrogen-cycling functional genes, where their abundance is influenced by distinct environmental conditions, including water depths (shallower at sites S1 and S9 against deeper at sites S13, S19, and S26) and unique geological features (sites S3 and S5), whereas the vertical distribution of nitrogen-cycling gene abundance generally shows a decreasing trend against sediment depth. Redundancy analysis (RDA) exploring the correlation between the 11 environmental parameters and microbial communities revealed that the NO2−-N, C/N ratio, and TN significantly affect microbial community composition (p < 0.05). This study assesses the survival strategies of microorganisms within deep-sea surface sediments and their role in the marine nitrogen cycle.

We investigated the spatio-temporal dynamics of phytoplankton composition, chlorophyll-a as a proxy for algal biomass, and abundance in relation to environmental parameters in four Ethiopian soda lakes: Arenguade, Beseka, Chittu, and Shala. Triplicate water samples were collected from each lake from January to December 2020, four times in different seasons. Lake Chittu had the highest chlorophyll-a concentration, followed by Lake Arenguade, Beseka and Shala. Chlorophyll-a concentrations generally increased during the post rainy and dry season. The results of LR models are high for lakes Arengude, Beseka and Chittu. Lakes Shala and Beseka had the highest number of phytoplankton taxa, with both taxa composition and abundance dominated by Bacillariophyceae. Cyanoprokaryota, particularly Limnospira fusiformis, predominated in the abundance of Lakes Arenguade and Chittu. Water temperature, Secchi depth, turbidity, electrical conductivity, soluble reactive phosphorus, nitrate and silica significantly influenced the phytoplankton community structure. Long-term trend analysis revealed changes in phytoplankton biomass and lake taxonomic composition. The alteration in phytoplankton biomass and species composition of the lakes could be attributed to three factors: (1) frequent high-velocity explosions conducted for seismological studies in the past. This impact caused a dramatic increase in lake level in the case of Lake Beseka leading to a drop in nutrient concentration; (2) climate change and (3) salt content. Overall, our findings suggest that phytoplankton composition, biomass, and abundance varied according to seasonal fluctuations, emphasizing the possible effects of anthropogenic and natural causes on their community structure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to assess the frequency of spicule malformations in freshwater sponges in relation to selected environmental parameters of the streams and the presence of river pollutants. A total of 50 sponge samples were collected from ten rivers in Serbia. Selected parameters of the water varied considerably at every site where sponges were found. After spicule preparation, the samples were subjected to morphological analysis by light and scanning electron microscopy, and the number of anomalies were recorded (spicules with bulbous enlargements, sharply bent, bifurcated, scissor- and cross-like, and t-shaped). The frequencies and types of malformations within the analyzed specimens varied from 1 to 100 per 1000 spicules, with an average number of 12 per 1000. The main types of anomalies were single- and double-bent spicules. The highest number of anomalies was found in a specimen of Eunapius fragilis collected at Markovac (Velika Morava River), and the lowest number was found in a specimen of Ephydatia fluviatilis from Kanjiža (Tisa River). The sites with the lowest and the highest numbers of anomalies showed statistically significant differences in concentrations of ammonia, orthophosphates, sodium, chloride, manganese, and lead. This study indicates that several pollutants potentially affect the occurrence of spicule anomalies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work describes the design and implementation of an Internet of Things architecture that focuses on monitoring temperature and humidity. The system is based on the strategic selection of technologies, including Arduino, LoRa modules, DHT11 sensors, and ESP32 microcontrollers. Python Flask was used to develop a user interface for the web application, ensuring an easy and accessible user experience. Moreover, to enhance the scalability and security of the system, it is recommended to implement modular algorithms and authentication measures. The article concludes by emphasising the advantages and effectiveness of open source technology in data acquisition, processing, and monitoring across various application scenarios. Suggestions for future improvements are provided, with particular attention to expanding data visualisation and environmental monitoring. The limitations and advantages of the system are addressed, highlighting its potential application in remote or resource-limited areas. The results obtained in this work can be scaled to the different stages of a mining project in which environmental parameters must be monitored. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the Mediterranean, one of the main reasons for discarding commercial species is when fishers catch fish smaller than the minimum conservation reference size (MCRS). In reality though, other drivers that vary by country/region have greater impact on the discarding process. A notable illustration of the coexistence of different motives is the Greek bottom trawl fishery. Present work focused on the spatial analysis of discards of three commercial species subjected to MCRS with low market price and often discarded independent of their size (i.e., Trachurus trachurus, Parapenaeus longirostris, Sardina pilchardus). To model and map the spatial distribution of species discards, hierarchical Bayesian spatial models were utilized employing discards dependence on environmental inputs. Further information was gained, by calculating the spatial overlap between the spatial distribution of species discards and their known nurseries. Results showed that S. pilchardus discards had the highest estimated values in shallower waters, whereas T. trachurus and P. longirostris discards were distributed over greater depths. Only a small portion of species nurseries and discard grounds coincided, verifying that the reasons behind discarding were market-driven. Area-specific and species-specific management is essential to reduce discards, since local market demand and fishing restrictions have an impact on the discarding process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main area of development of aquaculture in our country today is pond fish farming, which has a long history of development. Pike is a very valuable species in aquaculture, especially for pond culture in polyculture with carp or pasture aquaculture in lakes. Ukraine has significant resource potential for growing marketable pond fish in farms, as a promising form of production organization. The direction of the development of polyculture in fish farming is a promising direction that develops and is effectively implemented in fish farming every year. Polyculture is based on such main objects of aquaculture as carp and herbivorous fish, as well as additional ones – pike, catfish, zander, tench, crucian carp. Currently, special attention in the development of polyculture is directed to the cultivation of pike. Stocking with pike brings not only additional fish productivity due to the realization of growth potential, eating low-value fish species, acting as a biomeliotrator, but also stimulates the growth of the main fish species. Using a rational ecosystem of ponds with the targeted formation of its trophic links under optimal polyculture, it is possible to obtain natural fish productivity in the grazing form of fish farming from 1 to 1.6 t/ha and more. This summer's marketable pike can be and expediently grown both in relatively small and sufficiently large feeding carp ponds, provided that trash fish are distributed in them, and these ponds must also be drainable. The cultivation of the main objects of fish farming is improved thanks to the introduction of pike into polyculture. It eats low-value fish, which contributes to better growth productivity of carp and herbivorous fish. In addition, the pike itself is a valuable object of fishing, which brings the conditions of growing commercial fish in farms closer to natural ones. The highest efficiency can be achieved thanks to the exact selection of technological parameters of the entire fish farming process. Numerous factors must be taken into account here: the temperature regime of the reservoir, dissolved substances, the development of the natural fodder base, the optimal density of fish planting, the rational ratio of species in polyculture, etc. Thus, given the appropriate parameters, this technology ensures greater efficiency of the industry and creates prerequisites for increasing its competitiveness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Modernisation of marine power plants in the transport vessel fleet to satisfy the requirements of the International Maritime Organization is an urgent scientific and technical problem. Currently, the use of catalytic selective filters, dry and wet scrubber systems and exhaust gas recirculation for marine diesel engines is widely used for this purpose. An analysis of the use of ejection gas-air coolers is presented as an additional method of emission reduction. However, the use of such device does not neutralise the harmful emissions of power plant engines, but only increases the volume concentration of their exhaust gases. But this will help to increase the efficiency of dispersion of harmful emissions, by reducing the concentration of harmful emissions to values not exceeding the maximum permissible concentrations. Its efficiency depends on the load mode of the diesel engine. It is found that the initial concentration of harmful substances in combustion products due to their dilution with fresh air at 100% engine load is reduced by about 50%. The values of the reduction of the concentration and temperature of exhaust gases with the reduction of the engine load to 75% and 50% depending on the louvre angle are obtained. It is proved that ejection gas-air coolers can be an effective additional means for compliance with modern environmental parameters, especially when vessels are in special areas of the world’s oceans.

Abstract Background Most aquatic biota's reproductive biology and life cycle are essential to the sustainable management and development of coastal ecosystems and aquaculture. The bivalve Paphia textile (Gmelin 1791), also known as Paratapes textilis, has an economic value in Indo-Pacific waters, including the Red Sea and the Suez Canal lakes, the Egyptian coasts. However, P. textile suffers from extensive fishing and exploitation. Aim The present work aims to study the Paphia textile's reproductive cycle on the Egyptian coasts of the Red Sea for the first time. It helps to manage and develop the coastal ecosystems and aquaculture. Methodology Samples were collected monthly from two saline lakes in the Suez Gulf from December 2019 to November 2020. As part of the comprehensive research study, sex ratio, condition index, sexuality, histological analysis of gonads, shell size, and gonad index were used to investigate the reproductive cycle. Results The results reveal a male-biased sex ratio, possibly due to anthropogenic stressors. The Paphia textile is dioecious. No hermaphrodite cases were observed in the studied specimens. The condition index in winter and spring indicates periods dominated by mature individuals. Five reproductive maturity stages were assigned for both P. textile males and females. Due to the simultaneous development of several developmental stages monthly throughout the sampling year, warm water may be responsible for non-sequential gametogenic cycles. As measured environmental parameters correlate with maturity stages, temperature, salinity, and chlorophyll a play important role in gonad growth. The size at first sexual maturity at which 50% of the Paphia textile population reached maturity ranged from 28.60 to 31.50 mm for females, and between 31.70 and 34.10 mm for males. As the gonad index increases during the ripe stages, this index decreases during the resting, spawning, and spent phases. Conclusions The findings suggest the most suitable temperature for aquaculture spawning is between 20 °C and 30 °C in subtropical waters. Fishing should generally be prohibited at sizes less than 28.60 mm for better management and sustainability of this valuable aquatic resource on the Egyptian coasts of the Red Sea.

Random wind speed causes frequent load fluctuations in the wind turbine gearbox transmission system, resulting in complex structural deformations and gear deflections, which aggravate the risk of gear contact failure. A novel method to improve the fatigue performance of wind turbine gearbox transmission systems considering the stochastic uncertainty of environmental parameters is proposed. The mapping relationship among wind turbulence intensity-gear modification parameter-gear long-term contact fatigue damage is reconstructed by the surrogate model method based on the dynamic model of the wind turbine transmission system considering global loads. And then, a multi-stage gear modification parameter optimization function considering the probability distribution of wind speed is established and the optimizing fatigue performance is compared. The results show that the long-term gear contact fatigue damage value of the low-speed stage sun gear is more than 0.7, which is one of the weak parts of the high-reliability design of the wind turbine gearbox transmission system. The long-term gear contact fatigue damage values of optimizing gears have been reduced significantly, in which the low-speed stage sun gear has been reduced by 11.37%, so the fatigue performance has been improved significantly.

Based on datasets from Shanghai Qingpu dual-polarized radar, Wuhan Doppler weather radar, new generation weather radar network mosaic, ground encrypted automatic weather station, and ERA5 reanalysis, a comparative analysis was conducted on the severe tornado weather processes that occurred in Suzhou and Wuhan on the night of 14 May 2021 from the aspects of weather background, ground triggering mechanism, radar detection characteristics, and environmental parameters. Results are as follows. (1) Both tornadoes in Suzhou and Wuhan occurred under the forced background of southwest warm and humid airflow, with low temperature and high humidity in the lower layer being affected by low-level and ultra-low-level jet streams. However, the location of the tornado in each of the two places was different from the corresponding jet stream location. The western side of the Suzhou tornado corresponded to the exit area of the eastern jet stream, while the Wuhan tornado corresponded to the exit area of the western jet stream. (2) The Suzhou tornado was triggered by the convergence line caused by gust fronts and a weak cold pool with appropriate intensity. Nevertheless, there was a mesoscale convergence center and a weak cold pool on the ground. (3) Tornadoes in both places occurred when the isolated rightward-moving supercells were accompanied by a suddenly strengthened low-level mesocyclone. And tornadic vortex signature (TVS) appeared 2 min and 3 min before the Suzhou tornado and Wuhan tornado, respectively. (4) Different from the environmental conditions of tornadoes occurring in the United States, the Suzhou tornado appeared under the conditions of high convective available potential energy, low lifting condensation height, convective inhibition energy, and medium to weak storm-relative helicity and vertical wind shear. Wuhan tornado occurred under the conditions of weak convective available potential energy, low lifting condensation height, high convective inhibition energy, and strong storm-relative helicity and vertical wind shear. By comparison, before and during the occurrence of tornadoes in the two regions, the thermal condition of the Suzhou tornado was favorable and the dynamic conditions were standard or even unfavorable. However, for the Wuhan tornado, the thermal condition was relatively weak, while the dynamic conditions were favorable. It is indicated that both tornadoes occurred in environments with complementary thermal and dynamic conditions.

Abstract One of the most crucial factors architects should consider in building energy performance design is the energy consumption of residential buildings, particularly in megacities such as Cairo. Oxman classifies that a five-paradigmatic design model can help architects generate building forms. In this study, the authors aimed to develop a form-driven design framework based on a generative design model based on shape grammar that allows architects to generate building forms based on rules, which generate the building through variables that act as genes in the fitness function. The results indicate a significant framework that can help architects select the optimum building form that saves energy by enhancing daylight penetration and thermal and cooling loads on a building. Furthermore, after optimizing radiation and cooling load metrics, the form generated significant block and balcony arrangements, enhancing the shading in the eastern, western, and southern facades. In addition, the northern façade has been developed without block projections or balconies. Finally, the optimum window-to-wall ratio generated to balance spatial daylight autonomy (SDA) and annual sunlight exposure (ASE) lighting metrics for the north facade is 60% and for the southern, western, and eastern facades 10%.

This dataset provides detailed electricity demand forecasting metrics for the Sharjah Electricity and Water Authority (SEWA) over 2020 and 2021. Data encompasses both hourly and daily demand patterns, enriched with specific environmental parameters such as temperature, humidity, and solar irradiance. Additionally, SEWA's unique load metrics and lagged demand values, representing previous hour demand, are included.Data was procured using advanced electrical load meters and standardized weather data acquisition systems. Preliminary and advanced data processing was conducted via Excel tool. This comprehensive dataset is invaluable for stakeholders in electricity provisioning and policy-making. Its granular detail makes it a pivotal resource for modelling and forecasting electricity demand, aiding in infrastructure planning, renewable energy considerations, and demand-side management. The potential applications span across academic, policy, and industry domains, rendering it a versatile tool for future electricity demand research.

The changes in macrophyte biodiversity and cover from the soft bottoms of 87 stations spread in the entire Venice Lagoon in 2011, 2014, 2018 and 2021 have been analyzed. Results showed a strong macrophyte resilience with an increase in the spread of sensitive macroalgae and aquatic angiosperms, especially Z. noltei and R. cirrhosa, which were not affected by the increase of non-indigenous species (NIS) introduction.The simultaneous analysis of macrophyte variables and the main water and sediment parameters carried out in 2021 highlighted the key role of water transparency and salinity to regulate the vegetation, especially the presence/absence of aquatic angiosperms and sensitive macroalgae. Vice versa, high chlorophyll-a, total suspended solids, nitrogen and silicate concentrations in the water column, and high moisture, low grain-size and phosphorus concentrations in surface sediments favored the presence of opportunistic species, especially Ulva rigida, Gracilariopsis longissima, Agardhiella subulata and Solieria filiformis. The distribution of the aquatic angiosperms and the 41 most widespread macroalgae in association with the main environmental parameters allowed us to highlight their different ecological value, their possible presence/absence and abundance; indeed, their spatial and temporal changes can be excellent tools to determine and predict the ecological status of transitional water systems (TWS).These results carried out in a polyhedric basin such as the Venice Lagoon, composed by a complex of very different microhabitats, can be considered representative of most environmental conditions present in the main TWS of the Italian coastline, and spatial and temporal macrophyte changes can be excellent tools to determine and predict their ecological status evolution.

The semiarid zones of Cameroon are experiencing rapid land degradation and desertification due to climate change and human activities. Earthworms play a crucial role in soil functioning and are important indicators of soil quality. Their role as soil process regulators and soil ecosystem engineers has been widely demonstrated. Despite their influence in maintaining ecosystem functioning in tropical soils and considering the number of ecosystems present in Cameroon, few data are available on their distribution in Cameroonian soils in general and those of the northern part (semiarid zones) particularly. This study aims to assess the abundance and biomass of earthworm functional groups in different land uses (woody savannah, grass savannah, gallery forest, and open land) impacted by human activities in the Sudano-Guinean area of Cameroon. During two rainy seasons in 2015 and 2016, we compared earthworm functional group densities and biomasses between three herbaceous land cover (HLC) classes and identified soil parameters and land use history that affect their occurrence. Results showed that earthworm functional group densities differed between land use types and herbaceous land cover. In woody savannahs, HLC over 75 % and 90 % greatly promoted the occurrence of endogeic and anecic earthworms, while in grass savannahs the densities of the two functional groups were higher in HLC over 75 %. Moreover, species from the epigeic group occurred abundantly in the gallery forests and represented about 70 % of earthworm species recorded in our study. Some environmental factors such as soil texture, pH, altitude and soil organic matter affected earthworm abundance, while previous human activities such as pasture/grazing and fallow on land uses contributed to the occurrence of at least one of the earthworm functional groups. The study highlights the importance of understanding earthworm community dynamics in the area for effective land use management and soil restoration practices in the face of land degradation and climate change.

Wetlands are the most productive, economically important and hydrologically variable ecosystems. In this study, the abundance of phytoplankton and its primary productivity were evaluated in Dingapota Haor of Bangladesh. A total of 41 phytoplankton genera belong to Chlorophyceae (15), Bacillariaophyceae (14), Cyanophyceae (8) and Euglenophyceae (4) were recorded whereas Bacillariaophyceae (37.02%) was the most dominant. The highest cell density (22.71×104 cell L–1) was recorded in pre-monsoon. Diversity indices were also significantly higher in pre-monsoon. The species diversity, evenness and richness varied from 2.51–3.79, 0.57–0.90 and 4.65–7.50 respectively. Difference in phytoplankton assemblage with an overall average dissimilarity value of 52.56 % was recorded. Cyclotella (3.60%), Bacillaria (3.13%), Volvox (2.95%), Spirulina (2.92%) and Euglena (2.88%) were the five most contributory species to the seasonal variation. Gross Primary Production, Net Primary Production and Community Respiration values ranged from 0.90–2.49, 0.68–1.60 and 0.35–0.89 mgCm–3day–1 respectively. Alkalinity and Chl-a showed significant positive correlation with GPP, NPP and CR. Pre-monsoon was the most productive phase whereas the monsoon season was the least productive. The current study produced valuable baseline data that will aid in the formulation of wetland conservation and management strategies.

The latest improvements in infrared detectors enable the use of infrared thermography in many applications for outdoor temperature measurements through a low cost and easy to maintain solution. However, converting the radiative fluxes received by the infrared camera to the object of interests' apparent surface temperature is a challenging task. It requires us to consider the global radiative heat balance at the sensor level. Such a correction implies taking into account the background contributions (sky, sun, other elements on the scene), the involved transmissions (camera optics, atmosphere, participating media of the scene), etc. As a consequence, supplementary data are needed to achieve quantitative outdoor thermal monitoring. In this study, we propose a comparison of gathering those data from different observation scales: a local weather station, existing sensor networks such as Meteorological Aerodrome Report (METAR) and open source online satellite data from the European Copernicus program. Finally, the feasibility, advantages and limitations of the proposed methods are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The total precipitable water vapour (TPW) extraction algorithm using the Sentinel-3A Ocean and Land Colour Instrument (OLCI) has the potential to be improved on a regional scale. The aim of this study was to improve the TPW extraction algorithm of OLCI for the first time using environmental variables, including the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), land surface temperature (LST), and elevation from mean sea level, on a regional scale over Iran. A previously developed TPW recovery algorithm was applied to the OLCI data during cloud-free days throughout a one-year period (1 January–29 December 2020). The artificial neural network (ANN) methodology was utilized in eight models. The evaluation results revealed the effectiveness of the models varied based on the topography and climate of each station. The assessment findings demonstrated that model 2, which integrated LST, elevation, and NDVI data in the ANN framework, outperformed other models across the study area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studying correlations between phytoplankton communities and environmental factors is critical for understanding how aquatic ecosystems function. The high sensitivity of phytoplankton to changes in these factors makes it possible to control the state of the ecosystem of water bodies. Artificial lakes often demonstrate increased trophic status, inducing changes in phytoplankton structure. In this paper, we studied phytoplankton in June 2023 (hydrological spring) in two ecosystems, South Baikal and the Irkutsk Reservoir, that are connected by a water course but have different environmental parameters. The gradient of environmental parameters from the lake towards the reservoir revealed peculiarities in the distribution of some microalgae species. Microscopy and statistical analysis showed that water temperature was the most important factor affecting the structure of the communities. The warmer water of the reservoir, in contrast to the lake, demonstrated a twofold increase in species number, abundance, and biomass. Downstream from the reservoir, we observed a succession in the dominating Baikal species complex, its supplementation, and replacement with other species typical of the summer period and Baikal bays. The trophic status of the reservoir during the study may be described as oligotrophic, with local traits of mesotrophicity; its water refers to Class I and Class II and may be qualified as clean. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Background: Most aquatic biota's reproductive biology and life cycle are essential to the sustainable management and development of coastal ecosystems and aquaculture. The bivalve Paphia textile (Gmelin 1791), also known as Paratapes textilis, has an economic value in Indo-Pacific waters, including the Red Sea and the Suez Canal lakes, the Egyptian coasts. However, P. textile suffers from extensive fishing and exploitation. Aim: The present work aims to study the Paphia textile's reproductive cycle on the Egyptian coasts of the Red Sea for the first time. It helps to manage and develop the coastal ecosystems and aquaculture. Methodology: Samples were collected monthly from two saline lakes in the Suez Gulf from December 2019 to November 2020. As part of the comprehensive research study, sex ratio, condition index, sexuality, histological analysis of gonads, shell size, and gonad index were used to investigate the reproductive cycle. Results: The results reveal a male-biased sex ratio, possibly due to anthropogenic stressors. The Paphia textile is dioecious. No hermaphrodite cases were observed in the studied specimens. The condition index in winter and spring indicates periods dominated by mature individuals. Five reproductive maturity stages were assigned for both P. textile males and females. Due to the simultaneous development of several developmental stages monthly throughout the sampling year, warm water may be responsible for non-sequential gametogenic cycles. As measured environmental parameters correlate with maturity stages, temperature, salinity, and chlorophyll a play important role in gonad growth. The size at first sexual maturity at which 50% of the Paphia textile population reached maturity ranged from 28.60 to 31.50 mm for females, and between 31.70 and 34.10 mm for males. As the gonad index increases during the ripe stages, this index decreases during the resting, spawning, and spent phases. Conclusions: The findings suggest the most suitable temperature for aquaculture spawning is between 20 °C and 30 °C in subtropical waters. Fishing should generally be prohibited at sizes less than 28.60 mm for better management and sustainability of this valuable aquatic resource on the Egyptian coasts of the Red Sea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, the level of contamination of the waters of the San Juan river was evaluated. Six sampling stations were established. Sixteen environmental parameters were determined in 2019. The results were compared with international standards, Cuban Standards: NC 22:1999, NC 1021:2014 and NC 827:2017, and with the registered historical average. Data processing was carried out using the Statistica program version 8.0. These waters had a high organic matter content (COD: 15.8-62.1 mg/L; BOD5: 6.9-27 mg/L), affected by fecal contamination indicator organisms: total and fecal coliforms (>1000 MPN/100 mL). The comparison with the historical average showed that the contamination of the river has not increased, but rather has decreased in several stations. The San Juan river waters are not suitable for human consumption, supply to the population and as water for bathing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In a saline semi-isolated lagoon on Cape Zeleny (White Sea), the annual dynamics of the vertical hydrological structure and the seasonal dynamics of phytoplankton were traced. Species composition, vertical distribution, abundance, nutrition type, and biomass were analyzed. In total, 293 species and supraspecific taxa of algae and cyanobacteria were found. Most of the identified species are marine, and 38 species are freshwater. Taxonomic composition changed in the lagoon throughout the year. Dinoflagellates dominated in winter and early June; unidentified cocci and flagellates in July; diatoms, dinoflagellates, and unidentified cells in August; dinoflagellates in September; and unidentified cocci and flagellates in October–November. The abundance of algae also changed in the lagoon throughout the year. The integrated biomass in the water column varied from 0.01 g C/m2 in January to 0.78 g C/m2 in early September. According to the environmental parameters, the water column of the lagoon was subdivided into several zones with different environmental conditions and corresponding phytoplankton communities. The similarity between the communities of different horizons was 32–46% in summer and 7% in winter. The chemocline layer was the most populous. It contained a maximum of phytoplankton biomass, 1–2 orders of magnitude higher than that in the overlying horizons. Despite the connection to the sea, the phytoplankton structure in the surface water layer in the lagoon and in the sea differed significantly in composition, quantitative parameters, and seasonal dynamics. The similarity between the communities never exceeded 50%. In terms of biomass dynamics, the lagoon lagged behind the sea until mid-summer, but, starting from August, it outnumbered it, and the phytoplankton development in the lagoon lasted longer, until late autumn. According to sequential tests DistLM, the phytoplankton structure and dynamics in the lagoon and in the sea were related to the daylength, water salinity, oxygen content, and pH by 24.5%. At the same time, the PhP structure did not depend on water temperature, underwater illuminance, or depth. Oxygen content and pH were defined by PhP activity. Salinity serves as a vector of the vertical sequence of ecological niches. The day length seems to be the crucial factor of the seasonal PhP dynamics in the semi-isolated coastal stratified lakes and lagoons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wetlands are considered as the heart of natural feeding and breeding grounds of many indigenous fishes of Bangladesh. These are also the most diversified habitat in the world. However, the wetlands of Bangladesh are in danger of extinction due to various manmade and natural causes. Therefore, wetlands need special attention to conserve this unique ecosystem of Bangladesh. As a part of the conservation measures needed for wetland ecosystem, the present study was undertaken to describe the abundance and diversity status of fish in Dingapota wetland of Bangladesh and to identify the key environmental factors influencing the fish community assemblage. A total of 52 fish species were recorded from 7 orders during the study period. Cypriniformes comprises the most abundant order (47.91%) followed by Perciformes (20.71%) and Clupeformes (20.22%). Higher number of species was recorded in post-monsoon season. Fish community assemblage was significantly differentiated among the three seasons (ANOSIM, Global R = 0.803, P < 0.05), while the overall average differences in the period of three seasons was estimated as 39.92% and similarity percentage analysis (SIMPER) revealed the greater contribution of Osteobrama cotio, Esomus danricus, Nandus nandus, Gudusia chapra and Chanda nama to ascertain this dissimilarity. Multivariate analysis based on non-metric multidimensional scaling (nMDS) generated three separate groups of each seasonal samplings and cluster analysis to find out natural grouping of samples according to their abundance. Diversity indices (Shannon-Weiner diversity (H), Margalef’s richness (D) and Pielou’s evenness (e)) were found to vary significantly among the seasons. Canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) revealed the significant roles of temperature, depth, transparency, pH, dissolved oxygen and alkalinity for structuring the community assemblage of fish in Dingapota wetland. Essential baseline information generated by this study will help the respective authority to formulate sustainable conservation measures for Dingapota wetland. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Ecosistemas y Recursos Agropecuarios is the property of Universidad Juarez Autonoma de Tabasco and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

UIGreenMetric is a guide for higher education institutions to raise awareness of sustainable development, sustainable research, building a green campus, and social influence. There are six assessment categories in UI GreenMetric. One of them is energy and climate change. The assessment point in energy and climate change is the implementation of smart buildings within the campus area. There is often pollution on campus. The campus still uses groundwater for daily sanitation; workshops' waste is discharged directly into the ground without any sewage treatment process; many private vehicles are in the campus area; and 30% of campus land has been used as vehicle parking lots. It is necessary to carry out a monitoring process to determine the concentration of CO2 in the air. For this reason, further study is needed on smart features that will be built to support UI GreenMetric concepts. It is expected to help monitor water, soil, and air environmental parameters. This smart would later be monitored remotely using the Internet of Things (IoT) method. The maximum result of air temperature is 32,3°C, the maximum level of CO2 is 526,8 ppm, the minimum humidity level is 47,2%RH, and the maximum level of PAR is 589,3 µ*mol/m2*s. The noise maximum level is 84 dB, and pH water maximum is 7,01. The density of students also caused an increase in some parameters. POLMED must concentrate on environmental sustainability. Therefore, we should pay for internal recycling water treatment, reducing the use of private vehicles, and expanding green open space. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Baghdad Science Journal is the property of Republic of Iraq Ministry of Higher Education & Scientific Research (MOHESR) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)