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Anthropogenic heat emissions, which are quantified as anthropogenic heat flux (AHF), have attracted significant attention due to their pronounced impacts on urban thermal environments and local climates. However, there remains a notable gap in research regarding the distinctions in the distribution of anthropogenic heat emissions (AHEs) along urban–rural gradients. To address this gap, the present study introduces a new concept—the anthropogenic urban heat island (ArUHI)—where the AHF within urban areas is higher than that in background areas. To quantitatively describe the magnitude and spatial extent of the ArUHI effect, two metrics—namely, ArUHI intensity (ArUHII) and ArUHI footprint (ArUHIFP)—are introduced. We conducted a comprehensive study across 208 cities in China to investigate the spatiotemporal patterns of AHF variations along urban–rural gradients during the period of 2000–2016. In addition, we explored how the complex interactions between land cover and building form components affect changes in the AHF along urban–rural gradients. Additionally, we analyzed how economic zones and city sizes alter the ArUHI intensity and ArUHI footprint. The results showed that 97% (201/208) of Chinese cities exhibited a significant ArUHI effect from 2000 to 2016. The modeled ArUHI intensity value exhibited a substantial increase of nearly fivefold, increasing from 5.55 ± 0.19 W/m2 to 26.84 ± 0.99 W/m2 over time. Regarding the spatial distribution of the ArUHI footprint, the analysis revealed that, for the majority of cities (86% or 179 out of 208), the ArUHI footprint ranged from 1.5 to 5.5 times that in urban areas. City sizes and economic zones yielded significant influences on the ArUHI intensity and ArUHI footprint values. Building forms were significantly positively correlated with AHF, with R2 values higher than 0.94. This study contributes to the understanding of ArUHI effects and their driving factors in China, providing valuable insights for urban climate studies and enhancing our understanding of surface urban heat island mechanisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urban green space (UGS) is a fundamental infrastructure in modern urban settings, crucial for regulating the urban climate and improving public health. Accessibility to UGS represents a significant environmental justice issue, influencing the sustainable development of local communities. In this work, we comprehensively evaluated the temporal dynamics of UGS accessibility and the disparity in exposure for all 31 metropolitan divisions in the United States from 2013 to 2022. Our findings indicate that there have been no significant changes in both population-weighted UGS exposure and within-city inequality of UGS exposure for all racial/ethnic groups across the study period. Furthermore, a consistent racial/ethnic disparity in UGS exposure was noted throughout the study period, with the White group tending to have higher-than-average UGS accessibility, and all other racial/ethnic groups, including Asian, Black, Hispanic, Native American, and Pacific Islander, experiencing lower-than-average UGS accessibility. These findings underscore the urgency for urban planning and policy-making strategies to address these inequities, promoting healthy and sustainable urban development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the trophic and demographic dynamics of apex predators is of paramount importance for ecosystem conservation. Apex predators are usually free from predation, and thus, the main driver of population dynamics is the availability of trophic resources, which affects breeding performance. Albeit food habits have been described in many apex species, the effects of changes in the trophic niche on long‐term demographic dynamics are poorly known. We describe the long‐term (N = 25 years) changes in trophic niche breadth of a recovering golden eagle population in a Mediterranean landscape (northern Spain) and search for potential correlates with their productivity (i.e., number of fledged eaglets per controlled pair) as a proxy for their breeding performance (N = 290 pair‐years). We identified a total of 3475 prey items from 77 species; rabbits, hares, and red‐legged partridges were the most frequent prey consumed (overall 51%), followed by roe deer (10%), red‐billed chough, red foxes, and woodpigeons, all of them with >5%. Prey diversity in eagles' diet decreased during the study period. Consumption of rabbits and roe deer increased, while that of hares and partridges decreased; no significant trends were observed in the consumption of foxes, choughs, and woodpigeons. Prey diversity and red‐legged partridge consumption were negatively correlated with productivity at the territory level, while rabbits, corvids, and pigeons showed a strong positive relationship with productivity. The size of the territory showed the strongest positive relationship with productivity, while roughness was negatively correlated. Rabbits and ungulates showed negative and positive correlations with roughness, respectively, while predator consumption exhibited a negative relationship with the size of the territory. Our findings give insights into the potential trophic mechanisms driving the dynamics of recovering apex predator populations; a reduction in the trophic niche breadth toward specific groups of prey, which could be due to a higher availability and individual specificity toward these prey species, might enhance productivity at the territory level and, ultimately, influence population dynamics facilitating the recovery process. The remarkable increase in the consumption of wild ungulates, predators, and other apex consumers suggests that the current population recovery and reduced trophic niche breadth may facilitate this eagle population to exhibit its apex role and contribute to ecosystem functionality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study analysed three wetlands located in eastern Poland which have been subjected to varying levels of anthropogenic pressure, and conservation measures over the years (Bagno Bubnów, Krowie Bagno and Ostoja Poleska). They are the remnants of the primaeval wetlands, of Western Polesie. The objectives of this study were to: analyse the long-term changes in the frequency of occurrence of plant communities and rare plant and bird species from 1950 to 1970 (before protective measures were implemented) to 2000–2020 (when protection was in place); assess the changes of the climatic and edaphic habitat conditions during the half-century of transformation processes, using ecological indicators; and indicate the least and most transformed among the analysed areas. The wetlands of western Polesie constitute a sanctuary of great habitat and species diversity. The degree of deformation and the forms of protective activities significantly influenced the biodiversity of the analysed sites. The greatest changes in the occurrence of the plant communities and rare plant species during the half-century took place in Krowie Bagno, while the smallest in Bagno Bubnów. In all areas, the fertility of habitats increased and their humidity decreased. The downward trend is most pronounced in the declining bird populations observed across the studied areas. Strong anthropopressure (drainage) and late protection (Krowie Bagno) contributed to lower biodiversity. Our results confirm that low anthropogenic pressure and early protective measures mean an increase in the diversity of plant species and communities. Preserving the biodiversity of these naturally priceless areas is the priority. The results show that the necessary condition is to stop water loss from these areas. The observed trends in plant communities and rare plant species indicate a high threat to the least transformed wetlands.

Knowing the impacts of global climate change on the habitat suitability distribution of Limassolla leafhoppers contributes to understanding the feedback of organisms on climate change from a macroecological perspective, and provides important scientific basis for protecting the ecological environment and biodiversity. However, there is limited knowledge on this aspect. Thus, our study aimed to address this gap by analyzing Asian habitat suitability and centroid shifts of Limassolla based on 19 bioclimatic variables and occurrence records. Selecting five ecological niche models with the outstanding predictive performance (Maxlike, generalized linear model, generalized additive model, random forest, and maximum entropy) along with their ensemble model from 12 models, the current habitat suitability of Limassolla and its future habitat suitability under two Shared Socio‐economic Pathways (SSP1‐2.6 and SSP5‐8.5) in the 2050s and 2090s were predicted. The results showed that the prediction results of the five models are generally consistent. Based on ensemble model, 11 potential biodiversity hotspots with high suitability were identified. With climate change, the suitable range of Limassolla will experience both expansion and contraction. In SSP5‐8.52050s, the expansion area is 118.56 × 104 km2, while the contraction area is 25.40 × 104 km2; in SSP1‐2.62090s, the expansion area is 91.71 × 104 km2, and the contraction area is 26.54 × 104 km2. Furthermore, the distribution core of Limassolla will shift toward higher latitudes in the northeast direction, and the precipitation of warmest quarter was found to have the greatest impact on the distribution of Limassolla. Our research results supported our four hypotheses. Finally, this research suggests establishing ecological reserves in identified contraction to prevent habitat loss, enhancing the protection of biodiversity hotspots, and pursuing a sustainable development path with reduced emissions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Coral reefs as key ecosystems in Zanzibar are exposed to several anthropogenic and natural stressors. Methods: The benthic composition and coverage of coral reefs were investigated on three data sets involving ten coral reefs monitored from 1992 to 2016. Firstly, we investigated differences in the reef composition using data from seven reefs in 2015. Secondly, we analyzed communities on three distinctive reefs (2010 to 2012) to understand the importance of seasons and reef zones (slope, crest and flat) on species abundance. Finally, we investigated long-term changes (1992 to 2016) of five reefs. Results: Branching Porites and Acropora, and soft coral order Corallimorpharia, characterized sheltered reef communities. Soft corals and algal species characterized the reef communities exposed to strong hydrodynamic conditions, which also displayed greater cover of rocks and rubbles. The average dissimilarity between reefs ranged between 60% and 75%. The seasonal changes in community structure for reefs near Stone Town were mostly associated with soft coral Corallimorpharia. Indeed, the bare rock and algae distinguished the northern exposed reef from more sheltered reefs. Acropora was a key genus for the sheltered Chumbe reef, which explained between 14% and 18% of the dissimilarities among the three reefs. Hard corals covered between 40% and 70% in most years, with severe declines following El Niño events in 1998 and 2016. The dominating genus Acropora showed a strong decline from the late 1990s' with signs of recovery at remote reefs compared to reefs closer to human residence. Discussion: Our results highlight the importance of seasonality and spatial differences, reflecting differences in human impact and physical exposure and significant long-term changes in coral communities. Continued monitoring of reef health is essential to evaluate the success of ongoing management to sustain the reef services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The visual attributes of urban green spaces influence people's perceptions, preferences, and behavioural activities. While many studies have established correlations between landscape perception and visual attributes, they often focus on specific timeframes and overlook dynamic changes in the spatial form of urban green spaces. This study aims to explore the long-term changes in the visual attributes of urban green spaces. We propose a method to quantitatively analyse changes in visual attributes using point clouds to simulate visual interfaces. Using an unmanned aerial vehicle, we conducted a five-axis tilt photography survey of Qinglvyuan Park in Nanjing, China, in August 2018 and September 2023. Point cloud models were generated for the two periods, and five visual attribute indicators, openness (OP), depth variance (DV), green view ratio (GVR), sky view ratio (SVR), and skyline complexity (SC), were analysed for long-term changes. The results indicate that OP, DV, and SVR decreased after five years, while GVR increased. The maximum increase in GVR was 26.6%, and the maximum decrease in OP was 12.8%. There is a positive correlation between GVR and its change (d_GVR). Conversely, there are negative correlations between SC and its change (d_SC), as well as between SVR and d_GVR. Tree growth emerged as a primary factor influencing changes in the visual attributes of urban green spaces. This study highlights the importance of adopting a long-term and dynamic perspective in visual landscape studies, as well as in landscape design and maintenance practices. Future research on predicting long-term changes in the visual attributes of urban green spaces should focus on understanding the relationships between tree properties and environmental conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The long-term dynamics of production of the glacial relict amphipod Monoporeia affinis was examined in a small subarctic lake. The aims of this study were: (1) to compare the production of amphipods with their biomass; (2) to relate the changes in amphipod population with environmental variables. I hypothesized secondary production could provide better insight into M. affinis population dynamics, than abundance and biomass alone. Production (increment-summation method) and its standard error were estimated based on benthic samples taken at a sublittoral site from June 2002 to May 2019 (as a rule, 4–5 times a year). Production and biomass were highly correlated with each other. The annual P/B ratio varied twofold. However, the majority of estimates did not differ significantly from the mean P/B value for the study period. Effects of environmental variables (water temperature and chlorophyll-a concentration) were pronounced for offspring and juvenile amphipods only. The older amphipods showed no significant correlation with any environmental variables. Despite the initial prediction, no reliable evidence was found that production revealed greater insight into population dynamics of M. affinis. This long-term study confirms that benthic production is mainly a function of biomass. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The spring snow cover (SC) over the western Tibetan Plateau (TP) (TPSC) (W_TPSC) and eastern TPSC (E_TPSC) have displayed remarkable decreasing and increasing trends, respectively, during 1985–2020. The current work investigates the possible mechanisms accounting for these distinct TPSC changes. Our results indicate that the decrease in W_TPSC is primarily attributed to rising temperatures, while the increase in E_TPSC is closely linked to enhanced precipitation. Local circulation analysis shows that the essential system responsible for the TPSC changes is a significant anticyclonic system centered over the northwestern TP. The anomalous descending motion and adiabatic heating linked to this anticyclone leads to warmer temperatures and consequent snowmelt over the western TP. Conversely, anomalous easterly winds along the southern flank of this anticyclone serve to transport additional moisture from the North Pacific, leading to an increase in snowfall over the eastern TP. Further analysis reveals that the anomalous anticyclone is associated with an atmospheric wave pattern that originates from upstream regions. Springtime warming of the subtropical North Atlantic (NA) sea surface temperature (SST) induces an atmospheric pattern resembling a wave train that travels eastward across the Eurasian continent before reaching the TP. Furthermore, the decline in winter sea ice (SIC) over the Barents Sea exerts a persistent warming influence on the atmosphere, inducing an anomalous atmospheric circulation that propagates southeastward and strengthens the northwest TP anticyclone in spring. Additionally, an enhancement of subtropical stationary waves has resulted in significant increases in easterly moisture fluxes over the coastal areas of East Asia, which further promotes more snowfall over eastern TP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Although knowledge of the barriers and motivators to physical activity participation among nurses is increasing, the factors influencing motivation methods’ effectiveness are not completely defined. This study aimed to identify the methods that support increasing the level of daily physical activity and the factors that influence the effectiveness of motivation methods among nurses. Methods This study was based on an intervention study protocol. All registered nurses in clinical settings were invited to participate in the study. The study involved 71 professionally active nurses. A self-reported questionnaire was used to collect sociodemographic and employment data. The level of physical activity was assessed using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire, and the daily number of steps was assessed using a pedometer. Body composition was measured using a bioimpedance method, and the 5-year risk of cardiovascular events was assessed using the Harvard Score. The intervention included self-monitoring daily steps using a pedometer and completing a diary daily for one month. Additionally, a few-minute speech was sent to each participant via email on the intervention’s 7th, 14th, and 21st days. Results The analysis revealed a higher value of physical activity recorded in the follow-up compared to the initial and final measurement in the Recreation domain [Met] (p

This study comprehensively analyzed the dynamic landscape of organic farming in the European Union (EU) from 2004 to 2021, investigating the shifts in dedicated agricultural areas influenced by evolving preferences and the priorities of farmers and consumers. Examining the impact of socio-economic factors, including gross domestic product (GDP) per capita, the human development index (HDI), and human population density, this study established multivariate relationships through country-level analyses based on correlations, principal component analysis, cluster analysis, and panel analysis. Despite a universal increase in the organic agriculture areas across all the EU countries during the study period, the production levels exhibited negative correlations with the human population density, GDP per capita, and HDI. Notably, the Baltic countries and Austria led in organic farming production, while Malta, the Netherlands, Belgium, Ireland, and Luxemburg formed a distinct group in the cluster analysis with less intensive organic agriculture per capita. These insights are crucial for supporting the resilience and sustainability of organic farming as it continues to evolve. Predictions of organic agriculture share for 2030 based on trends evaluated using linear regression in the years 2004–2021 estimated about 12% of utilized agricultural area, which was much lower than the target share of the European Commission at 25%. Predictions based on linear regression showed that achieving the European Green Deal target of a 25% share of organic agriculture in unlikely in most EU countries by 2030. The target is only highly probable to be obtained in Austria, Estonia, and Sweden. The EU countries varied significantly across various indices characterizing organic agriculture, including organic agriculture area share. It should be noted that the study was conducted on the data obtained prior to the outbreak of the war in Ukraine, which could potentially alter the previous trends in the development of organic agriculture in the EU. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Knowing the impacts of global climate change on the habitat suitability distribution of Limassolla leafhoppers contributes to understanding the feedback of organisms on climate change from a macroecological perspective, and provides important scientific basis for protecting the ecological environment and biodiversity. However, there is limited knowledge on this aspect. Thus, our study aimed to address this gap by analyzing Asian habitat suitability and centroid shifts of Limassolla based on 19 bioclimatic variables and occurrence records. Selecting five ecological niche models with the outstanding predictive performance (Maxlike, generalized linear model, generalized additive model, random forest, and maximum entropy) along with their ensemble model from 12 models, the current habitat suitability of Limassolla and its future habitat suitability under two Shared Socio‐economic Pathways (SSP1‐2.6 and SSP5‐8.5) in the 2050s and 2090s were predicted. The results showed that the prediction results of the five models are generally consistent. Based on ensemble model, 11 potential biodiversity hotspots with high suitability were identified. With climate change, the suitable range of Limassolla will experience both expansion and contraction. In SSP5‐8.52050s, the expansion area is 118.56 × 104 km2, while the contraction area is 25.40 × 104 km2; in SSP1‐2.62090s, the expansion area is 91.71 × 104 km2, and the contraction area is 26.54 × 104 km2. Furthermore, the distribution core of Limassolla will shift toward higher latitudes in the northeast direction, and the precipitation of warmest quarter was found to have the greatest impact on the distribution of Limassolla. Our research results supported our four hypotheses. Finally, this research suggests establishing ecological reserves in identified contraction to prevent habitat loss, enhancing the protection of biodiversity hotspots, and pursuing a sustainable development path with reduced emissions.

IntroductionCoral reefs as key ecosystems in Zanzibar are exposed to several anthropogenic and natural stressors.MethodsThe benthic composition and coverage of coral reefs were investigated on three data sets involving ten coral reefs monitored from 1992 to 2016. Firstly, we investigated differences in the reef composition using data from seven reefs in 2015. Secondly, we analyzed communities on three distinctive reefs (2010 to 2012) to understand the importance of seasons and reef zones (slope, crest and flat) on species abundance. Finally, we investigated long-term changes (1992 to 2016) of five reefs.ResultsBranching Porites and Acropora, and soft coral order Corallimorpharia, characterized sheltered reef communities. Soft corals and algal species characterized the reef communities exposed to strong hydrodynamic conditions, which also displayed greater cover of rocks and rubbles. The average dissimilarity between reefs ranged between 60% and 75%. The seasonal changes in community structure for reefs near Stone Town were mostly associated with soft coral Corallimorpharia. Indeed, the bare rock and algae distinguished the northern exposed reef from more sheltered reefs. Acropora was a key genus for the sheltered Chumbe reef, which explained between 14% and 18% of the dissimilarities among the three reefs. Hard corals covered between 40% and 70% in most years, with severe declines following El Niño events in 1998 and 2016. The dominating genus Acropora showed a strong decline from the late 1990s’ with signs of recovery at remote reefs compared to reefs closer to human residence.DiscussionOur results highlight the importance of seasonality and spatial differences, reflecting differences in human impact and physical exposure and significant long-term changes in coral communities. Continued monitoring of reef health is essential to evaluate the success of ongoing management to sustain the reef services.

Formulation of the problem. Studies and data on modern changes in the winter minimum average monthly flow of the rivers of the Lake Sevan basin and their climatic characteristics have acquired great practical importance and considerable interest due to the increased use of water resources for the purposes of various types of economic activities, in particular, in connection with the development of the economy, hydropower, irrigation, population growth and rising living standards. Especially relevant are the calculations of the minimum flow in relation to solving the problems of water supply for settlements, industrial enterprises. The aim of the work. Assessment of modern changes in the winter minimum average monthly runoff of rivers in the Lake Sevan basin and their climatic characteristics. Methods. The following methods were used in the work: mathematical-statistical, extrapolation, interpolation, spatial analysis, analogy, correlation and cartography. Results. A physical map has been compiled with a network of meteorological stations and hydrological posts in the Lake Sevan basin. Close correlations were obtained between the values of the winter minimum average monthly runoff and the average runoff of the winter period for a hydrological year. These dependences can be used for preliminary estimates of the minimum runoff of the winter low-water period of unstudied rivers in the territory under consideration. In the course of the research, the winter minimum average monthly discharges were calculated by months and for the entire observation period, the average value of the minimum runoff for the winter low water, and the linear trend of the climatic characteristic. Based on the obtained results, a map of the distribution of the modul of the average minimum runoff of the winter low-water period and the coefficients of the linear trend of the winter air temperature were constructed. Examples of curves of long-term changes in precipitation amounts for the autumn and winter periods, the sum of positive temperatures and the number of days with a positive average daily air temperature in the winter period for a series of meteorological stations in the study area are presented. The rivers of the Lake Sevan basin are characterized by an uneven spatio-temporal distribution of winter minimum runoff and climatic characteristics, changes in the winter average monthly minimum runoff, precipitation amounts for the autumn and winter periods are multidirectional, and air temperature changes are only an upward trend. In the area under consideration, there is mainly (by 8 out of 12 stations under study) a tendency to decrease in the values of the minimum average monthly river flow. The conducted studies lead us to the conclusion that the main factor causing changes in the low-water runoff of the rivers in the Lake Sevan basin in winter is the air temperature, or rather, its increase. It follows from this that when calculating and forecasting winter runoff, it is necessary to relate the values of runoff and air temperature.

Anthropogenic heat emissions, which are quantified as anthropogenic heat flux (AHF), have attracted significant attention due to their pronounced impacts on urban thermal environments and local climates. However, there remains a notable gap in research regarding the distinctions in the distribution of anthropogenic heat emissions (AHEs) along urban–rural gradients. To address this gap, the present study introduces a new concept—the anthropogenic urban heat island (ArUHI)—where the AHF within urban areas is higher than that in background areas. To quantitatively describe the magnitude and spatial extent of the ArUHI effect, two metrics—namely, ArUHI intensity (ArUHII) and ArUHI footprint (ArUHIFP)—are introduced. We conducted a comprehensive study across 208 cities in China to investigate the spatiotemporal patterns of AHF variations along urban–rural gradients during the period of 2000–2016. In addition, we explored how the complex interactions between land cover and building form components affect changes in the AHF along urban–rural gradients. Additionally, we analyzed how economic zones and city sizes alter the ArUHI intensity and ArUHI footprint. The results showed that 97% (201/208) of Chinese cities exhibited a significant ArUHI effect from 2000 to 2016. The modeled ArUHI intensity value exhibited a substantial increase of nearly fivefold, increasing from 5.55 ± 0.19 W/m2 to 26.84 ± 0.99 W/m2 over time. Regarding the spatial distribution of the ArUHI footprint, the analysis revealed that, for the majority of cities (86% or 179 out of 208), the ArUHI footprint ranged from 1.5 to 5.5 times that in urban areas. City sizes and economic zones yielded significant influences on the ArUHI intensity and ArUHI footprint values. Building forms were significantly positively correlated with AHF, with R2 values higher than 0.94. This study contributes to the understanding of ArUHI effects and their driving factors in China, providing valuable insights for urban climate studies and enhancing our understanding of surface urban heat island mechanisms.

Urban green space (UGS) is a fundamental infrastructure in modern urban settings, crucial for regulating the urban climate and improving public health. Accessibility to UGS represents a significant environmental justice issue, influencing the sustainable development of local communities. In this work, we comprehensively evaluated the temporal dynamics of UGS accessibility and the disparity in exposure for all 31 metropolitan divisions in the United States from 2013 to 2022. Our findings indicate that there have been no significant changes in both population-weighted UGS exposure and within-city inequality of UGS exposure for all racial/ethnic groups across the study period. Furthermore, a consistent racial/ethnic disparity in UGS exposure was noted throughout the study period, with the White group tending to have higher-than-average UGS accessibility, and all other racial/ethnic groups, including Asian, Black, Hispanic, Native American, and Pacific Islander, experiencing lower-than-average UGS accessibility. These findings underscore the urgency for urban planning and policy-making strategies to address these inequities, promoting healthy and sustainable urban development.

Abstract Background Stroke was reported to be highly correlated with the triglyceride glucose-body mass index (TyG-BMI). Nevertheless, literature exploring the association between changes in the TyG-BMI and stroke incidence is scant, with most studies focusing on individual values of the TyG-BMI. We aimed to investigate whether changes in the TyG-BMI were associated with stroke incidence. Methods Data were obtained from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS), which is an ongoing nationally representative prospective cohort study. The exposures were changes in the TyG-BMI and cumulative TyG-BMI from 2012 to 2015. Changes in the TyG-BMI were classified using K-means clustering analysis, and the cumulative TyG-BMI was calculated as follows: (TyG-BMI2012 + TyG-BMI2015)/2 × time (2015–2012). Logistic regressions were used to determine the association between different TyG-BMI change classes and stroke incidence. Meanwhile, restricted cubic spline regression was applied to examine the potential nonlinear association of the cumulative TyG-BMI and stroke incidence. Weighted quantile sum regression was used to provide a comprehensive explanation of the TyG-BMI by calculating the weights of FBG, triglyceride-glucose (TG), and BMI. Results Of the 4583 participants (mean [SD] age at baseline, 58.68 [9.51] years), 2026 (44.9%) were men. During the 3 years of follow-up, 277 (6.0%) incident stroke cases were identified. After adjusting for potential confounders, compared to the participants with a consistently low TyG-BMI, the OR for a moderate TyG-BMI with a slow rising trend was 1.01 (95% CI 0.65–1.57), the OR for a high TyG-BMI with a slow rising trend was 1.62 (95% CI 1.11–2.32), and the OR for the highest TyG-BMI with a slow declining trend was 1.71 (95% CI 1.01–2.89). The association between the cumulative TyG-BMI and stroke risk was nonlinear (Passociation = 0.017; Pnonlinearity = 0.012). TG emerged as the primary contributor when the weights were assigned to the constituent elements of the TyG-BMI (weight2012 = 0.466; weight2015 = 0.530). Conclusions Substantial changes in the TyG-BMI are independently associated with the risk of stroke in middle-aged and older adults. Monitoring long-term changes in the TyG-BMI may assist with the early identification of individuals at high risk of stroke.

The visual attributes of urban green spaces influence people’s perceptions, preferences, and behavioural activities. While many studies have established correlations between landscape perception and visual attributes, they often focus on specific timeframes and overlook dynamic changes in the spatial form of urban green spaces. This study aims to explore the long-term changes in the visual attributes of urban green spaces. We propose a method to quantitatively analyse changes in visual attributes using point clouds to simulate visual interfaces. Using an unmanned aerial vehicle, we conducted a five-axis tilt photography survey of Qinglvyuan Park in Nanjing, China, in August 2018 and September 2023. Point cloud models were generated for the two periods, and five visual attribute indicators, openness (OP), depth variance (DV), green view ratio (GVR), sky view ratio (SVR), and skyline complexity (SC), were analysed for long-term changes. The results indicate that OP, DV, and SVR decreased after five years, while GVR increased. The maximum increase in GVR was 26.6%, and the maximum decrease in OP was 12.8%. There is a positive correlation between GVR and its change (d_GVR). Conversely, there are negative correlations between SC and its change (d_SC), as well as between SVR and d_GVR. Tree growth emerged as a primary factor influencing changes in the visual attributes of urban green spaces. This study highlights the importance of adopting a long-term and dynamic perspective in visual landscape studies, as well as in landscape design and maintenance practices. Future research on predicting long-term changes in the visual attributes of urban green spaces should focus on understanding the relationships between tree properties and environmental conditions.

Background: Stroke was reported to be highly correlated with the triglyceride glucose-body mass index (TyG-BMI). Nevertheless, literature exploring the association between changes in the TyG-BMI and stroke incidence is scant, with most studies focusing on individual values of the TyG-BMI. We aimed to investigate whether changes in the TyG-BMI were associated with stroke incidence. Methods: Data were obtained from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS), which is an ongoing nationally representative prospective cohort study. The exposures were changes in the TyG-BMI and cumulative TyG-BMI from 2012 to 2015. Changes in the TyG-BMI were classified using K-means clustering analysis, and the cumulative TyG-BMI was calculated as follows: (TyG-BMI2012 + TyG-BMI2015)/2 × time (2015–2012). Logistic regressions were used to determine the association between different TyG-BMI change classes and stroke incidence. Meanwhile, restricted cubic spline regression was applied to examine the potential nonlinear association of the cumulative TyG-BMI and stroke incidence. Weighted quantile sum regression was used to provide a comprehensive explanation of the TyG-BMI by calculating the weights of FBG, triglyceride-glucose (TG), and BMI. Results: Of the 4583 participants (mean [SD] age at baseline, 58.68 [9.51] years), 2026 (44.9%) were men. During the 3 years of follow-up, 277 (6.0%) incident stroke cases were identified. After adjusting for potential confounders, compared to the participants with a consistently low TyG-BMI, the OR for a moderate TyG-BMI with a slow rising trend was 1.01 (95% CI 0.65–1.57), the OR for a high TyG-BMI with a slow rising trend was 1.62 (95% CI 1.11–2.32), and the OR for the highest TyG-BMI with a slow declining trend was 1.71 (95% CI 1.01–2.89). The association between the cumulative TyG-BMI and stroke risk was nonlinear (Passociation = 0.017; Pnonlinearity = 0.012). TG emerged as the primary contributor when the weights were assigned to the constituent elements of the TyG-BMI (weight2012 = 0.466; weight2015 = 0.530). Conclusions: Substantial changes in the TyG-BMI are independently associated with the risk of stroke in middle-aged and older adults. Monitoring long-term changes in the TyG-BMI may assist with the early identification of individuals at high risk of stroke. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background In chronic haemodialysis (HD) patients, the relationship between long-term peridialytic blood pressure (BP) changes and mortality has not been investigated. Methods To evaluate whether long-term changes in peridialytic BP are related to mortality and whether treatment with HD or haemodiafiltration (HDF) differs in this respect, the combined individual participant data of three randomized controlled trials comparing HD with HDF were used. Time-varying Cox regression and joint models were applied. Results During a median follow-up of 2.94 years, 609 of 2011 patients died. As for pre-dialytic systolic BP (pre-SBP), a severe decline (≥21 mmHg) in the preceding 6 months was independently related to increased mortality [hazard ratio (HR) 1.61, P  = .01] when compared with a moderate increase. Likewise, a severe decline in post-dialytic diastolic BP (DBP) was associated with increased mortality (adjusted HR 1.96, P  < .0005). In contrast, joint models showed that every 5-mmHg increase in pre-SBP and post-DBP during total follow-up was related to reduced mortality (adjusted HR 0.97, P  = .01 and 0.94, P  = .03, respectively). No interaction was observed between BP changes and treatment modality. Conclusion Severe declines in pre-SBP and post-DBP in the preceding 6 months were independently related to mortality. Therefore peridialytic BP values should be interpreted in the context of their changes and not solely as an absolute value. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As one of the major producers of extreme precipitation, mesoscale convective systems (MCSs) have received much attention. Recently, MCSs over several hotpots, including the Sahel and US Great Plains, have been found to intensify under global warming. However, relevant studies on the East Asian rainband, another MCS hotpot, are scarce. Here, by using a novel rain‐cell tracking algorithm on a high spatiotemporal resolution satellite precipitation product, we show that both the frequency and intensity of MCSs over the East Asian rainband have increased by 21.8% and 9.8% respectively over the past two decades (2000–2021). The more frequent and intense MCSs contribute nearly three quarters to the total precipitation increase. The changes in MCSs are caused by more frequent favorable large‐scale water vapor‐rich environments that are likely to increase under global warming. The increased frequency and intensity of MCSs have profound impacts on the hydroclimate of East Asia, including producing extreme events such as severe flooding. Plain Language Summary: Mesoscale convective systems (MCSs), accounting for more than half of the total rainfall in the East Asian rainband, frequently generate high‐impact extreme weather events, such as flooding. In the summer of 2020, large regions of East Asia suffered extensive flooding and damage. Therefore, understanding the long‐term changes of MCSs is crucial to gain insights into how extreme weather may change in the context of global warming. However, compared to several other MCS hotpots, the investigation of long‐term changes of MCSs is scarce over East Asia. Here, based on a high spatiotemporal resolution satellite precipitation product and a novel MCS tracking method, we find that MCSs have become more frequent and intense in the East Asian rainband and accounted for three quarters of the total rainfall increase during 2000–2021. It is further found that increases in atmospheric total column water vapor, which is mainly due to increased temperature caused by anthropogenic forcing, leads to more frequent large‐scale water vapor‐rich environments that are responsible for the intensification of MCSs. As water vapor increases with global warming, it is very likely that MCSs will continue to intensify in this region into the future. Key Points: Mesoscale convective systems (MCSs) have become more frequent and intense in the East Asian rainband over the past two decadesThe significant increase of MCS precipitation accounted for three quarters of the total rainfall increase during 2000–2021The increase of atmospheric total column water vapor, mainly driven by anthropogenic forcing, leads to more favorable environments for MCSs [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heavy summer precipitation over the southern slope of the Tibetan Plateau has dramatic influences on water resources and hydrological disasters in South Asia. It experienced increasing trends over 1979–1996 and decreasing trends over 1996–2022, which are not yet well understood. Here we show observational and numerical evidence that stratospheric ozone has significant impacts on long‐term trends of summer precipitation in this strong convection area. It is found that stratospheric ozone depletion, by modulating the lower stratospheric temperature and upper‐tropospheric static stability, enhances deep convection and precipitation over the southern slope of the Tibetan Plateau. The results suggest that the ozone recovery in the future may reduce the summer precipitation over the southern slope of the Tibetan Plateau in the first half of the 21st century, which would be imperative for future water resource management in South Asia. Plain Language Summary: South Asia, with a population of more than 1.8 billion, is among the most vulnerable regions in the world in response to climate change and a global hotspot for water security. Heavy summer precipitation over the southern slope of the Tibetan Plateau, which directly affects North India and Nepal with a population of more than 200 million and has dramatic influences on water resources and hydrological disasters in South Asia, experienced increasing trends over 1979–1996 and decreasing trends over 1996–2022 (Figure 1). We find that the long‐term variations of the summer precipitation are likely related to the stratospheric ozone depletion and recovery over the Tibetan Plateau in recent decades. The convective precipitation over the southern slope of the Tibetan Plateau is modulated by the upper tropospheric static stability which is affected by the lower‐stratospheric temperature. We find that stratospheric ozone depletion, which radiatively cools the lower stratosphere, enhances the deep convection and precipitation. This work helps to understand the stratospheric contributions to the changes in the summer precipitation over the southern slope of the Tibetan Plateau and future water resource management in South Asia. Key Points: Trends in heavy summer precipitation over the southern slope of the Tibetan Plateau are positive in 1979–1996 and negative in 1996–2022Stratospheric ozone depletion led to lower stratospheric cooling and a reduction of upper‐tropospheric static stabilityStratospheric ozone depletion enhanced the deep convection and precipitation over the southern slope of the Tibetan Plateau [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The glaciers on the Tibetan Plateau (TP) constitute critical sources of water for the proglacial lakes and many rivers found downstream. To better understand the evolution of glaciers and the impact of this on proglacial lakes, seven glaciers corresponding to continenṅtal, subcontinental, and marine climate types that are influenced by westerlies and the Indian summer monsoon were selected for study. The evolution of the edges of these glaciers and their associated proglacial lakes were identified based on the visual interpretation of Landsat TM/ETM+/OLI images. A dataset covering the period 1976–2020 that included the glacier and proglacial lake edge vectors was then created. The relative errors in the areas of the individual glaciers were less than 3%, and for the proglacial lakes these errors were in the range 0%–7%. The dataset was used to effectively compare the changes in glaciers and proglacial lakes that have occurred over the past four decades. The most striking changes that were found were the retreat of glaciers and the formation of small proglacial lakes. This dataset could also be used as a proxy to support research on changes in mountain glaciers, particularly their response to climate change and water resources. This response is of great scientific significance and is important in many applications, including assessments of the ecological problems caused by melting glaciers. The dataset can be downloaded from http://doi.org/10.57760/sciencedb.j00076.00131.

Formulation of the problem. Studies and data on modern changes in the winter minimum average monthly flow of the rivers of the Lake Sevan basin and their climatic characteristics have acquired great practical importance and considerable interest due to the increased use of water resources for the purposes of various types of economic activities, in particular, in connection with the development of the economy, hydropower, irrigation, population growth and rising living standards. Especially relevant are the calculations of the minimum flow in relation to solving the problems of water supply for settlements, industrial enterprises. The aim of the work. Assessment of modern changes in the winter minimum average monthly runoff of rivers in the Lake Sevan basin and their climatic characteristics. Methods. The following methods were used in the work: mathematical-statistical, extrapolation, interpolation, spatial analysis, analogy, correlation and cartography. Results. A physical map has been compiled with a network of meteorological stations and hydrological posts in the Lake Sevan basin. Close correlations were obtained between the values of the winter minimum average monthly runoff and the average runoff of the winter period for a hydrological year. These dependences can be used for preliminary estimates of the minimum runoff of the winter low-water period of unstudied rivers in the territory under consideration. In the course of the research, the winter minimum average monthly discharges were calculated by months and for the entire observation period, the average value of the minimum runoff for the winter low water, and the linear trend of the climatic characteristic. Based on the obtained results, a map of the distribution of the modul of the average minimum runoff of the winter low-water period and the coefficients of the linear trend of the winter air temperature were constructed. Examples of curves of long-term changes in precipitation amounts for the autumn and winter periods, the sum of positive temperatures and the number of days with a positive average daily air temperature in the winter period for a series of meteorological stations in the study area are presented. The rivers of the Lake Sevan basin are characterized by an uneven spatio-temporal distribution of winter minimum runoff and climatic characteristics, changes in the winter average monthly minimum runoff, precipitation amounts for the autumn and winter periods are multidirectional, and air temperature changes are only an upward trend. In the area under consideration, there is mainly (by 8 out of 12 stations under study) a tendency to decrease in the values of the minimum average monthly river flow. The conducted studies lead us to the conclusion that the main factor causing changes in the low-water runoff of the rivers in the Lake Sevan basin in winter is the air temperature, or rather, its increase. It follows from this that when calculating and forecasting winter runoff, it is necessary to relate the values of runoff and air temperature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Blood profiling data in athletic populations and their respective responses to SARS-CoV-2 infection are lacking. Thus, this exploratory pilot study aimed to analyze and compare clinical blood markers in previously infected trained athletes (ATH; 30 m/29 f) and a not previously infected healthy athletic control group (HC; 12 m/19 f). The ATH group undertook a sports medical examination which included extended blood analyses. Blood profiles with a total of 74 variables were assessed (blood counts, pro-/inflammatory and immunological markers, and micronutrients), and the ATH group was compared to the age-matched, vaccinated HC group with comparable athletic back grounds, though without previous SARS-CoV-2-infections. The ATH group showed lower IgG, Troponin-T levels, and they had a lower complement/acute-phase protein activation. Furthermore, Vitamin D levels were lower and electrolyte/micronutrient concentrations were higher in ATH. Soluble transferrin receptor as a marker of erythrocyte turnover was decreased whereas PTT as a coagulation marker was increased. Subgroup analyses according to sex revealed more differences between the women of the ATH and HC groups (for 25 different variables) than between the men (for 5 different variables), especially for immunological and metabolic variables. In particular, the immune system and electrolyte/micronutrient status should be observed frequently and sex-specifically in this athletic cohort. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Methane (CH4) emissions from agricultural sources contribute significantly to the total anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions, which cause climate change. According to the guidelines of the International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) for calculating greenhouse gas emissions, agriculture is responsible for approximately 10% of total CH4 emissions from anthropogenic sources. CH4 is primarily emitted from livestock farming, particularly from cattle production during enteric fermentation and from manure. This article describes the results of multivariate statistical analyses carried out on data collected from 1961 to 2020 for thirty countries with the largest cattle populations. The study evaluated the trends in temporal changes in cattle populations and identified groups of countries with similar patterns during the study period. The global cattle population was highly correlated with CH4 emissions from the enteric fermentation of cattle and their manure. The countries experiencing the largest increase in cattle population were primarily developing countries located in South America, Africa and Southeastern Asia. The cattle population in these countries showed a strong correlation with the human population. On the other hand, the countries where the cattle population remained stable during the study period were mainly highly developed countries. The correlations between most of the examined variables associated with cattle production and the cattle population in these countries were inconsistent and relatively weak. In the near future, further increase in the cattle population and the associated CH4 emissions are expected, mainly in developing countries with high population growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Global warming leads to significant long-term changes in climate loads and effects on structures, which must be considered when designing buildings. In this study, loads on buildings and structures were examined to evaluate long-term changes in temperature and humidity of the atmospheric air and to develop a method for forecasting the estimated values of these effects. According to the data obtained via weather stations in Ukraine, it was determined that long-term changes in thermal and humidity actions at different weather stations are qualitatively similar but vary numerically by a significant extent. The increase in air temperature is generally consistent with the known trend of global warming, and relative humidity is characterized by a decrease in the variance at almost constant average annual value. The proposed method of identifying and describing trends in long-term changes in climatic influences can be used in the development of regulatory documents and in directly designing buildings and structures by considering the predicted changes in climatic influences during the future life of buildings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explored the variations in the characteristics of the trophic structure of Daya Bay island waters over the last four decades based on the survey findings and research data on biogenic elements (dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN), NO2−, NO3−, NH4+, PO43−, and SiO32−) in Daya Bay during 1985–2021. At this time, the DIN concentration increased from 21.14 µg·L−1 to 558.42 µg·L−1 (26.41-fold increase), whereas the SiO32− concentration increased by only 3.6-fold. The PO43− concentrations attained a peak in 2004 and experienced a steady decline over the rest of the survey period. The fractions of NH4+, NO3−, and NO2− in DIN changed from 0.45, 0.40, and 0.15 in 1986 to 0.26, 0.74, and 0.003 in 2021, respectively. Overall, the mean values of NH4+, NO3−, and NO2− accounted for 45.2%, 42.5%, and 12.3%, respectively. The N/P(DIN/PO43−) ratio in Daya Bay increased from 28.08 in the 1980s to 51.63 in the 2010s. Meanwhile, the nutrient limitation conditions showed a gradual shift from N-limited to P-limited conditions. According to the nutrient quality index (NQI) analysis, the trophic state level of Daya Bay waters fell into the oligotrophic category 30 years ago (1985–2002, NQI < 2), whereas it increased from the mesotrophic level in 2005 (NQI = 2.03) to the eutrophic level in 2019 (NQI = 3.33) over the last 20 years. The results based on the eutrophication index (EI) of Daya Bay waters were generally consistent with those based on the NQI, displaying that the trophic level of Daya Bay waters indicated an increasing trend from 2005 to 2019. Moreover, the assessment data in 2021 indicated a decrease in the NQI to 0.90, thereby attaining the oligotrophic level again. This may be related to the decrease in aquacultural area in the bay over the last two years. The correlation analysis among the DIN, PO43−, and nutrient levels of Daya Bay waters indicated that the input of nitrogen and phosphorus was the primary reason for the higher nutrient levels in the water bodies; among them, municipal sewage discharge, aquaculture, and atmospheric deposition from industry are the main factors for the over importation. This indicates that the changes in the biogenic element concentrations led to variations in the trophic structure and level of Daya Bay and may be attributed to population growth and the development of the seaside industry and agriculture in the region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Heavy summer precipitation over the southern slope of the Tibetan Plateau has dramatic influences on water resources and hydrological disasters in South Asia. It experienced increasing trends over 1979–1996 and decreasing trends over 1996–2022, which are not yet well understood. Here we show observational and numerical evidence that stratospheric ozone has significant impacts on long‐term trends of summer precipitation in this strong convection area. It is found that stratospheric ozone depletion, by modulating the lower stratospheric temperature and upper‐tropospheric static stability, enhances deep convection and precipitation over the southern slope of the Tibetan Plateau. The results suggest that the ozone recovery in the future may reduce the summer precipitation over the southern slope of the Tibetan Plateau in the first half of the 21st century, which would be imperative for future water resource management in South Asia.

Abstract As one of the major producers of extreme precipitation, mesoscale convective systems (MCSs) have received much attention. Recently, MCSs over several hotpots, including the Sahel and US Great Plains, have been found to intensify under global warming. However, relevant studies on the East Asian rainband, another MCS hotpot, are scarce. Here, by using a novel rain‐cell tracking algorithm on a high spatiotemporal resolution satellite precipitation product, we show that both the frequency and intensity of MCSs over the East Asian rainband have increased by 21.8% and 9.8% respectively over the past two decades (2000–2021). The more frequent and intense MCSs contribute nearly three quarters to the total precipitation increase. The changes in MCSs are caused by more frequent favorable large‐scale water vapor‐rich environments that are likely to increase under global warming. The increased frequency and intensity of MCSs have profound impacts on the hydroclimate of East Asia, including producing extreme events such as severe flooding.

This study comprehensively analyzed the dynamic landscape of organic farming in the European Union (EU) from 2004 to 2021, investigating the shifts in dedicated agricultural areas influenced by evolving preferences and the priorities of farmers and consumers. Examining the impact of socio-economic factors, including gross domestic product (GDP) per capita, the human development index (HDI), and human population density, this study established multivariate relationships through country-level analyses based on correlations, principal component analysis, cluster analysis, and panel analysis. Despite a universal increase in the organic agriculture areas across all the EU countries during the study period, the production levels exhibited negative correlations with the human population density, GDP per capita, and HDI. Notably, the Baltic countries and Austria led in organic farming production, while Malta, the Netherlands, Belgium, Ireland, and Luxemburg formed a distinct group in the cluster analysis with less intensive organic agriculture per capita. These insights are crucial for supporting the resilience and sustainability of organic farming as it continues to evolve. Predictions of organic agriculture share for 2030 based on trends evaluated using linear regression in the years 2004–2021 estimated about 12% of utilized agricultural area, which was much lower than the target share of the European Commission at 25%. Predictions based on linear regression showed that achieving the European Green Deal target of a 25% share of organic agriculture in unlikely in most EU countries by 2030. The target is only highly probable to be obtained in Austria, Estonia, and Sweden. The EU countries varied significantly across various indices characterizing organic agriculture, including organic agriculture area share. It should be noted that the study was conducted on the data obtained prior to the outbreak of the war in Ukraine, which could potentially alter the previous trends in the development of organic agriculture in the EU.

The perennial sciaphilous alga Phyllophora crispa (Phyllophoraceae, Rhodophyta) belongs to the main community-forming species of the Black Sea but due to the catastrophic degradation of its populations, it has been listed as an endangered species in the Red Data Book of the Russian Federation. Phyllophora crispa off the southwestern coast of Crimea is preserved within six Protected Areas (PAs) established between 1972 and 2017, which include the narrow 300-m-wide strips of coastal waters ranging from 0.0597 km2 to 0.208 km2 in area. Despite a long existence, the degeneration of P. crispa assemblages has been shown in some of them that may indicate inefficient measures aimed at conserving bottom communities in Marine PAs (MPAs) and the need to optimise the regional PA network. Therefore, this study addresses assessing the effectiveness of the preservation of P. crispa in MPAs along the southwestern coast of Crimea, and it aims at two main objectives: to compare the status of P. crispa populations in the study area at present and before the MPA establishment, and to assess their current state in the marine protected and unprotected areas. In 2015–2020, the density, biomass, weight and length of P. crispa thalli were determined in five MPAs ranged in age 33–48 years of protection and in 16 unprotected water areas, at depths from 0.5 m to 20 m. A comparison of the obtained and published data for the 5 m to 20 m depth range showed that from 1964–1967 until 2015–2020, the P. crispa biomass in the study area decreased on average 2.7-fold, the density 1.5-fold and the thallus weight 2.0-fold. Evaluating the decline of the populations of P. crispa along the depth range of 5–15 m showed that it was most pronounced at a 15-m depth, being statistically significant in biomass and thallus weight. At the same time, an analysis of variance showed no effect of protection on the between-year change in P. crispa population parameters. In addition, in 2015–2020, there was no statistically significant difference in the average biomass and density of this species inside and outside the MPAs. The average weight and length of thalli did not differ due to protection either, except for a depth of 10 m where values of these parameters were, respectively, 3.3 times and 1.4 times higher inside than outside MPAs. One explanation for the non-significant MPA effect on the state of populations of P. crispa could be a lack of statistical power in our study. Another one was the small area and low width of MPAs, which makes the seaweed communities vulnerable to negative impacts near the MPA borders. To improve the effectiveness of the conservation of P. crispa in the southwestern Crimea, it was recommended to increase the MPA coverage, create buffer zones around MPAs and take measures resulting in environmental improvement throughout the region.

In the Mediterranean Sea, marine ecosystems and the resource-based economy are shared among many countries, making this a regional sea of important geopolitical and economic stakes. Over the last decades, marine heat waves (MHWs) in the Mediterranean Sea have caused mass-mortality events in various marine species and critical losses for seafood industries. MHWs are expected to become more intense, longer and more frequent through anthropogenic warming. This study proposes to better understand how much each Mediterranean country’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) waters may be affected by MHW changes, to contribute to decision support for management and adaptation at national scale. The variability of surface and subsurface MHWs is assessed over the 1987-2019 period in the Mediterranean EEZs, which are ocean areas where sovereign states have special rights. Combining high-resolution satellite observations and a regional reanalysis, sea surface temperature and ocean heat content are used to define surface and subsurface MHWs. The MHW characteristics selected in this study highlight the important differences between surface and subsurface extreme events. MHW frequency is higher at the surface than in the subsurface and has significantly increased in most EEZs both at the surface and in the subsurface, while MHW duration is longer in the subsurface than at the surface in all EEZs. MHW intensities decrease with depth, while its increase over time is more disparate throughout the basin. MHW maximum intensity displays significant positive trends with higher surface values in the western Mediterranean Sea, while in the subsurface it reaches its extreme values in the EEZs of the Levantine basin. In contrast, MHW cumulative intensity exhibits its extreme trend values in the eastern Mediterranean Sea both at the surface and in the subsurface. The choice of a “Top-Ten” list of EEZs shows that the impact to EEZs is different depending on the MHW characteristics and the depth, emphasizing the need to consider all MHW characteristics and to avoid focusing only on the surface. Overall, the results highlight the necessity of strengthening surface and subsurface observing systems in most national waters to better establish local-scale risk assessments and to respond to diverse stakeholder needs.

Benthic invertebrates are important trophic links in food webs and useful bioindicators of environmental conditions, but long‐term benthic organism abundance data across broad geographic areas are rare and historic datasets are often not readily accessible. This dataset provides densities of benthic macroinvertebrates collected from 1930 to 2019 during surveys in Lake Erie, a Laurentian Great Lake. The surveys were funded by the governments of the United States and Canada to investigate the status and changes in the benthic community. From the total of 21 lake‐wide and basin‐wide benthic surveys conducted in Lake Erie from 1929 to 2019, we were able to acquire data for 17 surveys, including species‐level data for 10 surveys and data by higher taxonomic groups for seven surveys. Our amassed Lake Erie dataset includes data from 11 surveys (including five with species‐level data) conducted in the western basin in 1930–2019, seven surveys (six with species‐level data) in the central basin, and eight surveys (seven with species‐level data) in the eastern basin (1973–2019). This Lake Erie dataset represents the most extensive temporal dataset of benthic invertebrates available for any of the Laurentian Great Lakes. Benthic samples were collected using Ponar or Shipek bottom dredges and taxa densities were calculated as individuals per square meter using the area of the dredge. Density data are provided for taxa in the Annelida, Arthropoda, Mollusca, Cnidaria, Nemertea, and Platyhelminthes phyla. Current taxonomy was used for most groups but, in a few cases, older taxonomic names were used for consistency with historical data. Analysis of this dataset indicates that eutrophication, water quality improvement, and dreissenid introduction were the major drivers of changes in the benthic community in the western basin, while hypoxia was a major factor in the central basin, and dreissenid introduction was the most important driver in the eastern basin. Considering the rarity of high taxonomic resolution long‐term benthic data for lake ecosystems, this dataset could be useful to explore broader aspects of ecological theory, including effects of eutrophication, hypoxia, invasive species, and other factors on community organization, phylogenetic and functional diversity, and spatial and temporal scales of variation in community structure. In addition, the dataset could be useful for studies on individual species, including abundance and distribution, species co‐occurrence, and how the patterns of dominance and rarity change over space and time. Use of this dataset for academic or educational purposes is encouraged as long as this data paper is properly cited. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Formulation of the problem. The article discusses changes in the main climatic characteristics in the Debed river basin (Armenia) at six meteorological stations. The aim of the work is to analyze and assess peculiar territorial distribution of the main climatic indicators in the Debed river basin, their changes over the past 80-90 years in different conditions of Armenia. Methods. To solve the set tasks, the authors used corresponding research and published works as a theoretical basis in the work. As a starting material, the work used the daily factual data of the "Center for Hydrometeorology and Monitoring" of the SNCO, Ministry of Environment of the Republic of Armenia for the period from 1930 to 2018 at six meteorological stations. The authors applied the following research methods in the article: mathematical and statistical, extrapolation, analysis, analogy, correlation, cartographic. Results. Climate of the earth has been changing rapidly over the past decades, leading to global warming. As a result, we are facing the problem of assessing the macroeconomic consequences of climate change in this territory. Armenia did not remain aloof from the problems of global climate change. On the territory of the river Debed's basin air temperature distribution and precipitation is uneven, due to the geographical latitude of the area, general and local circulation of the atmosphere, radiation energy and orographic features. We notice a decrease in air temperature and an increase in precipitation with the height of the terrain and the vertical gradient, respectively, is 0.54 ºC / 100 m and -20 mm / 100 m. The average annual air temperature ranges from 3.74 ºC to 12.3 ºC, and the annual precipitation is from 462 mm to 770 mm. Studies have also shown that long-term fluctuations in average air temperature over the year are generally characterized by positive trends. Air temperature in the basin of the river Debed increased by 1.65 °С on average over the year from 1964 to 2018. A particularly significant increase in annual temperatures has been observed after the 1990s, when the rate of annual warming reached +0.389 ºС / 10 years (for the period 1993-2018). The warmest years were 1966, 2010 and 2018. The tendency towards a decrease in the annual amount of precipitation prevails in the area. The most significant amount of precipitation decreased in the basin of the river Debed after 2002. The rate of changes in the annual amount of atmospheric precipitation for the period 2002–2018 reached -61.7 mm / 10 years, and for the entire period 1964-2018 - 1.02 mm / 10 years. On average a decrease in annual precipitation was 126 mm from 1964 to 2001, 105 mm - from 2002 to 2018 in the basin of the river Debed. There is a tendency for a slight increase in the amount of precipitation at the Stepanavan weather station.

Results of the study on bats wintering in underground objects of the Kostrzyn Fortress (Polish-German border zone) revealed the presence of at least 11 species (without distinguishing between Myotis mystacinus and M. brandtii and among species of the genus Pipistrellus). Analysis of long-term changes in the number of animals in regularly surveyed winter roosts showed a positive trend in Myotis myotis and a negative trend in Plecotus auritus. No statistically significant trends have been found in other species, which indicates that the rising numbers of many Central European bat populations have slowed down in the last two decades. Particular winter roosts differed in changes of bat numbers, which was a result of differentiated character of their micro-shelters and changes in microclimate. Similar patterns of changes during the study period were noted in pairs of thermophilic Myotis nattereri and M. daubentonii and in cryophilic P. auritus and Barbastella barbastellus. This indicates that the adopted strategy of wintering significantly affects species response to variable weather conditions during various periods of hibernation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper presents results of the analysis of long-term changes in the vegetation cover of abandoned agricultural lands in the forest-steppe zone of the Central Chernozem Region using time series of the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), which are measured using MOD13Q1 data. The vegetation index dynamics linked with the proportion of forest communities formed on the abandoned agricultural lands is investigated. The index values for the period of mid-August are the most informative for analyzing the share of forest communities growing on the abandoned agricultural land. Abandoned agricultural lands with coniferous forests have a higher correlation with NDVI than fallows with deciduous species. In the period 2000-2018, for all types of abandoned arable lands, the presence of a positive statistically significant trend component of the vegetation index long-term series is established. Using a slope angle coefficient of the NDVI trend line, a spatio-temporal analysis of the rate of formation of forest stands in the forest-steppe fallows at the beginning of the XXI century was carried out. Features of this process are studied.

Accurate and long-term series surface water extraction is of great significance for development of agro-ecosystem and sustainable management of water resources. Data and knowledge of the spatial–temporal dynamics of surface water are still very limited in Shandong Province, China. This study provides a rapid and robust method for open-surface water detecting based on the Google Earth Engine (GEE) platform. The 30-m annual maps of surface water frequency are generated to analyze the distribution and variation of surface water in Shandong Province during 1990–2020. In addition, the effects of climatic and anthropogenic drivers are investigated on the temporal and spatial dynamics of surface water. A previously published global surface water dataset is used to valid our results. The results show that the correlation coefficient (R) of permanent surface water area (SWA) is 0.95 from 1990 to 2020. And in this study, the surface water area is well extracted in 1994 which is underestimated by Joint Research Centre (JRC). Surface water is widely distributed in Shandong Province; however, the interannual variation of SWA is substantial. The permanent SWA presents an increasing trend in Shandong Province, especially from 1990 to 2004. Multitemporal monitoring results show that the permanent SWA of Dongping Lake, Xiashan Reservoir, and Chanzhi Reservoir fluctuate most in 1990–1994 and 2013–2018. Precipitation and water supply significantly affect the permanent SWA , with R of 0.38 and −0.70. The results will provide a critical guidance for implementing sustainable water resources management so as to avoid flood-hazards and drought disasters.

Long-term satellite precipitation products (SPPs) provide insight into how precipitation has changed in the past. As the changes observed from various SPPs may differ, research is needed to clarify related uncertainties using multiple SPPs. This study aims to explore long-term changes in the summer (June to August) diurnal precipitation over Luzon and its adjacent seas using multiple SPPs from 2000 − 2019, and to determine the possible atmospheric thermodynamic causes of such changes using the latest atmospheric reanalysis data. The four SPPs include the TRMM 3B42, the IMERG Final Run, the PERSIANN-CDR, and the PERSIANN-CCS-CDR. Our results show that all four SPPs depicted a common diurnal precipitation signal formed over the coastal region of western Luzon propagating westward to the adjacent South China Sea (SCS). This feature had been enhanced from 2000–2009 (Period1) to 2010–2019 (Period2). By contrast, there was uncertainty for central to eastern Luzon, where most SPPs with the exception of PERSIANN-CCS-CDR, captured a decline in diurnal precipitation from Period1 to Period2. These long-term changes in diurnal precipitation, which were suggested by the majority of SPPs, were further attributed to a strengthening (weakening) of local diurnal heating and related wind convergence over the SCS (Luzon), coupled with an intensification of regional prevailing winds. These findings highlight how the formation of precipitation over Luzon and SCS has changed under a changing climate.

Submerged macrophytes are essential elements of sublittoral ecosystems to maintain a diverse fish fauna. The aim of this study was to assess juvenile fish associated with macrophyte habitats in the Curonian Lagoon by means of modified pop net method. We focused on two dominant littoral habitats with different structure (pondweed and charophyte stands). The pop nets sampling was carried out on two study sites located in the freshwater and oligohaline part of the lagoon in July and September 2019-2020. Our upgraded pop nets reduced the risk of under sampling and are recommended for monitoring fishes since this method has relatively low disturbance on fish behavior and on the habitat itself. The most efficient time of sampling with pop nets in shallow macrophyte habitats is at night, where at least 4 samples collected are sufficient to represent the biggest part (> 70%) of the fish assemblage, but the sampling covering different times of day is recommended. In total, 14 juvenile species were recorded, where perch and European roach dominated (respectively 48% and 24%). Half of the species (8) were associated with macrophyte stands, although water salinity and temperature were the most important factors explaining the variance of fish abundance followed by the sampling time and the biomass of macrophytes. Based on the abundance and the duration of species within these habitats, European roach, nine-spined and three-spined stickleback were mainly associated with the pondweed biomass and stands, while spined loach, round goby, perch, ruffe and gudgeon were mainly associated with the charophyte biomass and stands. The increase of charophyte stands since 2005 affected the fish assemblage where it should have enhanced the abundance of perch, ruffe, spined loach and partly round goby.

Understanding the degree to which deterministic and stochastic processes drive community assembly is an ongoing focus of research in community ecology. This effort is strongly biased towards ground‐rooted plants, resulting in a limited understanding of communities of other life‐forms, such as structurally dependent plants. Vascular epiphytes are sessile organisms growing non‐parasitically on three‐dimensional dynamic patches, their host plants. Since negative biotic interactions are thought to play a minor role in vascular epiphyte assembly, in some forests, epiphytes are fascinating model organisms to understand the prevalence of environmental filtering in shaping community assembly.We assessed the contribution of deterministic processes on the temporal dynamics of vascular epiphyte assemblages by tracking the direction of changes in composition, species richness and abundance in time at different ecological and spatial scales. We made use of a globally unique dataset from a lowland forest in Panama. We predict that if niche‐based mechanisms dominate, (a) temporal changes will be directional and (b) differences in the species composition of epiphyte assemblages will be primarily related to host plant characteristics and, to a lesser degree, to the distance between host trees.We show that temporal changes in vascular epiphyte assemblages were directional at different ecological scales, such as the forest patch, host species or individual tree assemblages. Epiphyte assemblages on host trees became more similar in their composition over time than expected by chance, and these changes were not due to homogenisation. While host characteristics were related to these directional changes, host structure rather than host identity was more strongly related to variation in assemblage dissimilarity, while spatial distance among trees was of minor importance. The observed directionality was primarily due to environmental filtering.This study provides the first evidence that niche‐based mechanisms dominate the dynamics of vascular epiphyte assemblages. Analysing temporal patterns of vascular epiphyte assemblages is a first important step towards understanding the relative importance of deterministic processes for diversity maintenance of one of the most diverse plant groups in the tropics.Synthesis. Directionality in the temporal changes of epiphyte assemblages suggests that niche‐based mechanisms dominate these temporal changes. Host size over host identity is the most important environmental filter for epiphyte assemblages establishment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Society is facing climate-related challenges and impacts, such as marine heat wave (MHW) events that adversely affect ecosystems, threaten economies and strengthen storms by warming ocean waters. MHWs are substantially increasing in intensity, duration and frequency worldwide, particularly in the Mediterranean Sea, which responds rapidly to climate change. This study proposes a comprehensive analysis of MHWs in the different sub-regions of the Mediterranean, where the strong spatial variability requires focused attention, from surface to sub-surface and from open to coastal oceans. At surface, the MHW indices have dramatically increased over the last four decades from 1982 to 2020, with an unprecedented acceleration rate in recent years in all sub-regions. Besides the sub-regional features of surface MHWs, the propagation of such events into the ocean interior is also examined highlighting sub-regional and seasonal variability in the sub-surface ocean response. The resulting upper-ocean density stratification to these extreme events is enhanced in all sub-regions which would increase the degree of decoupling between surface and deep oceans causing changes in water masses and marine life. Finally, extremely warm events in coastal waters are also addressed through a case study in the Balearic Islands showing their higher intensity and occurrence in near-shore environment as well as the different response from surface to sub-surface that strongly depends on local features. In addition to this study, the Balearic Islands Coastal Observing and Forecasting System (SOCIB) has implemented a smart platform to monitor, visualize and share timely information on sub-regional MHWs, from event detection in real-time to long-term variations in response to global warming, to diverse stakeholders. Society-aligned ocean information at sub-regional scale will support the policy decision-making and the implementation of specific actions at local, national and regional scales, and thus contribute to respond to societal and worldwide environmental challenges.

This study explored the variations in the characteristics of the trophic structure of Daya Bay island waters over the last four decades based on the survey findings and research data on biogenic elements (dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN), NO2−, NO3−, NH4+, PO43−, and SiO32−) in Daya Bay during 1985–2021. At this time, the DIN concentration increased from 21.14 µg·L−1 to 558.42 µg·L−1 (26.41-fold increase), whereas the SiO32− concentration increased by only 3.6-fold. The PO43− concentrations attained a peak in 2004 and experienced a steady decline over the rest of the survey period. The fractions of NH4+, NO3−, and NO2− in DIN changed from 0.45, 0.40, and 0.15 in 1986 to 0.26, 0.74, and 0.003 in 2021, respectively. Overall, the mean values of NH4+, NO3−, and NO2− accounted for 45.2%, 42.5%, and 12.3%, respectively. The N/P(DIN/PO43−) ratio in Daya Bay increased from 28.08 in the 1980s to 51.63 in the 2010s. Meanwhile, the nutrient limitation conditions showed a gradual shift from N-limited to P-limited conditions. According to the nutrient quality index (NQI) analysis, the trophic state level of Daya Bay waters fell into the oligotrophic category 30 years ago (1985–2002, NQI < 2), whereas it increased from the mesotrophic level in 2005 (NQI = 2.03) to the eutrophic level in 2019 (NQI = 3.33) over the last 20 years. The results based on the eutrophication index (EI) of Daya Bay waters were generally consistent with those based on the NQI, displaying that the trophic level of Daya Bay waters indicated an increasing trend from 2005 to 2019. Moreover, the assessment data in 2021 indicated a decrease in the NQI to 0.90, thereby attaining the oligotrophic level again. This may be related to the decrease in aquacultural area in the bay over the last two years. The correlation analysis among the DIN, PO43−, and nutrient levels of Daya Bay waters indicated that the input of nitrogen and phosphorus was the primary reason for the higher nutrient levels in the water bodies; among them, municipal sewage discharge, aquaculture, and atmospheric deposition from industry are the main factors for the over importation. This indicates that the changes in the biogenic element concentrations led to variations in the trophic structure and level of Daya Bay and may be attributed to population growth and the development of the seaside industry and agriculture in the region.

The paper presents the influence of the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) on the water resources, especially considering groundwater discharge (baseflow) in south-western Poland. The impact of long-term changes of meteorological conditions on the water resources of this area in the 1966-2015 was determined on the basis of changes in the baseflow and total stream flow. Statistical analysis of meteorological and hydrological data showed that the runoff from the Sudeten mountain range and its foreground depends on the circulating climate factors (like the NAO). The annual NAO index best describes the variability of the average annual (12-month) total stream flow and groundwater discharge calculated from February to January and March to February, while the winter NAO index best describes the variability of the average annual (12-month) total stream flow and groundwater discharge calculated from March to February and April to March. The winter NAO index also best describes the variability of the average six-month (6-month) stream flow and groundwater discharge calculated from April to September. In the above-mentioned cases, the values of the Pearson correlation coefficient are at a high level and reach the value of -0.65.

Abstract Human inputs of pollutants to the atmosphere and subsequent deposition may decrease pH in the coastal waters. Significant rate of decrease in pH and increase in pCO2 by 3–5 times is noticed in the coastal Bay of Bengal (BoB) than the low‐latitude global ocean trends in the last few decades. We provide evidence for the first time for a rapid decrease in surface water pH due to atmospheric deposition of pollutants in the coastal BoB. The decrease in pH in the coastal BoB over the last decade is associated with concomitant increase in aerosol optical depth (AOD), total suspended particles (TSP) in air, sulfate and nitrate concentrations in TSP. This study suggests that contamination of surface coastal BoB by atmospheric pollutants not only acidifies surface ocean but also potentially amplifies CO2 emission with immediate implications to regional weather and climate.

Human inputs of pollutants to the atmosphere and subsequent deposition may decrease pH in the coastal waters. Significant rate of decrease in pH and increase in pCO2 by 3–5 times is noticed in the coastal Bay of Bengal (BoB) than the low‐latitude global ocean trends in the last few decades. We provide evidence for the first time for a rapid decrease in surface water pH due to atmospheric deposition of pollutants in the coastal BoB. The decrease in pH in the coastal BoB over the last decade is associated with concomitant increase in aerosol optical depth (AOD), total suspended particles (TSP) in air, sulfate and nitrate concentrations in TSP. This study suggests that contamination of surface coastal BoB by atmospheric pollutants not only acidifies surface ocean but also potentially amplifies CO2 emission with immediate implications to regional weather and climate. Plain Language Summary: Atmospheric pollutants are being increased rapidly in the South and Southeast Asia. Its deposition on the coastal waters decreases pH more rapidly than CO2 dissolution. We monitored the coastal waters of Bay of Bengal for 12 years at monthly observations and noticed the rate of decrease in pH is 3 times higher than open sea region in the low latitude global ocean and attributed to deposition of pollutants from the atmosphere. Key Points: Long‐term variability in pH suggests rapid acidification of coastal water of Bay of BengalAtmospheric deposition of pollutants decrease coastal water pHRapid rate of increase in atmospheric dust is noticed in the coastal Bay of Bengal [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]