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The International Maritime Organization (IMO), as a specialized agency of the United Nations responsible for the safety and security of international shipping and the prevention of pollution from ships, has applied two main area-based management tools (ABMTs): the "Special Areas" established under the MARPOL 73/78; and the "Particularly Sensitive Sea Areas" (PSSAs) established under the IMO resolutions. The new Agreement under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ agreement) stipulates the establishment of a comprehensive system of ABMTs to conserve and sustainably use areas beyond national jurisdiction. Strengthening coordination in the use of ABMTs established by the IMO and the BBNJ Agreement is important for vessel pollution control in the high seas. The IMO is a stakeholder for relevant proposals and consultations on proposals regarding the establishment of ABMTs in the BBNJ Agreements, and can provide information on the implementation of them. The Conference of the Parties (COPs) to the BBNJ Agreement can also make recommendations to the IMO and its parties to promote the adoption of special areas and PSSAs. This article respectively elaborates on the practices and effect of ABMTs of the IMO and explores the relevant rules of the BBNJ agreement and their enforcement. Then this article discusses the possible approaches for the ABMTs coordination between the IMO and the BBNJ agreement regimes and their implications on vessel pollution Control in the high seas. Overall, relevant rules of the BBNJ agreement shall be interpreted and applied in a manner that does not undermine relevant legal instruments of the IMO. Meanwhile, it is necessary to promote cooperation and coordination between the COPs to the BBNJ Agreement and the IMO under the idea of conserving ecosystem integrity, gradually forming a normal cooperation and information exchange mechanism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Current guidelines indicate that the lead levels in perovskite solar cells are sufficiently low, putting them on par with the safety of other lead-containing electronics. Yet, there remains ambiguity regarding the exact environmental impact of lead derived from perovskite. When this lead enters the soil, it has the potential to permeate plants and, subsequently, our food supply, at a rate that is a staggering ten times more than other lead contaminants from human-induced activities. Given this, it becomes vital to ensure that lead does not pollute our environment as we further adopt these technologies. In this study, we propose a novel method using polymer net bones to anchor the lead, which effectively reduces the risk of lead leaching due to rainfall. Perovskite Solar Cells (PSCs) integrated with this polymer net bone show improved operational efficiency and hold significant promise in curtailing lead leakage, reinforcing the ecological integrity of perovskite solutions. When enhanced with Polyvinyl Alcohol (PVA), these PSCs register a notable increase in Power Conversion Efficiency (PCE), scoring 24.7% as opposed to the 22.3% in PSCs devoid of PVA. Additionally, PVA-augmented PSCs outperform in stability when compared to their traditional counterparts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a crucial component of the ecological security pattern, ecological source (ES) plays a vital role in providing ecosystem service value (ESV) and conserving biodiversity. Previous studies have mostly considered ES only from either landscape change pattern or ecological function perspectives, and have ignored their integration and spatio-temporal evolutionary modeling. In this study, we proposed a multi-perspective framework for the spatio-temporal characteristics of ES by ESV incorporating landscape aesthetics, carbon sink characteristics, ecological quality, and kernel NDVI (kNDVI). By integrating the revised ESV and the kernel normalized difference vegetation index as a foundation, we employed the spatial priority model to identify ES. This improvement aims to yield a more practical and specific ESV result. Applying this framework to the Three-River Headwaters Region (TRHR), a significant spatio-temporal change in ecological sources has been observed from 2000 to 2020. This performance provided a reference for ecological conservation in the TRHR. The results indicate that this ecological source identification framework has reliable accuracy and efficiency compared with the existing NRs in the TRHR. This method could reveal more precise spatio-temporal distributions of ES, enhancing ecosystem integrity and providing technical modeling support for developing cross-scale spatial planning and management strategies for nature reserve boundaries. The framework proposed in our research could serve as a reference for building ecological networks in other ecologically fragile areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the greatest challenges of our time is monitoring the rapid environmental changes taking place worldwide at both local and global scales. This requires easy-to-use and ready-to-implement tools and services to monitor and quantify aspects of bio- and geodiversity change and the impact of land use intensification using freely available and global remotely sensed data, and to derive remotely sensed indicators. Currently, there are no services for quantifying both raster- and vector-based indicators in a "compact tool". Therefore, the main innovation of ESIS/Imalys is having a remote sensing (RS) tool that allows for RS data processing, data management, and continuous and discrete quantification and derivation of RS indicators in one tool. With the ESIS/Imalys project (Ecosystem Integrity Remote Sensing—Modelling and Service Tool), we try to present environmental indicators on a clearly defined and reproducible basis. The Imalys software library generates the RS indicators and remote sensing products defined for ESIS. This paper provides an overview of the functionality of the Imalys software library. An overview of the technical background of the implementation of the Imalys library, data formats and the user interfaces is given. Examples of RS-based indicators derived using the Imalys tool at pixel level and at zone level (vector level) are presented. Furthermore, the advantages and disadvantages of the Imalys tool are discussed in detail in order to better assess the value of Imalys for users and developers. The applicability of the indicators will be demonstrated through three ecological applications, namely: (1) monitoring landscape diversity, (2) monitoring landscape structure and landscape fragmentation, and (3) monitoring land use intensity and its impact on ecosystem functions. Despite the integration of large amounts of data, Imalys can run on any PC, as the processing and derivation of indicators has been greatly optimised. The Imalys source code is freely available and is hosted and maintained under an open source license. Complete documentation of all methods, functions and derived indicators can be found in the freely available Imalys manual. The user-friendliness of Imalys, despite the integration of a large amount of RS data, makes it another important tool for ecological research, modelling and application for the monitoring and derivation of ecosystem indicators from local to global scale. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Geodiversity has shaped and structured the Earth's surface at all spatio-temporal scales, not only through long-term processes but also through medium- and short-term processes. Geodiversity is, therefore, a key control and regulating variable in the overall development of landscapes and biodiversity. However, climate change and land use intensity are leading to major changes and disturbances in bio- and geodiversity. For sustainable ecosystem management, temporal, economically viable and standardized monitoring is needed to monitor and model the effects and changes in vegetation- and geodiversity. RS approaches have been used for this purpose for decades. However, to understand in detail how RS approaches capture vegetation- and geodiversity, the aim of this paper is to describe how five features of vegetation- and geodiversity are captured using RS technologies, namely: (i) trait diversity, (ii) phylogenetic/genese diversity, (iii) structural diversity, (iv) taxonomic diversity and (v) functional diversity. Trait diversity is essential for establishing the other four. Traits provide a crucial interface between in situ, close-range, aerial and space-based RS monitoring approaches. The trait approach allows complex data of different types and formats to be linked using the latest semantic data integration techniques, which will enable ecosystem integrity monitoring and modelling in the future. This article is part of the Theo Murphy meeting issue 'Geodiversity for science and society'. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biomass holds great importance in the environment, as it not only allows us to measure the carbon stored in forests but also facilitates the assessment of biodiversity and the evaluation of ecological integrity within these crucial ecosystems. In this study, we employed a Genetic Algorithm (GA) to estimate forest Above-Ground Biomass (AGB) by selecting the most applicable features from both Sentinel-2 optical and Sentinel-1 Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) images in the Noor forest. The study area was divided into four distinct regions (north, near north, middle, and south), and each region was documented with 100 sample plots through fieldwork to enable comprehensive analysis. In our workflow, Sentinel-2-derived features (i.e., spectral bands, vegetation indices (VIs), soil indices (SIs), and water indices (WIs), along with Sentinel-1 SAR features were initially extracted. Subsequently, GA was employed to select the most optimal features among them within both Random Forest (RF) and Multiple Linear Regression (MLR) models, leading to enhanced accuracy in the forest AGB estimation process. The experimental results demonstrated that the RF model outperformed the MLR model in estimating forest AGB. Furthermore, incorporating GA-based feature selection substantially improved the accuracy of both models, resulting in more dependable AGB estimations. The selected features from the combined Sentinel-1 and Sentinel-2 data also provided the best AGB estimation, surpassing the individual use of each dataset. The selected features from Sentinel-2 particularly played a more substantial role in achieving this overall enhanced performance in AGB estimation. The AGB estimates based on GA-RF were more accurate in all cases, with an average coefficient of determination (R²) of 0.5 and average RMSE of 13.17 Mg ha−1, while the MLR-based estimates were less accurate, with an average R² value lower than 0.3 and average RMSE higher than 16 Mg ha−1. Furthermore, the GA-RF model selected a wider variety of features including spectral bands, indices, and SAR features compared to GA-MLR, resulting in accurate AGB estimation in the Noor forest. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We provide a comparative analysis of two koala management plans for populations in two Australian municipalities, based on principles of landscape management: Ballarat (Victoria) and Bellingen (New South Wales). A landscape-based approach is required to protect the species, but evaluation of landscape management is limited. We present an assessment framework for evaluating local koala management plans. The plans are evaluated against a common set of principles and criteria, despite very different approaches stemming from context-specific factors. Interestingly, despite a variation in the number of indicators in the plans, the overall results of the evaluation demonstrate a similar level of performance against the criteria, and common strengths and weaknesses. In the absence of consistent standards for the protection of the koala across Australia, the species will continue to decline, and management practices will fail to protect the koala from extinction, as is currently predicted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We live in a world of accelerating ecological devastation, where environmental violence is culturally and economically ingrained in dominant human societies. The term "Anthropocene" implies a threshold has been breached, and suggests radical reassessments of prevailing social, economic, political, and educational systems are needed. Some art teacher education programs in the United States deviate from predominant trends by embracing ecological integration and preparing art preservice teachers to implement ecological and environmental art pedagogies. Such "aberrant" programs offer rich sites to explore for methods that might be emulated beyond these singular cases. In this study, we examined how three U.S. art teacher education programs, identified as having high levels of ecological integration, infused ecological and environmental approaches into their course content and teaching methods. Themes included exposure to relational ways of being, entanglements with the land and community, collective productions of ecological integration, and infusion of art teacher educators' multiple identities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Asian Journals of Ecotoxicology is the property of Gai Kan Bian Wei Hui 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.)

Climate change has been regarded as a major factor affecting the geographic distribution of many endemic rare species on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. Tibetan antelope, an endemic rare wildlife, is identified as a national first-class protected wild animal in China. To explore the impacts of human activities and climate change on the spatial distribution pattern of Tibetan antelope, the MaxEnt model was used to simulate the potential distribution of Tibetan antelope under four Shared Socio-economic Pathways in 2050s and 2070s and combined the modelling results of the main forage plants considering the food chains. The results showed that the environment indicators, e.g., elevation, mean temperature of wettest quarter, slope, mean temperature of warmest quarter, landcover, max temperature of warmest month, precipitation of driest month, Stipa capillata, Oxytropis ochrocephala, human influence intensity, were the main factors controlling the distribution of Tibetan antelope. The potential distributions of Tibetan antelope and their 10 forage plants were significantly different under future climate scenarios such as expanding, contracting and shifting. The mean elevation of suitable habitats for Tibetan antelope all increased under the four future scenarios compared with current value. There were protection gaps for Tibetan antelope. Considering the long-distance migration, the integrity of the ecosystem including Qiangtang National Nature Reserve, Altun National Nature Reserve, and Kekexili National Nature Reserve would be established for Tibetan antelope. Our findings will provide important references for the protection and investigation of Tibetan antelope. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The spread of neophytes (non-native plant species) challenges the conservation status and ecological integrity of forests, especially in lowland areas. Long-term resurvey studies are needed to evaluate the temporal dynamics of neophytes in forests; however, such data are scarce. In 2023, we resampled a set of 45 permanent vegetation plots (established in 1992/93) in two forest vegetation types: oak–hornbeam forests dominated by Quercus robur and colline oak–beech forests dominated by Q. petraea. Over the last 30 years, oak forests have experienced extensive oak tree mortality, with the degree of habitat degradation being greater in Q. robur forests. In the early 1990s, only three neophytes with low abundance were recorded across all plots. In the 2023 resurvey, the total number of neophytes increased to 22 species (15 herbaceous and 7 woody species), comprising 6.9% of the total species pool in the understory layer. The increase in the plot-level number and cover of neophytes was significant in plots dominated by Q. robur but not in those with Q. petraea. The most frequent neophytes were Impatiens parviflora (present in 31% of plots), Solidago gigantea (27%), Erigeron annuus (16%) and Erechtites hieraciifolia (16%). The richness and cover of neophytes were significantly affected by the tree layer cover (negative correlation) and the degree of soil disturbance (positive correlation). All neophytes established in disturbed patches, whereas the occurrence of I. parviflora was exceptional as it was able to colonize less degraded, shaded understory environments. Habitat degradation (the mortality-induced loss of stand-forming oak trees resulting in extensive tree layer cover decrease) emerged as a key driver promoting neophyte proliferation, coupled with the impact of management-induced disturbances affecting overstory and soil conditions. The spread is expected to continue or even intensify in the future because novel light regimes and disturbances make forest habitats less resistant to neophyte proliferation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Landscape changes based on spectral responses allow showing plant cover changes through diversity, composition, and ecological connectivity. The spatial and temporal vegetation dynamics of the Bijagual Massif from 1986 to 2021 were analyzed as a measure of ecological integrity, conservation, and territory. The covers identified were high open forest (Hof), dense grassland of non-wooded mainland (Dgnm), a mosaic of pastures and crops (Mpc), lagoons (Lag), and bare and degraded lands (Bdl). The Bijagual Massif has 8574.1 ha. In 1986, Dgnm occupied 42.6% of the total area, followed by Mpc (32.8%) and Hof (24.5%); by 2000, Mpc and Hof increased (43.7 and 28.1%, respectively), while Dgnm decreased (28%); by 2021, Dgnm was restricted to the northeastern zone and continued to decrease (25.2%), Mpc occupied 52.9%, Hof 21.7% and Bdl 0.1%. Of the three fractions of the connectivity probability index, only dPCintra and dPCflux contribute to ecological connectivity. Hof and Dgnm show patches with biota habitat quality and availability. Between 1986 and 2021, Dgnm lost 1489 ha (41%) and Hof 239.5 ha (11%). Mpc replaced various covers (1722.2 ha; 38%) in 2021. Bijagual has a valuable biodiversity potential limited by Mpc. Territorial planning and sustainable agroecological and ecotourism proposals are required due to the context of the ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Ganges Riverine System is a vital ecological hotspot that supports diverse habitats and sustains numerous species, including zooplankton communities crucial for the ecosystem's functioning. However, rapid urbanization, industrialization, and agricultural activities have led to substantial anthropogenic impacts on this ecosystem, raising concerns about its ecological integrity and biodiversity. Preliminary findings indicate significant alterations in habitat ecology, including changes in water quality parameters such as dissolved oxygen levels, pH and nutrient concentrations, attributable to anthropogenic activities. Total eight sampling zones were selected to assess water quality and zooplankton diversity in the upper Ganga River and its major tributaries between September, 2021 and September, 2023. There were four major groups of zooplankton recorded in the selected sampling zones: Cladocera (5 genera), Copepoda (4 genera), Protozoa (3 genera) and Rotifera (3 genera). Despite the fact that Cladocera was dominating in sampling zone 7 and 8, Copepoda was leading in the rest of the sampling zones 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8, as well as Rotifera was leading in sampling zone 2 and 4, while Protozoa was leading in sampling zones 4, 6 and 7. Moreover, habitat degradation, fragmentation and loss were observed, primarily associated with land-use changes, urban expansion and agricultural intensification. Furthermore, continued monitoring and research efforts are essential to better understand the complex interactions between anthropogenic stressors and ecological dynamics, facilitating informed decision-making for ecosystem conservation and restoration in the Himalayan region. The present study also demonstrated that the water quality was acceptable for sustaining aquatic biodiversity in the upper Ganga basin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) and plastics are pivotal components of modern society; nevertheless, their escalating production poses formidable challenges to resource sustainability and ecosystem integrity. Here, we showcase the transformation of spent lithium cobalt oxide (LCO) cathodes into photothermal catalysts capable of catalyzing the upcycling of diverse waste polyesters into high-value monomers. The distinctive Li deficiency in spent LCO induces a contraction in the Co−O6 unit cell, boosting the monomer yield exceeding that of pristine LCO by a factor of 10.24. A comprehensive life-cycle assessment underscores the economic viability of utilizing spent LCO as a photothermal catalyst, yielding returns of 129.6 $·kgLCO−1, surpassing traditional battery recycling returns (13–17 $·kgLCO−1). Solar-driven recycling 100,000 tons of PET can reduce 3.459 × 1011 kJ of electric energy and decrease 38,716 tons of greenhouse gas emissions. This work unveils a sustainable solution for the management of spent LIBs and plastics. The increasing production of lithium-ion batteries and plastics presents significant challenges to resource sustainability and ecosystem integrity. This study highlights the utilization of spent lithium cobalt oxide cathodes as photothermal catalysts to transform various waste polyesters into valuable monomers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wawekale Rainforest Reserve (WRR) is a primary lowland tropical rainforest area in the Western Province of Sri Lanka, established with diversity, but disturbed by human activities such as rubber cultivation, logging, poaching, chemical release, and the collection of firewood. Visual Encounter Surveys (VES) were conducted for 100 hours in the year 2022, which covered wide habitat distribution. The herpetofaunal diversity was measured in the WRR which can indicate broader ecological shifts, environmental changes, or habitat degradation. Water quality was measured in the WRR area to determine the ecosystem health and human impact. The study reports 171 species in 73 families, including two Critically Endangered (1.17%), six Endangered (3.51%), 16 Vulnerable (9.36%), and 14 Near Threatened (8.19%) species according to the IUCN Red List. The study area showed 51 endemic faunal species in Sri Lanka, which represented 29.83% of endemism. Based on the observations conducted on the herpetofauna diversity, the Shannon-Wiener diversity index (H) was calculated and the overall herpetofauna (H'H) showed high diversity within the forest premises. The water quality of the forest fragment had an influence from anthropogenic activities such as removing forest cover, bathing, washing vehicles, and releasing agro-chemical compounds resulting in high water temperature, basic pH level, high electrical conductivity, and high total dissolved solid conditions. The WRR, designated under protection, exhibits the need for immediate remedial actions to mitigate human-induced pollution and deforestation, emphasizing the critical importance of implementing proactive conservation measures to sustain ecological integrity and preserve biodiversity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Most legal systems recognize trusteeship functions of individuals or institutions to act on behalf and in the interest of those who cannot legally act for themselves. They can be advanced for the effective protection of future generations and the Earth. Guidance for Earth Trusteeship exist in the form of two agreements created by global civil society, the 2000 Earth Charter and the 2018 Hague Principles. Current opportunities include the UN Secretary General's call for "repurposing the Trusteeship Council", the UN Summit of the Future and ongoing developments in many countries towards implementing ecological integrity and rights of nature into their legal systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water pollution poses a significant threat to both human health and ecosystem integrity. Chemical pollutants such as dyes and pesticides affect the water quality and endanger aquatic life. Among the methods for water purification from organic pollutants, photodegradation is certainly a valid technique to decrease such contaminants. In this work, pristine NiO, ZnO, and NiO-ZnO photocatalysts were synthesized by the homogeneous co-precipitation method. X-ray diffraction confirms the formation of a photocatalyst consisting of ZnO (Hexagonal) and NiO (Cubic) structures. The crystalline size was calculated by the Scherrer formula, which is 19 nm for the NiO-ZnO photocatalyst. The band gap measurements of the prepared samples were obtained using the Tauc Plot, equation which is 2.93 eV, 3.35 eV and 2.63 eV for NiO, ZnO, and NiO-ZnO photocatalysts, respectively. The photocatalytic performance of NiO-ZnO nanocomposite was evaluated through the degradation of Methylene Blue and Nile Blue dyes under sunlight, and Bentazon herbicide under a UV light. Photocatalyst degradation efficiency was 95% and 97% for Methylene Blue and Nile Blue in 220 min under sunlight while a degradation of 70% for Bentazon after 100 min under UV light source was found. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The restoration of degraded ecosystems is considered a key strategy to contribute to ecological integrity and human well‐being. To support restoration practice, 10 "Principles to guide the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration 2021–2030" were conceived through a consultative process and put forward by a group of leading international restoration actors. The extent to which these principles can inform successful restoration activities on the ground, however, remains largely unknown. Using a combination of qualitative and quantitative data collection methods, we probed 32 stakeholders who plan, manage, and implement restoration in Rwanda to elicit which factors they perceive as most important for successful restoration based on the UN Decade principles. Using the Q‐methodology, we discovered that participants overall agreed that the UN Decade principles are relevant to inform successful ecosystem restoration in the study area. Further, the Q‐study revealed three distinct groups of stakeholders with different priorities in terms of opinions on restoration aims, stakeholder involvement, and relevant spatial scales. Based on semi‐structured interviews, we identified four considerations for successful restoration that require special attention in future restoration interventions in the study area: (1) restoring historical conditions, (2) collecting baseline data, (3) increasing local communities' sense of ownership, and (4) pursuing a long‐term vision for restoration activities. To address these considerations and thereby harvest the potential of ecosystem restoration to benefit both people and nature in the long run, diverse stakeholders with different priorities for restoration need to come together to discuss possible differences in their perceived priorities, perspectives, and approaches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water quality and self-purification capacity of the Disam River (Iran) was studied using macroinvertebrate-based indices and Qual2kw mathematical modeling tools. We evaluated the water quality and self-purification status of the Disam River through biotic indices of macroinvertebrates and mathematical modeling (Qual2kw). A total of 10,370 macroinvertebrate specimens were collected monthly using a Surber sampler (30 × 30 cm) at five sampling sites from 2019 through 2020. The Hilsenhoff Family Biotic Index (HFBI) and Average Score Per Taxon (ASPT) indexes categorized the sampling sites 2 and 3 in "Moderate " and "Very poor " water quality classes. The Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera, Trichoptera (EPT) index categorized the river at "Good", and the Biological Monitoring Working Party (BMWP) at "acceptable " classes of water quality. We used Canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) to explain the relationships between biotic indices and physicochemical parameters. The EPT index showed a positive correlation (axis1 = 1/43, axis2 = 0.065) with most physicochemical factors of the Qual2kw. Analyses of the Qual2kw output and macroinvertebrate occurrence showed that the family Chironomidae was dominant (S2 = 37.66% and S3 = 47.33%) in all seasons except summer. Family Baetidae was dominant in S2 (79%) and S3 (78%) with a weak positive correlation with increasing stream temperature (r = 0.21) and slightly negative correlation with increasing stream velocity (r = -0.053). Analyses of BOD and DO fluctuations confirmed the ongoing flushing of pollutants along the Disam River. Our findings highlight the importance of simultaneous study of biotic indices and mathematical modeling in assessment of "ecological integrity" and flexibility of aquatic ecosystems subjected to anthropogenic impacts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The increasing impact of human activities on ecosystems is provoking a profound and dangerous effect, particularly in wildlife. Examining the historical migration patterns of quail (Coturnix coturnix) offers a compelling case study to demonstrate the repercussions of human actions on biodiversity. Urbanization trends, where people gravitate toward mega-urban areas, amplify this effect. The proliferation of artificial urban ecosystems extends its influence across every biome, as human reliance on infrastructure and food sources alters ecological dynamics extensively. We examine European quail migrations pre- and post-World War II and in the present day. Our study concentrates on the Italian peninsula, investigating the historical and contemporary recovery of ringed quail populations. To comprehend changes in quail migration, we utilize trajectory analysis, open statistical data, and linear generalized models. We found that while human population and economic growth have shown a linear increase, quail recovery rates exhibit a U-shaped trajectory, and cereal and legume production displays an inverse U-shaped pattern. Generalized linear models have unveiled the significant influence of several key factors—time periods, cereal and legume production, and human demographics—on quail recovery rates. These factors closely correlate with the levels of urbanization observed across these timeframes. These insights underscore the profound impact of expanding human populations and the rise of mega-urbanization on ecosystem dynamics and services. As our planet becomes more urbanized, the pressure on ecosystems intensifies, highlighting the urgent need for concerted efforts directed toward conserving and revitalizing ecosystem integrity. Simultaneously, manage the needs and demands of burgeoning mega-urban areas. Achieving this balance is pivotal to ensuring sustainable coexistence between urban improvement and the preservation of our natural environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The utilization of groundwater has emerged as an indispensable asset in facilitating economic advancement, preserving ecological integrity, and responding to the challenges posed by climate change, especially in regions characterized by aridity and semi-aridity. The sustainable management of water resources requires an assessment of the geographical and temporal patterns of groundwater recharge. The present study employed the GIS-based WetSpass-M model to model the water balance components by utilizing hydro-meteorological and biophysical data from the Wabe catchment, which spans an area of 1840 km2 in central Ethiopia, for a long time. The objective of this study was to assess the long-term average annual and seasonal groundwater recharge for the catchment area utilizing the WetSpass-M model. The input data were collected through remote sensing data and surveys in the field. The model was employed to gain insights into the process of groundwater recharge in a particular region and to facilitate effective management, prudent utilization, and sustainable planning of water resources in the long run. Water balance components were estimated using seasonal fluctuations in evapotranspiration, surface runoff, and groundwater recharge. The Wabe catchment's summer, winter, and mean long-term yearly groundwater recharge were determined to be 125.5 mm, 78.98 mm, and 204.51 mm, respectively. The model indicates that summer seasons account for 86.5% of the mean annual precipitation, while winter seasons account for 13.5%. On the other hand, the groundwater system percolates 14.8% of the total annual rainfall (1374.26 mm). While evapotranspiration accounts for 51% of total precipitation and surface runoff accounts for 34.1%, the Wabe catchment's mean annual evapotranspiration and surface runoff values are simulated at 701.11 mm and 485.58 mm, respectively. The findings suggest the use of the WetSpass-M model to precisely calculate the water balance components within the Wabe catchment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change and human activities have caused various ecological risks to coastal urban agglomerations. Ecological security refers to the state of health of an ecosystem and its integrity. An objective and comprehensive evaluation of ecological security is significant for protecting the structure and function of coastal ecosystems. The driving force–pressure–state–impact–response (DPSIR) model was used to construct a dynamic simulation model of ecological security in the Xiamen–Zhangzhou–Quanzhou region (XZQR), located on the eastern coast of China. The ecological security level (ESL) characteristics of the spatial and temporal patterns were evaluated by calculating the ecological security index (ESI). Obstacle factors were analyzed as well. The results show the following: (1) From 2011 to 2021, the average ESI rose from 0.238 to 0.686 and went through a relatively insecure stage (2011–2015), a critical stage (2016–2019), and a relatively secure stage (2020–2021). (2) The ESI level in Quanzhou was higher in the early stage, and the level of ecological security in Zhangzhou showed a significant rising trend, increasing by 0.541. Its increase depended on increases in the impact layer. (3) The impact layer is the main obstacle layer affecting the ESL, and the main obstacles include CO2 emissions (0.117), annual rainfall (0.091), general public budget expenditures (0.082), GDP growth rates (0.082), and green coverage in built-up areas (0.075). Therefore, we recommend promoting the complementary advantages of the XZQR and implementing ecological restoration projects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Demand is increasing among investors to create portfolios that encourage positive outcomes for biological diversity. The evolution of investment strategies for transitions to zero carbon over the last two decades provides insights that will assist in shaping strategies for biodiversity‐positive investments. Many emerging approaches to capture company impact and dependence on biodiversity focus on nature‐related threats to an organisation by assessing ecosystem integrity. Other approaches focus on minimising an organisation's contribution to risks of species extinction by using data sets such as the IUCN's Red List of Threatened Species. However, while these approaches are useful for assessing threats to and from biodiversity for individual companies, to be effective for investment portfolio construction, metrics need to be comparable across companies in an investment universe. Many of the threat assessments that could link corporate activities to impacts are incomplete and omit critical information. If the investment community focuses on biodiversity without sufficient forethought, there is a risk of entrenching metrics with significant flaws. In this paper, we suggest that interim approaches are needed to support investors in understanding the approaches being taken by potential investee companies. To that end, we present and discuss a disclosure‐based Biodiversity Management Quality and a classification‐based Biodiversity Revenues metric for biodiversity‐related investing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the influence of renewable energy rebates on the quality of the environment in Australia, with a specific emphasis on premium feed-in tariffs and renewable energy target policy. Using econometric modelling, this study demonstrates that premium feed-in tariffs have a notable long-term impact on reducing carbon emissions, albeit there are difficulties in the short run. On the contrary, the renewable energy target policy regularly demonstrates efficacy in both the short and long run. In addition, external factors, including the China-Australia trade dispute and COVID-19 disruptions, introduce heterogeneity in the outcomes of these policies by influencing supply chains and international collaborations related to renewable energy technologies. The aforementioned findings provide valuable insights for policymakers, underscoring the importance of developing well-thought-out policies that strike a balance between short-term advantages and long-term environmental advantages. This study highlights the significant contribution of effectively designed rebates for renewable energy in Australia's pursuit of a more environmentally conscious future, emphasising the importance of such incentives in promoting ecological integrity and ensuring enduring viability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Canadian Water Resources Journal / Revue Canadienne des Ressources Hydriques is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd 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.)

Today, the issue of biodiversity conservation is, more than ever before, one of primary importance since it has become common knowledge that biodiversity provides many services that are relevant to the sustaining of ecological integrity and, so, for the benefit of humanity. Within this framework, rural areas are particularly exposed to degradation threats and, therefore, biodiversity loss due to their lying between and interlinking with urban and natural areas. The European Commission underlines the relevance of this conservation in its Biodiversity Strategy for 2030, which identifies a series of needs for conserving biodiversity in Europe, among which is the need for more operational tools to support biodiversity management. This paper aims to demonstrate that a geoSpatial decision support system (S‐DSS), developed through focused interdisciplinary research and implemented over a Geospatial Cyberinfrastructure, might provide a powerful web‐based operational tool to encourage both the engagement of a large range of end‐users and stakeholders and the better implementation of the Habitats Directive as indicated by the Biodiversity Strategy for 2030. The platform supports data visualization and on‐the‐fly computer applications for modeling, all via a web browser. The S‐DSS tool brings together knowledge of soil and environmental sciences, biodiversity and information technology. The S‐DSS tool is demonstrated through three use cases in the Campania region (Southern Italy) from different users' perspectives. The connection of data and model aims to provide information that will improve knowledge and awareness of biodiversity. In just a few clicks, the production of maps, results and statistics provides an overview of the biodiversity over a personalized area drawn by the user. The approach is highly transferable to other areas, from other administrative regions to the whole European territory, because it is based on general algorithms that are easily applied elsewhere, providing there is the necessary data availability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Social-ecological systems (SESs) possess a great diversity of land use and land cover (LULC) types with unique assemblages of biodiversity and ecosystem services. However, LULC changes due to landscape fragmentation are emerging as major threats to the system productivity of SESs around the world. This study examined changes to LULC extent and landscape patterns in the Village Tank Cascade Systems (VTCSs) of Sri Lanka using satellite imagery and GIS techniques between 1994 and 2021. Multispectral Landsat images (5 TM and 8 OLI/TIRS) obtained from Google Earth Engine were classified using machine learning algorithms. Overall accuracies obtained were 85.9% (1994) and 88.6% (2021). The LULC change matrix and spatial pattern metrics were used to examine LULC and landscape pattern change dynamics over the VTCS landscapes. LULC change matrix results revealed that forest, which is the dominant LULC class covering 73.7% of the total land area was reduced by 206,725 ha due to transformation into agricultural (70.43%) and scrub (24.33%) lands between 1994 and 2021. Over this time landscape pattern of the VTCS has gradually changed from forest to agricultural land-dominated landscape, with forest and agricultural land types showing a significant negative correlation (p < 0.001; R2 > 0.868), particularly in the southeastern region. Landscape patterns were analysed based on eight spatial metrics calculated at both the landscape and class levels using FRAGSTATS spatial pattern analysis software. At the landscape level, the structure became more dispersed and complex in shape. Heterogeneity was noted to have gradually increased with weakening connectivity, whereas the fragmentation process had gradually accelerated. At the class level, the dominance of forest patches decreased, fragmentation and isolation increased, and connectivity and shape complexity reduced leading to the loss of fragmented forest habitats. The number of patches within the agricultural class increased and became more aggregated and complex in shape. Landscape performance indicators show that VTCSs have experienced a gradual loss of environmental sustainability. Assessment of LULC along with fragmentation can help to monitor the spatial pattern impacts that determine ecological integrity. Thus, the study provides scientific guidance for ecological restoration in degraded VTCSs to effectively improve ecological productivity.

The article discusses the importance of biodiversity and conservation in large river basins, specifically focusing on the Mississippi and Yangtze River basins. It highlights the threats that these river systems face, such as over-exploitation, pollution, and climate change. The article also presents research findings from the Mississippi-Yangtze River Basin Symposium, which include topics such as non-native fish monitoring, habitat and biodiversity under human stressors, and restoration and management strategies. The authors emphasize the need for international collaborations to promote the conservation of aquatic ecosystems in large river basins. [Extracted from the article]

Insects are key fauna species that respond quickly to disturbances and environmental changes. They act as good indicators of habitat, community, or ecosystem quality. Among the great diversity of insects, butterflies stand as ideal bio-indicators for ecosystem function and are sensitive to changes in habitat composition and structure. This study was carried out to examine the diversity and abundance of butterflies across the restored habitats in Usangu area part of Ruaha National Park (RUNAPA) from May 2022 to June 2022 using the walking transect method supplemented by sweep nets and butterfly baited traps. A total of six transects of 1 km in length were laid in the four main habitat types selected in Usangu area including grassland, Miombo woodland, Vachellia/Commiphora woodland, and riverine forest. Searches were conducted in the morning and evening. The Miombo woodland and riverine forest habitats exhibited relatively higher species diversity, richness, evenness, abundance, and a higher number of habitat-restricted species, while Vachellia/Commiphora woodland and grassland habitats recorded the lowest diversity and abundance as well as the lowest number of habitat-restricted species. Family Nymphalidae was the most dominant followed by Pieridae while Papilionidae and Hesperiidae were scarce in the study area. This study clearly shows the importance of Miombo woodland and riverine forest habitats in sustaining rich butterfly diversity and abundance in Usangu area. The two habitats must be effectively managed and conserved for sustaining ecological health and integrity of Usangu area. The Usangu area's Miombo woodland and riverine forest habitats have immense potential for butterfly tourism and they can offer an excellent opportunity to promote conservation efforts and raise public awareness. However, it is crucial to monitor these habitats closely as any environmental changes that may occur could harm the butterfly diversity and abundance in the area. Preserving this wilderness to maintain a thriving butterfly population is of utmost importance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Surface ozone monitoring sites in the tropics are limited, despite the risk that surface ozone poses to human health, tropical forest, and crop productivity. Atmospheric chemistry models allow us to assess ozone exposure in unmonitored locations and evaluate the potential influence of changing policies and climate on air quality, human health, and ecosystem integrity. Here, we utilise in situ ozone measurements from ground-based stations in the pan-tropics to evaluate ozone from the UK Earth system model, UKESM1, with a focus on remote sites. The study includes ozone data from areas with limited previous data, notably Tropical South America, central Africa, and tropical North Australia. Evaluating UKESM1 against observations beginning in 1987 onwards, we show that UKESM1 is able to capture changes in surface ozone concentration at different temporal resolutions, albeit with a systematic high bias of 18.1 nmol mol-1 on average. We use the Diurnal Ozone Range (DOR) as a metric for evaluation and find that UKESM1 captures the observed DOR (mean bias of 2.7 nmol mol-1 and RMSE of 7.1 nmol mol-1) and the trend in DOR with location and season. Results from this study demonstrate the applicability of hourly output from UKESM1 for human and ecosystem health-based impact assessments, increase confidence in model projections, and highlight areas that would benefit from further observations. Indeed, hourly surface ozone data has been crucial to this study, and we encourage other modelling groups to include hourly surface ozone output as a default. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ecological conditions are heavily influenced by human–environment interactions, which is why understanding the relationships between people and nature is crucial. While earlier studies have indicated a pattern of positive correlations between economic wealth and biodiversity in urban areas, there are some examples that suggest that such associations are more intricate than initially presumed. In this study, we aimed to assess whether such a relation holds in Lahti, a medium-sized city in southern Finland, considering two biodiversity proxies (i.e., bird and woody plant species richness) and the Urban Ecosystem Integrity Index (UEII) of the city. Our results show no clear relationship between economic wealth (average annual income per statistical area) reported for 2019 and the two assessed biodiversity proxies and the UEII. These findings shed new light on the "luxury effect" in urban areas and reveal the nature of such relationship in highly green cities embedded in economic parity scenarios. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article evaluates the moral implications of two leading theories on biodiversity preservation/conservation (Paul Taylor's biocentric egalitarianism and J. Baird Callicott's holistic communitarianism). Taylor argues for the moral equality of all members of the Earth's community of life, calling for an ethic of respect for nature to conserve biodiversity. Callicott argues for the moral consideration of ecosystems to maintain their integrity, stability, and beauty. The article makes two major claims. First, we need a plausible account of moral egalitarianism to disrupt ethical anthropocentrism. Second, the ethics of respect for nature requires a critical bottom‐up character‐based ethical theory to be morally forceful. These missing elements are central to the ubuntu philosophy about personhood and are significant for enriching egalitarian‐communitarian solutions to biodiversity loss. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Human sewage can introduce pollutants into food webs and threaten ecosystem integrity. Among the many sewage-associated pollutants, pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) are consistent indicators of sewage in ecosystems and can also cause potent ecological consequences, even at minute concentrations (e.g., ng/L). Despite increased study over the past three decades, PPCPs in terrestrial ecosystems have been less studied than those in aquatic ecosystems. To evaluate PPCP prevalence and drivers in a terrestrial ecosystem, we analyzed managed and native bees collected from agroecosystems in Washington State (USA) for PPCPs. Caffeine, paraxanthine, cotinine, and acetaminophen were detected in all three evaluated taxa (Bombus vosnesenskii, Agapostemon texanus, and Apis mellifera), with B. vosnesenskii and A. texanus having a higher probability of PPCP detection relative to A. mellifera. The probability of PPCP presence in all three taxa increased in landscapes with more human development and greater plant abundance, with significant but negative interactions among these factors. These results suggest that human activity, availability of resources, and species-specific pollinator traits affect the introduction and mobilization of PPCPs in terrestrial ecosystems. Consequently, monitoring PPCPs and their ecological responses in terrestrial ecosystems creates opportunities to synthesize effects of sewage pollution across terrestrial and aquatic ecosystem types and organisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lophelia pertusa reefs are vulnerable deep‐sea ecosystems and their ecological integrity partly depends on the connectivity and availability of suitable habitat. Moreover, connectivity is a guiding principle in marine conservation planning, particularly for spatial prioritization and for the design of networks of marine protected areas. We estimated the functional seascape connectivity of L. pertusa in the Mediterranean Sea and provide a framework for prioritizing habitat areas for the species conservation. These goals were achieved by simulating transport and potential dispersal of virtual larvae using biophysical modeling and assessing habitat availability based on the suitability and spatial arrangement of the seascape and inter‐annual climatological variability. Habitat availability was estimated using a network analysis and accounting for the attributes of habitat areas (i.e., size and quality). The connectivity among Mediterranean ecoregions was weak and an increase in the frequency of climate‐driven events (e.g., dense shelf water cascading) may worsen this scenario. However, the potential exchange of larvae between patches within the same ecoregion was high, favoring populations resilience to local disturbances. The analysis of habitat availability allowed identifying important habitat areas for the connectivity of the L. pertusa including the Gulf of Lion, the Apulian and Sicily Island continental margin. Some of the habitat areas identified as important for the connectivity of the L. pertusa are exposed to intense anthropogenic pressures, that may act synergistically with climate change imposing greater challenges to species conservation. These habitat areas may be prioritized in future management and conservation actions targeting L. pertusa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The estuary is a critical transitional zone between freshwater and marine ecosystems, which plays a pivotal role in the preservation of biodiversity and the provision of ecosystem services. The ecological integrity of estuaries is vital in the sustainable ecosystem management and conservation. This study conducted a bibliometric analysis of estuarine ecological integrity assessment, focusing on the methodologies and the selection of relevant indicators. The methodology primarily included physical-chemical, biological, and socio-economic indicators. The evaluation's significance was systematically analyzed through various indicators in several case studies. Finally, the paper identifies ongoing challenges in assessing estuarine ecological integrity and offers several suggestions to address them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The scarcity of pristine, intact ecosystems limits opportunities to learn about succession and ecosystem evolution under conditions of limited human impact. Finima Nature Park (FNP) has been identified as a possible RAMSAR site. Its protected lake—"FNP Lake" (also known locally as "Bonny Lake")—is an unusual habitat that enables monitoring of aquatic ecological succession in the Niger Delta, where pristine and near-pristine ecosystems are becoming scarce. Macrozoobenthos are one of the best-known bio-monitors of ecological health integrity because they are widespread and long-lasting, with moderate mobility and high diversity, among other valuable characteristics. Monthly data of the community structure of macrozoobenthos and some of the FNP Lake's priority abiotic factors were collected in 2018, which provided a baseline for identifying future water quality changes and succession in the lake. Except for temperature and dissolved oxygen (DO), which were spatially uniform, the physico-chemical parameters varied spatio-temporally. The diversity indices values were low. According to the canonical correspondence abundance (CCA) plot, taxa distributions were influenced mainly by pH, DO, and temperature, which explains the prevalence of oxygen-insensitive species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This in-depth floristic study, conducted from 2019 to 2023 in nine temporary wetlands in the Guelma and Souk Ahras provinces, northeastern Algeria, aims to highlight the natural heritage of the region by analyzing the floristic composition in relation to environmental conditions. To achieve this goal, comprehensive inventories were conducted, revealing the presence of 317 species belonging to 64 botanical families and distributed across 204 genera. The plant diversity at each site was assessed using various biological indices, with a particular focus on the Taxonomic Distinctiveness Index (TDI) to determine the influence of environmental factors such as fires, altitude, overgrazing and agropastoral activities on biodiversity. The results highlighted the dominance of therophytes (43.22%) and the prevalence of the Mediterranean assemblage (66.25%). Moreover, 8.83% of the species were endemic, 1.89% were protected by Algerian legislation and 1.26% were listed on the IUCN Red List. The study identified Priority Conservation Zones (PCA) where the preservation of ponds, particularly MTG, TRC, BTH, and GZE, is crucial. Additionally, floristic and ecological boundaries between ponds were identified, highlighting marked biological similarities between certain pairs and notable isolations, particularly evident in the case of BTH with a significantly high TDI. These results underscore the critical importance of the studied region, emphasizing the need to integrate its floristic biodiversity into conservation efforts to enhance overall ecological integrity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urbanization has a significant negative impact on both the structure and function of ecosystems, as it is a major part of the human-caused transformation of natural landscapes. Concurrently, the attenuation of ecosystem service values (ESVs) poses critical impediments to urbanization and imperils human well-being. Investigating the interactive coupling and coordination relationship between urbanization and ESV is paramount in informing urban development strategies and environmental preservation efforts. Using Jiangsu Province as a representative case, this study forges an urbanization assessment index framework, estimates ESV, and subsequently delves into the multifaceted nexus between urbanization and ESV. The findings disclose a gradual uptick in urbanization levels in Jiangsu Province, underscored by conspicuous regional disparities typified in the subregions of southern Jiangsu, central Jiangsu, and northern Jiangsu, mirroring the high congruence observed in the economic urbanization subsystem. However, this upward trajectory in urbanization coincides with an overarching descent in ESV, with the most pronounced declines manifesting in regions characterized by elevated urbanization levels, such as Nantong and Suzhou. A robust interrelationship between urbanization and ESV is discernible throughout Jiangsu Province. Nevertheless, certain cities exhibit perturbations and retrogression in the associations between urbanization subsystems and ESV. The coupling coordination between population urbanization and ESV is characterized by disharmony while the coordination of economic urbanization markedly lags. Additionally, several cities are witnessing a progressive deterioration in the coordination relationships between ESV subsystems (food production, soil conservation, gas regulation, and raw material production) and urbanization. In light of these findings, it is recommended that governmental authorities enact measures to harmonize urban development with environmental preservation, safeguard the integrity of ecosystem functions, and facilitate the sustainable management of land resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Protecting forest ecosystems is a critical action for addressing both the climate and biodiversity crises. Effective long-term management of forests requires landscape approaches, but evaluating the management actions is a key challenge. Previous research has suggested evaluation should focus on three interrelated pillars: ecosystem integrity, effective planning, and strong governance. This paper presents a framework for evaluating ecosystem integrity based on the 'Principle, Criteria, Indicator and Verifier' (PCIV) method. The key principle used is ecosystem autopoiesis – the ability of a system for self-generation and maintenance by creating its own parts. Four key criteria are applied, accompanied by a set of nine indicators. Verifiers for each indicator are suggested for which feasible data sources are likely available. The use of the three-pillar framework, including ecosystem integrity, is illustrated using three hypothetical cases representing different forest landscape contexts. Such evaluation can provide practical, consistent, repeatable, and comparable information for stakeholders and decision makers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The expansion of cities has increased the necessity of multidisciplinary strategies to reduce the impacts of urbanization on ecosystems. Here we present the Urban Biodiversity Suitability (UBS) Index, a spatially explicit tool that describes levels of environmental suitability for biodiversity based on several urbanistic and socioeconomic data through a wilderness mapping approach. Using a tropical metropolis as a case study (Belo Horizonte, Brazil), we applied a Multi-Criteria Analysis to produce and join four geospatial layers that we believe describe the main aspects of cities that modulate urban biodiversity distribution: human accessibility, soundscape, built artifacts and volume, and land cover. To assess the accuracy of the UBS Index, we used bird species richness, functional richness (FRic), and Rao's Quadratic Entropy (RaoQ) based on data collected across several urban habitats (from streets to natural vegetation patches). We observed that as the suitability levels described by the UBS Index increases, higher bird species richness, FRic, and RaoQ values are also observed. Thus, quieter, less accessible urban regions, with few built artifacts, and with higher amounts of urban vegetation presented diverse bird communities. Those regions are distributed across the analyzed urban landscape, highlighting its spatial and environmental heterogeneity. The UBS Index is a simple tool that can be replicated in other cities across the globe to inform public policies for biodiversity conservation and environmental restoration in urban landscapes. Highlights: We developed a spatially explicit Urban Biodiversity Suitability (UBS) Index. The UBS Index is a multidisciplinary approach that joins several geospatial data. The UBS Index efficiently described levels of urban bird community diversity. The UBS Index can indicate urban areas with different levels of ecological integrity. The UBS Index can guide public policies for a more sustainable urban development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rural business environments and informational sources play a pivotal role in shaping the dynamics of pesticide utilization in the agricultural sector. This study investigates the intricate mechanisms through which these environments impact farmers' pesticide utilization practices and elucidates the key factors within rural business environments and information channels that influence such behaviors. By identifying effective strategies to promote judicious pesticide use among agricultural practitioners, this research aims to enhance the government's ability to provide precise guidance to farmers, ultimately contributing to the preservation of ecological integrity. Employing grounded theory in conjunction with a series of comprehensive interviews with 32 cowpea farmers to gain firsthand insights, our investigation yielded the following key findings: (1) the enhancement of rural business environments has mitigated the impact of neighborhood influences on farmers' pesticide use behavior; (2) farmers predominantly base their pesticide choices on verifiable information; (3) the influence of pesticide retailers on farmers' pesticide use has significantly increased. Based on these findings, a dual-pronged approach is proposed. First, there should be sustained commitment to bolstering rural infrastructure, enhancing the entrepreneurial climate in rural regions, and fostering market liberalization. Second, it is imperative to disseminate advanced pesticide knowledge, demarcate effective information, and intensify dissemination efforts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of People & Nature is the property of Wiley-Blackwell 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.)

This study delves into the dynamics of sustainable tourism in the Lakshadweep Archipelago, India, situated within the ambit of the blue economy framework. The study is centred around achieving a harmonious balance between economic growth and environmental conservation in the Lakshadweep Islands. It critically evaluates the tourism carrying capacity of the Islands, proposing a sustainable model that accommodates varying capacities, ranging from 12 beds in Chetlat to 434 beds in Kadmat, alongside a boating capacity of 207 in Bitra's lagoon. A pivotal finding of this study is the urgent need for stringent environmental management measures, particularly focusing on the protection of fragile coral reef ecosystems against threats like plastic pollution. The limit of acceptable change is rigorously assessed, with coral reef health and water quality as crucial indicators. This study highlights the importance of implementing sustainable practices as a means to both safeguard the ecological integrity of Lakshadweep's diverse islands and drive economic development. These findings play a crucial role in informing policy-making and guiding the alignment of tourism strategies in Lakshadweep with the overarching goals of environmental sustainability and enhancing community welfare. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accurate identification of key areas for ecological restoration is an important foundation for orderly promotion of ecological restoration of territorial space. This study identified the key areas for ecological restoration in Kangbao County according to the research paradigm of "source identification -- resistance surface construction -- corridor extraction". First, ecological source sites were identified and screened based on habitat quality modeling, morphological spatial pattern analysis and landscape connectivity analysis. Then, the base resistance surface was constructed using ArcGIS software and nighttime light data. Thereafter, ecological corridors were extracted and ecological pinch points and ecological barrier points identified with the Linkage Mapper plug-in. Forty ecological source sites with a total area of 68.06 km2 were identified in Kangbao County. These sites were dominated by woodland and grassland, and the integrity of these ecological source sites still needed to be improved. The 96 ecological corridors (total length of 743.81 km) were identified, which were densely distributed in the south and east parts of the study area, and there is still much room for improvement of the habitat connectivity. Additionally, 75 ecological pinch points (total area of 31.72 km2) and 69 ecological obstacles (total area of 16.42 km2) were identified. The key areas to be restored were mainly distributed in Yan Yufang, Har Chimega, Tuchengzi, Zhangji, and Danchenghe Townships. This study can lay a firm foundation for the ecological restoration in Kangbao County. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fish as bioindicators are a widely used tool for environmental monitoring of freshwater ecosystems worldwide. However, its adaptation to temperate Neotropical streams constitutes a challenge due to the presence of pauperised ichthyofauna with high tolerance to environmental degradation. We designed, evaluated, and validated an Index of Biotic Integrity (IBI) that uses fish as bioindicators of the ecological integrity of streams of the Pampa Plain, Argentina. An integral characterization of the environmental conditions (water quality, habitat structure, and riparian condition) and fish assemblages were performed in 17 study sites (natural grasslands, urban, and livestock reaches). The IBI was designed with 10 metrics and showed to be sensitive to different environmental conditions due to significant differences between study sites and land uses. The IBI also showed to be responsive due to its significant associations with water quality, habitat structure variables, and some multimetric indexes. Moreover, when validated against a recently fish database, it demonstrated to be sensitive for use in other temperate streams exposed to similar environmental conditions. An integral environmental assessment as the one designed can lead to optimized strategies for the management and conservation of these fragile ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water conflicts (WACT) in shared river basins have become one of the factors that restrict regional economic development and social stability. Therefore, it is necessary to evaluate water conflict risk (WACR) when managing transboundary river basins. In this research article, in order to accurately and effectively forecast the water conflict risk level, a three-stage process is implemented. Firstly, an evaluation framework for WACR was constructed. The framework consists of four drivers of water conflict: conflict because of water quantity reduction, conflict as a result of differences in water use efficiency, conflict due to disparities in economic and social value of water, and conflict caused by the differences on the amount of water allocated to ensure the integrity of the ecological environment. Secondly, a conflict risk evaluation model was established based on subtraction set pair potential to assess the static evaluation of the WACR. Thirdly, the Grey correlation model is used to forecast data to dynamically predict WACR in the future. The Mekong River Basin (MRB) was selected as a case study to test the validity of the framework. Hence, the following results are obtained: (1) The risk of water conflict in the MRB is always at a medium level. (2) China has the highest risk of water quantity conflict. Laos and Myanmar have a very high water efficiency conflict risk. The risk of economic and social conflict in Cambodia, Myanmar, and Vietnam is at a medium degree. The risk of ecological environmental conflict in Laos and Thailand is at a medium level. (3) From 2022 to 2027, WACT in the MRB decreased to a low risk. Based on this, risk prevention measures are put forward for water cooperation in the MRB. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The diversity-productivity relationship is a central issue in maintaining the grassland ecosystem’s multifunctionality and supporting its sustainable management. Currently, the mainstream opinion on the diversity-productivity relationship recognizes that increases in species diversity promote ecosystem productivity.Methods: Here, we challenge this opinion by developing a generalized additive model-based framework to quantify the response rate of grassland productivity to plant species diversity using vegetation survey data we collected along a land-use intensity gradient in northern China.Results: Our results show that the grassland aboveground biomass responds significantly positively to the Shannon-Wiener diversity index at a rate of 46.8 g m-2 per unit increase of the Shannon-Wiener index in enclosure-managed grasslands, under the co-influence of climate and landscape factors. The aboveground biomass response rate stays positive at a magnitude of 47.1 g m-2 in forest understory grassland and 39.7 g m-2 in wetland grassland. Conversely, the response rate turns negative in heavily grazed grasslands at -55.8 g m-2, transiting via near-neutral rates of -7.0 and -7.3 g m-2 in mowing grassland and moderately grazed grassland, respectively.Discussion: These results suggest that the diversity-productivity relationship in temperate grasslands not only varies by magnitude but also switches directions under varying levels of land use intensity. This highlights the need to consider land use intensity as a more important ecological integrity indicator for future ecological conservation programs in temperate grasslands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]