Search

Groundwater availability has become a global challenge due to climatic droughts and human interventions. North India has emerged as one of the most groundwater-depleted regions. Our study delves into the linkage between groundwater variability, climatic and anthropogenic factors for the last two decades using the Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) and GRACE-Follow On (GRACE-FO) observations, groundwater levels, climatic and socioeconomic datasets. Our novel spatiotemporal analysis of groundwater storage (GWS) anomaly reveals five episodes of notable changes in north India affected by rainfall variability and groundwater abstraction. The standardized precipitation index (SPI) reveals that the prolonged drought and groundwater pumping during 2015 to 2017 significantly affected GWS. Our results suggest that sufficient rainfall contributed to the replenishment of GWS in some zones during 2018 to 2023, likely due to government recharge programmes. Our findings elucidate the current scenario and underscore a pressing necessity to accelerate groundwater management strategies, ensuring its resilience in future periods of intense drought. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper contains information about the current state of habitats of species of the orders Charadriiformes, Ciconiiformes, and Gruiformes found in the southern coastal part of the Caspian Sea, the influence of anthropogenic factors on their habitability, and the status of species included in international conventions. It was revealed that, 24 species found in the southern coastal part of the Caspian Sea have the status of global protection. Of the 154 species with European conservation status, only 48 are eligible for higher global conservation statuses. That is, 3 species are in crisis, 13 species are endangered and 29 species are vulnerable. The number of 2 species is unknown, and there is no sufficient information about 1 species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Brilliant, diverse colour ornaments of birds were one of the crucial cues that led Darwin to the idea of sexual selection. Although avian colouration plays many functions, including concealment, thermoregulation, or advertisement as a distasteful prey, a quality‐signalling role in sexual selection has attracted most research attention. Sexually selected ornaments are thought to be more susceptible to external stressors than naturally selected traits, and as such, they might be used as a test for environmental quality. For this reason, the last two decades have seen numerous studies on the impact of anthropogenic pollution on the expression of various avian colour traits. Herein, we provide the first meta‐analytical summary of these results and examine whether there is an interaction between the mechanism of colour production (carotenoid‐based, melanin‐based and structural) and the type of anthropogenic factor (categorised as heavy metals, persistent organic pollutants, urbanisation, or other). Following the assumption of heightened condition dependence of ornaments under sexual selection, we also expected the magnitude of effect sizes to be higher in males. The overall effect size was close to significance and negative, supporting a general detrimental impact of anthropogenic pollutants on avian colouration. In contrast to expectations, there was no interaction between pollution types and colour‐producing mechanisms. Yet there were significant differences in sensitivity between colour‐producing mechanisms, with carotenoid‐based colouration being the most affected by anthropogenic environmental disturbances. Moreover, we observed no significant tendency towards heightened sensitivity in males. We identified a publication gap on structural colouration, which, compared to pigment‐based colouration, remains markedly understudied and should thus be prioritised in future research. Finally, we call for the unification of methods used in colour quantification in ecological research to ensure comparability of results among studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

At the beginning of the 20th century in Europe, a scientific direction was formed, called phytosociology, the founder of which was the Swiss botanist and ecologist J. Braun- Blanquet. The approach he developed has become widespread throughout the world and has formed the basis for a large number of vegetation classifications. The article provides a description of the ecological-floristic approach to vegetation classification according to the following parameters: the scope of the concept of association, the peculiarities of its boundary allocation, the classification criteria for establishing the type of forest conditions and for determining the association, consideration of the succession dynamics and the influence of anthropogenic factors, the level of implementation in forestry, forest management and reporting. An overview of the current state of the approach is given and the results of its comparison to the Russian forest typologies are presented. The advantages of the Braun-Blanquet classification include its versatility, developed methodology, flexibility of classification criteria and a carefully thought-out nomenclature. The development of the Turboveg software package for entering, storing and processing vegetation data has contributed to the increase in the use of this classification. Currently, in addition to vegetation features, it is becoming mandatory to take into account climatic parameters, and when identifying syntaxa and forming cartographic representations of vegetation, modern advances in the field of GIS technologies are used to assess the factors that influence the vegetation structure. The reflection of successional dynamics in syntaxonomic units still remains an urgent task for both the ecological-floristic approach and the domestic forest typologies. Within the framework of the Braun-Blanquet approach, aspects related to the consideration of anthropogenic transformations of plant associations are also being actively studied. This is evidenced by a number of successful examples of assessing forest synanthropization and modeling the response functions of plant communities to environmental factors, including anthropogenic ones. As in forest typologies, multidimensional methods of data analysis (DCA, CCA, PCA with superimposition of vectors on ordination diagrams) are widely used in the development of eclological-floristic classifications for studying the structure of forest vegetation.

Assessment of medium- and large-sized mammals’ species diversity, abundance, distribution, and habitat association is necessary to promote their conservation measures. The study was conducted in the former Dhidhessa wildlife sanctuary (FDWS), to assess the medium- and large-sized mammals’ composition, distribution, and diversity. Transect lines were used to collect the data. A total of 1,146 ± 91 individuals belonging to 25 species, seven orders, and 14 families were recorded. Among these, 607 ± 186.5 (52.97%) were recorded during the wet season, whereas 539 ± 144.5 (47.03%) during the dry season. The order Carnivora was the most diverse one, followed by Artiodactyla and Primates, respectively, while Rodentia, Hyracoidea, Tubulidentata, and Lagomorpha were the least diverse orders. Olive baboon (Papio anubis) was the most abundant species (19.2%), followed by Hippopotamus (Hippopotamus amphibious) (17.63%) and Vervet monkey (Chlorocebus aethiops) (13.18%). Species diversity was higher in the savanna-wooded than in the riverine forest during both the wet (H’ = 2.72, Fisher’s alpha = 6.33) and dry (H’= 2.79, Fisher’s alpha = 6.26) seasons. Species evenness was higher in the savanna-wooded habitat than in the riverine forest habitat during both the wet (J’ = 0.87 and J’ = 0.77, respectively) and dry (J’ = 0.9 and J’ = 0.80, respectively) seasons. The highest similarity in species composition was between the wet and dry seasons in the riverine forest habitat (SI = 85.58%). The lowest similarity was recorded between the dry and wet seasons of the riverine forest and the wet season of the savanna wooded habitat (SI = 45.46% and SI = 46.49%, respectively). The study suggests that mammals are at risk of anthropogenic factors in the area. So, an urgent conservation measure that involves the participation of the local community has paramount significance for the sustainable conservation of mammals in the former Dhidhessa wildlife sanctuary. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Himalayan region has been experiencing stark impacts of climate change, demographic and livelihood pattern changes. The analysis of land use and land cover (LULC) change provides insights into the shifts in spatial and temporal patterns of landscape. These changes are the combined effects of anthropogenic and natural/climatic factors. The present study attempts to monitor and comprehend the main drivers behind LULC changes (1999–2021) in the Himalayan region of Pithoragarh district, Uttarakhand. Pithoragarh district is a border district, remotely located in the north-east region of Uttarakhand, India. The study draws upon primary and secondary data sources. A total of 400 household surveys and five group discussions from 38 villages were conducted randomly to understand the climate perception of the local community and the drivers of change. Satellite imagery, CRU (Climatic Research Unit) climate data and climate perception data from the field have been used to comprehensively comprehend, analyze, and discuss the trends and reasons for LULC change. GIS and remote sensing techniques were used to construct LULC maps. This multifaceted approach ensures comprehensive and corroborated information. Five classes were identified and formed viz- cultivation, barren, settlement, snow, and vegetation. Results show that vegetation and built-up have increased whereas cultivation, barren land, and snow cover have decreased. The study further aims to elucidate the causes behind LULC changes in the spatially heterogeneous region, distinguishing between those attributed to human activities, climate shifts, and the interconnected impacts of both. The study provides a comprehensive picture of the study area and delivers a targeted understanding of local drivers and their potential remedies by offering a foundation for formulating sustainable adaptation policies in the region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the impact of environmental factors on human health, including harmful substances, extreme temperatures, and air quality. The health status of the population in regions where many industries operate also depends on meteorological factors. The purpose of the study is to characterize and determine the influence of environmental factors (humidity, temperature, wind) and industries, including metal mining and processing regions, on the health of people in the Aktobe region, Republic of Kazakhstan. The study used general theoretical methods to analyze and systematize the results of the meteorological service of the Aktobe region and the experiments conducted by the branch of the National Centre of Expertise of the Committee of Sanitary and Epidemiological Control of the Ministry of Healthcare of the Republic of Kazakhstan for the Aktobe region in 2020 and 2021. Statistical data on the amount of chromium, lead, and nickel in the blood, and the morbidity rate of the population were analyzed. The study's findings indicate that residents in the Aktobe region experience hypothermia during winter at temperatures between −12 °C and −15 °C and humidity of 81%, and in summer overheating occurs at temperatures between +19.6 °C and +22.5 °C with humidity of 77%. These extreme temperature conditions disrupt the body's heat exchange with the environment, affecting the respiratory and circulatory systems. Moreover, the predominantly windless conditions in the region affect the atmosphere's self‐cleaning ability, resulting in high levels of air pollution throughout the year. The findings can inform strategies to improve public health and prevent diseases in industrial regions. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2024;20:1156–1165. © 2023 SETAC Key Points: The study emphasizes the significant relationship between environmental conditions and human health, advocating thorough research into how different environmental factors affect people's health.A critical insight from the research is the effect of natural conditions on health, where extreme cold and heat paired with high humidity levels significantly impair the body's thermoregulation, leading to hypothermia or overheating.Environmental improvements and human health protections are integral to ensuring a sustainable and prosperous future and should be a focal point of national policy and public health objectives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, spanning from 1938 to 2020, the hydrological changes in the Volga River and their repercussions on the Caspian Sea level were examined. Analysis reveals a correlation between high Volga River runoff and increased atmospheric precipitation in its basin. However, in recent years (2005–2020), a significant decline in the runoff coefficient at the Verkhneye Lebyazhie hydrological station, attributable to climate warming surpassing global temperature anomalies, has been observed. This warming's impact on river flow and sea level was quantified, resulting in a 133 cm decrease in sea level from 1977 to 2020. Notably, while, historically, Caspian Sea level changes mirrored Volga River runoff fluctuations until 2005, since 2006, the sea level has markedly dropped, decoupling from river runoff variations. Comparison with recent studies suggests that altered wind characteristics over the Caspian Sea, influencing surface evaporation, may have significantly contributed to this rapid sea level decline in recent years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The urbanization and industrialization of human society boost the socioeconomic growth but yet inevitably result in unprecedented damages to environment and organisms. One of the threats is the air pollution produced from anthropogenic activities. Moreover, the pollution concentrates longer in certain meteorological phenomena and exacerbates the impact on nature species and human health. This paper presents an association mining approach to identify the influential factors which result in a high volume of air pollution concentration, in particular, the particulate matter with aerodynamic diameter ≤ 2.5 μm (PM2.5). Since the literature showed that the identified factors are location and spatial-scale dependent, we chose a basin geography, Puli township, Taiwan, and inferred the association relationships with two different-scaled monitoring stations. The government-built supersite at Puli estimates the PM2.5 concentration for the entire township of the area around 150 km2, while the participatory microsites monitor air quality in a smaller region of a hundred thousand square meters. Our research was conducted with relevant data during 2017–2019. The mining result has unique findings as compared to the literature. The relative humidity, precipitation, wind speed and direction, which were identified as major factors in many previous studies, have less impact on air quality of our studied field than temperature and atmospheric pressure. The remarkable distinction is mainly attributed to the special weather patterns of basin geography. We investigated the impact of all national festivals and identified the most significant ones. The probability of observing PM2.5 concentrations greater than 35 μg/m3 in the activity hours of New Year's Eve is 50% which is significantly greater than 11.74%, the probability of observing the same concentration range over all days in the investigated years, while the Tomb Sweeping Day (TSD) has a varying impact on air quality depending on the order of the TSD date within the long holiday. The increase of PM2.5 concentration is remarkably more significant if the TSD is the last day in the long holiday than if it is the middle day. This finding can be taken into consideration when the government agent makes schedules for national festivals. Finally, it was learned in our study that different landmarks and land uses have various significant impacts on micro-scale air quality. The microsites monitor high PM2.5 concentrations at particular landmarks with a greater confidence than the mean confidence over all microsites. These pollution-associated landmarks with the confidence ranked from highest to lowest are night markets, crossroads, paper mills, temples, and highway exits. It is worth noting that the PM2.5 increase contributed by temples is negligible, which may be attributed to the citizen action for promoting reduction in joss paper and incense stick burning. The land uses have diverse impacts on air quality. Anthropogenic activities contribute higher PM2.5 concentrations in business districts and residential areas. The PM2.5 concentration monitored at high lands and agricultural lands is lower than the overall background due to fewer mass gathering and combustion activities in these land uses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to investigate the underlying anthropogenic driving factors of forest landscape degradation in the Kilimanjaro World Heritage Sites (WHS), Tanzania using survey-based data. The essence is to support strategic policies for forest landscape protection and natural heritage sustainability. The research employed empirical data using mixed questionnaires of experts and residents to identify various indirect anthropogenic driving factors of forest degradation, analyze rural poverty and causal mechanisms as indirect anthropogenic drivers of forest degradation, and evaluate the level of awareness and community involvement in forest protection. ArcGIS was used to generate the Maps. About 140 sample sizes were utilized for this study. Using purposive and simple random techniques, about 46 and 100 mixed questionnaires were distributed to experts in forest guard and residents, respectively. Data were analyzed using quantitative and qualitative techniques. Findings showed that indirect factors of forest degradation include high tourism demand, poverty, culture and tradition of local communities, lack of forest protection and conservation education, and insufficient land availability. Also, findings showed that rural poverty as an indirect anthropogenic driving factor of forest degradation is attributed to unemployment in rural areas, inadequate land for agriculture, and insufficient productive forestry availability. Additionally, this study revealed that residents are aware that the forest is under the government's protection, and most people in local communities are not involved in activities for forest protection. Therefore, the study suggests that the locals should be involved in the activities that promote forest protection for effective control and management. Alternative heating methods should also be explored to reduce much pressure on the available forest to improve the natural heritage sustainability of natural WHS found in Sub-Saharan Africa and other parts of the Global South. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Attributing intensification extreme precipitation to anthropogenic factors on the regional scale is challenging, given the large fluctuations and the complexity of quantifying interactions among these anthropogenic factors. Here, we propose a new variance‐based method to investigate the roles of human‐induced greenhouse gas (GHG), aerosol (AER), and their interactions (GA) in shaping extreme precipitation on the Qinghai‐Tibet Plateau (QTP) at stational scale. In terms of contribution, GHG has the greatest impact on total wet‐day precipitation and simple daily intensity. In terms of significance, GA, and AER exert significant effects on all 10 extreme indices (P; < 0.05) over 48.3% and 44.8% of all stations, while GHG affects less (25.9%). Overall, GHG is not the only dominant factor, and GA and AER are expected to play vital roles in intensifying extreme precipitation over the QTP under SSP2‐4.5. These findings challenge the conventional insights that GHG is the primary anthropogenic driver of extreme precipitation. Plain Language Summary: Greenhouse gas (GHG) has long been regarded as the primary anthropogenic driver of the intensification of extreme precipitation. However, extreme precipitation is closely linked to the complex interplay of various anthropogenic influences, with contributions varying across regions due to differences in longitude, latitude, and altitude. Here, we propose a new method to robustly quantify the contributions of GHG, AER, and GA to extreme precipitation at each station on the Qinghai‐Tibet Plateau (QTP). The results show that the majority of the stations quantified by this method are statistically significant. Importantly, we find that complex interactions of GHG and AER will shape extreme precipitation over the QTP. These findings challenge the traditional understanding of climate change attributed solely to GHG and prompt a reconsideration of whether reducing GHG alone could effectively mitigate climate change. Key Points: We propose a new variance‐based factorial analysis method to quantify contributions of anthropogenic factors at each meteorological station over Qinghai‐Tibet Plateau (QTP)Extreme precipitation over the QTP is projected to increase in the upcoming centuryThe interaction between greenhouse gas and aerosol would play a key role in intensification extreme precipitation over QTP under SSP2‐4.5 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract It is important to investigate the responses of greenhouse gases to climate change (temperature, precipitation) and anthropogenic factors in plateau wetland. Based on the DNDC model, we used meteorological, soil, and land cover data to simulate the soil CO2 emission pattern and its responses to climate change and anthropogenic factors in Guizhou, China. The results showed that the mean soil CO2 emission flux in the Caohai Karst Plateau Wetland was 5.89 ± 0.17 t·C·ha−1·yr−1 from 2000 to 2019, and the annual variation showed an increasing trend with the rate of 23.02 kg·C·ha−1·yr−1. The soil total annual mean CO2 emissions were 70.62 ± 2.04 Gg·C·yr−1 (annual growth rate was 0.28 Gg·C·yr−1). Caohai wetland has great spatial heterogeneity. The emissions around Caohai Lake were high (the areas with high, middle, and low values accounted for 3.07%, 70.96%, and 25.97%, respectively), and the emission pattern was characterized by a decrease in radiation from Caohai Lake to the periphery. In addition, the cropland and forest areas exhibited high intensities (7.21 ± 0.15 t·C·ha−1·yr−1 and 6.73 ± 0.58 t·C·ha−1·yr−1, respectively) and high total emissions (54.97 ± 1.16 Gg·C·yr−1 and 10.24 ± 0.88 Gg·C·yr−1, respectively). Croplands and forests were the major land cover types controlling soil CO2 emissions in the Caohai wetland, while anthropogenic factors (cultivation) significantly increased soil CO2 emissions. Results showed that the soil CO2 emissions were positively correlated with temperature and precipitation; and the temperature change had a greater impact on soil respiration than the change in precipitation. Our results indicated that future climate change (increased temperature and precipitation) may promote an increase in soil CO2 emissions in karst plateau wetlands, and reasonable control measures (e.g. returning cropland to lakes and reducing anthropogenic factors) are the keys to controlling CO2 emissions.

The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is more widespread in animals than previously thought, and it may be able to infect a wider range of domestic and wild species. To effectively control the spread of the virus and protect animal health, it is crucial to understand the cross-species transmission mechanisms and risk factors of SARS-CoV-2. This article collects published literature on SARS-CoV-2 in animals and examines the distribution, transmission routes, biophysical, and anthropogenic drivers of infected animals. The reported cases of infection in animals are mainly concentrated in South America, North America, and Europe, and species affected include lions, white-tailed deer, pangolins, minks, and cats. Biophysical factors influencing infection of animals with SARS-CoV-2 include environmental determinants, high-risk landscapes, air quality, and susceptibility of different animal species, while anthropogenic factors comprise human behavior, intensive livestock farming, animal markets, and land management. Due to current research gaps and surveillance capacity shortcomings, future mitigation strategies need to be designed from a One Health perspective, with research focused on key regions with significant data gaps in Asia and Africa to understand the drivers, pathways, and spatiotemporal dynamics of interspecies transmission.

Knowledge of the large carnivore guild is important in view of a possible lion reintroduction into the Comoé National Park (CNP), northern Côte d’Ivoire. We used camera trapping to assess activity patterns, habitat selection, and ecological factors influencing the occupancy of the spotted hyena Crocuta crocuta. Our results showed that the presence of leopard Panthera pardus, the only current other large carnivore and thus potential competitor, did not influence hyena occupancy. Hyena occupancy was only significantly related to Euclidian distance to nearest water point. Manly’s alpha habitat selection index values show a preference of spotted hyena for shrub savannah (αSa = 0.71), and Pianka’s overlap index showed low spatial competition with leopard (OIJ(PNC) = 0.12). Our findings showed that spotted hyena were mostly nocturnal, and generally active at the same time slots with leopard, leading to a high index of temporal overlap (OIJ(time) = 0.78). The kernel density estimation confirmed that spotted hyenas and leopard shared almost half of their activity patterns (Δ1 = 0.49 and 95% CI = 0.26–0.71). Prey diversity is high in CNP but anthropogenic threats appear to suppress population growth of prey and predators. Conservation efforts should continue to reduce pressures before contemplating a potential lion Panthera leo reintroduction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• First review report of black band disease in Indonesia. • 29 cases of black band disease are reported recently. • Black band disease is caused by more than one type of microorganism usually called a consortium of microorganisms dominated by Cyanobacteria. • Another stressor from environment and anthropogenic activity also affect black band disease. Coral reefs stand out as exceptionally diverse ecosystems globally, serving crucial roles as nurseries and nutrient sources for marine life. Beyond their significance for marine ecosystems, these reefs play a vital role in shielding humans from erosion by acting as barriers against waves and storms. Unfortunately, the existence of coral reefs faces a threat from black band disease, particularly in Indonesia. This disease can lead to a rapid decline in coral reefs, characterized by microbial mat presence containing filamentous cyanobacteria consortium, resulting in tissue loss, lesions, and mortality. The limited awareness of this disease in Indonesia compounds the issue. In this review, we aim to present comprehensive information on black band disease, covering its definition, historical context, cases in Indonesia, and potential contributing factors, drawing from secondary sources. There are 29 documented cases of black band disease in Indonesia, scattered across Sumatra, Java, Sulawesi, NTT, and Papua, with Acropora and Montipora being the most frequently affected coral genera. Given the relatively silent nature of these cases, it is imperative to bring greater attention to black band disease in Indonesia. Microbiome engineering emerges as a suggested treatment. This literature review serves to enhance awareness of black band disease and marine biodiversity in Indonesia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Attributing intensification extreme precipitation to anthropogenic factors on the regional scale is challenging, given the large fluctuations and the complexity of quantifying interactions among these anthropogenic factors. Here, we propose a new variance‐based method to investigate the roles of human‐induced greenhouse gas (GHG), aerosol (AER), and their interactions (GA) in shaping extreme precipitation on the Qinghai‐Tibet Plateau (QTP) at stational scale. In terms of contribution, GHG has the greatest impact on total wet‐day precipitation and simple daily intensity. In terms of significance, GA, and AER exert significant effects on all 10 extreme indices (P;

In this article, a study was conducted to analyze the factors leading to the occurrence of one of the natural disasters - fires on the territory of Eastern Kazakhstan. This work examined the consequences of forest fires that occurred before 2022 and analyzed changes in the state of forest cover in recent years using satellite images. The article also describes the methodology and application of geographic information technologies for assessing the potential damage caused by fires based on data from space. This technology provides a quick assessment of possible damage from forest and steppe fires, which can be supplemented with data from the area. Based on space monitoring data, areas affected by fires are identified, and a rapid assessment of such areas is carried out using information from the MODIS system, after which it is recommended to supplement it with more detailed medium-resolution data, such as Landsat images. In addition, the article determined the structure of forest cover, and also identified factors influencing the occurrence of fire conditions in the territory of Eastern Kazakhstan. As a result of the study, a set of proposals was developed to assess the level of damage caused by forest fires and measures to prevent such fires.

The current study presents data on the structure of populations of an endemic species Phlomis nubilans Zakirov under a drought climate. The rare species P. nubilans belongs to the respective endemic genus of Uzbekistan. We studied the ontogenetic structure of populations, and the current state of P. nubilans populations was estimated based on a set of climate factors.

At present, an important feature of the study of bats is their ability to carry pathogens of dangerous viruses, which is important for epidemiology when analyzing the spread of infectious diseases. Therefore, the study of the nonspecific immunity of bats will be able to suggest their morbidity and ability to endure diseases dangerous to humans. The purpose of the study is to consider the state of nonspecific resistance of the small bat (Pipistrellus pygmaeus Leach, 1825) under the conditions of unfavorable anthropogenic factors in the territory of the Bryansk region. The article presents the results of the analysis of indicators of nonspecific immunity of the small bat, living in areas with different anthropogenic pressure: colony №1 - rural area, colony №2 - urban area. To determine the natural resistance, physiological reactivity and general nonspecific resistance in the small bat, hematological and biochemical studies were conducted according to standard methods in males and females of two colonies. Blood serum lysozyme activity, bactericidal activity, phagocytic activity, circulating immune complexes were measured. In the body of males and females of the small bat, adaptation to new conditions of a negative urban environment is associated with adaptive-compensatory processes, manifested in hyperactivity of the immune system, pronounced disorders of the immune system and cellular immunity.

Northeast China is experiencing severe soil erosion, resulting in land degradation and nutrient loss. Among them, water erosion poses the greatest threat to food security. Combining various multi‐source data, we applied the modified soil erosion equation (RUSLE) to evaluate the water erosion modulus in Northeast China (1985–2021). We used the threshold segmentation and residual analysis method to quantify the relative roles of climate change and human activities on water erosion. The outcomes were as follows: (1) In recent decades, the average annual water erosion modulus in northeastern China was 804.78 t·km−2·a−1, decreasing with a slope of −11.114 t·km−2·a−1. In 24% of the study area, the erosion modulus increased significantly, mainly in grassland and farmland, due to grassland degradation and expansion of sloping cropland. In 20% of the study area, erosion modulus decreased significantly, mainly spread in forests, which was attributed to the implementation of important ecological restoration projects by the Chinese government, such as afforestation programs and returning farmland to forest. (2) During the research process, there were spatial variations in water erosion drivers in Northeast China. For areas with significant increases in erosion, 20% of the total study area were caused by anthropogenic factors, and 3% were attributed to natural factors. For areas where erosion had significantly improved, 18% of the total study area was attributed to ecological restoration, and 2% to natural factors. (3) Based on the results of the study, ecological restoration of forests and grasses, management of sloping cropland, and conservation tillage were recommended to reduce soil erosion in Northeast China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context: Alterations of landscapes and riverscapes by humans have fundamentally altered patterns in freshwater biodiversity throughout the world's aquatic systems. Past research has demonstrated precipitous declines in small- and medium-sized streams, with much less attention given to patterns and drivers of fish biodiversity in larger riverine systems. Objectives: By examining alpha and beta diversity of fishes in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River, China, we aimed to address the following question: What is the role of river–lake connectivity, wetland extent, and human stress factors (e.g., urbanization, fishing pressure, navigation, and shoreline modifications) in shaping fish alpha (species richness) and beta (species nestedness and turnover) diversity? Methods: We examined associations among three classifications of fish assemblage data (i.e., all species, nonmigratory species, and migratory species) sampled along gradients of river–lake connectivity (i.e., Dongting and Poyang lakes), wetland extent, and a suite of human stress factors (urbanization, fishing pressure, navigation, shoreline modification). We conducted redundancy analyses and distance-based redundancy analyses to facilitate mechanistic interpretations of the associations between the explanatory variables and fish alpha and beta diversity. Results: Longitudinally from the middle to the lower reaches of the Yangtze River, fish alpha diversity showed marked decreases while fish beta diversity increased. River segments with greater levels of human impact were generally associated with reduced fish species richness, while segments with higher wetland extent and greater river–lake connectivity tended to support greater species richness. River–lake connectivity, wetland extent, and fishing pressure largely influenced total fish beta diversity. Species nestedness was primarily associated with amount of wetlands, and exhibited the strongest associations with nonmigratory fish species. Turnover was primarily associated with river–lake connectivity (mainly Poyang Lake), especially for migratory species. Conclusions: Our analyses demonstrate the roles of river–lake connectivity, wetland extent, and human stress factors in shaping patterns of alpha and beta diversity for migratory and nonmigratory fishes in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River. Fish diversity conservation in this large river ecosystem calls for protecting hydrological connectivity and wetland habitats, along with reducing fishing pressure. Results from this study will help better inform fish conservation efforts in the Yangtze River and have implications towards other large river systems of the world. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Chinese pangolin (Manis pentadactyla) confronts challenges from illegal hunting, trading, and habitat degradation. Therefore, it is imperative to establish and implement effective conservation strategies at both local and regional levels. However, there is limited information, particularly within the Kathmandu Valley of Nepal, underscoring the significance of local-level habitat characterization for burrowing animals like pangolins. In this context, our study aimed to assess how anthropogenic and environmental factors influence the presence of Chinese pangolins along the elevational gradients of Chandragiri-Champadevi Hills, renowned for the scenic beauty and popular hiking trails within the valley. We conducted surveys of foraging and resting burrows at 72 plots distributed along 12 elevational line transects from 1500 to 2100 m elevational gradients of Chandragiri-Champadevi Hills. Notably, we observed pangolin burrows spanning from 1550 m to 2095 m. With increasing elevation, we recorded a decline in both foraging and resting burrow numbers. Furthermore, our findings indicated an increase in burrow numbers with increasing the distances from roads, whereas burrow numbers decreased with increasing proximity to human settlements. Interestingly, foraging burrows exhibited an increase with noise but a decrease with slope, while resting burrows showed an increase association with higher canopy and ground cover percentages. Our study shows the substantial anthropogenic disturbances in the habitats of Chinese pangolins in the Chandragiri-Champadevi Hills. We recommend managing the human-associated threats to ensure the species conservation at this site-specific area.

Hydrological processes and the sustainable use of water resources in a river basin are altered by climate change and changes in human variables. This study examined the significant effects of vegetation and hydrological, climatic, and human activity changes on the basin’s biological environment and usage of water resources. The Min River Basin (MRB) in the upper Yangtze River served as the study location. Mann–Kendall and Pettitt mutation test techniques were used to examine the features of runoff changes in the basin. The effects of meteorological and anthropogenic factors on runoff and vegetation changes in the MRB from 1982 to 2020 were quantitatively evaluated using the expanded Budyko equation. Following this, spatial and temporal variations in land use and the NDVI in the basin were studied. The results of the research demonstrated the following: (1) The MRB yearly runoff trended downward and that an abrupt change in runoff happened in 1994. (2) Precipitation (Pr) showed a decreasing tendency from the base period (S1) to the change period (S2), but potential evapotranspiration (ET0) showed an increasing trend. (3) From 1985 to 2020, the land use area of the MRB changed rapidly, and the construction land and water area increased by 322% and 58.85%, respectively, while the cultivated land area decreased by 11.72%. (4) From S1 to S2, there was a rising trend in both the NDVI and the Budyko parameter n. The contributions of Pr, ET0, NDVI, and n to the runoff change were 32.41%, 9.43%, 27.51%, and 30.65%, respectively.

In this study, spanning from 1938 to 2020, the hydrological changes in the Volga River and their repercussions on the Caspian Sea level were examined. Analysis reveals a correlation between high Volga River runoff and increased atmospheric precipitation in its basin. However, in recent years (2005–2020), a significant decline in the runoff coefficient at the Verkhneye Lebyazhie hydrological station, attributable to climate warming surpassing global temperature anomalies, has been observed. This warming’s impact on river flow and sea level was quantified, resulting in a 133 cm decrease in sea level from 1977 to 2020. Notably, while, historically, Caspian Sea level changes mirrored Volga River runoff fluctuations until 2005, since 2006, the sea level has markedly dropped, decoupling from river runoff variations. Comparison with recent studies suggests that altered wind characteristics over the Caspian Sea, influencing surface evaporation, may have significantly contributed to this rapid sea level decline in recent years.

The issue of ensuring the safety of life is becoming more and more urgent. Society is beginning to understand that the further development of mankind and technological progress require that everyone has the highest level of knowledge and culture in this field. The purpose of the presented research is to study the safety of life and to consider the safety of life in the household and social spheres. The methodological basis of the research is based on a combination of various general scientific methods of scientific cognition. This study used methods of information analysis and synthesis, the comparative method, and the method of induction and deduction. At the final stage of the study, the method of analysing scientific literature relevant to the subject of the study was used. Life safety (LS) can be characterised as a science that studies hazards and ways to protect against them. It is an integral part of the system of state, social and defense measures taken to protect the population and economy of the country from the consequences of accidents, disasters, natural disasters and weapons of destruction of the enemy. In the course of the study, it was determined that social practice indicates that a person violates the rules of safe behavior for several reasons. First of all, this is explainedc by ignorance of the object of influence, the rules of safe behavior and ways of their application, the discrepancy between the physical and mental capabilities of a person to the requirements of public practice. The practical value of the presented research lies in the fact that it can be used by both theorists and practitioners in the process of studying the safety of human life in the household and social spheres.

The work contains generalized approaches and features of anthropogenic load on the basins of small rivers within Lutsk town. The reasons for the deterioration of quality of the surface water in Lutsk are considered. The assessment of the level of anthropogenic load on river basins in the city of Lutsk was carried out. A number of practical actions are presented that could stop anthropogenic processes and improve the use of small rivers.

Recent anthropogenic sources and excess usage have immensely threatened the communities and habitat ecology of this region's medicinally and economically significant crops. Therefore, our study aims to evaluate the community structure and related environmental characteristics sustaining Nasturtium officinale communities along the river basin (RB) in Northwest Pakistan, using the clustering procedure (Ward's method) and Redundancy analysis (RDA). From 340 phytosociological plots (34 x 10 = 340), we identified four ecologically distinct assemblages of N. officinale governed by different environmental and anthropogenic factors for the first time. The floristic structure shows the dominance of herbaceous (100%), native (77%), and annual (58.09%) species indicating relatively stable communities; however, the existence of the invasive plants (14%) is perturbing and may cause instability in the future, resulting in the replacement of herbaceous plant species. Likewise, we noticed apparent variations in the environmental factors, i.e., clay percentage (p = 3.1 x 10-5), silt and sand percentage (p< 0.05), organic matter (p< 0.001), phosphorus and potassium (p< 0.05), and heavy metals, i.e., Pb, Zn, and Cd (p< 0.05), indicating their dynamic role in maintaining the structure and composition of these ecologically distinct communities. RDA has also demonstrated the fundamental role of these factors in species-environment correlations and explained the geospatial variability and plants' ecological amplitudes in the Swat River wetland ecosystem. We concluded from this study that N. officinale communities are relatively stable due to their rapid colonization; however, most recent high anthropogenic interventions especially overharvesting and sand mining activities, apart from natural enemies, water deficit, mega-droughts, and recent flood intensification due to climate change scenario, are robust future threats to these communities. Our research highlights the dire need for the sustainable uses and conservation of these critical communities for aesthetics, as food for aquatic macrobiota and humans, enhancing water quality, breeding habitat, fodder crop, and its most promising medicinal properties in the region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article is devoted to the study of regional features of the steppe landscape structure of the Aktobe region. For a comprehensive analysis of the studied territory, a specialized landscape geoinfor-mation system of the regional level was formed using GIS technology. The spatial data base was based on the characteristics of the components of the natural environment of the studied territory, exposed to annual anthropogenic impact. For the purposes of landscape analysis of the territory, we have formed a specialized landscape geoinformation system at the regional level of GIS generalization, based on the ArcGIS10.4.1 software. By such a GIS system, we mean an interactive system capable of collecting, systematizing, storing, processing, evaluating, displaying and distributing data and acting as a means of obtaining on its basis new information and knowledge about space-time phenomena. The study consists of several stages: generalization of analytical data, creation of a landscape map using the tools of overlay layers of ArcGIS, where the layers characterize the landscape structure component-by-component, as well as SRTM satellite images were used to create a digital relief model of the Aktobe region. The obtained research results mapping the steppe landscapes of the Aktobe region serve as a basis for studying the ecological situation of the territory, as well as assessing the structure of the studied territory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A core challenge in ecology is identifying the factors that determine species distribution and functional diversity of species assemblages. Reef fish are the most diverse group of vertebrates, form taxonomically rich and functionally diverse communities and represent a key source of food for humans. We examine regional distribution patterns of reef fish species richness and functional diversity and investigate how these are determined by historical, biogeographic, energetic, and anthropogenic factors. We compiled data from 3,312 underwater visual censuses performed at 122 locations comprising rocky and coral reefs along the Eastern Tropical Pacific (ETP). We used generalized linear mixed‐effects models (GLMMs) implemented in a Bayesian framework to investigate whether distance from quaternary refugia, distance from mainland, shelf area, primary productivity, sea surface temperature (SST), human population gravity, and conservation status influence reef fish species richness and functional diversity in the ETP. Species richness and functional richness (FRic) peaked towards the center of the ETP and our null model suggests that FRic followed a spatial pattern that would be predicted by species richness. Additionally, functional evenness (FEve) was highest at higher latitudes whereas functional dispersion (FDis) was homogeneous throughout the ETP. Species richness was negatively influenced by shelf area and distance from mainland, but positively influenced by SST and conservation status. FEve was influenced by human population gravity and FDis by shelf area. Reef fish species richness and functional diversity in the ETP exhibited a strong division within the region mainly mediated by SST and human population gravity. Our results also suggest that dominant species within small shelf areas share more common traits than dominant species in large areas. This study uncovers previously unknown regional patterns of reef fish functional diversity and provides new insights into how historical, biogeographic, energetic, and anthropogenic factors influence complementary biodiversity facets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, a study was conducted to analyze the factors leading to the occurrence of one of the natural disasters - fires on the territory of Eastern Kazakhstan. This work examined the consequences of forest fires that occurred before 2022 and analyzed changes in the state of forest cover in recent years using satellite images. The article also describes the methodology and application of geographic information technologies for assessing the potential damage caused by fires based on data from space. This technology provides a quick assessment of possible damage from forest and steppe fires, which can be supplemented with data from the area. Based on space monitoring data, areas affected by fires are identified, and a rapid assessment of such areas is carried out using information from the MODIS system, after which it is recommended to supplement it with more detailed medium-resolution data, such as Landsat images. In addition, the article determined the structure of forest cover, and also identified factors influencing the occurrence of fire conditions in the territory of Eastern Kazakhstan. As a result of the study, a set of proposals was developed to assess the level of damage caused by forest fires and measures to prevent such fires. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The results of an analysis of nuclear microsatellite loci (nSSR) for studying the genetic diversity of natural populations of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) in the southern taiga and forest steppe of Middle and Western Siberia affected by fires and logging of different intensity are presented. Six polymorphic loci suitable for studying the genetic variability of the populations of the species in Siberia have been selected. The set of genetic markers used had never been studied in the Siberian part of the species range. Population genetic studies are carried out in 13 Siberian populations of Scots pine (26 samples) based on selected nSSR markers (psyl57, PtTx2146, lw_isotig04195, lw_isotig04306, lw_isotig10603, and lw_isotig21953) containing a total of 62 alleles. Fifteen of them are found only in one (two) of the populations and can be used to study the spatial and population structure of the species and determine the geographical boundaries of the populations. It has been established that their variability is significantly higher compared to isoenzyme markers; they contain a significant number of rare and very rare alleles and are quite informative for the purposes of genetic monitoring and assessing the impact of forestry activities and other natural and anthropogenic damaging factors on intrapopulation genetic diversity and the sustainability of one of the main forest-forming coniferous species of Siberia. In the process of analyzing the similarity of populations of the species according to the studied markers, a certain relationship is revealed between the genetic differentiation of populations and their geographical location which is often not detected when using isoenzyme markers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The species composition of water fleas (Crustacea: Cladocera) in the water bodies of the left bank of the Lena River near the city of Yakutsk and its vicinities has been studied. Local faunistic associations ty-pical of the region have been identified using a statistical approach based on the binomial distribution function. As a result, 68 taxa have been identified and 8 very distinct groups of taxa constituting the cores of local faunistic associations of the branchiopod crustaceans in different water bodies and/or various biotopes within a single water body have been separated. We have demonstrated that the water bodies of the Lena River valley and the watershed differ both in species composition and in associations of the Cladocera. At least one species association of Cladocera is confined to ponds under a visible anthropogenic load. Thus, not only species that are typical for urban water bodies, but also local faunistic associations whose presence in the city indicates a significant anthropogenic pressure, have been identified. Moreover, the identified clusters can be interpreted in terms of our knowledge on the individual species preferences for water bodies of different types and different ecological zones of a certain water body. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the last 50 years the change in level (rise and fall) of the Caspian Sea has caused an increase in its impacts to the coastline. At the same time, due to the increase of the anthropogenic factors to the areas near the coastline (more in the last 20 years), the habitats of the species belonging to the Charadriiform order (Charadriiformes) that settled and come to the wintering in the Gizilaghaj State Nature Reserve and water pools of the Small Gizilaghaj State Nature Bay and Lankaran coastline near the coastline of the Caspian Sea in danger of being lost. That's why, this also affected seriously the number dynamics and status of some species (Babayev, 2003; Babayev et al., 2006; Babayev et al., 2015). As a result, such anthropogenic impacts have changed considerably the current ecosystem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Data on B chromosomes in populations of different systematic groups of plants and animals from extreme habitats, i.e., the range boundaries and its parts exposed to adverse environmental factors are reviewed. Analysis showed rather similar patterns of B chromosome distribution in the species extreme habitats. In particular, a tendency to the increased polymorphism and increase in B chromosome number and frequency, which was accompanied by changes in the karyotype, as well as genomic and chromosomal abnormalities in their carriers, was observed. B chromosomes are often found in species with wide ranges. The possible adaptive role of B chromosomes in the vital activity of organisms and the genome evolution is discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The study aims to assess the impact of human activity on the content and migration of trace elements in soil profiles of various physico-chemical properties. The research hypothesis assumed that human impact related to the functioning of buildings, agriculture, industry and communication negatively affected the trace element contents and physico-chemical properties of soils in a selected urban area (the Grudziądz Basin). Materials and methods: Seven soil exposures were made in areas that differed in land use and soil type over an area totalling approx. 200 ha. In the soil profiles, samples of soil of disturbed structure were taken from each genetic horizon. Selected physico-chemical properties of soils were determined: soil texture, soil pH, TOC, CaCO3 content. The total content of heavy metals in the soils was determined by AAS after digestion in hydrofluoric acid and bioavailable forms in 1 M DTPA. The sources of elements in the studied soils were assessed using the following indices: Enrichment Factor (EF), Geoaccumulation Index (Igeo) and Contamination Factor (CF). Results and discussion: The sand fraction dominated the examined soil profiles, with its content ranging widely and averaging 64.7%. In general, the humus horizons had lower pH values than the deeper layers and parent rock horizons. The organic carbon content ranged from 0.07 to 4.64%. The vertical decomposition of total N was strongly related to the decomposition of organic carbon. The highest metal contents in the soil samples were for zinc, and then for nickel. Conversely, the lowest concentrations were for mercury. Most of the profiles had higher contents of the analysed elements in their upper horizons. The humus horizons were characterised by the accumulation of Cr, Hg, Zn and Fe. The samples from the soil profiles were highest in bioavailable forms of zinc and nickel. Conclusions: The assessment of human impact on the concentrations and migration of trace elements in profiles of agricultural soils found the contents of heavy metals to be variable. Only in a few profiles were EF values for Cd, Pb and Ni found to indicate the effects of human activity. Likewise, CF and Igeo attest to only slight contamination in the research area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract The saiga antelope (Saiga tatarica) is a living symbol of the Eurasian steppes. Even in the recent past, its total number exceeded a million heads. As a commercial species, it was a source of inexpensive meat and skins for suede. The natural world range of saiga in Eurasia covers the steppe and desert ecosystems of Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Mongolia, as well as Kalmykia and the Astrakhan region in the Russian Federation. It is divided into two subspecies: (Saiga tatarica tatarica) the nominal subspecies and (S.t.mongolica) the Mongolian saiga, which is found only in Mongolia. In 2002, the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (UICN) classified saiga as CR-critically endangered. The purpose of this work is to analyze the saiga population dynamics on the territory of Kazakhstan and characterize possible anthropogenic, genetic and environmental factors affecting their numbers, with the rationale for approaches to conserving these animals’ population in Kazakhstan. The article highlights the saiga dynamics of number and distribution over the past decade, the reasons for decline in its number, also discusses specific measures to conserve the saiga in modern conditions, because the current critical situation with saiga in Kazakhstan requires implementing a strategy for its conservation as a species of mammals fauna of the republic.

Clarifying the impact of anthropogenic factors on ecosystem service value (ESV) is crucial to achieving sustainable development. However, the dynamics of human-disturbed complex ESVs vary from region to region, and the specific mechanism of this remains unclear, confusing land use planning. Therefore, this study focuses on the Urban Agglomeration around Poyang Lake in a typical area of China, uses the improved equivalent factor to analyze ESV estimation and spatial–temporal change, and employs Geographically Weighted Regression model and Geographical Detectors to explore the regional differences and impact mechanisms of anthropogenic factors on ESV. The results indicate that ESV in the study area has increased from 2000 to 2020, with a slowed-down growth rate. Spatially, ESV shows a decreasing trend from the core area to the periphery area as the distance from the lake increases. Further analysis reveals significant spatial heterogeneity in the impact of anthropogenic factors on ESV, with more potent interaction effects than single effects. Specifically, there is a strong interaction between urban development factors and industrial/agricultural factors. Furthermore, the anthropogenic-driven forces affecting ESV become increasingly complex from the core area to the peripheral area. These findings provide valuable insights into the distribution, dynamics, and mechanisms of ESV.

Recent anthropogenic sources and excess usage have immensely threatened the communities and habitat ecology of this region’s medicinally and economically significant crops. Therefore, our study aims to evaluate the community structure and related environmental characteristics sustaining Nasturtium officinale communities along the river basin (RB) in Northwest Pakistan, using the clustering procedure (Ward’s method) and Redundancy analysis (RDA). From 340 phytosociological plots (34 × 10 = 340), we identified four ecologically distinct assemblages of N. officinale governed by different environmental and anthropogenic factors for the first time. The floristic structure shows the dominance of herbaceous (100%), native (77%), and annual (58.09%) species indicating relatively stable communities; however, the existence of the invasive plants (14%) is perturbing and may cause instability in the future, resulting in the replacement of herbaceous plant species. Likewise, we noticed apparent variations in the environmental factors, i.e., clay percentage (p = 3.1 × 10−5), silt and sand percentage (p< 0.05), organic matter (p< 0.001), phosphorus and potassium (p< 0.05), and heavy metals, i.e., Pb, Zn, and Cd (p< 0.05), indicating their dynamic role in maintaining the structure and composition of these ecologically distinct communities. RDA has also demonstrated the fundamental role of these factors in species–environment correlations and explained the geospatial variability and plants’ ecological amplitudes in the Swat River wetland ecosystem. We concluded from this study that N. officinale communities are relatively stable due to their rapid colonization; however, most recent high anthropogenic interventions especially overharvesting and sand mining activities, apart from natural enemies, water deficit, mega-droughts, and recent flood intensification due to climate change scenario, are robust future threats to these communities. Our research highlights the dire need for the sustainable uses and conservation of these critical communities for aesthetics, as food for aquatic macrobiota and humans, enhancing water quality, breeding habitat, fodder crop, and its most promising medicinal properties in the region.

In recent years, invasive alien plants (IAPs) have caused serious ecological disasters and economic losses in China. This study combined three IAP species richness-related indices (species richness of IAPs, first records of IAPs, and the relative species richness of IAPs), as well as indices reflecting distribution and dispersal patterns (average similarity coefficient of IAPs) and invasiveness (average risk score of IAPs), to conduct an integrated regional-invasion risk assessment based on the principal component analysis (PCA) method. Partial least-squares (PLS) regression was conducted to explore the explanatory power of 12 environmental and anthropogenic factors on different invasion indices. The results indicated that coastal provinces and Yunnan had high IAP introduction risk, as well as high synthetic-risk scores. The dispersal of IAPs in mid-latitude provinces should be particularly prevented. For species richness of IAPs, more environmental factors with variable importance for the project (VIP) values higher than 1 were retained in the optimal model, reflecting the importance of environmental filtering on IAPs. Visitors were the most important predictor for first records of IAPs. Compared to species richness (R2 = 79.5%), first records were difficult to predict (R2 = 60.4%) and were influenced by anthropogenic factors. There was spatial distribution congruence of various families of IAPs. Generally, the correlations of the residuals of species richness were still significant, with 0.421 (p < 0.05) as the lowest Pearson correlation coefficient, which indicated that external factors could not fully explain the spatial distribution congruence. These findings could enrich the relevant research on IAP invasion mechanisms and provide suggestions for regional IAP detection and response. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Strait of Gibraltar is one of the areas with the highest concentration of sites with prehistoric graphic expressions in the Iberian Peninsula. The region stands out both by the number of sites, over 400 rock shelters, and by their typological and chronological implications, with paintings dating from at least the early Upper Paleolithic to the latest stages of prehistory. However, recent decades have witnessed the generalized and accelerated deterioration of these paintings, which, in many instances, has led to them disappear altogether. This article analyzes the natural and anthropic factors that, in one way or another, contribute to the degradation of a rock art phenomenon on the verge of extinction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Globally, vaccines against 47 infectious etiologic agents are approved by at least one regulatory authority as of December 2022. The numbers of viral diseases, infections caused by mycoplasma, bacterial and protozoal diseases, mycoses, diseases caused by parasitic worms, and other infectious diseases of unknown etiology run into thousands. Therefore, more vaccines are required to be developed to keep more populations disease free. Climate change and global increase in temperature may promote sea level rises and an increase in the intensity of rains, causing an upsurge in certain infectious diseases in regions of the human population and even causing movement of habitats. In societies where the expenditure on health as a percentage of gross domestic product is higher, people are more capacitated to tackle the treatment and spread of infectious diseases. As several of such conditions are zoonotic, well-planned strategies for controlling the spread would go a long way in the proper direction. Poverty and contagious diseases are infallibly linked. Major infectious diseases of poverty include tuberculosis, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/ acquired immuno deficiency syndrome (AIDS), malaria, measles, pneumonia, diarrheal diseases, and several neglected tropical diseases. The world is not yet unified in action to jointly work to contain the global problem of infectious diseases in every human habitat. There was a visible divide between and among the rich countries versus the developing countries regarding accessibility and deployment of vaccines against COVID-19 flu. To contain the spread of infectious diseases in the future, the whole world would have to work together, raising funds, strengthening epidemiological surveys, inventing effective vaccines, and vaccinating the eligible population, as also treating the infected with therapy in time, besides resorting to other preventive measures for overall human progress. The developmental efforts are to be pursued jointly and together to benefit all people, respecting the world as one.

This study was conducted in the Borta Reservoir (Ethiopia) to portray physicochemical parameters between September 2018 and July 2019 for three data collection sessions. Accordingly, the sampling site was purposely selected perimeter-wise from the Borta Reservoir based on the distance from human settlements; anthropogenic effect and accessibility for the study three stations (sampling sites) were purposely selected perimeter-wise and the sites were coded as Site one (S1), site two (S2), and site three (S3). Water samples were collected monthly for three sample collection sessions. Samples were collected from each site and transported to the Limnology Laboratory and other parameters were measured on-site using a pre-calibrated portable instrument. SPSS version 20 was used for the statistical analysis. The recorded physicochemical parameters were in the range of freshwaters. It was evident that the Borta Reservoir had been showing signs of water quality loss over time. This could have resulted from stressors linked to anthropogenic sources from domestic wastes and pollutants from agricultural lands. This study suggested a restoration action be undertaken. HIGHLIGHTS The appropriate study design and method of sample collection is applied.; The characteristics of water quality parameters are controlled.; More detailed settling information about water quality parameters can improve and estimate water treatment performance.; It was demonstrated that the dynamics of the wastewater characteristics under dry and wet seasons influence concentration water quality parameters.;

Plants of the genus Tilia L. are one of the most widespread decorative species in Ukraine. Anthropogenic environmental factors negatively affect the tree growth and development (including seed viability), which negatively affects plant ontogenesis. Studying the variability of seed proteins is an effective method for detecting the effects of various types of pollutants on plants. Despite the importance of seed proteins, their polypeptide composition in different species of the genus Tilia is yet little known in the conditions of the northern steppe of Ukraine. To assess the functional adaptive responses of trees of various Tilia species to the complex influences of anthropogenic and natural factors of the steppe Dnipro region, the parameters of polypeptide composition of highly soluble proteins (HSP) in the endosperm were determined in seeds of autochthonous (T. cordata) and introduced (T. platyphyllos, T. begoniifolia, T. × europaea, T. amurensis and T. tomentosa) species. Linden tree seeds were selected in the Dnipropetrovsk Region in 14 sample plots, chosen according to the level of urban and technogenic loads. The spectra of protein polymorphism in linden seeds were studied by the method of gradient electrophoresis in polyacrylamide gel (linear gradient within the range of 10–20%) in the presence of 0.1% sodium dodecyl sulfate. Polypeptides from seeds were extracted with 0.005 M tris-glycine buffer, pH 8.0. We used a vertical electrophoresis in our study. The separated proteins were stained with a 0.1% Coomasie G-250 dye solution in 7% acetic acid. Egg albumin (Mr 45 kDa), cytochrome C (12 kDa), bovine serum albumin (67 kDa), and chymotrypsin (30 kDa) were used as standards for developing a calibration curve for determining the molecular weight of polypeptides. In the seeds of plants of the genus Tilia, changes in the composition and accumulation of individual polypeptides in the protein complex were evaluated. The appearance of polypeptides with new molecular weight values was deermined in comparison with the reference. Tilia cordata and T. platyphyllos were characterized by the appearance of low-molecular polypeptides (19, 26, 27 and 28 kDa), which in most cases appeared due to the effects of emissions from metallurgical industries, thermal power plants, nitrogen production, and in park areas (in seeds of T. platyphyllos). In seeds of T. begoniifolia and T. amurensis, the appearance of polypeptides with average molecular weights of 39, 52, 45 and 53 kDa was detected.