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In this paper, we advance the question: What are the semiotic (meaning-making) and learning opportunities offered by student-produced films? Our point of departure is a pedagogical project in which we invited management students to produce films on scalar issues related to global environmental change. Our analytical lens and our empirical findings (examined through a template analysis and a multimodal video transcription) help us make three contributions. First, we synthesize a new ontological and epistemological foundational "positioning" that portrays the nature of learning processes as revolving on meaning-making activities (a positioning that we have termed a performative, design-oriented multimodality). Second, we provide a framework that advances understanding of the "inner workings" of student film-making as resting on a triple engagement (cognitive-affective, behavioral, and relational), anchored on underpinning multimodal composing activities. These conceptual moves and empirical work allow us to distill several implications, or "provocations": film-making fosters radical openness in management learning curricula, gives new momentum to the instructor's role change ("from sage on the stage to guide on the side") and expands existing cultures of recognition around what gets valued and can be assessed as (signs of) learning. Third, we offer a pedagogical prototype containing practical teaching guidelines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• 1. Food packaging waste is one of the main contributors to global environmental changes. • 2. Quality of recycled packaging materials is a threat to circular economy. • 3. Recycling method selection depends on the composition and nature of recyclate. • 4. Quality of recycled materials can be evaluated by using analytical methods. • 5. Migration analysis should be done to evaluate recycled material safety. Food packaging waste significantly impacts global environmental changes, prompting the adoption of a green circular economy approach. Recycling packaging waste is a critical element of this strategy. However, it faces challenges related to the quality of recycled materials and concerns about their safety. Thus, this review aimed to highlight different analytical methods alone or in combination to evaluate the quality of the recycled material. Furthermore, the safety and health aspects related to the migration of contaminants and their relevant regulations have also been discussed. An important parameter while selecting an appropriate recycling method is the composition and nature of the recyclate, for instance, HDPE (High-Density Polyethylene), PET (Polyethylene Terephthalate), and PP (Polypropylene) materials can be recycled using mechanical and chemical recycling, however, PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride) and PS (Polystyrene) present challenges during mechanical recycling due to lower molecular weight and complex compositions, thus are often downcycled into lower-grade products. Still, recycled papers can be more problematic than recycled plastics due to the nature of the materials and the impact of recycling. The literature review suggested that three quality properties i.e., presence of low molecular weight compounds, degree of degradation, and composition should be analyzed by using different spectroscopic, thermo-mechanical, and chromatographic techniques to obtain a detailed understanding of recycled material quality. Furthermore, recycling should be done in such a way that the migration of contaminants should be lower than the migratory limits set by the relevant authorities to avoid any toxicological effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is broad concern that the range shifts of global flora and fauna will not keep up with climate change, increasing the likelihood of population declines and extinctions. Many populations of nonnative species already have advantages over native species, including widespread human-aided dispersal and release from natural enemies. But do nonnative species also have an advantage with climate change? Here, we review observed and potential range shifts for native and nonnative species globally. We show that nonnative species are expanding their ranges orders of magnitude faster than native species, reflecting both traits that enable rapid spread and ongoing human-mediated introduction. We further show that nonnative species have large potential ranges and range expansions with climate change, likely due to a combination of widespread introduction and broader climatic tolerances. With faster spread rates and larger potential to persist or expand, nonnative populations have a decided advantage in a changing climate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the progress in models for coupled human and natural systems, highlighting the reciprocal interaction between humans and the environment. It explores the importance of modeling CHANS in supporting sustainable development and understanding the dynamic complexity of these systems. The text also addresses challenges in studying CHANS, such as bidirectional feedback, deep integration of natural and social sciences, multiscale simulation, and transformative improvement in simulation speed. The article emphasizes the need for adaptive algorithms, integration methods, and quantum computing to enhance decision support and achieve sustainable development goals. [Extracted from the article]

This article outlines the development, evolution, and implementation of an ecological justice advanced practice curriculum for Master of Social Work students at the University of Denver, USA. This work began in 2011 and continues to evolve to meet student needs and societal pressures. Key ingredients in the success of this program have been critical leadership support, gathering of expertise, maintaining a critical eye toward emerging social, natural, and physical sciences, and a university and profession that provides an implicit curriculum supportive of preparing university students for a precarious future. The social work profession is responding to global environmental change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There are 230 UNESCO World Heritage Sites that were designated based on their important natural features. These represent some of the most iconic and important natural places on Earth, with immense value for biodiversity conservation, ecosystem service supply and cultural well-being. Many of these sites are degraded by anthropogenic drivers, including socioeconomic factors (population growth, poverty and tourism), extractive activities (logging, mining, and hunting), external threats (fire, climate change, land-use change, pollution), and biological threats (disease and invasive species). Of these, invasive species remain one of the most problematic for management, and once introduced, populations can grow exponentially and spread to other locations even when actively managed. Given the economic and environmental threats imposed by invasive species, we asked how they compare to the other anthropogenic threats. We reviewed the primary literature for each World Heritage Site and scored the prevalence of 12 different anthropogenic drivers. We found that invasive species rank as one of the most frequently identified threats and pose the greatest degree of concern compared to all other threats, on par with the threat from pollution and greater than logging, land-use change and climate change. We compared our scoring, based on review of the literature, with that of the UNESCO and IUCN monitoring reports. Although there was general agreement between these two assessments, the literature provided information on 55 sites not included in the monitoring reports. We further examine the invasive species examined in the articles and the degree of their perceived impacts on biodiversity, habitat, rare species, ecosystem function, tourism, and economic impacts. It is important that invasive species are well monitored and managed in WHSs to reduce their impacts and meet policy mandated targets and conservation goals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nitrogen (N) availability limits plant growth and soil carbon (C) sequestration in N‐limited ecosystems, however, plant and soil C feedback on the free‐living nitrogen fixation (FLNF) process is poorly understood. Moreover, whether this feedback is influenced by initial N availability in leguminous and non‐leguminous forest soils has not been clarified. Here, we found that the addition of plant‐ and microbial‐derived C significantly enhanced soil nitrogenase activity (13∼28%) and that microbial‐derived C had a more positive impact. These positive effects were attributed to the direct C‐energy supply (0.49∼0.84) rather than variations in soil microbial activity (−0.01∼0.21) and substrate resources (−0.45∼0.27). Long‐term N addition did not inhibit FLNF. C addition promoted FLNF in soils of the two forests, but the response rate was higher in the leguminous forest soils. Our study reveals that increased soil C availability can drive FLNF in tropical forests, enhancing our understanding of the soil C‐N coupling mechanism. Plain Language Summary: Explicit consideration of controlling factors for free‐living nitrogen fixation (an important process of nitrogen biogeochemistry), is critical to understanding the response of ecosystems to environmental change. Our study reveals a previously overlooked but important process in which increased soil carbon availability exerts positive feedback on soil nitrogen inputs via free‐living nitrogen fixation. This insight enhances our understanding of soil carbon‐nitrogen coupling mechanisms and highlights an important nitrogen source in tropical forests based on increased vegetation and soil carbon sink conditions under global environmental change scenario. Key Points: Carbon (C) input affected free‐living nitrogen fixation (FLNF) more than nitrogen (N) application in tropical forest soilsBoth plant‐ and microbial‐derived C enhanced FLNF, but microbial‐derived C had a more positive impactC addition promoted FLNF in soils of the two forests, but the response rate was higher in the leguminous forest soils [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Marine mammals are integral to global biodiversity and marine health through their roles in coastal, benthic, and pelagic ecosystems. Marine mammals face escalating threats from climate change, pollution, and human activities, which perturb their oceanic environment. The diverse biology and extreme adaptations evolved by marine mammals make them important study subjects for understanding anthropogenic pressures on marine ecosystems. However, ethical and logistical constraints restrict the tractability of experimental research with live marine mammals. Additionally, studies on the effects of changing ocean environments are further complicated by intricate geneenvironment interactions across populations and species. These obstacles can be overcome with a comprehensive strategy that involves a systems-level approach integrating genotype to phenotype using rigorously defined experimental conditions in vitro and ex vivo. A thorough analysis of the interactions between the genetics of marine mammals and their exposure to anthropogenic pressures will enable robust predictions about how global environmental changes will affect their health and populations. In this perspective, we discuss four challenges of implementing such non-invasive approaches across scientific fields and international borders: 1) practical and ethical limitations of in vivo experimentation with marine mammals, 2) accessibility to relevant tissue samples and cell cultures; 3) open access to harmonized methods and datasets and 4) ethical and equitable research practices. Successful implementation of the proposed approach has the potential impact to inspire new solutions and strategies for marine conservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Environmental changes associated with global warming create new opportunities for pathogen and parasite transmission in Arctic wildlife. As an apex predator ranging over large, remote areas, changes in pathogens and parasites in polar bears are a useful indicator of changing transmission dynamics in Arctic ecosystems. We examined prevalence and risk factors associated with exposure to parasites and viral and bacterial pathogens in Chukchi Sea polar bears. Serum antibodies to six pathogens were detected and prevalence increased between 1987–1994 and 2008–2017 for five: Toxoplasma gondii, Neospora caninum, Francisella tularensis, Brucella abortus/suis, and canine distemper virus. Although bears have increased summer land use, this behavior was not associated with increased exposure. Higher prevalence of F. tularensis, Coxiella burnetii, and B. abortus/suis antibodies in females compared to males, however, could be associated with terrestrial denning. Exposure was related to diet for several pathogens indicating increased exposure in the food web. Elevated white blood cell counts suggest a possible immune response to some pathogens. Given that polar bears face multiple stressors in association with climate change and are a subsistence food, further work is warranted to screen for signs of disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Animal personality differences may have evolved as alternative strategies for negotiating multiple stressor landscapes. Indeed, ecologists are increasingly recognizing that interactions among multiple stressors can transform selective landscapes and behavioural and physiological responses to stress regimes. Yet, evaluating this hypothesis poses challenges, as most studies involving relationships between personality variation and the environment consider single stressors. Here, we review the literature to explore the theory and evidence that multiple stressor environments may mediate personality variation. We consider effects on evolution of personality variation, as influenced by life-history, energetic and behavioural trade-offs, and effects on phenotypic expression of personality traits. We then explore how personality variation may modulate behavioural and physiological responses to multiple stressors, and how differential responses may be affected by personality-dependent movement ecology and cognitive strategies. Among-individual differences in responses to multiple stressors are critical to elucidate, as multi-stress interactions may transform animal behavioural and physiological responses relative to those predicted under single stressor scenarios, and because among-individual variation comprises the basis for evolutionary shifts in stress responsiveness and population resiliency to global environmental change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Anthropocene is a contested notion yet has taken hold as a term to describe the current state of global human-induced environmental changes, including biodiversity loss and climate change. Despite this fact, in the New South Wales Kindergarten to Year 10 Geography syllabus, ‘the Anthropocene’ is not explicitly mentioned. When a syllabus avoids engaging with such a key environmental concept, and this is combined with a high proportion of geography being taught by non-specialist teachers, missed opportunities emerge. This Thinking Space paper showcases how an academic geographer, post-graduate students, and a geography education academic in New South Wales collaborated to mitigate an absence of ‘the Anthropocene’ in syllabus content. We bring visibility to invisible content around ‘the Anthropocene’ by examining syllabus content and working through possible solutions. In doing so, we argue that the Anthropocene is explicitly absent yet implicitly present. We hope that this paper provides some pathways for teachers who may choose to include an important, yet seemingly absent, area of geographical content. It is also a call to foster collaborative opportunities between Geographers and Geography educators to support content development amongst school-based teachers of Geography. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change has a pivotal impact on the potential distribution of endangered and relic tree species. Probably due to unrepresentative sampling and single algorithm, at present, there are different views on the potential range of the endangered tree Emmenopterys henryi, endemic to China. Here, we first collated 612 occurrence records and 22 environmental variables including climate, topography, and soil. Combined the Biomod2 with MaxEnt, we then predicted its past, current, and future potential suitable area in China, and determined the key factors influencing its distribution. The ensemble model results showed that the main environmental variables affecting this species were the minimum temperature of the coldest month (BIO6), precipitation of warmest quarter (BIO18), and temperature seasonality (BIO4). Its current potential distribution area was 176.53 × 104 km2, mainly concentrated in eastern, central, and southwestern China. Collectively, the suitable area of E. henryi would averagely decrease by 3.90% in all 16 future scenarios, with its centroid largely migrating northeastward. Our findings indicate that the endangered E. henryi covered 18 provinces in China, having a larger area than known. Moreover, climate change may have an adverse effect on its potential distribution. In addition, the ensemble model can produce more effective prediction outcomes than MaxEnt for such endemic tree species with large environmental range. We recommend increasing sample representativeness by analyzing the completeness properties of sample coverage, and simultaneously selecting appropriate algorithms to ensure the reliability of distribution prediction for endangered and relict tree species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mangroves provide habitat for a diverse array of marine species, especially snails. We used a MaxEnt model to predict potential global suitable habitat for Cerithidea rhizophorarum and Telescopium telescopium in the family Potamididae. A total of 667 occurrence data were obtained from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) with the following sub‐data set contribution, "iNaturalist Research Grade Observations" (85%), "International Barcode of Life project (iBOL)" (7%), "FBIP: SeaKeys_SANBI: Marine images iSpot_2013" (1%), "A dataset of marine macroinvertebrate diversity from Mozambique and São Tomé and Príncipe" (1%), occurrence data of some marine invertebrates and freshwater crabs housed in the natural history collection at the National Museums of Kenya (1%), and Natural History Museum Rotterdam‐Specimens (1%). Our results showed that temperature with a contribution of above 80% in the present and future model is the most important driver of the distribution of mangrove snails. In the present and future models, the most potentially suitable habitats for C. rhizophorarum and T. telescopium were observed along coastal areas with a temperature between 20°C–21°C and 30°C, respectively. Our model predicts that by 2100, high‐suitability areas will shrink as a result of global warming. The vulnerability of mangrove snails under future climate conditions is evident in our results. Our findings contribute significant insights into the intricate relationship between mangrove habitats and mangrove snails, offering a valuable foundation for conservation initiatives aimed at safeguarding the biodiversity and ecological functions of these crucial coastal ecosystems in the face of changing global environmental conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diagenetic spheroids are rounded mineralised structures in sedimentary rocks that span several orders of size dimensions. These objects include rosettes spanning tens of micrometres; millimetre-sized granules; and centimetre- to metre-scale botryoids, nodules, and concretions. Connections between diagenetic spheroids and chemically oscillating reactions (COR) have been established based on chemical and pattern similarities. Nevertheless, it is unknown if there are variations in their occurrences throughout geological time, especially during periods of global environmental change. This is because COR are pattern-forming reactions where carboxylic acids are decarboxylated by strong oxidants like sulphuric acid, bromate, or iodate. The hypothesis is that there should be a greater number of diagenetic spheroids at periods of increased atmospheric and oceanic oxygenation levels. Hence, this work presents the first compilation of occurrences of diagenetic spheroids between 0.541 and 1.8 billion years ago (Ga). The compiled patterned objects are those with concentric laminations and radially aligned crystals, which are patterns akin to equidistant circularly concentric waves that radially diffuse in COR. Another characteristic of diagenetic spheroids, similar to that found in botryoidal minerals, is the destructive interference that forms circular twins; this is identical to the COR pattern formed when circular waves meet. The timeline of Proterozoic diagenetic spheroids produced in this work reveals a significant increase in occurrences across the Ediacaran, which is attributed to an increased environmental oxidation state. During this interval, seawater is known to have become richer in sulphate and iodate, which create ideal conditions for the abiotic and diagenetic oxidation of biomass. Therefore, increased occurrences of diagenetic spheroids in the Neoproterozoic possibly represent sedimentological evidence for abiotic decarboxylation reactions and widespread COR in productive environments. The distribution of diagenetic spheroids observed during the Proterozoic may also be more broadly applicable to other epochs of Earth's history. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Issue Addressed: Human actions have led to a range of global environmental changes. Health professionals must be prepared to deliver systemic changes to mitigate and adapt to the ecological crisis. This rapid review aimed to describe exemplar frameworks that inform planetary health education across health professions. Methods: The rapid review methodology was informed by a scoping review process. A targeted search strategy was conducted using one representative database and additional strategies such as expert consultation and citation searching were used. Results are described narratively. Results: Of the 11 637 articles, 17 were eligible for inclusion. The frameworks differed, with many recently developed for health professions broadly using a range of methodologies, including qualitative research, opinion/consensus data, literature reviews, and adaptation of previous models. Models such as metric‐based scoring indicators and Sustainable Quality Improvement were featured in the frameworks, as were the application of First Nations Natural Laws. Conclusion: This rapid review identifies and showcases accessible, interdisciplinary frameworks to inform the integration of planetary health in curricula, highlighting a rapidly evolving field through which interdisciplinary collaborations in healthcare are important to inform its pedagogy and application. Health education is an important component of health promotion; and thus this rapid review offers a range of approaches that health professionals, health promotion practitioners, and educators can use to inform the integration of planetary health, including sustainable healthcare, into curricula. So What?: Educational frameworks are informed by research and practice and provide key guidance to practitioners and educators; summarising key available planetary health education frameworks consolidates and guides effective education and builds on the existing body of knowledge to support urgent pro‐environmental change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Clarifying the effects of biodiversity on ecosystem stability in the context of global environmental change is crucial for maintaining ecosystem functions and services. Asynchronous changes between trophic levels over time (i.e. trophic community asynchrony) are expected to increase trophic mismatch and alter trophic interactions, which may consequently alter ecosystem stability. However, previous studies have often highlighted the stabilising mechanism of population asynchrony within a single trophic level, while rarely examining the mechanism of trophic community asynchrony between consumers and their food resources.In this study, we analysed the effects of population asynchrony within and between trophic levels on community stability under the disturbances of climate warming, fishery decline and de‐eutrophication, based on an 18‐year monthly monitoring dataset of 137 phytoplankton and 91 zooplankton in a subtropical lake.Our results showed that species diversity promoted community stability mainly by increasing population asynchrony both for phytoplankton and zooplankton. Trophic community asynchrony had a significant negative effect on zooplankton community stability rather than that of phytoplankton, which supports the match‐mismatch hypothesis that trophic mismatch has negative effects on consumers. Furthermore, the results of the structural equation models showed that warming and top‐down effects may simultaneously alter community stability through population dynamics processes within and between trophic levels, whereas nutrients act on community stability mainly through the processes within trophic levels. Moreover, we found that rising water temperature decreased trophic community asynchrony, which may challenge the prevailing idea that climate warming increases the trophic mismatch between primary producers and consumers.Overall, our study provides the first evidence that population and trophic community asynchrony have contrasting effects on consumer community stability, which offers a valuable insight for addressing global environmental change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many species are threatened by climate change and must rapidly respond to survive in changing environments. Epigenetic modifications, such as DNA methylation, can facilitate plastic responses by regulating gene expression in response to environmental cues. Understanding epigenetic responses is therefore essential for predicting species' ability to rapidly adapt in the context of global environmental change. Here, we investigated the functional significance of different methylation‐associated cellular processes on temperature‐dependent life history in seed beetles, Callosobruchus maculatus Fabricius 1775 (Coleoptera: Bruchidae). We assessed changes under thermal stress in (1) DNA methyltransferase (Dnmt1 and Dnmt2) expression levels, (2) genome‐wide methylation and (3) reproductive performance, with (2) and (3) following treatment with 3‐aminobenzamide (3AB) and zebularine (Zeb) over two generations. These drugs are well‐documented to alter DNA methylation across the tree of life. We found that Dnmt1 and Dnmt2 were expressed throughout the body in males and females, but were highly expressed in females compared with males and exhibited temperature dependence. However, whole‐genome methylation did not significantly vary with temperature, and only marginally or inconclusively with drug treatment. Both 3AB and Zeb led to profound temperature‐dependent shifts in female reproductive life history trade‐off allocation, often increasing fitness compared with control beetles. Mismatch between magnitude of treatment effects on DNA methylation versus life history effects suggest potential of 3AB and Zeb to alter reproductive trade‐offs via changes in DNA repair and recycling processes, rather than or in addition to (subtle) changes in DNA methylation. Together, our results suggest that epigenetic mechanisms relating to Dnmt expression, DNA repair and recycling pathways, and possibly DNA methylation, are strongly implicated in modulating insect life history trade‐offs in response to temperature change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anthropogenic increase in carbon dioxide (CO2) affects plant physiology. Plant responses to elevated CO2 typically include: (1) enhanced photosynthesis and increased primary productivity due to carbon fertilization and (2) suppression of leaf transpiration due to CO2‐driven decrease in stomatal conductance. The combined effect of these responses on the total plant transpiration and on evapotranspiration (ET) has a wide range of implications on local, regional, and global hydrological cycles, and thus needs to be better understood. Here, we investigated the net effect of CO2‐driven perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne) physiological responses on transpiration and evapotranspiration by integrating physiological and hydrological (water budget) methods, under a controlled environment. Measurements of the net photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance, transpiration rate, leaf mass per area, aboveground biomass, and water balance components were recorded. Measured variables under elevated CO2 were compared with those of ambient CO2. As expected, our results show that elevated CO2 significantly decreases whole‐plant transpiration rates (38% lower in the final week) which is a result of lower stomatal conductance (57% lower in the final week) despite a slight increase in aboveground biomass. Additionally, there was an overall decline in evapotranspiration (ET) under elevated CO2, indicating the impact of CO2‐mediated suppression of transpiration on the overall water balance. Although studies with larger sample sizes are needed for more robust conclusions, our findings have significant implications for global environmental change. Reductions in ET from ryegrass‐dominated grasslands and pastures could increase soil moisture and groundwater recharge, potentially leading to increased surface runoff and flooding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The editorial in the Journal of Plant Ecology discusses the urgent need for biodiversity conservation and ecological restoration of vulnerable ecosystems in the Anthropocene era. It highlights the challenges faced in restoring ecosystems due to human activities and climate change, emphasizing the importance of effective restoration techniques and sustainable management. The special issue covers various studies on ecosystem restoration and biodiversity conservation, providing insights into carbon storage dynamics, plant functional diversity, N2O emissions, invasive species traits, wetland conservation laws, and more. The goal is to advance understanding and collaboration among ecologists, conservation biologists, and eco-engineering scientists to develop advanced restoration theories and techniques. [Extracted from the article]

Several previous studies of marine fish stocks have demonstrated time‐varying recruitment productivity and indicated that including time‐varying parameters can track process variation in recruitment. Few studies have synthesized signal‐to‐noise ratios and underlying reasons for time‐variation across stocks and regions. Using Peterman's productivity method (PPM), we provide a broad synthesis of time‐varying density‐independent productivity in 84 stocks across five regions of the United States. Of all stocks investigated, 50 were found to have time‐varying productivity, challenging assumptions on the stationarity of recruitment parameters and dependent reference points. Our results demonstrate the power of PPM for synthesizing the form and pattern of recruitment time‐variation among regions, including general summaries of directional change over time. Furthermore, our results show regional differences in time‐varying patterns, particularly the signal‐to‐noise ratio (SNR) of low‐ to high‐frequency variation. The SNR was lower in the California Current region than in two Atlantic regions and two Alaska regions. Generalized linear modelling used to synthesize results suggests that stocks with higher contrast in spawning stock biomass over time, standardized regardless of actual spawning stock size, were more likely to have time‐varying productivity than stocks with low contrast. The likelihood of time‐variation in productivity of a given stock was also found to be closely related to the autocorrelation of the recruitment time series. Such inter‐regional and inter‐stock comparisons of variation are vital in understanding the roles of local and global environmental change on fish productivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soil erosion (SE) is a critical threat to the sustainable development of ecosystem stability, agricultural productivity, and human society in the context of global environmental and climate change. Particularly in tropical island regions, due to the expansion of human activities and land use/cover changes (LUCCs), the risk of SE has been exacerbated. Combining the RUSLE with machine learning methods, SE spatial patterns, their driving forces and the mechanisms of how LUCCs affect SE, were illustrated. Additionally, the potential impacts of future LUCCs on SE were simulated by using the PLUS model. The main results are as follows: (1) Due to LUCCs, the average soil erosion modulus (SEM) decreased significantly from 108.09 t/(km2·a) in 2000 to 106.75 t/(km2·a) in 2020, a reduction of 1.34 t/(km2·a), mainly due to the transformation of cropland to forest and urban land. (2) The dominant factor affecting the spatial pattern of SE is the LS factor (with relative contributions of 43.9% and 45.17%), followed by land use/cover (LUC) (the relative contribution is 28.46% and 34.89%) in 2000 and 2020, respectively. (3) Three kinds of future scenarios simulation results indicate that the average SEM will decrease by 2.40 t/(km2·a) under the natural development scenario and by 1.86 t/(km2·a) under the ecological protection scenario by 2060. However, under the cropland protection scenario, there is a slight increase in SEM, with an increase of 0.08 t/(km2·a). Sloping cropland erosion control remains a primary issue for Hainan Island in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plant functional traits (FTs) determine growth, reproduction and survival strategies of plants adapted to their growth environment. Exploring global geographic patterns of FTs, their covariation and their relationships to climate are necessary steps towards better-founded predictions of how global environmental change will affect ecosystem composition. We compile an extensive global dataset for 16 FTs and characterise trait-trait and trait-climate relationships separately within non-woody, woody deciduous and woody evergreen plant groups, using multivariate analysis and generalised additive models (GAMs). Among the six major FTs considered, two dominant trait dimensions—representing plant size and the leaf economics spectrum (LES) respectively—are identified within all three groups. Size traits (plant height, diaspore mass) however are generally higher in warmer climates, while LES traits (leaf mass and nitrogen per area) are higher in drier climates. Larger leaves are associated principally with warmer winters in woody evergreens, but with wetter climates in non-woody plants. GAM-simulated global patterns for all 16 FTs explain up to three-quarters of global trait variation. Global maps obtained by upscaling GAMs are broadly in agreement with iNaturalist citizen-science FT data. This analysis contributes to the foundations for global trait-based ecosystem modelling by demonstrating universal relationships between FTs and climate. By considering differences among herbaceous, deciduous and evergreen plants and how these lead to divergent climatic responses in plant functional traits, the authors have created a comprehensive set of global trait maps. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Eutrophication resulting from anthropogenic activities has been recognized as a significant driver of changes in ecosystem functioning. Furthermore, it may exacerbate the top-down effect and thus exert an important impact on plant growth. To test this hypothesis, we conducted a 3-year manipulative field experiment to investigate the impacts of nitrogen addition and crab herbivory on the growth of Phragmites australis in the salt marsh of the Yellow River Delta. The results demonstrated that a 3-year nitrogen addition can significantly increase the total nitrogen and carbon content of P. australis leaves, thereby enhancing their nutritional value and palatability, as well as increasing the proportion of leaves consumed by crabs. Therefore, nitrogen addition together with crab herbivory had a significant negative effect on P. australis height, leaf length, and leaf breadth in the ambient crab and procedural crab cage treatment compared to the crab exclusion treatment. The structural equation modeling further substantiated these findings. Themodel revealed a direct and positive correlation between nitrogen addition and leaf nutrient content (path coefficient = 0.34). Additionally, it demonstrated a direct and positive relationship between leaf nutrient content and the proportion of leaves consumed by crabs (path coefficient = 0.22). Simultaneously, there was an observed negative correlation (path coefficient = - 0.37) between the proportion of leaves consumed by crabs and plant functional traits, represented by leaf length in the model, during 2018. Moreover, the crab exclusion treatment significantly reduced the proportion of leaves consumed by crabs and thus enhanced the P. australis individuals, leaf number, and biomass. Overall, crab herbivory had a significant detrimental top-down effect on the growth of P. australis, and nitrogen enrichmentmay exacerbate this top-down effect. The findings of our study highlight the combined adverse effects of nutrient enrichment and top-down on plant functional traits and plant growth. The findings of this study will contribute to a comprehensive understanding of the underlying factors influencing vegetation degradation in coastal wetland, thereby establishing a solid theoretical framework for the conservation and management of wetland ecosystems within the context of global environmental change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Paris Agreement represents the notable characteristics of global environmental governance, namely multi-actor and multi-level governance. Despite these changes, limited empirical studies have investigated the actors in global environmental governance who participate in political discourse on climate change. To comprehend whether or not the Paris Agreement's actors represent the transformation of global environmental governance, we adopted a big-data approach to analyze Twitter's climate-change discourse. The classification of actors provided an understanding of the diversity of the actors involved in providing public information. We also calculated the closeness centrality and identified the changes in the actors' influence, comparing the changes in the 5 years since the Agreement was adopted. The results showed an increased diversity of actor types. Non-state actors are not homogeneous in their changes, and Intergovernmental Organizations exhibited an increased influence. The findings indicated that the actors participating in the climate-change discourse post-Paris Agreement partially reflect the changes in global environmental governance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Premise: Poikilohydric plants respond to hydration by undergoing dry–wet–dry cycles. Carbon balance represents the net gain or loss of carbon from each cycle. Here we present the first standard protocol for measuring carbon balance, including a custom‐modified chamber system for infrared gas analysis, 12‐h continuous monitoring, resolution of plant–substrate relationships, and in‐chamber specimen hydration. Methods and Results: We applied the carbon balance technique to capture responses to water stress in populations of the moss Syntrichia caninervis, comparing 19 associated physiological variables. Carbon balance was negative in desiccation‐acclimated (field‐collected) mosses, which exhibited large respiratory losses. Contrastingly, carbon balance was positive in hydration‐acclimated (lab‐cultivated) mosses, which began exhibiting net carbon uptake <15 min following hydration. Conclusions: Carbon balance is a functional trait indicative of physiological performance, hydration stress, and survival in poikilohydric plants, and the carbon balance method can be applied broadly across taxa to test hypotheses related to environmental stress and global change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The successful implementation of multi-generation gravity satellite missions has made significant progress in using gravity satellite observation data to monitor global mass changes. This has improved our understanding of large-scale material migration, global environmental changes in the Earth system, and facilitated research on critical environmental issues such as global sea level change monitoring, glacier melting, and groundwater extraction. Limitations in the accuracy and resolution of satellite instruments, along with factors such as modeling errors, result in global mass changes calculated using gravity satellite data being affected by noise patterns in the form of south-north stripes and signal leakage. While commonly used filtering and smoothing methods effectively mitigate the impact of south-north stripes noise, they exacerbate signal leakage problems. To address these issues and enhance the spatiotemporal resolution and accuracy of surface mass changes in the calculation of gravity satellite data, numerous scholars have developed a point-mass modeling approach based on Newton's law of universal gravitation. These methods establish a direct relationship between surface mass changes and perturbed motion of satellites, employing constraint matrices to tackle strip errors and ill-posed problems arising from downward continuation. This article examines the research progress of the point-mass modeling approach, provides a comprehensive overview of the fundamental theories and various methods employed, analyzes different strategies and characteristics of constraint matrices, and provides a concise summary of the post-processing methods associated with this approach. The comprehensive analysis presented in this article is intended to serve as a valuable reference for the future development and research of the point-mass modeling approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water availability regulates plant community dynamics but the drought response of seedlings remains poorly known, despite their vulnerability, especially for the Asian tropics. In particular, discerning how functional traits of seedlings mediate drought response can aid generalizable predictions of tree responses to global environmental change. We assessed interspecific variation in drought response explained by above‐ and below‐ground seedling traits. We conducted a dry‐down experiment in the greenhouse using 16 tree species from the humid forests of Western Ghats in southern India, chosen to represent differences in affinity to conditions of high and low seasonal drought (seasonality affiliation). We compared survival, growth, and photosynthetic performance under drought and well‐watered conditions and assessed the extent to which species' responses were explained by seasonality affiliation and 12 traits of root, stem and leaf. We found that the species from seasonally dry forest reduced photosynthetic rate in drought compared with well‐watered conditions, but seasonality affiliation did not explain differences in growth and survival. Performance in drought vs well‐watered conditions were best explained by anatomical traits of xylem, veins and stomata. Species with larger xylem reduced their growth and photosynthesis to tolerate desiccation. In drought, species with smaller stomata correlated with lower survival even though photosynthetic activity decreased by a larger extent with larger stomata. Overall, anatomical traits of xylem and stomata, directly related to water transport and gas‐exchange, played a more prominent role than commonly used traits (e.g., specific leaf area, leaf dry matter content) in explaining species response to drought, and may offer a good proxy for physiological traits related to drought tolerance of seedlings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Social networks are foundational to modern environmental governance, and particularly influential in supporting societal navigation of rapid environmental change. Social network science crosses disciplinary boundaries and provides theoretical and methodological tools to predict and assess relationships between network characteristics, structures, and the diffusion of information and innovations critical to navigating environmental governance challenges such as climate change and biodiversity loss. Most network studies examine networks that operate at a particular spatial scale, and research questions often rest on the relationships between simple network structures and characteristics of individual network actors and their associations. Geographers are poised to further develop theory underlying social network science specifically relevant to navigating human–environment governance challenges by disentangling the influences of scale, place, and identity in network studies. In this article, we advance the concept of environmental governance networks as multiscale, multilevel, and multi-identity social networks formed organically in response to environmental governance challenges. We propose that geographers are well positioned to expose the socially constructed nature of environmental governance networks as barriers and opportunities for societal navigation of rapid environmental change by explicitly theorizing critical influences across time, space, place, levels of social organization, and the multiple roles and social identities individual network actors hold. We develop a research agenda that leverages geographic theory to expand network science questions relative to concepts such as network proximity, affiliation, interaction, and intra-individual roles and identities to better understand the position and potential of environmental governance networks as a social structure for navigating rapid environmental change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rice, a globally important food crop, faces significant challenges due to salt and drought stress. These abiotic stresses severely impact rice growth and yield, manifesting as reduced plant height, decreased tillering, reduced biomass, and poor leaf development. Recent advances in molecular biology and genomics have uncovered key physiological and molecular mechanisms that rice employs to cope with these stresses, including osmotic regulation, ion balance, antioxidant responses, signal transduction, and gene expression regulation. Transcription factors such as DREB, NAC, and bZIP, as well as plant hormones like ABA and GA, have been identified as crucial regulators. Utilizing CRISPR/Cas9 technology for gene editing holds promise for significantly enhancing rice stress tolerance. Future research should integrate multi-omics approaches and smart agriculture technologies to develop rice varieties with enhanced stress resistance, ensuring food security and sustainable agriculture in the face of global environmental changes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Invasive alien species (IAS) are one amongst the dominant drivers of global environmental change. The reported effects of IAS on biodiversity and ecosystems are often highly variable across species, habitats, and environmental settings, which constrains our capacity to empirically generalise their overall impact. To date, meta‐analyses have investigated the ecological impacts of IAS using only mean effects, while variance effects – an equally important measure in quantifying the efficacy or generalizability of a treatment – has largely remained ignored. Using a global meta‐analysis of 586 and 522 effect sizes related to mean and variance measures respectively from 30 studies, here we provide the first quantitative synthesis of the extent to which a global plant invader Lantana camara affects the mean and variance of ecological variables relevant at species, community and ecosystem levels. Our results suggest that for individual response classes, both the mean and variance effects from the species invasion differed considerably in their magnitude and direction, with the effect on most response classes being highly heterogeneous and non‐significant. The study design had a significant effect on both the mean and variance effects from the species invasion, but the ecosystem type, continent, and latitude act as weak predictors of both mean and variance effects. By investigating both mean and variance effects, our study provides first quantitative synthesis on ecological impacts of a globally problematic invasive plant. Based on our findings, we highlight the current knowledge gaps and suggest future research directions, particularly the need to focus on causes of variance in invasion impact studies for effective management and restoration of invaded landscapes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Freshwater biodiversity loss is accelerating globally, but humanity can change this trajectory through actions that enable recovery. To be successful, these actions require coordination and planning at a global scale. The Emergency Recovery Plan for global freshwater biodiversity aims to reduce the risk for freshwater biodiversity loss through six priority actions: (1) accelerate implementation of environmental flows; (2) improve water quality to sustain aquatic life; (3) protect and restore critical habitats; (4) manage exploitation of freshwater species and riverine aggregates; (5) prevent and control nonnative species invasions in freshwater habitats; and (6) safeguard and restore freshwater connectivity. These actions can be implemented using future-proofing approaches that anticipate future risks (e.g., emerging pollutants, new invaders, and synergistic effects) and minimize likely stressors to make conservation of freshwater biodiversity more resilient to climate change and other global environmental challenges. While uncertainty with respect to past observations is not a new concern for freshwater biodiversity, future-proofing has the distinction of accounting for the uncertainty of future conditions that have no historical baseline. The level of uncertainty with respect to future conditions is unprecedented. Future-proofing of the Emergency Recovery Plan for freshwater biodiversity will require anticipating future changes and developing and implementing actions to address those future changes. Here, we showcase future-proofing approaches likely to be successful using local case studies and examples. Ensuring that response options within the Emergency Recovery Plan are future-proofed will provide decision makers with science-informed choices, even in the face of uncertain and potentially new future conditions. We are at an inflection point for global freshwater biodiversity loss; learning from defeats and successes can support improved actions toward a sustainable future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ability of fish to sustain environmental perturbations during fragile early‐life stages can be of vital importance for populations and species facing rapid global environmental change. One of the potential challenges for aquatic organisms, including teleost fish, is rising concentration of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) in freshwater environments, known as brownification, which causes a cascade of changes including a decreased visibility and pH. Conversely, humic substances are increasingly recognised for their potential antimicrobial and immunostimulant properties. The questions remain whether exposure to humic waters high in DOC during the development causes significant perturbation, and to what extent genetic and parental factors may maintain optimal development in such a possibly challenging environment.To address these questions, we generated pure and hybrid (inter‐population) crosses of Eurasian perch (Perca fluviatilis) originating from clear‐water and humic lakes. Fertilised eggs from each cross were exposed to natural humic and clear‐water lake water. Intra‐chorionic space diameter (embryo diameter) and hatching success were recorded.Perch embryos successfully developed even in a small volume of water (5 mL) and majority hatched (70%) by 13 day post‐fertilisation. Embryo diameter was influenced by the interaction between cross type and treatment where embryos with maternal clear‐water origin were smaller than embryos of humic water origin in both clear‐water and humic water treatments. The probability of hatching was not related to female size, but rather to embryo diameter at the eyed stage and the interaction between cross type and treatment, resulting in pure clear‐water crosses hatching earlier and at higher numbers.Our study shows that effects of humic water are not uniformally negative in perch and discloses population‐dependent responses to humic water exposure during development. Our experimental design also illustrates the utility of multi‐well plates for conducting complex high‐throughput experiments beyond traditional model species and opens new possibilities for testing perch genotype–environment associations in early‐life traits.Taken together, results of this study add to the growing evidence that humic substances may have complex effects on fish during early life, motivating further investigations on their role in shaping natural phenotypes and potential use in the applied sector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Jurassic–Cretaceous boundary is the only Phanerozoic period-level boundary that lacks a golden spike on the geological timescale despite significant global geological and environmental change during this time related to the opening of the Atlantic Ocean. Paleoenvironmental proxy profiles (total organic carbon, δ34S, δ15N, Fe, Mn, Ce/Ce*, Th/U, δ13Corg, P, Ni, Zn, Cu, and B/Ga) for core 3 of the Baccalieu I-78 well in the Flemish Pass Basin, offshore eastern Canada, exhibit a geochemical anomaly between 3288.5 and 3289 m, overlapping with the biostratigraphic placement of the Jurassic–Cretaceous boundary. Collectively the geochemical analyses are interpreted to indicate that the anomaly is associated with a fall in relative sea level, followed by a rise, which led to restricted circulation, stratification, and widespread anoxia. This anoxia, coupled with an arid climate, further resulted in reduced weathering, limited nutrient supply, and an overall reduction in primary productivity. The results of this study, in conjunction with previous biostratigraphic studies on core 3, suggest that the Jurassic–Cretaceous boundary in Baccalieu I-78 likely falls within the geochemical anomaly, specifically between 3228.5 and 3288.85 m. Furthermore, the paleoenvironmental interpretations derived in this study agree with published reports on global sea level and climate trends around the Jurassic–Cretaceous boundary, implying the influence of global, rather than regional, factors on deposition. This suggests that geochemical proxies may be useful in providing additional paleoenvironmental insights and helping to constrain stratigraphic boundaries, particularly in intervals that lack significant lithological or biological change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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We describe the seventh valid species of cockroach, Alderblattina simmsi gen. et sp. nov., from insect‐rich strata recording the Toarcian Oceanic Anoxic Event (T‐OAE). The T‐OAE represents a period of extreme global warming and environmental change that drove palaeoecological pressures and evolutionary changes in marine and terrestrial ecosystems. Here, for the first time, we present evidence that this event may also be the driver for the evolution of aposematic colouration, a predator deterrent, in cockroaches. The specimen, an isolated compressed tegmen, was collected at Alderton Hill, Gloucestershire, UK, and is assigned to a new genus and species, based on the following unique combination of characteristics: small forewing; 15 branches of R and 11 branches of M + CuA; strong cross‐vein between R and M; intercalaries; and two well‐defined subspherical maculae (spots) and colouration at the wing tip. Alderblattina simmsi is assigned to the family Rhipidoblattinidae Rohdendorf, primarily based on its small size and the presence of branched anal veins in the clavus. The colouration present on A. simmsi represents the first recorded likely occurrence of aposematism in cockroaches, and provides evidence for the evolution of colour patterning in Blattodea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reading Laudate Deum in the Lenses of Inclusivity is not just an academic exercise. It is a commitment to walk with Pope Francis' call to act immediately to address the issues of climate change and global environmental crisis. The paper aims to present the key concepts of his apostolic exhortation that advance the theme of inclusivity. It shall include a trace in the development of his concepts of inclusivity in his writings and programs, identify them in the text itself of Laudate Deum, and examine them within the framework of intersectionality. Pope Francis has been highly vocal about the technocratic paradigm that dominates and causes havoc to the harmony that the people of this world can enjoy. He urges world leaders to do something since his encyclical is at the best time to influence the United Nations Climate Summit (COP28). But beyond the rhetoric are issues that need to be responded to. The call is for everyone regardless of background and we are all united to work together to take care of our earth, our home. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study was conducted to document the fish fauna and their IUCN status of Chessore sub-division of Shamator, Nagaland for a period of one year, from May 2023 - April 2024 covering the targeted areas. The survey reveals the presence of 20 species belonging to 5 orders, 9 families and 15 genera. The order Cypriniformes dominanted with 14 species while Anabantiformes, Perciform and Synbranchiformes with 1 species each is the least common. According to IUCN Red-list and habitat studies during different seasons, one species belonging to family cyprinidae is under IUCN-NT category, five species belonging to cyprinidae, channidae and cobitidae is under IUCN-VU while the rest falls under IUCN-LC and Data deficient (DD) category. A primary threat to the fish biodiversity in study area is due to anthropogenic activities and environmental changes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A growing body of literature studies how expert practices constitute issues such as climate change, migration, or public health as international objects of expertise. The article contributes to this research agenda by highlighting the role of digital visual technologies and infrastructures in the constitution and governance of these international objects. It develops the concept of visual objects and uses it to trace and explain the emergence of a new technological initiative conducted by the European Space Agency (ESA) and the EU: the vision of a 'digital twin Earth' (DTE). The idea behind the DTE is to combine various technologies, including satellite Earth observation, advanced computer models, and AI, to build a digital replica of our planet and thereby govern risks emanating from environmental changes and other global challenges. The article provides a first analysis of the international politics of the DTE. It shows how the visual object of the DTE functions as an attractor of heterogeneous actors and practices involved in the European space policy field thereby temporarily stabilizing this complex assemblage. Finally, it traces how the DTE and its machinic ways of seeing enact the Earth not only as an object of knowledge but also as one of experimentation and intervention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The concept of planetary health examines the impact of human actions on the Earth's ecosystems and human health. It recognizes that human behaviors and systems are interconnected with environmental factors and that addressing environmental degradation is crucial for human well-being. Planetary health research reveals the extensive health effects of humanity's environmental footprint, including the spread of infectious diseases, the impact on mental health, and the risks of food and water scarcity. There is a moral imperative to prioritize sustainability and justice, as the poorest nations are most vulnerable to the planetary health crisis. Practical actions to promote planetary health include disseminating information to the public, engaging with influencers and communities, implementing policy changes, and investing in research and education. The planetary health movement calls for a transition towards sustainable practices and a holistic approach to address the environmental and health crises. [Extracted from the article]

The intensifying global environmental crisis poses an existential threat to human well-being, exposing the deep vulnerabilities of our socio-economic systems and disproportionately burdening the world's most disadvantaged populations. A rich and long-standing tradition in macro-sociology offers a powerful lens to understand the underlying social drivers of this crisis. By examining the interconnectedness of development, well-being, and the environment this scholarship illuminates potential pathways towards a more sustainable future. The contributions in this special issue of leverages this macro-comparative approach and innovative multi-scalar quantitative methodologies to highlight these interdependencies, illustrating how structural inequality shapes human and environmental relations and how macroeconomic factors in some national contexts can hamper the pursuit of well-being in others. We introduce the issue by providing context for the crisis and reviewing relevant theory and empirical research within the macro-sociological tradition. Subsequently, we showcase the contributions of each included paper, highlighting their unique insights and policy implications for structural reforms. Finally, we synthesize concrete policy recommendations and identify promising avenues for future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Currently, land use and land cover change (LULCC) dynamics are critical in the sustainability of global environmental change. In this study, we performed a comprehensive intercomparison of different hybrid models, employing several performance metrics. This study aims to determine the best modeling approach for predicting future land use and land cover changes. The methodology is demonstrated in the Rengali catchment of the Brahmani basin in India, using Landsat imagery from 1990, 2005, and 2020. The analysis of temporal mapping from 1990 to 2020 showed a substantial decrease in the forest area (from 40.96% to 33.78%) and a significant increase in both agricultural land (31.39% to 41.77%) and built-up area (3.63% to 16.96%). Three hybrid models, namely artificial neural network-cellular automata (ANN-CA), multilayer perceptron-cellular automata-Markov chain (MLP-CA-MC), and logistic regression-cellular automata-Markov chain (LR-CA-MC) were assessed to determine the effectiveness in predicting future land use and land cover (LULC) changes in the basin. Among the three models, the MLP-CA-MC model showed superior performance following the validation phase. Later, the MLP-CA-MC model was employed to estimate the future LULC projections for 2050 and 2075 by considering the nonstationary relationship between selected driving variables and LULC. The model forecasts that by 2075, the forest area, water bodies, and barren land may decrease by 27.20%, 3.82%, and 2.38%, respectively, compared to the observed LULC in 2020. On the other hand, agricultural land and built-up areas are expected to increase by 45.21% and 21.39%, respectively. The results of this study can provide land use planners, environmentalists, and policymakers with essential information to formulate effective management strategies and laws that will serve the public better. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As one of the most important terrestrial sediments, Chinese loess provides valuable information on regional and global climatic and environmental changes and holds great potential for studying on nonlinear behaviors of the East Asian monsoon system. Utilizing objective and quantitative methods to identify tipping points and climate transitions in paleoclimatic records can help us understand the climatic change in the Chinese Loess Plateau (CLP). This study explores critical tipping points and nonlinear climate transitions within the CLP using the Chiloparts record, a comprehensive 2600-ka paleoclimate dataset. We pinpointed potential tipping points using recurrence quantification analysis and the augmented Kolmogorov-Smirnov test, ultimately leading to 15 critical tipping points. We argued that these 15 tipping points represent some of the most significant climatic changes recorded in the Chinese loess paleoclimate record. Employing recurrence quantification analysis, recurrence networks, and visibility graphs, we also identified several climate transitions and provided some nonlinear information, including the Mid-Pleistocene Transition (MPT) as well as the Mid-Brunhes Transition (MBT). We particularly highlight a significant climatic regime transition around 500 ka that may reflect a nonlinear response to variations in the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC). Our research also contributes to the understanding of the complex interplay between loess deposition, environmental change, and tectonic activity, emphasizing the need for further investigations to elucidate the mechanisms driving these transitions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fire plays a pivotal role in driving ecological shifts between Mediterranean‐type vegetation and subtropical ecosystems in South Africa. This study investigates long‐term environmental dynamics and ecological regime changes at the Mediterranean‐type vegetation /subtropical boundary using a 6000‐year palaeoecological sequence from the Baviaanskloof – a region of South Africa characterized by high levels of biodiversity and climate dynamism. Combining fossil pollen and microcharcoal data from a rock hyrax Procavia capensis midden, we analyse vegetation responses to environmental changes. Our findings reveal that Mediterranean‐type vegetation resilience prevailed until ca 2800 cal year BP when a major fire event triggered a transition to a subtropical thicket‐dominated environment. This abrupt ecological turnover underscores the significance of fire as a major driver of vegetation change at the Mediterranean‐type vegetation /subtropical boundary. Our study emphasizes the vulnerability of Mediterranean‐type vegetation ecosystems to global environmental change, suggesting potential implications for similar biome boundaries worldwide. By integrating multi‐proxy palaeoecological evidence, we gain insights into the resilience and vulnerability of these ecosystems, aiding in understanding future responses to climate change scenarios. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Pig production has environmental impacts such as global warming and eutrophication. This is closely linked to the feed efficiency of production, i.e., how much feed is required to produce a given quantity of pig meat; this depends on traits such as growth rate, feed intake, and litter size. Commercial pig breeding creates genetic improvement in those traits, and this should reduce the environmental impact. We applied two life cycle assessment (LCA) studies to quantify this reduction. In the first LCA, we compared the environmental impact of pigs in 2021 to the predicted impact for 2030, and we found a 7–9% improvement over those 9 years. In the second LCA, we compared the impact of pigs from a particular breeding company to the North American pig industry average, and we found that those pigs have a 7–8% lower impact. We conclude that commercial pig breeding delivers positive environmental outcomes as a result of its selection for production and reproduction traits. Lifecycle assessment (LCA) quantified changes in environmental impact categories (global warming, eutrophication, etc.) from 2021 to 2030 due to genetic trends in (re)production traits in pig lines of the breeding company Genus-PIC. The 2030 levels were projected with selection index theory based on weightings of traits in the breeding goals and genetic covariances among them. The projected improvement was 0.9% annually for most impact categories. Another LCA compared the impacts of 2021 North American pig production based on PIC genetics versus the industry average. Software openLCA converted material and energy flows to impact categories of frameworks ReCiPe-2016, PEF-3.1, and IPCC-2021. Flows came from data recorded by customers (1.1/4.7 million sows/finishing pigs) and by subscribers to a third-party data aggregator (1.3/9.1 million). PIC genetics have a 7–8% better impact than industry average for 13/18 categories of ReCiPe-2016, 19/25 of PEF-3.1, and all categories of IPCC-2001. Pig breeding delivers positive environmental outcomes as correlated responses to selection for profitability-oriented breeding goals. This trend is additive; technology development will increase it. Different investment levels in breeding population structure and technology and different operational efficiencies of breeding companies cause substantial differences in the environmental impact of pig production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Pig farming is one of the most profitable components of the livestock sector in agriculture, significantly contributing to economic development, food security, and improved livelihoods for local communities in Africa and globally. However, with the increasing concern for global environmental changes, pig production is considered one of the vulnerable livestock sectors likely to be affected the most. Africa, being a tropical continent with extraordinary geographical and biological diversity, is believed to have varieties of local pigs exhibiting valuable genetic traits that can be used to promote livestock productivity through breeding for climate-resilient breeds. Unfortunately, many of these valuable traits have not been fully identified and exploited. This study provides an overview of the current state of African pig genetic resources by highlighting their diversity and adaptability potential from both phenotypic and genetic evidence. Our results indicate that African local pigs hold potential genetic traits critical for climate change adaptation. However, these traits are threatened due to crossbreeding activities with commercial breeds that are now prevalent across the continent. Thus, to keep up with the rapid speed of climate change, efforts to realize and utilize these considerable potential traits must increase before they are permanently depleted. Africa is home to a wide diversity of locally adapted pig breeds whose genetic architecture offers important insights into livestock adaptation to climate change. However, the majority of these inherent traits have not been fully highlighted. This review presents an overview of the current state of African pig genetic resources, providing highlights on their population and production statistics, production system, population diversity indices, and genomic evidence underlying their evolutionary potential. The study results reveal an incomplete characterization of local pig genotypes across the continent. The characterized population, however, demonstrates moderate to high levels of genetic diversity, enough to support breeding and conservation programs. Owing to low genetic differentiation and limited evidence of distinct population structures, it appears that most local pig populations are strains within larger breeds. Genomic evidence has shown a higher number of selection signatures associated with various economically important traits, thus making them potential candidates for climate change adaptation. The reportedly early evidence of hybridization with wild suid groups further suggests untapped insights into disease resistance and resilience traits that need to be illuminated using higher-density markers. Nevertheless, gene introgression from commercial breeds is prevalent across Africa; thus, efforts to realize and utilize these traits must increase before they are permanently depleted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Increasing levels of global environmental change may have negative impacts on fertility and embryo viability in animals that could explain a recently reported increase in hatching failure in bird eggs across the globe. Here we test this relationship again by analyzing a dataset containing almost twice as many species and covering a longer time period than earlier works (n  = 431 species during the period 1906–2022). We also tested for effects of Red List status and global population size. We found that hatching failure rates in a combined group of bird species currently classified as threatened (IUCN Red List categories Critically Endangered, Endangered and Vulnerable) or Near Threatened, peaked in the late 1970s to early 1980s and thereafter declined. A similar trend also existed in species with relatively small global populations. In contrast, no temporal trends were found in species in the Least Concern category, or in species with large global populations. Moreover, hatching failure rates declined significantly with increasing global population sizes. The temporal peak of hatching failure rates in threatened and Near Threatened species corresponds with the peak in environmental levels of the insecticide DDT. While this could suggest that environmental pollution caused the temporal trends in hatching failure rates, effects of inbreeding in small and threatened populations sampled more frequently during this period could not be excluded. Although we found no evidence suggesting that the rates of hatching failure in bird eggs are increasing, the current study supports previous works showing that species of high conservation concern appear to be more susceptible to factors leading to reproductive failure than other species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Early-life stages play a key role in the dynamics of bipartite life cycle marine fish populations. Difficult to monitor, observations of these stages are often scattered in space and time. While Mediterranean coastlines have often been surveyed, no effort has been made to assemble historical observations. Here we build an exhaustive compilation of dispersal traits for coastal fish species, considering in situ observations and growth models (; https://doi.org/10.17882/91148). Our database contains over 110 000 entries collected from 1993 to 2021 in various subregions. All observations are harmonized to provide information on dates and geolocations of both spawning and settlement, along with pelagic larval durations. When applicable, missing data and associated confidence intervals are reconstructed from dynamic energy budget theory. Statistical analyses allow traits' variability to be revisited and sampling biases to be revealed across taxa, space and time, hence providing recommendations for future studies and sampling. Comparison of observed and modelled entries provides suggestions to improve the feed of observations into models. Overall, this extensive database is a crucial step to investigate how marine fish populations respond to global changes across environmental gradients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]