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Disturbed areas alongside roads shape unique vegetation communities dominated by synanthropic native and alien plant species, facilitated by roads serving as corridors for dispersal, penetration, and integration of synanthropic plants into new areas. We collected presence/absence data for individual species along roads in the Orlické Mountains, Czech Republic, in three time periods during 1970–2010. The distribution of species was mapped using a 1-square-kilometer grid. Analyzing 107 plant species (44 native, 63 alien), we found archaeophyte species favor lower elevations (foothills), while neophytes thrive at higher elevations. Over 40 years, neophyte frequency significantly rose at lower elevations, contrasting the decline at higher elevations, with no marked change in archaeophyte frequency. Native species decline notably at 400–500 m elevations. Some thermophilous native synanthropic species and alien archaeophytes spread from foothills to higher elevations, while some psychrophilic higher-elevation species shift upwards, diminishing at lower elevations. We emphasize human disturbance and global warming as pivotal factors influencing the altitudinal distribution shift in both native and alien plant species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An investigation of Lake Vransko, located on the island of Cres in the Adriatic Sea, was performed in order to reconstruct the palaeoenvironmental changes that occurred during the late Holocene, based on diatoms. Fluctuations in the lake level were mostly driven by the intensification of climatic oscillations (wet periods during North Atlantic Oscillation intervals and summer drought during Azores High intervals) and anthropogenic influences (e.g. the extraction of drinking water). The anthropogenic impact of local deforestation is encountered, associated with a peak in phosphorous in the deeper parts of the lake cores. As a consequence of these impacts ten diatom abundance zones (DZs) and the water/sediment interface (WSI) were recorded from the deeper core (CS-51) and two from the shallower (CS-52) core, along with the WSI, based on which an abrupt fluctuation in the level of the lake was interpreted. A dominance of Epithemia adnata in the deeper core, and Gomphonema pumilum in the CS-51, and in the CS-52 indicated a shallow phase connected with the summer drought recorded in the lake. A dominance of Amphora inariensis , Pseudostaurosira spp., Cyclotella spp. and Pantocsekiella ocellata in the rest of the cores indicated deeper, more alkaline lake conditions during the wet periods. The DZs accord with depth variations in Adriatic coastal lakes that are key sites of more extreme recent changes in the local climate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study provides a comprehensive analysis of the water quality in five major rivers in Türkiye: Sakarya, Yeşilırmak, Kızılırmak, Seyhan Rivers, and Niğde Creek. Utilizing hydrochemical diagrams and the River Pollution Index (RPI), we assess the temporal and spatial variations in water quality over the past three decades. The hydrochemical characteristics reveal a dominant calcium-bicarbonate (Ca-HCO3) type water, indicating strong geological control primarily influenced by carbonate weathering. Seasonal variations and anthropogenic influences, particularly agricultural runoff and industrial discharge, contribute to significant changes in ion concentrations, especially in the Kızılırmak and Yeşilırmak Rivers. The RPI results classify these rivers as 'Severely polluted' to 'Moderately polluted', driven by high levels of suspended solids and biochemical oxygen demand. This study underscores the urgent need for tailored pollution control measures and sustainable water management practices in order to mitigate the impacts of anthropogenic activities and protect the ecological health of these vital water resources. The findings provide a robust framework for future research and policymaking to enhance water quality monitoring and management strategies in the region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Drought is an increasing risk to the biodiversity within rivers—ecosystems which are already impacted by human activities. However, the long‐term spatially replicated studies needed to generate understanding of how anthropogenic stressors alter ecological responses to drought are lacking. We studied aquatic invertebrate communities in 2500 samples collected from 179 sites on rivers emerging from England's chalk aquifer over three decades. We tested two sets of alternative hypotheses describing responses to and recovery from drought in interaction with human impacts affecting water quality, fine sediment, water temperature, channel morphology, flow and temporal change in land use. We summarized communities using taxa richness, an index indicating tolerance of anthropogenic degradation (average score per taxon, ASPT) and deviation from the average composition. Responses to drought were altered by interactions with human impacts. Poor water quality exacerbated drought‐driven reductions in taxa richness. Drought‐driven deviations from the average community composition were reduced and enhanced at sites impacted by flow augmentation (e.g. effluent releases) and flow reduction (e.g. abstraction), respectively. Human impacts altered post‐drought recovery. Increases in richness were lower at sites impacted by water abstraction and higher at sites with augmented flows, in particular as recovery trajectories extended beyond 3 years. ASPT recovered faster at sites that gained woodland compared to urban land, due to their greater recovery potential, that is, their lower drought‐driven minimum values and higher post‐drought maximum values. Synthesis and applications. We show that communities in river ecosystems exposed to human impacts—in particular poor water quality, altered flow volumes and land use change—are particularly vulnerable to drought. These results provide evidence that management actions taken to enhance water quality, regulate abstraction and restore riparian land use could promote ecological resilience to drought in groundwater‐dominated rivers such as globally rare chalk streams and other rivers of the Anthropocene, as they adapt to a future characterized by increasing climatic extremity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sea turtles are one of the important reptilian groups that have encountered multiple threats around the globe. As a result, many nations are focused on identifying the major threats to sea turtles and focused on their conservation. In this regard, the current study aims to understand the perceptions of coastal dwellers, residents, and various stakeholders involved in sea turtle conservation regarding the major threats and conservation challenges faced by sea turtles along the southern coast of Sri Lanka. To achieve this objective, a semi-structured questionnaire survey was carried out in three administrative districts of southern Sri Lanka. Our survey identified that fisheries bycatch, egg poaching and natural predation were the most important threats to sea turtles. Information from various stakeholders involved in ex situ conservation practices indicated that multiple challenges arise at various stages of the ex situ conservation process. Limited adherence to safe burrowing practices while collecting sea turtle eggs, limited knowledge of safety procedures in hatchery operations, and challenges in the sea turtle rehabilitation process in ex situ conservation were highlighted. Our study recommends that increasing the awareness of egg collectors, dissemination of novel findings of sea turtle research and regular monitoring of sea turtle hatcheries are crucial for sustainable sea turtle conservation in Sri Lanka. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Riverine floodplains are recognized as centers of biodiversity, but due to intense anthropogenic pressures, many active floodplains have disappeared during the last century. This research focuses on the long-term changes in phytoplankton diversity in the floodplain lake situated in the Kopački Rit (Croatia), one of the largest conserved floodplains in the Middle Danube. The recent dataset from 2003 to 2016 and historical data from the 1970s and 1980s indicate high phytoplankton diversity, summarising 680 taxa for nearly half a century. The variability of species richness is driven by specific in-lake variables, particularly water temperature, water depth, total nitrogen, pH, and transparency, determined by a redundancy analysis of the current data. The high phytoplankton diversity levels are sustained regardless of intense pressures on the lake environment, including exposure to strong anthropogenic pollution in the past and extreme hydrological events, both droughts and floods, which have increasingly affected this part of the Danube in the last decades. The conserved hydrological connection between various biotopes along the river–floodplain gradient seems crucial in maintaining high phytoplankton diversity. Accordingly, conserving natural flooding is mandatory to maintain high biodiversity in complex and dynamic river–floodplain systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Information on the state of the nesting population of some species of the order Charadariiformes (Charadriiformes) based on our own expeditionary and published data obtained during the study of bird species of the marsh-near-water complex, which is the most sensitive to changes in the water regime of reservoirs in the southern European part of Russia (using the example of artificial reservoirs of the Republic of Kalmykia), due to increased anthropogenic pressure and climate change is provided. An analysis of the impact of the water factor (drainage/watering of the reservoir) on the nesting population of some representatives of the Gull family (Laridae) is given. Information is provided on the features of the nesting ecology of the most typical nesting species of this taxonomic group for the study area, and their general quantitative indicators and population dynamics for the period 2011–2015 are given. The contribution of the reservoirs of the Sarpinskaya lake system and Deed-Khulsun Lake to the preservation and enrichment of biodiversity of the region was assessed. Recommendations are given for managing their hydrological regime in order to maintain and preserve populations of rare and vulnerable bird species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dust storms and dry haze are an unfavorable meteorological factor for the cities of the Aral Sea Region. The mean annual number of days with haze in Central Asian cities ranges from 10 to 20. Dust makes poorer the aspect of areas, but its impact on urban planning has been incompletely studied and the content of fine dust particles in the air of cities has not been monitored. The Afghan wind (garmsil: fiery, hot, dry wind with dust), which attracts particular attention, is a dust storm that suddenly starts in the deserts of Afghanistan and on the dried bottom of the Aral Sea (it is now called Aralkum (the Turkish kum signifies sand)). This is a real salt desert, containing pesticides and chemicals dangerous for human health. They penetrated rivers as fertilizers used by people and then flowed into the sea. They now cause significant damage to the cities and to the economy of Central Asian countries. Wind transport of dust from natural sources and, as a result, the dustiness of the urban environment are analyzed in this article. This problem is particularly urgent for most large cities in Central Asia, but has not been studied sufficiently. The dust factor is not sufficiently taken into account, when making urban planning decisions even in areas with intensive wind and dust activity, such as the Aral Sea Region, where it is related to natural and climatic conditions. More and more cool agricultural lands are now destroyed and used for building construction in many cities, which may exert a strong effect on the quality of life in the next few years. Not long ago, dustiness was considered only as a factor that creates uncomfortable conditions, but today, it is associated with morbidity and mortality of the population. A high dust content in the air harms landscaped areas, along highways and streets in particular. The protection of buildings from direct sunlight and dust consists in the use of sun protection devices, panels, and ventilated facades. One of the modern trends in architecture consists in the introduction of the technology of kinetic facades, which are formed of elements of different shapes and materials. When the proposed methods are implemented, there is a real opportunity to improve the quality of atmospheric air in cities located in complicated landscape conditions, which will directly affect the improvement of human health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The presented work considers the population of the maral (Cervus elaphus sibiricus Severtzov, 1873) as a species naturalized in the middle reaches of the Podkamennaya Tunguska River, on the territory of the Tunguska State Nature Reserve. For the first time, successful settlement and naturalization of maral in the middle taiga forests of the south of Evenkia, which began in 2018–2019, was described. The climatic, biological and anthropogenic factors of the expansion of its range were considered. In this area, the average annual air temperature has so far remained below the temperature regime typical of most of the maral's range within Krasnoyarsk krai. This is evidence in favor of the hypothesis of an indirect influence of climatic changes that manifested themselves in the north of Central Siberia on the settlement of the maral. The most likely decisive factor in the red deer's northward movement is anthropogenic impact, which resulted in an increase in the number of feeding stations and the anxiety factor in the native range. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The last populations of Danube salmon (Hucho hucho) in Croatia are found in the Kupa and Una rivers. However, the size of the suitable area that could serve as the best spawning ground for the remnant Danube salmon population in these rivers is not known. This study aimed to leverage anglers' experiences to determine the sections of the Una and Kupa rivers where the last populations of Danube salmon (Hucho hucho) in Croatia are most abundant, identify potential spawning sites and assess threats that could impact the species' existence. The Kupica river emerged as a tributary of the Kupa river with a large Danube salmon population in Croatia. Experienced divers conducted three dives along a 350‐m transect in the Kupica river, estimating a total of 13 Danube salmon individuals ranging from 50 to 115 cm in total length, in pool and run mesohabitat types. In the Kupa and Kupica rivers, the survey identified 25 Danube salmon spawning sites. The primary local threats identified for the Danube salmon population include small hydropower plants, the construction of a radioactive waste disposal site, water abstraction, the removal of riparian vegetation, overfishing and climate change. Based on the results of this study, we strongly recommend the implementation of protective measures against these threats and the establishment of an ichthyological reserve specifically for Danube salmon in the Kupica river. This recommendation aligns with the EU Biodiversity Strategy, emphasizing the need to identify designated areas by 2030. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We analysed the pollen and spores extracted from 73 samples of lacustrine sediments from Colesdalen in Svalbard (Lake Tenndammen) as well as 10 soil samples collected from the lake's shores. In total, 56 pollen taxa were recorded from the sediments spanning the last 800 years, whilst 35 pollen types were found in the soil samples. Pollen was categorised as (i) regional (from Svalbard); (ii) exotic to Svalbard today; or (iii) of mixed or unclear origin. Major changes in pollen assemblages after ca 1900 CE were associated with human impact. Around 1920 CE, the first signs of introduced plant taxa were identified, by the presence of Apiaceae and Fabaceae pollen. Additionally, large-sized pollen with a thick exine and annulus diameter of 10.6–13 μm, identified as Poaceae/Cerealia type, was constantly present after ca 1920 CE. Other exotic pollen, including Ulmus, Juglans, and tropical pollen of Albizia/Mimosa type, Eucalyptus type, Acalypha type, and Passiflora type, are found only during the 1930s to 1960s, which is the period associated with the most intensive mining activity and human migration to and from Colesdalen. Furthermore, the repeated occurrence of Myrica (gale) type and Erica type occurring both in the lake sediment and in the soil samples is best explained by the migration of geese from Scotland (UK). Our research demonstrates how precisely human history can be reflected in the lake sediments of the Arctic environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Few landscapes on earth remain free of human‐modification, which may influence resource selection in wildlife. To investigate the effects of anthropic pressure on wild boar (Sus scrofa) and explore management implications, we studied how diel resource selection of the species' main life stages changed with spatial variations of human access (e.g., for recreation), temporal changes in hunting pressure, and habitat type. Using 206,461 hourly GPS‐locations of 15 males, 11 females with dependent young, and 17 other females from south‐western Germany, we found anthropic pressure influenced resource selection more than ecological factors. All boars were more likely to select for low human‐access areas than high human‐access areas, regardless of habitat. Hunting pressure was most avoided by females with dependent piglets, followed by males and other females. Since both hunting activity and general human access affected resource selection, they should be considered simultaneously in wildlife management and conservation. We suggest the further establishment of wildlife reserves that are inaccessible to people where boar may remain more localized, thereby reducing the risk of disease transmission, and boar hunting to focus on open lands and refuge boundaries to reduce crop damage. This may also benefit overall human‐wildlife coexistence, animal welfare, and biodiversity conservation in anthropized environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The composition and nature of changes in the low-molecular-weight metabolome (LMWM) of Potamogeton perfoliatus L. growing in six biotopes of Lake Ladoga with different types of anthropogenic load have been analyzed. According to the results, it is found that the total number of low-molecular-weight organic compounds (LMWOCs) in the P. perfoliatus LMWM composition is directly dependent on anthropogenic load, which is well marked by the development of cyanobacteria. The greater the intensity of pollution or eutrophication of waters, or the higher the number of cyanobacteria, the lower the total number of LMWOCs and their concentration. A strongly pronounced dependence of the total concentrations of groups of LMWM compounds on the anthropogenic disturbance of the biotope and the concentration of cyanobacteria is revealed. A decrease in the number, relative amount, total concentration of carboxylic acids, and number and content of unsaturated fatty acids and an increase in the composition and content of phenols and the total content of aldehydes and ketones depends on an increase in anthropogenic pressure. The specific composition of the LMWM of claspingleaf pondweed depends on its response to biotic and abiotic factors of the aquatic (including anthropogenic) environment. The features of the change in the composition of the P. perfoliatus LMWM make it possible to use it as an integral indicator of the anthropogenic impact on the littoral biotopes of water bodies and the deterioration of their ecological state. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dysbiosis and acclimatization are two starkly opposing outcomes of altered holobiont associations in response to environmental pollution. This study assesses whether shifts in microbial taxonomic composition and functional profiles of the cosmopolitan sponge Hymeniacidon perlevis indicate dysbiotic or acclimatized responses to water pollution. To do so, sponge and water samples were collected in a semi-enclosed environment (San Antonio Bay, Patagonia, Argentina) from variably polluted sites (i.e., eutrophication, heavy metal contamination). We found significant differences in the microbiome of H. perlevis with respect to the pollution history of the sites. Several indicators suggested that acclimatization, rather than dysbiosis, explained the microbiome response to higher pollution: 1) the distinction of the sponge microbiome from the water microbiome; 2) low similarity between the sponge and water microbiomes at the most polluted site; 3) the change in microbiome composition between sponges from the different sites; 4) a high similarity in the microbiome among sponge individuals within sites; 5) a similar ratio of common sponge microbes to opportunistic microbes between sponges at the most and least polluted sites; and 6) a distinctive functional profile of the sponge microbiome at the most polluted site. This profile indicated a more expansive metabolic repertoire, including the degradation of pollutants and the biosynthesis of secondary metabolites, suggesting a relevant role of these microbial communities in the adaptation of the holobiont to organic pollution. Our results shed light on the rearrangement of the H. perlevis microbiome that could allow it to successfully colonize sites with high anthropogenic impact while resisting dysbiosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nematodes play a key role in ecological environments. Biotic indices based on soil nematode community are effectively used for assessing soil health status. This work represents the opportunity to investigate three different management practices continuously maintained for 40 or more decades on soils with the same geological origin. This unique feature allows us to reduce variables and link biotic with abiotic factors. Therefore, the nematode communities of three neighboring volcanic soils under different managements were examined. The maximum values in soil biodiversity were found in the forest environment in which all the trophic groups were detected and well balanced. Instead, in permanent grassing and carnation crop greenhouse (CG), biodiversity indices progressively decreased with the intensification of agricultural practices. Furthermore, CG showed a stronger dominance of a specific plant-parasitic nematode identified as Heterodera daverti. Nematode indicators demonstrated that changes in the nematode community gradually varied from anthropic to natural environments whereas soil properties were feebly correlated to nematode community indicators. In conclusion, we demonstrated that biodiversity and ecological indices applied to the soil nematode community are effective at detecting alterations due to anthropogenic impact. Nematodes seem to be susceptible to perceiving the soil dynamics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Remote sensing detected the impact of road construction on important environmental properties. The digital elevation model was applied to assess the impact of road construction on environmental regimes. The study focused on the total area of the 3-km zone of influence (monitoring zone of probable impact) around the national road H-31 Dnipro-Tsarychanka-Kobeliaky-Reshetylivka from Loboikivka village to the boundary of Dnipropetrovsk Oblast. The following derivatives of the digital elevation model are considered as geomorpho­logical variables: the topographic wetness index (TWI) and erosion factor (LS). To model the effect of road construction on the moisture regime and dynamics of erosion processes, the TWI and LS indices were calculated for a digital terrain model without a road and with a road with an elevation that corresponds to the planned level. Thus, the road is considered as an anthropogenic landform that changes the direction of water redistribution along the topography and thus affects the potential moisture conditions and erosion risks. The modeling results indicate that the transformation of the water regime will be observed within the entire 3-km monitoring area. Deviations from the normal value can be up to 7 units by module, which is about one third of the landscape-wide range of topographic moisture index values. Almost no impact of construction can be predicted for 80.7% of the territory. For 10.6% of the territory, the increase in moisture regime will be moderate, and for 3.2% of the area the increase will be very significant. In turn, for 4.3% of the area the decrease in humidification will be moderate, and for 1.2% the decrease will be very significant. The greatest impact on the redistribution of moisture conditions is predicted in the immediate vicinity of the road. Changes in the moisture regime can have significant negative consequences for both soil cover and biotic components of ecosystems. Changes in vegetation as a consequence of changes in both moisture and trophic conditions can be considered as possible scenarios for the development of landscape cover dynamics.

Purpose: substantiation and consideration of the assimilating ability of natural and artificially waterlogged areas within the reclaimed landscapes to support the decision to discharge drainage runoff onto the relief or to create constructed wetland. Materials and methods. The calculation of the hydraulic and anthropogenic impact on the wetlands within the reclamation system and constructed wetlands parameters, taking into account the assimilating capacity of wetlands, was performed using computer program in Excel. Results. The possibility of creating artificially waterlogged sites (bioplatos) within a reclamation system for the discharge and purification of drainage flow with subsequent discharge into the river network is considered. In order to take into account the assimilation capacity of wetlands (bioplatos) and the possibility of dumping contaminated drainage waters into them, the computer calculations were performed and graphs were constructed, the dependence of the bioplatos area on the assimilating ability of higher aquatic plants, as well as the total cost which is trends within 50–250 thousands rubles under given conditions of calculations are obtained. Conclusions. The obtained graphs showing the dependence between bioplato area and phosphorous assimilation allow us to determine the area and assimilating capacity of the bioplatos at drainage flow discharge containing phosphorous in the range from 0.5 to 10 l/s per 1 ha of the area of the structure with a drained area in the range of 200–800 ha, depending on the assimilating ability of higher aquatic plants at concentrations of nutrients of the nitrogen and phosphorus groups exceeding the MPC by 3 times in nitrogen and 60 times in phosphorus at different temperatures conditions.

Natural native forests are rapidly being replaced by anthropogenic forests often with a strong presence of invasive alien plant species. Eucalypt species are widely planted worldwide, with Eucalyptus globulus plantations being particularly expressive in Portugal. Poor forestry practices often lead to the associated expansion of invasive species, such as Acacia dealbata. However, we still know relatively little about the functioning of anthropogenic forests, such as seed and pollen dispersal services. Here, we compared bird abundance and richness and the seed and pollen dispersal networks in both forest types. Anthropogenic forests presented lower bird abundance, and smaller, more simplified, and more random (abundance‐based) seed dispersal services than those of natural forests. Interestingly, the pollen dispersal network was more similar than the seed dispersal network for both forest types and dominated by opportunistic and neutral processes, given the absence of specialized nectarivorous. The proportion of birds transporting seeds decreased, while those carrying pollen significantly increased in the anthropogenic forest compared to the native forest. Our work highlights the impact of anthropogenic forests on bird abundance, with consequences for seed dispersal services and forest regeneration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urbanization and technological advancements result in the dispersion of antropogenic electromagnetic fields (EMF) that can affect on ecosystems. Therefore, it is important to understand their impact on the environment. Aquatic ecosystems are subject to EMF as part of various electricity sources, e.g., high-voltage transmission lines (HVTL). We examined the impact of EMF generated by HVTL on the spatial arrangement and survival of pike (Esox lucius) embryos. Fertilized eggs were incubated under two HVTL configurations 110 kV and 220 kV compared with a control group devoid of anthropogenic EMF. Embryo orientation and survival were monitored until blastopore closure. The control group showed dominance in the arrangement of embryos along the N-S, NNW-SSE, and NNE-SSW axes, with a slight prevalence of northern directions. EMF originating from HVTL did not exert a significant influence on the spatial arrangement of pike embryos, although some deviations from the arrangement noticed in the control group were observed. Increased embryo mortality was observed only at 110 kV site, but probably due to factors unrelated to EMF. In conclusion, EMF generated by HVTL did not significantly change pike embryo orientation or chances of survival. However, longer exposure or higher EMF levels could provoke notable reactions, requiring ongoing evaluation as power networks continue to spread more widely. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Verlorenvlei is a globally important RAMSAR wetland on the arid west coast of South Africa. A prolonged drought between 2016 and 2021 and increasing competition for water from the agricultural sector resulted in extremely low water levels. We used historical aerial and satellite imagery from 1942 and rainfall and water level data for the past 50 years, to assess habitat changes within the estuarine functional zone of the Verlorenvlei Estuarine Lake. Prior to the drought, lake water levels and water surface area remained stable (1113 ± 27 ha (SE)). Since then, there has been a 64% decrease in open water area, exposing 193 ha of sandbanks, of which 190.9 ha were hyper-sulfidic pyrite-rich. The water in the lower lake was hypersaline (>100), and in the middle, it was acidic (pH<3). The low water level plus sediment and nutrient input from surrounding agriculture resulted in a localised increase in reeds. Additional pressures, such as fires, have reduced the above-ground biomass of reeds and sedges, potentially altering surface morphology and reducing stored carbon. Despite flooding and filling up in June 2023, the lake remained in an acidic state (3.9-4.3). Similar low-lake level, hypersaline and acidic conditions are predicted to become more common under future climate change scenarios where aridity and extreme weather events are anticipated. Inflow of fresh water into the estuary and control of farming practices are required to keep the Verlorenvlei in a functional state, with long-term monitoring necessary to assess the ecological condition in response to restoration actions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Understanding how extinction has occurred in the recent past is crucial to unravel its main drivers as well as to implement effective conservation practices to minimize global biodiversity loss. It has long been hypothesized that extinction risk is not randomly distributed among traits of species. However, the actual traits making species more prone to extinction may have been overlooked because already extinct species are often not considered in comparative analyses of extinction risk. We characterized the drivers of extinction in a cosmopolitan bird clade, including Holocene and contemporary extinctions potentially related to human impacts and provided evidence of an 'extinction selectivity' in species traits. Location: Global. Time period: Anthropocene. Major taxa studied: Columbiformes clade, pigeons and doves. Methods: We constructed a new phylogenetic hypothesis of the Columbiformes, a cosmopolitan bird clade consisting of 33 recently extinct and 351 extant species. Then, we integrated data on geography, behaviour and morphology to reveal the drivers of extinction risk. We used phylogenetic generalized least square models to test the effect of geography, behaviour and morphology in the risk of extinction and identified differences in the drivers of extinction when including versus excluding recently extinct species. Results: Our analysis revealed that Columbiformes endemic to islands with ground‐foraging habits, weak flying abilities, migratory behaviour and larger body sizes are more vulnerable to extinction. Our results also show that excluding recently extinct species identifies extinction drivers different from those when including recently extinct species. Main conclusions: Only by accurately identifying the traits that increase extinction risk we can develop targeted conservation measures that promote the long‐term persistence of threatened species. Extinction selectivity has important implications for the conservation of biological communities and ultimately ecosystem functioning, considering the critical role Columbiformes often play as seed dispersers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, we describe multiannual variations of the atmospheric aerosol optical depth values in the widely understood area of the Baltic Sea. We present the trends in the changes and depict unusual aerosol situations. As a result of analyses, we focus on 2019, since unusually high values of aerosol optical depth were recorded in several stations around the Baltic. We match the high aerosol levels with an unusually high number of wildfires across Europe in spring and summer, which emitted large quantities of aerosols into the atmosphere that were distributed over vast European areas in part by the wind. We then connect this case with the climate change consequences. Since aerosols influence the radiative budget of the planet by directly affecting the atmospheric radiation budget, it is obvious that human well-being is in danger due to wildfires, as well as from the atmospheric perspective. Climate change will lead to more frequent fires; thus, humans need to develop solutions to decrease the risk of fire outbreaks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During the Late Holocene, the majority of lowland river systems in temperate Europe transformed from low‐energy multi‐channel rivers in strongly vegetated marshy floodplains to more open floodplains characterised by single‐channel meandering rivers with overbank deposits. While the general framework of this transformation in floodplain geomorphology, ecology and hydrology (i.e. geoecohydrology) is widely recognised many uncertainties remain as its timing varies significantly, both among different river catchments and within them. To unravel whether the observed differences in floodplain response can be attributed to differences in the timing and nature of the driving forces or to a difference in sensitivity towards them, we compare long‐term and large‐scale reconstructions of the geoecohydrological floodplain dynamics and of the (climatically and anthropogenically driven) land cover change for two contrasting regions: the central Belgian loess belt and the sandy Campine region. By using a combination of cluster analysis, ordination and Ellenberg indicator scores on a large multi‐proxy and multi‐site dataset, we revealed the major trends in the past geoecohydrological evolution of northeastern Belgian floodplains. These trends are probably determined by changes in floodplain wetness, which can in turn be linked to variations in upland forest cover. The Early and Late Holocene floodplain transformations appear synchronous with the respective increases and decreases in upland forest cover in the vicinity of the sites, largely determining the water availability in the river catchments and thereby their local geoecohydrological conditions. Initially, these evolutions were determined by climate, but during the Middle and especially Late Holocene anthropogenic influence became a far more important factor, causing the evolutions in the two studied regions to increasingly diverge. While marshy floodplains with forested margins can still be found in the sandy Campine region today, these have become rare in the central Belgian loess belt due to the combination of a higher level of human impact and greater erodibility of the soils in this area. Despite the strong spatiotemporal variability of the floodplain transformations, we observe a trend towards increasingly rapid floodplain responses to upland land cover changes over the course of the Holocene, probably related to the growing hillslope–floodplain connectivity. We conclude that the (dis)similarities in Holocene geoecohydrological floodplain change can be largely attributed to the (dis)similarities in (climatically or anthropogenically driven) land cover change in the uplands, although the differences in inherent sensitivity of the locations – linked to factors such as soil type and topography – further complicate the already non‐linear impact–response relationships. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study analyzes the changes in the Neva Bay bottom morphology. The aim is to calculate the dynamics of the volume and area variation of the water body under consideration. The work examines those anthropogenic phenomena which had the most profound influence on the alterations in the Neva Bay bottom morphology. The Neva Bay has partially lost its functions as the Neva River detention basin. To build digital models, we used historical data from the Navy archives. Noticeable changes in the impact of the Neva Bay bottom topography on the water exchange processes were recorded due to the construction of the Seaway Canal protective dam, the works to raise the ground elevations in the western part of Vasilyevsky and Krestovsky Islands, and the construction of the Flood Prevention Facility Complex dams. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reconciling environmental conservation with growing demands for food, water, and energy is a global challenge. Brazil, a major agricultural producer, grapples with deforestation's environmental costs. The Araguaia River basin, vital for Brazil's economic growth, undergoes significant land use changes. Assessing data from 1987 to 2019, we studied annual water surface variations, considering deforestation, agriculture, livestock farming land, and central pivot irrigation, and historical water flow series from 1980 to 2020 from 21 monitoring stations. We observed notable reductions in flooded areas (angular coefficients from 130 a 2,276 ha/year) and water flow the entire basin (b = − 13.84; t = − 4.8; P < 0.001) and its regions (Upper Araguaia: b = − 3.32; t = − 4.5; P < 0.001; Middle Araguaia: b = − 8.70; t = − 4.8; P < 0.001; Lower Araguaia: b = − 45.49, t = − 4.7; P < 0.001) over recent years. Water flow reductions persist year-round, with a marked decrease during low water periods (F3,8 = 8.82; P = 0,006), aligning with heightened water demand for intensive agriculture. Tributaries and the main channel show similar reduction processes (t = 0.16; g.l. = 19; P = 0.873). Ensuring the basin's ecological flow is imperative for the aquatic ecosystem's minimum requirements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the framework of the eutrophic Ob fen study, methane fluxes were measured by the chamber method, and water was sampled for the analysis of general chemical composition, content of biophilic elements (C, N, and P) and δ13C of the dissolved inorganic carbon (δ13C-DIC). Samples were taken from open and forested areas within the fen, with the latter having long received discharged domestic wastewaters. The methane emissions positively correlate with the concentrations of nitrogen compounds and dissolved organic carbon (DOC). In both areas, higher methane emissions were observed from waterlogged microdepressions than from dry elevated microlandscape features. The largest emission was observed from the microdepressions in the forested area near the wastewater discharge point, where the extreme values of CH4 fluxes were almost 30 times higher than the background ones. However, the methane fluxes decrease to the background level at 160 m from the wastewater discharge point, together with the concentrations of almost all nitrogen and carbon compounds dissolved in the fen water. This led us to conclude that wastewater pollution significantly affects the intensity of methane fluxes by increasing ebullitive methane emission near the pollution source. The isotopic composition of the dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) was heavier in the forested area (δ13C-DIC = –9.64 to –9.21‰) than in the open one (–12.83 to –11.24‰). In the open area of the fen, DIC isotopic composition became heavier away from the dry upland, correlating with the increase in the methane fluxes. The obtained data indicate that methane-generating processes are more active in the forested area of the fen than in the open one and become more active in the open area with increasing distance from the dry upland. This highlights the potentialities of using δ13C-DIC as a fingerprint of wastewater pollution, at least in the Ob fen area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent decades, rapid technological advancements have led to a growing influence of anthropogenic electromagnetic fields on aquatic ecosystems. These fields predominantly stem from energy infrastructure facilities such as wind farms, high-voltage lines, underwater transmission cables, and power plants. As a result, there has been increasing interest in understanding the effects of heightened electromagnetic fields on aquatic ecosystems and their inhabitants, including developing fertilized eggs. This study focused on examining the effects of electromagnetic fields generated by high-voltage lines and power transformers, which are integral to transmission nodes and power plants, on the directional axis of symmetry in sea trout Salmo trutta (Linnaeus, 1758) embryos and their survival rates. The research was carried out at "PGE Dolna Odra in Nowy Czarnów", one of Poland's largest power plants (53°12′34′′ N, 014°28′16′′ E). Two experimental sites were selected, with electromagnetic field values ranging from 1.36 to 5.28 μT at the first site and 8.97 to 14.18 μT at the second site. A control sample was also established in an area unaffected by anthropogenic electromagnetic fields. The study findings revealed that electromagnetic fields originating from energy infrastructure facilities significantly affect the spatial orientation of sea trout embryos. The embryos' response was influenced to be influenced by both the strength and direction of the electromagnetic fields. At the first test site, lower field values caused deviations from the natural alignment axis in the geomagnetic field (north-south), resulting in a shift towards the primary field source. In contrast, the second test site, with higher electromagnetic field values, showed no significant spatial orientation in embryo alignment. Additionally, the study highlighted that higher electromagnetic field values accelerated the rate of embryogenesis but also led to an increased mortality rate among sea trout embryos. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Mediterranean climate regions (hereafter 'Med-regions') cover small areas globally but harbour a wide diversity of ecosystems that are under serious threat due to current global climate change. Despite intensive research and conservation efforts in freshwater, marine and terrestrial ecosystems to prevent the consequences of habitat fragmentation, overfishing and changes in fire regimes and heatwaves, there is still no global consensus on how to conserve and manage Med-region ecosystems. We define integrative research as an interdisciplinary approach with common concepts and metrics enabling a better understanding of the general mechanisms underlying ecosystems. Building upon existing literature that promotes integrative research in Med-region ecosystems, we advocate for a more integrative approach that takes into consideration cross-ecosystem generalities and common resilience mechanisms. We propose examples of potential studies for implementing such integrative research, including: (1) integrative research across ecosystems; (2) integrative research across Med-regions; and (3) integrative research across political boundaries. We then offer recommendations for promoting integrative studies, including leveraging biodiversity data, establishing working groups in research syntheses and testing theoretical frameworks. Promoting integrative research in Med-regions would enable and facilitate the roadmap towards a better understanding of Med-region ecosystems' responses to natural and anthropogenic disturbances and the identification of ecological baselines. We seek to foster future research synergies to identify tipping points across ecosystems and aid in determining desired future conditions in Med-regions globally. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent decades, as a result of global warming and increased development of mountain areas, which are highly sensitive to anthropogenic impacts, there has been a rapid increase in the number and scale of natural disasters accompanied by material damage and even death of people. An increase in anthropogenic impact on the mid- and high-mountain geosystems is also characteristic of the mountainous territories of Azerbaijan, especially, because this is pronounced within the southern slope of the Greater Caucasus. Here, along with such dangerous processes as avalanches, landslides, etc., mudflows are intensively manifested. New methods of dealing with them should be developed to mitigate their effects. In this regard, the problems of studying the development and mapping of mudflow centres become very relevant. On the southern slope of the Greater Caucasus, the basin of the Goychay River is one of the most subject to mudflow processes, which in recent years has caused significant economic and social losses. The article gives a complete description of the landscape-geomorphological factor as one of the main factors in the formation of mudflow centres and traces their development dynamics. In the course of the study, with the aim of using the ArcGİS software for 2018, the area was calculated and the dynamics of the development of a number of mudflow centres was revealed. In addition, a land use map of the Goychay River basin was compiled with the help of statistical, cartographic (digital topographic and maps of the use of past years) and remote sensing (RS) data (interpretation of aerospace images (ASS) 2002-2019 from the Landsat satellite (scale: 1: 60,000). On the basis of field research and landscape mapping in the "key areas", the influence of mudflow processes on the differentiation of landscapes in the basin of the Goychay River was studied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To identify the central themes and research trends on blue carbon in mangroves through a bibliometric analysis of the existing global scientific literature. Design/Methodology/Approach: A total of 1,128 scientific documents from the period 1986-2023 were analyzed, obtained from the Scopus database. The Bibliometrix package in R Studio and VOSviewer were used for processing. Results: The results, encompassing 4,602 authors, 94 countries, 64 research areas, and 346 journals, indicated an exponential growth (R²= 0.99) in mangrove carbon research. The most productive author, country, research area, and journal were Lovelock, L. C., the United States of America, environmental sciences, and Science of The Total Environment, respectively. The studies focused on four thematic clusters: carbon storage, sedimentation, carbon dynamics, and climate change and anthropogenic impact. Topics related to blue carbon, carbon stores, climate change, restoration, and remote sensing are currently of significant interest to the scientific community. Study Limitations/Implications: While Scopus covers a vast number of peer-reviewed journals, it may omit some relevant research on the topic. Although the main research themes were identified, more in-depth information on each of them is still needed. Findings/Conclusions: Four globally relevant themes in blue carbon research in mangroves were identified, providing a roadmap for researchers to strategically direct efforts and funding in future scientific investigations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract—The article develops a methodology for an integral assessment of anthropogenic impact with spatial resolution for the municipalities of the Baikal Natural Territory, taking into account the impact on the atmosphere, water, and forest resources; impact of agriculture; solid waste; disturbed lands, and objects of accumulated damage; as well as background impact. Taking into account the significance for the Baikal Natural Territory, the methodology for constructing an integral index for the first time, in addition to official statistics, was supplemented with calculated indicators of emissions from motor vehicles and small vessels, emissions from autonomous heating systems in rural areas and cities. For this, an algorithm was proposed for the first time, including determination of the number and area of buildings based on remote sensing materials, and the amount and type of fuel used, and type of installation based on surveys of the population and heads of settlements. Also, using satellite images, the areas of disturbed lands in all municipalities were calculated and the degree of hazard of their geomorphological position was determined. To determine the weight of indicators, the authors conducted a survey of experts representing the scientific community (specialists in the field of integrated assessments of certain types of impacts or environmental problems of the territory), the expert community (leading rating agencies), and the environmental management system of regions included in the Baikal Natural Territory. The integral indicator made it possible to construct a rating of municipalities and identify key factors in shaping the environmental situation. According to the integral index, five types of territories are identified, followed by subtypes based on the nature of anthropogenic impact on the environment. A high level of impact is typical of large cities and locations of enterprises, especially mining, where a full range of load components operate. An increased level is observed in cities, suburban municipalities with a high load from the life of the population, as well as in large agricultural areas with a developed mining. The average level is typical for a small number of rural areas and towns due to load from agriculture and forestry. A reduced level of impact is formed mainly in semiperipheral areas, where there is a load on forest resources, and some suburban areas with more developed agriculture. A low level of anthropogenic impact is typical for peripheral, sparsely populated municipal districts with a noticeable share of pollution from autonomous heating systems. A special role in shaping the environmental situation is played by large tracts of disturbed land, high volumes of solid waste, and objects of accumulated hazard left over from the Soviet industrialization period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anthropogenic eutrophication of ecosystems is an important driver of biodiversity loss. Even protected areas (PAs) may be impacted by anthropogenic nutrients, for example, from atmospheric deposition or the provision of supplementary feeding. However, the resultant nutrient patterns, and the role of local wildlife in shaping them, remain poorly understood. We investigated anthropogenic influences on the role that red deer (Cervus elaphus) play in the nutrient balance of a PA in Denmark. We used habitat selection modeling and theoretical scenarios where we varied the proportion of energy the deer obtained from supplementary versus natural forage and compared it with the nutrients removed due to hunting. We show that the movement and distribution of the red deer population within the PA are very heterogeneous and likely influenced by the need for shelter. Moreover, depending on their reliance on supplementary feeding, deer can potentially import large amounts of nutrients to the PA, and concentrate them in localized hotspots. However, we also explore the potential for nutrient loss due to hunting activities. Such indirect anthropogenic impacts on nutrient landscapes may counteract restoration and conservation efforts. We therefore recommend incorporating anthropogenic influences on zoogeochemistry and the animal‐mediated connectivity between PAs and anthropogenically dominated landscapes into future management plans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the temporal and spatial distribution of species richness in the Turkish portions of the Euphrates and Tigris catchments in Mesopotamia, aiming to identify areas lacking sufficient research and inform future conservation and management efforts.Data from 153 fish assemblages in the Euphrates catchment and 100 in the Tigris catchment, spanning from 1941 to 2022, were analysed using a combination of analytical occurrence, spatial and space‐for‐time mixed effect models.Results indicate an increase in reported species over time, attributed to heightened sampling efforts, and reveal significant differences in spatial species richness distribution influenced by uneven sampling and environmental suitability.Identification of areas with insufficient research, potential undetected species and biodiversity losses highlights the need for improved assessments to prevent unnoticed biodiversity loss and ecosystem degradation.Our results emphasize the importance of accurate biodiversity assessments for effective conservation and management interventions in these catchments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Long‐term biodiversity monitoring is crucial for freshwater ecosystems as it enables the detection of even subtle changes and biodiversity trends, guiding conservation efforts and ensuring the sustainability of these vital habitats. Despite becoming more commonly considered in the field of freshwater ecology and biological invasions, studies using long‐term time series from Türkiye's freshwater resources have remained scarce.To assess the availability of data and ultimately present a baseline for future efforts, we combined published museum records and samples from recent field studies from the highly anthropogenically‐altered Lake Bafa in Western Anatolia covering the period 1958–2019.Lake Bafa has a very diverse aquatic ecosystem, providing habitat for both freshwater and saltwater species, and is one of the allottees in Türkiye's inland fish production. In the current study, we investigated how fish populations in Lake Bafa were affected by environmental changes and examined changes in taxonomic and functional diversity of non‐native species over time.The analyses revealed—concomitant to an increase in native marine and freshwater species richness—an increase in non‐native species richness over time. Non‐native species did not interfere with native species' niche space, whereas applied models indicate that in this highly altered ecosystem, foremost temperature and salinity shaped the fish community over time, limiting the impacts of non‐native species.These results have implications for the fishery of the lake, which includes highly valuable catadromous fish species, highlighting the value and importance of collecting long‐term data in Türkiye to better understand both invasion dynamics and changes in the naturality of Turkish ecosystems. These findings further underline the importance of long‐term data to create new management strategies for the lake and to start restoration processes, thus improving fisheries management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dysbiosis and acclimatization are two starkly opposing outcomes of altered holobiont associations in response to environmental pollution. This study assesses whether shifts in microbial taxonomic composition and functional profiles of the cosmopolitan sponge Hymeniacidon perlevis indicate dysbiotic or acclimatized responses to water pollution. To do so, sponge and water samples were collected in a semi-enclosed environment (San Antonio Bay, Patagonia, Argentina) from variably polluted sites (i.e., eutrophication, heavy metal contamination). We found significant differences in the microbiome of H. perlevis with respect to the pollution history of the sites. Several indicators suggested that acclimatization, rather than dysbiosis, explained the microbiome response to higher pollution: 1) the distinction of the sponge microbiome from the water microbiome; 2) low similarity between the sponge and water microbiomes at the most polluted site; 3) the change in microbiome composition between sponges from the different sites; 4) a high similarity in the microbiome among sponge individuals within sites; 5) a similar ratio of common sponge microbes to opportunistic microbes between sponges at the most and least polluted sites; and 6) a distinctive functional profile of the sponge microbiome at the most polluted site. This profile indicated a more expansive metabolic repertoire, including the degradation of pollutants and the biosynthesis of secondary metabolites, suggesting a relevant role of these microbial communities in the adaptation of the holobiont to organic pollution. Our results shed light on the rearrangement of the H. perlevis microbiome that could allow it to successfully colonize sites with high anthropogenic impact while resisting dysbiosis.

Abstract Few landscapes on earth remain free of human‐modification, which may influence resource selection in wildlife. To investigate the effects of anthropic pressure on wild boar (Sus scrofa) and explore management implications, we studied how diel resource selection of the species' main life stages changed with spatial variations of human access (e.g., for recreation), temporal changes in hunting pressure, and habitat type. Using 206,461 hourly GPS‐locations of 15 males, 11 females with dependent young, and 17 other females from south‐western Germany, we found anthropic pressure influenced resource selection more than ecological factors. All boars were more likely to select for low human‐access areas than high human‐access areas, regardless of habitat. Hunting pressure was most avoided by females with dependent piglets, followed by males and other females. Since both hunting activity and general human access affected resource selection, they should be considered simultaneously in wildlife management and conservation. We suggest the further establishment of wildlife reserves that are inaccessible to people where boar may remain more localized, thereby reducing the risk of disease transmission, and boar hunting to focus on open lands and refuge boundaries to reduce crop damage. This may also benefit overall human‐wildlife coexistence, animal welfare, and biodiversity conservation in anthropized environments.

In the past 40 years, the surface water temperature of lakes worldwide has generally shown an upward trend, with a significant spatial heterogeneity. Previous studies generally attributed the change in lake surface water temperature to direct impact of climate change. However, few studies have explored the potential impact of additional anthropogenic factors, resulting in an incomplete understanding of the anthropogenic influence on lake surface water temperatures. We thus propose a new method to quantify the anthropogenic impact on the surface water temperature of lakes. We selected 11 lakes characterized by significant variations in the intensity of watershed urbanization development on the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau in China for an empirical study, and discussed the trend of LSWT (lake surface water temperature) changes under the anthropogenic impact, as well as the potential link between these changes and human social policies. The research results show that (1) The mean annual rate of change in LSWT due to anthropogenic impact fluctuates of 0.06℃ per year. (2) LSWT is sensitive to changes in anthropogenic activities; a 1℃ increase in LSWT due to anthropogenic factors typically results in a mean temperature variation of 0.24℃. (3) During the three years of the COVID-19 pandemic, LSWT on the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau was significantly affected by anthropogenic activities.

This document is an editorial published in the journal Frontiers in Marine Science. It discusses the multi-scale variability of ecosystem functioning in European and Chinese shelf seas. The editorial highlights the importance of coastal and shelf seas as dynamic and vulnerable ecosystems that are heavily impacted by climate change, pollution, and human activities. The collection of research articles in this topic aims to deepen our understanding of the sensitivity of coastal shelf ecosystem functioning to physical and biogeochemical perturbations, as well as the role of shelf seas in global carbon cycling and the resilience of these ecosystems to ongoing and future changes. The articles cover various topics such as tidal forcing, wind forcing, sea level variability, compound extreme events, human-induced nutrient loading, and the need for management and sustainable development of coastal regions. [Extracted from the article]

The article is devoted to the substantiation of the choice and assessment of the feasibility of using non-traditional fuel and energy materials in the context of ensuring the development of a circular economy. The objective prerequisites, goals and initiatives for the development of the circular economy are considered. International agreements and plans define the achievement of climate neutrality, increase in resource efficiency and economic growth as strategic goals for the development of the circular economy, which are used in the article as criteria for assessing the compliance of gasification products with the requirements of the circular economy. A methodical approach to the selection of gasification products that meet the specified criteria has been proposed. Methods of measurement (calculation) of the impact of the product on the environment and resource efficiency of its production are substantiated. A selection of gasification products that meet the strategic requirements of the circular economy is carried out using the matrix method and a weighted assessment of a set of indicators. The main economic and еcological effects are determined, which are due to the development of gasification of solid fuel raw materials and need to be reflected in the practical substantiations of investment projects.

Abstract In an increasingly human- and road-dominated world, the preservation of functional ecosystems has become highly relevant. While the negative ecological impacts of roads on ecosystems are numerous and well documented, roadless areas have been proposed as proxy for functional ecosystems. However, their potential remains underexplored, partly due to the incomplete mapping of roads. We assessed the accuracy of roadless areas identification using freely available road-data in two regions with contrasting levels of anthropogenic influence: boreal Canada and temperate Central Europe (Poland, Slovakia, Czechia, and Hungary). Within randomly selected circular plots (per region and country), we visually examined the completeness of road mapping using OpenStreetMap 2020 and assessed whether human influences affect mapping quality using four variables. In boreal Canada, roads were completely mapped in 3% of the plots, compared to 40% in Central Europe. Lower Human Footprint Index and road density values were related to greater incompleteness in road mapping. Roadless areas, defined as areas at least 1 km away from any road, covered 85% of the surface in boreal Canada (mean size ± s.d. = 272 ± 12,197 km2), compared to only 0.4% in temperate Central Europe (mean size ± s.d. = 0.6 ± 3.1 km2). By visually interpreting and manually adding unmapped roads in 30 randomly selected roadless areas from each study country, we observed a similar reduction in roadless surface in both Canada and Central Europe (27% vs 28%) when all roads were included. This study highlights the urgent need for improved road mapping techniques to support research on roadless areas as conservation targets and surrogates of functional ecosystems.

Ecological records from before and after the creation of natural parks are valuable for informing conservation and management but are often unavailable. High-resolution paleoecological studies may bridge the gap and provide the required information. This paper presents a 20th-century subdecadal reconstruction of vegetation and landscape dynamics in a national park of the Pyrenean highlands. The park lands had traditionally been used for cultivation, extensive grazing, forest exploitation, and hydroelectricity generation following the damming of numerous glacial lakes. A significant finding is that forests have dominated the landscape, with negligible changes in composition, and only experienced fluctuations in forest cover, influenced by both climatic and anthropogenic factors. The creation of the park (1955) and the initial restrictions on forest exploitation did not significantly affect vegetation cover or composition. Major forest expansion did not occur until several decades later, 1980, when the park was enlarged and forest exploitation was further restricted. This expansion peaked in the 1990s, coinciding with a warming trend and a decrease in fire incidence, before declining due to warmer and drier climates. This decline was coeval with the ongoing global forest dieback and may be exacerbated by the predicted global warming in this century, which could also increase fire incidence due to dead-wood accumulation. Currently, the main threats are global warming/drying, fire, and tourism intensification. Similar high-resolution paleoecological records in protected areas are globally scarce and would be capable in providing the long-term ecological scope required to properly understand forest dynamics and optimize conservation measures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The function of tropical peatland as a carbon sink is a balance between peat accumulation and peat loss; however, various interacting factors are involved affecting this process. In this study, we collected and intensively radiocarbon dated peat cores from two peat domes, visualized their cross-sectional profiles of geochemical properties, and developed three macrocharcoal records from each peat dome. We find that the young (4500 y calBP) and shallow (6 m) coastal peat has a simple and linear age–depth relationship, showing stable accumulation of carbon during the late Holocene. In contrast, the older (ca. 40,000 y cal BP) and deeper (15 m) inland peat shows a more complex history, where we observed age reversals and hiatuses, likely caused by climate variability from the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) to the Holocene. The charcoal record reveals a continuous presence of low-severity fire as indicated by charcoal morphotypes, though fire frequency increased after agriculture was established. An age reversal during the LGM was likely caused by a flood. Two periods of hiatuses occurred, each several millennia in length, at the end of the LGM and during the early Holocene. One cause of the hiatuses may have been a climatically halted peat formation from low precipitation and cooler climate during the LGM. Another cause may have been that severe fires consumed thousands of years of accumulated peat. If the hiatuses were entirely due to fire, the carbon released from these paleo-fire events (600 t C ha−1) suggests several times the impact of the most intense modern peat fires. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Human threats to biodiversity are prevalent within protected areas (PAs), undermining their effectiveness in halting biodiversity loss. Certain threats tend to co-occur, resulting in amplified cumulative impact through synergistic effects. However, it remains unclear which threats are related the most. We analyzed a dataset of 71 human threats in 18 013 terrestrial PAs of the European Union's Natura 2000 network, using a Joint Species Distribution Modelling approach, to assess the threats' co-occurrence patterns and potential drivers. Overall, threats were more frequently correlated positively than negatively. Threats related to agriculture and urbanization were correlated strongly with most other threats. Approximately 70% of the variance in our model was explained by country-specific factors, indicating the importance of local drivers. Minimizing the negative impact of key threats can likely reduce the impact of related threats. However, more research is needed to understand better the relationships among threats and, importantly, their combined impact on biodiversity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Grasslands, the main natural resources of rural areas, are open systems, which are functionally and structurally linked with other geomorphological, climatic and/or socio-economic components. The purpose of the research was the diagnostic analysis of the grasslands in Banat, based on several criteria from: (i) the physical environment; (ii) the sphere of biodiversity and (iii) the socio-economic environment. For the analysis - diagnosis, 8 indicators were established: relief; reduction of livestock; the variation in the number of inhabitants; the area of grasslands/inhabitant; accessibility; overlap with protected areas; high biodiversity; touristic potential. Each experimental site was rated with a score according to the characteristics, later the final "grade" was established, and the spatial analyzes were done in the GIS environment. The obtained results show that the grasslands located in the hilly and mountainous areas had the highest scores for the predetermined indicators. They are grasslands restricted by climatic conditions and infrastructure, but they have a High Natural Value, they are located in protected areas and are considered areas with great touristic potential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Substantial loss of biodiversity and the proliferation of invasive alien species can occur due to land cover anthropogenic transformations on islands. However, the effect of anthropogenic habitat modifications on the distribution of insular freshwater microcrustaceans is unknown. In the present paper, we examine the consequences of human activity on the insular diversity of microcrustaceans in the context of the theories of island biogeography and intermediate disturbances. The samples were collected in Madeira Island at 38 freshwater sampling sites with different anthropopressure. Morphology-based species identification of the copepods and cladocerans was supplemented with genetic analysis (COI) in some species. To estimate the species richness of the island, rarefaction, and extrapolation methods were used. Canonical Correspondence Analysis (CCA) was applied to assess the influence of geospatial and environmental variables on the species distribution. A total of 20 species belonging to six families were identified, of which 16 species are new to Madeira. There was low similarity between the fauna recorded and known previously on the island. The observed species richness was higher than the predictions by the island biogeography models for Madeira. CCA revealed a strong influence of anthropogenic land use on crustaceans. Anthropogenic transformations locally led to the depletion of fauna, but on the island scale they contributed to the increase of species richness including seven putative alien species. An increase in the artificial land cover and a decrease in the forest areas could lead to a further shift in the domination of non-indigenous microcrustaceans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]