Article
Environmental Sciences
Lele Liu, Meiqi Yin, Xiao Guo, Xiaona Yu, Huijia Song, Franziska Eller, Xiangyan Ma, Xiao Liu, Ning Du, Renqing Wang, Weihua Guo
Summary: The study reveals the different lineages of genetic diversity in common reed in the Yellow River Delta in China and highlights the importance of hydrochory dispersal and habitat selection in influencing genetic diversity. The results also suggest natural selection by habitat conditions and salinity as a significant selective stressor on the plant lineages.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2021)
Article
Plant Sciences
Zainul Abideen, Maria Hanif, Neelma Munir, Brent L. Nielsen
Summary: This article discusses the impact of nanoparticle applications on the mechanisms of salt stress tolerance in plants, and introduces the application of nanotechnology in plant breeding and genetic engineering to develop salt-tolerant crops.
Review
Environmental Sciences
G. Paul Kemp, Elizabeth C. McDade, John W. Day, Robert R. Lane, Nancye H. Dawers, Jason N. Day
Summary: The Biloxi Marsh in Louisiana, located east of New Orleans, is a geologically stable wetland area benefiting from increased river sediment input, making it a prime candidate for restoration efforts. It has the potential to be restored to sustainability earlier and for a longer period compared to most other areas in the submerging Mississippi Delta. The lessons learned from restoration efforts in Biloxi Marsh can be applied to sustain valuable river deltas worldwide.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Josefin Thorslund, Marc F. P. Bierkens, Gualbert H. P. Oude Essink, Edwin H. Sutanudjaja, Michelle T. H. van Vliet
Summary: A study assessing freshwater salinity patterns across seven regional river basins globally found that many sub-basins temporarily exceeded safe irrigation water-use thresholds and 57% showed increasing salinisation trends. Investigation revealed that agricultural activities are common contributors in areas with high salinity levels and increasing salinisation trends.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2021)
Article
Plant Sciences
Randall W. Long, Carla M. D'Antonio, Tom L. Dudley, Kevin R. Hultine
Summary: The study evaluated salinity tolerance and water use strategies in an introduced halophytic shrub, Tamarix spp, finding divergence in traits across high and low salinity environments. High salinity ecotypes exhibited more conservative water use traits, suggesting local adaptation to increased salinity with implications for aridland riparian ecosystems.
JOURNAL OF ECOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Fisheries
Christopher J. Sullivan, Michael J. Weber, Clay L. Pierce, David H. Wahl, Quinton E. Phelps, Robert E. Colombo
Summary: Understanding spatial variation in non-native fish species population ecology is crucial, with factors like environment, biology, and invasion mechanisms contributing to heterogeneity. Invasive silver carp populations in the upper Mississippi River exhibit varying characteristics and dynamics, influenced by factors such as time since detection and latitude. The study sheds light on the complex interactions defining the population ecology of silver carp, highlighting the role of invasion in shaping their ecology.
ECOLOGY OF FRESHWATER FISH
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Liwen Zhang, Siqun Lan, Christine Angelini, Huapeng Yi, Lianjun Zhao, Lin Chen, Guangxuan Han
Summary: Consumers are often overlooked as key drivers of vegetation structure and ecosystem functioning in coastal wetlands in Asia. This study highlights the significant role that crab herbivores can play in regulating Phragmites in Yellow River Delta salt marshes, especially under environmental stress.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Junghyung Ryu, Kam-biu Liu, Thomas A. Bianchette, Terry McCloskey
Summary: This study presents ecological shifts in a freshwater wetland environment in the Mississippi River delta plain, based on a sediment core retrieved from an intermediate marsh in southeastern Louisiana since 3500 BP. External forcing agents driving each deltaic environmental transition are identified, including fluvial processes, sediment supply, freshwater flow, and human activities.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Feng Tang, David C. Aldridge
Summary: The study demonstrates that osmotic shock is effective in controlling the invasive brackish water clam Rangia cuneata, with high salinities being able to rapidly kill the clams and even modest increases in salinity potentially preventing their recruitment.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
(2021)
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Jiahua Zhou, Matthew J. Deitch, Sabine Grunwald, Elizabeth J. Screaton, Maitane Olabarrieta
Summary: The study reveals that the freshwater discharge from the Mississippi River impacts the salinity of other estuaries in the northern Gulf of Mexico, with a stronger influence on estuaries closer to the Mississippi outlet.
ESTUARINE COASTAL AND SHELF SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Joseph Jones, Ewan Hunter, Bastian Hambach, Megan Wilding, Clive N. Trueman
Summary: Individual metabolism is important for predicting responses to climate change, especially for aquatic ectotherms. By using stable isotopes, researchers can estimate the time-averaged metabolism rate of fish and retrospectively analyze the relationship between temperature and metabolism. The study found that there were large individual variations in metabolism rate, which were positively correlated with body size but not temperature. Additionally, the metabolism rate in the first year of life was strongly correlated with temperature and was the strongest predictor for among-individual variation in metabolism rate.
FRONTIERS IN ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Kelin Hu, Ehab Meselhe, J. Andrew Nyman
Summary: Phragmites australis, a globally distributed wetland plant, plays a significant role in channel sedimentation in the distributary channels of the Mississippi River Delta. Its dieback, along with other factors like sea-level rise and subsidence, can impact sedimentation patterns in complex deltas. River managers in Louisiana may benefit from new models and data to help make decisions on how to respond to Phragmites dieback effectively.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Zifang Chi, Yuhuan Zhu, Huai Li, Haitao Wu, Baixing Yan
Summary: The study investigated the microbial community and functional potential along a natural salinity gradient in wetlands of the Yellow River Delta. Different zones showed distinct microbial compositions and abundances, reflecting the adaptability and sensitivity of microorganisms to salinity levels. Salinity was identified as a key factor shaping microbial processes, with total nitrogen and total phosphorus playing important roles at the phylum and genus levels.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2021)
Article
Geography, Physical
Marianne E. Dietz, Kam-biu Liu, Thomas A. Bianchette, Junghyung Ryu, Qiang Yao
Summary: The northern Gulf of Mexico shoreline is rapidly retreating, causing coastal features of the abandoned Mississippi River delta complexes to erode and subside. Bay Champagne has retreated over two kilometers in the past 130 years, transitioning from a stable freshwater lake to a disturbed backbarrier lagoon. Through geologic analyses, a timeline of this transition was established, demonstrating that the changes have not occurred at a constant rate.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Chao Yang, Dantong Lv, Shenyi Jiang, Hao Lin, Junqi Sun, Kangjia Li, Juan Sun
Summary: The study revealed that soil salinity significantly influences soil microbial communities and their C metabolic functions, promoting the relative abundance of certain microbial populations while suppressing others, ultimately resulting in a negative impact on soil C emissions.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2021)
Article
Plant Sciences
Le-Le Liu, Mei-Qi Yin, Xiao Guo, Jing-Wen Wang, Yun-Fei Cai, Cui Wang, Xiao-Na Yu, Ning Du, Hans Brix, Franziska Eller, Carla Lambertini, Wei-Hua Guo
Summary: Polyploidization and hybridization are common in natural plant species, and studying the effects of evolutionary history and ploidy level on introgression between intraspecific lineages can provide valuable insights. This study identified two cryptic lineages of Phragmites australis in China and examined their introgression patterns along geographical and abundance gradients. The results suggest that ploidy level and past coexistence time have significant influences on introgression.
JOURNAL OF SYSTEMATICS AND EVOLUTION
(2022)
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Liujuan Xie, Emil Jespersen, Siyuan Ye, Lixin Pei, Huijia Song, Xiao Guo, Weihua Guo, Hans Brix, Franziska Eller
Summary: The study compares the performance of different subgroups of Phragmites australis from China and Australia in common gardens in China. Results indicate that the Australian subgroup (FEAU) has lower invasive potential and weaker response to the environment compared to the Chinese subgroups.
Article
Plant Sciences
Cui Wang, Tong Wang, Meiqi Yin, Franziska Eller, Lele Liu, Hans Brix, Weihua Guo
Summary: Polyploidization in plants is considered as a mechanism to cope with environmental stresses. Gene networks involved in differentially expressed genes play a role in driving adaptation through the evolution of unique phenotypic traits. Phragmites australis, a species with highly variable phenotypic traits and adaptation capacity, shows varying ploidy levels, making it a suitable organism to study the molecular evolution of polyploidy. By using RNAseq data, this study identified genetic differences between tetraploid and octoploid P. australis, shedding light on how polyploidization influences environmental responses and stress tolerance in grass species.
FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Amer Jamal Hashmat, Muhammad Afzal, Carlos Alberto Arias, Carlos A. Ramirez-Vargas, Hans Brix
Summary: The study found that the combined application of nutrients, surfactants, and aeration in constructed wetlands enhances the degradation of hydrocarbons, with the best results achieved by using all three additives together in the remediation of oil-contaminated water.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PHYTOREMEDIATION
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Solvei Mundbjerg Jensen, Helmer Sohoel, Frances Helen Blaikie, Hans Brix, Carlos A. Arias
Summary: Phosphorus removal in decentralized wastewater treatment systems is a challenging task. This study proposes the use of calcium-rich materials as an external filter to enhance phosphorus removal. Experimental results show that calcium-rich materials have high phosphorus adsorption capacity. The use of Sol-Gel coatings can further improve the adsorption capacity, but there is a trade-off between preserving the adsorption capacity and coating thickness.
Article
Environmental Sciences
M. A. Rodriguez-Dominguez, B. E. Bonefeld, M. Ambye-Jensen, H. Brix, C. A. Arias
Summary: The study found that wetland plants grown in treatment wetland conditions had higher protein content and varied effects on cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin content. The cellulose quality of these plants showed positive results, indicating suitability for cellulose-fiber textiles research.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Review
Forestry
Mirko Hanel, Darja Istenic, Hans Brix, Carlos A. Arias
Summary: Vegetated filters based on short-rotation coppice (SRC) can effectively treat various wastewater sources while producing valuable biomass. The study provides an overview of wastewater-fertigated SRC systems worldwide, showing their potential as cost-effective wastewater treatment alternatives.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Solvei Mundbjerg Jensen, Helmer Sohoel, Frances Helen Blaikie, Carlos Alberto Arias, Hans Brix
Summary: Phosphorus removal has always been a challenge in decentralized wastewater treatment systems. This study found that installing external filters with highly sorbent materials can improve phosphorus removal. Eight materials were tested over two years, and the calcareous materials showed the most promising results.
Article
Microbiology
Lorena Penacoba-Antona, Carlos Andres Ramirez-Vargas, Colin Wardman, Alessandro A. Carmona-Martinez, Abraham Esteve-Nunez, Diego Paredes, Hans Brix, Carlos Alberto Arias
Summary: METland is an innovative treatment wetland that utilizes electroactive bacteria (EAB) to enhance pollutant degradation. A study on four full-scale METland systems demonstrated the correlation between EAB activity and the removal of organic pollutants. METland technology has been validated as an innovative and efficient solution for treating wastewater in decentralized locations.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Ecology
C. A. Arias, D. Istenic, O. Stein, X. Zhai, R. Kilian, I. Vera-Puerto, H. Brix
Summary: This study assessed the impact of recycling water from VFCW effluent on a decentralized wastewater system and recommended an appropriate bed depth based on the changes in water quality. The results showed that the system performed well and the dimensions given in the Danish guidelines may be overdesigned.
ECOLOGICAL ENGINEERING
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Jingjing Du, Yulong Niu, Haiming Wu, Dennis Konnerup, Shubiao Wu, Carlos A. Ramirez -Vargas, Yanqin Yang, Hans Brix, Carlos A. Arias
Summary: Biofilter systems coupled with microbial electrochemical technology can improve the removal performance of pollutants. This study found that using coke as the electroconductive substrate in biofilter systems resulted in better removal of NH4+-N, NO3--N, and PO43--P compared to gravel systems. The presence of silicone tubings also played a crucial role in oxygen supply. The results provide valuable insights for the application of coke in composite matrix systems.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Meiqi Yin, Lele Liu, Yiming Wu, Wenyi Sheng, Xiangyan Ma, Ning Du, Pengcheng Zhu, Cui Wang, Zhaojie Cui, Hans Brix, Franziska Eller, Weihua Guo
Summary: This study examines the effects of species and genetic diversity on litter decomposition in coastal wetlands. The results show that higher species and genetic diversity have negative effects on plant litter decomposition.
ECOLOGICAL INDICATORS
(2022)
Article
Agronomy
Qiqiong Zhang, Zhongzheng Yan, Yuxin Bi, Ying Lei, Xiaoqing Gao, Xiuzhen Li, Hans Brix
Summary: The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of the Fe reducing bacterium P. sp. SCSWA09 on the development of Fe plaques and the accumulation and translocation of heavy metals (HMs) in the mangrove plant K. obovata. The results showed that SCSWA09 had the ability to reduce Fe (III) and inoculation with SCSWA09 reduced the levels of Fe plaque production in K. obovata seedlings. Periodic flooding and SCSWA09 inoculation enhanced the crystallinity of Fe (hydr-) oxides, affecting HM absorption and translocation in plants.
Article
Ecology
Lele Liu, Yaolin Guo, Yiming Wu, Meiqi Yin, Xiao Guo, Franziska Eller, Christina L. Richards, Hans Brix, Rui-Ting Ju, Weihua Guo
Summary: Within-species genetic diversity is influenced by geography and has cascading effects on biodiversity. This study investigates the genetic structure of the native species Phragmites australis and its invasive competitor Spartina alterniflora. The results show geographical differentiation in genetic structure and an increase in genetic diversity from south to north. The invasive species alters the relationship between the genetic diversity of the native plant and the associated species richness of soil nematodes.
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Solvei M. Jensen, Chiara Esposito, Dennis Konnerup, Hans Brix, Carlos A. Arias
Summary: Phosphorus is essential for plant growth and its recovery from wastewater is urgently needed. Newly engineered calcareous materials can help recover phosphorus from wastewater and promote agricultural production by direct addition to soil.