Article
Environmental Sciences
Linyu Hu, Danya Qin, Hongying Lu, Wei Li, Kankan Shang, Dunmei Lin, Liang Zhao, Yongchuan Yang, Shenhua Qian
Summary: Urban ecosystems are impacted by environmental stressors and human activities, which play a role in filtering species with different life-history traits. The study found that seed size and leaf element composition are key factors in functional differentiation among urban plant species. Furthermore, the intensity of urban growth is correlated with certain leaf traits, indicating a nutrient-use strategy and competitive advantage for species in urban centers.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Jan Winkler, Tomas Ricica, Vera Hubacikova, Eugeniusz Koda, Magdalena Daria Vaverkova, Ladislav Havel, Mariusz Zoltowski
Summary: The aim of this study was to evaluate weed occurrence under limited herbicide use in order to protect water resources. The results showed significant differences in weed occurrence and composition in maize, wheat, and rapeseed stands due to herbicide regulation. The changes in weed composition led to a preference for specialized weed species at the expense of widespread species. Limiting pesticide use in sensitive water areas is important for protecting the aquatic environment, but it can result in difficult-to-control weed growth, therefore new weed control methods need to be explored.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Ruixue Liu, Xianyouyang Yan, Xiaolong Lin, Yichong Sun, Ting Zhang, Jing Xiao
Summary: This study found that the 2D and 3D patterns of buildings and green spaces have a significant impact on urban plant diversity, based on surveys conducted in the built-up areas of Shenzhen, a highly urbanized city in southern China. Non-native species are more sensitive to building patterns compared to native species. Optimizing green space and building patterns can be an effective approach to manage and promote spontaneous plant diversity in highly urbanized areas.
ECOLOGICAL INDICATORS
(2023)
Review
Environmental Sciences
Sekou F. M. Coulibaly, Christine Aubry, Fanny Provent, Sophie Rousset-Rouviere, Sophie Joimel
Summary: Given the demographic revolution and rapid urban development, green roofs can serve as tools to promote human well-being and increase urban biodiversity. However, there is a lack of understanding regarding the relationship between biodiversity and green roofs, with limited research on the topic. Through a review of studies, we highlight the importance of green roofs in maintaining urban biodiversity and emphasize the need to integrate soil communities and promote heterogeneity in design. Future research should focus on diversifying rooftop conditions in cities to enhance green habitats and species dispersal.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH LETTERS
(2023)
Article
Environmental Studies
Jongyun Kim, Wanmo Kang
Summary: This study examined the multidimensional contributions of green roofs to urban ecosystems using i-Tree Canopy. The results showed that green roofs enhance ecosystem services, improve biodiversity, and enhance tree canopy connectivity. These findings are important for the strategic planning and decision-making processes of urban green infrastructure.
Article
Plant Sciences
Alexis (Steinman) Wanek, Christina L. M. Hargiss, Jack Norland
Summary: Wetland and pond hydric vegetation in rural, peri-urban, and urban zones are affected by human activities. This study compared vegetation composition and species richness in different zones, showing that rural sites differed from peri-urban and urban sites due to urbanization reducing the cover of wetland species. Peri-urban sites had the highest species richness, while urban sites had the lowest due to the use of rock riprap. The results provide important information for wetland professionals, environmental managers, and urban planners.
URBAN FORESTRY & URBAN GREENING
(2022)
Article
Forestry
Calvin Ritter, David I. King, Stephen DeStefano, Daniel Clark
Summary: Establishment of non-native monoculture plantations is a common method to supplement native timber stocks, but it is believed to provide inferior habitat for native biodiversity. However, our study in Massachusetts showed that mature Norway spruce plantations have similar species richness as native forest habitats and support the abundance of several native conifer-dependent bird species. This suggests that small-scale plantations can coexist without negative impacts on native biodiversity.
FOREST ECOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
Alex Roebuck, Lara Hurley, Duncan Slater
Summary: The level of tree species diversity in urban tree populations has significant implications for urban forest resilience and ecosystem functioning. This study analyzed the species composition, diversity, and vulnerability of public trees in the London borough of Westminster. The results showed that tree species diversity varied across land use types and higher diversity was associated with reduced vulnerability.
URBAN FORESTRY & URBAN GREENING
(2022)
Article
Plant Sciences
Matthew J. Lundquist, Madison R. Weisend, Hope H. Kenmore
Summary: Urban tree pits, as small green spaces in cities, play an important role in supporting urban insect communities. This study found that insect communities in tree pits in different neighborhoods in New York City were similar, consisting mostly of herbivores and their associated predators or parasitoids.
URBAN FORESTRY & URBAN GREENING
(2022)
Article
Environmental Studies
Guofu Yang, Yan Ouyang, Xiaoyu Hou, Tianyi Zhou, Ying Ge, Yijun Lu, Yue Wang, Jie Chang
Summary: The composition of urban forests in China's subtropical zone is more similar among cities compared to rural forests. The similarity of tree composition in urban forests increases with similar precipitation patterns. Urban forests contain a higher proportion of nonnative species and have a set of commonly occurring tree species.
Article
Microbiology
Benjamin Hofmann, Lukas Dreyling, Francesco Dal Grande, Juergen Otte, Imke Schmitt
Summary: Trees interact with fungi in various ways, and tree species and habitat type both play important roles in shaping fungal communities. This study found that soil communities were more diverse than bark communities, and both tree species identity and habitat type influenced fungal community composition. Network analysis showed that aboveground and belowground communities formed distinct subnetworks.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Ondwela Tshikombeni, Charlie M. Shackleton, Monde Ntshudu
Summary: Most countries have designated certain animal or plant species as their national symbols, known as national biodiversity symbols. However, a study in South Africa found that the awareness and knowledge of these symbols among urban residents were low, suggesting that they may not be effective as flagship species for habitat conservation programs.
Article
Plant Sciences
Duilio Iamonico
Summary: The first inventory of the flora of Appia Antica Regional Park in Italy is presented, including its composition, physiognomies, and landscape characteristics. The study reveals a high species diversity in the park, which is attributed to landscape heterogeneity and anthropogenic impacts. The data provided serve as a valuable resource for future research and environmental action plans.
Article
Ecology
Riley Andrade, Janet Franklin, Kelli L. Larson, Christopher M. Swan, Susannah B. Lerman, Heather L. Bateman, Paige S. Warren, Abigail York
Summary: This paper addresses the challenge of understanding how human activities influence the processes by which ecological communities are structured in urban ecosystems by developing a framework that links social-ecological dynamics to ecological communities using the metacommunity perspective. The framework provides a theoretical and empirical foundation for transdisciplinary research to examine how social-ecological dynamics mediate the assembly of novel communities in urban ecosystems.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Marcelo Oliveira Teles de Menezes, Marcelo Freire Moro, Marina Oliveira de Souza, Jorhan Marinho de Almeida, Davila Vitoria de Freitas Braga, Pedro Lucas Rodrigues de Alencar, Francisca Soares de Araujo
Summary: This study aimed to investigate the relationship between the severity of mistletoe infestation and tree attributes in urban areas. The findings showed that larger trees and those near previous infestations are more likely to be infested by mistletoe. Additionally, communities with high tree species richness and low percentage of exotic trees have lower prevalence of mistletoes. Therefore, it is suggested that urban tree planting should prioritize high diversity and low percentage of exotic species.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
K. Barre, K. Spoelstra, Y. Bas, S. Challeat, R. Kiri Ing, C. Azam, G. Zissis, D. Lapostolle, C. Kerbiriou, I Le Viol
Summary: The study found that bridge lighting significantly reduces bat activity, causing them to fly faster and keep a greater distance near illuminated bridges, thus reducing habitat availability and connectivity.
ANIMAL CONSERVATION
(2021)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Nicolas Dubos, Christian Kerbiriou, Jean-Francois Julien, Luc Barbaro, Kevin Barre, Fabien Claireau, Jeremy Froidevaux, Isabelle Le Viol, Romain Lorrilliere, Charlotte Roemer, Fabien Verfaillie, Yves Bas
Summary: Passive Acoustic Monitoring shows potential for biodiversity assessment and species conservation, with the robustness of community metrics depending on sampling effort. An acoustic survey of bat assemblages in France found that the level of confidence in community metrics varied with sampling duration, habitats, and seasons. Recommendations were made for context-dependent minimum sampling duration and the use of weighted community indices when resources are limited.
BIODIVERSITY AND CONSERVATION
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Kevin Barre, Christian Kerbiriou, Ros-Kiri Ing, Yves Bas, Clementine Azam, Isabelle Le Viol, Kamiel Spoelstra
Summary: The study demonstrates that bats adjust their flight patterns to seek refuge in cluttered environments when exposed to artificial light, primarily on the side where the light is directed. This highlights the importance of preserving darkness to mitigate the negative impacts of light pollution on biodiversity.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Kevind Barre, Arthur Vernet, Clementine Azam, Isabelle Le Viol, Agathe Dumont, Thomas Deana, Stephane Vincent, Samuel Challate, Christian Kerbiriou
Summary: The study found that light pollution has significant impacts on biodiversity, especially in non-urban habitats. The effects of Artificial Light At Night (ALAN) vary depending on landscape composition, emphasizing the importance of considering different environmental factors when studying its effects. Prioritizing efforts to reduce light pollution in non-urban habitats is crucial to mitigate its effects on biodiversity.
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
(2022)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Camille Leroux, Christian Kerbiriou, Isabelle Le Viol, Nicolas Valet, Kevin Barre
Summary: The rapid development of wind energy has significant impacts on bat ecology, and the distance of habitats determines the attraction or repulsion of bats by wind turbines. This study investigates the effect of different distances between wind turbines and hedgerows on bat activity and finds that wind turbines located close to hedgerows strongly repel bats, while turbines located farther away may attract them.
JOURNAL OF APPLIED ECOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Roukaya Al Haj Ishak Al Ali, Leslie Mondamert, Jalal Halwani, Joelle Jandry, Nadine Nassif, Amin Shaban, Jean-Marc Berjeaud, Jerome Labanowski
Summary: The Akkar plain in Lebanon, as the second largest agricultural area, has seen an increase in the concentration of OCPs and OPPs in groundwater due to the uncontrolled use of pesticides by farmers. This poses a significant health risk for the population consuming well water during the rainy season.
ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING AND ASSESSMENT
(2023)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Rachad Al Haj, Mohammad Merheb, Jalal Halwani, Baghdad Ouddane
Summary: This study evaluates the hydrogeochemical characteristics and water quality of groundwater in the water-stressed Mediterranean region. Through qualitative and quantitative analysis of 123 studies, it was found that the distribution of research topics varies across the region, with minor ions and isotopes studies concentrated in Europe. The study also identified different hydro-chemical facies in different aquifers and detected pollution issues, with nitrate pollution found in 29% of aquifers. Overall, this work provides a preliminary assessment of groundwater characteristics in the Mediterranean region.
PHYSICS AND CHEMISTRY OF THE EARTH
(2023)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
K. Barre, I. Thomas, I. Le Viol, K. Spoelstra, C. Kerbiriou
Summary: Animal movement is crucial for population viability, and human activities such as artificial light at night (ALAN) can have significant effects on animal movement. This study focused on the impact of ALAN on bat movement along ecological corridors. The results showed that ALAN influenced the activity and movement of different foraging bats, with light-averse bats being less active and less likely to approach lit lampposts. However, light-opportunistic bats were more active near certain colored lights. These findings highlight the importance of avoiding artificial lighting near bat flight routes.
ANIMAL CONSERVATION
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Jeremy S. P. Froidevaux, Nia Toshkova, Luc Barbaro, Ana Benitez-Lopez, Christian Kerbiriou, Isabelle Le Viol, Michela Pacifici, Luca Santini, Clare Stawski, Danilo Russo, Jasja Dekker, Antton Alberdi, Francisco Amorim, Leonardo Ancillotto, Kevin Barre, Yves Bas, Lisette Cantu-Salazar, Dina K. N. Dechmann, Tiphaine Devaux, Katrine Eldegard, Sasan Fereidouni, Joanna Furmankiewicz, Daniela Hamidovic, Davina L. Hill, Carlos Ibanez, Jean-Francois Julien, Javier Juste, Peter Kanuch, Carmi Korine, Alexis Laforge, Gaelle Legras, Camille Leroux, Grzegorz Lesinski, Lea Mariton, Julie Marmet, Vanessa A. Mata, Clare M. Mifsud, Victoria Nistreanu, Roberto Novella-Fernandez, Hugo Rebelo, Niamh Roche, Charlotte Roemer, Ireneusz Ruczynski, Rune Soras, Marcel Uhrin, Adriana Vella, Christian C. Voigt, Orly Razgour
Summary: Knowledge of species' functional traits is crucial for understanding biodiversity patterns, predicting global environmental changes, and assessing conservation measures. However, there is currently a lack of comprehensive data on the functional traits and ecological attributes of European bat species.
Article
Polymer Science
Khaled Younes, Yahya Kharboutly, Mayssara Antar, Hamdi Chaouk, Emil Obeid, Omar Mouhtady, Mahmoud Abu-samha, Jalal Halwani, Nimer Murshid
Summary: Water scarcity is a global problem with significant impacts on the economy, society, and environment. It affects agriculture, industry, and households, leading to a lower quality of life. To address water scarcity, collaboration between governments, communities, and individuals is crucial for water conservation and sustainable water management. In this study, the potential of Green Aerogels in water treatment for ion removal was investigated.
Article
Polymer Science
Khaled Younes, Yahya Kharboutly, Mayssara Antar, Hamdi Chaouk, Emil Obeid, Omar Mouhtady, Mahmoud Abu-samha, Jalal Halwani, Nimer Murshid
Summary: Water scarcity is a global issue, especially in areas with limited freshwater sources, highlighting the need for sustainable water management for equitable access. Advanced water treatment methods, such as adsorption through membranes, using nanocellulose, chitosan, and graphene-based aerogels as adsorbents, can provide cleaner water. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) is a useful unsupervised machine learning approach to evaluate the efficiency of aerogels in dye removal. The study revealed differences in regeneration efficiencies and removal efficiencies among the tested aerogels, indicating the importance of considering various conditions when using or manufacturing these aerogels.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Camille Leroux, Isabelle Le Viol, Nicolas Valet, Christian Kerbiriou, Kevin Barre
Summary: A study finds that the size, configuration, and operation of wind turbines affect the behavior and vertical distribution of bats. High-flying species show lower activity in areas with higher wind turbine density and lower ground clearance. Medium-flying species exhibit sensitivity to wind turbine distance, either attracted or avoiding depending on proximity to the wake area and wind conditions. The study emphasizes considering these factors when assessing the ecological sustainability of future wind farms.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
(2023)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Kevin Barre, Jeremy S. P. Froidevaux, Camille Leroux, Lea Mariton, Marcus Fritze, Christian Kerbiriou, Isabelle Le Viol, Yves Bas, Charlotte Roemer
Summary: Wind power generation has significantly increased, but it has also led to a threat to airborne biodiversity, particularly birds and bats. Despite the international recommendation to place wind turbines at least 200 meters away from woody edges, compliance has been inadequate. Key policy recommendations are provided to achieve compliance and protect biodiversity.
CONSERVATION SCIENCE AND PRACTICE
(2022)
Article
Polymer Science
Nimer Murshid, Omar Mouhtady, Mahmoud Abu-samha, Emil Obeid, Yahya Kharboutly, Hamdi Chaouk, Jalal Halwani, Khaled Younes
Summary: In this study, the adsorption efficiency of 27 different composite hydrogels for wastewater dye treatment was evaluated using principal component analysis. The results showed that different composite hydrogels should be used under different conditions to achieve optimal performance.
Article
Engineering, Geological
Hatem Haidar, Ali Barada, Jalal Halwani, Issa Wehbi, Lama Zahrdeen
Summary: This paper explores the suitability of using solid waste, specifically tire bales, in the construction of earth dams. By analyzing and comparing two theoretical design cases, it was found that the use of tire bales improved the stability of the dam and reduced the required quantities of fill materials.
GEOMECHANICS AND GEOENGINEERING-AN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL
(2022)
