Article
Environmental Sciences
Maria Natalia Marrochi, Lisa Hunt, Marina Solis, Ana Maria Scalise, Silvia Laura Fanelli, Carlos Bonetto, Hernan Mugni
Summary: This study assessed the effects of land use on the benthic invertebrate assemblages of streams in the main Argentine agricultural region. The results showed that streams surrounded by croplands had higher nutrient concentrations, pesticide levels, and different macroinvertebrate assemblages compared to streams surrounded by pasture or reserve.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
(2021)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Christine L. Weilhoefer, Yangdong Pan
Summary: The relationship between diatom motility trait and fine sediment is complex, and the refinement of the motility trait can improve model performance. However, variables related to streambed fine sediments are not important predictors for diatom motility. Water quality, flow, and watershed characteristics are the most important environmental predictors for diatom motility. Stratifying sites by ecoregion or total phosphorus concentrations only result in slight improvements in model performance, but do not strengthen the relationship between diatom motility indices and sediment conditions.
ECOLOGICAL INDICATORS
(2022)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Christian G. Westwood, Judy England, Chloe Hayes, Tim Johns, Rachel Stubbington
Summary: Temporary streams are common in global river networks, and a Plant Flow Index (PFI) has been developed to assess plant community responses to changing habitat conditions in these ecosystems. The PFI establishes relationships between common aquatic, semi-aquatic and terrestrial taxa and the proportion of time the channel was dry, providing a flexible tool for tracking ecological responses to intermittence across different regions and river types. Compared to other plant assessment methods, the PFI demonstrates a stronger ability to reflect the effects of intermittent flow and drying events.
ECOLOGICAL INDICATORS
(2021)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Sean P. Sullivan, Robert W. Wisseman, John Pfeiffer
Summary: Taxonomic harmonization for benthic macroinvertebrate abundance data is time-consuming and important for accurate data analysis. Standardization of taxonomic efforts and nomenclature minimizes data reporting variability and improves the effectiveness of studying complex aquatic communities. Regional standard taxonomic efforts and accepting infra-rank nomenclature with well-documented sources are crucial in any ecological region globally.
ECOLOGICAL INDICATORS
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Iain D. Phillips, Glen McMaster, Douglas P. Chivers, Michelle F. Bowman
Summary: Access to surface water resources in the Northern Great Plains is hindered by availability and quality concerns, and the establishment of ecosystem health objectives remains inadequate. A predictive multivariate model using the reference condition approach was developed to provide guidance for ecosystem health assessment. Through data collection and analysis on benthic communities and abiotic variables at reference and test sites, this model enables comparison of unknown site conditions to reference site groups, and evaluates the impact of various metrics on condition assessment. The results highlight the importance of incorporating beetle and amphipod fauna in addition to traditional metrics. This model serves as an effective tool for evaluating biotic condition, prioritizing river management strategies, and assessing the effectiveness of mitigation measures.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Albin Meyer, Frederic Boyer, Alice Valentini, Aurelie Bonin, Gentile Francesco Ficetola, Jean-Nicolas Beisel, Jonathan Bouquerel, Philippe Wagner, Coline Gaboriaud, Florian Leese, Tony Dejean, Pierre Taberlet, Philippe Usseglio-Polatera
Summary: This study compared standard morphological identification with DNA metabarcoding in stream biomonitoring using macroinvertebrates and found that combining data from different markers can improve bioassessment efficiency. Both approaches assigned the same ecological quality class to a majority of the site sampling events, highlighting the efficiency of metabarcoding as a biomonitoring tool but also the need for further research to improve this efficiency.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Isabela Martins, Diego Rodrigues Macedo, Robert Mason Hughes, Marcos Callisto
Summary: The study conducted in the Pandeiros River basin in Brazil identified the impacts of disturbance on biotic conditions, highlighting how physical habitat disturbance metrics were significantly correlated with sensitive multimetric indices. The results stress the importance of assessing environmental quality and choosing appropriate mitigation actions based on the risks posed by different disturbances in freshwater ecosystems.
RIVER RESEARCH AND APPLICATIONS
(2021)
Review
Biodiversity Conservation
Hugo H. L. Saulino, Miguel Canedo-Arguelles, Susana Trivinho-Strixino, Guilherme Rossi Gorni, Juliano Jose Corbi
Summary: The study examined the impact of riparian vegetation recovery on chironomid communities in urban headwater streams. The results showed that there were no significant differences in biodiversity between urban and reference sites, but vegetation restoration had a positive effect on chironomid populations.
ECOLOGICAL INDICATORS
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Melaku Getachew, Worku Legesse Mulat, Seid Tiku Mereta, Geremew Sahilu Gebrie, Mary Kelly-Quinn
Summary: This study evaluated the performance of different bioassessment methods for rivers in Ethiopia. The results showed that the methods performed equally well in minimally impacted streams, although some differences were observed in certain metrics. However, the analysis of macroinvertebrate communities indicated a high similarity among all methods used in this study area.
ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING AND ASSESSMENT
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Ryan Peek, Katie Irving, Sarah M. Yarnell, Rob Lusardi, Eric D. Stein, Raphael Mazor
Summary: This study aims to inform environmental flow programs by establishing relationships between flow and biological stream condition in California. The results indicate that seasonal and timing metrics of flow alteration are most closely associated with indices of biological stream condition, and magnitude metrics also play an important role.
FRONTIERS IN ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Jussi Jyvasjarvi, Kaisa Lehosmaa, Jukka Aroviita, Jarno Turunen, Maria Rajakallio, Hannu Marttila, Mikko Tolkkinen, Heikki Mykra, Timo Muotka
Summary: The study on using aquatic leaf-associated fungal decomposers to assess stream ecological status suggests that fungal assemblages are more sensitive in detecting multiple human disturbances, especially when multiple stressors are present.
ECOLOGICAL INDICATORS
(2021)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Diana Arva, Attila Mozsar, Barbara Barta, Andras Specziar, Monika Toth, Attila Bohus, Blanka Gal, Denes Schmera
Summary: The recreational use of water bodies poses new challenges to lake ecosystems, as shown by a study on the impact of recreational beaches on the shoreline biodiversity of Lake Balaton in Hungary. The establishment and use of recreational beaches were found to have negative effects on local biodiversity, highlighting the importance of carefully considering both economic and conservation aspects when planning and maintaining recreational beaches.
ECOLOGICAL INDICATORS
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Nathan J. Smucker, Erik M. Pilgrim, Huiyun Wu, Christopher T. Nietch, John A. Darling, Marirosa Molina, Brent R. Johnson, Lester L. Yuan
Summary: Interest in developing periphytic diatom and bacterial indicators of nutrient effects is growing, but temporal variability can complicate relationships between indicators and nutrients. This study found that while nutrient concentrations varied with agriculture in watersheds, the variability of diatom and bacterial assemblages within sites remained consistent. Weekly low and high nutrient diatom and bacterial metrics were more strongly correlated with site mean nutrient concentrations over the sampling period, and correlations with TP concentrations were consistently strong throughout the study.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Rafael Feijo-Lima, Steven A. Thomas, Flavia Tromboni, Eugenia Zandona, Eduardo F. Silva-Junior, Timothy P. Moulton
Summary: This study used variance partition techniques to assess the performance of different benthic invertebrate metrics in detecting agricultural land-use effects in a rainforest watershed in SE Brazil. The results showed that traditional bioindicator metrics were more responsive to environmental variation associated with agriculture compared to taxa abundances and functional attributes. These findings have important implications for the development of macroinvertebrate-based biomonitoring protocols.
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Krystian Obolewski, Katarzyna Glinska-Lewczuk, Marcin Sidoruk, Monika Magdalena Szymanska
Summary: Our research investigated the response of benthic macroinvertebrates in Lake Wicko, showcasing sensitivity to morphometric diversity. Lake morphometry plays a significant role in structuring macroinvertebrate communities, with differences in abundance, diversity, and indicator species decreasing along a depth gradient. The littoral zones showed the greatest differences, while the sublittoral zones exhibited a simplified community structure. Differences in mollusks, crustaceans, and Oligochaeta/Chironomidae abundance ratios were observed in the infralittoral zone. Chironomid diversity varied most strongly in the sublittoral zone.
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Stefania Erba, Marcello Cazzola, Carlo Belfiore, Andrea Buffagni
Article
Remote Sensing
Emanuele Barca, Annamaria Castrignano, Sergio Ruggieri, Michele Rinaldi
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF APPLIED EARTH OBSERVATION AND GEOINFORMATION
(2020)
Article
Ecology
Andrea Buffagni
Summary: This study investigated aquatic invertebrates and habitat features in a range of temporary rivers in Sardinia, finding that different taxonomic groups showed varying preferences for lentic-lotic habitat conditions, and these differences should be considered when defining species preferences and studying community structure or relationships between species.
FRESHWATER BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Manuela Persia, Emanuele Barca, Roberto Greco, Maria Immacolata Marzulli, Patrizia Tartarino
Article
Environmental Sciences
R. Balestrini, C. A. Delconte, E. Sacchi, A. Buffagni
Summary: The study found significant spatial variability in fontanili springs in the River Po valley, with nitrogen loads mainly exported in the summer. Random Forest analysis identified key environmental variables influencing nitrate contamination in the springs.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Valerio Guido Altieri, Marco De Sanctis, Damiano Sgherza, Simona Pentassuglia, Emanuele Barca, Claudio Di Iaconi
Summary: The effectiveness of an advanced wastewater treatment method based on SBBGR technology for PSW washing wastewater was evaluated and compared with a conventional treatment method. The results showed that the SBBGR treatment method had higher removal efficiencies and lower sludge production compared to the traditional treatment.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Civil
Vincenzo Bagarello, Emanuele Barca, Mirko Castellini, Massimo Iovino, Renato Morbidelli, Carla Saltalippi, Alessia Flammini
Summary: This study simulated soil hydrological processes at the plot or field scale, showing the importance of using spatially representative values of saturated soil hydraulic conductivity, K-s. Uncertainty analysis can help determine the minimum number of measurements needed to achieve a specified accuracy level for the mean K-s value.
JOURNAL OF HYDROLOGY
(2021)
Article
Plant Sciences
Massimo Terzi, Emanuele Barca, Eugenio Cazzato, Francesco Saverio D'Amico, Cesare Lasorella, Mariano Fracchiolla
Summary: Based on a study of the effects of different weed control methods in olive groves, it was found that chemical herbicides led to impoverished plant communities, while mowing and tillage methods had similar effects. Unlike other studies, this research did not identify plant species of particular concern for biodiversity conservation.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Stefania Erba, Andrea Buffagni, Marcello Cazzola, Raffaella Balestrini
Summary: This study provides a nation-wide assessment of the nutrient concentration variability between Italian river reference sites. The study found that atmospheric deposition and agricultural land use are the major factors determining differences in nutrient concentration.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES EUROPE
(2022)
Article
Agronomy
Stefano Popolizio, Emanuele Barca, Mirko Castellini, Francesco F. F. Montesano, Anna Maria Stellacci
Summary: By analyzing the spatial structure of soil properties, the effects of soil management practices and precision agriculture applications can be detected. The study found most indicators fell within optimal ranges, with only a few showing non-optimal conditions.
Article
Agronomy
Stefano Popolizio, Anna Maria Stellacci, Luisa Giglio, Emanuele Barca, Matteo Spagnuolo, Mirko Castellini
Summary: This study evaluated the seasonal variability of soil physical and hydraulic properties under different soil management strategies, highlighting the importance of soil moisture conditions in affecting soil physical properties.
Article
Remote Sensing
Roberto Greco, Emanuele Barca, Pasi Raumonen, Manuela Persia, Patrizia Tartarino
Summary: Accurate field measurements of tree morphological features are crucial for effective forest inventory and sustainable forest resource management. Traditional methods are time-consuming and expensive, leading to subjective measurement errors. To overcome these limitations, advanced sensor technologies such as terrestrial laser scanning (TLS) have been used. However, TLS has drawbacks including high costs, limited portability, and specialized software and expertise requirements. This study proposes a new approach utilizing a small drone under the forest canopy to estimate biometric parameters with promising cost-effectiveness and accuracy compared to previous studies.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF APPLIED EARTH OBSERVATION AND GEOINFORMATION
(2023)
Article
Environmental Studies
Daniela De Benedetto, Emanuele Barca, Mirko Castellini, Stefano Popolizio, Giovanni Lacolla, Anna Maria Stellacci
Summary: Knowledge of the spatial distribution of soil organic carbon (SOC) is crucial for improving crop productivity and assessing agronomic management strategies. Incorporating secondary variables, such as electromagnetic induction and ground-penetrating radar data, can improve prediction accuracy.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Yongcui Lan, Jinliang Wang, Qianwei Liu, Fang Liu, Lanfang Liu, Jie Li, Mengjia Luo
Summary: This study focuses on the five major plateau lake basins in central Yunnan, China, and constructs an ecological security pattern using the source-resistance surface-corridor-pinch point framework. The study simulates land use/cover change in the region and identifies early warning regions where future urban expansion poses a threat to current ecological source areas and corridors.
ECOLOGICAL INDICATORS
(2024)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Pingping Huang, Feng Zhao, Bailing Zhou, Kuidong Xu
Summary: This study investigates the distribution of benthic microeukaryotes in the China Seas and finds that they can stride over the ecological barrier of 32 degrees N. The study also highlights the significant influence of depth, temperature, and latitude on communities in the China Seas.
ECOLOGICAL INDICATORS
(2024)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Federico Morelli, Yanina Benedetti, Jesse Stanford, Leszek Jerzak, Piotr Tryjanowski, Paolo Perna, Riccardo Santolini
Summary: Species distribution models (SDMs) are numerical tools used for predicting species' spatial distribution. This study found that ecological characteristics, such as habitat specialization, play a role in improving the accuracy of SDMs.
ECOLOGICAL INDICATORS
(2024)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Xiaoxuan Wu, Hang Liu, Wei Liu
Summary: Global climate change, urbanization, and economic development have increased the need for sustainable human development, urban ecological governance, and low-carbon energy transformation. This study analyzes the green ecological transition in Chengdu based on panel data from 2010 to 2020, exploring its spatiotemporal evolution and key factors. The results show an overall upward trend in Chengdu's green ecological development and positive spatial autocorrelation in certain districts.
ECOLOGICAL INDICATORS
(2024)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Castaldi Simona, Formicola Nicola, Mastrocicco Micol, Morales Rodriguez Carmen, Morelli Raffaella, Prodorutti Daniele, Vannini Andrea, Zanzotti Roberto
Summary: Sustainable agricultural practices are increasingly important for global and national environmental policies and economy. This study compared the sustainability of grape production under integrated and organic management using multiple indicators. The results showed that organic management was more beneficial for most environmental aspects of the agroecosystem compared to integrated management, without affecting grape yield.
ECOLOGICAL INDICATORS
(2024)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Gaia Vaglio Laurin, Alexander Cotrina-Sanchez, Luca Belelli-Marchesini, Enrico Tomelleri, Giovanna Battipaglia, Claudia Cocozza, Francesco Niccoli, Jerzy Piotr Kabala, Damiano Gianelle, Loris Vescovo, Luca Da Ros, Riccardo Valentini
Summary: Phenology monitoring is important for understanding forest functioning and climate impacts. This research compares the phenological behavior of European beech forests using Tree-Talker (TT+) and Sentinel 2 satellite data. The study finds differences in the information derived by the two sensor types, particularly in terms of season length, phenology changepoints, and leaf period variability. TT+ with its higher temporal resolution demonstrates precision in capturing the phenological changepoints, especially when satellite image availability is limited.
ECOLOGICAL INDICATORS
(2024)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Huanhuan Pan, Ziqiang Du, Zhitao Wu, Hong Zhang, Keming Ma
Summary: The land use and cover changes resulting from coal mining activities and ecological restoration have had a significant impact on ecosystem services in mining areas. This study investigates the relationship between ecosystem services and land use intensity in coal mining areas, emphasizing the importance of understanding this interdependence for balanced human-land system development. The research examines the evolving relationship across different reclamation stages in Shanxi, China, using a coupling coordination degree model. The findings suggest the need for timely and judicious reclamation of coalfields, considering the land's bearing capacity.
ECOLOGICAL INDICATORS
(2024)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Jingjuan He, Yijun Shi, Lihua Xu, Zhangwei Lu, Mao Feng
Summary: This study examines the spatial interplay between changes in the blue-green spatial distribution and modifications in land surface temperature grades in Shanghai. The findings reveal that the transformation of the blue-green spatial pattern differs between different sectors of the city, and the impact on the thermal environment varies spatially.
ECOLOGICAL INDICATORS
(2024)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Yi Xu, Di Zhang, Junqiang Lin, Qidong Peng, Xiaohui Lei, Tiantian Jin, Jia Wang, Ruifang Yuan
Summary: This study analyzed the response relationship between phytoplankton growth and water environmental parameters in the Middle Route of the South-to-North Water Diversion Project in China using long-term monitoring data and machine learning models. The results revealed the differences between monitoring sites and identified the key parameters that affect phytoplankton growth.
ECOLOGICAL INDICATORS
(2024)