Article
Environmental Sciences
Yanbo Yang, Chenhui Wei, Lu Xiao, Zhaoliang Zhong, Qi Li, Huimei Wang, Wenjie Wang
Summary: Urbanization has a strong impact on the phylogenetic diversity of woody plants, which is related to the intensity of urbanization and landscape features. Artificial surface area, forest shape index, and patch density of forest have threshold effects on phylogenetic diversity. Economic factors such as gross domestic product play a significant role in the variations of phylogenetic diversity.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Vishesh L. Diengdoh, Stefania Ondei, Rahil J. Amin, Mark Hunt, Barry W. Brook
Summary: Functional connectivity between protected areas in Australia, important for butterfly species, is predicted to decrease in future scenarios of land use, land cover, and climate change. Changes are expected to occur along the edges of species' current distribution. Results can be used for comparisons with other studies and to identify priority areas for conservation.
BIOLOGICAL CONSERVATION
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Federico Riva, Lenore Fahrig
Summary: Positive effects of habitat patch size on biodiversity are often incorrectly extrapolated to negative effects of habitat fragmentation at landscape scales. A recent study shows that small patches actually contribute to biodiversity, challenging the previous assumption. Landscape-scale analysis reveals that for sets of patches with equal total habitat area, species richness and evenness decrease with increasing mean size of the patches, contradicting the extrapolation. Therefore, preserving small habitat patches is crucial for biodiversity conservation.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Justin J. Remmers, Clayton K. Nielsen, Damon B. Lesmeister
Summary: This study investigated alpha and beta diversity of mammals across a 16,058-km2 region in southern Illinois, USA. Camera traps were used to collect data, and hierarchical occupancy modeling and meta-analysis techniques were applied. The study found that forest proximity and percentage forest cover had minor effects on beta diversity, while habitat heterogeneity, anthropogenic influence, and nearby forest cover were important factors influencing mammalian biodiversity.
GLOBAL ECOLOGY AND CONSERVATION
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Eva Maire, Nicholas A. J. Graham, M. Aaron MacNeil, Vicky W. Y. Lam, James P. W. Robinson, William W. L. Cheung, Christina C. Hicks
Summary: This study examined the availability and vulnerability of micronutrients in marine fish species in 157 countries using global assessments and fisheries catch data. The analysis showed that micronutrient availability and vulnerability varied greatly at a species level, with tropical species demonstrating greater resilience to climate change and overfishing. The study also found that countries with high prevalence of inadequate micronutrient intake tended to have nutrient-dense fish catches, but these fisheries were highly vulnerable to climate change.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Yao Qian, Zheng Dong, Yan Yan, Lina Tang
Summary: Rapid urbanization has negative impacts on land use and landscape patterns in watersheds, degrading ecosystem services and habitat quality. This study assesses the ecological risk in Houxi Basin, a typical southeastern coastal watershed in China, from 2011 to 2019. The results show that the risks of degrading habitat-provision services slightly increase, while the risks of degrading water-purification services increase rapidly. Reasonable planning of land use types and spatial layout can help reduce ecological risks. Other conclusions include the effectiveness of combined replacement of forest and grassland in inhibiting pollution diffusion and the importance of optimizing areas with high land-use impact coefficients in inhibiting pollution diffusion.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Review
Ecology
Camilo Hernandez, Cristian Echeverria, Cara Nelson
Summary: Research on the ecological impacts of landscape change (LC) has primarily focused on the compositional attributes of biodiversity, analyzing impacts at the community and population levels. Studies have identified gaps in research, such as the lack of studies addressing multiple levels of the ecological hierarchy simultaneously and the linkages between ecological processes and ecosystem services. Place-based research syntheses are crucial to identify research gaps and meet sustainability goals.
Article
Food Science & Technology
Katherine S. Nelson, Emily K. Burchfield
Summary: Increasing landscape complexity in the United States from 2008 to 2018 has been associated with higher yields of crops such as corn, soy, and winter wheat. The number and diversity of landcover categories on a landscape have a stronger influence on yields than the arrangement of these categories. Specifically, landscapes that are moderately complex and highly diverse are linked to significant yield increases for corn and wheat.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Emanuele Fanfarillo, Dino Torri, Claudia Angiolini, Giovanni Bacaro, Gianmaria Bonari, Giacomo Cangelmi, Silvia Cannucci, Andrea Coppi, Paola De Giorgi, Leopoldo de Simone, Tiberio Fiaschi, Daniel Fontana, Jacopo Franzoni, Antonio Giaco, Lorenzo Lazzaro, Michela Marignani, Michele Mugnai, Lorenzo Pinzani, Duccio Rocchini, Adriano Stinca, Manuel Tiburtini, Simona Maccherini
Summary: In recent decades, badlands have decreased in extent due to agricultural land reclamation and changes in land use. A study in Crete Senesi, Italy, found that vegetation cover increased and bare soil surfaces decreased, with pioneer vegetation changing into annual grasslands. However, specialist plant diversity adapted to badlands is disappearing without effective land management.
GLOBAL ECOLOGY AND CONSERVATION
(2023)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Tana Bao, Guilin Xi
Summary: The Selinco region is a highland grassland ecosystem with a unique lake system and diverse flora and fauna. Population and livestock density are the most important factors influencing environmental vulnerability in the region. Although the region has shown a trend of ecological recovery and stability over the past 20 years, some areas still experience ecological deterioration, highlighting the need for increased efforts in ecological conservation and restoration.
JOURNAL OF CLEANER PRODUCTION
(2023)
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Wenhao Hou, Shuxiu Liang, Xinyue Hu, Chao Li, Zhaochen Sun, Qiaofeng Ma
Summary: The loss of natural shorelines, accelerated by the construction of artificial shorelines, threatens intertidal biodiversity. However, the mechanisms of regulating biodiversity using artificial structures are still poorly understood. Through field sampling, surveys, and numerical simulations, this study found that the ecological effects of artificial seawalls are mainly influenced by flow rather than water quality or other factors. Complex structures in seawalls enhance fluid wall shear and make it more difficult for intertidal organisms to attach, but also provide a more stable community structure for ecosystem health.
ESTUARINE COASTAL AND SHELF SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Adam Kimberley, Danny Hooftman, James M. Bullock, Olivier Honnay, Patricia Krickl, Jessica Lindgren, Jan Plue, Peter Poschlod, Anna Traveset, Sara A. O. Cousins
Summary: Increasing landscape connecting elements cannot compensate for large-scale grassland area loss, leading to significant declines in both structural and functional connectivity. Generalist species are negatively affected by connectivity, with structural connectivity having the strongest impact, while functional connectivity determines the presence of grassland specialist species in focal grasslands.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Ruifeng Wu, Jiwei Qi, Wenbo Li, Ling Wang, Ying Shen, Jiawen Liu, Yang Teng, Christian Roos, Ming Li
Summary: Climate change has a significant impact on the suitability of wildlife habitats, and understanding how animals adapt ecologically and genetically to climate change is crucial for targeted species protection. This study integrated ecological and genetic methods to explore the adaptation of rhesus macaques to climate change and found that temperature seasonality primarily affects habitat suitability. The findings also highlighted the genomic vulnerability of the Taihang population and the need for additional conservation strategies under higher risk of climate change.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Ecology
F. Mestre, B. Silva
Summary: The lconnect R package is a user-friendly tool for assessing landscape connectivity and prioritizing habitat patches, which helps understand and address the challenges in biodiversity conservation.
ECOLOGICAL MODELLING
(2023)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Guofu Liang, Hanbo Niu, Yan Li
Summary: This study aims to construct ecological networks for multiple species based on landscape connectivity and determine the restoration priority for four focal mammal species in the western mountains of Henan Province, China. The ecological networks were built using circuit theory and least-cost path models, and the restoration priority for multiple species was determined by integrating ecological corridors and key barrier areas. The results showed that the connectivity of the ecological network was closely related to the dispersal capacity of the species. It is important to consider species-specific management plans and the impacts of key ecological corridors and barrier areas dominated by cropland on species migration. Our research suggests that the methods proposed in this study can help prioritize the restoration of key ecological corridors and barrier areas, especially in areas with limited species distribution and movement data.
Rating: 8/1
GLOBAL ECOLOGY AND CONSERVATION
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Domenica Mirauda, Donatella Caniani, Maria Teresa Colucci, Marco Ostoich
Summary: Modeling and evaluating the resilience of environmental systems has gained significant interest. The development of a novel Water Resilience Index (WRI) allows for the assessment of a river's ability to absorb and recover from pollution, contributing to the implementation of alternative management strategies.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Marco Cuccarese, Sergio Brutti, Angela De Bonis, Roberto Teghil, Ignazio Marcello Mancini, Salvatore Masi, Donatella Caniani
Summary: The study investigated the adsorption of diclofenac on thermo-plasma expanded graphite and characterized the adsorbent material through various analyses. The pseudo-second order and Dubinin-Radushkevich models were found to be the best fit for describing the adsorption mechanism, and thermo-treatment was identified as the most effective technique for regenerating the adsorbent.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2021)
Review
Environmental Sciences
A. Faraji, M. Cuccarese, S. Masi, I. M. Mancini, D. Caniani
Summary: The production of oil and gas consumes a significant amount of water and generates large quantities of produced water, which can be harmful to the environment. Using expanded graphite as an adsorbent shows promise in efficiently removing contaminants from produced water and could be a cost-effective solution for water treatment in the oil and gas industry.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Water Resources
Dimitra Rapti, Salvatore Masi, Francesco Sdao
Summary: The contamination of underground resources from landfill leachates is recognized as a serious problem, highlighting the importance of rigorous environmental hazard assessments for waste disposal sites. This paper proposes an integrated system for evaluating environmental risks from solid waste landfills, aiming to support better construction strategies and environmental protection for new landfills. The methodological approach was successfully applied to landfills in different geological and hydrogeological contexts.
ACQUE SOTTERRANEE-ITALIAN JOURNAL OF GROUNDWATER
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Alessio Siciliano, Giulia Maria Curcio, Carlo Limonti, Salvatore Masi, Michele Greco
Summary: The study demonstrated that thermo plasma expanded graphite (TPEG) is an effective adsorbent material for the removal of methylene blue (MB) from contaminated solutions. The optimal adsorption performance was observed at pH 11, with the process mainly related to electrostatic interactions. Increasing temperature resulted in enhanced adsorption capacity, particularly at initial concentrations higher than 10 mgMB/L.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
(2021)
Review
Environmental Sciences
Donatella Caniani, Marianna Caivano, Giuseppina Mazzone, Salvatore Masi, Ignazio M. Mancini
Summary: Soil contamination by a variety of organic compounds is a global issue, with ozone treatment showing promise in quickly oxidizing these contaminants. Operating conditions, such as soil composition and ozone dose, play a significant role in the effectiveness of ozone remediation. Combining ozonation with biodegradation can lead to removal percentages of 90% or more, making it a viable option for soil remediation.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2021)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Mauro Viccaro, Donatella Caniani, Salvatore Masi, Severino Romano, Mario Cozzi
Summary: Biofuels play a crucial role in decarbonization, energy security, and rural development. However, the competition between energy and food resources necessitates a robust methodology to promote sustainable resource management. This study proposes a land suitability model for energy crops to analyze the interrelationships between land, water, and energy, aiming to optimize resource usage in the bioenergy context.
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Marco Cuccarese, Sergio Brutti, Angela De Bonis, Roberto Teghil, Francesco Di Capua, Ignazio Marcello Mancini, Salvatore Masi, Donatella Caniani
Summary: Dyes are a major challenge for environmentalists as hazardous pollutants, and their removal from effluents is urgently needed. Adsorption technology using low-cost adsorbents has been proven to be an effective method for removing colors from aqueous phase at a larger scale. In this study, spent coffee grounds (SCGs) were used as precursor for the preparation of low-cost activated carbon through chemical activation. The performance of treated SCG as an adsorbent material for methylene blue (MB) was evaluated, and the results show that it is a promising alternative to conventional activated carbon materials.
Article
Agronomy
Tawfik El Moussaoui, Mohamed Oussama Belloulid, Khalid El Ass, Laila Mandi, Said Wahbi, Salvatore Masi, Naaila Ouazzani
Summary: This study proposes an eco-efficient scheme (EES) that is both selective and environmentally viable, and compares it to a conventional activated sludge scheme (CAS). The results show that CAS and EES have optimal process operation and significant differences in organic load and nutrient removal efficiencies. Statistical analysis also reveals a positive correlation between influent/effluent wastewater parameters, performance indicators, and process configuration. The eco-efficient process exhibits promising potential as a sustainable and eco-friendly technology.
IRRIGATION AND DRAINAGE
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Marco Cuccarese, Stijn W. H. Van Hulle, Ignazio M. Mancini, Salvatore Masi, Donatella Caniani
Summary: The degradation of water quality is currently a matter of public concern, thus the development of innovative technologies for water treatment is crucial. This study focuses on encapsulating thermo-plasma expanded graphite into calcium alginate to create a granular material for the removal of various pollutants. The experimental results demonstrate that this material exhibits good adsorbent properties for the removal of atrazine, bisphenol-A, 17-α-ethinylestradiol, and carbamazepine from water.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING
(2023)
Article
Entomology
Antonio Franco, Carmen Scieuzo, Rosanna Salvia, Ignazio M. Mancini, Donatella Caniani, Salvatore Masi, Patrizia Falabella
Summary: This study evaluated the bioconversion process of black soldier fly larvae on fresh and mature dairy manure. The findings showed that the larvae successfully converted the manure into useful products while reducing the negative impact of the substrate. This has significant implications for waste management.
BULLETIN OF INSECTOLOGY
(2022)
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)