Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Emilia Jankowska, Maria Wlodarska-Kowalczuk
Summary: The presence and structural characteristics of seagrass meadows are related to macrofauna standing stocks and richness indicators (both taxonomic and functional). The diversity of seagrass meadows enhances the functional richness of associated fauna. This result is important for conservation planning, suggesting the restoration of multiple seagrass species to increase taxonomic and functional richness in systems with low diversity.
ECOLOGICAL INDICATORS
(2022)
Article
Agronomy
Ivan Drahun, Kiana F. Wiebe, Patrick Gohl, Cody W. Koloski, Alex J. Koiter, Willem G. Van Herk, Bryan J. Cassone
Summary: A 3-year intensive monitoring of wireworm populations in Manitoba revealed that wireworms were present in 94% of surveyed sites, but the catch varied year to year. Soil temperature, moisture, and precipitation influenced the larval catch, while treatment methods appeared less influential.
PEST MANAGEMENT SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Denis Mburu Njoroge, Gbadamassi G. O. Dossa, Luping Ye, Xiaoyuan Lin, Douglas Schaefer, Kyle Tomlinson, Juan Zuo, Johannes H. C. Cornelissen
Summary: Through a sixteen month long common garden litter decomposition experiment, we investigated the effects of litter diversity and soil fauna interactions on litter mixture decomposition. The results showed that soil fauna can enhance the decomposition rate of litter and the mixture effect strengthens with increased litter quality dissimilarity. Furthermore, the decomposition progress weakens the mixture effect.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Fabian A. Boetzl, Jochen Krauss, Jonathan Heinze, Hannes Hoffmann, Jan Juffa, Sebastian Konig, Elena Krimmer, Maren Prante, Emily A. Martin, Andrea Holzschuh, Ingolf Steffan-Dewenter
Summary: The study found that species richness of most taxonomic groups, as well as multidiversity and richness of pollinators, increased with temporal continuity of AES types. AES flowering fields supported different species assemblages than calcareous grasslands, but became more similar to seminatural grasslands with increasing temporal continuity.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2021)
Article
Agronomy
Elnaz Amirahmadi, Mohammad Ghorbani, Jan Moudry, Petr Konvalina, Marek Kopecky
Summary: This study examined the environmental effects of greenhouse and open field tomatoes grown using organic and conventional nutrient systems. The results showed that the organic greenhouse scenario had the lowest environmental damage, while the conventional greenhouse scenario had the highest yield.
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Isaac Vendig, Aidee Guzman, Gisel De La Cerda, Kenzo Esquivel, Allegra C. Mayer, Lauren Ponisio, Timothy M. Bowles
Summary: A global meta-analysis examines the concurrent effects of cover cropping on soil organic carbon (SOC) and crop yields, finding that cover cropping can increase both. Increasing SOC directly benefits yields in low carbon soils. Additionally, incorporating legume cover crops in simplified rotations or with low nitrogen inputs results in the largest yield increases and greater SOC enhancement compared to non-legumes.
NATURE SUSTAINABILITY
(2023)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
J. C. Fisher, M. Dallimer, K. N. Irvine, S. G. Aizlewood, G. E. Austen, R. D. Fish, P. M. King, Z. G. Davies
Summary: People depend on functioning ecosystems for essential services that support human health and well-being, making biodiversity loss a significant concern. Understanding the species and traits that contribute to well-being responses is a critical question. This study analyzes a database of species' effect traits and their impacts on various types of well-being.
NATURE SUSTAINABILITY
(2023)
Review
Plant Sciences
Amarpreet Kaur, Shalinder Kaur, Harminder Pal Singh, Avishek Datta, Bhagirath Singh Chauhan, Hayat Ullah, Ravinder Kumar Kohli, Daizy Rani Batish
Summary: This article discusses the biological attributes and pharmacological importance of Ageratum conyzoides L., a plant with American origin and worldwide distribution. It highlights the challenges posed by its constant spread and invasion to various ecosystems, and emphasizes the need for monitoring, management strategies, and exploration of its potential uses in medicine and agriculture.
Article
Ecology
Xiaoguang Zhang, Lu Tan, Qinghua Cai, Lin Ye
Summary: The biodiversity-stability relationship is a fundamental subject in ecological research. This study focused on the phytoplankton community in reservoir ecosystems and found that functional diversity has a significant impact on community stability, while species diversity does not. Additionally, the study revealed the indirect effects of water temperature and phosphate concentration on stability through their influence on the first principal component of functional diversity.
FRONTIERS IN ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2022)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Fabien Koch, Kathrin Menberg, Svenja Schweikert, Cornelia Spengler, Hans Juergen Hahn, Philipp Blum
Summary: The study reveals spatial variations in ecological conditions of groundwater fauna in Karlsruhe city, with improvements in certain areas but no clear spatial patterns with respect to land use and other anthropogenic impacts. Comprehensive assessment methods are needed for a detailed evaluation of groundwater ecological status.
HYDROLOGY AND EARTH SYSTEM SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Agronomy
Alexandra D. Solomou, Athanassios Sfougaris
Summary: The study found that yields of organic olive groves can be increased by increasing manure application and earthworm density, while yields of conventional olive groves can be increased by increasing soil organic matter and application of inorganic fertilizer N. Additionally, herbaceous plant species richness increases with various factors, highlighting the importance of maintaining ecological balance and sustainable agriculture.
Article
Microbiology
Xuewei Sun, Huayong Zhang, Zhongyu Wang, Tousheng Huang, Hai Huang
Summary: By studying the phytoplankton and abiotic factors of a seagoing river in different seasons, it was found that salinity is the key factor affecting phytoplankton species richness, while water temperature affects species richness, community diversity, and the abundance and biomass of dominant species. In addition to water temperature, the abundance and biomass of dominant species are also influenced by total nitrogen, nitrate, pH, and water transparency. Moreover, total dissolved phosphorus, pH, and chemical oxygen demand are crucial for community diversity and evenness. Understanding these factors can help in formulating conservation measures.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Andreas Buerkert, Bryan Adam Dix, Mohamed Nasser Al Rawahi, Eva Schlecht
Summary: The millennia-old oasis systems in the Western Hajar Mountains of Northern Oman have undergone changes in the past decade, with urbanization increasing and water scarcity becoming more prominent. The study revealed a decrease in actively used area of the oasis systems, while urban areas expanded. Additionally, some terraces are now being irrigated with treated wastewater, accelerating the abandonment of old settlement structures.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2021)
Article
Agronomy
S. Kaloudis, A. Pantera, A. Papadopoulos, S. Galanopoulou, Ch. Damianidis
Summary: Silvopastoral systems in western Greece have been impacted by changes in land use and local economic priorities, leading to spatiotemporal diversification of land cover. Data analysis suggests that land cover changes are primarily due to direct human intervention. Environmental factors influence the ecosystem by affecting human activities and directly impacting land cover in areas without human intervention.
AGROFORESTRY SYSTEMS
(2021)
Review
Environmental Sciences
Paula Karen Mota, Adriana Monteiro da Costa, Rachel Bardy Prado, Luis Filipe Sanches Fernandes, Teresa Cristina Tarle Pissarra, Fernando Antonio Leal Pacheco
Summary: This study reviews Payment for Environmental Services (PES) schemes in Brazil and evaluates their effectiveness in achieving environmental gains. The lack of clear definitions, standardized terms, and payment conditions in most schemes hinder the development of public policies and implementation of PES in Brazil. The use of the Common International Classification of Ecosystem Services (CICES) is recommended to ensure clarity, objectivity, and expected environmental efficacy.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Georgios Charvalas, Alexandra D. Solomou, Kyriakos D. Giannoulis, Elpiniki Skoufogianni, Dimitrios Bartzialis, Christina Emmanouil, Nicholaos G. Danalatos
Summary: This article provides an overview of alternative methods for restoring contaminated soils (phytoremediation), focusing on areas of excessive metallurgical activities in Greece. Two case studies in Northern Greece were selected, one characterized by metal mining and a hot summer Mediterranean climate, and the other involving lignite mining and pollution under subtropical climate.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Agronomy
Alexandra D. Solomou, Athanassios Sfougaris
Summary: The study found that yields of organic olive groves can be increased by increasing manure application and earthworm density, while yields of conventional olive groves can be increased by increasing soil organic matter and application of inorganic fertilizer N. Additionally, herbaceous plant species richness increases with various factors, highlighting the importance of maintaining ecological balance and sustainable agriculture.
Article
Agricultural Engineering
Kyriakos D. Giannoulis, Elpiniki Skoufogianni, Dimitrios Bartzialis, Alexandra D. Solomou, Nicholaos G. Danalatos
Summary: The study aimed to investigate the effects of mycorrhizae, plant density, and nitrogen fertilization on the yield and growth characteristics of Salvia officinalis L. The results showed that mycorrhizae and nitrogen fertilization significantly increased yield, while plant density had a negative impact on leaf yield and leaf area.
INDUSTRIAL CROPS AND PRODUCTS
(2021)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Nikolaos Proutsos, Alexandra Solomou, George Karetsos, Konstantinia Tsagari, George Mantakas, Konstantinos Kaoukis, Athanassios Bourletsikas, George Lyrintzis
Summary: The study evaluated the ecological status of Juniperus foetidissima Willd. forest stands in the protected Natura 2000 site of Mt. Oiti in Greece. While the overall ecological status was good with high plant diversity, different juniper stands faced various challenges, highlighting the need for site-specific active management and interventions to preserve habitat quality.
Article
Plant Sciences
Alexandra D. Solomou, Panagiotis Michopoulos, Evangelia Vavoulidou
Summary: The study found that factors such as concentrations of soil organic carbon and organic nitrogen, nitrate-N, available phosphorus, available copper, exchangeable potassium and CaCO3 percentage were significant in affecting plant biodiversity in both types of vineyards. The C/N ratio in soils and earthworm population density were also positively correlated with plant diversity. Additionally, chemical fertilization can also impact plant variability in vineyards.
JOURNAL OF PLANT NUTRITION
(2021)
Review
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Eleni Topalidou, Alexandra D. Solomou, Susana S. Santos, Evdokia Krystallidou, Styliani Kakara, Konstantinos Mantzanas
Summary: Wood-pastures in the Mediterranean region are valuable for biodiversity conservation, forage production, and landscape preservation. Management based on understanding the ecological effects of grazing plays a key role in achieving these dual purposes. Integrated ecological studies are essential for identifying regional and national needs in terms of biodiversity conservation and sustainable rural development.
Review
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Antonios Kolimenakis, Alexandra D. Solomou, Nikolaos Proutsos, Evangelia Avramidou, Evangelia Korakaki, Georgios Karetsos, Georgios Maroulis, Eleftherios Papagiannis, Konstantinia Tsagkari
Summary: Urban green spaces are essential for the health and wellbeing of citizens, with multiple benefits identified through literature review, including willingness to pay methods, property values, monetary values, CO2 values, and qualitative criteria studies. The existence of urban green areas brings benefits to citizens and increases welfare levels, providing valuable insights for future research and urban policy direction.
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
George Pavlidis, Alexandra Solomou, Spyridoula Stamouli, Vassilis Papavassiliou, Kosmas Kritsis, Chairi Kiourt, Vasileios Sevetlidis, George Karetsos, Panayiotis Trigas, Konstantinos Kougioumoutzis, Katerina Goula, Nikolaos Proutsos, George Pistikos, Yannis Theodoridis, Emmanouil Galanopoulos, Nikolaos Paraskevas, Ursula Foskolou, Michael Papadopoulos
Summary: This article introduces the concept of ecotourism and the thriving global ecotourism industry. It focuses on the AdVENt project, which seeks to promote sustainable ecotourism through natural science and technological innovation. The study area of the project is the National Parks of Oiti and Parnassus in Central Greece.
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Kosmas Kritsis, Chairi Kiourt, Spyridoula Stamouli, Vasileios Sevetlidis, Alexandra Solomou, George Karetsos, Vassilis Katsouros, George Pavlidis
Summary: Plant identification from images is a rapidly developing research field in computer vision. Advances in image processing, pattern recognition, and machine learning have led to accurate and reliable image-based plant identification techniques. In this paper, a dataset of 125 different species for automatic identification of vascular plants of Greece is introduced, achieving high accuracy using popular deep learning architectures and transfer learning.
Article
Environmental Studies
Antonios Kolimenakis, Alexandra D. Solomou, Nikolaos Proutsos, Evangelia V. Avramidou, Evangelia Korakaki, Georgios Karetsos, Aimilia B. Kontogianni, Konstantinos Kontos, Christos Georgiadis, Georgios Maroulis, Eleftherios Papagiannis, Konstantinos Lagouvardos, Konstantinia Tsagkari
Summary: This study examines citizens' perceptions of the role of urban green areas in Greece during the era of COVID-19. The findings highlight that urban green areas are considered important for improving public health, and citizens are willing to pay more taxes for better services.
Article
Environmental Studies
Nikolaos D. Proutsos, Alexandra D. Solomou, Michaela Petropoulou, Nikolaos E. Chatzipavlis
Summary: Urban green spaces play a vital role in mitigating urban heat islands by influencing surface temperatures and reflectance through vegetation types and optical properties. Different elements of urban green spaces show distinct differences in surface temperature and albedo. Tree shades, dry bare soil, and concrete surfaces exhibit higher surface temperatures compared to grass-covered areas.
Article
Forestry
Panos V. V. Petrakis, Panagiotis P. P. Koulelis, Alexandra D. D. Solomou, Kostas Spanos, Ioannis Spanos, Alan Feest
Summary: This study investigates the relationship between anthropogenic disturbances and insects trapped in 63 plots located in a mixed pinewood and a marsh in Schinias, Marathon, Greece. The recent intensified anthropogenic impact due to the Olympic Games in the area is examined. A total of 140 insect species were found, with abundances greater than two individuals in each sampling session in all plots. Cluster analysis identified seven insect community types corresponding to recognized habitats. The invading P. halepensis Mill. replaced P. pinea L. and changed the entomofauna. The results highlight the importance of conserving local entomofauna and implementing management strategies to prevent the progression of P. halepensis.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Nikolaos Proutsos, Dimitris Tigkas, Irida Tsevreni, Stavros G. Alexandris, Alexandra D. Solomou, Athanassios Bourletsikas, Stefanos Stefanidis, Samuel Chukwujindu Nwokolo
Summary: In this study, various empirical methods for potential evapotranspiration estimation were evaluated in Mediterranean urban green sites in Greece. The radiation-based methods and adjusted models performed better compared to temperature-based and mass transfer methods. Combination methods that require more data obtained the highest ranking scores.
Review
Environmental Sciences
Panagiotis P. Koulelis, Nikolaos Proutsos, Alexandra D. Solomou, Evangelia V. Avramidou, Ermioni Malliarou, Miltiadis Athanasiou, Gavriil Xanthopoulos, Panos V. Petrakis
Summary: This study reviews the impacts of climate change on Greek forests by analysing factors such as climate trends, forest management, biodiversity, genetics, insects, and wildfires, using data from the Scopus and Mendeley databases and official reports. By utilising our current understanding and allocating necessary efforts and resources, we actively address climate change consequences on forests. This study focuses on climate change and extreme weather outcomes on forests.
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Alexandra D. Solomou, Evangelia Korakaki, Evangelia V. Avramidou, Stefanos Boutsios, Spyridon Oikonomidis, Evangelia Daskalakou
Summary: This study conducted a floristic study in the forest openings of Mt. Parnon in Greece to establish an ecological baseline and provide key elements for decision making regarding the conservation and sustainable use of forest biodiversity and ecosystem services.