Article
Environmental Sciences
Shipeng Dong, Dapeng Liu, Boshan Zhu, Dongxu Zhang, Fang Wang
Summary: This study demonstrates the effectiveness of ecosystem modeling in optimizing and promoting the integrated aquaculture model. The results provide a theoretical basis for sustainable industrial development and discuss the possible applications and contributions of this aquaculture model in China.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2024)
Article
Oceanography
M. M. Andrade, A. Turra
Summary: This study used a contested port expansion project in Brazil to show that integrated frameworks based on ecosystem processes and services can enhance the level of coastal environmental impact assessment. Different groups of stakeholders had varying perceptions, which depended on the scenario and ecosystem services evaluated. The approach of Ecosystem-Based Management has the potential to engage local stakeholders and provide a more integrated assessment of impacts compared to Traditional Ecological Knowledge.
OCEAN & COASTAL MANAGEMENT
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Madeline McSherry, Robert P. Davis, Dominic A. Andradi-Brown, Gabby N. Ahmadia, Malou Van Kempen, Susanna Wingard Brian
Summary: Aquaculture production is predicted to surpass wild-capture fisheries as the main source of aquatic animal protein. Shrimp aquaculture, which is predominantly carried out in Southeast Asia and Latin America, has faced criticism for causing mangrove forest degradation. Integrated mangrove aquaculture (IMA), where mangroves are planted in or alongside shrimp ponds, is promoted as a more sustainable approach. However, the biodiversity and ecosystem functions provided by mangroves within IMA systems are compromised compared to intact mangrove forests.
FRONTIERS IN FORESTS AND GLOBAL CHANGE
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Giorgio Aglieri, Charles Baillie, Stefano Mariani, Carlo Cattano, Antonio Calo, Gabriele Turco, Davide Spatafora, Antonio Di Franco, Manfredi Di Lorenzo, Paolo Guidetti, Marco Milazzo
Summary: The study combines multiple survey methods to investigate fish diversity, finding that small-scale fishery catches provide higher taxonomic diversity estimates and environmental DNA analysis is the only method able to gather the entire spectrum of considered functional traits.
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Viktor Pirmana, Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana, Arief Anshory Yusuf, Rutger Hoekstra, Arnold Tukker
Summary: The study aims to assess priorities for new environmental accounts in Indonesia, with environmental costs related to resource extraction and air pollution identified as major contributors. Estimates show that around 13% of Indonesia's GDP in 2010 is attributed to environmental costs, mainly stemming from depletion of energy and mineral resources, as well as environmental degradation from air pollution.
JOURNAL OF CLEANER PRODUCTION
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Estefania Bonnail, Edgardo Cruces, Eva Rothausler, Romulo Oses, Ayon Garcia, Christopher Ulloa, Nuria Navarro, Yesenia Rojas-Lillo, Alvaro Parra Valdivia, Ricardo Catalan Garrido, Manuel Abad
Summary: Desert areas in northern Chile, including a national park, tourist and benthic management area, and an industrial area, are facing pollution and toxic responses, particularly high levels of Bi, Ca, As, Ag, and Cd in sediments. The main environmental problem is the high concentration of As in sediments. The pollution and stress are increasing from north to south, with the national park being the most affected. The tourist and benthic management area shows high As concentrations in sediments and Cd bioaccumulation, while the industrial area is the least contaminated.
APPLIED SCIENCES-BASEL
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Jian Zuo, Li Zhang, Bowei Chen, Jingjuan Liao, Mazlan Hashim, Dewayany Sutrisno, Mohammad Emran Hasan, Riffat Mahmood, Dalhatu Aliyu Sani
Summary: Understanding spatial change and its driving factors in coastal development is crucial for effective coastal management and restoration. This study developed an evaluation system for coastal sustainable development (CSD) using the Natural-Economic-Social (NES) complex ecosystem approach to analyze the interactions between coastal ecosystems and human activities. The results revealed the trends in CSD levels from 2010 to 2020 along the Maritime Silk Road (MSR), showing a decreasing trend followed by a rapid increase. Spatially, CSD levels were higher in Europe and Southeast Asia compared to South and West Asia and North Africa. The study also emphasized the importance of refining global indicators for CSD assessments in the context of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Jingwen Li, Suocheng Dong, Yu Li, Yusheng Wang, Zehong Li, Mengyuan Wang
Summary: This study integrated ecological vulnerability with the supply and demand of ecosystem services to establish an interregional ecological security pattern for the China-Mongolia-Russia Economic Corridor (CMREC) using circuit theory. The results showed uneven distribution of ecosystem service supply and demand along the corridor. Fifty-five ecological sources and 87 ecological corridors were identified, primarily consisting of forests and grasslands. The study proposed management guidelines for improving ecological corridor connectivity, emphasizing ecological restoration in the southern part of the Mongolian Plateau, and ensuring functional stability of ecological shield areas.
JOURNAL OF CLEANER PRODUCTION
(2023)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Tianyuan Zhu, Shuming Zhang, Yubo Wang, Cuiping Wang, Haowei Wang
Summary: Ecosystem protection and restoration should consider interrelated ecosystems. A study in Anxi County, China, constructed an integrated assessment system and identified ecosystem health levels, leading to tailored ecosystem restoration pathways.
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Meghann Smith, Pankaj Lal
Summary: This study assesses the sustainability of organic apple orchards producing hard apple cider in the northeastern US using an integrated life cycle assessment and costing model. The findings indicate that on-site distribution has the lowest environmental impact and cost, providing valuable insights for hard apple cider producers.
SUSTAINABLE PRODUCTION AND CONSUMPTION
(2022)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Hongjiang Guo, Yanpeng Cai, Bowen Li, Yijia Tang, Zixuan Qi, Yaping Huang, Zhifeng Yang
Summary: This research developed a framework to predict the spatiotemporal dynamics of land use and ecological risks in Guangzhou. The results showed that the urbanization process in Guangzhou was obvious, and future urban expansion is inevitable. However, the overall ecological risk level is relatively low and decreasing.
ECOLOGICAL INDICATORS
(2022)
Review
Engineering, Environmental
Yumeng Li, Long Chen, Sai Liang, Haifeng Zhou, Yu-Rong Liu, Huan Zhong, Zhifeng Yang
Summary: The Minamata Convention on Mercury aims to protect the environment and human beings from the adverse impacts of mercury pollution. Current studies show that mercury emissions can have negative effects on human health and ecosystems, but the feedback of mercury-related environmental impacts to the economic system is not fully understood. This lack of understanding impedes the development of comprehensive mercury control actions, highlighting the need for further research and modeling to loop the mercury cycle in the global environmental-economic system.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Laura Dominici, Elisa Magi, Beatrice Leidi, Mattia Eusebio Pastore, Elena Comino
Summary: This study proposes an ecologically-oriented strategy for rice agroecosystems, aiming to promote sustainability and biodiversity conservation. The findings show that implementing a self-regulating biosystem based on integrated wetlands in a small-size rice farm in Italy can lead to promising economic outcomes compared to conventional rice cultivation systems.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Jesper Solver Schou, Jesper Bladt, Rasmus Ejrnaes, Maria Nygard Thomsen, Suzanne Elizabeth Vedel, Camilla Flojgaard
Summary: The study analyzes the feasibility of establishing four large nature reserves for rewilding in Denmark, with two areas being able to establish large nature areas without incurring extra costs. Rewilding further reduces costs compared to year-round cattle grazing, with two opposing effects being dominant: increased economic rent from the shift to year-round grazing or rewilding, while cessation of agriculture and forestry caused opportunity costs.
Review
Fisheries
Wen Xiong, Chuanbo Guo, Rodolphe E. Gozlan, Jiashou Liu
Summary: The introduction and use of non-native species in aquaculture have played a central role in its global development. Tilapia, one of the most widely introduced species in the world, has made China the largest producer and consumer of tilapia. While non-native tilapia in China provide substantial economic value, their invasion also poses potential threats to native fish diversity and ecosystems. However, knowledge about the introduction pathways, aquaculture development, economic benefits, and ecological impacts of non-native tilapia species is still limited, especially in China.
REVIEWS IN AQUACULTURE
(2022)
Review
Biodiversity Conservation
A. Pastor, O. Tzoraki, D. Bruno, T. Kaletova, C. Mendoza-Lera, A. Alamanos, M. Brummer, T. Datry, A. M. De Girolamo, J. Jakubinsky, I Logar, L. Loures, M. Ilheu, P. Koundouri, J. P. Nunes, C. Quintas-Soriano, T. Sykes, A. Truchy, S. Tsani, D. Jorda-Capdevila
Summary: Intermittent rivers and ephemeral streams (IRES) have become valuable assets in times of strong pressure on aquatic ecosystems and water resources. However, information for assessing their ecosystem services (ES) is scarce. An interdisciplinary research team developed a methodological framework and applied it to two case studies to evaluate the usefulness of ES indicators for IRES. The framework accounts for flow intermittence and provides a comprehensive set of indicators for IRES management and conservation.
ECOLOGICAL INDICATORS
(2022)
Article
Geography, Physical
Dante Follmi, Jantiene Baartman, Akli Benali, Joao Pedro Nunes
Summary: Wildfires are increasingly threatening Mediterranean ecosystems due to climate change-induced wildfire activity and changing land management practices. This study used the landscape evolution model LAPSUS to simulate the long-term effects of wildfires on post-fire erosion in a specific catchment in Portugal. The results show that wildfires significantly increase post-fire erosion rates and lead to spatial variability in erosion patterns. The findings highlight the importance of considering large spatial and temporal scales when studying the impacts of recurring wildfires on landscape dynamics.
EARTH SURFACE PROCESSES AND LANDFORMS
(2022)
Article
Forestry
D. C. S. Vieira, M. Basso, J. P. Nunes, J. J. Keizer, J. E. M. Baartman
Summary: This study investigates the relevance of soil water repellency (SWR) on hydrological responses in burnt areas. The results show that the model has good performance in predicting hydrological events under dry and wet soil conditions. However, the model is sensitive to event-specific conditions and the predicted spatial patterns in runoff do not match the observed runoff.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF WILDLAND FIRE
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Bruno A. Aparicio, Joao Pedro Nunes, Leonard Bernard-Jannin, Luis Filipe Dias, Andre Fonseca, Teresa Ferreira
Summary: Intensive agricultural and industrial activities are major sources of water contamination. Riparian vegetation (RV) is being promoted as a solution to mitigate the adverse effects of agriculture on water quality. Existing RV is often overlooked in modeling efforts, but it plays a significant role in controlling sediment and nutrient concentrations in streams under pressure from agriculture. However, RV has limited impact in areas with industrial discharges.
INTERNATIONAL SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Zhenni Wu, Jantiene E. M. Baartman, Joao Pedro Nunes, Manuel Lopez-Vicente
Summary: Hydrological and sediment dynamics on the Chinese Loess Plateau have undergone significant changes over the past six decades, primarily due to large-scale land use changes and water regulation actions. Understanding the mechanism of sediment transport change and its effects is crucial for ensuring food and environmental security. This study utilizes the aggregated index of sediment connectivity (AIC) to evaluate the monthly and annual sediment connectivity in the Wei River Basin at both the basin and sub-basin scales. The results show that AIC has a positive correlation with sediment yield in the Wei and Jing sub-basins, with the Jing sub-basin having the highest sediment connectivity and the Beiluo sub-basin having the lowest. Additionally, rainfall is found to be the most influential factor on sediment connectivity. This study provides valuable insights for regional ecological construction and environmental catchment management.
ECOLOGICAL INDICATORS
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Dafni Petratou, Joao Pedro Nunes, Maria Helena Guimaraes, Sergio Prats
Summary: The research aims to optimize the application of post-fire mulching by using decision-making criteria to select how and where the technique should be used. The study found that socio-economic parameters need to be considered when applying mulch after wildfires, and small-scale interventions can be more cost-effective than large-scale interventions.
Article
Engineering, Civil
Pedro Beca, Antonio C. Rodrigues, Joao P. Nunes, Paulo Diogo, Babar Mujtaba
Summary: This study aims to improve multipurpose reservoir management in water scarce regions like the Mediterranean under climate change scenarios. The methods used include climate model results, hydrological modelling, and reservoir water balance simulation to estimate future water availability. An innovative reservoir management approach based on rule curves and dynamic assessment of water needs is proposed and implemented in two reservoirs in a typical Mediterranean river basin. Results show that this approach can enhance urban water supply reliability to 100%, improve irrigation supply from 75% to 86-91%, and provide 92-98% of river ecological flow. It is beneficial for multipurpose reservoirs facing water scarcity risks to optimize supply reliability, water transfer volumes, and costs.
WATER RESOURCES MANAGEMENT
(2023)
Article
Communication
Dominic Ayegba Okoliko, Martin Petrus de Wit
Summary: This paper examines the political aspect of climate change communication through the media and the role of climate journalists. The study shows that the journalists' role orientation, norm application, and work environment have an impact on how climate journalism is practiced in African countries. For example, the journalists' commitment to objectivity and authority-order norms, combined with resource deficits, can lead to a biased coverage of climate change favoring elites over other perspectives and local knowledge. The paper argues that climate journalism should focus on facilitating dialogue and understanding among people, rather than simply conveying information.
JOURNALISM PRACTICE
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Esther van der Laan, Joao Pedro Nunes, Luis Filipe Dias, Silvia Carvalho, Franciane Mendonca dos Santos
Summary: In Mediterranean catchments, such as the Sorraia catchment in Portugal, the impact of climate change on water availability and quality in reservoirs is expected to worsen. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of sustainable land management (SLM) practices in adapting to these climate change effects. Results showed that SLM practices were able to decrease total phosphorus load in streams and increase reservoir volume under future climates, but water quality in the reservoirs will still worsen.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Francis Matthews, Gert Verstraeten, Pasquale Borrelli, Matthias Vanmaercke, Jean Poesen, An Steegen, Aurore Degre, Belen Carceles Rodriguez, Charles Bielders, Christine Franke, Claire Alary, David Zumr, Edouard Patault, Estela Nadal-Romero, Ewa Smolska, Feliciana Licciardello, Gilles Swerts, Hans Thodsen, Javier Casali, Javier Eslava, Jean-Baptiste Richet, Jean-Francois Ouvry, Joaquim Farguell, Jolanta Swiechowicz, Joao Pedro Nunes, Lai Ting Pak, Leonidas Liakos, Miguel A. Campo-Bescos, Miroslaw Zelazny, Morgan Delaporte, Nathalie Pineux, Nathan Henin, Nejc Bezak, Noemi Lana-Renault, Ourania Tzoraki, Rafael Gimenez, Tailin Li, Victor Hugo Duran Zuazo, Vincenzo Bagarello, Vincenzo Pampalone, Vito Ferro, Xavier Ubeda, Panos Panagos
Summary: As a network of researchers, we have released an open-access database called EUSEDcollab, which contains time series records of water discharge and suspended sediment yield collected from small to medium sized catchments in Europe. EUSEDcollab was compiled to address the lack of open-access data at relevant scales for research on runoff, soil erosion, and sediment delivery. The database includes data from multiple sources that have been harmonized into a common time series and metadata structure. It covers over 1600 catchment years of data from 245 catchments across ten European countries, with temporal resolutions of event, daily, and monthly. The database focuses on small to medium sized catchment drainage areas and is applicable for soil erosion research. We have released this database with the aim of fostering collaboration and knowledge exchange through the European Union Soil Observatory (EUSO).
Article
Fisheries
Joao G. Ferreira, Leonard Bernard-Jannin, Alhambra Cubillo, Joao Lencart e Silva, Gerhardus P. J. Diedericks, Heather Moore, Matthew Service, Joao Pedro Nunes
Summary: An integrated framework is presented for carrying capacity assessment of aquaculture. The results show that the analysis of carrying capacity is of great significance for policy makers in managing complex coastal systems.
Article
Forestry
Joana Parente, Joao Pedro Nunes, Jantiene Baartman, Dante Follmi
Summary: The models currently used to predict post-fire soil erosion risks have limitations. In this study, we evaluated the effectiveness of using indices to identify sediment mobilisation hotspots in burnt areas. The results indicate that these tools are suitable for locating extreme erosion locations and can be valuable for prioritising areas in need of post-fire intervention.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF WILDLAND FIRE
(2023)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Jinfeng Wu, Jao Pedro Nunes, Jantiene E. M. Baartman, Dawen Yang
Summary: The study reveals that the implementation of soil and water conservation measures and anthropogenic activities can reduce water and sediment movement in water erosion areas, but the mechanisms of sediment dynamics may change under climate conditions. This knowledge is crucial for developing sustainable conservation plans and improving sedimentological models.
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Tomas Calheiros, Akli Benali, Mario Pereira, Joao Silva, Joao Nunes
Summary: This study demonstrates that the high daily severity rating percentile is an appropriate indicator for assessing extreme fire weather days and burnt area in Portugal. Furthermore, the study reveals spatial variability in the relationship between fire weather conditions and burnt area, which is influenced by geographical location and vegetation cover.
NATURAL HAZARDS AND EARTH SYSTEM SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Environmental Studies
Jantiene E. M. Baartman, Joao Pedro Nunes, Hedwig van Delden, Roel Vanhout, Luuk Fleskens
Summary: This study used a modeling approach to evaluate the effects of Soil Improving Cropping Systems (SICS) on soil health and land degradation in Europe. The results showed that SICS significantly reduced soil erosion and increased soil organic carbon stocks.
