Search Results (326)

Freshwater ecosystems are increasingly affected by anthropogenic stressors, necessitating the assessment of sensitive biomarkers of sublethal impact. This study assessed the seasonal variability of oxidative stress parameters in the amphipod Gammarus lacustris from three tributaries of Lake Sevan (Armenia)—the Gavaraget, Karchagbyur, and Argichi Rivers—with contrasting hydrophysical and hydrochemical conditions. During 2022–2024, lipid peroxidation (MDA), antioxidant enzymes (CAT, SOD, GR, and GST), and glutathione (GSH) were measured in specimens collected in May, July, and October and related to temperature, dissolved oxygen, nutrients, major ions, and trace elements. Biomarker levels generally increased from spring to summer and declined in autumn, following temperature and photoperiod patterns. Statistically significant seasonal dynamics were most consistent in the Karchaghbyur River, while, in the Gavaraget and Argichi Rivers, they varied by biomarker and year. Amphipods from the Gavaraget River exhibited consistently elevated levels of oxidative stress biomarkers, consistent with elevated nutrient concentrations and stronger anthropogenic impacts. A short-term increase in all biomarkers in the Argichi River in 2023 indicated episodic acute stress. Overall, the response of oxidative stress biomarkers in G. lacustris reflected both the natural seasonal variability and spatial differences in environmental pressure, confirming their potential as a tool for monitoring Lake Sevan’s tributaries. Full article

Cetacean mortality serves as a critical indicator of marine ecosystem health, reflecting the cumulative impacts of climate-driven environmental shifts and anthropogenic pressures. However, long-term national-scale assessments remain limited in Thailand. This study aimed to assess population status, analyse spatiotemporal mortality patterns, and evaluate the influence of environmental drivers and anthropogenic stressors in Thai waters over the past two decades. Secondary data from multiple sources were analysed using generalised linear models with a negative binomial distribution. A total of 29 cetacean species were recorded, with an estimated population of approximately 3000 individuals. Mortality was documented in 24 species and showed an increasing trend over time. Coastal species, particularly Irrawaddy dolphins and finless porpoises, accounted for the majority of deaths (56%). Mortality patterns varied significantly by region (p < 0.05) but not by season, with the highest levels observed in the Upper Gulf of Thailand. Environmental factors were significantly associated (p < 0.05) with mortality, including wind speed in the Andaman Sea and extreme conditions (drought and heavy rainfall) in the Upper Gulf. In the Lower Gulf of Thailand, mortality was significantly associated with a combination of environmental (sea surface temperature and wind speed) and anthropogenic factors (fishery production). Overall, environmental variability appeared to exert a stronger influence than anthropogenic stressors. These findings highlight the requirement for targeted monitoring in high-risk regions and periods, alongside improved investigation of mortality causes to support effective conservation strategies. Full article

The Shatt al-Basrah Canal, a brackish artificial waterway in southern Iraq, experienced a fish mortality event in August 2021, raising serious environmental and socioeconomic concerns. This study documents field observations, photographic evidence, and in situ water-quality measurements collected during the event to characterize environmental conditions associated with the mortality and situate them within the context of long-term ecosystem degradation in the region. The event coincided with critically low dissolved oxygen concentrations (1–2.5 mg L⁻¹), elevated summer water temperatures (31.2–31.6 °C), high total ammonia nitrogen levels (1.88–2.2 mg L⁻¹), and brackish salinity (17.4–23 ppt), reflecting strong anthropogenic influence and limited hydrological flushing. These stressors occurred in areas receiving untreated wastewater inputs and affected both native and non-native fish species tolerant of estuarine conditions. Comparison with documented fish-kill events from Kuwait Bay and other parts of the northern Arabian Gulf indicates similar environmental settings characterized by hypoxia, organic enrichment, and summer thermal stress. The 2021 mortality event suggests how acute ecological deterioration may arise in chronically degraded brackish systems and underscores the need for continuous water-quality monitoring, improved wastewater treatment, and proactive management to reduce the risk of recurrent fish kills in Iraq’s vulnerable aquatic ecosystems. Full article

Natural ecosystems are facing threats from natural and anthropogenic stressors. Wetlands are among the most delicate natural ecosystems and are particularly vulnerable to the impacts of urbanization. One of the intended purposes of the wetlands is to mitigate the impact of urbanization (e.g., stormwater), but we often lack a comprehensive understanding of their capacity in doing so. Determination of water balance is essential in understanding the efficacy of a wetland when it comes to treating excess stormwater. This study therefore considers the Sparrovale Wetland in Victoria, Australia, to assess its performance in mitigating the impacts of urbanization in the surrounding catchment areas. A 1D model (HYDRUS-1D) was previously developed by the authors based on extensive field and laboratory measurements on one side (north) of the wetland. It was crucial to understand the two-dimensional water balance dynamics in the Sparrovale Wetland to utilize its full potential for managing excessive stormwater. This study therefore employed the HYDRUS-2D model (based on HYDRUS-1D) supported by extended, spatially explicit in situ measurements. The model was run (with additional input of inflow added to the rainfall) on the average Van Genuchten parameters obtained from the previously developed HYDRUS-1D model and the extended determination of the parameters. The model performance in simulating measured water content was good for both the south (average RMSE = 0.013 m³/m³) and the north side (average RMSE = 0.028 m³/m³). The model was also used to simulate surface water levels in the wetland and showed a good agreement (RMSE = 0.1 m AHD and R² = 0.72) with in situ surface water level measurements. This developed model was used to determine the water balance dynamics (infiltration, evapotranspiration, soil water storage, surface and bottom boundary flux) in the Sparrovale Wetland. Our results indicate that evapotranspiration is the major factor controlling the water flux losses in the Sparrovale Wetland, while the role of infiltration was minimal, which might be attributed to the dominant soil type (clay) and shallow groundwater levels in the Sparrovale Wetland. Insights provided by this study might be helpful in optimizing the performance of the Sparrovale Wetland in managing the excess stormwater arising from the surrounding catchments. Full article

Sediment-derived turbidity, intensified by anthropogenic activities, is a widespread form of particulate pollution in aquatic ecosystems. Yet, its effects on planktonic crustaceans remain insufficiently quantified across particle types and disturbance regimes. We exposed five species (Daphnia magna, Leptodora kindtii, Eurytemora velox, Thermocyclops crassus, and T. oithonoides) to turbidity generated by red clay, diatomaceous earth (amorphous silica), and bentonite at three substrate loads (0.5, 1.5, and 3 g/100 mL) and three resuspension regimes (1, 12, and 24 disturbances per day) for 72 h. Particle size distributions and turbidity reduction under free sedimentation were measured using NTU and FAU. Survival decreased across all species, with substrate load as the most consistent predictor, while disturbance frequency showed taxon-dependent effects, particularly in D. magna and L. kindtii. Sensitivity differed among taxa, with L. kindtii and E. velox being the least tolerant, whereas cyclopoid copepods (Thermocyclops spp.) were comparatively resistant. Substrate identity also affected responses, with D. magna being particularly sensitive to amorphous silica relative to clay and bentonite. These findings indicate that survival under sediment-derived turbidity depends on both particle properties and exposure regime, suggesting that increasing sediment mobilization may act as an ecological filter shaping plankton communities. Full article

Evaluating the bathymetric distribution of phytobenthic communities is essential for understanding the factors affecting habitat heterogeneity along a depth gradient. In the present study, we investigated the composition and vertical zonation patterns of phytobenthic communities across different bottom types (rocky and sedimentary) along the Turkish Aegean coasts. Dominant habitat types were identified in 175 depths and classified into 18 categories (Posidonia oceanica, Cymodocea nodosa, Halophila stipulacea, Halopteris spp., Stypopodium schimperi, Ericaria crinita, coralligenous, coralligenous/Mesophyllum spp., Jania spp./Halopteris spp., Ulva spp., rocky, rocky-turf, sandy, sandy-Caulerpa taxifolia var. distichophylla, sandy-Gongolaria montagnei var. compressa, silt, muddy, slime). Among the study sites, P. oceanica meadows (41%) were the dominant habitat in 70 depths, followed by sandy (30%), and rocky bottoms (11%). Total coverage of P. oceanica meadows was recorded as 28%, 80%, 76%, and 56% at 5 m, 10 m, 15 m, and 20 m depths, respectively. Seagrass meadows have started to be replaced by sandy bottoms at 30 m (52%) and 40 m (72%). Considering the bathymetrical divergence in phytobenthic community composition and abundance particularly in urban sites, reflected the influence of intense anthropogenic stressors. Here, non-destructive and cost-effective visual sampling technique based on in situ observations of phytobenthic community assemblages, proved to be an effective approach for the assessment of subtidal habitats. Full article

Macrozoobenthic communities function as important bioindicators of natural and anthropogenic pressures in transitional ecosystems and contribute to ecosystem processes. Transitional systems, such as lagoons, estuaries and coastal ponds, exhibit strong physico-chemical variability, often intensified by anthropogenic pressures and climate change. Changes in macrozoobenthic communities across five Veneto Po Delta lagoons were assessed through long-term monitoring (2008–2025) conducted within the Water Framework Directive and additional monitoring activities. The macrozoobenthic communities were analysed to assess temporal variability and inter-lagoon differences in the Po Delta system; ecological indices were generally stable, but organism density showed significant interannual fluctuations, with marked declines in 2008, 2009, 2024, and 2025. Univariate and multivariate analyses identified phases of community restructuring driven by temporal shifts in species composition and relative abundance. These patterns may reflect the interacting effects of multiple stressors, including long-term anthropogenic pressures and the recent expansion of the invasive blue crab Callinectes sapidus, although causality was not assessed. Increases in water temperature and suspended solids were observed across all lagoons, potentially affecting benthic communities. Overall, this study provides an assessment of macrozoobenthic variability and a preliminary analysis of the factors that may have influenced it, highlighting patterns that warrant further investigations to elucidate the underlying mechanisms. Full article

The preservation of hydrobiological diversity is essential to ensuring the stability of the food chain and the sustainable development of high-Andean basins, which face increasing vulnerability to anthropogenic factors such as the construction of dams and reservoirs. In this study, multiple regression models, both linear and nonlinear, were developed to predict the Shannon–Wiener (H′) and Pielou (J′) indices of periphyton and macrobenthos using 21 water quality parameters and concentrations of nine metals in sediments. Samples of macrobenthos and periphyton were collected at seven monitoring stations during the dry and wet seasons between 2014 and 2025. For the analysis, linear regression models were compared with nonlinear machine learning models, specifically Gradient Boosting and Random Forest. Principal component analysis (PCA) revealed that variability of the basin’s ecosystem is dominated by geogenic factors (conductivity, boron, chlorides, and arsenic) and thermal influence. The Gradient Boosting model demonstrated superior predictive capacity (R² = 0.768 for macrobenthos) compared to linear models (R² = 0.354), successfully capturing the nonlinear responses of biota to stressors such as arsenic in sediments and temperature. It is concluded that natural chemical anomalies in the Titire River act as severe ecological filters, and that artificial intelligence shows promising results in the exploration of new applied tools for environmental management in extreme altoandine ecosystems. Full article

The activity of an Apennine wolf (Canis lupus italicus) family inhabiting the natural reserve Calanchi di Atri in central Italy was monitored during the post-reproductive period (May–October) of two consecutive years (2023–2024), using ten camera trap sites. Detections were classified into adults and pups. Although records cover a limited period and focus on a single pack, they allowed the detection of variations in the spatiotemporal activity of the wolf family. In the first year, wolf activity peaked in summer, with adults frequently supervising pups at rendezvous sites. In the second year, activity by both adults and pups declined significantly and was accompanied by an evident shift in territory use. In addition to potential intrinsic factors, such as individual variability and litter dynamics, these variations may also reflect increased environmental stressors and anthropogenic disturbance. These findings provide insights into how wolves adapt their behavior in human-modified landscapes and highlight the importance of integrating human–wildlife dynamics into conservation and management strategies. Full article

Marine benthic ecosystems along urbanised coastlines face heightened vulnerability due to the cumulative effects of chronic anthropogenic stressors. Climate change intensifies these pressures through more frequent and severe storms, while ongoing coastal development adds further stress through infrastructure projects. This study examined how soft-bottom communities in the coastal NW Mediterranean responded to two major disturbances: an exceptional storm in 2018 and the construction of a new wastewater pipeline in 2019. Sediment grain size, organic content, bacterial abundance and enzymatic activity, and metazoan communities were analysed during summer of 2018, 2019 and 2020 and in the following spring period. Hydrodynamic forcing caused a general increase in the grain size in 2019. Meiobenthos responded with a strong decline in abundance, especially crustaceans, while macrobenthos changed from a mixed deposit-feeder community to a suspension-feeder dominated one. In 2020, the improved trophic value of sediment organic matter in the pipe area favoured bacterial increase. While meiobenthos abundance slowly recovered, the differentiation increased due to macrobenthic juveniles, resulting from increased macrobenthic abundance and diversity (mainly pure deposit-feeders). A clear shift towards organic enrichment-tolerant taxa due to wastewater release was not observed, given the contemporary presence of very sensitive organisms, indicating that co-occurring stressors can lead to nonlinear responses of the communities.: Full article

Invertebrates possess an innate immune system that acts non-specifically against pathogens and is regulated by the circadian clock. Using the host–parasite system, Daphnia magna and its bacterial parasite Pasteuria ramosa, we investigated day–night differences in susceptibility. In an infection experiment where hosts were exposed to spores either during the day or night, infection was slightly higher during daytime exposure and in animals treated with exogenous melatonin. Daphnia exhibited rhythmic expression of five immune genes, with low daytime expression and a pronounced, synchronized peak immediately after the transition from day to night. This timing aligns with the documented increase in daytime susceptibility, which may benefit Pasteuria as encounter rates rise when Daphnia forage in sediment during diel vertical migration. Melatonin exposure altered immune gene expression and increased susceptibility both day and night. Melatonin can act as an immune suppressor and may also influence parasite spore maturation. Disruption of circadian rhythms and melatonin signaling by anthropogenic stressors alters the infection dynamics in this freshwater keystone organism, with consequences for population stability, ecosystem functioning, and the conservation of freshwater biodiversity. Our results spotlight the mechanisms underlying infection risk in host–pathogen systems, highlighting the importance of circadian regulation for disease dynamics in freshwater ecosystems. Full article

Microbial communities inhabiting natural and anthropogenically impacted environments are exposed to diverse abiotic stressors that can influence the distribution of functional traits. However, distinguishing the processes underlying phenotypic patterns remains challenging in microbial systems, where ecological and evolutionary dynamics often overlap. In this study, we experimentally assessed the distribution of biofilm formation and plastic degradation capacity in bacterial isolates across environments characterized by different stress regimes, to evaluate whether these traits are primarily associated with environmental context rather than phylogenetic relatedness, and may therefore reflect environment-dependent phenotypic modulation on a lineage-specific functional background. Taxonomic affiliation was assessed using 16S rRNA gene sequencing, while expressed biochemical profiles were characterized by Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. Multivariate ordination and Partial Least Squares analyses were used to explore relationships among taxonomy, biochemical profiles, functional phenotypes, and environment of isolation. Phylogenetic signal analysis confirmed that neither trait was strongly constrained by vertical inheritance, with Blomberg’s K ≈ 0 and Fritz & Purvis’ D = 0.51, consistent with environment-driven rather than phylogenetically conserved trait distributions. Both biofilm production and plastic degradation capacity showed significant environment-dependent differences in their relative frequencies (Fisher’s exact test, biofilm: p = 5.5 × 10⁻⁵; PCL degradation: p = 2.5 × 10⁻⁴) and were not directly associated with each other (Wilcoxon rank-sum test, p = 0.45; linear model, p = 0.68). Overall, these results indicate that microbial functional traits are unevenly distributed across environments and weakly constrained by taxonomy, consistent with the contribution of multiple, non-mutually exclusive processes that remain difficult to disentangle empirically. Full article

Ground deformation monitoring is pivotal for enhancing urban resilience and mitigating geohazards. This study presents a synergistic monitoring framework integrating 26 Sentinel-1A (C-band) and 16 LuTan-1 (L-band) SAR scenes acquired between December 2023 and August 2025 to characterize the deformation dynamics in Beijing. Utilizing SBAS-InSAR, we first established a regional deformation baseline using Sentinel-1A observations, identifying critical subsidence and uplift zones in the eastern plains. Subsequently, high-resolution (3 m) LT-1 data were leveraged to achieve refined spatiotemporal characterization of these deformation hotspots. Validation against ground leveling benchmarks confirmed that both satellites yield high accuracy. LuTan-1 (RMSE = 3.810 mm/a) shows slightly better agreement with the ground leveling data than Sentinel-1A (RMSE = 4.853 mm/a). Analysis of the spatiotemporal patterns derived from InSAR revealed that the study area is characterized by widespread gene uplift (averaging ~10 mm/a), interspersed with acute localized subsidence exceeding 40 mm/a. Correlation analysis demonstrates a high spatiotemporal coupling between the extent and rate of surface uplift and groundwater level recovery. To further investigate these dynamics, Terzaghi’s effective stress principle is employed to quantify the contribution of groundwater level fluctuations to the observed surface deformation. A Parametric Harmonic Model was implemented to decouple elastic and trend components, and attribution analysis confirms that the continuous recovery of groundwater levels is the fundamental driver of the regional surface uplift. The inverted elastic skeletal storativity (S_ke), ranging from 1.587 × 10⁻³ to 9.184 × 10⁻³, reveals that regional surface uplift is predominantly driven by the elastic rebound of aquifer systems following groundwater recovery. In contrast, localized subsidence anomalies observed at large-scale engineering construction sites, landfill facilities, major expressway corridors, and high-density residential areas are independent of groundwater fluctuations, instead they are primarily attributed to anthropogenic stressors. This study elucidates a dual-drive mechanism, which comprising macroscopic hydrogeological rebound and localized anthropogenic disturbance, providing a robust scientific basis for differentiated urban hazard management. Full article

Cladocora caespitosa is an endemic hermatypic scleractinian in the Mediterranean Sea, currently threatened by both environmental and anthropogenic pressures, whereas Oculina patagonica is a cryptogenic hermatypic scleractinian that is expanding across the basin. This study provides the first assessment of co-occurring natural populations of these shallow-water taxa, examining their population structures, habitat preferences, and responses to environmental stressors based on SCUBA surveys conducted in the summers and autumns of 2022 and 2023. Both species were dominated by medium- to large-sized colonies, indicating relatively stable population structures, with C. caespitosa exhibiting significantly higher densities than O. patagonica. Both scleractinians showed a preference for sub-vertical and vertical rocky substrates, although O. patagonica appeared more tolerant of horizontal surfaces. Disease events were more frequent and severe in C. caespitosa, particularly affecting larger colonies during autumn 2022, whereas O. patagonica showed lower incidence and greater resilience overall. Temporal comparisons suggest that O. patagonica may act as a strong competitor to C. caespitosa; however, both species demonstrate a considerable capacity for recovery, likely due to adaptation to high-stress environments. These findings highlight key differences in ecological strategies and vulnerability to environmental stressors, emphasizing the need for targeted conservation approaches to preserve Mediterranean shallow-water coral communities under accelerating climate change. Full article

This review aggregates the latest reports on the role of environmental factors in the male reproductive system and cancer development. We analyzed environmental pollution-related studies and disorders of mechanisms responsible for defense against the impact of xenobiotics on prostate cancer. We focused on polymorphisms that, when exposed to environmental stressors, might exacerbate an organism’s defense mechanisms against the effects of xenobiotics. It is well known that environmental factors, such as toxic heavy metal pollution, xenobiotic exposure, and undue and differentiated stressors, affect the human reproductive system. There were many studies suggesting an association between these factors and prostate cancer development, but there are still no unambiguous or conclusive results. Investigations of specific marker changes that occur in response to varied environmental stressors are also critical to mutual relations. They focus on the influence of chemical element destabilization and heavy metal pollution on organisms and the environment. Simultaneously, antioxidant enzymatic mechanisms in conditions of anthropogenic impact and the influence of polymorphisms in genes involved in genetic material damage under stress conditions were also studied. This review aims to provide essential data suggesting the role of environmental factors in the initiation and development of carcinogenic processes in the male reproductive system based on prostate cancer cases. It further clarifies this field’s current needs and research directions. It is possible to conclude that there is a relationship between the studied polymorphisms and antioxidant mechanisms, lipoperoxidation, and trace element concentrations in the blood of men with prostate cancer. The results indicate the need to consider environmental factors as necessary in assessing the risks resulting from exposure to oxidative stress in prostate cancer patients. Available data suggest the existence of interactions between exposure to environmental stressors and increased susceptibility to cancers, including male reproductive system cancers. Differentiated chemical elements introduced into the body may play a significant role. Individuals with cancer have a disturbed antioxidant enzyme status, which could be a basis for decreased defense against carcinogenic factors or the effect of disturbed body balance caused by the carcinogenic process. In turn, studies of repair gene polymorphism may indicate disorders of proteins needed for the organism’s defense against xenobiotics. The analysis presented provides data for conclusive population-based studies of the impact of environmental factors on the carcinogenic process in the male reproductive system. This review provides a basis for constructing current needs and the research direction in the discussed field of knowledge. This will allow for a precise study of the explanation of possible multilateral interactions between exposure to varied environmental stressors and the increased incidence of male reproductive system cancer at present. Full article