Lakes are dynamic and complex ecosystems where bacterial diversity is a significant biological indicator of water quality. In few decades, in India, several water bodies are reported to have pesticide and heavy metal pollutants. The present study conducted on two substantial lakes of Haryana, India, for analysing bacterial diversity using high-throughput Illumina 16S rRNA sequencing-MiSeq platform. Sequencing analysis showed that, in Karna lake, predominant phylum was Proteobacteria accounting (76.38%), Planctomycetes (6.42%), Verrucomicrobia (5.28 %) and Bacteroidetes (5.06%). Although, in Tilyar lake, predominant phylum was Proteobacteria (46.91%), Verrucobacteria (22.87%), Bacterioidetes (16.34 %), Planctomycetes (8.49%) and Acidobacteria (5.75 %). Tilyar lake exhibited higher alkalinity resulting in dominance of alkaliphilic phyla such as Verrucomicrobia (22.87%) and Bacteroidetes (16.34%). On contrary, Karna Lake with a relatively lower pH, showed a dominance of Proteobacteria (76.38%). The high DO in Tilyar lake, signifies better oxygenation attributing to greater abundance of aerobic bacterial communities. Differences in TDS, TSS and EC between the lakes reflect difference in nutrient influx, pollution sources and pollutant levels. A comparison of bacterial genera revealed 529 (47.4%) shared taxa in both lakes and 232 (20.8%) taxa unique to Karna lake and 356 (31.9%) taxa unique to Tilyar lake. Overall, higher microbial diversity and functional potential observed in Tilyar Lake suggest a more stable and ecologically resilient environment capable of withstanding environmental disturbances. While, dominance of a few specific taxa in Karna Lake indicates potential environmental constraints that may limiting microbial diversity.

Lithomorphic Vertisols of Kaélé (Far North Cameroon) are intensively cultivated during the dry season for onion and sorghum production. This study aimed to assess the distribution patterns and controlling factors of trace metal elements (TME) in cultivated Vertisol profiles developed on granite and gneiss. Four soil profiles were described according to the World Reference Base (WRB, 2022), and samples were collected from each master horizon (A–B–C) for physicochemical and geochemical analyses. The soils are clayey to sandy clay loam, moderately to strongly alkaline (pH 6.75–9.70), with moderate to high cation exchange capacity (14.40–39.84 cmol kg⁻¹). Trace metal concentrations followed the order: Ba > Sr > Zn > Cu > Cr > Ni > Pb > Cd. Barium exhibited the highest concentrations (30.42–426.87 mg kg⁻¹). Pearson correlation analysis revealed strong positive relationships between Ba and Ni (r = 0.95), Ba and Cu (r = 0.87), and Ba and Cr (r = 0.85), suggesting similar geochemical behavior. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) indicated that trace metal distribution is mainly controlled by parent material and soil physicochemical properties (clay content, CEC, pH). The results suggest that lithology and soil characteristics play a major role in controlling trace metal distribution in these Vertisols, while anthropogenic influence appears limited. These findings provide baseline data for sustainable soil management in the Sudano-Sahelian region.

Micro plastics (MPs) have emerged as a significant environmental concern due to their minute size and their ability to act as vectors for toxic pollutants, including synthetic dyes, heavy metals, and organic contaminants. Their pervasive presence in aquatic systems has positioned them as a critical hazard to both aquatic ecosystems and human health. MPs exhibit diverse physical and chemical properties, with polypropylene, polyethylene, polystyrene, polyvinyl chloride, and polyethylene terephthalate being the most frequently identified polymer types in aquatic environments. This review is organized into three core sections to comprehensively address the issue of MP pollution. The first section categorizes and describes the types of MPs found in aquatic systems, their interactions with aquatic organisms, and their subsequent accumulation in the human body. The second section elucidates the deleterious effects of MPs on aquatic organisms, detailing their modes of entry, bioaccumulation, and bio-magnification within the food web. The third section focuses on remediation strategies and proposes evidence-based recommendations for mitigating MP pollution and its ecological and health impacts.By synthesizing findings from studies on MP types and their adverse effects on aquatic and human health, this review highlights the devastating effects of MPs on aquatic species, how they contaminate our food, and their dangerous influence on human health. It also integrates insights from research on interaction of MPs with human cell lines and tissues, along with advances in remediation techniques. This review underscores the urgent need for effective interventions to address microplastic pollution and its far-reaching ecological and public health implications.

Soil is the foundation of agroecosystems. It is a physical surface where plants can grow. But it is also a living resource that provides services to the environment and helps to keep the Earth's natural cycles working. The soil microbiome is a highly diverse community of organisms that include bacteria (70–90% of the total mass), as well as fungi, archaea, protozoa, and algae. These organisms work together to break down organic matter, recycle nutrients, and fight off diseases to keep the soil healthy. Ecological-trophic groups show what soil is like, based on how it is made, what nutrients are available, how much air is in it, and how much humans have disturbed it. Their ratio and activity are a direct response to these conditions. It is impossible to assess the state of soil agroecosystems without a deep understanding of the role of the main ecological groups of microorganisms. The number, activity, and ratio of different types of microorganisms can be used to indicate changes in soil processes. The aim of this review is to summarise the role and impact of factors on ecological-trophic groups as bioindicators of the condition of soil agroecosystems.

Armed conflicts are among the most disruptive forces acting on agro-landscapes, yet their impact on land-use systems and ecosystem services remains insufficiently integrated into landscape ecology and agroecological research. This paper aims to systematise the international body of knowledge on the mechanisms of war-induced impacts on agro-landscapes, to identify reproducible causal patterns of ecosystem service degradation, and to propose methodological priorities for comprehensive assessment and monitoring of agro-landscapes under active armed conflict and post-conflict recovery. The study is based on a bibliometric analysis of 1,502 publications (WoS/Scopus, 2000–2026) and a comparative analysis of five literature clusters reflecting the evolution of research paradigms from foundational ecological concepts to conflict-specific environmental impact studies. The synthesis shows that conflicts disrupt agro-landscapes through direct destruction, forced displacement, land abandonment, and institutional collapse, triggering cascading degradation of provisioning, regulating, supporting, and cultural ecosystem services. Resilience theory and socio-ecological systems frameworks are identified as essential but systematically underutilised analytical lenses. A pronounced geographic bias favouring East Africa and Latin America was detected, with Eastern Europe and the Middle East comparatively understudied — a gap being rapidly addressed by the Ukrainian case post-2022. Remote sensing has emerged as the dominant methodology for assessing conflict-induced land-use change, yet integration with socio-economic and institutional dimensions remains limited. The paper argues that the next priority is the development of coupled models — Earth observation + field validation + ecological-economic assessment + scenario analysis — capable of underpinning evidence-based agro-landscape recovery policy under conditions of prolonged uncertainty.

The Little Ice Age was a period of global cooling placed between the 14th and 19th centuries, associated with the advance of glaciers in major mountain ranges and the freezing of lakes, rivers and seas, especially in the Northern Hemisphere. This period, preceded by the Medieval Climatic Optimum and followed by the 21st-century global warming, was mainly influenced by a combination of natural events: decreased solar activity, increased volcanic activity, and a decreased in thermohaline circulation. The analysis reported here is based on scientific studies, while the historical reconstruction is based on documentary evidences, in particular on paintings of winter landscapes made by Flemish, Dutch, and Italian artists, particularly active in the 17th century.

Aeroradiometric data covering parts of the Upper Benue Trough, Nigeria, were processed and interpreted to evaluate the geostatistical characteristics of radioelements and their associated radiogenic heat production for geothermal energy assessment. The study area, encompassing Yuli, Futuk, Kaltungo, Guyok, Shellen, Bashar, Muri, Lau, Dong, and Numan, lies between latitudes 9.0°–10.0°N and longitudes 10.0°–12.5°E, covering approximately 30,250 km². High-resolution airborne radiometric datasets were processed using Oasis Montaj 8.4 software, and Total Count (TC), Uranium (U), Thorium (Th), Potassium (K), and ternary maps were generated through minimum curvature gridding. Geostatistical analysis was applied to quantify the spatial distribution of radioelements using statistical parameters such as mean, standard deviation, mode, median, skewness, kurtosis, and threshold values. The computed threshold values are 4.286 ppm (U), 21.987 ppm (Th), 3.254% (K), and 3187.5 cpt (TC). Areas exceeding these thresholds were considered anomalous and indicative of enhanced radiogenic contributions. Radiogenic heat production was estimated from U, Th, and K concentrations, yielding values ranging from 1.234 to 2.318 μWm⁻³, with the highest values concentrated around the Dong and Lau areas. Ternary analysis further reveals high concentrations of the three radioelements (HC3R) predominantly within Dong and Kaltungo regions, suggesting the influence of acidic igneous intrusions. The coincidence of high radiogenic heat values with geostatistically anomalous zones highlights Dong and Lau as prospective geothermal hotspots. These findings demonstrate that the integration of geostatistical analysis and radiogenic heat evaluation provides a robust framework for geothermal resource assessment and sustainable power generation planning in the Upper Benue Trough.

Lead (Pb) is one of the most hazardous heavy metals, posing serious threats to plants, animals, and human health. To mitigate its environmental impact, phytoremediation using plants to extract, stabilize, or detoxify pollutants offers a sustainable and cost-effective solution for soil rehabilitation. This study aimed to evaluate the tolerance and phytoremediation capacity of Cercis canadensis and Tetradium daniellii seedlings grown in lead-contaminated soils. Two-year-old plants were exposed to lead acetate solutions at concentrations of 100 mg/kg and 300 mg/kg of soil, while control plants received only water. Plant physiological responses were assessed one week, one month, and two months after exposure. The content of chlorophylls, carotenoids, and malondialdehyde, as well as peroxidase activity, were determined spectrophotometrically. Photosynthetic performance was measured using fluorimetry, and the distribution of mobile lead compounds in leaves, stems, and roots was analyzed by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Both species demonstrated high tolerance to lead exposure, with minimal impairment of the photosynthetic system. Notably, a short-term increase in chlorophyll content and stimulated shoot growth were observed in plants treated with 100 mg/kg Pb. Lead accumulation in C. canadensis occurred predominantly in the roots, whereas T. daniellii accumulated lead in both roots and stems. These findings indicate that both species possess considerable resistance to lead stress and potential for phytostabilization and phytoextraction. Consequently, Cercis canadensis and Tetradium daniellii can be recommended as effective ornamental species for greening and rehabilitating lead-polluted urban and industrial areas.

Soil acidity is a major constraint to agricultural yield in Ethiopia and Sub-Saharan Africa, affecting a large proportion of arable land. This review provides a comprehensive synthesis of soil acidification, its sources, and its impacts on agricultural ecosystems, with evidence from Ethiopia and Sub-Saharan Africa. Natural factors such as parent material weathering and high rainfall, together with agricultural practices including the continuous use of ammonium-based fertilizers and nutrient mining, accelerate soil acidification processes. Soil acidity profoundly alters soil chemical, physical, and biological properties by disrupting nutrient dynamics, including nutrient fixation, leaching, and transformation, which reduce the plant-available pools of essential nutrients such as phosphorus, calcium, and magnesium, while increasing the solubility of toxic metals such as aluminum (Al³⁺) and manganese (Mn). Aluminum toxicity impairs root development and nutrient uptake, negatively affecting crop health and leading to substantial reductions in crop yield and quality. Advances in understanding the physiological mechanisms of aluminum toxicity have supported the development of acid-tolerant crop varieties. Effective agronomic management strategies include liming, integrated nutrient management, application of organic amendments such as biochar, and the use of acid-tolerant crops, alongside emerging technological approaches. However, adoption remains constrained by the high cost of lime and limited extension services. Future research should prioritize cost-effective soil amendments and breeding for enhanced acid tolerance, while policy interventions should strengthen extension services and improve farmers’ access to inputs. This review highlights the importance of integrated and sustainable approaches to managing soil acidity to improve crop health, yield, and long-term food security in vulnerable regions.

The current study assessed the physicochemical quality of groundwater from wells in a rural region of northeastern Romania, where local communities depend exclusively on this resource for drinking water. Eighty wells were analyzed in situ for total dissolved solids (TDS), dissolved oxygen, oxygen saturation, salinity, con-ductivity, redox potential (ORP), and pH. For comparative purposes, similar measurements were conducted on urban water supplies in the cities of Iași and Botoșani, as well as on 14 commercial bottled water brands. The findings revealed critical water quality issues in rural wells, including frequent exceedances of microbiological and chemical thresholds, particularly for nitrates and coliform bacteria. Spatial mapping showed strong variation across parameters, with elevated salinity and low oxygenation most prominent in lowland areas. Bottled water analysis showed a wide range of mineral compositions, influencing their appropriateness for daily consumption. Still waters such as Aqua Carpatica Still and Wonder Still displayed low sodium, calcium, and magnesium concentrations, making them suitable for specific dietary needs. In contrast, highly mineralized waters like Aqua Carpatica Sparkling exceeded World Health Organization (WHO) recommended limits for TDS and salinity. The study also highlighted the insufficient monitoring by local authorities and the lack of comprehensive labelling on bottled water, both of which hinder informed decision-making by consumers. The results emphasize the urgent need for standardized groundwater surveillance, public health initiatives, and improved transparency in bottled water labelling. These findings provide a foundation for future policy actions targeting safe and equitable access to drinking water in rural communities.