The spatial restructuring of agricultural production under climate change necessitates a detailed understanding of crop-specific responses to both climatic and edaphic conditions. Buckwheat ( Fagopyrum esculentum Moench), known for its short growing season, low input requirements, and high nutritional value, is a promising candidate for climate-resilient agriculture in Eastern Europe. The present study undertakes an evaluation of the present and future suitability of land for buckwheat cultivation across two primary agroecological zones in Ukraine: Polissya and the Forest-Steppe. This evaluation is conducted utilising integrated spatial modelling techniques. Historical yield data from the CROPGRIDS v1.08 dataset, 19 bioclimatic predictors from WorldClim, and nine soil parameters from SoilGrids were harmonized at 2.5 arc-minute resolution. To reduce multicollinearity among predictors, a combined approach of principal component analysis and hierarchical clustering was applied, followed by multiple linear regression using Box–Cox transformation to normalize skewed distributions. The model explained 65% of the variance in harvested area and revealed that buckwheat yield was positively associated with mean diurnal temperature range (BIO2), mean temperature of the wettest quarter (BIO8), and soil bulk density (bdod), and negatively associated with annual precipitation (BIO12), low winter temperatures (BIO11), and high soil nitrogen content. These results underscore buckwheat's preference for temperate, moderately dry climates and well-structured, moderately fertile soils. Projections made under four Shared Socioeconomic Pathways (SSPs), ranging from SSP1-2.6, a sustainability-focused pathway, to SSP5-8.5, a high-emission scenario, have consistently shown a northward shift in suitability between 2021 and 2080. However, the total suitable area is projected to decline, particularly under pessimistic scenarios, with the steepest reductions observed under SSP3–7.0 and SSP5–8.5. Despite improved thermal conditions in Polissya, soil limitations such as acidity and low humus content restrict the expansion of buckwheat cultivation. Analysis of variance showed that SSP scenario choice accounted for 13% of the variation in predicted suitability, time period for 6%, and their interaction for 2%, while the majority (79%) was attributed to local spatial heterogeneity. These findings confirm that while global climate pathways shape the overall trajectory of change, local soil and landscape factors remain dominant in determining actual suitability. The observed reduction in spatial variability and increasing homogeneity of negative changes indicate rising vulnerability of buckwheat agroecosystems. The study highlights the need for anticipatory adaptation strategies, including the spatial reallocation of buckwheat crops, soil improvement in emerging zones, diversification of crop portfolios, and expansion of agro-insurance mechanisms. It demonstrates the value of geospatial mode l ling as a decision-support tool for regional planning and agricultural resilience. Without targeted interventions, the cumulative effects of climate change and edaphic constraints may significantly reduce buckwheat’s role in future food systems, despite its ecological and nutritional advantages. Spatially explicit adaptation pathways should therefore integrate climate projections, soil data, and socioeconomic considerations to ensure sustainable development of buckwheat production under global change.

The study of plant anatomical structures plays a crucial role in their taxonomic identification and the determination of diagno s tic characteristics. Such research facilitates accurate species recognition, clarification of systematic positions, and contributes to the scientific foundation of floristic studies. Due to the limited anatomical data available for Tragopogon pratensis L. in the flora of Azerbaijan, this study provides a novel contribution to science by identifying specific anatomical criteria for the species' identific a tion. It represents the first comprehensive investigation of the specific anatomical structures of T. pratensis in Azerbaijan and d e termines its diagnostic features. Both generative and vegetative organs of T. pratensis were used as study material. Anatomical, microscopic, histochemical, and biometric methods were employed. Transverse sections from the plant's generative and vegetative organs were treated with reagents, converted into permanent slides, and the results of the microscopic analyses were statistically validated. Anatomical analysis revealed active development of aerenchyma tissue in the bracts, as well as in the leaf blade and leaf base. Distinct types of trichomes were recorded on the abaxial epidermis of both the bracts and the ligules. Specific structural ch a racteristics were analyzed in the stamens and pistils. In the peduncle and stem, well-developed aerenchyma in the pith and schiz o genous secretory cavities in the perimedullary region were observed. Endogenous laticifers were identified in transverse sections of both generative and vegetative organs. Vacuolization of ergastic and constitutional substances was detected in the mechanical, dermal, and ground tissues of T. pratensis . For the first time, a pseudoisolateral leaf structure was identified in this species within the Azerbaijani flora. In the rosette and primary root, the vascular system elements showed a predominantly radial arrangement, with parenchymatous tissues being dominant overall. In the transverse section of the lateral root, pigmentation was observed in the cell walls of the endodermis. The vascular system exhibited a radial arrangement within the central cylinder. This research demo n strates species-specific anatomical criteria for T . pratensis in the Azerbaijani flora and offers both scientific and practical contrib u tions to the field of plant anatomy. Additionally, the findings provide valuable input for the pharmacognostic disciplines of micr o scopy and phytochemistry, serving as significant markers in the formation and standardization of medicinal plant raw material resources.

This study aims to assess the ecological integrity of water habitats in the northern Sahara of Algeria, utilizing a multiparametric approach focused on the ecology of benthic macroinvertebrates. To monitor the water quality, benthic macroinvertebrates and physicochemical parameters were analyzed monthly from August 2015 to November 2017 throughout five aquatic ecosystems: Z’mor w adi, Ithel w adi, Djedi w adi, Ayata l ake, and Megarine l ake. The physicochemical analysis results indicate that the pH values at the research sites ranged from mildly alkaline to alkaline. Turbidity and suspended solids were markedly increased in Djedi w adi and Z’mor w adi. The mean BOD 5 values across all examined aquatic systems demonstrated moderate organic pollution levels, with the highest amounts recorded in Djedi w adi, Ithel w adi, and Megarine l ake. In terms of salinity, Djedi w adi exhibited slightly brackish conditions, whereas the remaining sites ranged from brackish to highly brackish. The recorded fauna included 995 individuals, representing 55 genera/taxa across 8 orders and 29 families. The most diverse taxa were Coleoptera (24 taxa), Diptera (14 taxa), and Hemiptera (10 taxa), with Diptera and Coleoptera being the most dominant. Z'mor and Ithel wadi s had the highest biodiversity, with a total richness of 35 taxa and a Shannon score over 2.50. PCA-Biblot and cluster analysis identified three groups, indicating the significance of site typology and environmental factors for the distribution of benthic macroinvertebrate communities. The IBGN evaluation classified the hydrobiological quality of water as poor (IBGN score of 5) in Djedi w adi, Ithel w adi, Megarine l ake, and Ayata l ake, but Z’mor w adi demo n strated moderate water quality with an IBGN score of 9.

The agricultural landscape of Kherson Oblast, Ukraine, is increasingly challenged by climatic variability and the imperative for resource-use optimization. To enhance the resilience and sustainability of crop production in this region, a two-year field study was conducted over the 2023 – 2024 growing seasons to evaluate the effects of three distinct cultivation technologies ( T rad i tional, B iological, and O rganic) an d three seeding rates (2.0, 2.5, and 3.0 million seeds/ha) on the productive moisture content, nutrient dynamics, and yield of brown mustard ( Brassica juncea ). The r esults indicated a clear superiority of the biologized agr o technological systems. The biological and organic technologies consistently maintained significantly higher productive soil moi s ture reserves throughout the growing season and demonstrated lower average daily water consumption. This translated into sup e rior water-use efficiency, with lower water consumption coefficients (WCC) recorded for the biologized treatments. In addition to water efficiency, these systems exhibited superior nutrient-use efficiency. Regression modeling confirmed a strong relationship between agrotechnology and nitrate uptake (R 2 = 0.72), with b iological (24.5 kg/t) and o rganic (23.6 kg/t) systems requiring significantly less nitrate per ton of yield compared to the traditional approach (29.8 kg/t). The impact on phosphorus uptake was more nuanced (R 2 = 0.39), with the organic system demonstrating the highest efficiency (60.8 kg/t), highlighting the role of long-term soil health in phosphorus cycling. Furthermore, the study confirmed a quadratic relationship between seeding rate and water consumption, underscoring a critical trade-off between plant density and water use. Ultimately, the resource-efficient biological and organi c systems produced significantly higher yields, with top performances reaching 1.57 t/ha of mustard seeds. These findings underscore that biologized practices are not only viable but are superior for optimizing agricultural resources and e n hancing crop productivity in semi-arid environments compared to traditional ones. The adoption of biological and organ ic cult i vation technologies presents a clear pathway for building resilient, high-yield agricultural systems capable of withstanding clima t ic stresses and reducing dependency on external inputs.

Edible and medicinal macromycetes are capable of synthesizing a unique complex of biologically active metabolites with significant antioxidant, immunomodulatory, neuroprotective and other properties. Today, mushrooms are recognized as fun c tional foods with significant culinary, nutritional and pharmacological value. Modern biotechnology is actively introducing inn o vative methods for creating therapeutic agents, including those based on mushroom raw materials. Thanks to multi-stage scree n ing and the development of biotechnology, the cultivation of highly productive producer strains with a high ability to synthesize natural pharmacologically active compounds has significantly increased the possibilities of their use in the food industry, pha r macology and medicine. Hericium erinaceus is a valuable edible and medicinal macrofungus, which is considered a promising food product and is increasingly attracting the attention of consumers. The fruiting bodies and mycelial biomass of this species are rich in biologically active substances, particularly polysaccharides, triterpenes, phenolic compounds, and glycoproteins. Due to its high levels of essential fatty acids, amino acids, minerals, and vitamins, H. erinaceus is considered a low-calorie product and falls into the category of functional foods. The review presents a comprehensive analysis of the modern literature on H. erinaceus with an emphasis on its mycochemical composition, traditional use, pharmacological potential, in particular, data on the immunomodulatory, anticancer, antioxidant, prebiotic effects of H. erinaceus extracts. However, the main effect that makes this mushroom unique is its neuroprotective, neuroregenerative properties. Data on the pharmacological use of both fruiting bodies and mycelial mass and the possibilities of its further use in the production of functional products are analyzed. Taking into account the nutritional and pharmacological value of this species, the review considers sustainable cultivation strategies, in pa r ticular, maintaining highly productive producer strains, provides a description of the micro- and macromorphological properties, data on the ecology and distribution of the fungus, and presents the results of targeted regulation of biosynthetic activity using the light factor. The analysis of literature data confirms the significant potential of H. erinaceus for obtaining mycelial biomass and valuable metabolites in modern mycobiotechnologies.

Epigeic arthropods participate in the regulation of pest populations, the decomposition of organic ma t ter, and the maintenance of soil structure and quality, thus playing an important role in the functioning of vineyards. During 2021–2023, we analysed the spatial dispersion of epigeic arthropods in different types of vineyard habitats (semi-intensive vineyard, intensive vineyard, abandoned vineyard and meadow). During the investigation, a total of 56,726 individuals belonging to 23 taxa were recorded. The highest number s of taxa w ere recorded in traps located in the ecotone, while the number of taxa decreased toward the interior of each of the studied habitat s . The redundancy analysis confirmed the significant influence of habitat type on the spatial distribution of taxa. We confirmed statistically significant differences in the abundance of individuals between individual seasons and traps in all studied habitats. Linear regression showed a strong to moderate relationship between the distance of pitfall traps from the field edge and the abundance of individuals, while we predicti ed a trend of decreasing number s of individuals another 20 m into the field. The results point to the importance of ecotones for epigeic arthropods in the assessment of biodiversity in agroecosystems.

This study investigates the length–weight relationship (LWR) and condition factor of roach, Rutilus rutilus, from seven lentic water bodies in Uzbekistan, including reservoirs and drainage lakes in the Syrdarya, Zarafshan, and Surkhandarya river basins. These habitats, formed mainly during the large-scale irrigation developments of the late 20th century, now support abundant roach populations that have become commercially significant since the 2000s. Samples were collected from commercial catches in March–April 2024–2025 using gill nets (mesh 16–50 mm). Total length (TL), standard length (SL), and weight (W) were measured. The LWR was modeled using both power and log-transformed equations, and Fulton’s condition factor (K) and rel a tive condition factor (Kn) were calculated. Results revealed strong positive correlations between SL and TL in all stocks. LWR exponents (b) ranged from 2.81 to 3.23, indicating predominantly isometric or slightly positive allometric growth, except for East Arnasay Reservoir (b = 2.81) and Lake Karakir (b = 2.93), which showed slight negative allometry. Fulton’s K averaged 1.14–1.26 across sites, suggesting generally good condition, though roach in Lakes Aydarkul and Tuzkan had lower fatness, likely linked to increasing salinity (8–12‰) and reduced freshwater inflow. Kn values averaged around 1.0 for all populations, indica t ing that observed weights closely matched those predicted by LWR equations and reflecting stable ecological conditions. The findings highlight the adaptability of roach to diverse hydrological conditions, including brackish drainage lakes, and their ability to form sustainable commercial stocks in Uzbekistan’s artificial and semi-natural water systems. The data provide the first d e tailed LWR and condition factor assessments for R. rutilus in the region, offering valuable baselines for fisheries management. Differences in growth patterns and body condition among water bodies likely reflect a combination of environmental factors, including salinity, food availability, and hydrological regime stability. From a management perspective, monitoring K and Kn values over time may serve as an effective tool for detecting shifts in fish health related to climate variability, water quality changes, and anthropogenic pressures. Overall, this study expands the understanding of roach biology in arid and semi-arid i n land water ecosystems, where climatic extremes and human-modified hydrology shape fish population dynamics. The observed capacity of roach to maintain favorable condition factors in most habitats supports their continued role as a key component of Uzbekistan’s inland fisheries, although the ir declining condition in the more saline lakes signals the need for targeted manag e ment actions to sustain productivity.

This study investigates the responses of endemic macroinvertebrate species in the Martil River Basin (Morocco) to physic o chemical (T, pH, Cond and DO), land use, biotic indices (IBMWP, IHF and QBR), and hydro-morphological factors. Sampling was conducted over four seasons (2017) at 19 stations, revealing 1,768 individuals belonging to 32 endemic species. Hydro p syche iberomaroccana was the most abundant species, while Choroterpes volubilis was the most widespread. Biogeographical analysis highlighted a high proportion of Ibero-Maghrebian endemics. Multivariate analyses revealed significant biotypological differences among stream types, with sensitive endemic species predominantly found in highland / midland permanent stations, positively correlated with dissolved oxygen, altitude, and biotic indices. In contrast, lentic, thermophilic, and eurytopic species were more common in downstream areas, exposed to agricultural, industrial, and urban activities, and associated with higher temperatures and pollution levels. Seasonal and spatial variability in taxonomic composition was strongly influenced by hydr o logical intermittency and human pressures, with endemic species diversity and abundance peaking in spring. Despite their ec o logical importance, with the exception of Odonata, none of the species from other orders are currently listed on the IUCN Red List or in Annex IV of Moroccan Law 29-05 concerning the protection of wild flora and fauna species and the control of their trade. The findings underscore the urgent need for targeted conservation strategies to address threats from climate change, habitat degradation, and anthropogenic activities.

Natural afforestation of former agricultural lands is an actual modern problem of forestry, ecology and phyto coenology in Ukraine. The European Commission adopted the European Green Deal with the general aim of making the European continent climate-neutral by 2050. Its main goals, among others, are the return of nature to agricultural lands and the restoration of forests. Manifestations of sylvatization have become widespread in Ukraine as a process of renaturalization of forest ecosystems on fallow lands, which in the past arose on the deforested sites. An analysis of scientific works that highlight the problem was conducted. The aim of the study was a systematic assessment of the process of replacing ecological niche with plant species in the process of demutation of self-seeded forests on fallow lands, as well as an assessment of the state, floristic composition and dynamics of the formation of self-seeded forest communities on fallow lands in the three natural and geographical regions of Ukraine (Ukrainian Polissya, Forest-Steppe and Steppe). During the field work, the main geobotanical research methods were applied: vegetation plot records, route reconnaissance, spatial-temporal dynamical ecological-phytocenotic series. During the cameral stage of research, data systematization and their analysis were performed. The results of the study of sylvatization show signif i cant variability in its causes and manifestations. Afforestation of former agricultural lands occurs depending on the type of land, the intensity of their previous cultivation, the richness and humidity of the soil, the type of forest phytocenoses and the proximity of fallows to the forest. The species composition of trees of self-afforested areas on fallow lands is determined by the species composition of forest stands of nearby forests and forest belts, their biological properties, and ecological conditions for seed germination. The herbage is characterized by a variety of species of different phytocenotic types with a predominance of synanthropic and meadow cenogroups; self-seeded forest communities are characterized by an unformed forest environment. Self-seeded forest areas on fallow lands are currently in an unstable sanitary state due to the lack of appropriate forestry measures. Modern self-afforested areas should be considered in future as formed forest communities with the adaptation of tree species to existing ecological conditions and with the gradual organiz a tion of vegetation and floristic complexes. Therefore, it will be necessary to organize research to identify their current ecological state, floristic and syntaxonomic diversity, to establish the patterns of forest environment formation and to develop scientific foundations for optimizing ecologically balanced forest use.

This study examines the roosting site selection and seasonal dynamics of the Indian flying fox ( Pteropus medius Te m minck, 1825) in relation to environmental and anthropogenic factors. Fifteen roosting sites located in Okara, Kasur and Lahore districts , Punjab, Pakistan were investigated over a two-year period from July 2022 to June 2024. A total of 202 trees were used by P . medius as roosting sites representing 28 species, 23 genera and 10 families. Roosting sites with higher bat populations were dominated by Bombax ceiba (16.3%), Eucalyptus sp. (9.9%), and Pinus strobus (8.4%) during winter whereas Syzygium cumini (7.9%), Swietenia mahagoni (6.4%) and Ficus benjamina (6.4%) were more frequently occupied during summer. Significant seasonal fluctuations in bat numbers were observed with protected sites showing minimal changes while non-protected sites had higher bat populations in winter. Protected areas, such as Changa Manga Forest provided more stable env i ronmental conditions, leading to higher and more stable bat populations. The correlation matrix revealed that permanent roos t ing sites were more strongly associated with higher bat populations. Additionally, bat abundance was positively correlated with canopy cover (r = 0.499), tree diameter at breast height (r = 0.501) and tree height (r = 0.122). Principal component analysis (PCA) highlighted temperature, humidity, and vegetation as key environmental factors influencing roost site selection. The analysis also revealed that anthropogenic activities such as tree cutting and hunting negatively affect bat populations. Accor d ing to PCA, protected permanent roosts in natural habitats with minimum human interference scored highest followed by pe r manent protected sites in urban areas, with temporary non-protected sites scoring lowest. A 1.7% decline in bat numbers was recorded over the study period, particularly at non-protected sites due to human-induced disturbances. The findings highlighted the critical need for conservation of roosting habitats, particularly in light of the ongoing threats posed by human activities and climate change.