Anthropogenic Pressures Research Articles

Carnivore activity across landuse gradients in a Mexican biosphere reserve

Anthropogenic activities are increasingly encroaching into wildland areas, heightening interactions between human and carnivore communities. Area-based conservation measures, such as protected areas (PAs), employ different management strategies via land-use designations to mitigate anthropogenic pressures and reduce human-wildlife conflicts in shared landscapes. Here, we assessed carnivore diel activity and temporal activity overlap in and around El Triunfo Biosphere Reserve (REBITRI) in Chiapas, Mexico, along a land-use designation gradient. We deployed 33 camera traps along the gradient, leveraging the reserve’s core and buffer zones, and private lands surrounding the reserve. We calculated activity overlap between species to detect changes in interspecific competition and predator-prey interactions along the gradient. In total, we detected 14 carnivores in the core zones, 10 in the buffer zone, and 9 on private land across the 4777 trap-night survey. Significant shifts in single-species diel activity between the buffer zones and private land were detected for margay (Leopardus wiedii) and grey fox (Urocyon cinereoargenteus). Activity overlap was the highest in the buffer zone for all predator-prey pairs, and two competitor pairs, suggesting reduced diel niche partitioning in this land-use designation due to varied anthropogenic pressures. Our findings contribute to assessing PA efficacy and understanding carnivore activity in multiple-use landscapes where anthropogenic pressures are ubiquitous.

Sharks in Macaronesia and Cabo Verde: species richness, conservation status and anthropogenic pressures

The northeast Atlantic Ocean contains multiple habitats considered critical for shark conservation, including nursery areas, migratory corridors and aggregation sites. In this context, updating knowledge on shark diversity and the threats affecting them in this region is essential to defining priorities and implementing the right management and conservation measures. Here, we show that Macaronesian and Cabo Verde marine ecoregions are home to 78 shark species (comprising 26 families), and 56% are threatened with extinction. The Canary Islands revealed the greatest richness (with 56 species), followed by Cabo Verde (53), Madeira (52), and the Azores (45). Cabo Verde presents fewer similarities with the rest of the islands. We also found that: i) Azores share more species with the Canary Islands than Madeira (despite the greater geographical proximity with the latter), and ii) there are no oviparous species in the Cabo Verde archipelago, contrary to the Canary Islands (5), the Azores (4), and Madeira (3). Fishing and habitat degradation are the most relevant anthropogenic pressures for the region, with Cabo Verde having the highest number of endangered species (66%) and a greater magnitude and diversity of threats. As such, this archipelago presents the highest priority area for shark conservation due to the intense industrial fishing in its waters, poor management measures in combination with its greater vulnerability to climate change.

Tetiaroa diachronic geomorphology 1955 -2023 Monitoring the shoreline and vegetation cover of tropical atoll in the climate change context

The Tetiaroa atoll is virtually free of anthropogenic pressure, making it a textbook case for observing the impact of climate change on the pristine coral atolls of French Polynesia. A geospatial databasedating back to 1955 was used to map and analyze erosion and accretion phenomena on the atoll's motu (Tahitian name for islets). Its diachronic analysis documents two types of motu: those with a coralline base, which experience minimal movement over time, and the sandy motu which, on the contrary, exhibit significant dynamics linked to strong swells and storms. While we cannot yet link the observed dynamics to climate change and rising sea levels, these results will help us better understand the future impacts of extreme climatic events on Polynesian atolls.

Water quality assessment of river Ganga, India using water quality index and multivariate statistical techniques.

The River Ganga is a vital lifeline for millions, and several authors reported that its quality has been deteriorating. Several initiatives have been taken by the government, but the situation is not up to the mark. Hence, water quality assessments are essential for sustainable river water management and restoring its ecological balance. This work employed spatiotemporal analysis of 20 hydrochemical variables, water quality indices (WQI), and multivariate statistics to assess the water quality of River Ganga. Water samples (n = 220) were collected at 20 locations (divided into four zones, namely upper (UZ), middle (MZ), lower (LZ), and estuarine (EZ)) based on the geographical nature and anthropogenic pressure. The study found that most of the water variables (specific conductivity (SC), pH, BOD, total alkalinity (TA), total hardness (TH), Ca-H, Mg-H, chlorinity (Cl-), salinity, nitrate-N, silicate and total dissolved solids (TDS)) were lowest reported at UZ while the highest at EZ. TH, salinity, Mg-H, Ca-H, TDS, Cl-, and SC in EZ, were above the drinking water limits and these variables markedly affect the river's water quality attributes, possibly increased by tidal influences. WQI indicated that the UZ was clean (26-50) in all seasons, MZ and LZ were good to poor (50-75) in all seasons, and EZ was unsuitable for drinking (> 100) in all seasons. Seasons were grouped into three clusters: less polluted (monsoon); slightly polluted (post-monsoon); and polluted (winter and pre-monsoon). The principal component analysis formed five clusters based on eigenvalue > 1: PC1 having TH, salinity, Mg-H, Ca-H, TDS, Cl-, and SC mainly influenced by tidal factor; PC2 having temperature, transparency, and DO was influenced by metrological source; PC3 (pH, TA, velocity) and PC4 (BOD, silicate) thought to be both natural as well as manmade; and PC5 was influenced by agricultural runoff (total phosphorus and NO3-N)and sewage water (TN) discharge. The study emphasized the significance of multivariate statistical techniques in discerning the variability patterns of parameters, as well as in formulating management strategies to enhance river water quality by pinpointing the most impactful parameters contributing to water quality degradation.

Temporal analysis of eutrophication and water toxicity in the Jundiaí Mirim river basin, São Paulo State, Brazil

Natural and anthropogenic pressures generate numerous negative impacts on the physical and biotic environment of the watersheds. Such impacts cause risks to the water security of the basins, due to the increase in consumption, concentration of pollutants and siltation of water bodies. The objective of this research was to perform a temporal analysis of eutrophication and water toxicity in the Jundiaí Mirim River Basin (BHJM), in the state of São Paulo, Brazil. The methodology was based on the analysis of data published in public reports, including the Trophic State Index (TSI) and the Quality Index for the Protection of Aquatic Life (QIAF), in the period from 2017 to 2022. The results indicate eutrophication along the water bodies of the basin, inferring about the discharge of domestic sewage and carried fertilizers. The QIAF was influenced by high concentrations of Lead and Mercury, above those recommended for Class 1 rivers by the Brazilian federal legislation.

Modeling Lake Titicaca's water balance: the dominant roles of precipitation and evaporation

Abstract. In the face of climate change and increasing anthropogenic pressures, a reliable water balance is crucial for understanding the drivers of water level fluctuations in large lakes. However, in poorly gauged hydrosystems such as Lake Titicaca, most components of the water balance are not measured directly. Previous estimates for this lake have relied on scaling factors to close the water balance, which introduces additional uncertainty. This study presents an integrated modeling framework based on conceptual models to quantify natural hydrological processes and net irrigation consumption. It was implemented in the Water Evaluation and Planning System (WEAP) platform at a daily time step for the period 1982–2016, considering the following terms of the water balance: upstream inflows, direct precipitation and evaporation over the lake, and downstream outflows. To estimate upstream inflows, we evaluated the impact of snow and ice processes and net irrigation withdrawals on predicted streamflow and lake water levels. We also evaluated the role of heat storage change in evaporation from the lake. The results showed that the proposed modeling framework makes it possible to simulate lake water levels ranging from 3808 to 3812 m a.s.l. with good accuracy (RMSE = 0.32 m d−1) over a wide range of long-term hydroclimatic conditions. The estimated water balance of Lake Titicaca shows that upstream inflows account for 56 % (958 mm yr−1) and direct precipitation over the lake for 44 % (744 mm yr−1) of the total inflows, while 93 % (1616 mm yr−1) of the total outflows are due to evaporation and the remaining 7 % (121 mm yr−1) to downstream outflows. The water balance closure has an error of −15 mm yr−1 without applying scaling factors. Snow and ice processes, together with net irrigation withdrawals, had a minimal impact on variations in the lake water level. Thus, Lake Titicaca is primarily driven by variations in precipitation and high evaporation rates. These results will be useful for supporting decision-making in water resource management. We demonstrate that a simple representation of hydrological processes and irrigation enables accurate simulation of water levels. The proposed modeling framework could be replicated in other poorly gauged large lakes because it is relatively easy to implement, requires few data, and is computationally inexpensive.

Soundscapes as Conservation Tools: Integrating Visitor Engagement in Biodiversity Strategies

This study investigates visitor soundscape perceptions in Queulat National Park (QNP), Chile, to inform biodiversity conservation strategies amid rising anthropogenic pressures. By analyzing responses at two sites—Lagoon and Overlook—during peak tourist periods, this research examines how visitor experiences align with protected area management goals. A one-minute listening exercise was followed up by a survey to gather data on perceived sounds and their appeal. The results highlight the importance of involving visitors in monitoring acoustic environments, providing managers with insights into visitor-perceived soundscape dynamics. Unique QNP ecosystem characteristics emerged, with visitors identifying anthrophonic sounds as problematic, especially at the Lagoon site. Perceptions aligned with management concerns about noise impacts from congestion, showing visitors can discern when soundscapes diverge from protected area objectives. These findings underscore the need to integrate visitor engagement into acoustic monitoring to enhance biodiversity conservation. This study advocates ongoing sound level monitoring, protective policies, and tools derived from visitor input. It promotes protected areas as educational venues in order to deepen connections with local environments through sound recognition and calls for signage to inform visitors about noise impacts. Future research should continue to explore these strategies and the potential of visitor soundscape perceptions to reshape conservation strategies and support biodiversity preservation.

Seasonal spatial-temporal trends of vegetation recovery in burned areas across Africa.

Africa is entering a new fire paradigm, with climate change and increasing anthropogenic pressure shifting the patterns of frequency and severity. Thus, it is crucial to use available information and technologies to understand vegetation dynamics during the post-fire recovery processes. The main objective of this study was to evaluate the seasonal spatio-temporal trends of vegetation recovery in response to fires across Africa, from 2001 to 2020. Non-parametric tests were used to analyze MODIS Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) products comparing the following three-month seasonal periods: December-February (DJF), March-May (MAM), June-August (JJA), and September-November (SON). We evaluated the seasonal spatial trends of NDVI in burned areas by hemisphere, territory, or country, and by land cover types, and fire recurrences, with a focus on forested areas. The relationships between the seasonal spatial trend and three climatic variables (i.e. maximum air temperature, precipitation, and vapor pressure deficit) were then analyzed. For the 8.7 million km2 burned in Africa over the past 22 years, we observed several seasonal spatial trends of NDVI. The highest proportions of areas with increasing trend (p < 0.05) was recorded in MAM for both hemispheres, with 22.0% in the Northern Hemisphere and 17.4% in the Southern Hemisphere. In contrast, areas with decreasing trends (p < 0.05), showed 4.8-5.5% of burned area in the Northern Hemisphere, peaking in JJA, while the Southern Hemisphere showed a range of 7.1 to 10.9% with the highest proportion also in JJA. Regarding land cover types, 48.0% of fires occurred in forests, 24.1% in shrublands, 16.6% in agricultural fields, and 8.9% in grasslands/savannas. Consistent with the overall trend, the area exhibiting an increasing trend in NDVI values (p < 0.05) within forested regions had the highest proportion in MAM, with 19.9% in the Northern Hemisphere and 20.6% in the Southern Hemisphere. Conversely, the largest decreasing trend (p < 0.05) was observed in DJF in the Northern Hemisphere (2.7-2.9%) and in JJA in the Southern Hemisphere (7.2-10.4%). Seasonally, we found a high variability of regeneration trends of forested areas based on fire recurrences. In addition, we found that of the three climatic variables, increasing vapor pressure deficit values were more related to decreasing NDVI levels. These results indicate a strong component of seasonality with respect to fires, trends of vegetation increase or decrease in the different vegetation covers of the African continent, and they contribute to the understanding of climatic conditions that contribute to vegetation recovery. This information is helpful for researchers and decision makers to act on specific sites during restoration processes.

Global Projection of Terrestrial Vertebrate Food Webs Under Future Climate and Land-Use Changes.

Food webs represent an important nexus between biodiversity and ecosystem functioning, yet considering changes in food webs around the world has been limited by data availability. Previous studies have predicted food web collapses and coextinction, but changes in food web structure have been less investigated under climate warming and anthropogenic pressures on a global scale. We systematically amassed information about species' diets, traits, distributions, habitat use, and phylogenetics in the real world and used machine learning to predict changes in global meta-food webs of terrestrial vertebrates under climate and land-use changes. By year 2100, terrestrial vertebrate food webs are expected to decrease in web size by 32% and trophic links by 49%. Projections predict declines of over 25% in modularity, predator generality, and diversity of trophic groups. Increased species' dispersal could ameliorate these trends but indicate disproportionate vulnerability of regional food webs. Unlike many previous studies, this work combines extensive empirical data with advanced modeling techniques, providing a more detailed and spatially explicit prediction of how global food webs will respond to climate and land-use changes. Overall, our study predicts terrestrial vertebrate food webs will undergo drastic and spatially heterogeneous structural changes.

Projected impacts of future climate change on the aboveground biomass of seagrasses at global scale.

Seagrasses are crucial marine ecosystems that have experienced declines due to anthropogenic and climate change impacts. The projected future climate change suggests additional seagrass losses, but no global-scale estimates are currently available on the potential changes in aboveground biomass of seagrasses. We modelled and quantified the current potential aboveground biomass (AGB) of seagrasses on the global scale and projected future AGB under contrasting Shared Socioeconomic Pathway (SSP) scenarios, from low emissions (SSP1-1.9) to high emissions (SSP3-7.0 and SSP5-8.5). A machine learning algorithm (Boosted Regression Trees) fitted a comprehensive AGB dataset against biological and anthropogenic meaningful predictors. The model performed with high accuracy (deviance explained: 0.83), highlighting the role of genus and temperature conditions in defining global AGB patterns. The model estimated a present-day average AGB of 133.83 gDW·m2 (DW, dry weight) and a total global AGB of 0.0673 Pg DW. Future projections were highly dependent on the emission scenario, with losses in AGB ranging between 4.25% and 9.25% and in overall AGB between 9.96% and 10.26% across scenarios. Particularly, the higher emission scenario projected severe regional losses along the coastlines of the Tropical Eastern Pacific, the Eastern Indo-Pacific, the Temperate Northern Pacific, and the Tropical Atlantic, and gains along the Temperate Southern Africa and the Arctic regions. Our global estimates underline that fulfilling the Paris Agreement, as well as conserving and monitoring populations most affected by combined anthropogenic pressures would help to limit seagrass AGB declines, thereby supporting the multiple ecological services of seagrasses.

Microplastics in the Hamburg port area-an analysis of sediment depth profiles along the upper Elbe river, Germany.

Harbours pose a unique environment of increased anthropogenic pressure and artificial river morphology that are of specific interest concerning microplastic release and accumulation. To address the specific situation in the Hamburg port area, a study in cooperation with the Hamburg Port Authority (HPA) was conducted. Sediment samples at different depth levels were taken at seven sites with similar flow velocity and underlying morphology. Two sites are located upstream and downstream of the port of Hamburg, while four sites are located in the centre area of the port. One additional site takes into account an estuary of a receiving stream flowing into the upper river Elbe. For the analysis of microplastic concentrations in the samples, the biogenic organic matter was removed by oxidative digestion followed by wet sieving and density separation. For identification, the Nile red staining method in combination with fluorescence microscopy was applied. A subset of identified synthetic polymers was investigated for polymer composition via µRaman spectroscopy. In addition, sediment parameters such as grain size distribution, organic matter and water content were analysed. In total, a number of 31 sediment samples divided into different depths below riverbed level were examined. In brief, 11,280 microplastic particles could be identified. Both the highest and lowest number of particles were detected at centre port sites ranging from 60 to 21,799 microplastics per kilogramme dry weight. Fragments are the dominating particle morphology throughout all locations, except for one centre harbour site where microbeads are most common. Frequently appearing synthetic polymers were detected to be polyvinyl chloride (34%) and polyethylene terephthalate (28%). Within this study, a significant correlation between microbead concentrations and the percentage of sand fractions (coarse, middle and fine sand) was detected.

Human pressures threaten diet-specialized mammal communities.

Environmental change is increasing worldwide and many animal species face anthropogenic threats, especially diet specialists. Yet the degree to which specialist species are currently impacted by environmental change remains poorly understood. We examine how anthropogenic pressures impact dietary specialist species. We calculated indices of diet specialization for mammal species, based on the Gini inequality coefficient, and combined these indices with human pressure data. We then used spatially explicit Mantel tests to examine global patterns in mammal diet specialization. We used a generalized linear mixed model to investigate correlations between the percentage of diet specialist species in mammal communities in an area and its total species richness, human pressure and protection status (mediated through an interaction with the continent). Findings revealed that areas with many diet specialists in mammal communities are also impacted by high human pressure. Additionally, we found that the global protected area system adequately covers habitat for many mammal diet specialists, but has lower effectiveness in South America, Oceania, North America and Europe compared with Africa and Asia. Finally, we identified potential reservoirs for specialist species-places containing many highly diet specialist species and that are subject to less human pressure-which may be important for conservation efforts.

Water Management Instructions as an Element of Improving the State of the Pakoski Reservoir (Central–Western Poland)

The management of reservoir dams in the context of observed climate changes and changing environmental conditions is becoming an increasingly significant challenge. Changes in the regimes of rivers feeding the reservoirs, sudden floods, long periods of drought, shallowing of reservoirs, water pollution, and algal blooms create unprecedented threats to the operation of these reservoirs. Among these challenges, the most crucial seems to be the proper management of available water resources, which condition the existence of the reservoir. The location of the reservoir has a significant impact on how water management is conducted. In the case of mountain and upland reservoirs created for flood protection of areas downstream, water management practices differ significantly from those for lowland reservoirs, which primarily serve to retain water for industrial and agricultural needs in the area, with an additional flood protection function. The aim of this study was to assess the factors determining the supply of lowland reservoirs using the example of the Pakoski Reservoir (Central–Western Poland) and to propose actions that would allow more efficient management of water resources in the catchment and reservoir, enabling the preservation of the current morphometric parameters in the face of climate change, adverse environmental phenomena, and increased anthropogenic pressure in the catchment area. This study focused on the Pakoski Reservoir, located in the southern part of the Kuyavian–Pomeranian Voivodeship. It was constructed fifty years ago as a result of damming water in the river systems of the Noteć and Mała Noteć Rivers. For decades, it served its functions, and its management posed no major issues. However, over the past decade, due to environmental changes and human activities in the catchment area, the reservoir has increasingly faced problems with filling.

Assessing the effects of anthropogenic pressures on biodiversity: a multi-taxonomic approach in Basilicata, Italy.

The combined pressures of anthropogenic activities require rapid assessments of environmental impacts on ecosystems to develop strategies for sustainable management and biodiversity conservation. This study investigates the consequences of the anthropogenic effects in the upper Val d'Agri (Basilicata, Italy) by employing a multi-taxonomic analysis to investigate spatial dynamics and species responses to these pressures. By cataloguing 151 diverse species of small mammals, reptiles, birds, ground beetles, and lichens, we established a valuable baseline for analysing the local biodiversity. We assessed the relationship between anthropic impacts (industrial areas, roads, agriculture, forestry, etc.), vegetation cover, and species diversity. Our findings revealed a negative relationship between the number of species and proximity to industrial areas, emphasising the impact of these activities. Moreover, we observed a predominance of generalist biological traits across taxa in all the study sites rather than an increase in species specialisation with increased distance. This may suggest a homogenising effect caused by various anthropogenic activities that cause habitat fragmentation and species mortality, underlining the lasting influence of these activities on the biodiversity of the upper Agri Valley. Additionally, our study identifies numerous protected species, highlighting their vulnerability and emphasising the necessity for targeted conservation efforts to safeguard their existence.

Stable isotope ecology of Quaternary cervid and bovid species in Southeast Asia with implications for wildlife conservation

Southeast Asia, one of the major biodiversity hotspots, is experiencing substantial species loss, with predictions indicating that 13–85% of species are threatened to lose their original habitats. As herbivores play a crucial role in shaping the structure of environments and the ecosystem dynamics of the region, it is crucial to protect these endangered species. Here we measure stable carbon isotopic ratios (δ13C) of tooth enamel samples of eight extant Southeast Asian cervid and bovid taxa, mostly listed as either endangered or vulnerable species by the IUCN and compare the results with their Pleistocene counterparts, in order to investigate their dietary and preferred habitat changes through time. As a result, three distinct categories of ecological patterns among these ruminant taxa are observed: (1) species with dietary and habitat changes through time (i.e. Axis axis, Rucervus eldii, Bos javanicus, and Bos gaurus), (2) those with more restricted diets and habitats today than in the past (i.e. Rusa unicolor and Bubalus arnee), and (3) those with unchanged diets and habitats over time (i.e. Axis porcinus and Muntiacus muntjak). In the case of species with dietary and habitat changes, the Pleistocene C4-grazer enamel isotopes showed a shift towards greater reliance on C3 plants or more closed environments during the Holocene. The isotopic evidence raises the question of whether climatic and environmental changes and/or anthropogenic pressure have significantly driven the population decline of threatened species and can contribute to the understanding of future conservation outlooks of existing wildlife populations in Southeast Asia.

Changes in structural composition of field margins and related landscape homogenization following EU accession of Poland

Field margins have considerable ecological significance in farming landscapes, but are subject to constant changes resulting from natural processes and anthropogenic pressures. Understanding the balance of these processes is important from an ecological and conservation perspective. We measured 20 variables related to margin composition, woody vegetation and adjacent cropland fragmentation in 70 field margins in SW Poland in 2004 and 2006 (Poland’s accession to the EU), and then resurveyed in 2021 by using the same protocol. We aimed to examine changes in structural and functional properties of the margins and their response to anticipated agricultural intensification. Over 17 years all field margins still existed in the landscape but there was a significant reduction in margin width, increase of the tree layer, and depth of the ditches. No significant changes were found in the shrub layer nor species composition of woody plants. Cutting trees and shrubs were more visible along roads whereas succession along railways. The mosaic pattern of adjacent fields has clearly reduced due to land consolidation. Overall, despite strong alterations of individual plots, the network of field margins appeared relatively resistant to agriculture transformation. The negative environmental effects of EU accession were more evident in the fields. Our findings emphasize the necessity of preserving various types of field margins that can counterbalance to deterioration of farmland biodiversity.

A comparative methodological approach for argan forest classification using Landsat imagery

In the last decades, natural and anthropogenic pressures have caused observable changes in the argan landscape despite its significance in Morocco. Remote sensing data can be used to monitor these changes over time and provide information on vegetation health and land cover changes. This study assesses the performance of supervised methods (support vector machine, maximum likelihood, and minimum distance) and unsupervised classification method (Isodata) for mapping the argan forest in the Smimou area of Essaouira province using remote sensing data from Landsat-5 and Landsat-8 (1985 and 2019). Additionally, the impact of the resampling method and the digital elevation model (DEM) integration on the classification results have been examined. The ground truth data were collected and randomly divided into two categories: 234 samples to calibrate the classification algorithms and 340 samples for validation. Maximum likelihood supervised classification achieved an overall accuracy (OA) of 89.62% (kappa = 0.84) and 87.58% (kappa = 0.81) in 1985 and 2019, respectively. Using resampling techniques on normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) products, aiming for a 10 m resolution, the NDVI results yielded an OA of 91.60% in 1985 and 88.85% in 2019. Further integration of DEM (30-m resolution) with NDVI, which was resampled to a 10 m resolution, achieved an OA of 92.27% and 92.37% for 1985 and 2019, respectively.

Effects of three pretreatments on seed germination and seedling growth of Mansonia altissima (A. Chev.) in a nursery, a timber species exploited in Cote d'Ivoire

Côte d'Ivoire's forests are a reservoir of biodiversity. Indeed, they offer a diverse ecosystem service. However, they are subject to strong anthropogenic pressures, which have resulted in the disappearance of several plant species. This was the case of Mansonia altissima, a species renowned for the quality of its wood. Given the importance of this species, there is an urgent need to focus on its conservation. It is in this context that this study aims to improve seed multiplication and the growth of M. altissima seedlings with a view to using them in reforestation. To achieve this, three pretreatments were applied to the seeds. These were the control (T0), shelled and unsoaked winged fruit (T1) and winged fruit soaked in cold water for 48 hours and then shelled (T2). Data collected using a data collection form were subjected to statistical analysis. Results showed that T2 treatment recorded the best germination rate (83%). In terms of seedling growth, the pretreatments had a significant effect on seedling diameter (P &gt; 0.05). As for height, which averaged around 8 cm, and number of leaves, which averaged 6 per individual for each pretreatment, no significant effect was observed. However, for a multiplication of the species, the pretreatment (T2) where the winged fruits are soaked in ordinary water for 48 h and then shelled is recommended.

Restoring riparian habitats for benefits to biodiversity and human livelihoods: a systematic map protocol for riparian restoration approaches in the tropics

BackgroundRiparian zones are vital transitional habitats that bridge the gap between terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. They support elevated levels of biodiversity and provide an array of important regulatory and provisioning ecosystem services, of which, many are fundamentally important to human well-being, such as the maintenance of water quality and the mitigation of flood risk along waterways. Increasing anthropogenic pressures resulting from agricultural intensification, industry development and the expansion of infrastructure in tropical regions have led to the widespread degradation of riparian habitats resulting in biodiversity loss and decreased resilience to flooding and erosion. Considering climate change and its associated effects on freshwater systems, the need to build resilience and adaptive capacities is pertinent. This has prompted the need to protect existing riparian habitats and the implementation of solutions to restore these degraded habitats to recover their functional capacity. This systematic map will aim to identify and collate existing literature on approaches for riparian restoration implemented in tropical regions and identify what indicators have been used to measure outcomes for biodiversity and human well-being. The resulting collation of evidence will help to identify current knowledge gaps and inform the direction of future research.MethodsTo address the aims of this systematic map, a search of pre-identified bibliographic databases will be undertaken using a set string of search terms. In addition to this, a grey literature search will be conducted using Google Scholar and by searching for references using specialist websites. All literature that is gathered will be screened by title, abstract and full text using a two-phase screening process which adheres to a pre-determined eligibility criteria. Data will then be coded from the collated group of articles using a pre-designed data coding sheet. Heterogeneity will likely be present in the data; therefore, studies will be grouped appropriately based on the restoration strategy implemented and, on the type of outcome measured. These will be presented as sub-groups. A narrative synthesis of map findings will be produced, this will outline the distribution and frequency of restoration interventions, and outcomes measured, and will highlight evidence gaps to direct future research.

In Vitro Propagation of Peumus boldus Molina Using a Temporary Immersion System

Peumus boldus Mol. (boldo) is a Chilean endemic tree species, characteristic of the region’s sclerophyllous forests. Increasing demand for its leaves and bark, valued for their antioxidant properties, has contributed to declining populations of this species in its natural habitat. This decline is further exacerbated by low natural germination rates and anthropogenic pressures. To support conservation efforts, efficient mass propagation protocols are needed. This study pioneered the use of temporary immersion systems (TIS) for the in vitro propagation of boldo, successfully developing a novel mass propagation protocol. To optimize the in vitro propagation of boldo shoots using the temporary immersion system (TIS), various immersion durations were tested. While a 3 min immersion resulted in a high proliferation rate (10.8), it also induced shoot vitrification, a detrimental physiological disorder. However, reducing the immersion duration to 2 min successfully prevented vitrification while still achieving a satisfactory multiplication rate of 7.2. The shoots reached an average length of 6.1 to 6.4 cm with 6-benzylaminopurine (4.44 μM). Ex vitro rooting was achieved in 75.4% of shoots treated with 1476 μM indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) across all tested substrates. The plantlets subsequently acclimatized with a survival rate between 77.1% and 83.3%.