Wetland Condition Research Articles

A preliminary macroinvertebrate index of biotic integrity (M-IBI) for monitoring the highland flood plain wetland ecosystems in Ethiopia

Anthropogenic activities have put tremendous pressure on the natural condition of wetlands. However, few studies have used indices based on benthic invertebrates to assess the effect of these pressures on wetland ecosystems. Multi-metric indices (MMIs) have been used successfully to assess freshwater ecosystems worldwide and are an important management tool, but little is known about their applicability in the wetlands of Ethiopia. In this study, we developed MMIs for wetland invertebrates to assess wetlands in Ethiopia. The wetland invertebrate assemblages were sampled from 24 sampling stations in six wetlands in the Achefer flood plains. These sampling stations included those in least affected areas and those affected by adjacent, agricultural and urban activities. Forty-one candidate metrics were initially reviewed and screened before six core metrics were selected: Taxa richness, ET taxa richness, % EOT, % Diptera, % Collector/Filterer and % intolerant taxa. Mann–Whitney U tests, Box and Whisker plots, correlation analyses, and redundant metric tests were used to assess the ability of metrics to distinguish among reference and impaired wetlands. The MMIs were robust in discriminating reference wetlands from impaired wetlands and therefore have potential as a biomonitoring tool to assess the condition of, and to guide efforts to restore, freshwater wetlands.

Wetland Species Mapping Using Advanced Technological Measurement

ABSTRACTWetlands are pivotal in supporting the natural ecosystem and maintaining biodiversity while being susceptible to anthropogenic activities and climate change. However, monitoring wetlands over a large geographical and temporal extent is challenging. Vegetation health can be considered a good indicator of wetland conditions, and measuring chlorophyll content will provide insight into vegetation health. Linking wetland species mapping from chlorophyll spectral indices to local and regional conservation strategies could improve biodiversity conservation. Here, we apply this to Keetham Lake, India, using machine learning methods (relevance vector model) and hyperspectral measurements. From 10 chlorophyll‐sensitive spectral indices, we identified four as best performing, particularly for: TVI + CCCI + NDRE for calibration and NDRE + TVI for validation data. The least performing combinations were MCARI for calibration and TVI + CCCI + NDRE + MCARI for validation. Overall, we identified that NDRE + TVI was the best‐performing pair of spectral indices for chlorophyll assessment and implementation in wetland species. This approach allows for precise mapping of wetland species, providing data on their extent and the area they cover. By creating a digital database, this method enables long‐term monitoring of changes in wetland species' numbers and distribution, helping to assess trends of increase or decline in freshwater ecosystems. Such strategies are vital for supporting both local and global conservation efforts, offering insights for forward‐looking, data‐driven preservation initiatives.

Mapping coastal wetland changes from 1985 to 2022 in the US Atlantic and Gulf Coasts using Landsat time series and national wetland inventories

The areal extent of coastal wetlands is declining rapidly worldwide, and scientists and land managers need land cover maps that show the magnitude and severity of changes over time to assess impacts and develop effective conservation strategies. Within the United States (US), widely-used, continental-scale wetland land cover data products are either static in time (The National Wetlands Inventory) or have a course temporal resolution and do not distinguish between different types of change (the NOAA Coastal Change Analysis Program, C-CAP). This study presents a new coastal wetland geospatial data product that leverages the Landsat database and maps annual land cover across the US Atlantic and Gulf Coasts from 1985 to 2022. The algorithm was trained on the existing US wetland inventories to make the final maps compatible with products that are used in operational management. A multi-stage classification approach was designed that uses the Continuous Change Detection and Classification (CCDC) algorithm to characterize time series of remote sensing reflectance with fitted harmonic functions and identify when changes likely occurred. The fitted time series models are then input into a random forest classifier to make a class prediction. An annual-scale random forest classification is performed in parallel, and results from both algorithms are combined and analysed to detect both gradual and abrupt changes and to identify transitional time series segments. A time series smoothing procedure is subsequently applied to ensure class transitions are logical and consistent and extract a summative change characterization map that shows the severity and spatial density of change. The final maps distinguish between four homogenous classes and six mixed classes, representing areas that are transitioning between classes and where the boundaries between classes are unstable. The algorithm uses data and tools within the Google Earth Engine platform, making it accessible and scalable. The average overall accuracy is 93.7%, and the average class omission and commission errors are 6.7% and 6.4%, respectively. A variety of change detection comparisons were performed, using the existing wetland inventory that employed a fundamentally different change detection approach, and a more comparable annual-scale, Landsatderived product that estimated changes across the Northeastern Atlantic Coast. These comparisons show that the new products’ severe change magnitude matches that of the existing US inventory and the moderate change magnitude matches that of the Northeastern Coast product. The 2019 Wetland Status and Trends Report estimated that net loss rates in emergent wetlands from 2010 to 2019 amount to 1.7%, and the new maps show an equivalent loss rate of 1.6%, again showing close agreement.

Divergent dynamics of coastal wetlands in the world’s major river deltas during 1990–2019

Coastal wetlands provide vital dynamic ecosystem services. They have become increasingly important after being linked to several sustainable developmental goals, resulting in a focus on their protection, management, and restoration. Therefore, there is an increasing need to detect and compare coastal wetland spatiotemporal dynamics in deltas at a global scale. In this study, we mapped and characterized coastal wetland spatiotemporal patterns for 1990–2019 in the world’s major river deltas using pixel frequency algorithms and Landsat-4/5 (TM), −7 (ETM + ), −8 (OLI), and Sentinel-2 (MSI) time-series imagery obtained from Google Earth Engine (GEE). Our map had a high overall accuracy (91.84 %) for 2019. Tidal flats were primarily distributed in North America (∼6.87 %) and Asia (∼5.91 %), whereas salt marshes were more commonly found in North America (∼45.39 %) and South America (∼10.61 %). Mangroves are more common in South America (∼11.86 %) and Asia (∼5.83 %), primarily because of the Amazon River Delta and tropical and subtropical regions of Asia, which host several large river deltas. South America had the largest coastal delta wetland area (798,569 km2), followed by Asia (640,251 km2), North America (581,977 km2), Africa (181,977 km2), Europe (140,759 km2), and Oceania (15,915 km2). There was a minor difference in the distribution of wetland vegetation and tidal flats in Asian coastal deltas, and the wetland vegetation area in Asia was greater than that in tidal flats on other continents. We found that the coastal wetland areas increased during 1990–2001, decreased during 2001–2012, and steadily increased during 2012–2019. Our study provides a baseline for monitoring the area, status, and health of the coastal wetlands in these river deltas.

Grain quality attributes of an on-farm Thailand's highland rice germplasm directly beneficial to the farming households

Rice (Oryza sativa) from the highlands of Northern Thailand where the crop is predominantly planted with local varieties was examined for grain quality features having direct benefits for the local population. Un-husked rice seed provided by farmers of 10 minority groups had large grains, in contrast to the slender grain type found in the lowlands. The highland-grown rice directly benefits the local population by providing a higher dietary intake of Fe but not of Zn. The highlands have been identified as a rich source of pigmented rice with a high anthocyanin content and an environment favouring the production of premium quality rice. On-farm experiments confirmed the effects of genotype (G) and environment (E) and the G × E interaction on grain quality. The local rice with high grain Zn exhibited higher concentrations under the upland conditions, while the high anthocyanin variety produced greater levels under wetland conditions. The pigmented rice had a higher anthocyanin content at high altitudes than at lower altitudes. The information concerning the value of local rice germplasm benefits the local population and should facilitate more sustainable on-farm conservation efforts than rewards offered to the farmers from external funding sources.

Odonata assemblages at two urban wetlands in West Bengal, India

Adult Odonata represent valuable indicators of natural habitat quality, ecosystem integrity, and pollution status in freshwater ecosystems. This study aimed to investigate how varying climatic condition, sub-habitat types, and physicochemical ambience of wetlands impact Odonata diversity. We compared the abundance and richness of Odonata in two urban wetlands and their surrounding areas: Purulia Sahebbandh (PS) located amidst Purulia town and faced higher anthropogenic threats, and Adra Sahebbandh (AS) located in a slightly remote location. Sampling was conducted over a period of one year (December 2018 to November 2019) using the Pollard walk method and direct search technique. A total of 47 Odonata species were recorded, including 33 species of dragonflies (Anisoptera) and 14 species of damselflies (Zygoptera). AS exhibited significant higher overall abundance compared to PS, with the monsoon season showing the highest abundance in both wetlands. Water-associated vegetation zones harbored the highest species richness. Species richness and abundance significantly differed among most of the sub-habitat types. Physicochemical factors such as pH, electrical conductivity, salinity, nitrate and phosphate concentrations, and dissolved oxygen significantly influenced Odonata abundance and species richness. The urban location, pollution load, and lack of natural vegetation in PS’s surrounding areas likely contributed to the lower Odonata abundance. Implementing sustainable management measures for wetlands and their surroundings is crucial to enhancing ecosystem services and supporting Odonata populations.

High-accuracy and low-disturbance approach for identifying surface water and groundwater interactions in wetlands

Comprehending the hydrological conditions in wetlands is a critical aspect of successfully enhancing wetland conservation. The interaction between wetland surface water and groundwater is a complex process, requiring detailed onsite hydrological and soil surveys, laboratory experiments, and modeling to clarify this relationship. However, conventional investigation methods often cause significant disruptions and thus may affect the natural environment and compromise data reliability. In this study, a high-accuracy and low-environmental-disturbance (LED) approach was proposed involving modified falling head permeability and modified seepage meter tests to elucidate the groundwater characteristics in an ecological reserve. A water balance (WB) calculation method was employed to examine the performance of the proposed LED approach. The results revealed that the LED performed better than conventional methods in hydraulic conductivity and seepage velocity exploration, thereby improving the accuracy of quantifying groundwater flow. Moreover, the experimental findings and ecohydrological observations were used to assess the groundwater flow regime, and the data were consistent with the field survey results. The contradiction between conducting research and protecting ecological reserves can pose difficulties in the sustainable and effective management of wetlands. The LED approach can be applied broadly, especially in areas where significant disturbance should be avoided. The water budget model can thus be developed to help deduce the interaction between groundwater and surface water. We suggest that these innovative methods are effective tools and can assist both scientists and authorities in formulating corresponding habitat management strategies.

Sediment water content drives movement of intertidal crab Helice tientsinensis more strongly than salinity variations

Intertidal wetlands undergo dynamic water and salinity variations, creating both promising and challenging habitats for diverse organisms. Crabs respond strongly to these variations by means such as altering their movements, thereby restructuring their spatial distribution and influencing coastal ecosystem resilience. However, the movements of crabs under varying environmental conditions require further elucidation. We conducted a systematic mesocosm experiment using the ubiquitous intertidal crab species Helice tientsinensis with four amount levels and six salinity levels of sprayed water applied through a custom apparatus, with a primary focus on crab movement. Crab movement from the experimental side of the apparatus (with altered conditions) to the control side (resembling field conditions of the intertidal wetlands of China's Yellow River Delta) and vice versa was recorded. The results revealed significant differences in moving out of the experimental side and moving in among the different water and salinity conditions, both separately for the two factors and simultaneously. Decreases in water content had a more pronounced effect on crab movement, leading to an increased number of crabs moving out of the experimental side of the apparatus. Conversely, as the experimental side became wetter, crabs tended to move towards it, and this movement was intensified by increases or decreases in water salinity. A structural equation model revealed that the moving-out and moving-in played fundamental roles in determining the number of resident crabs at the end of each experiment. While crabs preferred moist sediment with lower salinity, changes in salinity alone had minimal direct effect compared to sediment water contents. Our results clarify crab movements under varying water and salinity conditions, offering valuable insights to support adaptive interventions for crab populations and inform adaptive conservation and management strategies in intertidal wetlands.

Developing a Semi-Supervised Strategy in Time Series Mapping of Wetland Covers: A Case Study of Zrebar Wetland, Iran

Wetlands, essential for Earth’s health, ecological balance, and local economies, require accurate monitoring and assessment for effective conservation. Data-driven models based on remote sensing are highly capable of monitoring the status and classification of wetlands. This study developed a semi-supervised framework for mapping wetland covers in Zrebar, Iran, using Landsat time series data from 1984 to 2022. A pixel purification technique was applied to the temporal candidate images to refine the initial training data (conventional scenario) and generate purified training data (proposed scenario). The Support Vector Machine (SVM) algorithm was utilized to classify the land cover within the wetland, and the accuracy of the two scenarios was evaluated and compared. Over the study period, the analysis of land cover changes within Zrebar Wetland revealed significant spatial and temporal changes in soil and farmland, reed, and water from 1984 to 2022. The omission error rates for the classes soil and farmland, reed, and water were decreased from 0.14, 0.14, and 0.12 for scenario 1 to 0.03, 0.05, and 0.05 for scenario 2, respectively. In addition, the commission error for these classes decreased from 0.13, 0.18, and 0.09 for scenario 1 to 0.04, 0.06, and 0.04 after applying the filtered training data in the scenario 2. Finally, the overall accuracy of the initial training data (scenario 1) and the filtered training data (scenario 2) were 0.86 and 0.94, respectively. These results underscore the effectiveness of the proposed strategy in enhancing the accuracy of land cover classification within the wetland over time, highlighting its potential for future wetland conservation efforts.

Status of Temporary Wetland of Paddy Field Associated Molluscs of Coastal Karnataka: A Case study

Status of Temporary Wetland of Paddy Field Associated Molluscs of Coastal Karnataka: A Case study

An Investigation on the Present Status of Wetlands in Majuli River Island; The World Largest River Island and Its Fishery Resources

An Investigation on the Present Status of Wetlands in Majuli River Island; The World Largest River Island and Its Fishery Resources

Retrospective assessment of mine impacts: a case study using palaeoecology, aerial photography and maps from North Stradbroke Island (Minjerribah), Australia

ABSTRACT Mining is an environmentally destructive human activity. Consequently, community expectations and legislation require minimisation of impacts and rehabilitation once mining ceases. Rehabilitation standards now include restoration of structural and functional attributes of pre-disturbed landscapes. However, insufficient baseline data before, and during, mining often makes it difficult to assess impacts and develop rehabilitation objectives. Techniques that retrospectively document the pre-impact condition and environmental history of wetlands affected by mines can provide this information. We demonstrate how this can be achieved using data from palaeoecology and remote sensing, to understand mine impact on Fishermans Wetland, North Stradbroke Island (Minjerribah), by inferring its environmental history from formation to present. Fishermans Wetland is a small, clear, open water, wetland with extensive macrophyte growth. A lack of information about the wetland’s pre-mine condition created uncertainty about the effects of upstream sand mining. Contrary to local community concerns that Fishermans Wetland was ancient and hydrologically modified by mining, it only formed in the 1950s. Moreover, changes to site hydrology predated mining. Consequently, ongoing supplementation of water is unnecessary for maintaining the wetland’s ecological character. Similar techniques could be used elsewhere where mine impacts are poorly understood or contested.

Biodiversity Offset Mechanisms and Compensation for Loss from Exceptional to Popular: Rediscovering Environmental Law

The use of compensatory mechanisms for biodiversity conservation, also known as biodiversity offsets, has increased significantly in recent decades. The Kunming Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework mentions them as an innovative scheme in support of substantially and progressively increasing the level of financial resources for biodiversity conservation. This article traces the origin of compensatory mechanisms in international environmental law and their development in transnational biodiversity governance. The article points to the shifts in the application of the biodiversity offsets: from the context of wetlands to other habitats and ecosystems; from its use in intergovernmental conventions to an increasing number of transnational (business) networks; and from an instrument of last resort to a source of additional funding for biodiversity conservation. In the evolution, compensatory mechanisms have been decoupled from their original purpose as an exceptional mitigation measure and a strong focus of environmental law on the preventive function. The increased rhetoric of commitment to no net loss, net gain, restoration, and the mitigation hierarchy has not been matched by an improved status of wetlands and other ecosystems. The processes within the biodiversity conventions (Ramsar and CBD) have accepted an ongoing destruction of nature and limited the role of environmental law to minimizing harmful impacts on nature and consolidating the decline, rather than shaping socio-ecological outcomes. An ambiguous position about the spread of compensatory mechanisms has been part and parcel of this; biodiversity conventions have neither endorsed nor distanced themselves from the application, promotion, and justification of compensatory mechanisms. To maintain the integrity of environmental law, the rules that prevent biodiversity loss need to be emphasised and enforced.

Context-specific “silver-spoon” effects of wetlands, climate, and temperature on lifetime fitness in a short-lived temperate-breeding migratory songbird

Drivers of global change are creating strongly contrasting early life conditions for developing offspring, which may have carry-over effects on lifetime fitness. We tested for “silver-spoon” effects of natal conditions (environmental conditions and maternal quality) and individual quality (pre-fledging) on the lifetime reproductive success (LRS) of aerial insectivorous adult tree swallows (Tachycineta bicolor) hatched in distinct populations with contrasting environments in Saskatchewan and British Columbia, Canada. In both populations, LRS of adults was influenced by environmental conditions they experienced as developing nestlings, but silver-spoon effects were context-dependent, indicating population-specific responses to the local environment. Higher natal temperature in Saskatchewan had positive silver-spoon effects on the LRS of adult swallows, but the opposite was observed in British Columbia, likely because the highest temperatures local recruits experienced as nestlings occurred during heat extremes. In Saskatchewan, where wetter conditions reflect higher wetland abundance and food supply, we detected a negative effect of good natal wetland conditions on adult LRS, contrary to our hypothesis. However, since current breeding wetland conditions are a strong driver of adult fitness, and adults experiencing high natal wetland abundance generally bred when wetland abundance was lower, we suspect any potential benefits of natal wetland abundance on LRS were overridden by wetland conditions during breeding. As hypothesized, wetter natal conditions in British Columbia, which reflect an unfavorable environment for developing nestlings, had negative silver-spoon effects on the LRS of adults. No maternal or pre-fledging quality effects were detected at either site. Therefore, LRS of individuals within distinct populations is influenced, at least in part, by carry-over effects of the natal environment that vary locally. Consequently, natal environmental conditions that affect fitness, with putative population-level consequences, may underly spatially-varying population trends of regionally distinct populations within a species’ range.

Estimating the severity of landscape degradation in future management scenarios based on modeling the dynamics of Hoor Al-Azim International Wetland in Iran-Iraq border

Temporal and spatial changes in land cover in wetland ecosystems indicate the severity of degradation. Understanding such processes in the past, present, and future might be necessary for managing any type of development plan. Therefore, this research has monitored and analyzed the Hoor Al-Azim International Wetland to determine the orientation of its changes in various future scenarios. Wetland status modeling was conducted using developed hybrid approaches and cellular automata along with evaluating the accuracy of the modeled maps. The dynamics of the landscape were simulated using a higher accuracy approach in three scenarios—Water Conservation, Water Decreasing, and Business-as-Usual- to get the level of degradation of the wetland. The results showed that the amount of water in the wetland has decreased in all three periods, and the salt lands and vegetation have undergone drastic changes. The water bodies experienced a reduction of 148,139 ha between 1985 and 2000, followed by a decrease of 9107 ha during the 2000–2015 period. However, based on the results, these developments are expressed better by the developed hybrid approach than the CA-MC approach and are more reliable for future simulation. The figure of merit index, which assesses the hybrid model's accuracy, yielded a value of 18.12%, while the CA-MC model's accuracy was estimated at 14.42%. The assessment of degradation in hexagonal units showed the least degradation in the water conservation scenario compared with the other two scenarios in 2030.

The roles of abiotic and biotic factors in driving range shifts: An invasive Pomacea snail facilitates Rostrhamus sociabilis (Snail Kite) northward range expansion

Abstract Rostrhamus sociabilis (Snail Kite) have recently expanded their range in Florida, tracking the invasion of a Pomacea snail (P. maculata), and exhibiting considerable changes in bill size and feeding niche. This range expansion is not aligned with changes in climatic conditions or the distribution of their historic prey (P. paludosa). The Eltonian Noise Hypothesis (ENH), which posits that interactive (biotic) factors have stronger effects on species’ distributions at local scales, predicts that noninteractive (abiotic) factors are generally more relevant at geographic extents. However, in this study, we explore the R. sociabilis range shift as a potential counterexample of the ENH. Under the biotic-abiotic-mobility framework (BAM), we explore the role of biotic and abiotic factors in the northward range expansion of this endangered species. Over the past 15 years, R. sociabilis have begun consuming the more-abundant invasive snails more often, while increasing in bill size, expanding ~175 km northward from previous range limits in the Kissimmee River Valley. We developed ecological niche models using 3 algorithms (Maxent, generalized linear model, ellipsoids) and found stability in climatic suitability between past and present models. Moreover, although native snails occur in northern Florida, R. sociabilis have had a historically patchy northern distribution due in part to the availability of appropriate wetland conditions. We found a strong latitudinal cline, with bill length increasing with latitude at least through 2020, suggesting that this morphological change broadened the species’ biotic suitable area and distributional potential. The interplay between changes in phenotype and biotic interactions has been poorly documented in distributional ecology, given a lack of rich occurrence datasets. Here, we highlight a case in which a biological invasion and subsequent changes in morphology and diet have facilitated the expansion of a specialized predator into areas that were unsuitable until recently.

Comparative analysis of the variability and impacts of tropical cyclones in flood-prone areas of Zimbabwe

Tropical cyclones (TCs) are extreme meteorological events that cause significant deaths, infrastructure damage, and financial losses around the world. In recent years, the Eastern Highlands of Zimbabwe's have become increasingly vulnerable to TCs caused by Indian Ocean tropical cyclones making landfall more frequently. There is still a limited understanding of the phenomenon and the quantification of its impacts. The aim of this research is to conduct a comparative analysis of the variability in the severity of tropical cyclones by analysing historical storm tracks and mapping the environmental impacts in Zimbabwe's Chimanimani and Chipinge districts. Results indicate that, between 1945 and 2022, the Eastern Highlands of Zimbabwe experienced 5 of the total 865 cyclones in the Southwest Indian Ocean. The maximum sustained winds from the Cyclone Idai in the Eastern Highlands were recorded as 195 km/h. Some of the remote sensing-based indices used to extract spatial information about the condition of vegetation, wetlands, built-up area, and bar land during pre and post cyclonic events included the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) and Modified Normalized Difference Water Index (MNDWI). Analysis of NDVI in the Eastern Highlands revealed that there was a significant decrease in vegetated area because of the cyclone impact, with a decrease of 2.1% and 16.68% for cyclone Japhet and Idai respectively. The MNDWI shows a 10.74% increase in water content after cyclone Eline. Field validation in 2019 confirms the research findings. An Operations Dashboard Disaster Management System was developed in order to disseminate information to the affected stakeholders about the potential risk that the face due to the occurrence of the natural phenomena.

Plankton diversity in the Rowo Klampok Swamp, Malang District, East Java, Indonesia

Abstract. Arfiati D, Zakiyah U, Anitasari S, Inayah ZN, Orchida K, Pratiwi RK. 2024. Plankton diversity in the Rowo Klampok Swamp, Malang District, East Java, Indonesia. Biodiversitas 25: 1846-1855. Wetlands are a productive ecosystem and have high biodiversity, including plankton. Plankton can be used to assess the health status of wetlands. This research aims to determine the diversity and abundance of phytoplankton and zooplankton and to analyze the water quality conditions of the tropical wetland (Rowo Klampok Swamp, Malang District, East Java, Indonesia). This research was conducted from May to June 2023 and it's a survey research. The research results show that the phytoplankton found in Rowo Klampok Swamp consists of 4 divisions with 13 genera, while there are 3 divisions with 3 genera in zooplankton. Phytoplankton divisions are Bacillariophyta, Chlorophyta, Cyanophyta, and Dinoflagellate, while zooplankton divisions are Arthropoda, Ciliophora, and Rotifera. The average value of total phytoplankton abundance reached 2,618,684 cells/L, while zooplankton was 10,504 Ind/L. The Chlorophyta division is the most commonly found phytoplankton, with a percentage ranging between 32.5 and 53.1%, respectively. Dictyosphaerium is a phytoplankton genus often found with the highest average abundance of 1,922,929 cells/L. The diversity index, uniformity index, and dominance index of phytoplankton ranged between 1.965-2.439, 0.945-1.173, and 0.125-0.213, respectively, while those of zooplankton were 0.496-0.529, 0.317-0.593 and 0.458-0.684, respectively. Rowo Klampok Swamp has a medium trophic level (mesotrophic) and shows moderate pollution. The water quality conditions are considered suitable for aquatic organisms, but we need to monitor and reduce phosphorus input into the bodies of water.

Multi-metric biomonitoring of a seasonally flooded Baraila wetland using benthic macroinvertebrates as indicator organisms in the middle Ganga River Basin (Vaishali), India

ABSTRACT Human encroachment, urban and agricultural expansion, frequent droughts, eutrophication, infestation of weeds, and overexploitation of resources has predominantly impacted the water quality and biodiversity of the Baraila wetland. The present seasonal study has aimed to explore an under-researched subject of analyzing the water quality of the wetland through multi-metric biomonitoring approaches in 2022. A total of 24 water and benthic samples were collected from the four sampling locations. All the water parameters were within a suitable range to support a diverse range of flora and fauna, except total suspended solids (TSS) and nutrients, indicating toward the impact of agricultural expansion in the wetland's area. Of the 13 identified families of benthic macroinvertebrates, the semi-tolerant families of Viviparidae and Bithyniidae have dominated the wetland, with a relative abundance of 27.04 and 37.77%, respectively, in the comparative seasons. Moreover, the indices used in the study have categorized the wetland under moderately polluted condition. The Hierarchical Cluster Analysis (HCA) has revealed the sensitivity toward organic pollution and habitat preferences has played a major role in the species-specific assemblage of benthic community. The Mantel's correlogram further validates that the moderately polluted status of wetland has favored semi-tolerant to tolerant fauna in the wetland.

Distribution, levels, sources and risk assessment of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in the bottom sediments of a Mediterranean river under multiple anthropopressures (Soummam River), Algeria

The Soummam River, a vital watercourse in Algeria is threatened by anthropogenic activities despite its protected wetland status. This study is the first to assess sediment pollution in the Soummam River, examining levels, compositions, sources of 16 PAHs and their effects on the environment and human health. Analysis employing Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and molecular diagnostic ratios pointed to petrogenic sources, likely stemming from petroleum leaks originating from aging pipeline and vehicles, as well as pyrogenic sources arising from vehicle exhaust and biomass combustion. Environmental and health risks were assessed through risk quotients (RQ), Sediments Quality Guidelines (SQG) and Total Lifetime Cancer Risk (TLCR). Ecological risk was found to range from moderate to high, with anticipated biological impacts, while cancer risk was deemed low. Toxicity assessment, measured by TEQ, revealed that the majority of monitoring stations exceeded safe levels. Consequently, urgent action by local authorities is warranted to implement ecosystem rehabilitation measures.