Ecological Aspects Research Articles

Endophytic Microbial Diversity, Heavy Metal Accumulation, and Antimicrobial Properties of Avicennia marina from Saudi Arabia

This study comprehensively examined the Avicennia marina plant, a key species along the Red Sea coast of the Saudi Arabian Kingdom, focusing on its microbial, biochemical, and ecological aspects. Specimens, including leaves, seeds, and seedlings of Avicennia marina plant, were collected during the summer of 2021 from two distinct mangrove-abundant regions in Yanbu Governorate, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Analysis of the plant revealed significant heavy metal concentrations in its sediment, leaves, and seeds, with the sediment from region 1 recording metals such as Cr (40.202 ppm) and Se (30.522 ppm). Additionally, the plant’s extracts exhibited notable antimicrobial properties, inhibiting growth of several pathogenic bacteria, with ethyl acetate extracts from leaves being especially potent against strains like P. aeruginosa and S. aureus. Moreover, from the leaves collected in the Yanbu region, 10 unique endophytic bacterial species were identified. Utilizing genomic analysis tools, two of these bacteria were closely characterized, revealing more than 99% similarity to known bacterial species; Mixta and Cytobacillus species, emphasizing the microbial diversity within the mangrove leaves. In sum, Avicennia marina emerges as ecologically significant, with potential implications for bio-remediation and antimicrobial applications, and as a reservoir of diverse microbial species. With mounting global challenges, such as climate change, understanding these microbial-plant interactions is pivotal for both conservation and biotechnological pursuits in the future.

IMPACT OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE ON SOCIETY: RISK AND CHALLENGES

Artificial Intelligence (AI) refers to the simulation of human intelligence in machines that are programmed to think and act like humans. These machines are designed to perform tasks that typically require human intelligence, such as visual perception, speech recognition, decision-making, and language translation. AI technologies include machine learning, which enables computers to learn from experience and improve their performance over time without being explicitly programmed, and deep learning, which uses neural networks to process complex patterns and data. AI has applications in various fields, including healthcare, defence, transportation, education, and labour market, and its development has raised ethical, social, educational, and economic implications. The main objective of the study is to explore the literature on the artificial intelligence, its impact on society as well as challenges and risks posed by AI. Recently AI has been utilized in various fields. To cover various societal aspects, literature has been reviewed from various disciplines where AI is applied. These areas include healthcare, automobiles, education, labour market, defence, entertainment, computation, and security. These articles are retrieved from peer-reviewed sources based on the keywords suggesting the role of AI, forecasting & assessment of impact, behavioural & ecological aspects of AI, and AI's relation to employment. In this study it has been concluded that application of Artificial Intelligence has transformed the conventional ways of almost every area of modern society by bringing the significant changes in the industry, commerce, defence, education, labour market and healthcare services. But it has raised certain concerns also such as automation leads to job displacement and economic inequality concentrating revenue among fewer individuals. AI supported Autonomous Weapons to kill could cause mass casualties if misused. Hence the idea is both devastating and exciting and the application of AI should be carefully monitored. 

The Impact of Technological Advancement and Green HRM Practices on the Sustainable Business Development in Vietnam

The growing need of sustainability in businesses, especially the ecological aspect demands the its eligibility and effectiveness in human resource area which is normally referred green human resource management. Moreover, the rising concerns for natural environment also fixate the idea to rejuvenate the conventional business model and shift towards green management. Thereby, the study intends to scrutinize the role of green HRM practices in sustainable business development in Vietnamese context. Along with it, the study also intends to explore the mediating role of technology advancement on proposed relationship. For this purpose, primary data was collected, and PLS-SEM methodology was employed to assess measurement and structural model. Results echo that green HRM practices are positively correlated with sustainable business development in case of Vietnam. Moreover, technological advancement significantly mediates the relationship of green HRM and SBD. Results are helpful in policy making structures by enhancing the effectiveness of existing HRM practices.

Kajian Alternatif Proyeksi Jaringan Jalan Hutan untuk Perencanaan Pemanenan Kayu di PT Inhutani I Labanan, Propinsi Jawa Barat

Forests are one of the natural resources that can be utilized in the form of both wood and non-wood forest products. Harvesting carried out to extract wood results in negative impacts such as soil damage and damage to standing stands. The negative impacts of wood harvesting can be reduced by planning in advance, such as creating a forest road network. The research was carried out in the mahogany room, utilization division, forest management department, while the assessment of the forest road network used the case study of PT Inhutani I Lebanan. The aim of the research is to examine the planning and selection of the best alternative forest road network for harvesting wood using multi-criteria decision making techniques. The research will be carried out in March 2023. The research stage begins with sketching the road network; assess road networks using economic, ecological and technical criteria; as well as conducting literature studies from various sources. The research results show that there are six alternative forest road networks for harvesting wood. This is based on forest road network assessment parameters that the best alternative road network in the PT Inhutani I Labanan road scheme is the 6th road network alternative. Sustainable management of forest resources can be achieved through a well-planned road network. The highest total utility value (rank 1) is found on the 6th road network which is the best alternative forest road network to be implemented at PT Inhutani Labanan I both in terms of technical aspects, ecological aspects and economic aspects.

Evaluation of landscape sustainability of protected areas and identification of its correlation factors: a case study of Beijing, China

ContextProtected areas (PAs) serve as robust safeguards for the ecological safety of urban areas, and positively affect their socioeconomic development. However, limited research that integrates both ecological and socioeconomic aspects to evaluate the role of PAs.ObjectivesIn this study, we aimed to establish an evaluation framework for PAs that applies the concept of landscape sustainability and integrates ecological and socioeconomic functions to enhance understanding of the role of PAs. Additionally, we aimed to develop analytical framework for identifying the correlation elements of landscape sustainability of protected areas (PA-LS) and improving the understanding of the mechanisms underlying PAs.MethodsThis study focused on 38 PAs in Beijing, China. We established the PA-LS evaluation framework to evaluate the role of PAs by analyzing changes in their overall landscape services from 2000 to 2019, and in ecological and socioeconomic functions. Subsequently, an analytical framework was established to identify the correlation factors of PA-LS, focusing on four aspects: the fundamental characteristics of PAs, landscape patterns of PAs, impact of urban areas on PAs, and human well-being within a 5 km buffer of PAs.ResultsThe landscape sustainability evaluation of Beijings’ PAs revealed that 30 PAs (78.95% of the total) were strongly sustainable, eight (21.05%) were weakly sustainable, and none unsustainable. The results revealed that there was a positive correlation between several factors and PA-LS, including the density of the road network within a 1 km buffer of the PAs and the economic income and employment rate within a 5 km buffer of the PAs. Conversely, there was a negative correlation between one factor and PA-LS, its the distance between PAs and the urban center. Other factors, such as the category, area, classification of PAs, SHDI (ecological land), ED, LPI (forest) of PAs, and population density and residents’ health within a 5 km buffer of the PAs, were unrelated to PA-LS.ConclusionsThis study established a PA-LS evaluation framework and its correlation factor analytical framework, which significantly contributes to enhancing the value cognition of PAs and enriching landscape-sustainability evaluation methods. Furthermore, the study provides valuable support and serves as a reference for the conservation and management of PAs in Beijing and similar metropolitan cities.

Population ecology of the intertidal xanthid crab Leptodius exaratus (H. Milne Edwards, 1834) (Decapoda: Brachyura: Xanthidae) on rocky shores in Kuwait, Arabian (Persian) Gulf

Abstract Leptodius exaratus (H. Milne Edwards, 1834) is an exploited species that has been used as bait for recreational fishing in Kuwait. The biological and ecological aspects of the species required to manage this practice are limited. We investigated the life history and population ecology of L. exaratus in the northwestern Arabian (Persian) Gulf. The spawning season of the crab in Kuwait starts in the late spring and continues through the summer and ends in September. Fecundity is highly correlated to female body size and ranges 2,533–11,991 eggs clutch–1, with a mean number of 7,055 eggs clutch–1. Juveniles are generally recruited between July and September, with lower minor recruitment levels occurring in October and November. Growth is highly seasonal, being slow during the cold season (October-February) and high during the warmer season (March and September), with a higher growth rate in males than in females. The seasonality of growth and reproduction of L. exaratus in the region is strongly related to ambient air and water temperatures. Sexual dimorphism is highly significant between males and females with males, reaching reproductive maturity at 17.43 ± 0.53 mm carapace width (CW) and females at 9.58 ± 1.21 mm CW. The overall sex ratio for the species is 0.8:1 (males:females). Furthermore, the life span of 3–4 yr and an overall mortality slightly higher in males than in females. The results of our study could be used to determine fishery management strategies such as minimum catch sizes and closures periods. The results on life history and dynamics of the complex life cycle of L. exaratus contribute to conservation and sustainable exploitation of the species in Kuwait.

Ecological aspects and relationships of the emblematic Vachellia spp. exposed to anthropic pressures and parasitism in natural hyper-arid ecosystems: ethnobotanical elements, morphology, and biological nitrogen fixation

Main conclusionEmblematic Vachellia spp. naturally exposed to hyper-arid conditions, intensive grazing, and parasitism maintain a high nitrogen content and functional mutualistic nitrogen-fixing symbioses.AlUla region in Saudi Arabia has a rich history regarding mankind, local wildlife, and fertility islands suitable for leguminous species, such as the emblematic Vachellia spp. desert trees. In this region, we investigated the characteristics of desert legumes in two nature reserves (Sharaan and Madakhil), at one archaeological site (Hegra), and in open public domains et al. Ward and Jabal Abu Oud. Biological nitrogen fixation (BNF), isotopes, and N and C contents were investigated through multiple lenses, including parasitism, plant tissues, species identification, plant maturity, health status, and plant growth. The average BNF rates of 19 Vachellia gerrardii and 21 Vachellia tortilis trees were respectively 39 and 67%, with low signs of inner N content fluctuations (2.10–2.63% N) compared to other co-occurring plants. The BNF of 23 R. raetam was just as high, with an average of 65% and steady inner N contents of 2.25 ± 0.30%. Regarding parasitism, infected Vachellia trees were unfazed compared to uninfected trees, thereby challenging the commonly accepted detrimental role of parasites. Overall, these results suggest that Vachellia trees and R. raetam shrubs exploit BNF in hyper-arid environments to maintain a high N content when exposed to parasitism and grazing. These findings underline the pivotal role of plant-bacteria mutualistic symbioses in desert environments. All ecological traits and relationships mentioned are further arguments in favor of these legumes serving as keystone species for ecological restoration and agro-silvo-pastoralism in the AlUla region.Graphical abstract

Morphological characteristics of Bracon hebetor (Hymenoptera: Braconidae), a larval parasitoid of coconut Black Headed Caterpillar Opisina arenosella Walker (Lepidoptera: Xyloryctidae)

The Bracon hebetor is an essential natural enemy in suppressing the coconut black-headed caterpillar (BHC) Opisina arenosella, which was common in coconut field in Ben Tre province. Under laboratory conditions, with six-instar larvae of BHC as a host, the adult body of B. hebetor was yellow-brown and the male’s antennae were longer than those of the female, with oblong and rectangular shapes consisting of 17 - 20 segments, while the female’s antennae were square-shaped with 11 - 14 segments. The abdomen of B. hebetor was pale yellow, with its last segment being dark brown. Females of B. hebetor were larger than males. The average body length of female and male was 3.2 ± 0.17 mm and 3.0 ± 0.18 mm, respectively. The average body length of 2-day-old pupae was 3.0 ± 0.20 mm and that of 3-day-old ones was 3.5 ± 0.21 mm. The average egg length was 0.7 ± 0.07 mm. The findings of this study helped provide information on the identification of B. hebetor larval parasitic wasps on the BHC host, aiding in the search for natural enemies of BHC in coconut fields. Additionally, the research also facilitated the exploration of the biological and ecological aspects of this natural adversary in Vietnam.

Multi-Indicator Assessment of a Thermal Insulation Investment, Taking into Account the Pre-Set Temperature

The article proposes indicators to evaluate a thermal insulation investment in a building, such as net present value (NPV), profitability index, discounted payback period, and ecological cost efficiency. Economic and ecological aspects were taken into account. Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) was used in the ecological analysis. The following heat sources in the building were considered: condensing gas boiler and heat pump. The developed indicators also depend on the pre-set temperature in residential premises. A methodology to determine the optimum thermal insulation thickness for both economic and ecological reasons was also proposed. A case study was analyzed, and a reference building, typical for Polish construction conditions, was used for research. Various solutions were suggested regarding the type of thermal insulation material and heat sources. The values of the indicators were determined for the proposed variants and for the economically and ecologically optimum thermal insulation thicknesses. Based on the conducted research, it was found that air temperatures maintained in the rooms of the building undergoing thermal modernization should be taken into account in the energy audit. The energy demand of the building for a room temperature of 26 °C is higher by 61% compared to the demand for the same building at the design temperature (20 °C). The innovation in the proposed approach to the economic and ecological assessment of a building is the combination of a wide range of temperatures potentially maintained in living spaces with ecological cost-effectiveness.

Carothers and Flory-Stockmayer Theory as a new perspective on currently ineffective poly(glycerol sebacate) synthesis and crosslinking

Since 2002, intensive research on glycerol polyester has been ongoing. Poly(glycerol sebacate) (PGS) is most often studied because of its high applicable potential in many medical uses. This polyester is commonly synthesised from glycerine and sebacic acid in a molar ratio G/SA = 1:1. Nowadays, synthesis and thermal crosslinking processes are very time-consuming. At least 24 h for each, sometimes even a few days. There is a lack of works comparing these processes with polymerisation theory, such as Carothers Equations or Flory-Stockmayer Theory. In this work, experiments were performed at characteristic points of molar ratio determined from mathematical modelling. Currently published syntheses and crosslinking processes are characterised by long times, probably due to the use of the wrong molar ratio of monomers. The most effective glycerine to sebacic acid ratio is 2:3, according to both theories. This parameter should be considered for further synthesis optimisation and scaling up. This is also important for industrial implementation due to economic and ecological aspects. Moreover, the study of the G/SA ratio outside the range of 0.5–1.0 has no theoretical and experimental justification.

Dispersal potential does not predict recent range expansions of sub-Antarctic plant species

AbstractDispersal influences many key aspects of plant ecology at both fine- and broad scales. However, dispersal events are challenging to quantify as they are difficult to observe and measure accurately, despite the importance of understanding species’ dispersal capacity. In this study, we quantified dispersal estimates for the dominant vascular flora of sub-Antarctic Marion Island, using a mechanistic model to estimate dispersal potential via anemochory and standardized experiments that simulate dispersal events via zoochory, human activity, and thalassochory, to test if dispersal capacity correlates to contemporary range expansion of the island’s native and alien species. Our results demonstrate the broad range of dispersal potential in the island’s flora and represent the first quantification of the dispersal potential (via multiple vectors) of the dominant vascular flora in the sub-Antarctic. Dispersal potential was not related to range expansion rates of native or alien species, suggesting that other mechanisms are responsible for the variation observed in species range expansion rates. Although this finding contradicts expectations and evidence from some other studies, it is consistent with research conducted in alpine regions (which may be climatically and physiognomically similar to this sub-Antarctic study site) where factors such as demography and competition are more important predictors of species range expansion than their dispersal ability, dispersal syndromes, or dispersal-related traits.

Nature in urban green spaces: Main attractor or nice background? Drivers and dynamics of cultural ecosystem services provision

Urban parks and forests are important providers of cultural ecosystem services (CES) for the majority of the global population. Data from diverse sources are needed to reflect both ecological and social aspects of CES delivery in these areas. Understanding and disentangling this complex relationship is crucial to managing urban green spaces (UGS) in a way that maximizes users’ cultural benefits, and does not threaten the ecosystem and its functions. This paper provides a multidimensional analysis of CES delivery in parks and forests located along the urban–peri-urban axis in Warsaw, Poland. We analyzed the content of photographs posted on Instagram to identify which UGS elements attract the attention of users. We also examined whether the pattern of CES delivery was a function of the naturalness and location of the park or forest, and analyzed the factors that influence weekly and seasonal patterns of CES delivery. Although our study focused on areas where natural elements dominate, only around a quarter of photographs featured plants, water, or wild animals. Nature typically appeared as the background, while the foreground was occupied by people and their activities. Consequently, recreational services dominated over aesthetic experience; at the same time, it proved to be very difficult to identify educational services from our dataset. Air temperature, and the color of vegetation resulting from phenological changes were the most important drivers of CES delivery. We found that both the dynamics and character of CES delivery varied depending on the character of the area, and its location. Finally, delivery patterns were similar in semi-wild urban parks and outer city forests.

Sustainable Urban Design Model for Residential Neighborhoods Utilizing Sustainability Assessment-Based Approach

The sustainable urban design of residential neighborhoods plays an important role in the efforts to achieve the sustainable development goals and alleviate the effects of climate change. This paper aims to develop a model for the sustainable urban design of residential neighborhoods, taking into account the local condition in Palestinian territories. This model is built on various international neighborhood sustainability assessment (NSA) tools, based on the review of existing assessment tools, to study the sustainability status of Palestinian neighborhoods, and to develop a sustainable indicator model for local sustainable neighborhood assessment. Computer tools like Urbano and GIS tools as well as qualitative assessment methods are used. Results from the case study showed that the satisfaction of the preferred location indicator was not sufficient to maintain its sustainability. The assessment of measured indicators found that weaknesses were almost double the count of the satisfactory indicator. Moreover, some indicators from the (NSA) tools were partially or completely met, and some gaps appeared because of the lack of strengths in the selected indicators of the international tools when used for local social, ecological and governmental aspects, and there are issues in the inclusion of economic and environmental elements in current urban configurations. The proposed local model offers valuable insights for local governments, municipalities, and construction developers.

Characterization and identification of long-chain hydrocarbon-degrading bacterial communities in long-term chronically polluted soil in Ogoniland: an integrated approach using culture-dependent and independent methods.

Escalating oil consumption has resulted in an increase in accidental spills of petroleum hydrocarbons, causing severe environmental degradation, notably in vulnerable regions like the Niger Delta. Complex mixture of these hydrocarbons particularly long-chain alkanes presents unique challenges in restoration of polluted environment due to their chemical properties. This study aimed to investigate the long-chain hydrocarbon-degrading bacterial communities within long-term chronically polluted soil in Ogoniland, by utilizing both traditional cultivation methods and modern culture-independent techniques. Results revealed that surface-polluted soil (SPS) and subsurface soil (SPSS) exhibit significantly higher total organic carbon (TOC) ranging from 5.64 to 5.06% and total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH) levels ranging from 36,775ppm to 14,087ppm, compared to unpolluted soil (UPS) with 1.97% TOC and 479ppm TPH, respectively. Analysis of carbon chain lengths reveals the prevalence of longer-chain alkanes (C20-28) in the surface soil. Culture-dependent methods, utilizing crude oil enrichment (COE) and paraffin wax enrichment (PWE), yield 47 bacterial isolates subjected to a long-chain alkane degradation assay. Twelve bacterial strains demonstrate significant degradation abilities across all enriched media. Three bacterial members, namely Pseudomonas sp. (almA), Marinomonas sp. (almA), and Alteromonas (ladA), exhibit genes responsible for long-chain alkane degradation, demonstrating efficiency between 50 and 80%. Culture-independent analysis reveals that surface SPS samples exhibit greater species richness and diversity compared to subsurface SPSS samples. Proteobacteria dominates as the phylum in both soil sample types, ranging from 22.23 to 82.61%, with Firmicutes (0.2-2.22%), Actinobacteria (0.4-3.02%), and Acidobacteria (0.1-3.53%) also prevalent. Bacterial profiles at genus level revealed that distinct variations among bacterial populations between SPS and SPSS samples comprising number of hydrocarbon degraders and the functional predictions also highlight the presence of potential catabolic genes (nahAa, adh2, and cpnA) in the polluted soil. However, culture-dependent analysis only captured a few of the dominant members found in culture-independent analysis, implying that more specialized media or environments are needed to isolate more bacterial members. The findings from this study contribute valuable information to ecological and biotechnological aspects, aiding in the development of more effective bioremediation applications for restoring oil-contaminated environments.

The Spillover Effect of ESG Performance on Green Innovation—Evidence from Listed Companies in China A-Shares

This research paper examines the spillover effect of ESG performance on green innovation behavior in companies within the same industry. The study specifically focuses on listed companies on the Shanghai Stock Exchange and Shenzhen Stock Exchange between 2011 and 2020. The results indicate that peer firms with superior environmental, social, and governance (ESG) performance have a notable and beneficial impact on the green innovation activities, quantities, and qualities of their counterparts. Significantly, this phenomenon is especially evident for the ecological (E) and societal (S) aspects of ESG performance when considering companies within the same industry. Additionally, according to our analysis, the association between peer firms’ improved ESG performance and subsequent gains in green innovation activities is mediated by higher R&D expenditure and increased green consciousness. The robustness of these findings persists even after resolving issues of endogeneity through thorough testing. In addition, this paper finds that the spillover effects are more significant for non-state-owned firms, small-sized firms, firms with more analyst attention, firms in non-highly polluting industries, and when external environmental regulations are stronger.

Assessment of the Risk Impact of SARS-CoV-2 Infection Prevalence between Cats and Dogs in America and Europe: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

The COVID-19 pandemic represented a huge obstacle for public health and demonstrated weaknesses in surveillance and health promotion systems around the world. Its etiological agent, SARS-CoV-2, of zoonotic origin, has been the target of several studies related to the control and prevention of outbreaks and epidemics of COVID-19 not only for humans but also for animals. Domestic animals, such as dogs and cats, have extensive contact with humans and can acquire the infection both naturally and directly from humans. The objective of this article was to summarize the seroprevalence findings of SARS-CoV-2 in dogs and cats and correlate them with the strength of infection risk between each of them. This is a systematic review and meta-analysis following the recommendations of PRISMA 2020. The search and selection of papers was carried out using in vivo experimental works with animals using the descriptors (MeSH/DeCS) "Animal", "Public Health", "SARS-CoV-2" and "Pandemic" (together with AND) in English, Portuguese or Spanish for Science Direct, PUBMED, LILACS and SciELO databases. The ARRIVE checklist was used for methodological evaluation and the Comprehensive Meta-Analysis v2.2 software with the Difference Risk (RD) test to evaluate statistical inferences (with subgroups by continent). Cats showed greater susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2 compared to dogs both in a joint analysis of studies (RD = 0.017; 95% CI = 0.008-0.025; p < 0.0001) and in the American subgroup (RD = 0.053; 95% CI = 0.032-0.073; p < 0.0001), unlike the lack of significant difference on the European continent (RD = 0.009; 95% CI = -0.001-0.018; p = 0.066). Therefore, it was observed that cats have a greater interest in health surveillance due to the set of biological and ecological aspects of these animals, but also that there are a set of factors that can influence the spread and possible spillover events of the virus thanks to the anthropozoonotic context.

A Review on Some Ecological Aspects of Invasive Flora Based on Comparative Analysis of “Tehri” and “Pauri” Garhwal, Uttarakhand, India

The establishment of invasive plants in a particular area leads to significant ecological changes on the native species of that area, alters ecosystem services and is one of the major drivers of biodiversity loss. In recent years, invasion by alien plants in the hilly regions has posed a severe threat to the ecosystem of these areas. A review was made in this context to study the Invasive Alien Plant Species (IAPS) of “Tehri” and “Pauri” districts. Large number of invasive alien plants was identified under different genera and families from both the study areas. Based on the growth form of invasive plants, herbs contributed the maximum percentage. Asteraceae was found to be dominating over other families followed by Solanaceae. The native range indicated differences in nativity of invasive flora found in Tehri and Pauri with a large percentage of invasive plants coming from Asia (23%) and Tropical America (26%) and respectively. It was observed that invasive plants are invading higher elevation zones which parallels with the directional filtering theory. Due to higher proliferation rates outside their native range and absence of natural predators, it is quite difficult to control this increasing expansion of invasive plants which is a call for concern and needs immediate attention. Keywords: Invasive alien plant species (IAPS), Ecosystem services, Native species, Biodiversity, Directional filtering .

Mechanical Properties, Tissue Structure, and Elemental Composition of the Walking Leg Tips of Coconut Crabs

The coconut crab, Birgus latro, has black protrusions on the tops of its walking legs and claw fingers. In addition, there are regularly aligned small black protrusions on parts of the exoskeleton surface of the claws and leg. In this study, the elemental composition, crystal structure, tissue structure, and mechanical properties of these protrusions were studied using a materials science approach, and the results were compared with those of mineralized cuticle. These leg tips were found to be a non-calcified fibrous tissue of α-chitin connected to the mineralized cuticle. The tip of the second walking leg was elongated and had a pointed shape with an oval cavity at its center that was more than 1000 times larger than the pore tubes (100–350 nm) of the mineralized cuticle. It was very soft, with a hardness of 0.4 GPa, corresponding to 11–12% of the hardness of the hard exocuticle and 55–57% of the hardness of the soft endocuticle. The elastic modulus of 8.0 GPa obtained by means of nanoindentation testing was consistent with that of α-chitin fibers of shrimp shells obtained by means of tensile testing. These soft protrusions provide a secure grip on the surfaces of trees or rocks and protect the claw fingertips. It was concluded that the black protrusions are related to a unique ecological (engaging in vertical movements, entering and exiting limestone caves, and escape behavior) aspect of the coconut crab, the largest terrestrial crustacean.

Trends in the Brazilians' engagement with insects on the internet

Abstract It is estimated that the tropical and south temperate regions harbour approximately 85% of the total entomofauna, and Brazil, which is the largest country in the Neotropical region, shows the greatest insect diversity in the world. However, to the best of our knowledge, the Brazilian population's interest in insects is yet to be investigated. We use Google Trends platform for prospecting temporal variation in the public engagement with nature. From searches in this database, from 2012 to 2020, using common names of 21 insect groups, we evaluated: (I) Brazilians' internet interest on insects over time, (II) the highest search themes for each insect group and (III) which pairs of insects are positively or negatively correlated regarding the public interest through years. Our findings demonstrate that Brazilians' internet interest regarding the studied insect groups is constant over time, which may be linked with the low attention these organisms generally receive, and that Brazilians are prone to perceive them as harmful, as we can observe in many of the top queries related to studied groups. We observed a considerable synchronous growth in interest regarding pairs of insects considered as domestic pests, medically important and charismatic, and the searches on these groups referred mainly to their biological, ecological and cultural aspects. Our results indicate that investment in environmental education in Brazil can motivate public engagement with insects. Also, our data can be crucial for directing conservation policies for insects in the tropical region.

Shading solutions for sustainable water management: impact of colors and intensities on evaporation and water quality

This study investigated the effectiveness of suspended shade covers in reducing evaporation rates and improving evaporation suppression efficiency. The experiment tested different shading colors (black, white, and green) and intensities (50, 70, and 90%) while considering ecological and economical aspects. Evaporation was determined using class-A evaporation pans, and various microclimatic variables were measured below the shade covers. Additionally, water quality parameters such as EC, phosphate, nitrate, and chloride concentrations were monitored. The results showed that black covers had the highest evaporation suppression efficiency with values of 56.8, 53.6, and 51.7% observed under 90% shading intensity for the black, green, and white covers, respectively. Despite variations in water quality parameters which all met Jordanian and FAO standards for irrigation water, the economic feasibility of installing these covers was found to be viable due to the resulting benefits in water conservation and crop production. However, selecting the best shading cover should consider the multipurpose use of agricultural reservoirs, including aquaculture, and further studies are recommended to investigate other overlapping aspects on a reservoir scale.