Ecological Control Research Articles

Mechanisms by which growth and succession limit the impact of fire—A comment on Zylstra et al.'s model

Abstract Zylstra et al. (2023) hypothesise that ecological controls contribute to a decline in the potential behaviour and severity of fires burning in tall open eucalypt forests unburnt for multi‐decadal periods (>52 years). They model potential flame height in forests dominated by Eucalyptus jacksonii in southwestern Australia and argue that self‐thinning of understorey shrubs leads to a decline in suspended litter (woody necromass), which in turn leads to reduced flame heights in older fuels. Forest floor and suspended litter were not sampled as part of their field survey, and instead they describe the dynamics of these fuel components by fitting equations to data reported from previous studies. The form of equation they use to describe the accumulation of suspended litter does not account for the contributions of woody necromass other than from understorey shrubs. In particular, twig fall from the forest overstorey is likely to make an important contribution to suspended litter and is much slower to decompose than leaves and necromass from understorey shrubs. Their assumption of a decline in suspended litter is inconsistent with published research on fuel dynamics in tall open forests in southwestern Australia, which demonstrates that dead fine fuel loadings do not decline when the forest remains unburnt. In the absence of field data to support their assumption of decline in suspended litter, the broader conclusions of Zylstra et al. (2023) regarding changes in potential behaviour and severity of fires in E. jacksonii dominant forest unburnt for >52 years remain open to question. Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog.

The persistent DDT footprint of ocean disposal, and ecological controls on bioaccumulation in fishes

Globally, ocean dumping of chemical waste is a common method of disposal and relies on the assumption that dilution, diffusion, and dispersion at ocean scales will mitigate human exposure and ecosystem impacts. In southern California, extensive dumping of agrochemical waste, particularly chlorinated hydrocarbon contaminants such as DDT, via sewage outfalls and permitted offshore barging occurred for most of the last century. This study compiled a database of existing sediment and fish DDT measurements to examine how this unique legacy of regional ocean disposal translates into the contemporary contamination of the coastal ocean. We used spatiotemporal modeling to derive continuous estimates of sediment DDT contamination and show that the spatial signature of disposal (i.e., high loadings near historic dumping sites) is highly conserved in sediments. Moreover, we demonstrate that the proximity of fish to areas of high sediment loadings explained over half of the variation in fish DDT concentrations. The relationship between sediment and fish contamination was mediated by ecological predictors (e.g., species, trophic ecology, habitat use), and the relative influence of each predictor was context-dependent, with habitat exhibiting greater importance in heavily contaminated areas. Thus, despite more than half a century since the cessation of industrial dumping in the region, local ecosystem contamination continues to mirror the spatial legacy of dumping, suggesting that sediment can serve as a robust predictor of fish contamination, and general ecological characteristics offer a predictive framework for unmeasured species or locations.

Mangrove afforestation as an ecological control of invasive Spartina alterniflora affects rhizosphere soil physicochemical properties and bacterial community in a subtropical tidal estuarine wetland

Background The planting of mangroves is extensively used to control the invasive plant Spartina alterniflora in coastal wetlands. Different plant species release diverse sets of small organic compounds that affect rhizosphere conditions and support high levels of microbial activity. The root-associated microbial community is crucial for plant health and soil nutrient cycling, and for maintaining the stability of the wetland ecosystem. Methods High-throughput sequencing was used to assess the structure and function of the soil bacterial communities in mudflat soil and in the rhizosphere soils of S. alterniflora, mangroves, and native plants in the Oujiang estuarine wetland, China. A distance-based redundancy analysis (based on Bray–Curtis metrics) was used to identify key soil factors driving bacterial community structure. Results S. alterniflora invasion and subsequent mangrove afforestation led to the formation of distinct bacterial communities. The main soil factors driving the structure of bacterial communities were electrical conductivity (EC), available potassium (AK), available phosphorus (AP), and organic matter (OM). S. alterniflora obviously increased EC, OM, available nitrogen (AN), and NO3−-N contents, and consequently attracted copiotrophic Bacteroidates to conduct invasion in the coastal areas. Mangroves, especially Kandelia obovata, were suitable pioneer species for restoration and recruited beneficial Desulfobacterota and Bacilli to the rhizosphere. These conditions ultimately increased the contents of AP, available sulfur (AS), and AN in soil. The native plant species Carex scabrifolia and Suaeda glauca affected coastal saline soil primarily by decreasing the EC, rather than by increasing nutrient contents. The predicted functions of bacterial communities in rhizosphere soils were related to active catabolism, whereas those of the bacterial community in mudflat soil were related to synthesis and resistance to environmental factors. Conclusions Ecological restoration using K. obovata has effectively improved a degraded coastal wetland mainly through increasing phosphorus availability and promoting the succession of the microbial community.

Role of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) investment and natural capital stocks in achieving net-zero carbon emission

This study investigates the role of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) investment and natural capital stocks in achieving net-zero carbon emissions, focusing on the Chinese economy. This study uses the data from 2013 to 2022 and applies correlation analysis, quantile process estimation, quantile-factor augmented vector autoregressive, quantile dimension regression, and robustness analysis techniques. The results confirmed that ESG investment has a significant role in net-zero carbon emission and fosters natural capital stocks in the Chinese ecosystem. The results further established that natural capital stocks significantly benefit the Chinese ecosystem and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, CO2 emission – gaseous fuel, CO2 emission – solid fuel, and carbon intensity. Moreover, natural capital stocks have a significant role in achieving net-zero carbon emissions and it accelerates gross tree cover and green agricultural yield. The study is of great interest to corporations, Chinese banks, and the government in planning and achieving net-zero carbon emissions as per Prudential Financial regulation and accounting reporting systems. Achieving net-zero carbon emission is a process-based approach; therefore, the study recommends that policymakers customize investment mechanisms and natural capital accounting standards as per the territorial requirements and execute an ecological control system to make it sustainable.

Insights into the RNA Virome of the Corn Leafhopper Dalbulus maidis, a Major Emergent Threat of Maize in Latin America

The maize leafhopper (Dalbulus maidis) is a significant threat to maize crops in tropical and subtropical regions, causing extensive economic losses. While its ecological interactions and control strategies are well studied, its associated viral diversity remains largely unexplored. Here, we employ high-throughput sequencing data mining to comprehensively characterize the D. maidis RNA virome, revealing novel and diverse RNA viruses. We characterized six new viral members belonging to distinct families, with evolutionary cues of beny-like viruses (Benyviridae), bunya-like viruses (Bunyaviridae) iflaviruses (Iflaviridae), orthomyxo-like viruses (Orthomyxoviridae), and rhabdoviruses (Rhabdoviridae). Phylogenetic analysis of the iflaviruses places them within the genus Iflavirus in affinity with other leafhopper-associated iflaviruses. The five-segmented and highly divergent orthomyxo-like virus showed a relationship with other insect associated orthomyxo-like viruses. The rhabdo virus is related to a leafhopper-associated rhabdo-like virus. Furthermore, the beny-like virus belonged to a cluster of insect-associated beny-like viruses, while the bi-segmented bunya-like virus was related with other bi-segmented insect-associated bunya-like viruses. These results highlight the existence of a complex virome linked to D. maidis and paves the way for future studies investigating the ecological roles, evolutionary dynamics, and potential biocontrol applications of these viruses on the D. maidis—maize pathosystem.

Cryptofaunal communities are influenced by benthic cover and fish abundance in a large Caribbean coral reef system

AbstractSmall-sized invertebrates inhabiting hard substrates in coral reefs (a.k.a. cryptofauna) contribute substantially to reef biodiversity, but their patterns of distribution and ecological controls are poorly understood. Here, we characterized the cryptofauna community and explored “bottom-up” and “top-down” controls by benthic cover and fish abundance, respectively. We sampled the cryptofauna inhabiting the reef terrace from 13 sites along 200 km in Jardines de la Reina (Cuba), a well-preserved and protected area in the Caribbean. We counted 23,959 invertebrates of 14 higher taxa, being the most abundant Copepoda (54%), Nematoda (21%), Mollusca (7%), Ostracoda (5%), Polychaeta (5%), and Amphipoda (3%). Richness, abundance, and community structure varied across the reefs without any geographical gradient of distribution. One-third of the variance occurred at site scale (~ 10 km), and half occurred at quadrat scale (~ 1 m). Algal cover promoted cryptofauna richness and abundance likely providing substrate and food, while live coral cover negatively influenced nematode abundances, potentially due to coral defenses. Relationships between cryptofauna and reef fishes were also present, with invertivores and herbivores negatively affecting cryptofauna abundance likely due to direct or indirect predation pressures. This research highlights the important roles of bottom-up and top-down controls, by algal/coral cover and fishes, respectively, on cryptofauna and in extension to coral reef biodiversity. Current threats by climate change are expected to alter these controls on cryptofauna resulting in changes to diversity, trophodynamics and energy flows of coral reefs.

Designing of Ecological Model Predictive Control Algorithm for Electric Trucks Platoons with Optimal Energy Consumption

Abstract In response to the problem of motor vehicle exhaust emissions pollution, the development of new energy in China’s truck industry will be an inevitable trend. At present, the penetration rate and market share of pure electric trucks are constantly increasing. The research on electric truck platoons has strong practical significance. This article focuses on the ecological control strategy of pure electric truck platoons. Firstly, a platoon model of four electric trucks is established in Trucksim. The leading vehicle designs an ecological optimal speed dynamic programming algorithm, and in terms of following vehicle tracking control, the battery SOC state motor speed is considered to be improved, Designed an ecological model predictive control algorithm for electric truck platoon with optimal energy consumption. Using real road slope data in the mining area, a Trucksim/Matlab/Simulink joint simulation was conducted. The simulation results showed that compared with traditional constant speed cruise control, the proposed ecological predictive cruise control algorithm for pure electric commercial vehicle platoons saved 9.2577% of the overall battery SOC.

Co-optimization on Ecological Adaptive Cruise Control and Energy Management of Automated Hybrid Electric Vehicles

Electrified drive systems and eco-driving technologies play a crucial role in promoting energy conservation. Eco-driving for hybrid electric vehicles(HEVs) is an intricate problem involving intertwined speed planning and energy management. In this context, an ecological adaptive cruise control (eco-ACC) and powertrain energy management strategy considering Signal Phase Timing Message (SPaT) can enhance both performance and real-time implementation. Specifically, this study develops a novel co-optimization method based on Pontryagin's minimum principle (PMP) that combines car-following control rules with the SPaT for a parallel HEV. The methodology involves the following steps: firstly, the parallel HEV model is established; secondly, the safe following distance model is constructed and the car-following control rules are devised to ensure safe driving. Subsequently, the co-optimization method based on PMP is then presented to simultaneously optimize the eco-driving problem of an ego-vehicle by converting the inter-vehicle distance constraint of the lead-vehicle into the limitation of the speed of the ego-vehicle. Finally, simulations are conducted under different scenarios for both fused SPaT and non-fused SPaT strategy. The simulation results demonstrate a reduction in fuel consumption by 6.27% and 5.69% in two different scenarios, respectively, and a shorter driving time for the fused SPaT strategy compared to the non-fused SPaT strategy.

Ecological Management of Stored Grain Pests: Global Insights and Future Directions

Abstract Post-harvest losses due to pests in cereals and pulse warehouses represent a major challenge to global food security. These losses have widespread negative impacts on the food supply chain, leading to the widespread use of synthetic insecticides to control the spread of pests in stored commodities. Although these chemicals are initially effective against warehouse pests, their prolonged use leads to increased resistance, resulting in increased health and environmental risks. In addition, the residues left by these synthetic insecticides can alter the quality of stored food, thereby posing a threat to human and animal health. In response to this problem, several studies have focused on ecological management aimed at combating warehouse pests without compromising the quality of stored grain. These studies include an assessment of traditional, ecological, and modern approaches as well as a summary of technological advances in cereal storage. This analysis describes new emerging ecological methods such as varietal resistance, use of semiochemicals, and physical and biological control methods. The challenges and research prospects associated with ecological practices were also discussed. It is emphasized that ecological control is not only safer and more sustainable in the long term but also contributes to the preservation of the environment and human health by reducing exposure to harmful substances.

Analysis of Ecological Vulnerability Control Strategies for Typical River Valley Cities in Northwest China: A Perspective of Spatial Heterogeneity

Analysis of Ecological Vulnerability Control Strategies for Typical River Valley Cities in Northwest China: A Perspective of Spatial Heterogeneity

Applying the driver-pressure-state-impact-response model to ecological restoration: A case study of comprehensive zoning and benefit assessment in Zhejiang Province, China

Ecosystem degradation is a global problem that poses a significant threat to the sustainable development of human societies, particularly in developing countries, such as China. In response, China has implemented a series of ecological restoration (ER) policies over recent years. However, significant regional developmental disparities, pronounced spatial heterogeneity of ecological issues, and substantial historical debt for ER in China present considerable obstacles and financial burdens to the effective implementation of ER strategies. Delineating ER zones and assessing the ER benefits are essential for developing effective ER strategies and implementing ER projects. In this study, we constructed a comprehensive framework for ER utilizing the Driver-Pressure-State-Impact-Response (DPSIR) model, quantified the urbanization levels, ecological state, and restoration costs in Zhejiang Province to delineate ER zones, integrated the patch-generating land use simulation model with the ecosystem service value assessment method to quantify the benefits of ER, and ultimately developed tailored ER strategies. The results showed that: (1) The pattern of urbanization levels was characterized by high levels in the northeast and low levels in the southwest, which constrated with the ecological state. The areas of high restoration costs were located in the northeastern and southeastern regions, and the areas of low restoration costs were situated in the southwestern region. (2) The rate of construction land expansion is significantly curtailed under the ER scenario compared to the natural development scenario in 2035, while forest areas have seen effective protection and an increase from the levels of 2020. (3) The ER policy is projected to generate ecological benefits totaling CNY 8.23 billion by 2035, substantially reducing the rate of ecosystem degradation. (4) Zhejiang Province is divided into five zones at the county scale: ecological autonomous protection zone, ecological core protection zone, ecological priority restoration zone, ecological control zone, and moderate development zone. Strategies have been devised based on the forecasted benefits of ER, offering valuable insights into ecological management. These findings aim to enhance the understanding of ER and support the development and implementation of regional ecological policies.

Eriophyid mites in fruit crops: Biology, ecology, molecular aspects, and innovative control strategies

Eriophyid mites, minute arachnids within the family Eriophyidae, pose significant threats to fruit crops globally, leading to substantial economic losses in agriculture. This comprehensive review aims to elucidate the intricate biology, ecology, molecular aspects, and innovative control strategies of these pervasive pests. Eriophyid mites exhibit a complex life cycle and reproductive strategy, with their habitat preferences and distribution heavily influenced by environmental factors and host-plant interactions. Advances in molecular biology have provided more profound insights into their genetics and interactions at the molecular level, revealing crucial information for developing targeted pest management strategies. Control strategies for eriophyid mites encompass chemical methods, such as applying acaricides and understanding resistance mechanisms, as well as biological control using natural predators and parasitoids. Cultural and physical control methods, including crop rotation and mechanical removal, play vital roles in integrated pest management (IPM). Emerging approaches like RNA interference (RNAi) and semiochemical-based controls offer promising alternatives for sustainable pest management. This review underscores the importance of a multifaceted approach to effectively manage eriophyid mite infestations, integrating traditional and novel strategies. Future research should focus on overcoming current challenges, enhancing the efficacy of control methods, and further exploring the molecular mechanisms underlying mite-plant interactions

The Ecological Risks in Arid Zones from a Production–Living–Ecological Space Perspective: A Case Study of the Tuha Region in Xinjiang, China

The ecological and environmental problems of arid zones have become an urgent global concern. Current research on ecological risk is based mainly on the dominant functions of land use, with a primary focus on land use landscape projections and less consideration of potential risks to ecosystems, system resilience and interactions between nature and future sustainable development. In this study, a potential–connectivity–resilience ecological risk assessment model based on the SDGs was constructed using multisource data to spatially quantify indicators at the grid scale in the Turpan and Hami regions of Xinjiang, China. This model was used as a basis for studying ecological risk in arid zones from a production–living–ecological space (PLES) perspective. The results revealed that, during the period 2000–2020, PLESs in the Turpan and Hami regions presented significant spatial similarity, with an increasing trend in overall risk. The production space in the Turpan and Hami regions showed a parabolic trend of increasing and then decreasing, whereas the living space and ecological space in the Hami region showed continuous linear upward trends. The state of ecological security in the Turpan and Hami regions is gradually deteriorating, and comprehensive ecological protection and restoration measures are urgently needed to rationally allocate the structure and layout of the production-–living-–ecological space. The study of ecological risk from a PLES perspective not only helps in fully understanding the development trend of the arid zone; it also provides new ideas and methods for evaluating regional ecological environmental safety and scientific references for formulating regional sustainable development, ecological risk prevention and control and the rational allocation of resources.

Ecological space management and control zoning of Giant Panda National Park from the perspective of ecosystem services and land use

Since China proposed building a national park system in 2017, the establishment of a planning system for nature reserves, with national parks as the main body, is being actively promoted around the country. Among them, scientific ecological space management and control zoning (ESMCZ) is an important link in maintaining the ecological stability of national parks. How to zone national parks and how to improve the precision of zoning has become a new task for national parks. Therefore, this study takes the Giant Panda National Park as the study area, takes ecosystem services and land use/cover change as the research perspective, integrates the InVEST model, PLUS model and bayes belief network (BBN) model, and builds a set of ecological space management and control zoning (ESMCZ) spatial zoning framework based on raster scale, dividing the study area into strictly protected zone, ecological buffer zone, ecological control zone and controlled development zone. The results showed that: (1) The study area showed an increasing trend in water conservation, soil conservation and carbon storage from 2005 to 2020, and the habitat quality index was generally high. The spatial heterogeneity of ecosystem services in the study area was significant, and the effect of a single factor on ecosystem services was most pronounced. (2) Large variation in area for different land uses under natural development scenarios and ecological protection scenarios. In both scenarios, the area of cultivated land, the area of grassland and the area of unused land decrease relative to 2020, and the area of forested land, the area of water and the area of constructed land increase relative to 2020. (3) The Giant Panda National Park is divided into strictly protected zone, ecological buffer zone, ecological control zone and control development zone, of which the strictly protected zone have the largest area and the best ecosystem background condition, and the control development zone have the smallest area and the worst ecosystem background condition. (4) The ecological space management and control zoning (ESMCZ) framework provides a more refined method for the secondary zoning of nature reserves such as the Giant Panda National Park, which is valuable for the implementation of zoning and categorization management for ecological conservation in the Giant Panda National Park.

Analysis of ecological prevention and control technology for expansive soil slope

Analysis of ecological prevention and control technology for expansive soil slope

Effects of Insecticide and Herbicides on Thyroid Disturbances in Zebrafish.

Thyroid cancer usually begins with thyroid dysfunction and nodules and has become the most common cancer globally, especially in women. Although the causes of thyroid dysfunction are complex, the presence of environmental pollutants, especially certain pesticides as established mutagens, has been widely accepted. Zebrafish (Danio rerio) have similar toxic reactions and signal transduction pathways to humans and are very similar to humans in physiology, development, and metabolic function. Here, the direct toxicity effects and mechanisms of different insecticides and herbicides on zebrafish thyroid functions and indirect toxicity effects originating from thyroid dysfunction were summarized and compared. The overall toxicity of insecticides on the zebrafish thyroid was greater than that of herbicides based on effective concentrations. Penpropathrin and atrazine were more typical thyroid disruptors than other pesticides. Meanwhile, chiral pesticides showed more sophisticated single/combined toxicity effects on both parental and offspring zebrafish. Besides thyroid hormone levels and HPT axis-related gene expression alteration, developmental toxicity, immunotoxicity, and oxidative damage effects were all observed. These data are necessary for understanding the thyroid interference effect of pesticides on humans and for screening for thyroid disruptors in surface water with zebrafish models for the pre-assessment of human health risks and ecological risk control in the future.

Ecological control of the Pelsonian colonisation event (Anisian, Triassic) leading to the first settlement of Tetractinella-beds (Brachiopoda) in the Iberian palaeomargins. Palaeobiogeographical and biostratigraphical significance

Marine benthic biota recovery after the Permian/Triassic extinction is still a challenging topic in several fossil clades such as brachiopods. In fact, available data from the Early-Middle Triassic are scarce worldwide and their global record derives from limited localities throughout the Tethys Ocean. This work presents the first record of the Anisian Tetractinella-beds (Brachiopoda, Athyridida) in the peri-Iberian epicontinental platforms established in the westernmost Tethys margins. Their utility as a reliable biohorizon marker is emphasised as they provide an effective tool for age calibration and correlation in the middle Anisian (Pelsonian) successions, also supported by the co-occurring fossil assemblage. In the South-Iberian Palaeomargin, Tetractinella-beds occur in an intensively-burrowed shallow-marine succession. The rich ichnological content has been exhaustively evaluated in order to assess the ecological factors controlling the development of the brachiopod fauna. Three ichnoassemblages are documented dominated by Oravaichnium, Balanoglossites and Thalassinoides, respectively. The gathered faunal, ichnological, taphonomical, and sedimentological data reveal an alternation of sea-level changes influencing the composition of the Anisian marine communities. The first stage consists of near-shore restricted environments sporadically disturbed by short-term shallow-marine interludes, characterised by the presence of Oravaichnium and its associated fauna. Subsequently, the Pelsonian transgression event is recorded (MID-2), documented by a firm-ground surface pointed out by the development of a Balanoglossites surface, followed by the highstand, when shallow epicontinental environments developed in connection with open-marine areas. This phase involved the spreading of Tetractinella and deep-water bivalves. Finally, near-shore restricted conditions were re-established typified by Oravaichnium and the last occurrences of Tetractinella, with the disappearance of the open sea-water fauna. The maximum flooding reached after the Pelsonian transgression facilitated new palaeobiogeographical migration routes, allowing for an Alpine-Germanic dispersion of taxa throughout the North-South epicontinental Tethyan seaway as well as the earliest first faunal migration event from the Sephardic Bioprovince northwards to the South-Iberian palaeomargin.

Resistances and Physiological Responses of Impatiens uliginosa to Copper Stress

The phytoremediation of soil and water that has been significantly contaminated with metals has potential ecological and economical ramifications, as well as the advantages of high efficiency, and is an environmentally friendly method of ecological pollution control. This study aimed to examine the impact of varying concentrations of Copper (Cu2+) (0, 5, 10, 15, 20, and 25 mg·L−1) on the growth, development, physiology, biochemistry, mineral elements, and features of Cu2+ enrichment of Impatiens uliginosa. This plant is endemic to Yunnan Province in China and is a wetland species. The results showed that the root lengths, stem diameters, plant height, and stem and leaf biomass of I. uliginosa showed a phenomenon of “low promotion and high inhibition,” while the root biomass showed a trend of gradual decreasing. At the early stage of Cu2+ stress (day 6), the activities of peroxidase and catalase and the contents of malondialdehyde (MDA) of I. uliginosa were directly proportional to the concentration of Cu2+. As the treatment time increased, the activation of a defense mechanism in vivo enabled I. uliginosa to adapt to the high Cu2+ environment, and the content of MDA gradually decreased. As the concentration of Cu2+ increased, its contents in the roots, stems, and leaves also gradually increased. In particular, when the concentration of Cu2+ reached 25 mg·L−1, its contents in the roots of I. uliginosa increased by 39.16-fold compared with that of the control group (CK). The concentration-dependent influence of the contents of iron (Fe) and zinc (Zn) in the roots and leaves were observed. Low concentrations of Cu2+ promoted iron content in roots and leaves, and vice versa, while Zn content decreased with the increasing concentration of Cu2+. It was conclusively shown that I. uliginosa has the potential to remediate low concentrations of Cu2+ pollution in water and is a textbook ornamental plant to remediate bodies of water that are polluted with Cu2+.

Progress in Research on Prevention and Control of Crop Fungal Diseases in the Context of Climate Change

With an advancement in global climate change, the frequency of extreme climatic events, such as high temperature, drought, and flooding, has increased. Meanwhile, outbreaks of crop fungal diseases are becoming more frequent and serious, and crop growth and food production are seriously threatened. This article focuses on the climate change-related aggravation of crop fungal diseases; summarizes the progress in research on the impact of climate change on soil-borne fungal diseases, air-borne fungal diseases, and seed-borne fungal diseases; and discusses the conventional methods for diagnosing crop fungal diseases. On the basis of comparative analysis, the concept of ecological control is proposed; ecological control can maintain the dynamic balance of crop–biology–soil, provide a good environment for the healthy growth of crops, and provide a new fungal disease control method in the context of climate change.

Age-related differences in subjective and physiological emotion evoked by immersion in natural and social virtual environments

Age-related changes in emotional processing are complex, with a bias toward positive information. However, the impact of aging on emotional responses in positive everyday situations remains unclear. Virtual Reality (VR) has emerged as a promising tool for investigating emotional processing, offering a unique balance between ecological validity and experimental control. Yet, limited evidence exists regarding its efficacy to elicit positive emotions in older adults. Our study aimed to explore age-related differences in positive emotional responses to immersion in both social and nonsocial virtual emotional environments. We exposed 34 younger adults and 24 older adults to natural and social 360-degree video content through a low immersive computer screen and a highly immersive Head-Mounted Display, while recording participants' physiological reactions. Participants also provided self-report of their emotions and sense of presence. The findings support VR’s efficacy in eliciting positive emotions in both younger and older adults, with age-related differences in emotional responses influenced by the specific video content rather than immersion level. These findings underscore the potential of VR as a valuable tool for examining age-related differences in emotional responses and developing VR applications to enhance emotional wellbeing across diverse user populations.