Ecological Implications Research Articles

Ecological Implications of Posidonia oceanica Banquette Removal: Potential Loss of Natural Capital and Ecosystem Services

Posidonia oceanica is an endemic seagrass of the Mediterranean Sea, forming extensive meadows and providing valuable ecosystem services underwater as well as on the shore. P. oceanica constantly generates new leaves while shedding the older ones. The latter may be deposited on the shoreline, forming “banquettes” that exhibit variable thickness, ranging from a few centimeters to several meters. These deposits act as natural barriers against coastal erosion, preventing sand loss and dissipating wave energy. Moreover, the degradation of the washed-up leaves releases large amounts of nutrients, relevant for the coastal food web. However, the presence of banquettes in touristic areas is often perceived as a nuisance, thus leading to their removal by local administrations. This study proposes a multidisciplinary approach for the assessment of P. oceanica banquettes along the coastline of the Campania region (Southern Italy), estimating their biomass and the associated concentrations of nutrients and other chemical elements, with the final aim to assess the potential loss of natural capital and ecosystem services due to their removal. Regional estimates show that approximately 40 tons of C are stored annually in the beached biomass, representing a potential carbon loss associated with their removal. The results highlight the crucial role that P. oceanica banquettes play in the blue carbon cycle and provide valuable insights to support their sustainable management.

Exaggeration through sexual selection may impact the thermal biology of arthropods.

Sexual selection is often invoked to explain the evolution of extravagant morphologies, such as antlers and horns. While the focus is typically on the process of exaggeration of these traits, the functional impact of exaggeration remains a topic of debate. One aspect that has been largely overlooked is how exaggerated structures might impact thermal biology. For example, as a hollow (i.e., non-vascularized or non-perfused) structure increases in size, its surface area and volume change, potentially impacting its ability to obtain and dissipate heat passively. However, if the exaggerated structure is vascularized, or in the case of arthropods, has hemolymph perfusion, then it may be actively used as a thermal radiator to avoid overheating in instances of thermal stress. Based on these and additional examples, we propose that morphological exaggeration may influence how arthropods manage heat exchange with the environment. Ultimately, individuals that bear exaggerated structures may develop ecological innovations that, due to selection or as a corollary effect, maximize effectiveness of thermoregulation. Our essay is divided into four sections. First, we delve on how exaggerated structures, particularly animal weapons, may impact how organisms exchange heat with the environment, and the implications for whole-organism thermoregulation. Second, we use beetles and fiddler crabs to provide experimental evidence of how structural exaggeration may influence thermal biology. Third, we examine macroecological data from arthropods to explore how the size of sexually-selected morphologies varies with changes in environmental temperature. Finally, we synthesize these pieces of evidence to identify significant ecological implications and gaps in knowledge. Through this essay, we aim to ignite discussion on how morphological changes driven by sexual selection can lead to innovations not only in the functional role of morphologies but also in the thermal biology of individuals.

LIFE CYCLE ASSESSMENT OF SUSTAINABLE URBAN DESIGN: EVALUATING THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT OF STREET AND BUILDING EXTERIOR SURFACE MATERIALS

In this study, the environmental impacts of building exterior surface and street surface materials using the life-cycle assessment (LCA) method will be discussed. A complete understanding of these materials’ ecological implications will arise from an exploration from raw extraction to the discarding phase. The materials used in this research are asphalt, ceramics, aluminum, alucobond, artificial stone, glass, and steel which have been evaluated against various factors such as electricity consumption, greenhouse gas emissions, depletion of resources, and waste production by using OpenLCA software. From a global warming perspective, glass ceramic and artificial stone contribute less compared to scenarios where steel and aluminum are used, but for the case of depletion of resources, ceramics alone hold more than a third lesser amount than all other alloys combined. This paper proposes guidelines for designers, stakeholders, and decision-makers to take appropriate actions towards sustainable urban design.

Biogeography and ecological functions of underestimated CPR and DPANN in acid mine drainage sediments

Recent genomic surveys have uncovered candidate phyla radiation (CPR) bacteria and DPANN archaea as major microbial dark matter lineages in various anoxic habitats. Despite their extraordinary diversity, the biogeographic patterns and ecological implications of these ultra-small and putatively symbiotic microorganisms have remained elusive. Here, we performed metagenomic sequencing on 90 geochemically diverse acid mine drainage sediments sampled across southeast China and recovered 282 CPR and 189 DPANN nonredundant metagenome-assembled genomes, which collectively account for up to 28.6% and 31.2% of the indigenous prokaryotic communities, respectively. We found that, remarkably, geographic distance represents the primary factor driving the large-scale ecological distribution of both CPR and DPANN organisms, followed by pH and Fe. Although both groups might be capable of iron reduction through a flavin-based extracellular electron transfer mechanism, significant differences are found in their metabolic capabilities (with complex carbon degradation and chitin degradation being more prevalent in CPR whereas fermentation and acetate production being enriched in DPANN), indicating potential niche differentiation. Predicted hosts are mainly Acidobacteriota, Bacteroidota, and Proteobacteria for CPR and Thermoplasmatota for DPANN, and extensive, unbalanced metabolic exchanges between these symbionts and putative hosts are displayed. Together, our results provide initial insights into the complex interplays between the two lineages and their physicochemical environments and host populations at a large geographic scale.IMPORTANCECandidate phyla radiation (CPR) bacteria and DPANN archaea constitute a significant fraction of Earth's prokaryotic diversity. Despite their ubiquity and abundance, especially in anoxic habitats, we know little about the community patterns and ecological drivers of these ultra-small, putatively episymbiotic microorganisms across geographic ranges. This study is facilitated by a large collection of CPR and DPANN metagenome-assembled genomes recovered from the metagenomes of 90 sediments sampled from geochemically diverse acid mine drainage (AMD) environments across southeast China. Our comprehensive analyses have allowed first insights into the biogeographic patterns and functional differentiation of these major enigmatic prokaryotic groups in the AMD model system.

Unlocking the soundscape of coral reefs with artificial intelligence: pretrained networks and unsupervised learning win out.

Passive acoustic monitoring can offer insights into the state of coral reef ecosystems at low-costs and over extended temporal periods. Comparison of whole soundscape properties can rapidly deliver broad insights from acoustic data, in contrast to detailed but time-consuming analysis of individual bioacoustic events. However, a lack of effective automated analysis for whole soundscape data has impeded progress in this field. Here, we show that machine learning (ML) can be used to unlock greater insights from reef soundscapes. We showcase this on a diverse set of tasks using three biogeographically independent datasets, each containing fish community (high or low), coral cover (high or low) or depth zone (shallow or mesophotic) classes. We show supervised learning can be used to train models that can identify ecological classes and individual sites from whole soundscapes. However, we report unsupervised clustering achieves this whilst providing a more detailed understanding of ecological and site groupings within soundscape data. We also compare three different approaches for extracting feature embeddings from soundscape recordings for input into ML algorithms: acoustic indices commonly used by soundscape ecologists, a pretrained convolutional neural network (P-CNN) trained on 5.2 million hrs of YouTube audio, and CNN's which were trained on each individual task (T-CNN). Although the T-CNN performs marginally better across tasks, we reveal that the P-CNN offers a powerful tool for generating insights from marine soundscape data as it requires orders of magnitude less computational resources whilst achieving near comparable performance to the T-CNN, with significant performance improvements over the acoustic indices. Our findings have implications for soundscape ecology in any habitat.

Glitter ingestion by bromeliad-dwelling macroinvertebrates: implications for freshwater microplastic contamination.

Microplastics (MPs) are pervasive pollutants due to their extensive dispersion across terrestrial, marine, freshwater environments, and even the atmosphere. Beyond the common sources of MPs from the degradation of larger plastic items, an often-overlooked primary source is glitter. Widely incorporated into everyday products, glitter not only poses a significant environmental risk due to its ease of dispersion but also holds cultural importance in regions like Brazil, where it is extensively used in festivities. Understanding glitter as a type of microplastic can offer valuable insights into the effects of MPs on aquatic ecosystems, particularly concerning freshwater macroinvertebrates. Given the ecological significance of this issue, our study investigated the ingestion and potential bioaccumulation of MPs by macroinvertebrates in the phytotelmata of Aechmea blanchetiana bromeliads. Organisms were exposed to a microplastic treatment (0.1 g/L glitter) for seven days, followed by taxonomic identification and analysis of MP distribution across body segments. Statistical tests assessed variations in MP distribution among taxa and body regions. Results revealed significant MP ingestion, with the highest concentrations in Culicidae and Chironomidae, suggesting that their generalist feeding behaviors facilitate MP intake. Observations also pointed to preferential accumulation of MPs in certain body parts, indicating potential bioaccumulation. Additionally, the presence of fragmenting MP particles within these taxa highlights their potential role in enhancing MP bioavailability in aquatic environments. Chironomidae and Culicidae, through ingestion and fragmentation, may increase MP dispersal across trophic levels, which could exacerbate bioaccumulation risks within the food web. This evidence supports the use of Chironomidae and Culicidae as effective biomonitors for MPs and calls attention to the ecological implications of glitter pollution in tropical freshwater ecosystems.

Preliminary stream sediment geochemical exploration for base metals and other elements in terms of source apportionment and contamination status of Manjo and environs, Cameroon

This study seeks to evaluate stream sediments for metal exploration, pollution and ecological implications using single and cumulative pollution indices in the light of recent discoveries. The concentration of metals in stream sediments of Manjo and environs was evaluated using inductively coupled Plasma-mass spectrometry. The sediment samples exhibit high concentrations for Fe, Pb, Hg, Ga, Zn, Cr, Cu, Co, Ni, V, Sn, Ce, La, U and Th when compared with the geochemical threshold values of upper continental crust (UCC), indicating some strong anomalies for potential base metal mineralization and exploration implications. The single and cumulative pollution indices suggest sediment contamination severity and metallic pollution. Potential ecological risk index (RI: 17.682–457.791) and toxic risk index (TRI: 2.243–29.981) indicate high ecological and significant toxicity risks, suggesting biological effects of metals to sediment-dwelling organisms. Sediment quality guidelines suggest high toxicological impacts and response stress of metals (Pb, Cu, Cr and Ni) to the aquatic ecosystem flora and fauna. Natural versus anthropogenic input origins are ressponsible for sediments enrichment in base metals and metallic pollution in the study area. The sediments are sourced from mafic and quartzose sedimentary provenances and mainly deposited in a non-marine environment. In addition, the sediments are mature and display moderate to intense weathering and rich mostly in quartz. According to this research, there should be more focus on monitoring the point sources of metals entering aquatic environment from human-induced activities to abate the anthropogenic inputs. Commitment to research and the implementation of science-based strategies will be crucial in ensuring the ecological sustainability of the water sediments’ environment. More so, note is taken of the natural lithological contributions to the sediment geochemistry having implications for future mineral exploration ventures.

Potential ecological implications of extensive cereal rye cover cropping in the United States

Potential ecological implications of extensive cereal rye cover cropping in the United States

The evaluation of biogenic silica in brackish and freshwater strains reveals links between phylogeny and silica accumulation in picocyanobacteria.

Through biosilicification, organisms incorporate dissolved silica (dSi) and deposit it as biogenic silica (bSi), driving the silicon (Si) cycle in aquatic systems. While Si accumulation in marine picocyanobacteria has been recently observed, its mechanisms and ecological implications remain unclear. This study investigates biosilicification in marine and brackish picocyanobacteria of the Synechococcus clade and two model freshwater coccoid cyanobacteria. Brackish strains showed significantly higher Si quotas when supplemented with external dSi (100 µM) compared to controls (up to 60.0 ± 7.3 amol Si.cell-1 versus 9.2 to 16.3 ± 2.9 amol Si.cell-1). Conversely, freshwater strains displayed no significant differences in Si quotas between dSi-enriched treatments and controls, emphasizing that not all phytoplanktons without an obligate Si requirement accumulate this element. The Si-accumulating marine and brackish picocyanobacteria clustered within the Synechococcus clade, whereas their freshwater counterparts formed a distinct sister group, suggesting a link between phylogeny and silicification. Rapid culture growth caused increased pH and led to dSi precipitation, influencing apparent dSi uptake; this was mitigated by pH control through bubbling. This phenomenon has significant implications for natural systems affected by phytoplankton blooms. In such environments, pH-induced silicon precipitation may reduce dSi availability impacting Si-dependent populations like diatoms. Our findings suggest brackish picocyanobacteria could significantly influence the Si cycle through at least two mechanisms: cellular Si accumulation and biologically induced changes in dSi concentrations.IMPORTANCEThis work provides the first evidence of biogenic silica accumulation in brackish picocyanobacteria and uncovers a link between phylogeny and biosilicification patterns. Our findings demonstrate that picocyanobacterial growth induces pH-dependent silica precipitation, which could lead to overestimations of cellular Si quotas by up to 85%. This process may drive substantial silica precipitation in highly productive freshwater and coastal marine systems, with potential effects on silica cycling and the population dynamics of Si-dependent phytoplankton. The extent of biosilicification in modern picocyanobacteria offers insights into the rock record, shedding light on the evolutionary and ecological dynamics that influence sedimentary processes and the preservation of biosilicification signatures in geological formations. Overall, this research adds to the significant impact that microorganisms lacking an obligate silica requirement may have on silica dynamics.

Toilet Bowl Cleaning Tablets as Sources of Chlorine, Bromine, and Disinfection Byproducts in Wastewater.

Commercial toilet bowl cleaning tablets were examined in laboratory systems to characterize their release of active halogens and their potential to form trihalomethanes (THMs) when combined with synthetic sewage. Active halogens (e.g., HOCl, HOBr, and reactive halamines) were quantified via derivatization with 1,3,5-trimethoxybenzene prior to analysis by liquid chromatography. The effects of several variables on halogen release profiles were examined, including pH, ionic strength, temperature, tank solution volume, flushing frequency, and tablet brand. Changes in pH resulted in modest or no appreciable changes in halogen release profiles. Release of active halogens increased as ionic strength decreased and as temperature increased. Tank volume, flushing frequency, and tablet brand had pronounced impacts on halogen release profiles. Maximum measured active chlorine and bromine concentrations in toilet tank water were 189 mg/L as Cl2 and 164 mg/L as Cl2, respectively. Active halogens persisted in toilet bowl water for >24 h. When toilet-tablet-treated water was combined with synthetic sewage, THMs formed at up to 219 ppb with bromine incorporation factors up to 2.86. Active halogens and highly brominated THMs released into wastewater from toilet tablets could have implications for downstream microbial ecology, septic system performance, and overall water quality.

Soil microbial networks' complexity as a primary driver of multifunctionality in photovoltaic power plants in the northwest region of China.

Exploiting photovoltaic power generation as a novel source of clean energy has become increasingly common in recent times. Nevertheless, the impact of photovoltaic power plants (PVs) on soil microbial activity and several functions is unclear. The present investigation aims to collect soil samples from photovoltaic power plants in arid and semi-arid regions with different years of construction, determine the physicochemical properties of the soil, and employ high-throughput sequencing to obtain 16S rRNA and ITS genes from the PV. This approach examines the community composition of bacteria and fungi in plant soils. This dataset is adopted to explore the role of soil physicochemical characteristics and climatic factors in the variousness and complexness of the network of soil microbial communities in PVs. The findings reveal that soil physicochemical properties exhibit a gradual increase over time, with bacterial and fungal diversity showing a corresponding gradual increase and reaching a maximum over a period of 5-10 years. Furthermore, it is observed that the topological properties of the microbial network underwent significant changes driven by microbial diversity. Bacterial and fungal diversity as well as network complexity also display positive and negative correlations, respectively. A positive and significant correlation is detected between the bacterial network complexity and the soil multifunctionality, whereas a substantial negative correlation is observed between the fungal network complexity and the soil multifunctionality. In conclusion the environment is able to directly regulate soil microbial diversity, thereby affecting network complexity and driving soil multifunctionality. Such discoveries are aimed to have crucial ecological implications for predicting environmental-soil-microbial effects on soil multifunctionality in photovoltaic zones.

Ecotoxicological effects of titanium dioxide nanoparticles on the freshwater mussel Lamellidens marginalis: physiological disruption, oxidative stress, and ecological implications

Titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO2 NPs) are widely distributed in aquatic environments due to their extensive industrial and commercial applications. Several studies have reported the adverse effects of TiO2 NPs on aquatic organisms; however, limited information is available regarding their impact on the freshwater mussel Lamellidens marginalis. The present study investigates the physiological and biochemical responses of L. marginalis following acute exposure (7 days) to varying concentrations of TiO2 NPs (Control, 5.0, 50, and 100 µg/L). Physiological parameters, including the condition index, filtration rate, and clearance rate, were assessed alongside hemocyte count, metabolic activity (electron transport system activity), and energy reserve content (glycogen, lipid, and protein levels). Additionally, oxidative stress biomarkers, including antioxidant enzyme activity, biotransformation enzyme activity, and lipid peroxidation levels, were evaluated. Results revealed a significant accumulation of TiO2 NPs in the gill tissues, accompanied by a marked decline in filtration rate and total hemocyte count, along with an increase in nitric oxide production. Exposure to higher concentrations of TiO2 NPs resulted in substantial alterations in energy reserve levels and oxidative stress biomarkers, indicative of metabolic disruption. Furthermore, mussels exposed to elevated TiO2 NP concentrations exhibited reduced feeding activity and energy expenditure, leading to impaired physiological performance, including potential consequences for growth and reproduction. Histopathological analysis demonstrated pronounced gill damage in mussels from the higher exposure groups. These findings emphasize the ecological risks associated with TiO2 NP contamination and underscore the need for stringent measures to mitigate their impact on freshwater bivalves.

The Role of Vulture (Accipitriformes) Cutaneous Microbiota in Infectious Disease Protection.

Vultures (Accipitriformes), as obligate scavengers, are regularly exposed to a diverse array of pathogens present in decomposing carcasses. Nevertheless, they exhibit a remarkable ability to resist infections, suggesting a crucial role of skin microbiota in host defense. The microbial communities residing on necrophagic birds' skin create a protective barrier through competitive interactions, antimicrobial compound production, and immunity priming. Additionally, vultures contribute to ecosystem balance by reducing the spread of infectious agents. However, they may also serve as vectors for antimicrobial resistance (AMR) due to their exposure to contaminated food sources. Understanding the dynamics of their microbiota can provide valuable insights into host-microbe interactions, wildlife conservation, and public health. This review examines the composition and functional significance of vulture cutaneous microbiota. Specifically, it explores the role of necrophagic birds' skin microbiota in pathogen exclusion, immune system modulation, and environmental adaptation, with the aim of suggesting further research routes, besides clarifying the ecological implications of such birds.

Bottom Temperature Effect on Growth of Multiple Demersal Fish Species in Flemish Cap, Northwest Atlantic.

This study investigates the effects of warming water on growth in seven demersal fish species including Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua), American plaice (Hippoglossoides platessoides), Greenland halibut (Reinhardtius hippoglossoides), roughhead grenadier (Macrourus berglax) and three species of redfish (Sebastes spp.) in the Northwest Atlantic and compares the changes in growth across species. Length-at-age data were collected from EU bottom trawl surveys from 1993 to 2018, and bottom temperature data were obtained from the Copernicus Marine Service. Generalised additive mixed models (GAMMs) were used to describe the temperature effects on growth. The analysis was carried out separately for males and females. Both sexes of all species except American plaice showed significant temperature effects on growth. To obtain the growth parameters, von Bertalanffy growth functions (VBGFs) were fitted to the predictions from best-fit GAMMs for all species and both sexes under five different bottom temperature scenarios (3, 3.5, 4, 4.5 and 5 °C). The predictions from all best-fit GAMMs were broadly similar in form to the fitted von Bertalanffy growth functions (R2 > 90%). Increased bottom temperature generally resulted in a decrease in the asymptotic length (L∞) and an increase in the growth rate (k). The species with the most dramatic increase in k over the temperature range of 3 °C to 5 °C was Atlantic cod, for which k increased from 0.05 to 0.13 year-1 in females and from 0.08 to 0.14 year-1 in males. The maximum length (Lmax), predicted by the VBGF at maximum age generally declined from 3 °C to 5 °C. The species with the most pronounced decline in Lmax was beaked redfish (S. mentella). An increase in the proportion of smaller individuals could impact population productivity and result in lower biomass available to fisheries. Uneven changes in fish growth in the warming ocean could also have wider ecological implications and alter the trophic landscape.

Interaction Between Anchovy and Squat Lobster in Northern Patagonia: Effects on Trophic Relationships and Ecological Implications

Interaction Between Anchovy and Squat Lobster in Northern Patagonia: Effects on Trophic Relationships and Ecological Implications

Genome Editing in Medicine: A Scoping Review of Ethical, Bioethical, and Medico-Legal Implications.

Genome editing, prominently led by the revolutionary CRISPR-Cas9 technology, is a powerful tool with significant applications in diverse fields, particularly in medicine and agriculture. It empowers scientists with the ability to effect precise genetic modifications, thereby potentially paving the way for advanced treatments for genetic disorders such as Huntington's disease, hemophilia, and cystic fibrosis. Yet, the significant capabilities of this technology also brings to the fore a myriad of intricate bioethical, legal, and regulatory dilemmas. In light of these complexities, this article endeavors to conduct a comprehensive scoping review of the existing literature on the most significant ethical implications emanating from genome editing. In conducting this review, we utilized the power of software tools like EndNote and Rayyan to aid in the systematic and thorough review of the literature. EndNote, a reference management software, was instrumental in organizing and managing the references and bibliographies, while Rayyan, a web application designed for managing and screening records for systematic and scoping reviews, proved crucial in the import and management of text records for the review.The review identified as main aspects of ethical, bioethical and medico-legal interest the exacerbation of social inequalities, safety concerns such as off-target mutations and immunological risks, ecological and evolutionary implications, and challenges to human dignity. It highlights the necessity for equitable access, rigorous regulation, and public engagement to address these issues responsibly.The ultimate objective of this article is to underscore the importance of an informed and inclusive dialogue regarding genome editing. Such dialogue is pivotal for fostering responsible innovation in this rapidly advancing field, ensuring that scientific progress aligns with ethical considerations. By presenting a comprehensive examination of the ethical implications of genome editing, we aim to contribute to this ongoing dialogue and promote a balanced and nuanced understanding of this impactful technology.

Candidate Phyla Radiation (CPR) bacteria from hyperalkaline ecosystems provide novel insight into their symbiotic lifestyle and ecological implications

BackgroundCandidate Phyla Radiation (CPR) represents a unique superphylum characterized by ultra-small cell size and symbiotic lifestyle. Although CPR bacteria have been identified in varied environments, their broader distribution, associations with hosts, and ecological roles remain largely unexplored. To address these knowledge gaps, a serpentinite-like environment was selected as a simplified model system to investigate the CPR communities in hyperalkaline environments and their association with hosts in extreme conditions. Additionally, the enzymatic activity, global distribution, and evolution of the CPR-derived genes encoding essential metabolites (e.g., folate or vitamin B9) were analyzed and assessed.ResultsIn the highly alkaline serpentinite-like ecosystem (pH = 10.9–12.4), metagenomic analyses of the water and sediment samples revealed that CPR bacteria constituted 1.93–34.8% of the microbial communities. Metabolic reconstruction of 12 high-quality CPR metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs) affiliated to the novel taxa from orders UBA6257, UBA9973, and Paceibacterales suggests that these bacteria lack the complete biosynthetic pathways for amino acids, lipids, and nucleotides. Notably, the CPR bacteria commonly harbored the genes associated with essential folate cofactor biosynthesis and metabolism, including dihydrofolate reductase (folA), serine hydroxymethyltransferase (glyA), and methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (folD). Additionally, two presumed auxotrophic hosts, incapable of forming tetrahydrofolate (THF) due to the absence of folA, were identified as potential hosts for some CPR bacteria harboring folA genes. The functionality of these CPR-derived folA genes was experimentally verified by heterologous expression in the folA-deletion mutant Escherichia coli MG1655 ΔfolA. Further assessment of the available CPR genomes (n = 4,581) revealed that the genes encoding the proteins for the synthesis of bioactive folate derivatives (e.g., folA, glyA, and/or folD genes) were present in 90.8% of the genomes examined. It suggests potential widespread metabolic complementarity in folate biosynthesis between CPR and their hosts.ConclusionsThis finding deepens our understanding of the mechanisms of CPR-host symbiosis, providing novel insight into essential cofactor-dependent mutualistic CPR-host interactions. Our observations suggest that CPR bacteria may contribute to auxotrophic organisms and indirectly influence biogeochemical processes.A6K1pguhpmbmokYtY9xgQrVideo

Sex Ratio Distortion of Aedes aegypti (L.) in El Salvador: Biocontrol Implications for Seasonally Dry Urban Neotropical Environments

Vector-borne diseases (VBDs) remain a major public health burden, particularly in tropical and subtropical regions. Aedes aegypti mosquitoes are primary vectors of several VBDs, and understanding their population dynamics is critical for developing effective control strategies. This study investigates seasonal sex ratio variation in A. aegypti populations within urban environments of El Salvador’s seasonally dry neotropical biomes. Using data from an ongoing surveillance program, we analyzed the temporal distribution of male and female mosquitoes across eight sampling events. Our results reveal significant deviations from the expected 1:1 sex ratio, with a pronounced female bias during the dry season and a shift toward parity in the wet season. These findings suggest that environmental and anthropogenic factors influence sex ratio dynamics, potentially affecting reproductive success and population persistence. The observed sex ratio distortion has important implications for vector ecology and biocontrol, emphasizing the need to incorporate seasonal and urban ecological variation into vector management strategies. Integrating these ecological insights into biocontrol programs could enhance the effectiveness of interventions aimed at reducing VBD transmission in seasonally dry tropical regions.

Modeling the Impact of Water Hyacinth on Evapotranspiration in the Chongón Reservoir Using Remote Sensing Techniques: Implications for Aquatic Ecology and Invasive Species Management

The proliferation of water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) in the Chongón Reservoir, located within the Parque Lago National Recreation Area in Guayaquil, Ecuador, poses significant challenges to the local aquatic ecosystem and water resource management. This study assesses the impact of water hyacinth coverage on evapotranspiration rates over a 20-year period from 2002 to 2022 using remote sensing data and geospatial analysis. The Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), derived from Landsat satellite imagery, along with meteorological records, was utilized to model the spatial and temporal dynamics of water hyacinth coverage and its effects on evapotranspiration. Our results indicate that water hyacinth coverage fluctuates significantly between rainy and dry seasons, increasing from covering 10.42% of the reservoir area in 2002 to a peak of 42.33% in 2017 during the rainy seasons. A strong positive correlation (r=0.92, p<0.001) was found between water hyacinth coverage and net daily water loss due to evapotranspiration. The evapotranspiration rates associated with water hyacinth were significantly higher during the rainy season (mean of 2309.90 mm/year) compared to the dry season (mean of 1917.87 mm/year). These elevated evapotranspiration rates contribute to increased water loss from the reservoir, potentially impacting water availability for municipal and agricultural use. Controlling the spread of water hyacinth is therefore crucial for preserving the reservoir’s ecological integrity and ensuring sustainable water resource management. The findings of this study provide valuable insights for informing management strategies aimed at mitigating the effects of invasive species on freshwater resources and maintaining aquatic ecosystem health.

An ecologically just future for personal digital heritage: three guiding statements

Archival and cultural heritage institutions should take control of our personal digital past in our current global ecological crisis. To develop this argument, this position paper moves beyond the disciplinary lines present in studies of preservation and introduces the concept of personal digital heritage. The concept takes an ecomaterial perspective to contextualise long-term preservation practices, specifies the context of where these practice-based considerations take place, and documents what informs them. This approach allows for a more holistic approach to grasp the ecological implications of personal preservation practices. So far, approaches that should safeguard our current personal digital heritage have been informed by an archival desire embedded in technological solutionism. This article extends social justice principles put forth in critical archival studies, connects these to ecological justice principles present in environmental media studies, and explicitly relates this to the personal. To show a way forward based on this combination, we introduce three guiding statements connected to three questions that lead archival professionals towards an ecologically just archival ecosystem encompassing Big Tech, archival and cultural heritage institutions, and individuals: (1) Take it down: asks where our archive is and considers reconfiguring institutional archival processes an act of ecological care and resistance to Big Tech; (2) Take it slow: asks whose heritage we are preserving and urges us to move from efficiency to sufficiency. (3) Take it back: asks who cares for our heritage and argues for archival and cultural heritage institutions to engage with public infrastructures and initiatives that limit Big Tech influence.