Photodegradation of polyamide, polyester, and HDPE aquaculture cage nets: Implications for microplastic pollution.

Incorporating benthic microbial thresholds into ecological carrying capacity to sustain ecosystem services of coastal oyster farming.

The increase in pharmaceutical residues and environmental contaminants, including heavy metals and biotoxins, in coastal ecosystems represents a critical threat to global health. Mussels (Mytilus spp.), as sessile filter feeders, serve as primary bioaccumulators and biological indicators of this chemical pressure, yet their toxicological role in human health is often underestimated. This review explores the physiological and toxicological effects of the accumulation of complex contaminants and pharmaceutical residues, specifically including veterinary drugs that reach the marine environment through livestock runoff and aquaculture practices. Mussels' reduced metabolic capacity, combined with the interference of multixenobiotic resistance (MXR) efflux systems, leads to the prolonged accumulation of these substances within their tissues. Particular attention is given to mixture toxicity and the role of microplastics as vectors that amplify the bioavailability of contaminants, triggering significant oxidative stress and epigenetic alterations that compromise the reproduction and resilience of the mollusk. The implications for public health involve the potential facilitation of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), driven by the bioaccumulation of both human and veterinary antibiotics. dietary exposure to chemical residues; however, the actual risk of poisoning depends on whether tissue concentrations exceed established regulatory safety thresholds. Due to their high filtration capacity, mussels act as ecological hotspots, facilitating the transfer of pharmaceuticals and their metabolites into the food chain. We conclude that effective risk management requires a proactive approach at the source. The urgent integration of surveillance protocols with molecular ecotoxicology, alongside the adoption of advanced technological solutions, such as tertiary wastewater treatment and the monitoring of watersheds adjacent to livestock farming areas, are essential to harmonize residue limits and ensure food security and the sustainability of marine resources for future generations.

Flocculation hysteresis, temporal asymmetry, and their impacts on sediment transport in the benthic boundary layer of Sansha Bay, SE China

Tropical Africa is globally one of the most sensitive regions to accelerated soil erosion, and much of its cropland is characterised by a substantial yield gap. In particular, the White Nile-Congo ridge (NiCo) region of the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DR Congo) and Uganda is a hotspot for issues relating to food security driven by soil degradation due to steep terrain, highly erosive rainfall and low soil cover. Most soil erosion studies in the region are based on plot or large-scale modelling. Both approaches lack information on inter-field connectivity processes, which are especially important in smallholder farming systems with average field sizes below 0.1 ha. To address this knowledge gap, an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) based high-spatial and temporal-resolution monitoring campaign was carried out over four smallholder farming areas within the eastern DR Congo and western Uganda, with substantial differences in cropland management and productivity. The campaign covered 833 individual fields, which were monitored up to twice per month (for two years) using UAV-based aerial photography to provide insight into event-based rill erosion processes and landscape connectivity. The aerial photography data were classified according to field conditions: (i) dense vegetation cover, (ii) low vegetation cover or bare soil without signs of rill erosion, (iii) low vegetation cover or bare soil with signs of rill erosion. Land-use patchiness associated with smallholder farming systems was found to reduce inter-field connectivity and to promote highly localised rill development. Furthermore, rill erosion in the NiCo region is not an episodic process but takes place regularly during the rainy season due to frequent storm events falling on bare soil in fields left fallow for individual cultivation periods. Soil erosion dynamics of smallholder farming regions in the study area, therefore, pose unresolved challenges regarding their implementation in large-scale predictions.Supplementary InformationThe online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1038/s41598-026-50821-7.

Characteristics of the microbial carbon pump in kelp farming areas and the impact of artificial reefs: A metagenomic and ecological perspective.

The purpose of this study was to analyze the factors affecting the productivity of rice farmers. This study employed a quantitative research design with an inferential statistical approach using SmartPLS. The research was conducted in five rice farming areas in Kutai Kartanegara Regency, East Kalimantan Province, Indonesia, with a sample size of 146 respondents. The results indicate that extension communication has a positive and significant effect on farmers' knowledge. However, the effect on farmers' skills is positive but not significant. Extension communication has a negative and insignificant effect on innovation adoption, and a positive but insignificant effect on farmer productivity. The effect of farmers' knowledge on innovation adoption was negative and an insignificant, while its effect on farmer productivity was positive but not significant. In contrast, the effect of farmers' skills on innovation adoption and farmer productivity was positive and significant. This study has several limitations. First, it focuses only on rice farmers in the five agricultural areas designated by the Kutai Kartanegara Regency government, so the results cannot be generalized to other areas with different conditions. Second, this study does not consider external factors that may influence the successful adoption of agricultural technology innovations, such as government policies, market access, and weather conditions.

Diel, seasonal, and spatial variations and regional differences in the pulse abundance of snapping shrimp have been studied. Pulse abundance and acoustic characteristics are affected by environmental changes and anthropogenic noise; however, little is known about the spatiotemporal variability of the latter. This study examined the temporal pulse variation at a fixed point from spring to summer from 2022 to 2024, and the spatial variation across 44 sites (including scallop farm areas) in Mutsu Bay in August 2024, focusing on acoustic parameters. The pulse rate increased with water temperature and depth, and at night, and tended to be higher inside the scallop farms than outside. The peak-to-peak sound pressure level distribution for each pulse shifted toward higher values in warmer months and at night, and appeared to have minimal spatial differences. The peak frequency of each pulse was distributed mainly 6-10 kHz at night; 11-14 kHz became dominant or increased slightly along with 15-18 kHz during the day, depending on the year. The peak frequency tended to dominate 8-10 kHz at shallower sites, 11-13 kHz at deeper sites, and within both these ranges at intermediate depths (35-40 m). Further investigation is required to understand the underlying mechanisms.

To reduce site investigation costs for site characterization as well as timelines in offshore windfarm development, methods to predict the soil profile and essential geotechnical parameters at unexplored locations gain increasing interest from the industry. Hereby, the more abundant geophysical data can be used as guiding information in addition to the scarcely spaced direct investigations to improve the prediction of ground conditions and reduce its uncertainty at unexplored locations. However, since it is a rather new tool in offshore wind site characterization, little is known about the applicability of those predicted soil profiles and the associated geotechnical parameters for the design process of offshore wind infrastructures. This study aims to highlight the generation of predicted geotechnical profiles and parameters in the form of predicted cone penetration tests (pCPTs) and its use for the design of monopile foundations. Using real data from a German North Sea site the pCPTs are generated by applying geostatistical co-simulation, resulting in a best estimate with a location and depth specific uncertainty. These probabilistic results are utilized for the derivation of a design pile length. This pile length is either computed based on a deterministic estimate of the pCPT, taken as a quantile values, or with a reliability-based approach with respect to a target reliability level. It could be shown that a safe design length in comparison to the measured values is achieved by using a quantile value of 5% or less within a deterministic design or the reliability-based design approach. • Integration of geotechnical and geophysical data from an offshore wind farm area. • Geotechnical parameters prediction using geostatistical co-simulation. • Application of offshore monopile design using predicted geotechnical parameters. • Comparison of deterministic and reliability-based design approaches.

Dynamics of microbial communities and their environmental behaviors in kelp farming areas, North Yellow Sea

The quality of beekeeping products is influenced by the availability and composition of bee flora, as well as by agricultural activities near apiaries. This study investigated pesticide residues in Apis mellifera honey from subsistence farming areas surrounded by soybean and corn monocultures. The pollen spectrum of the samples was analyzed in relation to flowering plants across three distinct periods of the year. The QuEChERS method was used for sample preparation. Glyphosate and aminomethylphosphonic acid (AMPA) were quantified using HPLC-FD, and confirmatory screening for 75 pesticide residues was performed using LC-QTOF MS system. Glyphosate and AMPA were simultaneously detected in 45% of the samples (n = 44), and 25% exceeded the European Union maximum residue limit for glyphosate in honey (50 µg kg−1). Confirmatory screening identified six pesticide residues banned in the European Union and one banned in Brazil. Pollen analysis suggested that contamination may not be directly associated with bee visits to treated crops. The contamination is likely linked to indirect sources, including non-target plants and environmental exposure, particularly from pesticide drift. These findings highlight risks to honey quality and the need for improved monitoring and regulation.

The major Staphylococcaceae family is recognized as opportunistic pathogens colonizing human and animal skin, mucous membranes, and environments. Musca domestica, the house fly, plays a role in the transmission of AMR bacteria. This study focused on examining the epidemiology and antimicrobial-resistant genes of the family Staphylococcaceae in M. domestica through metagenomic analysis, using samples collected from three animal farms and two residential areas in southern Thailand. Fifty M. domestica were collected from five places surrounding Walailak University, including one chicken farm (CF1), two pig farms (PF2 and PF3), and two residential areas (H1 and H2). All samples were dispatched for analysis using shotgun metagenomic sequencing and analyzed using FastQC, MultiQC, FASTQ, MEGAHIT, QUAST, ABRicate, AMRFinderPlus, ResFinder, ARG-ANNOT, MEGARES, PlasmidFinder, VFDB, Kraken2, Krona and Python. Our findings describe the taxonomic composition of Staphylococcaceae taxa in M. domestica from different environments; the representation of the family Staphylococcaceae in CF1, PF2, PF3, H1, and H2 was recorded at 2%, 0.7%, 0.2%, 0.2%, and 2% of this phylum, respectively. The average populations discovered were Staphylococcus (37.4%), Mammaliicoccus (17.4%), and Macrococcus (10.3%), respectively. Trimethoprim-resistant genes (dfrG and dfrE) were found only in CF1, PF2, and H1. Interestingly, fosfomycin-resistant genes were found only in M. domestica within residential areas. Our findings pertain to the Staphylococcaceae population in M. domestica within residential areas, which exhibited varying multidrug-resistance genes, particularly those resistant to fosfomycin.

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a growing global concern, exacerbated by the overuse of antibiotics in livestock farming. Honey bees (Apis mellifera), widely used as bioindicators of environmental contamination, may also serve as sentinels for monitoring the environmental spread of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs). This study investigated the presence of ARGs and the gut microbiota composition of honey bees sampled from 11 apiaries located in a region of Northwestern Italy characterized by intensive livestock farming. PCR and Sanger sequencing analyses revealed a widespread presence of tetracycline resistance genes—particularly tetB and tetC—as well as occasional detection of blaTEM, qnrB, and int1 genes. tetB and tetC were also identified in three bacterial colonies isolated from bee guts, notably in Hafnia spp. 16S rRNA gene sequencing of the gut microbiota revealed dominance of genera such as Bartonella, Snodgrassella, Gilliamella, Bombilactobacillus, and Lactobacillus. Some samples showed shifts in the microbial diversity. The findings confirm the potential of honey bees as bioindicators for environmental AMR surveillance and underscore the need for further research to elucidate correlations between ARG presence and microbial community structure in honey bees from various ecological contexts.

Shellfish aquaculture can alter sediment conditions and affect benthic ecosystem functioning, so dredging is widely applied as a management strategy to mitigate sediment deterioration. However, its ecological effectiveness remains uncertain. This study evaluated ecological quality under the disturbance of dredging in shellfish farming areas of Gamak Bay, South Korea, using multiple macrobenthic indices. Macrobenthic samples and environmental data were collected before (May 2025) and after dredging (August 2025). Five macrobenthic indices, including the AZTI Marine Biotic Index (AMBI), BENTIX, Benthic Polychaete/Amphipod ratio (BPA), Benthic Pollution Index (BPI), and Multivariate AMBI (M-AMBI), along with a composite index, were used to assess ecological quality. Temporal changes within groups were tested using Wilcoxon signed-rank tests, and differences between dredged and control stations were examined using Mann-Whitney U tests. Multivariate analyses were used to explore environmental gradients and community responses. Results showed clear seasonal variation in environmental conditions and macrobenthic community structure. Most indices indicated a decline in ecological quality after dredging, with higher AMBI values and lower BENTIX, BPI, and M-AMBI values at dredged stations. However, these changes were not statistically significant (p > 0.05), suggesting limited short-term effects of dredging. The proportion of stations with acceptable ecological status decreased slightly from May to August. Seasonal factors, particularly temperature and salinity, played a dominant role in structuring benthic communities. Overall, the findings indicate that the short-term dredging effects were weaker than seasonal environmental variability. A multi-index approach is recommended for robust ecological assessment, and long-term monitoring is necessary to fully evaluate the effectiveness of dredging in shellfish aquaculture systems.

Purpose Adopting soil fertility management practices (SFMPs) has become important in developing economies, especially in tackling land degradation, erosion and low soil fertility. This study uses farm survey data from 786 vegetable producers in rural China and analyzes the factors that affect SFMP adoption and its impact on fertilizer profitability. Design/methodology/approach This study applies the multivariate probit model to explore adoption decisions by farm households choosing among multiple SFMPs, and the three-stage least squares method for causal effect analysis on fertilizer profitability of farms. Findings Positive (complementary) correlations are observed between subsoiling adoption and residue returning and soil testing, while adoption of fertigation is negatively correlated (substitutional) with subsoiling and residue returning. The probability of SFMPs adoption primarily depends on factors including the household head's gender, education, farm area, experience with natural disasters, tenure security, access to training, access to the Internet and social capital. Farmers who adopt SFMPs can achieve higher profitability from fertilizer use than non-adopters. Practical implications Policymakers should seek to improve training in adopting SFMPs, increase farmers' education and ecological awareness, strengthen social networks and promote appropriate combinations of SFMPs adoption. Originality/value This study contributes to the literature by examining on the determinants that facilitate or impede multiple combinations of SFMPs adoption by farmers, as well as the impact of adoption on farmers’ fertilizer profitability, based on a well-established theoretical framework, to close the gap in the vegetable sector.

Abstract The problem of food waste is one of the most significant global problems that negatively affects many environmental elements. Out-of-date food products, particularly category III animal waste, contribute to this problem. The thermal treatment of these is different from the waste hierarchy. On the other hand, using agricultural products as substrates for biogas plants can reduce biodiversity in farming areas and is problematic due to seasonal fluctuations. This paper presents the practical possibility and potential of using out-of-date food waste, including category III animal waste, to produce an innovative substrate for biogas plants. Research has demonstrated the feasibility of using sterilization methods and available equipment to make a substrate for biogas plants based on expired category III animal waste and plant material. The study aimed to analyze basic physicochemical parameters, perform microbiological tests, conduct a model analysis in terms of biogas yield, and examine the methane potential of animal and plant substrate samples that had been previously subjected to radiation, UV radiation, and pasteurization processes. The results show that after converting 1 m 3 of these substrates into electricity, the following values can be obtained: 80,41 kWh for the thermally sterilised sample, 210,24 kWh for the UV-sterilised sample, and 168,61 kWh for the radiation-sterilised sample, with a cogeneration engine efficiency of 40%. Establishing clusters of food producers and supermarkets would enable the construction of a network of such plants that produce substrates for biogas plants available throughout the year, based on the proposed technological line.

Kelp is economically and ecologically significant, with its organic nutrient-rich aquaculture water harboring diverse microbial communities that critically influence kelp health and productivity. To characterize these communities, we collected ten water samples from major kelp farming areas and reconstructed 403 medium- to high-quality Metagenome-Assembled Genomes (MAGs). Of these, 110 (27.3%) met high-quality criteria (completeness >90%, contamination <5%). Phylogenomic analysis classified these MAGs into 21 archaeal and 382 bacterial species across 19 phyla, with Pseudomonadota (n = 217), Bacteroidota (n = 74), and Patescibacteria (n = 24) as the dominant groups. UpSet plot analysis revealed the presence of a core set of 30 MAGs across all sampling sites. Notably, diseased samples exhibited a marked increase in Pseudomonadota MAGs, suggesting their potential as biomarkers for disease monitoring. Together, these findings provide foundational insights into the microbial ecology of kelp aquaculture systems, supporting improved disease management and sustainable practices.

Soybean [Glycine max(L.) Merr.] holds significant global economic importance due to its considerable nutritional and commercial value. Since 2022, a leaf blight of unknown etiology has been observed in soybean-growing areas of Nehe City and Hongxinglong Farm in Heilongjiang Province, China. Although the disease has not yet reached epidemic levels, it warrants attention due to its potential to spread under favorable environmental conditions. Initial symptoms on infected leaves appear as small brown spots that gradually expand to form streaks of necrotic tissue delimited by the veins, with a brown necrotic center surrounded by a yellow margin. Through systematic sampling and isolation, twenty-six fungal isolates with similar morphologies were obtained. Morphological characterization, molecular identification, and phylogenetic analyses were used to identify the pathogen of this new soybean leaf blight as Epicoccum nigrum. This study represents the first report of E. nigrum as a pathogen of soybean in China. Pathogenicity tests showed that most isolates displayed moderate to high virulence on soybeans. In greenhouse spray inoculation assays,E. nigrumisolates infected several legume species but did not cause disease on maize or hyacinth bean under the conditions tested.In vitro sensitivity assays showed that E. nigrum isolates exhibited high sensitivity to pyraclostrobin and azole-tebuconazole, with an EC₅₀ value ≤ 0.50 μg mL-1. In pot experiments, both fungicides provided significant disease control, achieving 90.2% control efficacy at 450 μg mL⁻¹ (pyraclostrobin) and 91.7% at 600 μg mL⁻¹ (azole-tebuconazole). These results support the use of chemical fungicides as a key strategy for managing soybean leaf blight caused byE. nigrum. Overall, this study clarifies the causal agent of soybean leaf blight, thereby providing a scientific basis forits management in soybean production. Additionally, the identification of effective fungicides provides practical guidance for targeted disease management, which is essential for safeguarding soybeanyields and mitigating economic losses associated with this emerging disease. Furthermore, this study also establishes a foundation for future investigations into the pathogenic mechanisms and epidemiological dynamics ofE. nigrum.

The present study was conducted to assess the diversity, distribution, and morphometric characteristics of freshwater crabs inhabiting the tributaries of the Godavari River system across Nanded, Hingoli, and Parbhani districts in Maharashtra. Extensive field surveys were carried out between June 2023 and June 2025 in various freshwater habitats, including rivers, tributaries, streams, lakes, farming areas and ponds. Some areas yet to be remain study and surveys. Specimens were collected manually and identified based on their external morphological features. A total of two crab species belonging to the genus Barytelphusa were recorded such as Barytelphusa guerini and Barytelphusa cunicularis. Among them, B. guerini was the most widely distributed, occurring in several tributaries such as the Aasna, Manyad, and Kayadhu rivers, whereas B. cunicularis was restricted to deeper and stable water bodies. Distinct variations in body coloration, size, and chela structure were noted between species. Morphometric analysis showed clear sexual dimorphism, with males exhibiting larger carapace dimensions, heavier body weight, and more robust chelae, while females possessed broader abdomens adapted for egg carrying. The findings highlight the Ecological richness of the Godavari-river basin and the adaptive diversity of its freshwater crab Fauna. Despite moderate anthropogenic pressure, these tributaries continue to support stable crab populations. The data generated in this study serve as a baseline for future ecological monitoring, biodiversity assessment, and conservation planning of freshwater ecosystems in the Marathwada region.

White grubs have become a major destructive soil pest in recent years which damages apple and vegetable crops throughout Himachal Pradesh. The hidden root-feeding behavior of these insects leads to major economic damage which mainly affects horticultural farming areas located at mid-hill and high-hill elevations where farmers depend on these crops for their survival. The review combines research findings from India together with other geographical areas to study white grub distribution patterns, species variety, their reproductive patterns, environmental interactions and their effects on local economies particularly focusing on Brahmina coriacea which now threatens apple and potato crops. The review demonstrates how white grub outbreaks in the Himalayan region have been affected by climatic changes, forest disturbances, agricultural practice changes and crop diversification. The document presents current scientific discoveries about biological control methods, cultural practices and IPM approaches which focus on using entomopathogenic fungi, nematode sand light traps.