Human Activities Research Articles

Holocene Paleohydrological Changes Reflected in Lake-Level Fluctuations in Lake Annecy (French Pre-Alps): Climatic Significance and Archeological Implications

Lakes are threatened by contemporary climate change and human activities. Paleohydrological records provide important evidence for developing scenarios for future changes in the availability of freshwater resources. This study presents a synthesis of a sedimentological, archeological, and chronological dataset collected from Lake Annecy (eastern France) to reconstruct a lake-level record documenting the whole Holocene. This dataset shows a pronounced minimum in the lake level during the Holocene thermal maximum (HTM) (ca. 9000–7000 cal BP), preceded by a general lowering trend (early Holocene), and followed by a general rising trend (Neoglacial). On both the millennial and centennial scales, the Lake Annecy record appears to match the regional pattern of Holocene lake-level fluctuations established for West-Central Europe. In agreement with other extra-regional paleoclimatic records, it shows the dominant influence of orbital forcing. The high magnitude of the lake-level lowering (more than 5 m) during the HTM, with a 2–2.5 °C difference between the HTM and the pre-industrial mean summer temperatures, suggests possible drastic lake-level lowering phases in the near future depending on the IPCC scenarios following climate change. This would mean dramatic impacts on human activities and the preservation of exceptional archeological remains in regional lake basins.

Analyzing Spatiotemporal Variations and Driving Factors of Grassland in the Arid Region of Northwest China Surrounding the Tianshan Mountains

The Tianshan Mountains, the largest arid mountain range in Central Asia, feature diverse terrains and significant landscape heterogeneity. The grasslands within the Xinjiang Tianshan region are particularly sensitive to climate change and human activities. However, until recently, the patterns and mechanisms underlying grassland changes in this region have been unclear. In this study, we analyzed spatial and temporal changes in grassland fractional vegetation cover (FVC) from 2001 to 2020, analyzed spatial and temporal changes in grassland, and predicted future trends using Global Land Surface Satellite (GLASS) FVC data, trend analysis, and the Hurst index method. We also explored the driving mechanisms behind these changes through the structural equation model (SEM). The results showed that from 2001 to 2020, the grassland FVC in the Tianshan region of Xinjiang was higher in the central and western regions and lower in the northern and southern regions, showing an overall fluctuating growth trend, with a change in the growth rate of 0. 0017/a (p < 0.05), and that this change was spatially heterogeneous, with the sum of significant improvement (20.6%) and slight improvement (29.9%) being much larger than the sum of significant degradation (0.6%) and slight degradation (9.5%). However, the Hurst index (H = 0.47) suggests that this trend may not continue, and there is a risk of degradation. Our study uncovers the complex interactions between the Tianshan barrier effect and grassland ecosystems, highlighting regional differences in driving mechanisms. Although the impacts of climatic conditions in grasslands vary over time in different regions, the topography and its resulting hydrothermal conditions are still dominant, and the extent of the impact is susceptible to fluctuations of varying degrees due to extreme climatic events. Additionally, the number of livestock changes significantly affects the grasslands on the southern slopes of the Tianshan Mountains, while the effects of nighttime light are minimal. By focusing on the topographical barrier effect, this study enhances our understanding of grassland vegetation dynamics in the Tianshan Mountains of Xinjiang, contributing to improved ecosystem management strategies under climate change.

Grafting-from Synthesis of Plant-Polynorbornene Biohybrid Materials.

Plants, essential for food, oxygen, and economic stability, are under threat from human activities, biotic threats, and climate change, requiring rapid technological advancements for protection. Biohybrid systems, merging synthetic macromolecules with biological components, have provided improvement to biological systems in the past, namely, in the biomedical arena, motivating an opportunity to enhance plant well-being. Nevertheless, strategies for plant biohybrid systems remain limited. In this study, we present a method using grafting-from ring-opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP) under physiological conditions to integrate norbornene-derived polymers into live plants by spray coating. The approach involves creating biological macroinitiators on leaf surfaces, which enable subsequent polymerization of norbornene-derived monomers. Characterization techniques, including FTIR spectroscopy, SEM EDS imaging, ICP-MS, nanoindentation, and XPS, confirmed the presence and characterized the properties of the polymeric layers on leaves. The demonstrated modifiability and biocompatibility could offer the potential to maintain plant health in various applications, including the development of thermal barriers, biosensors, and crop protection layers.

Alnus glutinosa (Alder) sapling as a phytoremediator for cadmium in contaminated soil of industrial park

Heavy metals can contaminate soil through human activities such as mining, waste disposal, excessive use of chemical fertilizers, and fossil fuels. In Iran, uncontrolled urban growth and lack of waste collection systems have led agricultural lands to become receptors of urban and industrial waste, resulting in the contamination of soil with cadmium, which has negative consequences for the environment and health. Alder sapling may have considerable potential for phytoremediation. The soil was placed in plastic pots of 40 cm in diameter with 7 kg air-dried weight soil per pot, spiked with solutions of cadmium chloride [Cd Cl2.H2O] at rates of 0 (control), 50, 100, 150, and 200 mg/kg in a solution. The analyzed data revealed a significant reduction in vegetative growth (plant height, leaf area, chlorophyll, stem diameter growth, stem dry weight, root dry weight, and leaves dry weight). The means were compared to assess the impact of cadmium accumulation on certain biochemical and physiological characteristics. The mean separation was performed using Duncan's Multiple Range test with a p-value ≤0.05. However, there was a simultaneous significant increase in enzymatic activities (peroxidase and catalase) and an increase in proline compared to control plants. The bioconcentration factor of stem, leaves, and roots was under one. The translocation factor (TF) of cadmium was more than 1, and cadmium contents were more localized in roots compared to leaves and stems, minimizing the risk of contamination through leaves. Alnus glutinosa has defense mechanisms against cadmium up to 19.5 mg/kg soil, as the tolerance index for roots and biomass is more than 0.8. Finally, it is a good candidate for research on phytoremediation and phytoextraction.

Conservation Management Practices for Biodiversity Preservation in Urban Informal Green Spaces: Lessons from Central European City

Urban informal green spaces (IGS) represent valuable reservoirs of biodiversity within urban areas and are increasingly recognized as integral components of green infrastructure. They are perceived as temporary ecosystems, and the management of their vegetation is relatively understudied. The development time of spontaneous vegetation on transformed lands is considered to be in the range of decades, which makes it even more necessary to provide managers with better guidelines for such a long period. Two suggested management approaches for these areas involve: (1) retaining vegetation at various stages of succession (non-forest IGS) and (2) protecting advanced developmental stages (forest IGS), with options for balanced intervention or complete non-intervention. However, the differences in biodiversity between these two types in cities across Central Europe remain unknown, as well as whether the predictors of biodiversity at both local and landscape scales are consistent for non-forest and forest IGS. We examined factors such as habitat continuity, landscape structure, soil quality, and human impact to shed light on pathways for enhancing urban floristic diversity. Conducting extensive botanical surveys in existing informal green spaces (IGS) in Warsaw, we derived various parameters, including the total number of species, Shannon-Wiener biodiversity index, hemeroby, urbanity, share of species from distinct ecological groups, and the number of rare and ancient forest plant species. Tracing habitat continuity from the early 20th century using digitized aerial imagery provided a unique long-term perspective on IGS development. We revealed that no management is pivotal for the conservation of select rare and ancient forest species. On the other hand, partial abandonment with occasional maintenance may enrich species diversity across different successional phases. We uncovered the significant influence of landscape structure and human activity on vegetation species composition within IGS. Notably, IGS proximate to extensive forest landscapes displayed a marked abundance of forest species, alongside a greater prevalence of rare species. However, the presence of other vegetation types in the vicinity did not yield similar effects. Our findings indicate that IGS, when left untouched for decades near forested areas, are valuable for urban biodiversity. As cities across the globe seek sustainable paths, this research underscores the importance of properly understanding and integrating IGS into urban ecological planning.

Distribution, source identification, water quality, and risk assessment of trace elements in the surface-groundwater-sediments multifunctional system in Guohe River Basin

Within the Huaihe River Basin, Guohe River, as its second-largest tributary, serves as a critical water supply source. Recent industrial and agricultural advancements have led to increased trace element contamination, adversely impacting the water quality within Guohe River Basin. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the distribution characteristics, sources, water quality and risk assessment of trace elements in the surface water, groundwater, and sediments across the basin. The results showed that the spatial distribution of trace elements in the surface water and groundwater of Guohe River Basin was that most of the high concentrations appeared in Qiaocheng District of Bozhou City, the mean concentration of Fe in Guohe River sediments was the highest, the mean concentration of Sb was the lowest. The PMF source analysis results showed that the main source of trace elements in Guohe River Basin was natural geological processes, followed by human activities. The sodium adsorption ratio (SAR) indicated that the surface water samples of Guohe River in two seasons had high sodium and salinity hazards. The water quality index (WQI) showed that surface water and groundwater samples in the northwestern of Guohe River Basin had poor water quality. The results of the risk assessment showed that As and Mn posed great ecological risks to surface water and groundwater, respectively, and that F− was the pollutant with the most potential health risk hazard in the basin. The Geo-accumulation index (Igeo) results showed that Cd, Se and As should be taken seriously as the main contaminants of the sediments in Guohe River Basin. KeywardsTrace elements; Source analysis; Sodium adsorption ratio; Water quality index; Risk assessment; Geo-accumulation index.

Application of Principal Component Analysis in Determining the Hydrogeochemistry Characteristics of Karst Water in Bac Kan and Cao Bang

Research on the origin and processes affecting the hydrogeochemical characteristics of karst water provides useful information for the management and exploitation of karst water resources. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) was applied to the karst water physicochemical data, including temperature, pH, Electronic Conductivity (EC), Ca2+, Mg2+, Na+, K+, Cl-, HCO3-, SO42-, and NO3- in Ba Be lake (Bac Kan province) and Ha Quang, Trung Khanh (Cao Bang province). The Piper diagram described the main type of hydrochemical facies in karst water at 24/25 survey points as Ca2+-HCO3-. The combination of eleven physicochemical properties was reduced into four main components (PC1, PC2, PC3, PC4) based on eigenvalues of 4,0; 2,5; 1,3 and 1,2, respectively. A total of 81,53% of the variance was represented by four main components, in which PC1 (36,36%) represented the rock-water interaction, PC2 (22,88%) represented pollution sources related to human activities, PC3 and PC4 (22,29%) represented the dissolution of magnesium minerals. The moderate-strong correlation between parameters of the Mia Le Formation’s sample in Ba Be Lake area and PC1 indicated that the major chemical composition of karst water is strongly influenced by the interaction between carbonate rocks and water. This process also occurs intensely at some survey points in the Bac Son, Song Hien, and Cao Bang formations. Meanwhile, some samples NK.19, NK.23, NK.25 of the Bac Son and Song Hien formations had a moderate positive correlation with PC2 and are affected by human activities. Research results have shown that the combination of principal component analysis PCA and correlation analysis is an effective tool in determining karst water characteristics in the area.

Estrogenic compounds in drinking water: A systematic review and risk analysis

Estrogenic compounds are the endocrine disruptors that receive major attention because of their ability to imitate the natural female hormone, 17β-estradiol and cause adverse effects on the reproductive system of animals. The presence of estrogenic compounds in drinking water is a warning to assess the risks to which human beings are exposed. The present work has the objectives of carrying out a systematic review of studies that investigated estrogenic compounds in drinking water around the world and estimate the human health and estrogenic activity risks, based on the concentrations of each compound reported. The systematic review returned 505 scientific papers from the Web of Science®, SCOPUS® and PubMED® databases and after careful analysis, 45 papers were accepted. Sixteen estrogenic compounds were identified in drinking water, from the classes of hormones, pharmaceutical drugs and personal care products, plasticizers, corrosion inhibitors, pesticides and surfactants. Di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) was the compound found at the highest concentration, reaching a value of 1.43 mg/L. Non-carcinogenic human health risk was classified as high for 17α-ethynilestradiol and DEHP, medium for dibutyl phthalate, and low for bisphenol A. The estrogenic activity risks were negligible for all the compounds, except DEHP, with a low risk. None of the estrogenic compounds presented an unacceptable carcinogenic risk, due to estrogenic activity. However, the risk assessment did not evaluate the interactions between compounds, that occurs in drinking water and can increase the risks and adverse effects to human health. Nonetheless, this study demonstrates the need for improvement of drinking water treatment plants, with more efficient technologies for micropollutant removal.

Neanderthal hunting grounds: The case of Teixoneres Cave (Spain) and Pié Lombard rockshelter (France)

The study of Neanderthal-Environment interactions very often lacks precise data that match the chrono-geographical frame of human activities. Here, we reconstruct Neanderthals’ hunting grounds within three distinct habitats using dental microwear analysis combined with zooarchaeological data. The predation patterns toward ungulates are discussed in term of frequency (NISP/MNI) and potential meat intake (MAM). Unit IIIa of Teixoneres Cave (MIS 3, NE Spain) corresponds to a mosaic landscape, Unit IIIb was more forested, and, in the “Ensemble” II of Pié Lombard (MIS 4, SE France), forest cover dominated. At Pié Lombard, Neanderthals rely on a high diversity of taxa from closed and semi-open hunting grounds, mostly two ungulate species as well as rabbits and several bird taxa. At Teixoneres Cave, mainly open areas are exploited in summer with a predation mostly focused on large gregarious ungulates. The larger size of ungulate herds in open spaces may have allowed Neanderthals to restrict their subsistence behaviour only to very few species, in specific hunting strategies. In Unit IIIa, they do not appear to have made any selection within the most abundant species, while in Unit IIIb, they focused on aurochs and also opportunistically and heavily on newborn red deer. Neanderthal subsistence strategies seem, therefore, only partially linked to the hunting grounds they had access to. While it impacted the diversity of the prey they selected, Neanderthal groups were able to develop distinct hunting strategies within similar environments.

Minimum viable product “Ailey Robot Improves Verbal Skills” for the development of preschool children

This paper specifically examines MVP “Ailey Robot Improves Verbal Skills” as a tool for preschool aged children’s verbal skills development. Initial project aims to develop competent verbal skills as an aid tool for simple verbal correction in native (Russian) language and the associative object thinking improvement for children aged 3 years old, as well as is objected to increase the vocabulary of older children (up to seven aged ones). One of most significant activities for preschoolers is a role-playing game with a plot helping children to orient in social relations and estimate human activity’ values and motives through the acceptance of a certain role. With technological development, online platforms and applications are becoming the most accessible and increasingly popular method of teaching children from 3 to 7 years old. The content of thematic levels in the application covers various areas of daily life, which helps the child develop important situational and social skills, while the game format increases internal motivation to learn. The “Ailey Robot Improves Verbal Skills” service uses artificial intelligence models to create an exciting and effective learning environment for children and serves as an informative auxiliary tool for parents and speech specialists. In this paper we aimed to review this online application’s main features, analyze its performance, and identify its pros & cons.

Monitoring Land Use Changes in the Yellow River Delta Using Multi-Temporal Remote Sensing Data and Machine Learning from 2000 to 2020

The Yellow River Delta (YRD), known for its vast and diverse wetland ecosystem, is the largest estuarine delta in China. However, human activities and climate change have significantly degraded the wetland ecosystem in recent decades in the YRD. Therefore, an understanding of the land use modifications is essential for the efficient management and preservation of ecosystems in this region. This study utilized time series of remote sensing data and the extreme gradient boosting method to generate land use maps of the YRD from 2000 to 2020. Several methods, including transition matrix, land use dynamic degree, and standard deviation ellipse, were employed to explore the characteristics of land use transitions. The results underscore significant spatial variations in land use over the past two decades. The most rapid increase was observed in built-up area, followed by terrestrial water and tidal flats, while unutilized land experienced the fastest decrease, followed by forest–grassland. The spatial distribution patterns of agricultural land, built-up area, terrestrial water, and forest–grassland demonstrated stronger directionality compared to other land use types. The wetlands have expanded in size and improved in structure. Unutilized land has been converted into artificial wetlands comprising ponds, reservoirs, salt ponds, shrimp and crab ponds, and natural wetlands featuring mudflats and forest–grassland. The wetland conservation efforts after 2008 have proven very effective, playing a positive role in ecological and environmental preservation, as well as in regional sustainable development.

Spatiotemporal variations of ecosystem services in the Aral Sea basin under different CMIP6 projections

The Aral Sea, located in Central Asia, has undergone significant reduction in surface area owing to the combined impacts of climate change and human activities. This reduction has led to a regional ecological crisis and profound repercussions on ecosystem services. Investigating the spatiotemporal variations and synergistic trade-offs of ESs in the Aral Sea basin is crucial for fostering the integrated development of the region’s socioeconomic ecology. This study utilizes the Future Land-Use Simulation and InVEST models to analyze future land-use scenarios, integrating CMIP6 projections to assess the quality of four key ecosystem services: water production, soil conservation, carbon storage, and habitat quality over two timeframes: the historical period (1995–2020) and the projected future (2021–2100). Employing Spearman correlation, the study explores the trade-offs and synergies among these ecosystem services. Findings reveal that the primary forms of land-use change in the Aral Sea basin are the reduction in water area (− 49.59%) and the rapid expansion of urban areas (+ 504.65%). Temporally, habitat quality exhibits a declining trend, while carbon storage shows an increasing trend, and water production and soil retention fluctuate initially decreasing and then increasing. Spatially, water production and carbon storage demonstrate an increasing trend from the northwest to the southeast. Habitat quality exhibits a higher spatial pattern in the southeast and south, contrasting with lower spatial patterns in the north and west. Low-level soil conservation is predominantly distributed in the northwest, while medium to low-level soil conservation is prevalent in the east of the basin. The trade-off and synergy analysis indicates that between 1995 and 2020, a trade-off relationship existed between carbon storage and habitat quality and water production, whereas synergies were observed between soil conservation and carbon storage, water production and habitat quality, and soil conservation. The correlation between water production and soil conservation emerges as the strongest, whereas the correlation between carbon storage and habitat quality appears to be the weakest. The dynamic spatiotemporal changes, trade-offs, and collaborative relationships of ESs constitute major aspects of ecosystem service research, holding substantial implications for the effective management of the regional ecological environment.

Assessing the peer effects of college students' engagement in the circular economy: Survey evidence from textbook reuse and recycling in China

In the face of escalating environmental impacts caused by human activities, the development of a circular economy is widely regarded as a crucial sustainable solution. Identifying pivotal enablers driving the transition gains increasing significance. Scarce research has focused on how to improve public engagement in the circular economy and acceptance of circular products, especially for developing countries. Based on an interview of 2912 Chinese college students conducted in 2021, and the instrumental variable method, this paper innovatively documents positive associations of circular practices among peers. Specifically, it is found that: (1) individuals exhibit positive responses when their fellow classmates actively adopt used textbooks; (2) the impact is more pronounced among students majoring in energy and environmental fields, and for cohorts with higher participation in voluntary activities advocating sustainable lifestyles; and (3) the spillover effect is also manifested in engagement in second-hand book recycling. Given the potential of peers' beneficial influence as a promising instrument for driving circular economy practices, it is recommended that public policies consider its catalytic role.

Shaping the future of conservation: a model for restoring oxbows in Iowa and beyond

Oxbows, once an abundant and natural feature of the landscape, have been nearly eliminated due to the effects of the Anthropocene, consequently impacting water quality, flood storage capacity, and the wildlife that depend on this habitat. These depressional basins within floodplains naturally accumulate sediment over time, but the sedimentation rate of oxbows over the last 100 years has greatly increased. The primary sources of sediment are from human activity, including erosion from agricultural fields and urban developments, drainage alterations, precipitation changes associated with climate change, and disconnection from their rivers and natural river hydraulics. Outlined in this manuscript is a step-by-step guide for restoring oxbows, based on 20 years of experience and lessons learned implementing oxbow restorations in Iowa on first-, second-, and third-order streams. Our goal is to provide conservation services providers and others interested in restoring degraded oxbows with the tools and expertise to confidently restore oxbows to achieve conservation goals.

Deciphering dissolved organic matter characteristics and its fate in a glacier-fed desert river—the Tarim river, China

The bioavailable diverse dissolved organic matter (DOM) present in glacial meltwater significantly contributes to downstream carbon cycling in mountainous regions. However, the comprehension of molecular-level characteristics of riverine DOM, from tributary to downstream and their fate in glacier-fed desert rivers remains limited. Herein, we employed spectroscopic and high-resolution mass spectrometry techniques to study both optical and molecular-level characteristics of DOM in the Tarim River catchment, northwest China. The results revealed that the DOC values in the downstream were higher than those in the tributaries, yet they remained comparable to those found in other glacier-fed streams worldwide. Five distinct components were identified using EEM-PARAFAC analysis in both tributary and downstream samples. The dominance of three protein-like components in tributary samples, contrasting with a higher presence of humic-like components in downstream samples, which implied that the dilution and alterations of the glacier DOM signature and overprinting with terrestrial-derived DOM. Molecular composition revealed that thousands of compounds with higher molecular weight and increased aromaticity were transformed, generated and introduced from terrestrial inputs during downstream transportation. The twofold rise in polycyclic aromatic and polyphenolic compounds observed downstream compared to tributaries indicated a greater influx of terrestrial organic matter introduced into the downstream during water transportation. The study suggests that the glacier-sourced DOM experienced minimal photodegradations, with limited influence from human activities, while also being shaped by terrestrial inputs during its transit in the alpine-arid region. This unique scenario offers valuable insights into comprehending the fate of DOM originating from glacial meltwater in arid mountainous regions.

Sistem Pembagian Waris Patrilinealpada Masyarakat Adat Lampung dalam Perspektif Maslahah

This article is the result of research on the various customs of the Lampung people, where Indonesia is a pluralistic society that adheres to various ethnic groups, religions and beliefs, and comes from diverse indigenous peoples. These differences are shown in human daily activities in their social interactions in society. , from the human being is born until he dies. Customary law is born from a behavior that is continuously carried out in which there is a certain pattern that its existence is maintained so that it becomes a habit and is recognized by the community groups in it as a tradition called adat. Likewise, the Lampung Community, which is also one of the indigenous peoples in Indonesia, which is plural in nature with a variety of language dialects, customs, and diverse lifestyles. This diversity then gave birth to a diverse culture as well. More specifically, this article discusses how the distribution of patrilineal inheritance in the Lampung Indigenous community when viewed from the perspective of Maslahah. If the distribution of traditional inheritance in Lampung is applied standardly, then the inheritance rights completely fall to the eldest son by overriding the rights of the daughter to get her inheritance rights. Meanwhile, Islam highly upholds women's rights, including in terms of inheritance distribution. To answer the problems that arise related to this, this study uses a qualitative descriptive method. then this is not in accordance with the principle of benefit, so that it does not reflect a balanced sense of justice as the Word of Allah SWT which is explained in the Qur'an about several provisions of inheritance law for the benefit of mankind, both men and women.

Measurement of Background Ionizing Radiation Around Beta Glass Plc and Its Environs, Ughelli, Delta State, Nigeria

A study of the background ionizing radiation levels to helps monitor the impact of human activities on the environment, such as mining, farming, glass bottle production and power generation has been carried out around Beta glass Plc and Transcorp Power LTD using a hand-held gamma spectrometer (GAMMA-SCOUT; Geiger counter Radiation meter) and GPS (Oregon-450 Garmin). The study of the BIR levels was carried out between June to July, 2022. The average measured exposure rates (AV. BIR) ranged from 0.007 mRh-1 to 0.013 mRh-1, with 0.010±0.0002 mRh-1 as the average. The estimated mean outdoor absorbed dose rate (ADR) for the study region was 113.10 Gyh-1 to 87.153±2.091 Gyh-1, with an average annual effective dose equivalent (AEDE) of 106.884±2.565 mSvy-1 and an average excess lifetime cancer risk (ELCR) of (0.374±0.009) × 10-3. The measured values of radiological parameters, such as annual dose rate, annual effective dose rate, and excess lifetime cancer, were higher than background radiation levels. The average BIR is in line with the ICRP recommendation of 0.013 (mRh-1), while the effective dose rate (EDR) is somewhat below the ICRP recommendation of 1.00 (mSvy-1) for a normal environment. The obtained values of the radiological indicators, such as ADR, AEDE, and ELCR, are greater than the background radiation norm of 59 (?Gyh-1), 0. 07 (mSvy-1), and 0.29×10-3. The study found that radiation levels and doses in the study location do not immediately harm personnel or residents, but increased lifetime cancer risk values suggest that cumulative dosages may cause cancer.

Co-design capacity development for the UN Ocean Decade

Effective ocean governance plays a critical role in managing and coordinating human activities, policies, and institutions to ensure the sustainable use and conservation of marine resources. Recognizing the importance of effective ocean governance, there is a growing awareness that new research approaches are needed to bring together actors from academia and non-academic sectors. Together they need to develop transformative science solutions for a more inclusive and equitable ocean governance system. Despite widespread interest in this collaborative endeavor, limited resources are available to provide structured support and training. This creates a pressing need to develop capacity and promote a shared understanding of collaborative research methodologies, such as co-design. In response to the need for capacity development in such methodologies, the “Co-design for the Ocean Decade” online training course was launched in collaboration with IOC-UNESCO in 2022, starting with a first pilot course in the African region. This first co-design training course under the Ocean Decade framework serves as a practical and research-backed model for future co-design training programs in other regions. The evaluation results of the course reveal its effectiveness in enhancing participants' knowledge and skills in key co-design areas, particularly in communication with stakeholders. The evaluation also highlights areas for improvement, such as the need for (i) monitoring and evaluation, and (ii) follow-up opportunities for practice and funding support. Based on the evaluation, for future research and training programs, we recommend: (1) to incorporate local and regional context into the training, (2) to integrate co-design training into ocean science education, and (3) to embed co-design of research and training into the capacity development program of the Ocean Decade.

Characterization of Polyallylamine/Polystyrene Sulfonate Polyelectrolyte Microcapsules Formed on Solid Cores: Morphology.

Polyelectrolyte microcapsules (PMC) based on polyallylamine and polystyrene sulfonate are utilized in various fields of human activity, including medicine, textiles, and the food industry, among others. However, characteristics such as microcapsule size, shell thickness, and pore size are not sufficiently studied and systematized, even though they determine the possibility of using microcapsules in applied tasks. The aim of this review is to identify general patterns and gaps in the study of the morphology of polyelectrolyte microcapsules obtained by the alternate adsorption of polystyrene sulfonate and polyallylamine on different solid cores. First and foremost, it was found that the morphological change in polyelectrolyte microcapsules formed on different cores exhibits a significant difference in response to varying stimuli. Factors such as ionic strength, the acidity of the medium, and temperature have different effects on the size of the microcapsules, the thickness of their shells, and the number and size of their pores. At present, the morphology of the microcapsules formed on the melamine formaldehyde core has been most studied, while the morphology of microcapsules formed on other types of cores is scarcely studied. In addition, modern methods of nanoscale system analysis will allow for an objective assessment of PMC characteristics and provide a fresh perspective on the subject of research.

Spatio-temporal variations of habitat quality in the Greater Bay Area around Hangzhou Bay, based on LUCC and simulation

Context Habitat quality (HQ) is vital for achieving sustainable regional development. Understanding the spatial patterns and temporal evolution of HQ in the context of land use–cover change (LUCC) is crucial for promoting ecological civilisation and high-quality growth, especially for regions with rapid economic development. Aims In order to analyse the impact of LUCC on habitat quality in the coastal areas with frequent human activities. Methods This study focused on the Greater Bay Area around Hangzhou Bay and analysed the HQ on the basis of LUCC data during 2010–2020 by using the InVEST model and spatial autocorrelation analysis. Additionally, land-use data for multiple scenarios in 2030 were predicted using the PLUS model, and the variations in land use and HQ in the study region during 2020–2030 were assessed. Key results During 2010–2020, the construction land in the region expanded by 1932.79 km2, primarily at the expense of cropland and water areas. The mean HQ values were 0.6287, 0.6181 and 0.6037 for 2010, 2015 and 2020 respectively, indicating a continuous decline. Spatially, HQ exhibited strong clustering during this period. However, there was a clear trend of fragmentation and reduction in ‘high–high’ cluster areas along the coast, mostly owing to the transformation of water areas and wetlands into construction land and cropland. In the projected scenarios (natural development, ND; economic development, ED; crop protection, CP; and ecological protection, EP) for 2030, the mean HQ values are estimated to be 0.5881, 0.5837, 0.5915 and 0.5965 respectively. Compared with 2020, there will be a certain decrease in HQ, with the EP scenario showing the lowest decrease of 0.0052. Conclusions The HQ changes were closely linked to LUCC, the construction-land expansion was the main cause of HQ destruction in the Greater Bay Area around Hangzhou Bay. To alleviate the trend of declining HQ, it is essential to select appropriate development scenarios for each city in the region and coordinate the development of the cities. Implications These findings provide valuable insights for promoting sustainable economic growth in the Greater Bay Area around Hangzhou Bay.