Human Impact Research Articles

Paleopalynological Analysis of Primulaceae Family Evolution during the New Holocene Period in Elbasan, Albania

This paper presents pioneering paleopalynological data concerning the Primulaceae family during the New Holocene period in Elbasan, Albania. Fossil pollen data were extracted from soil deposits dating back to the last 20th centuries, shedding light on the evolutionary trajectory of Primulaceae Family plants in the region. Soil samples, primarily weighing approximately 0.5 kg and retrieved from depths ranging from 4 m to the surface, were collected at five stations in the Elbasan area using a dry rotary drilling probe between October and November 2023. The study aims to unveil the evolutionary dynamics of Primulaceae plants during the New Holocene, offering novel insights into their paleoenvironmental interactions. The Holocene epoch marks a critical period characterized by significant shifts in climate and ecological conditions. Understanding plant evolution during this era provides valuable insights into environmental dynamics and human impact on vegetation. A total of 485 Primulaceae palynomorphs were identified across all analysed soil samples, indicating consistent presence throughout the New Holocene period. The abundance and distribution of Primulaceae pollen suggests enduring resilience and adaptation within the local ecosystem. Furthermore, the study highlights a significant correlation between changes in vegetation patterns and human cultivation practices, underscoring anthropogenic influences on regional flora dynamics. The prevalence of Primulaceae palynomorphs across soil layers underscores the plants adaptability to varying environmental conditions. Human activities, particularly cultivation practices, emerge as key drivers shaping vegetation dynamics in the Elbasan region. The consistent presence of Primulaceae palynomorphs underscores their resilience amidst changing environmental dynamics. Human intervention emerges as a significant determinant of regional vegetation patterns, highlighting the intertwined relationship between human activities and plant evolution.

A Holocene history of climate, fire, landscape evolution, and human activity in northeastern Iceland

Abstract. Paleoclimate reconstructions across Iceland provide a template for past changes in climate across the northern North Atlantic, a crucial region due to its position relative to the global northward heat transport system and its vulnerability to climate change. The roles of orbitally driven summer cooling, volcanism, and human impact as triggers of local environmental changes in the Holocene of Iceland remain debated. While there are indications that human impact may have reduced environmental resilience during late Holocene summer cooling, it is still difficult to resolve to what extent human and natural factors affected Iceland's late Holocene landscape instability. Here, we present a continuous Holocene fire record of northeastern Iceland from proxies archived in Stóra Viðarvatn sediment. We use pyrogenic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (pyroPAHs) to trace shifts in fire regimes, paired with continuous biomarker and bulk geochemical records of soil erosion, lake productivity, and human presence. The molecular composition of pyroPAHs and a wind pattern reconstruction indicate a naturally driven fire signal that is mostly regional. Generally low fire frequency during most of the Holocene significantly increased at 3 ka and again after 1.5 ka BP before known human settlement in Iceland. We propose that shifts in vegetation type caused by cooling summers over the past 3 kyr, in addition to changes in atmospheric circulation, such as shifts in North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) regime, led to increased aridity and biomass flammability. Our results show no evidence of faecal biomarkers associated with human activity during or after human colonisation in the 9th century CE. Instead, faecal biomarkers follow the pattern described by erosional proxies, pointing toward a negligible human presence and/or a diluted signal in the lake's catchment. However, low post-colonisation levels of pyroPAHs, in contrast to an increasing flux of erosional bulk proxies, suggest that farming and animal husbandry may have suppressed fire frequency by reducing the spread and flammability of fire-prone vegetation (e.g. heathlands). Overall, our results describe a fire frequency heavily influenced by long-term changes in climate through the Holocene. They also suggest that human colonisation had contrasting effects on the local environment by lowering its resilience to soil erosion while increasing its resilience to fire.

History of human activity in South China since 7 cal ka BP: Evidence from a sediment record in the South China Sea

Human modifications of the Earth System have been getting increasing attention and this has resulted in the concept of the “Anthropocene”. A complete sequence of human-environment interactions needs to be reconstructed to define the onset of the Anthropocene. To address the chronological gaps and provide a general history of human impact in South China during the Holocene, we present a comprehensive reconstruction of the vegetation, chemical weathering, and heavy metal emissions in the Pearl River and Hainan catchments since 7.0 cal ka BP, using a continuous record of black carbon, clay minerals, and major and trace element concentrations of sediment in Core ZK001 taken from the northwestern South China Sea. Based on high-resolution sediment records, combined with archaeological and historical documents, we propose that human impact in South China can be divided into three stages: a hunting-gathering age (7.0–2.9 cal ka BP), a transitional period (2.9–2.0 cal ka BP) and an intensive farming age (<2.0 cal ka BP). Climate controlled both the vegetation and chemical weathering intensity before 2.9 cal ka BP, after which forest clearance by human-induced fire became significant. Along with population growth and technological progress, enhanced human activities including deforestation, cultivation, and metallurgical activities, gradually superseded natural processes and profoundly impacted the environment in South China, especially after 2.0 cal ka BP. Combined with previous studies from the Pearl River catchment, the Anthropocene likely commenced at 2−3 cal ka BP at least in South China.

Evaluating the impact of historical climate and early human groups in the Araucaria Forest of eastern South America

It has been hypothesized that the Araucaria Forest in southern Brazil underwent expansions in the past, driven either by human groups or by climate fluctuations of the Holocene and Pleistocene. Fossil pollen records of the Paraná pine Araucaria angustifolia, a dominant tree in that forest, provide some insights into when those may have occurred. Still, the timing of those expansions has never been estimated. To infer past range shifts and shed light on their main drivers, we employed next‐generation DNA sequencing (ddRADseq), machine learning, and a comprehensive database of fossil pollen records into a study of historical demographic inference and paleo‐distribution modeling of the Paraná pine. We found that A. angustifolia comprises two populations expanding at different times: one in the Mantiqueira mountain chain, the other in the southern Brazilian plateau. The southern population began to expand during the Last Glacial Period ~ 70 kya, long before human arrival in South America. Still, genetic analyses support that humans later impacted this population, resulting in lower genetic diversity, higher inbreeding, and high levels of gene flow over large distances with a weak pattern of isolation‐by‐distance. It is possible this resulted from human influence on seed dispersal and germination on the southern Brazilian plateau. The Mantiqueira population, in contrast, expanded only recently (~ 3 kya). This timing coincides with Holocene climatic changes and human settlements established further south, although, to date, there is little archeological evidence of human impact in the Mantiqueira. In addition, multitemporal species distribution models built from a combination of present‐day and pollen records infer a range expansion of the Araucaria Forest during glacial times until the cold humid HS1 event (~ 16 kya), when the forest was most widespread, with no evidence of glacial refugia. The combination of genomic and spatial analyses suggests that both human and climatic controls played a role in the dynamics of the Araucaria Forest.

A tentative list of reptilian fauna of Algeria and their conservation status

Algeria is situated at the crossroads between Europe and Africa. The northern part of the country is listed as an area of high biodiversity. Currently, the ecosystems (rivers, lakes, deserts, forests etc.) and the species are under more pressure than ever. The impact of humans is significant and many factors constitute a strong threat to this fauna, especially reptiles, which are the most vulnerable because of their low mobility. Thus, pollution, the drying up of wetlands and their conversion to agriculture have clearly affected the existence of many species. The herpetofauna of Algeria is one of the most diversified in the Mediterranean Basin, consisting of 104 species of which 16.98% are endemic. We suppose that the present list of reptilian fauna provided in this paper is not exhaustive and it is expected to include more species given the lack of research on reptiles in Algeria and its large area. Our dataset contains information on reptile occurrences in Algeria. The dataset is based on original research by the staff of the Laboratory of Environmental Sciences and Agroecology of Chadli Bendjedid University in Algeria. The conservation status of all recorded species is given.

Cradle-to-gate life cycle assessment of interior floor material alternatives in Egypt

AbstractThe building materials sector has a major environmental impact and is one of the main causes of environmental degradation in the construction industry. An Environmental Impact Assessment of several interior floor material options, such as ceramic, marble, and parquet tiles, is conducted in this study using a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) methodology. Due to the shortage of LCA applications in Egypt and the unavailability of the inventory database for the materials industries, the study uses a case study of a new city in Egypt to assess the environmental effects of various floor materials. The LCA approach uses SimaPro software V9.50 and its integrated Ecoinvent database V3.0 to define the objective and scope, conduct an inventory analysis, evaluate the impact, and interpret the results. According to the LCA findings, ceramic tiles, followed by marble tiles and parquet tiles, have the lowest negative environmental impacts. Regarding the singles score, results (midpoint method) have revealed that the marble tiles have hit the highest adverse environmental impacts by 2.24 pt, followed by parquet by 1.21 pt, and finally, the ceramic tiles by 0.594 pt. The global warming potential of ceramic tiles is 0.539 kg CO2, which is less than 74% of the global warming potential of marble tiles (2.01 kg CO2). The non-renewable energy impact of the marble tiles is (38.70 Mj primary), which is higher by 78% of the non-renewable energy of ceramic (8.46 Mj primary). Finally, the human health impact has recorded the highest numbers in the marble industry by 1.12E−5 DALY, which means the marble industry needs a high amount of energy. Ultimately, the findings of this study can potentially improve the sustainability and energy efficiency of construction projects by assisting decision-makers in selecting and applying environmentally friendly building materials.

Resilience of Terraced Landscapes to Human and Natural Impacts: A GIS-Based Reconstruction of Land Use Evolution in a Mediterranean Mountain Valley

Terraced historical landscapes have multiple functions in mountain land, limiting erosion, enabling agricultural production and constituting cultural heritage. Currently, they are largely abandoned in Mediterranean regions and facing the ongoing impacts of climate change. Our aim is to reconstruct the evolution of land use on the terraces in order to test the hypothesis of the resilience of these landscapes and their age in recent history (17th–21st century). To achieve this, we used various current and archive spatial datasets and GIS knowledge to detect and map terraces and the changes in land use. We tested this hypothesis in a territory impacted by a recent extreme event, facing the challenge of its reconstruction. Our main outcome showed that the optimal use of the terraces corresponded to the demographic optimum of the mid-19th century, and they were gradually abandoned after the Second World War, with significant differences between Mediterranean and mountain lands. Despite this evolution, the terraces persisted and withstood an extreme event, validating our resilience hypothesis and opening avenues for the revitalization of this territory based on this heritage. These findings are drawing perspectives for the future of terraced landscapes in Mediterranean mountains in the context of climate change.

Human Impact on the Twenty-Four-Hour Patterns of Steller Sea Lions’ Use of a Haulout in Hokkaido, Japan

Steller sea lions (SSLs) migrate to the Hokkaido coast to spend the winter there, leading to conflicts arising with fishermen over herring. This study analyzed the trends in the SSLs’ use of a haulout as a rest site under human pressure. From January to March in 2017, 2018, and 2019, we recorded the SSL behavior at the haulout site off Otaru City, Hokkaido, for 24 h a day using a fixed-point video recorder. We investigated three years of data to analyze the relationships between the SSL behaviors (attendance/landing–entry timings/remaining on land) and herring caught. We also monitored the SSL behaviors during changes in weather conditions and under human pressure. Throughout the three years, the SSLs used the haulout site during harsher weather or under human pressure. In 2017 and 2018, there was a correlation between the herring caught and the maximum number of SSLs on the haulout, but not in 2019. The number of SSLs on the haulout increased from evening to night; most individuals entered the water in the morning. The SSLs probably return to the water around sunrise not only for foraging but also to avoid anthropogenic pressure. The damage caused to the herring fishery by the SSLs was severe, but it is also clear that human pressure changed their behavior in response.

Environmental evaluation and comparison of hybrid separation methods based on distillation and pervaporation for dehydration of binary alcohol mixtures with life cycle, PESTLE, and multi-criteria decision analyses

To achieve net-zero CO2 emissions by 2050, improving energy efficiency in the chemical industry is crucial. The study focuses on an environmentally friendly hybrid distillation (D)-pervaporation (PV) process to enhance energy efficiency and purity in ethanol–water and isobutanol-water mixtures, these are typical wastes in the chemical industry. Three configurations—D + PV, D + PV + D, and D + PV + D with partial Heat Integration (HI)—are evaluated for separation of ethanol–water and isobutanol-water mixtures employing the Life Cycle Assessment with Environmental Footprint (EF) V3.1 (adapted) and ReCiPe 2016 Endpoint (H) V1.08 methods, using SimaPro V9.5 software and Ecoinvent V3.9.1 database. The study also incorporates a PESTLE analysis and Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis to identify the most advantageous process for ethanol and isobutanol scenarios. The research evaluates these systems in a comprehensive manner, including technology, CO2 emissions, impacts on human health, ecosystems, resources, and Total Annual Cost (TAC). The exploration of hybrid process enhancements includes alternative renewable energy sources (i.e., solar, wind, hydro, and biofuel) and comprehensive heat integration based on Pinch Analysis using Hint V2.2 software. Results indicate that D + PV + D is the most suitable for isobutanol-water scenarios based on MCDA and Pinch analysis. In isobutanol scenarios, D + PV + D + HI reduces CO2 emissions, and human health, ecosystems, and resources impact by 15.5 %, 11.2 %, 12.6 %, and 14.6 %, respectively, with a significant 40.0 % decrease in TAC compared to D + PV. Integrating renewable energy sources further enhances its sustainability, achieving a single score of approximately one-third lower than fossil fuel consumption. Promoting renewable energy and Integrating energy flows align seamlessly with Green Chemistry and Engineering principles, representing a crucial stride towards sustainable and eco-friendly industrial practices.

Monetizing Animal Welfare Impacts for Benefit–Cost Analysis

Abstract Animal welfare is often ignored in decision-making, despite widespread agreement about its importance. This is partly because of a lack of quantitative methods to assess the impacts of policies on humans and nonhumans alike on a common scale. At the same time, recent work in economics, philosophy, and animal welfare science has made progress on the fundamental theoretical challenge of estimating the well-being potential of different species on a single scale. By combining these estimates of each species’ well-being potential with assessments of how various policies impact the quality of life for these species, along with the number of animals affected, we can arrive at a framework for estimating the impact of policies on animal health and well-being. This framework allows for a quantifiable comparison between policies affecting humans and animals. For instance, it enables us to compare human QALYs to animal QALYs tailored to specific species. Hence, the intrinsic value of animal welfare impacts of policies can be monetized on the same scale as market and non-market impact for humans, facilitating benefit–cost analysis. Many challenges remain though, including issues of population ethics, political feasibility, and new complexities in addressing equity and uncertainty.

Analysis of Self-Rescue Possibilities for Pedestrians in the Aftermath of Destabilization during a Flood Event

Human safety is paramount in flood disasters. Current research indicates that the majority of fatalities in such disasters are due to people moving in water. Existing studies on human stability in floods have primarily focused on the static resistance of a standing posture against water flow, neglecting the realistic scenario where people need to move and attempt self-rescue in the aftermath of destabilization. This paper introduces an analysis of the stability during the self-rescue process following a fall in floodwaters, providing insights into the baseline risks of human impact in floods. The self-rescue process is defined as the recovery to a standing position after a fall, segmented into four postures: sitting, kneeling, squatting, and standing. Additionally, considering the significant variability of the current method (D×v water depth multiplied by flow velocity) used to assess human stability in floods, this research thoroughly investigates previously undefined parameters, including submerged volume, frontal area, wet friction coefficient, and flow resistance coefficient. This leads to the development of a physically meaningful self-rescue risk assessment formula, which is validated against previous studies for accuracy, with the aim of contributing new insights to flood risk management and public education.

Quantifying the impacts of climate change and human activities on ecological flow security based on a new framework

AbstractClimate change and human activities combine to alter river hydrology, thereby threatening the health of river ecosystems. Quantifying the impacts of climate change and human activities on ecological flow assurance is essential for water resource management and river ecological protection. However, fewer studies quantify the impacts of climate change and human activities on ecological flow assurance based on a complete set of frameworks. The present study introduces an integrated assessment framework designed to quantify the impacts of climate change and human activities on ecological flow security. The framework includes the following steps: (1) natural river runoff reconstruction utilizing a semi‐distributed hydrological model (SWAT), (2) calculation of the most suitable ecological stream flow of the watershed ecosystem by using the non‐parametric kernel density estimation method, (3) calculation of the safety and security levels under minimum ecological flow and appropriate ecological flow conditions in the watershed and (4) quantification of the influences of climate change and human activities on the security of ecological flow in the watershed through the application of a quantitative attribution method. The impact of climate change and human activities on the ecological flow assurance level was analysed using three hydrological stations in Xiangtan, Hengyang and Laobutou, which are the main tributaries of the Xiangjiang River Basin, as a case study. The findings indicated a substantial decrease in ecological flow assurance levels across the basin during the period of human impact (1991–2019). The quantitative assessment results suggest that human activities predominantly drive the degradation of ecological flow assurance throughout the period of human impact, accounting for 57.05% of the total impact. Extensive gradient reservoir scheduling and anthropogenic water withdrawals were the main factors contributing to the degradation of ecological flow assurance in the study basin. The methodology and findings presented in this study offer insights into the evolutionary characteristics and driving forces behind ecological flow security in a dynamic environment. Furthermore, they establish a scientific foundation for local water resource management and river ecosystem protection.

Effectiveness of Nasolacrimal SCC Treatments and Promising Role of Chemo-Induction: A Case Report and Systematic Review.

To comprehensively analyze reported cases of nasolacrimal squamous cell carcinoma (NLSCC), focusing on risk factors, treatment modalities, and outcomes. Additionally, investigate the impact of human Papillomavirus (HPV) status and histopathological subtypes' impact on prognosis. Pubmed, Embase. We conducted a systematic literature review to identify relevant studies reporting cases of NLSCC. The review methods adhered to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. The final update was performed on May 31, 2023. The 72 studies included a total of 313 participants (mean age: 55; 60% male). Longer symptom duration (44.1 ± 59.2 months) correlated with recurrence (p = 0.004), and males exhibited higher mortality rates (19.6% vs. 2.4% in females, p = 0.01). The overall survival (OS) rate among all patients was 87.1%. Basaloid NLSCC had a worse death outcome (p ≤ 0.001). HPV-positive cases showed comparable OS, recurrence, and metastasis rates to the general population (p = 0.917, 0.851, 0.07, respectively). Comparing treatment approaches (surgery, surgery with adjuvant radiation, chemoradiotherapy [CRT] followed by surgery), no significant differences in 5 and 10-year OS rates or recurrence were observed (p = 0.4, 0.24, respectively), but 5-year metastasis events were significant (p = 0.024). Eye exenteration rates were 31.1%, 20%, and 0% for the respective treatments (p = 0.089). Induction chemotherapy saved four cases from potential exenteration with favorable prognosis. Early detection and diagnosis are of utmost importance in the management of NLSCC. Regardless of the treatment approach, HPV-related NLSCC demonstrated similar outcomes to the general population. Basaloid histology represents the worst subtype in terms of prognosis. Limited adjuvant CRT cases showed improved outcomes and induction chemotherapy's importance was emphasized in recent literature and our shared experience. Laryngoscope, 2024.

First catalogue of benthic marine macroalgae from glacier-influenced environments of the Beagle Channel, deposited in the new Sub-Antarctic Cryptogamic Herbarium (SCH) of the University of Magallanes

The environmental characteristics and geomorphological landscape in the sub-Antarctic Magellanic ecoregion underpin a biological diversity that evolved adapting to the microhabitats produced by these heterogeneous ecological conditions. The high level of endemism found in these biological communities is nowadays protected thanks to the creation of the Cape Horn Biosphere Reserve (CHBR), a natural laboratory at the southern end of the sub-Antarctic Magellanic ecoregion. Studies produced in this region offer a valuable knowledge of its biological, ecological and cultural facets in a state still scarcely impacted by anthropogenic activities. The retreat of glaciers present along the channels and fjords of the CHBR due to global climate change impacts the marine benthic and macroalgae communities hosted in these water bodies. European expeditions in the 18th and 19th centuries pioneered the works which provided our current knowledge about this subantarctic marine flora. Nevertheless, there is still a gap of taxonomic information of macroalgae diversity in the CHBR. To solve this gap, with support of the Cape Horn Internationional Center (CHIC), we created the Sub-Antarctic Cryptogamic Herbarium (SCH) hosted at the Antarctic and Sub-Antarctic Marine Ecosystems Laboratory (LEMAS), University of Magallanes. In 2020, the New York Botanical Garden indexed the SCH in its Index Herbariorum. This indexation granted by this world-renowned institution places the SCH's biological collection as the world's southernmost cryptogamic repository. As such, the SCH's botanical collection is currently the only gateway to the subantarctic ecosystem's biological legacy. The catalogue below provides information about the ecological and morphological characteristics of macroalgae deposited in the SCH, with particular focus on those species present in the CHBR. We identified 54 species. Among them 23 belong to the Rhodophyta division (43%), 19 species to the Chlorophyta division (35%), and 12 species to the Ochrophyta division (22%). In the context of rapid global change, involving increasingly threatened taxa due to human impact, baseline studies and records deposited at the SCH will provide an essential tool for assessing patterns of change and defining conservation practices to protect the rich biodiversity of these sub-Antarctic ecosystems.

Mapping and Characterizing Eelgrass Meadows Using UAV Imagery in Placentia Bay and Trinity Bay, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada

Sustainable coastal social–ecological systems rely on healthy ecosystems known to provide benefits to both nature and people. A key ecosystem found globally is seagrass, for which maps at a scale relevant to inform conservation and management efforts are often missing. Eelgrass (Zostera marina), a species of seagrass found throughout the northern hemisphere, has been declining in Placentia Bay, an ecologically and biologically significant area of Canada’s east coast subject to an increasing human impact. This research provides baseline information on the distribution of eelgrass meadows and their anthropogenic stressors at seven sites of Placentia Bay and three sites of the adjacent Trinity Bay, on the island of Newfoundland. High-resolution maps of eelgrass meadows were created by combining ground-truth underwater videos with unmanned aerial vehicle imagery classified with an object-based image analysis approach. Visual analyses of the imagery and underwater videos were conducted to characterize sites based on the presence of physical disturbances and the semi-quantitative cover of epiphytes, an indication of nutrient enrichment. A total eelgrass area of ~1 km2 was mapped across the 10 sites, with an overall map accuracy of over 80% for 8 of the 10 sites. Results indicated minimum pressures of physical disturbance and eutrophication affecting eelgrass in the region, likely due to the small population size of the communities near the eelgrass meadows. These baseline data will promote the sustainability of potential future coastal development in the region by facilitating the future monitoring and conservation of eelgrass ecosystems.

Reconstruction of Past Water Levels in Data-Deficient Karst Springs

Karst aquifers are crucial for providing fresh water worldwide but are also incredibly sensitive to human impact and climate change. This study aims to reconstruct the historical water levels of karst springs, despite the lack of data. By combining collected data, we have created a detailed numerical model to understand the complex behavior of karst aquifers. Our research reveals significant drops in the water levels at Longtan Spring, mainly due to the overuse of groundwater and inadequate water recharge, which is critical for the success of the Springs Resurgence project. We have also mapped out historical groundwater levels and identified the necessary conditions to get the spring flowing again. The model proved to be reliable during its calibration from 2000 to 2007, with an average Nash–Sutcliffe efficiency coefficient of 0.52 for the monitoring wells. For the period from 1960 to 2019, our model showed a strong correlation coefficient of over 0.97 when compared with data from the GRACE satellite mission, demonstrating its high accuracy. The approach we have taken in this study provides a feasible way to figure out historical water levels in karst springs, which is vital for protecting these essential fresh water sources. This work will provide a strong basis for policies to restore the spring.

An integrative warning-protection shear thickened composite sponge towards sensing performance and impact resistance with excellent flame retardant

The mechanical shock and thermal damage generally exist together in hazardous environment, whereas traditional single protective materials are difficult to achieve all-round protection under extreme environment. Herein, to realize the integration of multifunctional abilities about impact resistance, flame-retardant and sensing performance, a “solid-liquid host-guest” structural shear thickened composite sponge is proposed, which flame-retardant shear thickening fluids with an extraordinary thickening ratio of 2183.95 % continuously disperse in 3D sponge matrix. The resulting composite sponge effectively attenuates the impact force by nearly 80 % with the thickness of only 4 mm via a cooperation between the effect of shear hardening and structure densification. Meanwhile, after burning on the alcohol flame for 12 s, the composite sponge with 7 wt.% fire-retardant additive maintains a complete morphology and realizes self-extinguishing with a reliable flame-retardant ability. Attributed to the good electrical conductivity of shear thickening fluid, the composite sponge serves favorably in human body monitoring, impact sensing and fire warning. In a word, this multifunctional lightweight composite sponge is expected to realize the integration of early warning and protection, which is a competitive candidate material for the intelligent protection in complex environments.

Human Impacts on Holocene Vegetation and Wetland Degradation in the Lower Pearl River, Southern China

Human Impacts on Holocene Vegetation and Wetland Degradation in the Lower Pearl River, Southern China

Novel clades of tick-borne pathogenic nairoviruses in Europe

Members of the Orthonairovirus genus (family Nairoviridae) include many tick-borne viruses of significant human and animal health impact, with several recently-documented pathogenic viruses lacking sufficient epidemiological information. We screened 215 adult ticks of seven species collected in Bulgaria, Georgia, Latvia and Poland for orthonairoviruses, followed by nanopore sequencing (NS) for genome characterization. Initial generic amplification revealed Sulina virus (SULV, Orthonairovirus sulinaense), for which an updated amplification assay was used, revealing an overall prevalence of 2.7% in Ixodes ricinus ticks from Latvia. Three complete and additional partial SULV genomes were generated, that consistently formed a separate, distinct clade with further intragroup divergence in the maximum likelihood analyses. Comparisons with previously described viruses from Romania exhibited similar genome topologies, albeit with divergent motifs and cleavage sites on the glycoprotein precursor. Preliminary evidence of recombination involving the S segment was documented, in addition to variations in predicted viral glycoproteins. Generic screening further identified Tacheng tick virus 1 (TCTV1, Orthonairovirus tachengense), with documented human infections, in Dermacentor reticulatus ticks from Poland, with a prevalence of 0.9%. Subsequent NS and assembly provided the first complete TCTV1 genome outside of China, where it was originally described. Phylogenetic analysis of virus genome segments revealed TCTV1-Poland as a discrete taxon within the TCTV1 cluster in the Orthonairovirus genus, representing a geographically segregated clade. Comparable genome topology with TCTV1 from China was observed, aside from minor variations in the M segment. Similar to SULV, TCTV1 exhibited several mismatches on previously described screening primer binding sites, likely to prevent amplification. These findings indicate presence of novel TCTV1 and SULV clades in Eastern Europe, confirming the expansion of orthonairoviruses with pathogenic potential.

“The trash is ruining the picture”: social media, sustainability, and the semiotics of pristine nature

ABSTRACT Images of improperly-discarded waste offer a case for examining the broader politics of “pristine nature.” As a global visual register in which the environment is depicted without human impact, an historicization of pristine nature reveals how it was enregistered through the Romantic and Transcendental movements as well as colonial ideologies of the wilderness. Informed by fieldwork in Oman and 300 Instagram posts collected between 2021–23, “untouched nature” and the “self-in-nature” are identified as two genres of pristine nature. Yet their citation in Oman spurs a question: does history always implicate a contemporary sign? The identification of a third genre, “anti-litter,” pursues this question by investigating what happens when the camera is turned upon trash. Despite the association of anti-litter with sustainability, the genre was similarly enregistered through a complicated history. Its citation in Oman, however, demonstrates that actors wield genres in response to sociocultural and political-economic context, suggesting the grounds from which a semiotics of sustainability might emerge.