Ecological Issues Research Articles

A Multicriteria Decision-Making Approach for Urban Water Features: Ecological Landscape Architecture Evaluation

In recent decades, the issues of ecology and environmental sustainability have become a global concern in contemporary urban design. Among various urban elements, water features play a significant role in improving the ecological characteristics of their surrounding environment, especially in hot and arid areas. The aim of this study is to evaluate the ecological characteristics of urban water features comprehensively and quantitatively, which has been overlooked in previous studies, taking their physical characteristics into account. To this end, a multicriteria decision-making method, an analytic network process, was proposed to quantitatively evaluate the ecological characteristics of water features. In this approach, four ecological criteria—microclimate, biodiversity, greenery, and human wellbeing—and ten physical characteristics of water features were considered. Twenty-one experts were asked to complete a questionnaire for pairwise comparisons of all ecological criteria and the influence of physical characteristics. The results showed that vegetation and scale, with the relative influencing values of 0.255 and 0.188, respectively, were identified as the most decisive features influencing ecological criteria. Conversely, texture, with a value 0.023, had the least impact. Moreover, it was shown that water features have the greatest impact on the microclimate compared with other ecological criteria. The results were used to compare water features at the Koohsangi Transregional Park, located in a hot and arid city of Iran. The results of this study lead to a framework that can help urban designers integrate ecological criteria into water feature planning to enhance urban ecology and sustainability.

Impact of Different Post-Curing Temperatures on Mechanical and Physical Properties of Waste-Modified Polymer Composites

One of the key trends affecting the future of the construction industry is the issue of ecology; therefore, current activities in construction aim to reduce the use of raw materials, which is made possible by including recycled materials in composites, among other methods. This article describes the results of tests conducted using four types of epoxy composites, i.e., composites modified with waste rubber (WR), composites modified with waste polyethylene (PE) agglomerate, glycolysate obtained using polyethylene terephthalate (PET) waste, and control unmodified mortars (CUM). Selected properties of the mortars were monitored during their maturation under laboratory conditions, as well as after post-curing at elevated temperatures in the range of 60 °C–180 °C. With the increase in the reheating temperature, an increase in the flexural strength of all types of mortars was noted, with the highest more than twofold stronger than the unmodified composites. The compressive strength increased up to a temperature of 140 °C, and then decreased slightly. The highest value of 139.8 MPa was obtained using PET mortars. Post-curing also led to a slight loss of mass of all samples in the range of 0 to 0.06%. Statistical methods were employed, which made it possible to determine the post-curing temperature and composite composition for which the determined properties are simultaneously the most beneficial, especially for the prefabricated elements.

Honey Enriched with Additives Alleviates Behavioral, Oxidative Stress, and Brain Alterations Induced by Heavy Metals and Imidacloprid in Zebrafish

Environmental concerns have consistently been a focal point for the scientific community. Pollution is a critical ecological issue that poses significant threats to human health and agricultural production. Contamination with heavy metals and pesticides is a considerable concern, a threat to the environment, and warrants special attention. In this study, we investigated the significant issues arising from sub-chronic exposure to imidacloprid (IMI), mercury (Hg), and cadmium (Cd), either alone or in combination, using zebrafish (Danio rerio) as an animal model. Additionally, we assessed the potential protective effects of polyfloral honey enriched with natural ingredients, also called honey formulation (HF), against the combined sub-chronic toxic effects of the three contaminants. The effects of IMI (0.5 mg·L−1), Hg (15 μg·L−1), and Cd (5 μg·L−1), both individually and in combination with HF (500 mg·L−1), on zebrafish were evaluated by quantifying acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity, lipid peroxidation (MDA), various antioxidant enzyme activities like superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase (SOD and GPx), 2D locomotor activity, social behavior, histological and immunohistochemical factors, and changes in body element concentrations. Our findings revealed that all concentrations of pollutants may disrupt social behavior, diminish swimming performances (measured by total distance traveled, inactivity, and swimming speed), and elevate oxidative stress (OS) biomarkers of SOD, GPx, and MDA in zebrafish over the 21-day administration period. Fish exposed to IMI and Hg + Cd + IMI displayed severe lesions and increased GFAP (Glial fibrillary acidic protein) and S100B (S100 calcium-binding protein B) protein expression in the optic tectum and cerebellum, conclusively indicating astrocyte activation and neurotoxic effects. Furthermore, PCNA (Proliferating cell nuclear antigen) staining revealed reduced cell proliferation in the IMI-exposed group, contrasting with intensified proliferation in the Hg + Cd group. The nervous system exhibited significant damage across all studied concentrations, confirming the observed behavioral changes. Moreover, HF supplementation significantly mitigated the toxicity induced by contaminants and reduced OS. Therefore, the exposure to chemical mixtures offers a more complete picture of adverse impacts on aquatic ecosystems and the supplementation with bioactive compounds can help to reduce the toxicity induced by exposure to environmental pollutants.

Intraspecific predator interference promotes biodiversity in ecosystems.

Explaining biodiversity is a fundamental issue in ecology. A long-standing puzzle lies in the paradox of the plankton: many species of plankton feeding on a limited variety of resources coexist, apparently flouting the competitive exclusion principle (CEP), which holds that the number of predator (consumer) species cannot exceed that of the resources at a steady state. Here, we present a mechanistic model and demonstrate that intraspecific interference among the consumers enables a plethora of consumer species to coexist at constant population densities with only one or a handful of resource species. This facilitated biodiversity is resistant to stochasticity, either with the stochastic simulation algorithm or individual-based modeling. Our model naturally explains the classical experiments that invalidate the CEP, quantitatively illustrates the universal S-shaped pattern of the rank-abundance curves across a wide range of ecological communities, and can be broadly used to resolve the mystery of biodiversity in many natural ecosystems.

Intraspecific predator interference promotes biodiversity in ecosystems

Explaining biodiversity is a fundamental issue in ecology. A long-standing puzzle lies in the paradox of the plankton: many species of plankton feeding on a limited variety of resources coexist, apparently flouting the competitive exclusion principle (CEP), which holds that the number of predator (consumer) species cannot exceed that of the resources at a steady state. Here, we present a mechanistic model and demonstrate that intraspecific interference among the consumers enables a plethora of consumer species to coexist at constant population densities with only one or a handful of resource species. This facilitated biodiversity is resistant to stochasticity, either with the stochastic simulation algorithm or individual-based modeling. Our model naturally explains the classical experiments that invalidate the CEP, quantitatively illustrates the universal S-shaped pattern of the rank-abundance curves across a wide range of ecological communities, and can be broadly used to resolve the mystery of biodiversity in many natural ecosystems.

Leveraging Social Media Data for Forest Fires Sentiment Classification: A Data-Driven Method

Background: The rise in forest fires over the last two years, which is due to rise in dry weather conditions and human activities, have greatly impacted an area of 1.6 million hectares, leading to significant ecological, economic, and health issues, hence the need to improve disaster response strategies. Previous research determined the lack of coverage regarding public response during forest fires with conventional methods such as satellite images and sensor data. However, social media platforms provide real-time information generated by users, along with location information of disaster events. Sentiment analysis helps in understanding the public reactions and responses to natural disasters, thereby increasing awareness about forest fires. Objective: The purpose of this research is to assess the efficiency of Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) method in classifying sentiment for social networks in regard to forest fires. This research aims to examine the effect of TF-IDF, unigram, and the FastText features on the effectiveness of the classification of sentiment. Methods: The precision, recall, and F1 score of 2, 3, and 4 determined in the LSTM models with commonly available sentiment analysis tools, such as the Vader Sentiment Analysis and SentiWordNet was used to evaluate the performance of the model. Results: With an improvement of roughly 10%, the four layers of the LSTM model generated the best performance for the evaluation of sentiments about forest fires. The LSTM model with FastText achieved F1, recall and precision scores of 0.649, 0.641, and 0.659, which exceeds lexicon-based method including SentiWordNet and Vader. Conclusion: The experimental results showed that the LSTM model outperformed lexicon-based methods when used to analyse the tweets related to forest fire. Additional research is required to integrate rule-based models and LSTM models to develop a more robust model for dynamic data. Keywords: Forest Fire, Disaster, Long Short-Term Memory, LSTM, Vader, SentiWordnet

Optimizing the Migratory Environment of Wildebeests in the Maasai Mara Reserve with a New Ecological Corridor and Customized Buffer Zone Model

Conflicts between wildlife and humans are a major ecological issue. During migration, wildlife, especially wildebeest, often encounter significant environmental pressures from human activities. However, relatively few studies have been conducted to provide a concise, quantitative description of wildebeest migration in the Maasai Mara National Reserve (MMNR). In this study, we identified changes in the location of the wildebeest population over time in the Maasai Mara National Reserve. We then used a K-means algorithm (R2 = 0.926) to fit coordinates representing the changes in the location of the wildebeests to enable a quantitative representation of their migration routes. Subsequently, we developed an environmental stress model to assess the changes in environmental stresses faced by wildebeests along their migration routes. We proposed a model of “migratory ecological corridors and customized buffer zones” and determined the response coefficient T_res. We used the response coefficients T_res = 0.06, 0.09, and 0.12 as the critical values to categorize the areas along the routes into weak, medium, and strong response regions. Then, we set the width of the buffer zones on both sides of the routes as 5 km, 7 km, and 9 km, respectively, and evaluated the buffer effect. This type of model achieved a good effect of reducing the environmental pressure by 54.06%. The “Migratory Ecological Corridor and Customized Buffer Zone” model demonstrated a high degree of economic feasibility while showing good practicality in mitigating the environmental conflicts between humans and migratory wildlife. The variability in the environmental pressures across the region indicates that the Nairobi and Nakuru districts may be undergoing a particular stage of urbanization that unleashes potential threats to the migration of wildebeests. Further research is essential to assess the feasibility of larger buffer zones.

Saving the Wild or Saving the Cowboy? Cultural Conflict between the Old and Nouveau West*

AbstractIn North Central Montana, a land‐based conflict centered on the environmental organization American Prairie sparked the formation of the “Save the Cowboy, Stop the American Prairie Reserve” Facebook page, attracting posts and comments from ranchers and members of the area's agriculture‐dependent communities. Despite Montana's rapid amenity migration and rural gentrification, this region has largely maintained its Old West culture. Consequently, Save the Cowboy members often express frustration about how American Prairie's large‐scale rewilding initiative and land acquisitions affect the region's rural communities. In this qualitative content analysis, concerns about preserving the Old West culture and avoiding the New West transformation dominated Save the Cowboy's Facebook posts and comments (N = 1,002), even compared to the ostensibly more concerning economic and ecological issues. By describing a social space marked by cultural antagonisms between Old West insiders and New West outsiders, this study points to the dangers of essentializing Old West‐New West conflicts. Illustrating how Old West insiders deploy their cultural capital to contest rural change, it also expands the Old West‐New West typology by proposing the term “Nouveau West” to capture how Old West insiders assert dominance by disparaging newcomers who lack the requisite knowledge of how things are done locally.

ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY IN THE PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION SYSTEM: CHALLENGES OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

Sustainable development is a key topic on today's global agenda due to the threats posed by climate change, environmental pollution, and other ecological issues. Governments and international institutions aim to achieve a balance between economic growth, social welfare, and environmental protection. In this context, new technologies and support for green innovations, which have the potential to enhance environmental safety, play a particularly important role. Effective public administration must adapt to these challenges by actively implementing environmental policies and promoting sustainable development. International cooperation is also critical for integrating global commitments into national strategies. The purpose of this article is to demonstrate how environmental policy can support sustainable development through the improvement of the public administration system. The study provides a detailed analysis of international legal frameworks that regulate environmental policy and sustainability in public administration. Based on a systems approach, the complex interrelationships between government, society, business, and environmental factors are explored, allowing for a deeper understanding of how these elements interact. Using Switzerland as an example, one of the leading countries in environmental governance, the article identifies key elements for integrating environmental principles into public administration. This example demonstrates specific approaches and tools that other countries can adopt. Additionally, the statistics highlight not only global trends in plastic production and consumption but also the number of countries that have implemented environmental policy instruments between 2010 and 2023. This helps assess the scale of environmental initiatives at the global level. A SWOT analysis was conducted to assess the strengths and weaknesses of existing environmental policies, as well as to identify opportunities and threats for future development. This analysis helped outline the key directions for improving environmental policy to further support sustainable development. As a result, it was found that environmental policy within public administration has significant potential for growth, but its success depends on the establishment of an effective monitoring system, the intensification of international cooperation, the adoption of advanced technologies, and active public participation.

Remote Sensing Evaluation of Trophic Status in the Daihai Lake Based on Fuzzy Classification

Trophic state index (TSI) is a critical ecological and environmental issue in water resource management that has garnered significant attention. Given the complexity of optical characteristics in aquatic environments, this study employs fuzzy classification methods (FCM) and composite nutrient status indices to meticulously classify in-situ remote sensing reflectance data, aiming to develop evaluation models for different nutrient status categories to facilitate the assessment of the Daihai River in Inner Mongolia, China. Subsequently, we applied this model to MSI data to analyze the nutrient status of Daihai Lake from 2016 to 2021. Furthermore, a structural equation model (SEM) was utilized to explore the primary driving factors influencing nutrient status. The results indicated that the water bodies in Daihai Lake can be broadly classified into three categories, with the nutrient status models demonstrating robust performance for each category (R2 = 0.80, R2 = 0.83, and R2 = 0.74). Comparisons were made between nutrient status accuracies obtained through the NCM and FCM based on measured data, yielding R2 values of 0.74 and 0.85, respectively. Furthermore, the TSI results derived from MSI inversion were validated, with NCM achieving an R2 of 0.49, RMSE of 6.88, and MAPE of 10.36%, while FCM exhibited an R2 of 0.55, RMSE of 8.89, and MAPE of 13.18%. An SEM–based analysis revealed that over the long term, human activities exerted a more substantial impact on eutrophication in Daihai Lake, while climatic factors played an accelerating and reinforcing role. These results are consistent with prior research in the Daihai area, indicating a state of mild eutrophication and the potential of the fuzzy classification method and comprehensive trophic status index method in eutrophication assessment.

A Physiological Analysis of Desiccation Stress in the Green Tide Species Ulva stenophylloides and Ulva uncialis in the South Pacific

Global green tide blooms of the Ulva genus have been increasing due to human activities, with mass accumulation in Algarrobo Bay, Chile, causing ecological and social issues. In this area, five Ulva species were previously identified, with Ulva stenophylloides dominating across seasons and intertidal zones; Ulva uncialis was the second most abundant, mainly in winter. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that U. stenophylloides is more tolerant to desiccation than U. uncialis, explaining its dominance in the upper intertidal zone. Based on in vitro cultures, we assessed the impact of desiccation stress on weight, blade length, cellular activity, and lipoperoxide levels. In U. uncialis, desiccation treatment caused a decrease in weight; conversely, in U. stenophylloides, both control and desiccation treatments caused a slight decrease in weight. No significant differences (p > 0.05) in blade length or lipoperoxide levels as a function of culture time were detected in the control and desiccation treatment groups for both species. Furthermore, desiccation had no negative effects on the cellular activity of either species. Although the observed weight changes suggest that U. uncialis is more desiccation-tolerant than U. stenophylloides under the experimental conditions, the cellular activity and lipoperoxidation indicate high desiccation tolerance in both species, which partly explains their intertidal dominance.

Ultrathin Self-Assembled Monolayer for Effective Silicon Solar Cell Passivation.

Passivation technology is crucial for reducing interface defects and impacting the performance of crystalline silicon (c-Si) solar cells. Concurrently, maintaining a thin passivation layer is essential for ensuring efficient carrier transport. With an ultrathin passivated contact structure, both Silicon Heterojunction (SHJ) cells and Tunnel Oxide Passivated Contact (TOPCon) solar cells achieve an efficiency surpassing 26%. To reduce production costs and simplify solar cell manufacturing processes, the rapid development of organic material passivation technology has emerged. However, its widespread industrial production is hindered by environmental safety concerns, such as strong acid corrosion and biological and ecological safety issues. Here, we discovered a low-cost self-assembled monolayer (SAM) hole-selective transport material known as 2PACz ([2-(9H-carbazol-9-yl) ethyl] phosphonic acid) with phosphate groups to form c-Si solar cells for the first time. The ultrathin film of 2PACz with phosphate groups can establish strong and stable P-O-Si bonds on the silicon surface. Meanwhile, like 2PACz, a uniform ultrathin film with a carbazole function group can offer electron-localizing and thus hole-selective properties, which provides ideas for studying dopant-free silicon solar cells. As a result of such interfacial passivation engineering, it plays an important role in repairing porous structures, such as pyramid-textured silicon surfaces, and cutting losses during the commercialization of c-Si solar cells. Crucially, this advancement offers insights for the development of new high-efficiency ultrathin film passivation methods in the postsilicon era.

Arctic Governance in the Face of Climate Change: A Case for “Inclusive Regionalism”

Abstract Arctic governance has entered a period of turmoil following the March 2022 Arctic Council pause in operations and, subsequently, the strained relations between the member states. As climate change dramatically alters the Arctic environment, opening the region to new economic possibilities and more global attention, the need for cooperation is greater than ever. This article examines the current geopolitical and environmental pressures that are undermining the Arctic Council’s legitimacy and operations at a critical juncture in Arctic governance. It contends that the Arctic Council must rethink how it engages with Arctic Council observers and the wider global community to ensure that pressing ecological, economic, and social issues are addressed judiciously to prevent potentially irreparable harm in the region. Specifically, the case is made that a shift to “inclusive regionalism” could secure the Arctic Council’s position as the pre-eminent forum to address Arctic issues and to re-establish the spirit of collaboration that reigned for a quarter century.

Effects of Salt Stress on Seed Germination and Embryo Growth of Oxytropis coerulea

Background: Oxytropis coerulea is considered to be an exceptional forage. The salinization of soil is a prevalent ecological issue worldwide. In order to study the effects of saline solution on seed germination and embryo growth of O. coerulea. Methods: An experiment was carried out using the culture dish filter paper method. Three salt stresses, namely, Na2CO3, NaCl and double salt were set, each of which was set to 0%, 0.3%, 0.6% and 0.9% concentration. Result: The results indicated that as the concentration of salt increased, there was a decrease in the germination rate, germination index and embryo growth. The activities of SOD, POD and CAT, as well as soluble protein content, initially increased and then decreased with increasing salt stress. The toxic effects of the three salts ranged from strong to weak as Na2CO3 greater than double salt greater than NaCl. The salt resistance indexes of 0.3% Na2CO3, NaCl and double salt were 53.87, 57.00 and 38.73, respectively and the salt resistance index of 0.6% NaCl was 50.21, indicating a high salt-tolerant degree. It showed certain resistance to 0.3% Na2CO3, 0.6% NaCl and 0.3% double salt. In short, the various soluble mechanisms of O. coerulea in different stages of salt stress and different salt stress levels have different reaction mechanisms, which reflect the salt stress of O. coerulea seeds. O. coerulea seeds can be planted in a suitable concentration of saline-alkali land, which can utilize the feed value and medicinal value of O. coerulea to improve economic benefits and utilize saline soil to improve the ecological environment.

The responses of ecosystem services in coastal cities to urbanization in 30 years: A case study of Qingdao City, China

Coastal urban areas play a pivotal role in regional economic growth, yet they are also sensitive regions where the natural environment interacts with human activities. Rapid urbanization has led to ecological issues, such as the degradation of key ecosystem services (ESs) in coastal cities. Understanding the impact of urbanization on the supply and demand of ESs in coastal cities is crucial for ensuring the healthy and sustainable development of the socio-economy in these areas. This study takes the coastal city of Qingdao as a case study, with a focus on the supply and demand relationships of seven key ESs—carbon sequestration, food production, habitat quality, recreational capacity, soil retention, water yield and marine aquaculture—as well as their responses to population growth, economic development, and spatial expansion, which are three distinct aspects of urbanization. The findings indicate that: (I) From 1992 to 2022, the evolution of different ESs exhibited variability, all displaying notable spatial imbalances. (II) During this period, the urbanization process in Qingdao had a pronounced negative effect on the supply and demand of ESs. Spatial urbanization had the most significant impact on carbon sequestration, food production, habitat quality, water yield, and marine aquaculture, while population urbanization most notably affected recreational capacity. (III) The sensitivity of different types of ESs to population, economic, and spatial urbanization varies. Carbon sequestration, food production, recreational capacity, soil retention, water yield, and marine aquaculture were most sensitive to economic urbanization, whereas habitat quality was most sensitive to spatial urbanization. This research provides a basis for decision-making in the sustainable development and comprehensive management of coastal cities and their ecosystems.

Fabrication and Properties of Adsorptive Ceramic Membrane Made from Kaolin with Addition of Dolomite for Removal of Metal Ions in a Multielement Aqueous System.

The exorbitant presence of heavy metals has emerged as one of the most serious ecological issues facing the world. The treatment processes currently employed are not effective for removing all of the contaminants completely. Therefore, it is necessary for better operational technology to be developed. Here, we fabricated effective and inexpensive kaolin-based ceramic membranes with the addition of dolomite using a simple dry compaction method. Moreover, we applied the obtained adsorptive membranes to the removal of lead, copper, zinc, and cadmium from aqueous solutions. The membranes prepared with dolomite addition (sintered at different temperatures) exhibited a high water flux between 246.78 and 1738.56 L/h·m2 at an extremely low operating pressure (0.03 MPa). Furthermore, the optimal membrane showed high removal efficiencies of 99.12, 99.82, 85.62, and 65.94% for Pb(II), Cu(II), Zn(II), and Cd(II), respectively. The utilization of dolomite enhanced the removal efficiency of the adsorptive membranes by around 32-54% in a multielement system. This work reveals that enhanced adsorptive membranes with high fluxes and strong removal abilities have great potential as a synergized system with practical applications in the removal of heavy-metal contaminants from wastewater in the future.

A Review on Apple Pomace Bioactives for Natural Functional Food and Cosmetic Products with Therapeutic Health-Promoting Properties.

Apples are consumed lavishly worldwide, while demand is increasing for the management of the huge apple-waste amounts that lead to significant disposal costs and ecological issues. Additionally, apples represent fruits with several bioactive constituents, which are key factors in a healthy, balanced diet. In the present study, an extensive review is presented regarding the bioactive compounds of an apple processing by-product, namely apple pomace, mentioning their significance as viable ingredients/substances in foods and cosmetics aiming at chronic disease prevention and health promotion. Apple pomace contains several constituents, such as polar lipids, phenolics, vitamins and dietary fibers, with potential antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-thrombotic, anti-aging and skin-protecting properties, and thus, they may contribute to minimizing the risk of various health conditions. Additionally, the mechanisms of action of such functional bioactives from apple pomace exert health benefits that will be examined, while the potential synergistic effects will also be investigated. Moreover, we will present the methods and techniques needed for the utilization of apple pomace in the appropriate form, such as powder, extracts, essential oil and so on, and their several applications in the food and cosmeceutical industry sectors, which summarize that apple pomace represents an ideal alternative to synthetic bioactive compounds.

Municipal Solid Waste Management System: A Study of Aligarh City, Uttar Pradesh, India

Municipal solid waste management (MSWM) is a significant environmental challenge in Indian cities, including Aligarh. Inadequate handling of municipal solid waste (MSW) poses risks to public health and the environment. Studies indicate that approximately 90% of MSW in India is improperly disposed of in open dumps and landfills, leading to various ecological and health issues. A detailed examination of Aligarh's waste management system was conducted to assess the quantity, characteristics, and sustainable management options for its municipal waste. Findings from the study show that private collectors handle about 430 tons of waste per day in Aligarh, but neither residents nor collectors engage in waste segregation at the source. The combined collection efficiency of A2Z Private Limited and the Aligarh Municipal Corporation is estimated to be around 70%. Due to the high organic content in the waste, its energy potential remains untapped. Currently, about 80% of the collected waste is disposed of in open dumps, as Aligarh lacks a sanitary landfill. This study highlights the current state of municipal solid waste management in Aligarh focusing on the quantity, quality, and management strategies in Aligarh. Methodology: For this study, Aligarh, a medium-sized city with a population of roughly 8.7 lakhs, which is located 130 kilometres from Delhi, India's capital, was chosen. A thorough assessment of the literature was done to create a theoretical framework. Visits to fields were carried out to gather basic data and comprehend the city's SWMS, including interaction During interviews with several municipality employees and executives in charge of SWM and citizens of the city. A procedure was created to examine the sources, calculate the amounts, and ascertain the waste streams' makeup. Findings: Despite their best efforts, the local municipality's limited resources do not allow for the effectiveness of the solid waste management system in Aligarh. On the outskirts of the city, waste is frequently disposed of in open or low-lying regions without using the correct scientific or engineering techniques.

Linking individual experiments and multiscale models to simulate physiological perturbations on aquatic food webs

Numerous threats affect aquatic ecosystems at different biological organizational levels from individuals to ecosystems. Stresses occurring on the metabolism and physiological functions of individuals can have repercussions on the individual behavior, its ability to survive and reproduce, also known as the individual fitness, which may then influence the demography and spatial distribution of populations, and ultimately modify trophic flows and ecosystem functioning. In a context of a globally changing environment, predicting the life history traits and fitness of individuals can be relevantly performed with the association of laboratory experiments with Dynamic Energy Budget (DEB) theory, while modeling species interactions have proven to be an efficient tool to understand aquatic food webs using mass-balanced models such as linear inverse models (LIMs) or Chance and Necessity (CaN) models. However, while predictive results obtained on individuals can be provided with a thorough mechanistic interpretation, the propagation of the effects is most often limited to the closest biological hierarchical level, i.e., the population, and rarely to the food-web level. Furthermore, there is a need to understand how to avoid misleading approaches and interpretations due to the simplicity of experiments. For the moment, no clear methodology has stood out yet to do so. In this study, we provide a new methodology based on a combination of models (i.e., DEB, LIM, and CaN) aiming at upscaling information from laboratory experiments on individuals to ecosystems to address multiple ecological issues. This framework has a potential to enhance our understanding of higher-scale consequences of the effect of stressors measured at the sub-individual scale. This combination of models was chosen for the convergence of their framework but also their ability to consider a substantial portion of the projected uncertainty. The description of this methodology can help experimenters and modelers to jointly address a specific question involving upscaling from individual to ecosystem, proposes approaches, and gives tips on the pitfalls to avoid along the upscaling process.

Temporal dynamics of alpha and beta diversity of lake algae: Opposing patterns and influencing factors over the past 200 years

Abstract Better understanding of the responses of algal biodiversity to multiple pressures, such as climate warming and eutrophication, is a key issue in aquatic ecology. Alpha and beta diversity may have various patterns over temporal scales, especially in the Anthropocene, when external pressures became more multifaceted. However, the limited availability of historical data hampers the exploration of algal biodiversity through time. Recently, sediment DNA has emerged as a potential tool for elucidating temporal patterns in algal communities. Here, we used sediment DNA to reconstruct temporal turnover and diversity of algal communities in four remote lakes in northern China over the past 200 years. Furthermore, to distinguish the contributions of possible influencing environmental factors, we conducted structural equation modelling. Our results revealed that algal communities have experienced rapid shifts since the Anthropocene, characterized by increased alpha diversity and decreased temporal beta diversity. Warmer climate and eutrophication were associated with changes in alpha diversity, while temporal environmental variation was associated with temporal beta diversity. This study revealed opposing patterns in alpha and beta diversity for algal communities, possibly caused by warming, eutrophication and lower temporal environmental variation, respectively. While climatic factors played a major role in remote lakes with a natural environment, lakes that are more human impacted may be more structured by nutrient‐related factors. Under climate warming and intensified human activities, remote lakes may encounter complex pressures in the near future. Our findings offer valuable insights into patterns in aquatic biodiversity and possible factors underlying multiple pressures.