Urban soils along transportation routes are subjected to intense anthropogenic pressure, altering their physicochemical properties and promoting the accumulation of potentially toxic metals (PTM). This study aimed to assess soil contamination levels and evaluate the bioindicative potential of Acer negundo L. growing in urban green areas exposed to varying traffic intensities. Topsoil and leaf samples were collected from eight sites representing different levels of anthropogenic disturbance. Soil granulometric composition, pH, organic carbon content, selected nutrients, and concentrations of PTM (Cu, Pb, Zn, Ni, Co, Mn, Cd, Hg, Fe) were determined, and contamination was evaluated using pollution indices (Igeo, EF, CF, Er). The soils ranged from moderately acidic to slightly alkaline (pH_KCl 5.85–7.66). Elevated concentrations of Zn (1078 ± 3.07 mg kg−1), Pb (401.4 ± 2.51 mg kg−1), Mn (1816 ± 3.3 mg kg−1), and Cd (10.8 ± 2.06 mg kg−1) were recorded at most sites, frequently exceeding permissible limits for urban green areas (Zn: 500; Pb: 200; Mn: 240 and Cd: 2 mg kg−1). Correlation analyses revealed that zinc and cadmium are the two predominantly traffic-related origins. Pollution indices indicated moderate to very high enrichment, particularly for Cu and, locally, for Cd and Zn, while cadmium posed the highest potential ecological risk. The differences in the order of element abundance between the soil and plant tissues indicated a selective enrichment in plant leaves, with a preference for Fe, Zn, Mn, Cu and Pb. A strong positive correlation between soil and leaf cadmium concentrations indicates its high bioavailability and efficient transfer to plant tissues. These results demonstrate that Acer negundo is a valuable bioindicator of urban soil contamination, particularly for cadmium and zinc, and highlight the significant impact of road traffic on urban soil quality.

Impact of group size and habitat disturbance on parasitic infection in free-ranging proboscis monkeys.

Between July 2021 and July 2022, a cross-sectional parasitological survey was conducted on 97 free-ranging Crocodylus moreletii individuals across four Mexican states: Campeche, Quintana Roo, Yucatán, and Tabasco. Sampling was conducted out at 12 sites representing varying degrees of anthropogenic disturbance, categorized as conserved, moderately disturbed, and highly disturbed habitats. Parasitological analysis identified seven nematode taxa: Contracaecum sp. type 1, Contracaecum sp. type 2, Terranova crocodili, Micropleura sp., Dujardinascaris helicina, Eustrongylides sp., and Goezia nonipapillata, belonging to four families: Ascarididae, Anisakidae, Micropleuridae, and Dioctophymidae. The most prevalent species were Contracaecum sp. type 1 (51%), followed by Contracaecum sp. type 2 (41%) and D. helicina (28%), while Eustrongylides sp. showed the lowest prevalence (4.1%). Parasite composition differed significantly among sites with varying levels of anthropogenic disturbance (PERMANOVA, p < 0.05). Contracaecum sp. type 1 reached a prevalence of 100% in moderately disturbed habitats. Additionally, Contracaecum sp. type 2, D. helicina, and T. crocodili exhibited moderate to high prevalence across all surveyed localities, irrespective of habitat disturbance levels. Eustrongylides sp. and G. nonipapillata were found exclusively in urban environments. These findings highlight the importance of monitoring host-parasite dynamics across environmental gradients of anthropogenic impact to better assess zoonotic risks and promote both public and wildlife health.

Alternative reproductive tactics (ARTs) are consistent intrasexual differences in behavior that maximize reproductive success through different means. In corkwing wrasse (Symphodus melops), smaller males mimic female visual morphology (hereafter sneakers) to steal fertilizations from nest-building parental males (hereafter nesting males). We investigated whether this visual mimicry effectively deceived 47 nesting males across 4 sites by quantifying 2 agonistic responses (attack latency and attack frequency) to models depicting unfamiliar females, sneakers and rival nesting males. Contrary to expectations, nesting males exhibited faster agonistic responses towards female models, with lower attack latencies compared with both male types. Additionally, the relationship between model type and attack frequency varied between sites, with reduced attack frequencies at sites subject to increased levels of anthropogenic disturbance. These results provide evidence that nesting males can visually discriminate between females and sneakers even in the absence of behavioral cues, suggesting that visual mimicry alone may be insufficient for successful deception. This highlights the need to investigate alternative sensory modalities, such as behavioral mimicry, to explain the successful reproduction of sneaker males and the maintenance of ARTs in this species.

ABSTRACT Soil heavy metal pollution in mining areas has become a critical globally environmental issue in recent years. Systematic field research and a series of laboratory experiments were conducted to investigated the soil contamination and ecological risks at a representative mining site in Yunnan Province. A total of 198 sets of data on 6 heavy metal elements were collected and analyzed from 11 sampling points in three deep strata. The mean concentration of six heavy metals (Cu, Ni, Pb, Cd, As, Hg) all exceeded background levels, ranked as Hg < Cd < As < Ni < Pb < Cu. Principal components analysis identified two major contamination sources: (1) Cu-Ni-Cd associations (geogenic) and (2) Pb-As-Hg clustering (industrial). Pollution factors ( C f = 0.46 - 42.93) varied significantly, indicating distinct anthropogenic disturbance levels. Spatial differentiation was evident in the Pollution Load Index (PLI) analysis. Both individual ecological risk indices ( E r i = 1.41 - 1717.2) and the comprehensive potential ecological risk index (RI = 111 - 29,373) exceeded thresholds, confirming elevated ecosystem risks. The study provided reference framework for the contamination evaluation and supported the pollution controlling in mining sites.

This study developed seasonal Zooplankton Index of Biotic Integrity (Z-IBI) frameworks to evaluate ecological health in the Chishui River Basin, based on zooplankton community data and water quality monitoring from 25 sampling sites across four seasons. Reference and impaired sites were identified using the Water Quality Index (WQI) and levels of anthropogenic disturbance. A total of 28 candidate biological metrics were selected based on zooplankton species number, abundance, biomass and community structure. These metrics underwent a stepwise screening process, including zero-value elimination, discriminatory power analysis based on the Indicator Quality (IQ) value, redundancy testing, and seasonal applicability evaluation. The results demonstrated that the Z-IBI effectively distinguished between reference and impaired sites (IQ≥2), while maintaining a consistent distribution of scores across the remaining sampling locations, indicating strong diagnostic performance for ecological health assessment. Overall, the Chishui River Basin showed generally good ecological conditions, although certain sites were identified as being at risk of degradation, with ecological health ratings classified as “poor” or “very poor.” Spatial analysis revealed no significant differences in Z-IBI scores between upstream and downstream regions (<italic>P</italic>&gt;0.05). Compared with the WQI, the Z-IBI was more sensitive to ecological disturbances, capturing ecosystem changes that were not reflected by physicochemical indicators alone. The proposed Z-IBI framework provides a scientific basis for assessing the ecological health of small to medium-sized river basins and supports the identification of key areas requiring priority restoration and conservation.

The Asian Woolly-necked Stork (Ciconia episcopus), a Near Threatened species, is increasingly observed breeding in human-dominated landscapes across South Asia. However, systematic studies on its nesting ecology in India remain scarce. This study investigates nest-site selection and adaptability of C. episcopus in the rapidly transforming landscapes of central Kerala, India. We recorded 30 active nests during the 2022 and 2023 breeding seasons across four districts, using a combination of citizen science data, field surveys, and spatial analyses. Nests were found on both natural (53.3%) and artificial substrates (46.7%), including trees and man-made structures such as telecom towers and electric pylons. Nesting sites were typically located near agricultural wetlands, rivers, and human settlements, with many nests situated within 5 km of major rivers and within 50 m of buildings or roads. Despite high levels of anthropogenic disturbance, storks demonstrated strong adaptability in substrate use, height preferences, and spatial proximity to foraging habitats. Our findings highlight the species’ behavioral flexibility and its reliance on wetland– agriculture mosaics in modified environments. This study highlights the species’ persistence in modified habitats and underscores the need to integrate wetland and nest-site protection into regional conservation planning.

Multi-scale ecological zoning of Chinese coastal islands using a three-dimensional landscape framework

Habitat fragmentation is a critical issue for biodiversity, especially in conservation areas, where conservation initiatives are usually directed at large, continuous habitats. Nonetheless, small patches of habitat can be seen to be very important in terms of sustaining species diversity, ecological connectivity, and general conservation value in fragmented landscapes. This paper compares the conservation value of small habitat patches, using three metrics, which are species richness, abundance, and habitat quality, in three fragmented protected areas. The field surveys were also performed on 45 patches, and the presence of plant and animal species, habitat structure and level of anthropogenic disturbance were recorded. Data were statistically analyzed using generalized linear models and species accumulation curves to demonstrate that small patches were disproportionately important to the total biodiversity, and that 35-50% of the species in large patches were supported on small patches. Patch size, isolation, and habitat quality interactively had great effect on species richness (p &lt; 0.01), and well-connected patches revealed a richer and more functional habitat. Additionally, there are indicator species that were only present in the small and high-quality patches, therefore emphasizing the special conservation interest. Network analyses revealed these patches to increase the landscape connectivity, in the form of stepping-stones that promote species dispersal and genetic exchange. Based on the findings, it is noted that managing small patches out of management plans may jeopardise the long-term conservation objectives especially to species that are vulnerable to fragmentation. The work comes to a conclusion that the conservation planning and protected area management using small habitat patches can help to maximize the persistence of biodiversity. The future studies are advised to consider time dynamics, species specific reaction and the contribution of small patches in reducing the impacts of climate changes. In general, in this study, the ecological and strategic importance of small pieces of habitat as a means of supporting biodiversity in fragmented areas of protection is highlighted.

Urban environments harbour many terrestrial vertebrate species. Apparently, urban forests are providing habitat for many terrestrial vertebrates without changing their spatial movement patterns, particularly without decreasing their home ranges in response to habitat limitation. Several species-specific studies suggest that urban vertebrates decrease their home ranges compared with non-urban counterparts; however, it remains unclear whether this pattern is widespread across taxa or restricted to specific taxonomic groups. Consequently, we conducted a camera trap survey in Madras Christian College Campus, Chennai, spanning approximately 317.45 acres (1.48 km²) of Southern Tropical Dry Evergreen Forests with high human pressure to study the persistence and temporal activity patterns of terrestrial vertebrates. Camera traps were deployed at 11 locations within the campus and detected nine species of terrestrial vertebrates between September 2021 and April 2022. The temporal activity pattern of the golden jackal and Indian crested porcupine was found to be nocturnal, the Indian Peafowl is crepuscular, and the Indian grey mongoose was found to be diurnal. The human movement pattern also appeared during midnight and midday. The golden jackal and jungle cat had &gt;60% temporal activity overlap, the golden jackal and Indian crested porcupine had &gt;40% overlap, the golden jackal and chital had &gt;25%, and the Indian crested porcupine and Indian grey mongoose had &lt;20% temporal activity overlap, suggesting that these species may be tolerant to low levels of anthropogenic disturbance without changing their movement patterns. Our study thus indicates that urban forests still serve as a refuge for many terrestrial faunas. Further ecological research and conservation attention are needed to ensure the persistence of the last remaining populations of fauna through establishing a long-term ecological observatory to educate students and the urban public and to investigate the impact of urbanization on urban wildlife.

Abstract Background: Globally, anthropogenic activities are known to influence land and vegetation cover, bee populations, and floral resources, particularly in tropical rainforests. This study investigates the impact of anthropogenic disturbances on land and forest cover changes, wild bee populations (i.e., diversity and abundance), and floral resources in the Mount Rungwe Nature Forest Reserve (MRNFR). Methods: We employed Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Remote Sensing (RS) techniques to analyze forest cover changes in MRNFR from 2010 to 2025. Wild bee diversity and abundance were assessed using a combination of pan traps and sweep nets, while flowering plants were visually counted to estimate the average floral abundance in each plot. Only flowering shoots with open and non-wilted flowers were included in the counts. Results: The results revealed that in 2010, dense forest was the dominant land cover class. Transitions of dense forest, open forest, and grassland into bare land between 2010 and 2025 indicate the presence of human activities. Also, the study revealed the significant differences in wild bee diversity and abundance across habitats experiencing varying levels of anthropogenic disturbance namely, that is, highly disturbed, moderately disturbed, and less disturbed areas. Wild bee abundance in less disturbed habitats was approximately twice that of highly disturbed areas. Moreover, both moderately and less disturbed habitats supported greater species diversity compared to the highly disturbed sites. Similarly, floral abundance was the lowest in highly disturbed habitats, suggesting that the availability of floral resources directly influences wild bee populations. Conclusion: These findings indicate that anthropogenic activities significantly reduce the abundance of flowering plants that provide essential foraging and nesting resources for wild bees. Overall, our results underscore the importance of conserving and managing forest habitats, as habitat degradation and the loss of floral resources are closely linked to declines in wild bee populations.

The functional trait diversity of plant communities regulates the effects of biodiversity on ecosystem functioning and stability. However, the role of functional trait diversity in explaining ecosystem productivity and stability in natural wetlands remains unclear. Using vegetation data from 1139 sites across U.S. wetlands, we examine the associations of functional diversity (trait dispersion within a community) and functional identity (community-level trait values) of plant size traits and resource economics traits with satellite-derived productivity and temporal stability at continental scales. Community-level plant size shows the strongest association with productivity and stability, which is consistent across different wetland types and levels of anthropogenic disturbance. While functional diversity is generally positively correlated with productivity and stability, these relationships vary substantially across environmental contexts. Notably, weaker correlations are observed under higher levels of anthropogenic disturbances. These findings suggest that wetland conservation and restoration efforts should focus on increasing functional diversity and prioritizing large dominant species to increase productivity and stability.

Aim: This study explored the differences in functional traits and soil physical and chemical properties of coastal plant communities under different disturbance intensities. It investigated the correlations between them to gain a deeper understanding of how plant communities adjust their functional traits in response to habitat changes. However, the mechanisms by which human disturbance influences plant functional traits remain unclear. This research endeavors to reveal the adaptive mechanisms and ecological strategies employed by coastal plant communities under different levels of anthropogenic disturbance. Methods: The study examined plant communities in three levels of disturbance (severe, moderate, and mild) in the coastal areas of Pingtan Island. Nine soil physicochemical property indicators and 16 plant functional trait indicators were collected to analyze the correlation between coastal green space plant functional traits and soil physicochemical properties. Results: Soil physicochemical properties (ST, SS, pH) of coastal plants varied under different disturbance intensities. Concurrently, plant functional traits (SLA, LDMC, LTD, LNC, LCC, LPC, LSC, RTD, RPC) also exhibited significant differences. Notably, the interactions among plant functional traits also varied under different disturbance intensities. Furthermore, plant functional traits exhibited distinct response mechanisms to changes in soil physicochemical properties. The plant community adjusts its resource allocation strategy to adapt to environmental changes, which is specifically manifested in the coordination of SRL, SRA, SLA, RPC, RNC, RCC, RSC, LPC, LNC, LT, LTD, and LDMC. Conclusions: Under severe disturbance, plant communities tend to adopt short-term rapid investment-return strategies to cope with harsh environmental conditions; moderate disturbance prompts slow investment-return strategies for long-term stable growth; mild disturbance triggers rapid investment-return strategies to enhance environmental adaptability. The research results indicate that by selecting appropriate plant resources based on different habitat characteristics, it is beneficial for the survival and reproduction of the plant community.

ABSTRACTAnthropogenic development negatively affects biodiversity worldwide, particularly wildlife with low fecundity, long lifespans, and extensive habitat requirements such as freshwater turtles. While large‐scale habitat degradation's effects on freshwater turtles are well‐documented, the impact of low‐level disturbances remains understudied, even though these subtler disturbances may alter movement patterns, increase energetic demands, and reduce reproductive success, threatening population viability. Understanding the impacts of all disturbance levels, including those considered minimal, is critical for effective conservation of sensitive species. In this study, we examined the response of the federally endangered Blanding's Turtle (Emydoidea blandingii) to a narrow range of low‐level human disturbances in Northern Mnidoo Gamii (Georgian Bay), Ontario, Canada that included a reference site with no visible disturbance (REF), a site experiencing moderately low disturbances (DIS1; with roads), and a site experiencing higher levels of anthropogenic disturbances (DIS2; roads, industrial development). Using radio telemetry, we tracked 14 individuals (501 relocations) in REF during 2021 and 2022, as well as seven individuals (199 relocations) in DIS1 and 13 individuals (367 relocations) in DIS2 during 2023 and 2024. Turtles in DIS2 exhibited significantly larger home‐range size, longer home‐range length, and greater daily distance traveled than those in REF. Significant habitat selection was observed only in DIS2 at the landscape scale, whereas turtles in DIS1 and REF showed no significant selection at either the landscape or home‐range scale. The increased movement in DIS2 was estimated to cost females the energetic equivalent of producing 1.85 more eggs per active season (18.5% of a full clutch). These findings highlight that even moderate habitat disturbances can impose substantial energetic burdens on freshwater turtles, and that there may be a disturbance threshold above which the long‐term population viability is compromised. Conservation strategies should prioritize minimizing even low levels of habitat degradation to support the viability of at‐risk freshwater turtle populations.

ABSTRACT Nowadays, almost all forest areas in temperate Europe are more or less affected by human activity. Nevertheless, recent studies show that anthropogenic habitat modifications should not be taken as negative from the outset. Lepidoptera, namely nocturnal macro-moths (Macroheterocera), are a key part of overall forest biodiversity. The ecology of these insects is relatively well understood, and due to how easy it is to attract and collect them, they have been the subject of many ecological studies. Macro-moth assemblages were sampled from May to September in 2018 and 2019, at nine sites representing four different biotope types, in a mosaic forest ecosystem in the Narew National Park (NE Poland). Three levels of anthropogenic pressure could be distinguished: alder forests (low level), planted pine forests (medium) and substitute communities of the two previous ones (higher). At each site two light Heath traps were simultaneously used, one with a 15W actinic light and the other with an 8W ultraviolet light. We found no differences in the proportion of generalist species among areas with different levels of anthropogenic disturbance, and the proportion of species classified according to their food plant type specificity was not significantly different among areas or study years. Regardless of the differences in moth diversity, there were similarities in the proportions of species between the areas over months and years. We registered no differences in proportions of species classified according to overwintering stages among areas, either. Our results revealed that the studied moth communities were characterized by certain general functional features independent of the level of anthropogenic disturbance.

Abstract Periodical cicadas (Magicicada spp.) emerge from the ground every 13‐ or 17‐year intervals across the eastern and midwestern continental United States. Due to their long generation times, these animals are vulnerable to rapid environmental change, which has contributed to decreased densities and even extinction of different Magicicada broods. We investigated trends in population density and emergence phenology of Brood X cicadas across three reproductive events (1987, 2004, and 2021) in southwestern Ohio, comparing habitats with different levels of anthropogenic disturbance or origin: old‐growth forest, rural woodlots, rural fencerows, and urban woodlots (added in 2021). Overall, we found that Magicicada cassini, M. septendecim, and M. septendecula were present in all studied sites, though the most abundant for the region was M. cassini. Our results revealed a generational decline in cicada density in old‐growth forest and rural woodlots, while fencerows, often considered heavily disturbed habitats, showed a doubling in density across generations. Phenological data showed consistent protandry (earlier male emergence), with an increased offset between sexes in the 2021 emergence compared to 1987. Emergence timing also varied across habitats, with rural woodlots showing the earliest emergence and urban woodlots and fencerows (mainly composed by edge habitat) showing the latest. These findings challenge assumptions that disturbed habitats universally reduce insect populations and suggest that treed fencerows may serve as important reproductive refuges under certain conditions. However, variance and delay in female emergence may indicate changing environmental cues or phenological mismatches, potentially reducing reproductive success. To aid conservation efforts, we recommend continued and expanded monitoring of future Brood X emergences, expansion of sampling in old‐growth forest sites, along with incentives to preserve and manage treed fencerows while also expanding existing tracts of forest.

Wild vertebrates face increasing threats from human activities, particularly land-use changes, which disrupt ecological interactions and ecosystem structure. Animal-built structures, such as nests, can provide resources for diverse species, especially under conditions of environmental stress. Here, we evaluate whether broad-snouted caiman nests function as microhabitats for other vertebrates across varying levels of anthropogenic disturbance in Santa Fe, Argentina. Over four nesting seasons we monitored 64 nests in forests, savannahs and floating vegetation using camera traps, examining vertebrate species richness, interactions and visitation frequency. A total of 100 species were recorded, including 74 birds, 23 mammals and 3 reptiles. Amphibians and some reptiles could not be identified, as most photographs were nocturnal or because of their small size. Species richness was highest in the driest nesting season and in forest nests, but unrelated to anthropization. Of the species observed, 62% interacted with the nests through commensalism, predation or indirectly. The Interaction Strength Index (ISI) proved to be a reliable indicator of use of caiman nests. Caiman nests are structurally and ecologically relevant elements, as they provide resources for a wide variety of species. Including such structures in conservation strategies could contribute to more comprehensive approaches that go beyond a species-level focus.

Abstract Widespread arthropod decline has been reported in numerous studies. However, due to a lack of standardised time series data and a strong geographic bias of available time series, the global extent of this phenomenon is not well understood. While pronounced insect decline in intensively used landscapes is well documented, recent studies have found relatively stable arthropod diversity in forests. Here, we explore 11 years of arthropod diversity change in forests of different levels of anthropogenic disturbance in Germany and South Korea. By eDNA metabarcoding leaf material from the two countries' environmental specimen banks (ESBs)—highly standardised pollution monitoring archives—we reconstruct communities of hundreds of arthropod species. Samples from both ESBs recover a diverse and functionally similar assemblage of plant‐associated arthropods. The data from Germany show a temporally stable α‐diversity in both anthropogenically disturbed and near‐natural landscapes. However, across our sampling locations in South Korean communities, forest arthropod α‐diversity declined by, on average, 61% (95% confidence interval: 42.12%–74.99%) between the start and end of the decade. Our results show that the extent of arthropod decline can vary considerably by geographic region and ecosystem and highlight the immense value of biological archives to support long‐term biodiversity research.

Abstract. Atsaury ZIA, Husodo T, Megantara EN, Lastini T, Hernawan E, Wulandari I, Shanida SS. 2025. Population and habitat analysis of Javan gibbon (Hylobates moloch) in fragmented forests of West Java, Indonesia. Biodiversitas 26: 2857-2872. Javan gibbons (Hylobates moloch) face various anthropogenic disturbances that are intensive enough to damage and even eliminate their habitat. Additionally, previous studies have primarily focused on protected areas. However, there is limited information on the Javan gibbon in non-conserved areas, such as Ciletuh Geopark, Cisokan, Cijedil, and Kanaan, West Java, Indonesia. The study objective was to determine the distribution and habitat of Javan gibbon in non-conservation areas in West Java. Line transect distance sampling and quarter methods were used in this study. Despite the high level of anthropogenic disturbance, Cisokan exhibited the highest density of Javan gibbon individuals and groups, with 19.48 individuals per square kilometer and 7.79 groups per square kilometer. Generally, the habitat of Javan gibbons is dominated by food plants, such as kondang (Ficus variegata), puspa (Schima wallichii), and beunying (Ficus fistulosa). Hence, 97 plant species were identified as food plants of Javan gibbons, while 84 were eaten by their fruits, 25 by their leaves, and 12 by both. Javan gibbons tend to live in forests with closed and interconnected canopies, as well as on slopes and hilltops with a slope greater than 40% at altitudes ranging from 115 to 1,564 meters above sea level (m asl). Establishing ecological corridors to enhance habitat connectivity in degraded vegetation is crucial for conserving Javan gibbon populations.

Peat ecosystems are the world's largest carbon sink and are important in climate change mitigation and global environmental balance. However, tropical peat ecosystems, particularly in Riau Province, face serious threats due to anthropogenic activities such as land clearing, drainage, and plantation conversion. These activities are exacerbated by climate change, which causes a decrease in rainfall and increases the risk of peat fires. This study aims to analyze the relationship between rainfall and peat water level in the Riau Peat Hydrology Region (PHR) during the period from October 2018 to December 2020. The main data used are daily rainfall and peat water level data from 39 SIPALAGA stations owned by the Peat and Mangrove Restoration Agency (BRGM). Spatial data on peatland distribution and regional administrative boundaries were used to support the hydrological zone-based analysis. Statistical methods applied included correlation and coefficient of determination tests to evaluate the relationship between rainfall and peat water level. Daily data were accumulated monthly, and peat hydrological zones were identified based on the distribution of peatlands from the Ministry of Environment and Forestry (MoEF) Indonesia. The results showed that a decrease in rainfall significantly decreased peat water levels, with strong correlations in most hydrological zones. In addition, areas with intense drainage activities experienced a major shift from naturally flooded to drought-prone conditions, increasing the risk of fires. In contrast, significant rainfall only temporarily restores peat hydrological conditions. Spatially, some hydrological zones show different peat water table dynamics, depending on the intensity of rainfall and the level of anthropogenic disturbance. These findings make an important contribution to peat fire risk mitigation strategies and sustainable peat ecosystem management. By integrating temporal and spatial data, this research offers a comprehensive approach to support area-based peat protection policymaking, particularly in the face of climate change impacts and human activities.