Levels Of Human Activity Research Articles

Multifunctional Evolution Response Mechanisms to Urbanization Processes on Peri-Urban Cultivated Land, Nanchang City, China

Cultivated land is an important material carrier providing multiple supplies for production, living, and ecological benefits. As an area of cultivated land subject to high levels of human activity during urbanization, the functional level and structure of suburban cultivated land have been strongly impacted. In this study, we took the suburban cultivated land in Nanchang City as the research subject and constructed a multi-functional indicator system for cultivated land in the context of production, ecology, and landscape culture. Using the improved CRITIC-entropy weight method and the optimal parameter geographical detector model, we examined the multi-functional evolution of suburban cultivated land from 2012 to 2022 and its response mechanisms to urbanization. The results showed that (1) the multifunctionality of cultivated land in the peri-urban area of Nanchang City shows a general decreasing trend, with the decline gradually decreasing with an increase in distance from the central urban area. (2) In contrast, the multifunctionality level of a few cultivated land areas away from the central area of the city showed a small to medium increase. The function of cultivated land in the peri-urban area showed a decreasing trend in 2012–2022 due to the urbanization level. However, the production and ecological functions increased slightly, whereas the cultural function decreased significantly. (3) The impact of urbanization on the multifunctional transformation of peri-urban cultivated land is a complex process that is largely shaped by economic urbanization and is influenced by a multitude of factors. Therefore, cultivated land management policies must fully mobilize the socioeconomic resources of each region.

Spatiotemporal differences induced changes in the structure and function of the gut microbiota in an endangered ungulate

The composition and function of animal gut microbiota are shaped by various factors, among which diet is one of the major factors. Diet is affected by seasonal shifts and geographical differences, which in turn impact the host’s nutritional levels. To adapt to these environmental changes, the gut microbiome often produces matching responses. Understanding the relationships among the environment, diet, host and the gut microbiome is helpful for exploring the environmental adaptation of wildlife. Here, we chose wild sika deer (Cervus nippon), which is composed natural allopatric populations, to explore how the environment shapes the gut microbiome and affects the relationship between microbiota composition and function and the mutual adaptation of the seasonal living environment to seasonal dietary changes. To this purpose we used DNA metabarcoding, 16S RNA gene amplification sequencing, metagenomic shotgun sequencing and nutritional analyses to comprehensively examine the relationships among the forage plant, nutrient status and host gut microbiome. Our analyses showed spatiotemporal differences in diet between the Tiebu and Hunchun regions, which ultimately led to varying intakes of protein, cellulose, and soluble sugar. The microbiome composition and function showed unique characteristics in each group, and significant differences were detected at the gene level for the protein absorption and metabolism pathway, the carbohydrate metabolic absorption pathway, and cellulase enzyme function, which are related to nutrition. We also found differences in the pathogenic bacteria and resistance mechanisms genes of the gut microbiota in different groups. Our results showed that the gut microbiome of allopatric populations adapts to changes in food composition and nutrition in different seasons and areas to help the host cope with spatiotemporal changes in the living environment. At the same time, varying levels of human activity can have potential health impacts on wild animals.

Downregulated METTL3 Accumulates TERT Expression that Promote the Progression of Ovarian Endometriosis.

Endometriosis is a complicated and enigmatic disease that significantly diminishes the quality of life for women affected by this condition. Increased levels of human telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) mRNA and telomerase activity have been found in the endometrium of these patients. However, the precise function of TERT in endometriosis and the associated biological mechanisms remain poorly understood. We analyzed TERT expression in ectopic endometrial (EC), eutopic endometrial (EU), and normal endometrial (NC) tissues. Human endometrial stromal cells (HESCs) were used to study the effects of TERT depletion and knockdown on cell behavior. We also assessed methyltransferase-like 3 (METTL3)-mediated N6-methyladenosine (m6A) modification in TERT transcripts and its impact on mRNA stability and cell functions. The current results indicate that TERT expression is elevated in EC tissue compared to both EU and NC. Depletion of TERT suppressed the proliferation and migration of HESCs, while TERT overexpression had the opposite effect. We found high levels of METTL3-mediated m6A modification in TERT transcripts, particularly in the coding sequence region, resulting in increased translation. However, EC tissues had lower m6A levels due to the downregulation of METTL3. Mechanistically, m6A modification mediated by METTL3 negatively regulates the stability of TERT mRNA in a YTH N6-methyladenosine RNA binding protein 2 (YTHDF2)-dependent manner. Furthermore, METTL3 negatively regulated the proliferation and migration of HESCs. Together, our study identified a new molecular mechanism that underlies the pathogenesis of endometriosis. Inhibition of m6A modification and of the METTL3/TERT axis may enhance cellular proliferation and migration, thereby contributing to the progression of endometriosis.

Studies of lentic inland water ecosystems in the Galapagos Archipelago: current state of knowledge and bibliometric analysis

ABSTRACT The Galapagos Archipelago, because of its remoteness, isolation, recent volcanic origin, and endemic fauna and flora, is iconic for inspiring Darwin’s theory of evolution. Since Darwin’s day, researchers have focused on the archipelago’s terrestrial and marine species. Its location in an important climate regulating body of water, coupled with a low level of human activity for most of its history, attracted several paleolimnologists to study the inland waters of the archipelago. Studies of the many lagoons, crater lakes, and other inland waters were mainly in support of paleolimnological research and are therefore limited in scope. Because of the presence of permanent human settlements on 4 of the archipelago’s islands, plus increased tourism, the small number of permanent fresh waterbodies are under unprecedented environmental stress. This bibliometric analysis assembles what is known about Galapagos lentic inland waterbodies and shows that studies on biodiversity, water quality, and threats to these ecosystems are few and fragmented across time and space.

Human activities weaken the positive effects of soil abiotic factors and biodiversity on ecosystem multifunctionality more than drought: A case study in China's West Liao River Basin

Watershed-scale ecosystem biodiversity has been adversely affected by human disturbances and climate change for many years, leading to degradation of ecological functions (i.e., decreased ecosystem multifunctionality, EMF). However, the driving factors and their mechanisms are unclear. Here, we analyzed the effects of human activities, climate, biodiversity, and soil abiotic factors on EMF in China's West Liao River Basin along a natural drought intensity gradient. The beneficial effects of biodiversity on EMF were influenced by the drought intensity; biodiversity increased plant density in humid zones, plant diversity in semi-arid zones, and soil microbial diversity in arid zones, thereby improving watershed EMF and indicating that drought determines the direction and strength of the effects of biodiversity on EMF. The relative abundances of soil microbial keystone taxa such as Actinomycetes and Gemmatimonadetes were the most important predictors of EMF. These results indicate that any loss of plant community diversity or plant density, soil microbial diversity, and the abundance of keystone microbial taxa could reduce EMF. Human activities and drought directly decreased EMF, but also indirectly reduced EMF by reducing soil pH and soil water content (SWC), plant diversity. As human activity increases, EMF's sensitivity to drought increases, and this implies that in regions with high levels of human activity, the effects of climate warming on EMF may be greater than expected. Overall, human activities (including direct, indirect, and total effects) are primary drivers of changes of biodiversity and soil abiotic factors in watershed ecosystems, and regulate the watershed's EMF. The results provide new insights to improve predictions of the direction, magnitude, and regulation mechanisms of EMF and its responses to global climate change.

Microhabitat of Endangered Species, Lonchura oryzivora in Malang City, Indonesia

Malang City, located in Java, Indonesia, faces significant anthropogenic pressures but remains an important habitat for the endangered Java sparrow (Lonchura oryzivora). Understanding how Java sparrows adapt to environments with high levels of human activity is essential for their conservation. This study focused on identifying the distribution of Java sparrows and investigating their habitat selection within Malang City. The bird positions were recorded within the tree canopy, and the frequency of canopy use by the birds was determined. Living in the middle of the city impacts the metabolism of birds, as indicated by taking samples and measuring the levels of lead found in their droppings and vegetation used. Encounters near the center of human activity show they can utilize buildings and vegetation they utilize. The Java sparrows predominantly utilize plant parts at the tree level, particularly focusing on the middle canopy part of the edge (TTt) and the middle part (TT). Laboratory tests revealed that the plants utilized by the Java sparrow contain high lead levels. Therefore, to conserve the Java sparrow, it is crucial to improve the quality of their habitat to make it more natural and conduct regular health monitoring to ensure their well-being.

Source, transport, and fate of nitrate in shallow groundwater in the eastern Niger Delta

The eastern Niger Delta region in Nigeria is a hotspot for reactive nitrogen pollution due to extensive animal husbandry, pit latrine usage, and agricultural practices. Despite the high level of human activity, the sources and processes affecting nitrogen in groundwater remain understudied. Groundwater nitrate (NO3−) concentrations are highly variable, with some areas recording values well above the safe drinking water threshold of 50 mg/L. This is particularly true near municipal sewage systems. Elevated nitrite (NO2−) and ammonium (NH4+) concentrations were also detected in the study area. Sewage analysis revealed NO3− concentrations ranging from 1 to 145 mg/L, NO2− from 0.2 to 2 mg/L, and notably high NH4+ concentrations. A comparison of major ions indicated that 71%, 90%, 87%, and 92% of groundwater samples surpassed reference site levels for calcium (Ca2+), sodium (Na+), potassium (K+), and chloride (Cl−), respectively, pointing to sewage as a likely source of contamination. The NO3−/Cl− ratios at several sites suggested that most groundwater NO3− originates from human waste. Stable isotope analysis of NO3− showed a general enrichment in 15N and, in some cases, a depletion in 18O, indicating that the NO3− originates from sewage-derived NH4+ nitrification. Although denitrification, a process that reduces NO3−, is present, the high dissolved oxygen (DO) and NO3− levels in the groundwater suggest that denitrification is insufficient to fully mitigate NO3− pollution. Consequently, there is a risk of NO3− leaching from shallow aquifers into the Niger Delta’s surface waters and ultimately into the coastal ocean.

Shields against pollution: phytoremediation and impact of particulate matter on trees at Wigry National Park, Poland

This study examines the impact of airborne particulate matter (PM) and associated trace elements (TEs) on deciduous and coniferous trees at the edge of Wigry National Park in northeast Poland, focusing on pollution levels and the potential for phytoremediation. Researchers measured PM concentrations in the air and on the leaves of Picea abies, Quercus robur, and Corylus avellana, along with photosynthetic indicators (Fv/Fm ratio and performance index). The study found significant differences in pollution intensity across areas with varying levels of human activity. P. abies, an evergreen species, accumulated the highest PM levels (>200 μg/cm2), while Q. robur had the highest accumulation among deciduous trees (>50 μg/cm2). Trace elements such as Fe, Cu, Zn, Sr, and Cd were detected, with C. avellana being the most efficient in accumulating Cd (up to 7.5 mg/kg). The accumulation of pollutants correlated with reduced photosynthetic efficiency in trees closest to pollution sources. The findings suggest that strategically planting specific tree species can help mitigate air pollution in national parks and protect sensitive vegetation. Future research should explore the long-term effects of PM on forest health and the role of different species in phytoremediation.

Nest‐site fidelity of Arctic terns Sterna paradisaea in a managed environment exposed to benign human activity

Human activity near seabird colonies is often equated with disturbance. Coping with human disturbance is a critical task in the management of seabird colonies where human access is an issue. Nest‐site fidelity and breeding dispersal were characterised in an Arctic tern population exposed to a high level of benign human activity from resident conservation staff and public visitors. The annual return rate of nesting birds was 90% over the 10‐year study period. Nest‐site fidelity was high with most birds returning to the same 2 × 2 m square in subsequent years, in particular to nest sites that were against walls and exposed to a high level of human activity at close range. This indicates that human activity was not a deterrent to nesting by Arctic terns. Breeding dispersal to other nearby colonies was low, except when related to colony abandonment. The data suggest that benign human activity from resident staff and public visitors can be a positive benefit, both within and across years, to Arctic tern colonies. Managed public access could be considered an effective management tool for Arctic tern conservation, as well as seabird colonies more widely.

Amplicon metagenome comparison of Tandag River, Surigao del Sur, Philippines, based on high-throughput parallel DNA sequencing analysis of bacterial communities

Abstract. Eupeña-Caray RG, Ramos GB, Panduyos JB, Bacquial LS, Tabugo SRM. 2024. Amplicon metagenome comparison of Tandag River, Surigao del Sur, Philippines, based on high-throughput parallel DNA sequencing analysis of bacterial communities. Biodiversitas 25: 3464-3472. Rivers serve as a vital freshwater reservoir for the environment and human consumption. Biomonitoring based on eDNA is essential for aquatic ecosystems. The present study investigates the bacterial taxonomic diversity of this ecosystem using the V1-V3 16S rRNA regions obtained from paired-end Illumina MiSeq reads. A total of nine amplicon libraries (U1, U2, U3, M1, M2, M3, D1, D2, D3) were constructed corresponding to the sites (U-upstream, M-midstream, D-downstream) of the Tandag River. After post-quality control and processing, there were 608,099 amplicon sequence variants (ASVs), representing 1194 families and 2090 genera. Results showed that the most abundant ASVs were affiliated with genera Bacillus, Pseudomonas, Ralstonia, Alcaligenes, and Pseudarcicella, along with unclassified bacteria derived from Gammaproteobacteria, Alphaproteobacteria, Verrucomicrobia subdivision, Flavobacteria, and Pseudomonadaceae. The bacterial alpha diversity was ranked upstream>midstream>downstream. An increase in the abundance of Bacillus (Firmicutes) and Gammaproteobacteria in an urbanized zone indicated a high level of human activity and an important threat to public health. Noteworthy is that the alkaline environment characterized by increased pH levels favors the occurrence of alkaliphilic bacteria. Microbial community structure was influenced by anthropogenic interference and selective pressure from loads of urban discharge in the area. The functional prediction of bacterial communities by Parallel-Meta Suite (PMS) using the PICRUSt algorithm suggests functions related to metabolism and environment information processing. The presence of xenobiotic biodegradation bacteria highlights future possible applications. Findings contribute to understanding microbial communities in response to rapid urbanization. This is the first account of high-throughput sequencing analysis of bacterial communities in an urban river under anthropogenic stress in the Philippines.

Drivers of Wolf Activity in a Human-Dominated Landscape and Its Individual Variability Toward Anthropogenic Disturbance.

Wolves (Canis lupus) exhibit contrasted activity patterns along their distribution range. The shift from diurnal to nocturnal habits within and among populations appears to be primarily driven by localized levels of human activity, with ambivalent responses toward such disturbance reported among populations. Yet, the drivers and the underlying individual variability of temporal avoidance patterns toward human remains unexplored. We equipped 26 wolves with GPS-GSM collars, obtaining 54,721 locations. We used step lengths, turning angles, and accelerometer data from recorded locations to infer activity through hidden Markov models (Conners, M. G., T. Michelot, E. I. Heywood, et al. 2021. "Hidden Markov Models Identify Major Movement Modes in Accelerometer and Magnetometer Data From Four Albatross Species." Movement Ecology 9, no. 1: 1-16.). We further explored the probability of activity as a function of a set of proxies of anthropogenic disturbance at different spatial scales and its interaction with different periods of the day by fitting population-level and individual-based hidden Markov models. Wolves were predominantly active during dusk and night, yet variations in activity emerged among individuals across day periods. We did not find clear population-level effects of anthropogenic disturbance predictors, as these were masked by a wide range of individual-specific responses, which varied from positive to negative, with inter-individual variability in responses changing according to different predictors and periods of the day. Our results suggest a non-uniform strategy of wolves in adapting their behavior to human-dominated environments, further underscoring the role of vegetation patches acting as functional refuge cover for buffering the effects of anthropogenic disturbance and boosting the persistence of the species in human-dominated landscapes. This study, for the first time, reveals the individual variability in wolf responses to human disturbance. By fitting hidden Markov models to data from GPS-GSM collars deployed on 26 wolves, we found significant variation between individuals in their responses to different levels of anthropogenic pressure and across different times of day, highlighting a non-uniform strategy for coping with perturbations in human-dominated landscapes. Our findings underscore the diverse behavioral adjustments employed by wolves to persist in these environments and highlight the critical importance of vegetation patches serving as refuge cover.

Human-macaque conflicts at a human settlement in Riau Province, Indonesia

Abstract. Metananda AA, Sutopo, Gunawan, Nurjaman, Dani R, Ruhyat Y, Sutopo, Ahmad, Aprianto A, Naibaho J, Afrianto WF. 2024. Human-macaque conflicts at a human settlement in Riau Province, Indonesia. Biodiversitas 25: 2950-2958. Various human activities have caused the loss and degradation of the natural habitat of macaques, resulting in their share habitat with high levels of human activities. The proximity of macaque habitats to human activities may increase potential human-macaque conflicts. This research aims to observe the conflict between humans and macaques, especially Macaca fascicularis (Raffles 1821), by identifying macaque population parameters, including the number of groups, group distribution, home range, sex ratios, and age structure in the Pertamina Official Housing (POH) complex, Dumai District, Riau Province, Indonesia. Population data were acquired through a census inventory using concentration count and exploration methods. The results showed the population of 461 macaque individuals belonging to 19 groups which were spread over 17 points in the study area. Based on the sex ratio, juveniles were the most predominant group with 104 individuals. The distribution of individuals indicated that there were several groups with varying numbers and structures at one observation point. Factors that caused macaque disturbance include food availability, habitat space availability, community habits and behavior, and safety. Macaque disturbance included attacks on children, damage to lighting, roofs, fruit trees, vegetable plants, and the presence of M. fascicularis groups in large numbers in the area traversed by residents. We recommend improving the management of M. fascicularis habitat, conducting population control, and educating the community about behaviors that can trigger disturbances. In addition, mitigation measures and regular monitoring must be carried out to find effective long-term solutions.

Legacy sources determine current water quality: Nitrogen and phosphorus in streams of Australia, China, Sweden and USA

Waterborne nutrient loads to downstream ecosystems integrate contributions from both active and legacy sources. Effective mitigation of nutrient pollution and eutrophication around the world requires distinction of these, largely unknown, relative load contributions. Here, the active and legacy contributions to nitrogen and phosphorus loads are distinguished in numerous streams and associated hydrological catchments of Australia, China, Sweden, and USA. The legacy contributions overshadow the active ones in all countries during 2005–2020. China and USA, with higher population densities and related overall human-activity levels, also have substantial active contributions. The median values of legacy concentration contributions of total nitrogen range from 321 (in Sweden) to 1850 μg/L (in USA); whereas the active contributions range from 2.2 (in Australia) to 315 μg/L (in USA). In China, nitrogen data are available only for ammonia, with median concentration contributions of 294 μg/L for legacy and 352 μg/L for active sources. For total phosphorus, the median values of legacy concentration contributions range from 28.8 (in Sweden) to 270 μg/L (in USA), while the active ones range from 0.1 (in Australia) to 67.3 μg/L (in USA). For relatively fast mitigation responses, China and USA need to mitigate their current nutrient emissions, while Australia and Sweden need a shift in mitigation focus to targeting their dominant legacy source contributions. The data-driven method testing in this study supports the used source distinction-attribution approach. This enables consistent source identification and tailoring of targeted measures for effective nutrient load mitigation in various regional contexts.

Seasonal variation and origins of C1–C5 alkyl nitrates: A year-long study at a Hong Kong coastal site

Alkyl nitrates (RONO₂) are key reactive nitrogen compounds with significant impacts on local and regional air quality. The concentrations of alkyl nitrates can vary significantly across different regions, especially in areas with varying levels of human activity. Long-term observation of alkyl nitrates is necessary to assess the intensity of photochemical reactions and the contributions from different sources. In this study, we present the first continuous year-long monitoring results of eight alkyl nitrates via whole air sample collection and GC-MSD/ECD analysis at a coastal site in Hong Kong. Source apportionment analysis via positive matrix factorization (PMF) revealed distinctive seasonal variations in the source contributions for the eight alkyl nitrate species. Furthermore, increased contributions from biomass combustion were found in autumn and winter, while marine emissions primarily influenced methyl nitrate levels during summer. Our study highlights the significant impact of biomass burning from inland areas on photochemical pollutants in Hong Kong. Cross-regional cooperation in the Greater Bay Area (GBA) is necessary for more comprehensive management of secondary photochemical pollution.

Spatial and seasonal variations of atmospheric microplastics in high and low population density areas at the intersection of tropical and subtropical regions

There is limited information regarding spatial and seasonal variations of atmospheric microplastics (MPs) and factors influencing MPs at the intersection of tropical and subtropical regions. A one-year study was conducted at sites in a high-population-density village (HPDV) and a low-population-density village (LPDV) in Taiwan to investigate the characteristics and influencing factors of airborne MPs. The predominant shapes, sizes, and polymer compositions of MPs were fragments, 3 to 25 and 26–50 μm, and polyamide at both sites. Seasonal variation in MP morphologies was not significant. Average MP concentrations were 2.20 ± 2.97 particles/m3 and 1.92 ± 2.35 particles/m3 at the HPDV and LPDV sites, respectively, and did not differ significantly. Higher concentrations and smaller sizes of MPs were found during the summer at both sites, while the predominant wind direction was southerly or southwesterly. In samples with temperatures exceeding 25 °C, the temperature was positively associated with MP concentrations at both the HPDV and LPDV sites. These results reflect that temperature influences the variations in the concentrations and sizes of MPs at our study site. Future research should consider the adverse risks of MP inhalation during the hot season. Moreover, when sites with different population densities and levels of human activity are closed, MP concentrations will not differ significantly between these areas since airflow can transport these particles from high-population-density areas into low-population-density areas in a short time.

Optimal level of human intracranial theta activity for behavioral switching in the subthalamo-medio-prefrontal circuit

The ability to switch between rules associating stimuli and responses depend on a circuit including the dorsomedial prefrontal cortex (dmPFC) and the subthalamic nucleus (STN). However, the precise neural implementations of switching remain unclear. To address this issue, we recorded local field potentials from the STN and from the dmPFC of neuropsychiatric patients during behavioral switching. Drift-diffusion modeling revealed that switching is associated with a shift in the starting point of evidence accumulation. Theta activity increases in dmPFC and STN during successful switch trials, while temporally delayed and excessive levels of theta lead to premature switch errors. This seemingly opposing impact of increased theta in successful and unsuccessful switching is explained by a negative correlation between theta activity and the starting point. Together, these results shed a new light on the neural mechanisms underlying the rapid reconfiguration of stimulus-response associations, revealing a Goldilocks’ effect of theta activity on switching behavior.

Short Communication: Records of Java mouse-deer (Tragulus javanicus Gmelin, 1788) in the Cisokan forest patches, West Java, Indonesia

Abstract. Megantara EN, Husodo T, Kendarto DR, Mutaqin AZ, Withaningsih S, Wulandari I, Shanida SS, Febrianto P, Hendrawan R. 2024. Short Communication: Records of Java mouse-deer (Tragulus javanicus Gmelin, 1788) in the Cisokan forest patches, West Java, Indonesia. Biodiversitas 25: 2713-2719. Mammals are bioindicators in terrestrial ecosystems due to their influence on the conservation of other species and in maintaining ecosystem balance, such as the Java mouse-deer (Tragulus javanicus Gmelin, 1788), which contributes to seed disperser on the forest floor. Information on the presence of Java mouse-deer is still limited to mammalian diversity studies; therefore, little information focuses on Java mouse-deer studies, especially in the non-conservation areas and infrastructure development areas, such as the Upper Cisokan Pumped Storage (UCPS) development in the Cianjur and West Bandung Districts. This study aims to reveal the presence of Java mouse-deer in the UCPS hydropower development area, West Java. The studies were conducted in February 2017, August 2020, and September 2022. Sign survey, camera trapping, and literature review were applied to this study. Java mouse-deer was found for ten years in the UCPS area. Java mouse-deer was found both directly and indirectly (footprints and feces). Java mouse-deer were discovered in 2012, 2017, 2020, and 2022 in the UCPS area. This species was found in the secondary forest (forest patches), shrubs, mixed gardens, and plantations. This species was most abundant in shrubs and mixed gardens near paddy fields with high levels of human activity. In shrub areas, the topography tends to be cliffy with a dense canopy, making it difficult for humans to pass. Shrub cover is dominated by calliandra (Calliandra calothyrsus Meisn.), wild sugarcane (Saccharum spontaneum L.), siam weed (Eupatorium odoratum L.), and billygoat-weed (Ageratum conyzoides L.). Java mouse-deer have been encountered for ten years. Agricultural and construction activities affect the opportunities to encounter the species. Longer-term monitoring of the densities will be essential to reveal the population of Java mouse-deer and how its distribution impacted the development of hydropower plants.

Impact of Different Sources of Anthropogenic Pollution on the Structure and Distribution of Antarctic Marine Meiofauna Communities

Human influence on Antarctic marine ecosystems is a growing concern, despite limited information being available. This study investigated the coastal meiofauna and environmental parameters of 10 locations, 4 of which served as reference points (OB1, OB2, OB3, and McGrady) and 6 which were impacted by different levels of human activity in the past and present (Wharf, Wilkes, BBIN, BBMID, BBOUT, and Shannon) in East Antarctica. Environmental variables such as metals, total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPHs), polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), grain size, organic matter content, and nutrients were measured for analysis. Locations close to human activities showed higher concentrations of pollutants (metals, TPHs, PBDEs, PCBs) and greater variations in meiofauna diversity compared to the reference sites (OB1, OB2, OB3, and McGrady). In the area impacted by the Casey Station waste dump (Brown Bay), the meiofauna community at the location furthest from the pollution (BBOUT) source exhibited greater diversity compared to the closest location (BBIN). In addition to metals and TPHs, particle size was also correlated with community patterns, with finer sediments associated with more impacted sites, facilitating the accumulation of toxic compounds. These results contribute to the understanding of the role and impact of pollutants on meiofauna biodiversity in Antarctic coastal ecosystems.

Global distribution pattern of soil phosphorus-cycling microbes under the influence of human activities.

Human activities have profoundly altered the Earth's phosphorus (P) cycling process and its associated microbial communities, yet their global distribution pattern and response to human influences remain unclear. Here, we estimated the abundances of P-cycling genes from 3321 global soil metagenomic samples and mapped the global distribution of five key P-cycling processes, that is, organic phosphoester hydrolysis, inorganic phosphorus solubilization, two-component system, phosphotransferase system, and transporters. Structural equation modeling and random forest analysis were employed to assess the impact of anthropogenic and environmental factors on the abundance of P-cycling genes. Our findings suggest that although less significant than the climate and soil profile, human-related factors, such as economic activities and population, are important drivers for the variations in P-cycling gene abundance. Notably, the gene abundances were increased parallel to the extent of human intervention, but generally at low and moderate levels of human activities. Furthermore, we identified critical genera, such as Pseudomonas and Lysobacter, which were sensitive to the changes in human activities. This study provides insights into the responses of P-cycling microbes to human activities at a global scale, enhancing our understanding of soil microbial P cycling and underscoring the importance of sustainable human activities in the Earth's biogeochemical cycle.

Local Social Capital: Revisiting the Measurement and Establishing Manageable Indicators

The social links between community entities are frequently regarded as a valuable asset for local economic development. Opinions diverge regarding the particulars of social capital and its constitution within social relations, despite its fundamental nature coming from these connections. Diverse public and private activities, according to Putnam (1995b), could constitute local social capital. While social capital can be conceptualized as private relations, assessing and debating it from the standpoint of local governments presents a formidable challenge. The distinction between the public and private spheres regarding the character of human activities was advanced by Arendt (1958). This study aims to frame the possible indicators for measuring local social capital by adopting Arendt’s classical theory. By applying it to the social capital of the social communities, the research fills a gap in the discussion between public and private spheres. The integrated framework theoretically provides a backbone for the distinguished perspectives of social capital in different levels of human activities. As well as categorizing manageable and non-manageable indicators, it also provides practical policy implications for the criteria local governments place an emphasis on for managing the level of social capital in a region. It is anticipated that the framework will advance the expansion of the theoretical literature on social capital by identifying measures at two distinct levels: individual and collective characteristics.