Plant Site Research Articles

Study on the daily thermal radiation iso-disturbance on a building by trees in summer

Many studies have demonstrated that the cooling and energy-saving effects of planting trees around buildings vary depending on their location. However, most research has focused on a limited number of representative planting sites. This study evaluates the reduction in thermal radiation absorbed by walls over a single day due to trees, defined as daily thermal radiation disturbance (TRDD). Using a combination of experiments and ENVI-met software simulations, we established a coordinate system to map the TRDD distribution of trees at various locations around a building. The findings reveal that trees at different locations exhibit isoTRDD lines, which are symmetrical about the building’s centerline. Trees planted along these isoTRDD lines exert equal effects on TRDD. The isoTRDD lines form a series of ellipses that decay in two stages with increasing distance between the tree crowns and the walls (DW-T): rapid decay when DW-T is less than 3 m and slower decay beyond 3 m. Additionally, we found a linear positive correlation between the change in the sky view factor (ΔSVF) on the wall surface caused by trees and the TRDD. Trees near the north and south walls, as well as those along the building's diagonal, primarily block sky-scattered radiation (R²>0.97). Trees around the east and west walls block both sky-scattered and direct solar short-wave radiation (R²>0.85). This indicates a significant relationship between isoTRDD and SVF of the building. The methodology proposed in this study allows for a comprehensive assessment of the spatial evolution of TRDD for trees around the building, providing a scientific basis for the spatial design of trees to optimize cooling and energy savings. Moreover, the relationship between ΔSVF and TRDD enables rapid calculations and comparisons of the cooling effects of trees at different locations.

Addressing the altitudinal and geographical gradient in European beech via photosynthetic parameters: a case study on Calabrian beech transplanted to Denmark

European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) is becoming one of the go-to species in reconstructing declining conifer stands in Europe under climate change. Assisted migration may be considered when looking for suitable beech seedlings. Knowledge about the photosynthetic performance of beech seedlings is fundamental to understanding an essential part of their growth and survival potential in different planting conditions. We investigated the within-provenance variation in photosynthetic performance driven by altitude in contrast to inter-provenance variation given by geographical distance. The experiment was conducted on seedlings replanted in a Danish common garden comprising a cluster of provenances with various altitudinal subgroups transplanted from the Calabria region (Italy) and two local Danish provenances. Provenance and within-provenance variation in chlorophyll fluorescence (ChlF) kinetics, gas exchange (GE), flushing, and senescence were assessed. ChlF measurements revealed within-provenance differences based on altitude of origin and could distinguish between the two Danish provenances. In contrast, GE parameters detected variation in the geographical distance among Italian provenances. High-elevation subgroups of Italian provenances showed the best leaf-level photosynthetic performance in Danish weather conditions with high precipitation levels. Altitude of origin can be a significant source of within-provenance variation. We demonstrated that assessing this variation in young trees may be instrumental in maximizing the potential of provenance variation across diverse planting sites.

Comparison of Diffusion Simulation Results of JRODOS and NACADOS at a Coastal Plant Site in China

Comparison of Diffusion Simulation Results of JRODOS and NACADOS at a Coastal Plant Site in China

Potential for Repowering Inland Coal-Fired Power Plants Using Nuclear Reactors According to the Coal-to-Nuclear Concept

The popularity of nuclear power as a high-availability energy source is increasing in countries that currently rely on coal-based energy. The growing use of renewable energy sources emphasizes the need for greater energy supply security and grid stability. However, nuclear reactors remain the most expensive commercially available power-generation technology, which limits investment in this field. This paper explores the feasibility of investing in Coal-to-Nuclear conversion at selected coal-fired power plant sites in Poland. By converting coal-fired infrastructure, it is possible to reduce the financial cost of constructing a nuclear power plant. The study included an analysis of hydrological conditions from 2010 to 2023 at selected locations, which determined the potential for siting high-power nuclear reactors. An analytical model was used to calculate the required water intake for cooling, and the results were compared with actual river flow measurements. The findings suggested that constructing an inland nuclear power plant in Poland is feasible while complying with legal standards regarding maximum cooling water temperature. The assessment of the four sites allowed appropriate recommendations to be made concerning further research into the implementation of Generation III reactors.

Probabilistic typhoon hazard and sensitivity analysis for nuclear power plant sites in Korea using logic tree

There has been an increase in typhoon intensity, and high-intensity typhoons can affect the safety of nuclear power plants (NPPs). Typhoons can damage the structures, systems, and components (SSCs) of NPPs, causing core damage and the release of radioactive materials into the environment. Therefore, design criteria for the effects of natural phenomena are demanded to ensure the safety-critical SSC functions of NPPs. Also, there is a need for safety assessments of typhoons in operational NPPs, which require typhoon hazard analysis. In this study, we derived typhoon hazards for NPPs in Korea using Logic Tree and Monte Carlo simulations. We performed sensitivity analysis on the typhoon hazards based on the distances (up to 100 km) from the NPP sites. Among other NPP sites, the typhoon hazard of the Kori site showed the highest wind speed, and the Hanul site showed the lowest wind speed. The uncertainty of the wind speed increased as the recurrence interval of the typhoon hazard increased. We compared the typhoon hazard in the areas of interest to that within 100 km. The range of the distance deviation for the Hanbit site's typhoon hazard was within μ±σ up to 75 km, while for the other sites, it was within μ±σ up to 100 km.

Tertiary Magmatism in Northwestern Kalimantan: Probability of Volcanic Hazard to The Nuclear Power Plant Site Candidate at Gosong Beach, Bengkayang Regency

Gosong Beach in Bengkayang, West Kalimantan, is selected as a potential Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) site candidate. Volcanic and intrusive rocks are found in the radius of 150 km from it. Based on IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency) standard, the main assessment target is volcanic rock that is younger than 10 Ma. However, there are Tertiary volcanic and intrusive rocks next to and cover a wide area around the NPP site that show volcanic activities over the Tertiary period. Therefore, it is necessary to investigate this group of rocks to understand its characteristics. This study aims to characterize the geochemistry and petrology of the Tertiary volcanic and intrusive rocks found in northwestern Kalimantan. The fieldwork was conducted to observe and to take Serantak volcanic rocks, Bawang dacite, Niut volcanics, and Sintang intrusion samples. The XRF and micro-XRF analyses were conducted to characterize the geochemical aspect, while petrography and AMICS analyses were conducted to characterize the mineralogical aspect. The result shows that Serantak volcanic rocks, Bawang dacite, Niut volcanics, and Sintang intrusion are derived from tholeiitic to calc-alkaline as a product of mantel partial melting in the subduction zone which go through fractional crystallization. The volcanic activity was initiated by the rise of primitive parental magma from partial melting in the shallow-depth subducted crust as indicated by the garnet-free HREE pattern, the enrichment of LILE and LREE, and the depleted HREE. The Tertiary magmatism in northwestern Kalimantan was found in a small activity with a small impact on the NPP candidate site at Gosong Beach, Bangkayang.

Enhancing Solar Power Plant Location Selection Through Multicriteria Decision-Making with the Analytic Hierarchy Process

Renewable energy, particularly solar power, is clean, cost-effective, and virtually limitless, making it an essential source of energy for developing countries. In the Kurdistan region, however, dependence on fossil fuels remains high, with 85 percent of electricity generated from these sources, whereas solar power contributes less than 1 percent. This study addresses this disparity by employing Boolean logical analytical hierarchy process techniques and a comprehensive set of criteria encompassing technical, ecological, and economic factors to identify suitable sites for solar power plants in Duhok Governorate. The results indicate that 68.5 percent of the governorate’s area is deemed suitable for solar power station construction, with the most promising zone comprising 132.2 km2 and capable of generating more than 8,000 megawatts of solar energy. Notably, most suitable areas are concentrated in the south and southwest, particularly in the districts of Bardarash, Shekhan, and Semel. This study paves the way for a significant shift toward renewable energy in northern Iraq. Identifying vast suitable areas for solar power plants offers a practical roadmap to reduce dependence on fossil fuels, provide a clean energy source, and enable a large-scale solar power project. This study empowers policymakers, energy companies, and investors to make informed decisions toward realizing this renewable energy potential, ultimately transforming the energy landscape in northern Iraq.

Methodological principles of searching for disposal sites of radioactively contaminated materials by geophysical methods

This article is devoted to radiometric studies at one of the sites of the Chornobyl nuclear power plant (the “Sandy Plateau” site), which is located on the south-eastern outskirts of the city of Pripyat. Radioactive substances, both artificial and natural, resulting from incidents and disasters at nuclear facilities pose the greatest danger. The disposal sites for radioactively contaminated materials considered in this work are sources of groundwater pollution. Currently, there is a problem of searching for their location for reburial in specialized stationary burial grounds, to solve which detailed complex geophysical studies are used. Various geophysical methods are considered, including micro-sensing and radiometric studies, to determine the location of burials. Particular attention is paid to the analysis and interpretation of geophysical data, as well as the economic and practical aspects of the application of these methods. As a result of the study, it was established: that when searching and studying burial sites of radioactively contaminated materials, the use of surface gamma photography makes it possible to assess the level of radioactive contamination of the upper layers of the soil (to a depth of 0.8-1 m). However, if the thickness of buried radioactively contaminated materials exceeds a certain level, which leads to weak contamination of rocks at a depth of more than 1-1.5 m, then burial objects may go undetected when using only gamma-ray imaging. In such cases, microgamma probing becomes an effective method. Increased values of exposure dose rate and the nature of microgamma sounding curves serve as indicators of the presence (increase in exposure dose rate with depth) or absence (sharp decrease in exposure dose rate with depth) of radioactively contaminated materials in the studied area.

Land cover effects on regenerants density and richness in restoration treatments in the Atlantic Rainforest biome

There is good evidence that the results of a restoration program depend largely on the landscape context. In restoration projects, it is crucial to consider the previous land uses and covers and landscape configuration as they have a significant impact on the entire process, especially seed dispersal and natural regeneration of sites. Thus, the objective of this work was to verify the effect of landscape (i.e., land use) on restoration success of total planting, seed sowing and natural regeneration sites in the Atlantic Forest biome, southeast Brazil. The methodology employed was based on demonstration units of restoration. The focus was on regenerant richness and abundance indicators, along with land use and land cover data (class area) from 2010, 2015, and 2020, obtained from the MapBiomas Project. Generalized linear models and correlation analysis were used for the study. We hypothesize that a landscape with more forest and natural regeneration cover (mosaic of agriculture and pasture) would positively affect regenerants in restored sites, which we only observed for natural regeneration treatment sites. In active restoration treatment sites, mosaic of agriculture and pasture was negatively and farming was positively associated to regenerants. We also found greater density and richness of regenerants in natural regeneration treatment sites than in seed sowing and seedling planting. The influence of the surrounding landscape, particularly mosaic, played a crucial role in this success. In addition, land use cover history, as we observed in classes in the last five and ten years, did explain regenerants in studied sites. Thus, results show that the characterization of landscape context and previous land-use history is essential to understand the limitations to succession and define cost-effective restoration strategies.

Insight into interaction among soil microbial community, soil metabolomics and enzyme activity after long-term PAH stress

The problem of soil polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) pollution in coking plant sites has been widely studied in recent years, but there is a lack of research on the correlation between soil microorganisms, soil metabolomics, and soil properties. Thus, in this study, the long-term impact of coke combustion on soil microbial community structure, enzyme activities, and metabolic pathways within a former coking plant site was investigated. Soil samples were collected from both the coking production area (CA group) and office area (OLA group), approximately 0 to 20 cm in depth. Compared with OLA group, elevated levels of 16 PAHs in the list of USA EPA were detected by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry in the CA group. Several dominant microorganisms, such as Altererythrobacter, Lysobacter, and Sulfurifustis, were identified by 16 s ribosomal DNA sequencing in the CA group. The fatty acid biosynthesis pathway exhibited specific inhibition, while the phenylalanine metabolic pathway was promoted in response to PAH stress. Long-term PAH exposure led to the inhibition of soil urease activity. The co-occurrence network of microorganisms revealed intricate patterns of co-metabolism and co-adaptation within complex bacterial communities, facilitating their adaptation to and decomposition of soil-borne PAHs. This research could provide valuable insights into the community characteristics and metabolic mechanisms of microorganisms inhabiting PAH-polluted soil within coking plant sites. The findings enhance our understanding of the indigenous soil microbiome and its intricate network dynamics under the persistent stress of PAHs, contributing to a more comprehensive knowledge of soil ecosystems in such environments.

Investigation of structural and TL kinetic parameters of smartphone screen protector glasses for applications in retrospective dosimetry

The study evaluated the structural and thermoluminescence (TL) kinetic parameters of smartphone screen protector glasses in order to use them for post-accident dose reconstruction from unplanned nuclear events. The fact that most individuals use mobile phones in working environments including nuclear power plant sites, served as the impetus for the study. The TL glow curves indicate the physical properties of the defects involved in the luminescence process; therefore, they have been analyzed to study the TL kinetic parameters by employing peak shape, initial rise and glow curve deconvolution method within the dose ranges from 2 to 50 Gy. The geometric factor (μg) ranges between 0.46 and 0.56, suggesting that Chen's general-order method can be used to compute the kinetic parameters, including activation energy (E), frequency factor (s) and trap lifetime (τ). The examined trapping parameters (E = 0.33–0.57 eV, s = 5.22E+03–8.65E+06 s−1 for peak shape and E = 0.36–0.96 eV, s = 2.90E+04–1.88E+11 s−1 for initial rise methods) suggest promise for TL dosimetry applications. Additionally, the observed lifetime (τ = 4.88E+5 s) implies the feasibility of dose reconstruction even several days after an accident, making it suitable for retrospective dosimetry. Micro-Raman spectroscopy revealed a clear correlation between increasing gamma radiation dose and microstructural damage. The analysis of intensity ratio (ID/ISi) for other components to silica, along with the area of deconvoluted micro-Raman spectra in high-frequency regions, indicated dose-dependent structural modifications and internal defect annealing. Further confirmation of structural alterations within the studied dose range was obtained through the analysis of crystallite size (Lc), dislocation density (δ), lattice strain (ɛ) and FWHM (Full Width at Half Maximum) from XRD (X-ray diffraction) patterns. These findings collectively suggest the potential of smartphone screen protector glass as a viable material for emergency dosimetry applications.

Metagenomic investigation of antibiotic resistance genes and resistant bacteria contamination in pharmaceutical plant sites in China

Pharmaceutical plant sites play a significant role in the dissemination of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) into the environment. It is imperative to comprehensively monitor of ARGs across various environmental media at these sites. This study focused on three pharmaceutical plants, two located in North China and one in South China. Through metagenomic approaches, we examined the composition, mobility potential, and bacterial hosts of ARGs in diverse media such as process water, groundwater, topsoil, soil cores, and pharmaceutical fermentation residues across diverse environmental matrices, including topsoil, soil cores, process water, groundwater, and pharmaceutical fermentation residues. We identified a wide array of ARGs, comprising 21 types and 740 subtypes, with process water exhibiting the highest abundance and diversity. Treatment processes varied in their efficacy in eliminating ARGs, and the clinically relevant ARGs should also be considered when evaluating wastewater treatment plant efficiency. Geographical distinctions in groundwater ARG distribution between northern and southern regions were observed. Soil samples from the three sites showed minimal impact from pharmaceutical activity, with vancomycin-resistance genes being the most prevalent. High levels of ARGs in pharmaceutical fermentation residues underscore the necessity for improved waste management practices. Metagenomic assembly revealed that plasmid-mediated ARGs were more abundant than chromosome-mediated ARGs. Metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs) analysis identified 166 MAGs, with 62 harboring multiple ARGs. Certain bacteria tended to carry specific types of ARGs, revealing distinct host-resistance associations. This study enhances our understanding of ARG dissemination across different environmental media within pharmaceutical plants and underscores the importance of implementing strict regulations for effluent and residue discharge to control ARG spread.

SOURCE RISK ASSESSMENT FOR HEAVY METALS IN SOIL ON THE SITE OF A HYDROCARBON POWER PLANT

The present study aims to assess the soil quality on a hydrocarbon power plant site in Arad, Romania. It investigates the evolution of heavy metal concentrations (Cu, Zn, Pb, Ni, Cd, and Cr) to establish source-related risks. For this purpose, the Global Pollution Index (GPI) was used, calculated for soil sampling points in the licensed area, and the database of monitored indicators was processed. Sampling was carried out annually between 2011 and 2020. An Individual Pollution Index (IPi) was calculated for each heavy metal and reference value, taking into account the Geochemical Background Level (Bi) specific to Romania. The correlation between these indices and the degree of pollution for each soil sample monitored was carried out to the legal provisions. Heavy metal concentrations (Cs, i) were evaluated in relation to the national legislation for less sensitive land use. Finally, the GPI was determined, and based on these values, the overall soil pollution status was assessed. Based on the determined CFi values and the corresponding Toxicity Factors (Ti) of heavy metals, the environmental impact was assessed by environmental risk analysis using the Risk Indices (ERi and R.I.) method. All the analyzed indicators were within the legal limits during the studied period, except Cd, where the alert threshold was exceeded in 2019 and 2020.

A novel approach for identification of environmentally and economically suitable locations for establishment of wastewater treatment plants

ABSTRACT Despite having several economic and environmental benefits of locating suitable sites for wastewater treatment plants, only a few studies have been reported in the literature. The present study implemented a fuzzy-analytic hierarchy process (fuzzy-AHP) method followed by the multi-criteria decision analysis for identification of suitable locations for wastewater treatment plants. Also, the study incorporated additional parameters such as slope and relative elevation to reduce environmental hazards and to increase economic benefits of locating wastewater treatment plants. The findings of the study revealed that 2.05% (42.68 km2) of the total study area is suitable for the establishment of environmentally and economically suitable wastewater treatment plants in each zone of the study area. It was assumed that half of wastewater will be treated in the East zone and the other half will be treated in the West zone. A minimum area of 30 ha was considered to treat half of the wastewater generated and based on this, 10 suitable sites were identified with five sites located in each zone. The approach of this study will help public health engineers and other stakeholders to identify environmentally and economically suitable locations for wastewater treatment plants in the study area and other similar areas globally.

Reviving resilience: MEcPP-mediated ASK1-IMPα-9-TRP2 stress-responsive module.

Chloroplasts are not only critical photosynthesis sites in plants, but they also participate in plastidial retrograde signaling in response to developmental and environmental signals. MEcPP (2-C-Methyl-D-erythritol-2,4-cyclopyrophosphate) is an intermediary in the methylerythritol phosphate (MEP) pathway in chloroplasts. It is a critical precursor for the synthesis of isoprenoids and terpenoid derivatives, which play crucial roles in plant growth and development, photosynthesis, reproduction, and defense against environmental constraints. Accumulation of MEcPP under stressful conditions triggers the expression of IMPα-9 and TPR2, contributing to the activation of abiotic stress-responsive genes. In this correspondence, we discuss plastidial retrograde signaling in support of a recently published paper in Molecular Plant (Zeng et al. 2024). We hope that it can shed more insight on the retrograde signaling cascade.

Soil Heavy Metal(loid) Pollution Evaluation, Risk Assessment, and Source Analysis of a Mineral Processing Plant

Yunnan Province is rich in mineral resources. Early mining, processing, metallurgy, and other mining activities produce three industrial wastes (waste water, waste gas, and waste residue) causing environmental pollution. Considering the legacy site of a mineral processing plant in Yunnan as the research object, 21 sampling points in the study area and 12 control sampling points in the periphery were set up to determine the contents of the heavy metal(loid)s As, Hg, Cd, Cu, Ni, Pb, and Cr in the soil. The spatial distribution of heavy metal(loid)s was interpolated and analyzed using Arcmap10.8, and combined with the single-factor index, Nemero Comprehensive Pollution Index, and the health risk assessment method for the heavy metal(loid) pollution status and health risk of the soil were evaluated. The soil in the study area was acidic, with the largest average value of elemental As and the largest percentages of control and screening values. The results of the single-factor and Nemero composite pollution index showed the following trend: As > Pb > Cd > Cu > Ni > Hg. Cd, Cu, and Pb mainly originate from mining and metallurgy and Hg from the combustion of fossil fuels, while soil-forming substrates are the main sources of Ni. Pollution by As was the most prominent element, whereas pollution by Cd, Cu, and Pb in some areas also cannot be ignored to prevent negative impacts on residents. It is recommended to remediate and treat the soil on site for public events; therefore, this study fills the gap in studying potential ecological risks, human health risk assessments, and sources of exposure (oral ingestion, respiratory ingestion, dermal contact).

Stakeholders' views on the global guidelines for the sustainable use of non‐native trees

Abstract A large number of non‐native trees (NNTs) have been introduced globally and widely planted, contributing significantly to the world's economy. Although some of these species present a limited risk of spreading beyond their planting sites, a growing number of NNTs are spreading and becoming invasive leading to diverse negative impacts on biodiversity, ecosystem functions and human well‐being. To help minimize the negative impacts and maximize the economic benefits of NNTs, Brundu et al. developed eight guidelines for the sustainable use of NNTs globally—the Global Guidelines for the Use of NNTs (GG‐NNTs). Here, we used an online survey to assess perceptions of key stakeholders towards NNTs, and explore their knowledge of and compliance with the GG‐NNTs. Our results show that stakeholders are generally aware that NNTs can provide benefits and cause negative impacts, often simultaneously and they consider that their organization complies with existing regulations and voluntary agreements concerning NNTs. However, they are not aware of or do not apply most of the eight recommendations included in the GG‐NNTs. We conclude that effectively managing invasions linked to NNTs requires both more communication efforts using an array of channels for improving stakeholder awareness and implementation of simple measures to reduce NNT impacts (e.g. via GG‐NNTs), and a deeper understanding of the barriers and reluctance of stakeholders to manage NNT invasions. Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog.

Comparative studies of essential oils from Matricaria recutita L.

The aim of the work is to determine the component composition of the essential oil of medicinal chamomile, grown on the educational and research site of medicinal plants of Zaporizhzhia State Medical and Pharmaceutical University (ZSMPHU), and commercial essential oil that was purchased via the Internet. Materials and methods. The object of the study was chamomile essential oil obtained by hydrodistillation and commercial oil. Qualitative and quantitative determination of the components of essential oils was established using the chromato-mass spectrometric method on a high-performance gas chromatograph “Agilent 7890B GC System” (Agilent, SantaClara, CA, USA) with a mass spectrometric detector “Agilent 5977 BGC/MSD” (Agilent, SantaClara, CA, USA). Results. Dominant compounds of essential oil of chamomile, grown on the educational and research site of medicinal plants ZSMPHU were 2H-pyran-3-ol, tetrahydro-2,2,6-trimethyl-6-(4-methyl-3-cyclohexen-1-yl) ) – 7.54 %, chamazulene – 5.32 %, alpha-bisabolol – 4.30 %, 1H-cycloprop[e]azulen-7-ol, decahydro-3,1,7-trimethyl-4-methylene – 3.25 %, myrtenyl acetate – 3.03 %, azulene, 1,2,3,3a,4,5,6,7-octahydro-1,4-dimethyl-7-(1-methylethenyl) – 2.16 %, bisabolol oxide B – 1.86 %. Commercial chamomile essential oil was dominated by 3-methoxy-3-methylbutanol (56.15 %), diethyl phthalate (17.46 %), linalyl acetate (6.99 %), linalool (4.41 %). Conclusions. Industrial cultivation of chamomile in southern Ukraine shows a high biologically active substances content and can be in demand in the pharmaceutical industry’s consumer market for raw materials.

Caught in transition: changes in brachyuran diversity following mangrove encroachment into saltmarshes at a southern distribution limit

Mangroves are expanding polewards due to global change, often encroaching into adjacent temperate saltmarshes. In both vegetated ecosystems, brachyurans are responsible for ecological processes and functions such as nutrient cycling and sediment bioturbation. South African mangroves occur at a latitudinal limit and are establishing further south due to past planting events and global change, making these ideal study systems for the effects of mangrove expansion and encroachment. Here, we investigated the effect of mangrove encroachment on brachyuran community composition at two saltmarsh sites with planted mangrove stands of different ages. Transects were laid perpendicular to each estuary where three habitat types were demarcated (mangrove, ecotone, saltmarsh). Sediment samples were collected for analyses and quadrats were used to measure pneumatophore density, saltmarsh cover, and brachyuran abundance and diversity. We found that brachyuran community structure at each site has significantly changed over seven years, with two mangrove-associated fiddler crab species, Tubuca urvillei and Paraleptuca chlorophthalmus, now recorded at the younger planted site, indicating a new southern distributional limit. Community structure was also significantly different amongst habitat types (p < 0.05) with Parasesarma catenatum dominating saltmarshes while Danielella edwardsii was more prominent in mangroves. However, community composition did not differ significantly between the two (differently aged) sites (p > 0.05). Pneumatophore density had a proportional relationship with crab abundance, diversity and richness, while saltmarsh cover had an inversely proportional relationship with crab abundance, diversity and richness. It is likely that as mangroves continue to expand into saltmarshes, more mangrove-associated species will move into saltmarshes, potentially altering ecosystem processes in this unique habitat.

Prediction of Plant Ubiquitylation Proteins and Sites by Fusing Multiple Features

Introduction: Protein ubiquitylation is an important post-translational modification (PTM), which is considered to be one of the most important processes regulating cell function and various diseases. Therefore, accurate prediction of ubiquitylation proteins and their PTM sites is of great significance for the study of basic biological processes and the development of related drugs. Researchers have developed some large-scale computational methods to predict ubiquitylation sites, but there is still much room for improvement. Much of the research related to ubiquitylation is cross-species while the life pattern is diversified, and the prediction method always shows its specificity in practical application. This study just aims at the issue of plants and has constructed computational methods for identifying ubiquitylation protein and ubiquitylation sites. Method: In this work, we constructed two predictive models to identify plant ubiquitylation proteins and sites. First, in the ubiquitylation proteins prediction model, in order to better reflect protein sequence information and obtain better prediction results, the KNN scoring matrix model based on functional domain Gene Ontology (GO) annotation and word embedding model, i.e. Skip-Gram and Continuous Bag of Words (CBOW), are used to extract the features, and the light gradient boosting machine (LGBM) is selected as the ubiquitylation proteins prediction engine. Results: As a result, accuracy (ACC), Precision, recall rate (Recall), F1_score and AUC are respectively 85.12%, 80.96%, 72.80%, 76.37% and 0.9193 in the 10-fold cross-validations on independent dataset. In the ubiquitylation sites prediction model, Skip-Gram, CBOW and enhanced amino acid composition (EAAC) feature extraction codes were used to extract protein sequence fragment features, and the predicted results on training and independent test data have also achieved good performance. Conclusion: In a word, the comparison results demonstrate that our models have a decided advantage in predicting ubiquitylation proteins and sites, and it may provide useful insights for studying the mechanisms and modulation of ubiquitination pathways