State Of Ecosystems Research Articles

Features of blood microcirculation across different age groups in relation to urban ecosystem conditions

BACKGROUND: Understanding adverse effects of environmental factors, including those associated with urbanization and high population density, are important for development of public health protection measures. The hemodynamics of the microcirculatory system plays a significant role in maintaining tissue homeostasis, with morphofunctional characteristics often present in most cases of diseases. However, there remains a lack of comprehensive research on the aging process and the effects of residing in different urban settings on microcirculation dynamics. AIM: To study the changes in the microcirculatory system across different age groups, depending on the state of urban ecosystems, including a megalopolis and a small tourist city without significant industrial activity. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study involved volunteers from the industrial megalopolis of Nizhny Novgorod and the city of Semenov, a small tourist town without significant industrial activity. Volunteers from different areas, varying in terms of human activity and environmental conditions, were divided into three age groups: group 1: 18–44 years old, group 2: 45–59 years old, and group 3: 60–74 years old. Microcirculation was measured by laser Doppler flowmetry (LDF) using a laser capillary blood flow analyzer "LAZMA ST" (NPP LAZMA LLC, Russia). The amplitude-frequency characteristics were evaluated with a wavelet analysis of blood flow oscillations. RESULTS: A comparison of the amplitude-frequency characteristics (frequency response) of microcirculation between the 1st group of a megalopolis and a small tourist city with minimal industrial activity did not reveal any significant differences. However, upon further analysis of the amplitude-frequency spectrum of groups 2 and 3, changes in the reactivity of microcirculatory structures were observed, depending on age and urban environment. Inter-group differences based on urban ecosystems were identified through variations in endothelial rhythm amplitudes (Ae), neurogenic rhythm (An), myogenic oscillations (Am), and heart rate amplitude (Ah). The megalopolis group exhibited a decrease in An, Am, and Ah, along with an increase in Ae in groups 2 and 3. In contrast, the small city population showed a decrease in Ae, An, and As in group 2, followed by an increase in Ae, An, Am in group 3, and a further decrease in As compared to age groups 1 and 2. Furthermore, the indicator reflecting the power of blood flow into the microcirculatory bed decreased in the 3rd age group of the megalopolis. CONCLUSION: The analysis of microcirculation using the LDF method allows to identify the involvement of various mechanisms regulating microcirculation, depending on the condition of the agro-ecosystem and the presence of risk factors that reduce adaptive capacity with age and living in a megalopolis. The findings from this study can be used to develop measures to prevent tissue perfusion insufficiency in different urban environments.

Prospects For Sustainable Development of Rural Areas of Ukraine Through Organic Production

The article substantiates the potential of organic production for sustainable development of rural areas in Ukraine. The author identifies organic farming as a key tool for promoting economic growth, preserving natural resources, and restoring ecosystems, which are essential for addressing environmental, economic, and social challenges. Specifically, it has been proven that organic farming contributes to increased biodiversity, the restoration of soil fertility, and the reduction of water pollution levels, which are crucial for achieving sustainable development goals. The paper proposes a range of promising directions for the development of organic production in Ukraine. It has been determined that rural areas face numerous challenges, including an aging population, youth migration, weak infrastructure, and low levels of investment. Organic production could serve as a means of overcoming these challenges by creating new jobs and increasing the income levels of local communities. The author highlights that the growing demand for organic products, both in Ukraine and abroad, opens new economic opportunities for farmers. The article provides statistical data demonstrating the dynamics of the global organic market's growth and its impact on Ukraine. Specifically, in recent years, there has been an increase in the area of land dedicated to organic farming, although the pace of development remains uneven due to the influence of military actions and other socio-economic factors. The ecological benefits of organic production have been clearly defined. It has been proven that abandoning the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides reduces the negative impact on ecosystems and helps restore natural resources. Organic farming, through the implementation of sustainable agro-technologies, can enhance resilience to climate change and reduce soil erosion. As a result of the research, the necessity of enhancing state support for the organic sector has been identified, particularly through the implementation of subsidy programs and the development of infrastructure for the sale of organic products. An important aspect is raising public awareness about the benefits of organic products, which would stimulate demand and encourage farmers to adopt organic farming methods. Key aspects of achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) have been analyzed, particularly in the context of the impact of organic production on environmental, economic, and social components. The article thoroughly examines the achievement of indicators set for Goal 2 – «Zero Hunger and Agricultural Development» and Goal 15 – «Life on Land.» In particular, attention is drawn to Indicator 2.3.3, which concerns the share of agricultural land under organic production. Despite challenges caused by economic and military factors, this indicator has shown positive growth dynamics in Ukraine, contributing to food security and increasing the resilience of agro-systems to climate change. Regarding the indicators of Goal 15, the achievement of Indicator 15.3.4 – «Restoration of Degraded Lands and Soils» has been analyzed in detail. It has been proven that the implementation of organic farming contributes to the restoration of soil fertility, the reduction of erosion, and the decrease in the use of chemical substances, positively impacting the state of natural ecosystems. The article presents data showing a gradual increase in the area of land dedicated to organic farming, despite reductions in some regions due to military actions. The article emphasizes that to achieve the target SDG indicators, it is necessary to implement innovative technologies in agriculture and promote the development of organic farming, which has already demonstrated its effectiveness in terms of biodiversity conservation and the restoration of degraded lands. The types of organic products suitable for cultivation in different regions of Ukraine have been developed and proposed, taking into account the climatic and soil characteristics of the territories, as well as the existing experience in rural communities regarding the cultivation of specific agricultural crops. It is argued that the paths to achieving sustainable development indicators through the development of organic production include comprehensive state support measures, educational programs, and the stimulation of cooperation among farmers to ensure the ecological and economic sustainability of rural areas. The conclusion is substantiated that the development of organic production in Ukraine is a crucial element of the sustainable development strategy for rural areas. It contributes to solving a range of social, economic, and environmental problems, ensuring ecological stability and economic development in rural areas.

Coastal carbon storage in degraded, natural, and restored mangrove ecosystems of Guyana

Mangroves are among the most carbon-rich forests in the tropics due to their capacity to sequester and store carbon within their ecosystems. However, the combination of natural and human-induced phenomena causes changes in these ecosystems which can affect the flow of carbon within them. In the wet and dry seasons, we examined and compared the carbon content stored in aboveground biomass, standing litter, and soil in natural, degraded, and restored mangrove ecosystems located along the Guyana coastline. During a one-year period, a point-centred quartered method was used for tree sampling, while a randomised block design was used for standing litter and soil sampling. Our study revealed that the natural ecosystems exhibited higher carbon pool levels (29.58–35.14 Mg ha−1), followed by the degraded ecosystems (30.49–32.27 Mg ha−1), and then the restored ecosystems (22.81–27.63 Mg ha−1). Significant differences were documented only in carbon found in aboveground biomass between ecosystem states, particularly within the natural ecosystems, due to the presence of mature trees with larger diameters at breast height. While seasonal fluctuations exist between the various carbon pools, particularly within the degraded ecosystems, our findings yielded insignificant differences between seasonality for all three carbon pools. However, linear mixed-effect models revealed that seasonality may influence the soil and standing litter carbon concentrations to an extent. Positive correlations in the restored ecosystems suggest that the larger carbon stocks in aboveground biomass may be associated with carbon stocks in soil and standing litter, unlike the negative correlations seen in the natural and degraded ecosystems. Our study provides some evidence that the overall carbon storage capacity of mangroves is influenced by the current state of their ecosystem, that is, ecosystems characterised by minimum disturbances may possess a greater capacity for carbon storage in comparison to ecosystems that are currently experiencing or have recovered from disturbances.

ANALYSIS OF MANGROVE FOREST VEGETATION ON MOLAS BEACH, BUNAKEN DISTRICT, MANADO CITY

The lack of scientific information about the current condition of the mangrove ecosystem on the Molas beach in the Bunaken District of Manado City is an important reason to conduct a study related to the analysis of mangrove forest vegetation. The purpose of this research is to identify the types of mangroves and to find the Important Value Index (INP) of mangroves on the Molas beach in the Bunaken District of Manado City. Data collection was conducted using the line transect method with plots at only one observation station, which was then analyzed to determine the Importance Value Index (INP). Based on the observations, it was found that four types of mangroves were present at the research location. The dominant mangrove species are Bruguiera Cylindrica, Bruguiera gymnorrhiza, Aegiceras cosniculatum, and Ceriops tagal. The substrate condition, which is dominated by muddy sand, and the water quality parameters that affect mangrove growth generally still meet the standards for mangrove growth. The species Ceriops tagal has the highest values of Relative Density, Relative Frequency, and Relative Dominance, resulting in the highest INP. Meanwhile, the lowest INP was found in the species Bruguiera gymnorrhiza in the tree category

A global multi catchment and multi dataset synthesis for water fluxes and storage changes on land

Water on land is essential for all societal, ecosystem, and planetary health aspects and conditions, and all life as we know it. Many disciplines consider and model similar terrestrial water phenomena and processes, but comparisons and consistent validations are lacking for the datasets used by various science communities for different world parts, scales, and applications. Here, we present a new global data synthesis that includes and harmonises four comparative datasets for main terrestrial water fluxes and storage changes, and the catchment-wise water balance closure they imply for the 30-year period 1980–2010 in 1561 non-overlapping hydrological catchments around the world. This can be used to identify essential agreements and disagreements of the comparative datasets for spatial variations and temporal changes of runoff, evapotranspiration, water storage, and associated water-balances around the global land area, e.g., for pattern recognition and hypothesis/model testing. The facilitated direct dataset comparison can advance a more coherent, realistic cross-disciplinary understanding of Earth’s water states and changes across regions and scales, from local and up to continental and global.

The morphological variability and photosynthetic activity of the epigeic mosses in the forest ecosystems depending on the ecological locality conditions

The peculiarities of morphological variability and photosynthetic activity of the dominant epigeic mosses Polytrichastrum formosum, Plagiomnium affine and Atrichum undulatum depending on microclimatic conditions and the degree of anthropogenic changes in forest ecosystems were investigated. The morphological variability of mossy turfs in different ecological conditions of forest ecosystems was established, in particular, the influence of the level of humidity and the intensity of light on the morphometric parameters of mosses was revealed. The shoots and leaves of the studied mosses from the felling area were smaller and the density of turfs was higher compared to other localities. It was determined that a decrease in shoot height, leaf size, increase in leafiness and shoot density contributed to the preservation of water balance within the moss turf and the upper layer of the substrate. The dependence of the photosynthetic intensity of the leaves of dominant mosses on the moisture content of their turf and topsoil in the experimental plots of forest ecosystems was revealed. Changes in the functioning of the pigment system not only determined the photosynthetic activity of mosses in different localities, but also served as markers of their resistance to environmental conditions. The lowest intensity of CO2 assimilation was determined in the gametophyte of mosses in areas with recreational load. Probably, higher light intensity led to a violation of the water and temperature regime of plants, and thus to a decrease in their photosynthetic activity.

Preliminary assessment of Stracoş Cave and its surface delineated protection area for a sustainable tourism

Tășad protected area includes geological, archaeological and speleological reserves with scientific, educational and tourism values. In the context of recently touristic development of Stracoș cave, our study aims to update the existing data. Following objectives were established: (1) geological re-mapping on surface and underground, (2) assessment of the environmental features of cave and surface area, (3) biological mapping of Stracoş cave, (4) delineation of the surface protection area of the cave. We have continuously registered temperature and relative humidity in the cave, seasonally measured the physical-chemical parameters of springs and cave waters and quantified the microbial indicators. We also assessed the plant communities from the surface, the aquatic and terrestrial invertebrates, bats and other vertebrates from the cave. Our results include a new and detailed geological map of the Stracoș-Tășad area and revealed a good status of the forest ecosystems with a moderate anthropogenic impact. Springs showed a physical-chemical profile typical for karstic areas, with trace minerals originating in the volcanic tuff intercalation from the sedimentary rocks, and low pollution with ammonia and phosphates, while the cave waters indicated nitrate presence, a high turbidity and high microbial content. The aquatic invertebrates were represented by 12 supraspecific taxa, of which copepods, amphipods and oligochaetes, were most frequent. Terrestrial cave fauna was represented by trogloxene, troglophile, guanophile, and parasitic species of Isopoda, Opiliones, Acari, Araneae, and Coleoptera. Bat colonies of Rhinolophus spp. were observed in the cave, in the swarming and transitional time, with R. euryale as the most numerous species. On the basis of the overall assessment of cave and surface, we delineated the surface protection area for Stracoș cave. These findings represent a base point for the management measures that need to be addressed and for future monitoring and protecting measures, in view of the natural heritage preservation.

On the role of water balance as a prerequisite for aquatic and wetland ecosystems management: A case study of the Biebrza catchment, Poland

Water balance quantifies the inflows and outflows in a river basin, crucial for assessing the water resources of a given area. Quantified water balance should therefore be the key step in environmental quality assessment. However, due to the lack of data on reasonable spatiotemporal scales and quality, water balance studies are scarce. The aim of the paper was to provide a water balance analysis as a prerequisite for aquatic and wetland ecosystems management in the Biebrza Valley, Poland. A Penck-Oppokov method was used to assess the annual water balance, and runoff coefficient for 1951–2021. Data were extracted for the daily simulated dataset of Poland. The average annual water balance of the Biebrza basin encompassed of 561 mm of precipitation, 485 mm of evapotranspiration, 101 mm of runoff, and −25 mm of water retention. Analysis of 17 sub-basins indicated a declining tendency in water resources over the study period. The average runoff coefficient in the Biebrza basins is equal to 0.17. Findings presented here indicate that the significant deficit in the water balance in the region is highly unlikely to be compensated by the course of natural hydrological processes. This reveals the need for quick actions oriented at improvement of water balance by reducing the runoff and evapotranspiration. The study provides convincing evidence that if the observed tendencies of water balance elements are continued, the reinstallation of spatially distributed, abundant measures of increasing water retention may be the only way to assure the appropriate ecological status of aquatic and wetland ecosystems.

Fit for purpose? Evaluating benthic invertebrate DNA metabarcoding for ecological status class assessment in streams under the Water Framework Directive.

The ecological state of aquatic ecosystems is systematically monitored using various bioindicators in many countries worldwide. In the European Union, freshwater biomonitoring is the central component of the EU Water Framework Directive (WFD, 2000/60/EC) and currently based on morpho-taxonomic methods. DNA metabarcoding is a novel approach to assess the ecological state fast and efficiently based on organismal DNA signatures and thereby support and upscale biomonitoring. However, compliance of metabarcoding with existing morpho-taxonomic methods must be ensured prior to official implementation. Thus, this study, co-designed by research institutions and environmental agencies, explored necessary key parameters and performed method intercalibration for the implementation of metabarcoding into WFD assessments of running waters. We focussed on benthic invertebrates as the most commonly used bioindicators. We analysed 170 invertebrate samples collected as part of the German federal state WFD routine stream biomonitoring, first via microscopic determination and then using metabarcoding. Our goals were to quantify overlap in i) taxonomic composition and ii) ecological status derived with both methods. For this purpose, we established data harmonisation measures to integrate invertebrate metabarcoding data into the official national WFD classification modules considering abundance and presence/absence data. Our results revealed a high (ca. 70 %) overlap of bioindicator taxa found with both methods. Metabarcoding identified significantly more small invertebrate taxa and detected similar proportions of the important bioindicator 'EPT' taxa (mayflies, stoneflies, caddisflies). Despite deviations in some detected bioindicator taxa, the derived ecological status classes were highly correlated between methods, particularly after intercalibration (R2 = 0.74, Spearman rho = 0.86). Regardless of whether we used abundance or presence/absence data, the resulting stream type classifications showed strong agreement. Thus, our study not only demonstrates the consistency of the methods for the stream types analysed but is also the first to operationalise a path to integration of metabarcoding data into the WFD assessment modules based on formal intercalibration guidelines.

The ecological status and fisheries of Malampaya Sound, northwestern Palawan, Philippines

A review of the state of the marine ecosystem and fisheries of Malampaya Sound, Palawan was undertaken. A total of 30 papers relevant to the topic were selected and reviewed. The results showed that the rich and diverse coastal waters of Malampaya Sound harbor 8 species of seagrasses, 9 species of mangroves, 262 species of fish, and various species of corals and macroinvertebrates including the rare giant clams Tridacna spp. The Sound plays a vital role in the local economy because the local community uses it for subsistence fishing and as a source of livelihood. It is so productive that it was termed the “fishbowl of the country” because it provides a substantial contribution to the country’s fishery sector and economy. However, degradation continuously threatens it, most of which are interrelated anthropogenic issues. The declining environmental condition of the area prompted the government to close it for commercial fishing in the 1970s. Several conservation measures have been undertaken since then to preserve its remaining resources, including its declaration as a protected landscape and seascape in 2000. Despite this, if not for a slight improvement, the condition has worsened. So far, only the mangrove ecosystem has dramatically improved. Seagrass and coral reefs are still in poor to fair condition. A collective effort by the community and government agencies, with the support of the academe and non-government organizations, coupled with strict enforcement of existing laws, income diversification for the locals, monitoring of environmental parameters, and implementation of sustainable fishing practices, is necessary to achieve sustainable use of the area.

Comparison of Eco-Hydrological Limits as Water Scarcity Indicators for the Water Balance Inventory of Slovakia

Abstract Various methods for determining environmental flows can be based on hydrological characteristics, a combination of morphological and hydrological characteristics, or solely on hydraulic characteristics. Such methods may also be based on multi-criteria decision-making, where a low flow regime and its variability are considered. The methods for determining environmental flows as hydrological limits (sometime called desktop methods) are solely based on hydrological statistics and are believed to implicitly incorporate links to the state of river ecosystems. In the paper, we compared the performance of several methods in the set of the 137 official water balance inventory profiles of the Slovak Hydrometeorological Institute, which are evenly distributed over the territory of Slovakia. The analysis also accounted for the dependence between hydrological characteristics and environmental flow values. We also compared the frequency of the occurrence of their critical values (ecohydrological) in the reference periods 1931-1960 and 1991-2019. We proposed an intermediate system of regionalized relationships based on simple Tennant methods, which does not disturb the existing system of water allocations and uses in the water balance inventory.

The Impact of Population Density, Land Cover, and Spatial Patterns on the Geoecological Evaluation of the Surabaya Coast

Abstract Coastal areas are vulnerable to the influence of geomorphological processes from activities in the waters, so that the condition of coastal ecosystems will always change according to the dynamics that occur on the coast, both changes could be occurred in coastlines and land cover. Geoecology is the spatial interaction between natural phenomena and their relationship to phenomena in a particular ecosystem. Surabaya is a coastal city that frequently experiences changes in land cover. The construction of new settlements and changes in land use have a significant impact on the coastal environment of Surabaya. This research aims to determine the influence of population density, land cover and spatial plan on the geoecological evaluation of Surabaya’s coast using remote sensing data. The data used in the research is Landsat satellite image data from 1994, 2003 and 2018 (maximum likelihood classification method). The dynamics of changes in coastlines on the coast of Surabaya are caused by three phenomena, namely erosion, accretion and anthropogenic. Each phenomenon has a different value for land cover class, population density and spatial patterns. The research results show that geoecological evaluation is closely related to phenomena that occur on the Surabaya coast (value range 1-3). The geoecological evaluation value due to the erosion phenomenon is low (30%) and medium (70%). The geoecological evaluation value due to the accretion phenomenon is low (100%). Meanwhile, the geoecological evaluation value due to anthropogenic phenomena is low (25%) and medium (75%). Geoecological evaluation of Surabaya’s coast shows that it is in a “safe” condition, but there is requirement for coastline management. Where the coastal area planning process is carried out by identifying the dynamics of coastal areas and potential risks and consequences related to decisions that produce different future scenarios.

Advances in Remote Sensing for Monitoring Soil Conditions in Forest Ecosystems: Techniques, Challenges, and Applications

ABSTRACT Advances in remote sensing technologies have revolutionized the monitoring of soil conditions in forest ecosystems, providing valuable insights into soil moisture, nutrient content, and degradation without requiring physical access to remote areas. This article explores the application of key techniques, including satellite-based L-band radiometry, UAV-enabled LiDAR, and visible–NIR spectroscopy, in assessing forest soil properties. Challenges such as canopy interference, spatial resolution limitations, and data validation are discussed, alongside innovative solutions like machine learning and high-resolution digital elevation models. Case studies highlight the effectiveness of remote sensing in addressing environmental and forestry challenges, such as tracking the effects of climate change, logging, and erosion. By integrating advanced imaging technologies with ground-based observations, remote sensing supports sustainable forest management, conservation practices, and ecological research. Future developments in sensor technology, data integration, and machine learning hold promise for even greater precision and scalability in forest soil monitoring.

Water Table Dynamic and Peat Motion in Forest and Burnt Area in Central Kalimantan Province, Indonesia

Abstract Water table dynamic (WTD) and peat motion are useful data to assess the condition of peatland ecosystems. Decomposition of peat is affected by WTD, with lower groundwater levels resulting in larger peat subsidence and CO2 emissions. In this study, we used low-cost time-lapse cameras based on Raspberry Pi computers to periodically monitor peat motion and water table depth. The camera will take pictures every 2 hours at the same time as the WTD data taken by water level logger. The aim of this research is to determine the magnitude of peat surface movement under forest cover and ex-burnt conditions. The research locations where time-lapse cameras were installed were six locations: UPR Hampangen Natural Laboratory, KHDTK Tumbang Nusa, Repeat, the southern burnt area, and Sebangau National Park. Data collection for WTD and peat movement was carried out from December 2022 to June 2023. The research results show that the WTD value is inversely proportional to the value of peat subsidence. In the Sebangau National Park location, which has a low mean WTD value (-0,31 m), there was a large decrease in the peat surface of -1.36 cm. The UPR Hampangen Natural Laboratory location has a high mean WTD (0,12 m), there was the smallest peat reduction of - 0.12 cm.

Differential coping capacities underlie the overall resistance of temperate seagrasses to herbivory

AbstractGrazing can impart long‐lasting changes in vegetated ecosystems. How ecosystems respond to herbivory depends on the ecological and evolutionary histories of their foundational species. The overall ecosystem functioning and associated biodiversity depend on these responses but there is still little understanding on how the intensity and duration of herbivory interact and impact vegetated ecosystems. We experimentally tested in the field the responses of three seagrass species with distinct life history traits to increasing intensities of herbivory over time. Specifically, we assessed structural responses (i.e., canopy height and shoot density) to reflect the ecosystem state. Additionally, we used mechanistic models to assess induced and constitutive responses in the different seagrass species. Results show that seagrasses coped with herbivory differentially in relation to their life history traits. Posidonia oceanica (persistent species) was resistant and only registered declines in canopy height, whereas both canopy heigh and shoot density rapidly decreased for Cymodocea nodosa (intermediate‐colonizing species) and Zostera noltei (colonizing species). Seagrasses also differed in the type of structural response, with the colonizing species experiencing reductions in shoot density, and the persistent P. oceanica registering declines in canopy height. After months of exposure to cumulative herbivory, all three species showed signs of stability. Interestingly, none of the species disappeared completely even when exposed to extreme herbivory. Mechanistic models indicate that herbivory‐induced responses are a potential explanation for these patterns. This study suggests that given the long evolutionary history of herbivory, some seagrasses may be remarkably well adapted to both intense and cumulative herbivory.

Evaluating toxic impact on marine microbial community using combined genetic and phenotypic approaches.

Preserving the oceans is a major challenge for the twenty-first century. In 2000, the Water Framework Directive harmonized European regulations on water management to protect and restore the good ecological status of aquatic ecosystems, including the marine environment. This study aims to address the need to understand how pollutants affect marine ecosystems, particularly microbial communities, which are vital for ecosystem balance and biogeochemical cycling. By combining genetic and phenotypic approaches, we aimed to predict the long-term ecological effects of marine pollution and develop improved management strategies. We used microcosms to expose a marine microbial community to various toxicant (anthracene, benzene, chlorpyrifos, copper chloride, and PFOA) and combined phenotypic and genetic approaches to assess i) changes in community structure, ii) phenotypic responses to pollutant, and iii) the benefits of integrating these methods to better evaluate the impact of pollutants on microbial communities and ecosystem services. The obtained results highlight a certain functional resilience despite a significant effect on genetic diversity. Moreover, only specific exposure conditions, such as higher pollutant concentrations, appear to significantly affect ecosystem functions. Leveraging this knowledge, the future challenge will be to develop a straightforward biosensor to estimate and predict the impact of pollutants on these ecosystems, in order to better protect them.

Feeding habit and Predation Selectivity of Reef Fish Chaetodon octofasciatus in Artificial Patch Reef and Natural Reef of Panjang Island, Jepara

Chaetodon octofasciatus is a species of fish in the Chaetodontidae family, commonly known as an indicator fish in the reef ecosystem as the frequency of its appearance in the wild can interfere with the state of the coral reef ecosystem in the waters. Panjang Island is located in Jepara, Central Java, Indonesia, in which one method of coral reef ecosystem rehabilitation in a a form of Artificial Patch Reef (APR) has been implemented. This study aims to investigate the levels of C. octofasciatus predation on corals in the APR and Natural reef of Panjang Island. We used the LIT (Line Intercept Transect) to measure the density of coral reefs at both locations. The abundance of C. octofasciatus was calculated using the Belt Transect method, while selectivity and bite ratio was observed and counted every 5 minutes. The results shows that C. octofasciatus from natural reefs have the highest predation rate (185 bites/5 min) and mostly eat the coral with lifeform massive while the ones from APR shows 144 bites/5 min and mostly eat the coral with lifeform Acropora branching. This selectivity could be due to the availability of corals in both areas. While massive corals were highly available in the natural reefs, branchich corals esp. Acropora is mostly planted in the APR. A more diverse coral lifeform in the natural reef also showed the type of corals that are less selected by C. octofasciatus such as submassive corals and Acropora tabulate, as well as corals with the foliose life form.

Condition and carbon reserves of mangrove ecosystems in East Sorong Distrik, Sorong City

Mangrove merupakan ekosistem unik dan penting yang berada di daerah pesisir, perubahan kondisi ekosistem dapat mempengaruhi produktivitas ekosistem lainnya (padang lamun dan terumbu karang). Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahi jenis dan jumlah serta menghitung kerapatan relatif, dominasi relatif, frekuensi relatif, indeks nilai penting dan biomassa serta cadangan karbon di Distrik Sorong Timur yang dilaksanakan pada bulan Oktober 2023 sampai Januari 2024. Menggunakan metode Point Centered Quarter, dalam penghitungan diameter pohon yang berada di dalam areal pengukuran. Bahan yang digunakan secara umum yaitu vegetasi mangrove, aquades dan tisu. Hasil yang diperoleh yaitu 104 individu tingkat pohon dari tiga jenis mangrove, jenis Rhizophora apiculata 66 pohon, Rhizophora mocrunata 17 pohon dan Bruguiera gymnorrhiza 21 pohon. Jarak rata – rata individu terjauh yaitu 4,4 meter di stasiun II titik 2 dan stasiun III titik 4 serta yang terdekat 2.2 meter di stasiun I titik 3. Kerapatan total semua jenis 0,0693 ind/m2, frekuensi total semua jenis 1.433 ind/m2, dominasi total semua jenis 40,581 ind/m2. Indeks nilai penting rata – rata dari ketiga stasiun yaitu jenis Rhizophora apiculata 190,184%, jenis Bruguiera gymnorrhiza 60,607% dan jenis Rhizophora mocrunata 49,209%. Pengukuran biomassa di atas permukaan tanah (above ground) dengan cara tidak merusak sampel (non-destructive sampling) pada tingkat pohon, lalu dianalisis menggunakan pesamaan alometrik, dengan nilai biomassa total sebesar 666,29 ton/ha, kandungan karbon total sebesar 313,13 tonC/ha dan serapan karbondiksida (CO2) total sebesar 1149,21 tonCO2/ha. Pengukuran parametar kualitas air dengan nilai rata – rata yaitu, suhu 29,17 0C, salinitas 26 ⁰/ₒₒ, pH 7.3 dan DO 5,07 mg/l semua ini masih sesuai dengan mutu baku air laut.

Dissolved oxygen criteria attainment in Chesapeake Bay: Where has it improved since 1985?

Many estuaries, including Chesapeake Bay, have suffered from undesirable conditions of algae blooms, poor water clarity, and low dissolved oxygen (DO). To better understand the status and trends of DO criteria attainment deficit (AD), we conducted a comprehensive assessment using monitoring data in the period of 1985–2022 and focused on the comparison of trends among 13 tidal systems. Our results provide timely and updated information to help address a critical management question, i.e., where has the DO criteria attainment improved since 1985? The overall AD showed statistically significant improvements in both the long term (1985–2022) and the short term (2006–2022), which can be mainly attributed to open water and deep channel designated uses, respectively. Among the 13 tidal systems, ten showed improving trends in the long term, with Mainstem Bay, Pocomoke, Potomac, and Tangier having statistically significant improvements. Over the short term, nine systems showed improving trends, with Chester and Upper Mainstem Bay tributaries having statistically significant improvements. The only statistically significant degrading trend was observed in York. In addition, a report card summary was produced to provide a concise depiction of the trends for the 13 systems and illustrate how their trends are affected by the designated uses, which is the first of its kind in the context of DO criteria assessment. These spatially explicit results can help target locations for further assessment and restoration. Although many of the systems and their applicable designated uses have not improved over time, the detected significant improvements in some systems present new evidence on ecosystem recovery in the context of DO criteria attainment. Overall, this work highlights the combined value of collecting long-term water-quality monitoring data and developing scientific assessment approaches, which is fundamental to understanding the status and trends of complex ecosystems, including Chesapeake Bay and other estuaries.

Relationships between charcoal property and post fire productivity in the boreal forest

Fire disturbances are increasing under global climate change and ecological transformations of forests are occurring. Specifically, shifts from productive closed-canopy feather moss forests to low-productivity open-canopy lichen (Cladonia spp.) woodlands have been observed in boreal forests of eastern Canada. It has been hypothesized that high severity of fires would be the cause of this change, but this is difficult to validate a posteriori on mature forest stands. Because charcoal properties are affected by fire severity, we have put forward the hypothesis that the amount and physicochemical properties of charcoal (C, N, H, O, ash, surface area) would be different and indicative of a greater fire severity for open-canopy forests compared to closed canopy ones. Our hypothesis was partly validated in that the amount of charcoal found on the ground of closed-canopy forests was greater than that of open-canopy forests. However, the physicochemical properties were not different, albeit a greater variability of charcoal properties for open canopy stands. These results do not allow us to fully validate or reject our hypothesis on the role of fire severity in the shift between open and closed canopy stands. However, they suggest that the variability in fire conditions as well as the amounts of charcoal produced are different between the two ecosystem types. Furthermore, considering the role that biochar may play in improving soil conditions and promoting vegetation restoration, our results suggest that charcoal may play a role in maintaining these two stable alternative ecosystem states.