Automobiles are ubiquitous in the modern world, and chemicals leaching from car tires and from the tire wear particles produced during driving can be toxic to the environment, particularly in aquatic ecosystems. 6PPD-Quinone (6PPD-Q), a recently identified tire and tire wear particle leachate, has been identified as highly toxic to coho salmon and other aquatic species. Research on the distribution and impacts of 6PPD-Q in aquatic ecosystems is rapidly developing, while research on 6PPD-Q in other environmental media is just beginning. With research efforts developing on many fronts, there is a need to better map emerging knowledge about this toxin. To do that, we ask the question: "What research exists on the presence of the 6PPD-Q in different environmental media (water (freshwater), soil, sediment, and air, including dust)?" The ultimate purpose of this systematic map is to generate a literature catalog that serves as a searchable database about 6PPD-Q in different environmental media. The systematic map will follow the Collaboration for Environmental Evidence guidelines and conform to the Reporting Standards for Systematic Evidence Syntheses (ROSES). Relevant English language only literature searches will use a search string using the specified Boolean description of our PECO elements (Population: Environmental media water, soil, sediment, air: including dust; Exposure: N/A; Comparator: N/A; Outcome: The presence of 6PPD-Q/ The concentration of 6PPD-Q). Two bibliographic databases, Web of Science (WOS) Core Collection and ScienceDirect, will be searched. Additional literature will be located through searches of targeted search engines and specialist websites. Screening of titles, abstracts, and full texts will be completed in series using established eligibility criteria. The results of the systematic map will contain a searchable open-access database formatted in Microsoft Excel. Furthermore, the outcome will be presented in a global map of the geographical distribution of included studies and their PICO/PECO elements, including a narrative synthesis, descriptive statistics, tables, and figures.

BackgroundCoastal ecosystems, including seagrass meadows, saltmarshes, and macroalgae, are crucial in the sequestration and storage of organic carbon. These ecosystems provide essential ecosystem services, such as supporting biodiversity, coastal protection, and water quality enhancement. Despite their significance, they face substantial threats from human activities, including pollution, habitat degradation, and overexploitation, further exacerbated by climate change phenomena like heatwaves and ocean acidification. Efforts to protect, restore, or alleviate pressures on blue carbon ecosystems can yield multifaceted benefits beyond climate mitigation, including preserving biodiversity, enhancing climate resilience, and safeguarding vital services for human well-being. Understanding the factors affecting the biodiversity and carbon capacity i.e. the capacity for carbon uptake, storage and sequestration, of these ecosystems is crucial for effective conservation efforts. The goal of the present study is to assess the available quantitative and qualitative evidence on the impacts of human activities on the biodiversity and carbon storage capacity of blue carbon ecosystems in the North-East Atlantic. Developing a systematic map of the available evidence could significantly enhance our understanding of the pressures faced by blue carbon ecosystems in the North-East Atlantic and facilitate the identification of knowledge clusters and gaps thereby determining the scope and depth of the current knowledge base.MethodsA systematic map on existing evidence of human impacts on the biodiversity and carbon capacity of blue carbon ecosystems in the North-East Atlantic will be conducted using relevant bibliographic databases and a web-based search engine. All searches will be conducted in English and will gather peer reviewed publications from 1980 to 2024. The resulting literature will be screened by two independent screeners at the level of title and abstract followed by full text against a set of eligibility criteria (i.e. population, intervention, outcome, study type). Metadata will be extracted from studies that meet the eligibility criteria and summarize with heatmaps, bar plots, geographic distribution maps, and tabular summaries.Supplementary InformationThe online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13750-025-00379-0.

The current mobile health ecosystem reflects substantial fragmentation throughout proprietary platforms, resulting in fundamental hurdles to complete fitness information utilization and clinical integration. Large technology businesses have constructed isolated health data architectures: Apple Health, Google Fit, and Samsung Health alone serve millions of end-users with minimal interoperability among them. Thousands of platform-specific applications have given way to data silos that fundamentally break holistic health monitoring and inhibit healthcare providers from accessing complete patient health profiles. Overcoming these challenges requires complex architecture solutions that include the unification of the data integration layer, modular software development kit design, and cross-platform implementation. Health data integration architectures need to harmonize these different schemas by implementing a systematic mapping protocol, an API standardization framework, and semantic interoperability mechanisms in line with the standards stipulated in Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources. Modularity patterns allow the decomposition of monolithic wellness applications into independent deployable components, for example, authentication services, synchronization protocols, gamification frameworks, and notification systems. Cross-platform implementation methods balance the advantages of code reusability against the demands that platform-specific user experiences place on the architecture and yield quantifiable developer productivity gains through the centralization of business logic while allowing for compliance with native interface conventions. The architectural frameworks examined herein show promise for decreasing development overhead, simplifying maintenance procedures, and establishing consistency in feature implementation across heterogeneous mobile environments, thereby moving closer to seamless health data integration.

BackgroundMarine ecosystems worldwide face extreme stress from human activities, with the North Sea being particularly affected and experiencing altered processes. To assess anthropogenic drivers for sustainable management, the Millenium Ecosystem Assessment (MEA) and the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) distinguished five main anthropogenic drivers: direct exploitation of fish and seafood, sea use change, human-driven climate change, pollution, and invasive alien species. However, evidence of the drivers’ relevance and their potential effects on species and the environment over time remains scarce. This systematic map provides knowledge on the five main anthropogenic drivers in the North Sea from 1945 to 2020 and identifies potential knowledge gaps in terms of management implications.MethodsTo identify relevant articles we used our published systematic map protocol. We conducted systematic searches of academic and grey literature in English, German, and French in online databases (Web of Science, Scopus, PubMed, AquaDocs). The search followed a Population-Exposure-Comparison-Outcome framework and included the period January 1945 to December 2020. A total of 22,511 articles were deduplicated and screened by title and abstract, the remaining 5795 were screened full-text to provide a widely integrated evidence base. A set of 3356 articles were retained following eligibility criteria and were included in the final database. We extracted information on drivers in detail and their effects on study populations within different areas in the North Sea. Knowledge clusters and gaps were identified from the scientific effort and are synthesized narratively.ResultsOut of the 3356 articles, the majority focused on pollution throughout the entire period of 75 years. Research interest has increased in climate change and biological invasion only in the most recent decades. We identified knowledge clusters in the southern North Sea, especially in ICES standard species areas 6 and 7, which has the most articles overall, mainly emphasizing pollution. Northern areas were in contrast studied the least. The effects of pollution were mainly linked to changes in chemical water properties and to contamination levels for benthos and fish. The other drivers were rather associated with changes in biomass or abundance, with a strong focus on fish and benthos populations. A key knowledge gap was on the effects of global change, herein defined as simultaneous assessment of all five drivers, at different organizational levels and therein on different populations.ConclusionsThis systematic map reveals substantial peer-reviewed evidence on the five main anthropogenic drivers in the North Sea. The map uncovers a strong increase in research interest regarding these drivers over the years, with a strong focus towards pollution and southern North Sea areas. Despite the increasing importance of climate change effects, this map highlights limited research effort on it. As ecosystem management nowadays strives for sustainable use of marine systems, it is more important than ever to understand linkages between drivers, potential cumulative effects and possible repercussions. The map revealed a strong knowledge gap regarding these linkages due to global change. On this basis, further systematic reviews can acknowledge these gaps, identifying the drivers’ impacts and their quick evolvement to support management decision-making at various governance levels.Supplementary InformationThe online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13750-025-00377-2.

BackgroundAs people work towards environmental sustainability for urban environments and everyday lives, tensions have been seen in different efforts on food, housing, environmental management, urban planning, and many cross-cutting issues touching on multiple aspects of social-ecological systems. Urban agriculture (UA) as one multifaceted, cross-cutting arena, has had one particular tension regarding relationships with housing and the built environment: its gentrification potential. However, different accounts have provided evidence and theorization of gentrification as a possible outcome of UA activities, as a risk for UA initiatives, and showing still other relationships between UA and gentrification. These different accounts may be partially explained by different theoretical engagements with gentrification, as well as multiple activities constituting a broad notion of urban agriculture. An overview of the scholarly work regarding these two topics can provide a starting point for understanding how they have been approached and theoretically engaged together, and demonstrate gaps in dominant academic discourses.MethodsThis research for a systematic mapping of literature seeks to assess the academic work around relationships between urban agriculture and gentrification. The protocol outlines a comprehensive and reliable search and review strategy based on the core components of urban, agriculture, and gentrification in search strings and inclusion criteria. Texts in English, French, and German will be scanned as historically and currently dominant academic languages, while searching nine bibliographic databases or platforms. The protocol details a data coding strategy for metadata, empirical content, and analytic content. The results are expected to uncover sources of evidence for links between urban agriculture and gentrification, producing interoperable datasets of the evidence base, insights of the overall research landscape, and possibilities to find research gaps.Supplementary InformationThe online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13750-025-00375-4.

BackgroundEstuarine coastal regions play a critical role in global aquatic ecosystems, providing essential benefits such as diverse marine habitats, support for local economies through fisheries and tourism, and serving as important carbon stocks. Nonetheless, these invaluable, dynamic and complex habitats are under increasing threat from human-induced pressures, including pollution from agricultural runoff to sewage discharge, emphasizing the urgent need for innovative monitoring and mitigation strategies. Traditional biomonitoring methods involve the use of indicator species such as fish and benthic macroinvertebrates; however, these can be limited in their ability to detect pollution at an early stage. As a result, alternative monitoring strategies such as the use of algae have become increasingly popular due to their abundance sensitivity to changes in water quality. Previous research recognizes the capacity of various algae species to accumulate pollutants, thereby serving as reliable indicators of ecological stress and water contamination. Despite the growing acknowledgment of their potential, a comprehensive evaluation of the effectiveness of algae as biomonitors in estuaries remains without a systematic review. This map, therefore, seeks to synthesize existing knowledge on the applicability and reliability of algae for coastal environmental monitoring, aiming to highlight existing knowledge gaps for a future systematic review. By focusing on the utility of algae in estuarine contexts, this study aspires to provide a comprehensive overview of current practices and propose recommendations. Such an endeavor is crucial for directing future research, informing stakeholders, and guiding policy formulation towards more sustainable and effective environmental management of estuaries. This map aims to be a valuable resource for those involved in the management and preservation of estuarine environments, contributing to discussions on sustainable water management and ecological conservation.MethodsThe Collaboration for Environmental Evidence Guidelines and Standards for Evidence Synthesis in Environmental Management will be followed to construct the systematic map. By using a tested search string consisting of English keywords and acronyms, we will look through two published databases (Scopus and Web of Science Core Collection) to find pertinent literature. Terms that describe the exposure (chemicals) and the population (algae in estuaries) will be combined in the search string. To this literature obtained so far, we will add more materials sourced from other search mechanisms. We will add to this body of literature with further material from Google Scholar and other internet searches, including sources in Portuguese. Next, adopting specified eligibility criteria, titles, abstracts, and full-texts will be analyzed one by one. A list of predefined variables will then be extracted from full-texts. A database containing all studies included in the map, along with coded metadata, will be generated. The evidence will be presented in a map report that includes text, figures, and tables. A matrix will be created to display the distribution and frequency of the included studies categorized by types of exposure and outcomes, aimed at identifying potential knowledge gaps and clusters.Supplementary InformationThe online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13750-025-00378-1.

BackgroundOver the last decade, a paradigm shift has been initiated in the field of nature management and conservation with shifting the focus from traditional, more static conservation efforts to dynamic conservation efforts. To promote dynamic restoration efforts, it is essential to provide nature managers with tools to measure the impact and effectiveness of relevant interventions. However, despite increasing practice, quantifying restoration management in a relevant and measurable way remains challenging. Therefore, this systematic map aims to elucidate which metrics are being used to measure the impact of dynamic nature management working with natural processes.MethodsTo assess which metrics are being used to measure this impact, we will perform a systematic map in Web of Science, Scopus and Agricola. In addition, we will search for grey literature through directed visits to organizational websites, search ProQuest for relevant PhD theses on the topic and perform a search in Google Scholar. For the latter, we will only consider the first 200 articles. We will include articles conducted based on research in natural areas within temperate zones, where natural dynamics (e.g., grazing, hydrology, fire) are present, introduced or restored, and are assessed using before/after or control/impact study designs. The selected studies should mention measurements of the natural process restoration outcome related to relevant biodiversity metrics (e.g., richness, diversity, abundance). Literature from review studies will be included to identify other relevant articles. All studies positively assessed as relevant through the criteria above will be subject to critical appraisal. Hereafter, we will use the critical appraisal tool as issued by Environmental Evidence. The data obtained will be used to create an overview of restoration and conservation current practices in order to identify knowledge gaps. We will disseminate our results to nature managers and provide a time- and cost- assessment of each measurement to create a guide on monitoring of dynamic nature management.Supplementary InformationThe online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13750-025-00373-6.

BackgroundFreshwater ecosystems are globally imperiled, with monitored vertebrate populations showing an average 83% decline since 1970. Braiding Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) with Western science is increasingly recognized by global bodies like the IPBES (Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services) as essential for achieving the transformative change needed to address this crisis. This systematic map provides a comprehensive, global synthesis of the diverse methodologies used for this purpose by answering the primary question: What is the evidence base for methodologies (approaches, frameworks, or models) that braid the TEK of Indigenous and local communities with Western science in the planning, management, monitoring, or assessment of freshwater social-ecological systems? The resulting synthesis is intended to empower researchers, practitioners, and policymakers to design more effective and equitable management strategies.MethodsFollowing Collaboration for Environmental Evidence (CEE) guidelines, our protocol employs a multi-layered search strategy across three core bibliographic databases, targeted grey literature sources (including dissertations and key organizational websites), and a supplementary review-centric snowballing search. Records will be screened for eligibility in a two-stage process (Title/ and Full-text) with robust consistency checking to ensure transparency and minimize bias. Data from included articles will be coded using a detailed protocol designed to answer our secondary questions and build a typology of knowledge braiding methodologies. The systematic map’s outputs will include a narrative synthesis identifying knowledge gaps and clusters, a comprehensive public database of included studies, and a suite of interactive data visualizations.Supplementary InformationThe online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13750-025-00371-8.

BackgroundAs the global climate rapidly warms, one pervasive impact is the “borealisation” of the Arctic. Borealisation occurs when the species, communities and ecological processes of the Arctic transform to resemble that of more boreal lower latitudes. Such change is likely to have profound impacts on the diverse communities and cultures of the Arctic. Some of these impacts are starting to be documented, however this evidence has not been synthesised systematically. This systematic map protocol will therefore address the research question: “What evidence exists on the interlinkages between ecological and societal impacts of borealisation of the Arctic?” Additionally, this systematic map will support two current assessments of the Arctic Council working groups on the societal and ecological impacts of climate change in the Arctic, thus responding to policy relevant questions posed by Arctic governments.MethodsFollowing guidelines set out by the Collaboration for Environmental Evidence (CEE), a search of literature, both peer reviewed and grey, will be performed using a range of bibliographic databases, websites and search engines. The search strategy will use a pre-defined search string with Boolean operators. The search results will be screened for relevance according to specific inclusion and exclusion criteria. This will be done in two stages – firstly a screen of titles and abstracts, then a full text screening of eligible articles. At both stages, articles will be excluded if they fail to meet all eligibility criteria or if they meet exclusion criteria. Next, articles that are eligible after full text screening will be coded. At both the screening and coding stages, two reviewers will independently assess a defined number of articles to ensure inter-reviewer reliability and resolve differences. This evidence will then form a searchable database with accompanying visual outputs. A narrative output will outline the range and distribution of evidence, identify potential bias, knowledge clusters and gaps, and will explore areas for further research.Supplementary InformationThe online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13750-025-00367-4.

Abstract Wild Pacific salmon are a culturally, ecologically and economically important group of fishes. Unfortunately, several distinct lineages have already been lost. The abundance of these species varies over interdecadal and centennial time scales due to climatic and local ecosystem complexity and dynamics. Sea lice from net‐pen salmon farms (traditional flow‐through containment systems) have been linked to negative effects on wild salmon. However, there is debate over the quality of evidence for these claims. Fisheries and Oceans Canada Aquaculture Directorate requested a knowledge synthesis on the impact of sea lice from net‐pen salmon farms on wild Pacific salmon in British Columbia. To ensure a full understanding of this host–parasite system, we propose to first compile a global inventory of studies investigating the effects of sea lice (in the genera Lepeophtheirus or Caligus) on wild, enhanced or farmed Pacific salmon (Chinook salmon Oncorhynchus tshawytscha, coho salmon O. kisutch, chum salmon O. keta, sockeye salmon O. nerka or pink salmon O. gorbuscha) or Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar), with any outcome related to adult abundance, reproduction or productivity; outcomes at any life stage related to performance, population‐level survival or sea lice infestation levels; measures of species‐level differences in susceptibility to lice; or how environmental factors (e.g. salinity, temperature, currents) affect sea lice. This systematic map will capture evidence available in published and grey literature. We will search for and identify relevant literature using bibliographic databases, search engines, specialist websites and databases and networking tools. Eligibility screening will be conducted at two stages: (1) title and abstract and (2) full text. Relevant information from included papers will be coded and entered into a database. Practical implications. We will use a narrative synthesis and descriptive statistics to describe key characteristics of the evidence base (e.g. number of publications, focal salmon and lice species, life stage of salmon and lice, study objectives, exposure and comparator details, outcomes and study designs). We will identify knowledge gaps to inform future research needs and subtopics (evidence clusters) that are sufficiently covered to allow for a full systematic review from visual heat maps.

Abstract The North American Great Lakes basin faces management challenges worsened by climate change, invasive species and contaminants. Addressing these issues requires a collective approach, drawing on a diversity of perspectives and voices, including that of the Indigenous Peoples in the region—Tribal Nations, First Nations and Métis peoples. For these priorities and needs to be meaningfully included, Indigenous communities, Nations and Tribes must be supported to participate in and direct environmental research and monitoring through approaches that respect community‐based research and learning. However, the extent of environmental research and monitoring conducted with, for or by Indigenous Peoples (including Indigenous communities, Nations and Tribes) in the Great Lakes region is not well‐documented. Without a clear understanding of what research is taking place, where and how Indigenous Peoples are involved, it is difficult to assess whether these efforts are truly inclusive or aligned with Indigenous priorities—highlighting the need to systematically map and characterize these efforts. A systematic mapping protocol was applied to identify, gather and review English‐language peer‐reviewed literature on environmental research and monitoring in the Great Lakes basin conducted with, for and by Indigenous Peoples. Sixty studies were identified and included in the systematic map database gathered and analysed for this review. The systematic map reveals that 57% of the studies took place in or around Lake Superior. Many focussed on human health risk assessments, particularly related to environmental contaminant exposure. The role of Indigenous Peoples varied, with most studies reporting involvement at the data gathering and collection stage. Practical implication. This map describes the extent, focus and roles of Indigenous Peoples in Great Lakes research and monitoring, based on peer‐reviewed English literature. If this literature reflects broader research activity, findings suggest limited representation—only 19% of Indigenous communities and Nations across the basin were included, and few were engaged in early‐stage planning or priority setting. However, this literature likely underrepresents the full scope of Indigenous‐led or co‐developed work. To support more equitable Great Lakes research, future efforts should promote broader geographic inclusion, increased Indigenous leadership across all stages and greater transparency regarding Indigenous involvement.

BackgroundFavourable Conservation status (FCS) is the overarching goal of the Habitats and Birds Directives, in which it is described as the situation in which a habitat or species is thriving throughout its natural range and is expected to continue to thrive. However, despite being introduced over thirty years ago, FCS has not been widely adopted as a conservation assessment framework. This systematic map aims to collate and characterise evidence to understand 1) how the term FCS is used in the literature, and 2) the context of its applications in policy and practice. Specifically, we ask the question: how is FCS defined and how has it been applied in policy and practice? This review will contribute to the field by providing the first systematic evidence synthesis on FCS, both as a concept and as a practical application, and will review the broader applicability of FCS beyond Member State reporting obligations.MethodsA systematic search of the literature will be conducted to collate and categorise evidence on the definitions and applications of FCS and barriers to its implementation. The literature will be screened in two stages to assess relevance, firstly by titles and abstracts and secondly by the full-texts. Studies will be assessed against eligibility criteria pertaining to the components of the question. Coded data will be extracted from the relevant studies and used in a narrative synthesis to summarise the evidence in a discussion, complemented by descriptive statistics and visual aids.

BackgroundRiparian zones are vital transitional habitats that bridge the gap between terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. They support elevated levels of biodiversity and provide an array of important regulatory and provisioning ecosystem services, of which, many are fundamentally important to human well-being, such as the maintenance of water quality and the mitigation of flood risk along waterways. Increasing anthropogenic pressures resulting from agricultural intensification, industry development and the expansion of infrastructure in tropical regions have led to the widespread degradation of riparian habitats resulting in biodiversity loss and decreased resilience to flooding and erosion. Considering climate change and its associated effects on freshwater systems, the need to build resilience and adaptive capacities is pertinent. This has prompted the need to protect existing riparian habitats and the implementation of solutions to restore these degraded habitats to recover their functional capacity. This systematic map will aim to identify and collate existing literature on approaches for riparian restoration implemented in tropical regions and identify what indicators have been used to measure outcomes for biodiversity and human well-being. The resulting collation of evidence will help to identify current knowledge gaps and inform the direction of future research.MethodsTo address the aims of this systematic map, a search of pre-identified bibliographic databases will be undertaken using a set string of search terms. In addition to this, a grey literature search will be conducted using Google Scholar and by searching for references using specialist websites. All literature that is gathered will be screened by title, abstract and full text using a two-phase screening process which adheres to a pre-determined eligibility criteria. Data will then be coded from the collated group of articles using a pre-designed data coding sheet. Heterogeneity will likely be present in the data; therefore, studies will be grouped appropriately based on the restoration strategy implemented and, on the type of outcome measured. These will be presented as sub-groups. A narrative synthesis of map findings will be produced, this will outline the distribution and frequency of restoration interventions, and outcomes measured, and will highlight evidence gaps to direct future research.

BackgroundThe extinction of species is a multifaceted phenomenon shaped by the complex interplay between biological and socio-cultural factors. Public and academic preferences for different species often play a direct or indirect role in influencing the conservation outlook of these species. The “charisma” of species and other components of biodiversity is often mentioned as an important factor in shaping human preferences, determining both the scope of scientific studies and justifications for such scope. Here, we present a protocol for systematically mapping the use of the concept of “charisma” in relation to biodiversity peer-reviewed academic literature focused on biodiversity conservation.MethodsThe search targeting academic peer-reviewed research articles and reviews will be conducted in three publication databases, The Lens, Scopus and Web of Science (Core Collection and SciELO), and will be supplemented by search engine results from Google Scholar. Broad-scope searches will be performed in 3 different languages (English, Portuguese, and Spanish) and article screening will be performed at two stages to ensure the relevance of each entry and consistency amongst reviewers in their use of the defined inclusion criteria. The resulting systematic map of the literature will be summarised by employing a narrative synthesis approach, and through descriptive statistics and analysis of temporal trends.

BackgroundSubtropical coral reefs are comparatively understudied compared to tropical coral reef ecosystems, yet also host a diverse and abundant array of marine life and provide substantial socio-economic benefits to communities. Research into the impacts of ocean warming on subtropical coral reefs has increased over the past two decades due to increase frequency and intensity of bleaching and degradation of these ecosystems. Understanding the extent of research effort and type of evidence assessing the response of subtropical corals and reefs to ocean warming provides valuable insight into global patterns in research efforts allowing critical knowledge gaps to be identified. A comprehensive understanding the impact of ocean warming on these systems will underpin our ability to predict and respond to future changes on subtropical coral reefs. Here, a systematic-map approach is used to identify recent research effort, from 2010 to 2023, and highlight patterns in the type, scale, and location of research conducted and as well as identify the availability of data and evidence reported.MethodsPrimary literature was identified by searching Scopus and Science Citation Index Expanded through Web of Science Core Collection databases. The methodologies provided in a previously published systematic map protocol were applied, and 90 primary research publications were subsequently identified. Data extraction from the identified literature included bibliometric data, discipline and type of research, type of data reported and how it was recorded, and data availability.FindingsThe identified literature consisted primarily of experimental (49%) and observational (39%) studies. The majority of the primary literature investigated corals in the ecoregions of Southern China (13%), Western Mediterranean (10%) and across a total of seven ecoregions grouped within Oceania (29%). Stressors reported in the literature as drivers of ocean warming reflect the standardisation of methods applied in reporting of events within the literature. Standardised metrics related to degree heating weeks (DHW) and marine heatwaves (MHW) have been reported when assessing the occurrence and severity of drivers, and are increasing in recent years, particularly in Australia. Finally, the need for increased research effort across much of the subtropics is evident, particularly for understudied regions such as the Western Indian Ocean where there are far fewer studies than other similar subtropical coral reef ecosystems.ConclusionsClimatic change, increasing ocean temperatures, and the impacts to subtropical and temperate coral reefs are of increasing concern to policy makers and researchers alike. This systematic map provides a broad overview of research topics and effort around the globe since 2010 and identifies areas where more research effort is urgently needed. Our study has identified major research clusters in Asia, Australia, the Mediterranean, and North America and gaps of research in regions such as the East Indian Oceans. Of the research conducted to date approximately one third reports on evidence related to marine protected areas and the vast majority of evidence is from close/territorial sea locations, providing important knowledge base for management of these areas. Of the 17 studies reporting on specific extreme events (rather than experimental studies which is the majority of evidence identified here) 13 have been published since 2019, with the majority reporting on events occurring in 2019/20 indicating a trend of increasing evidence in recent years (a total of 7 studies from 2010 to 2013, compared to over 10 studies published annually since 2019 up to mid-2023).

A systematic evidence map protocol for mapping global exposure to bisphenols and their alternatives and social and environmental justice implications

BackgroundGrasslands are essential for providing vital resources in the livestock sector and delivering invaluable ecosystem services such as biodiversity and soil carbon (C) sequestration. Despite their critical importance, these ecosystems face escalating threats from human disturbances, human degradation, and climate change, compromising their ability to effectively stock C. Restoring degraded grasslands emerges as a pragmatic and cost-effective approach to tackling climate change. However, the successful implementation of grassland management toward this goal, faces significant challenges. A systematic mapping approach will help to compile a comprehensive global inventory of studies investigating the impact of differing grassland management practices on soil carbon. In addition, the potential for trade-offs with other greenhouse gas emissions further underlines the value of a systematic assessment. This approach aims to identify knowledge clusters (i.e., well-represented subtopics that are amenable to full synthesis) for potential systematic reviews and pinpoint knowledge gaps requiring further primary research efforts, all contributing to a better understanding of the evidence surrounding this topic.MethodsFollowing systematic evidence synthesis standards, we developed the question to address in the systematic map protocol using the PICO framework. We established a preliminary search string by combining search terms for the Population (Grasslands), Intervention (management) and Outcome (soil carbon) categories, as well as with one additional group (Study types—to focus on farm and field experiments). We will conduct a comprehensive literature search of relevant peer-reviewed and grey literature using Web of Science, Scopus, CABI platforms, Google Scholar, and specialised websites (e.g., Agrotrop). Searches will be conducted in the English, Spanish, Portuguese, French, German, and Mongolian languages, as per the linguistic capabilities of the research team. The comprehensiveness of the search will be assessed by comparing the literature collected to a test-list of forty relevant articles. The repeatability of the literature screening process will be ensured by a list of inclusion/exclusion criteria and inter-reviewer consistency statistical tests. Data extraction will be organised into four complementary sections (article information, PICO categories, study characteristics, measurable parameters), on which we will perform queries to produce the tables, figures and evidence maps that will compose the systematic map. The results will identify and describe knowledge gaps and clusters.

BackgroundThe intensification of the agricultural practices in Europe over the last decades has drastically transformed the agroecosystems. The simplification of the landscape, the loss of semi-natural habitats and the application of chemicals on crops led to biodiversity decline in agricultural landscapes, raising substantial concerns about the loss of essential ecosystem services, such as pollination or pest control. Depending on the location, the scale and the regional context, different indicator species groups (ISGs) are regularly surveyed to assess the state and trend of biodiversity changes in agroecosystems. Although the high diversity of these ISGs allows assessing different biodiversity aspects (e.g., trophic levels, bio-physical compartments, scale of indication), it complicates the interpretation of the results and thus their practical application. In addition, species diversity metrics are various, from simple species counts to more complex measurements of diversity indices, sometimes with antagonistic responses. Here, to meet the pressing need for synthesis in this complex topic, we follow a standardized systematic map protocol to collect and summarize the literature reporting field evidence of the effects of the main agricultural management practices (AMPs) in arable crops, grasslands and ecological infrastructures on a set of ISGs in European lowland farming areas.MethodsSearches of literature were made using online publication databases, search engine and specialist websites in English. Gathered publications were screened for relevance following inclusion/exclusion criteria published in a prior protocol. We extracted and mapped information about experimental design, monitoring methods, ISGs and AMPs studied and the diversity measures presented in each included publication. These parameters are structured in available data coding sheets.ResultsThe search gathered 20,162 references from which 1208 remained after full text eligibility screening. Main areas studied are in Western Europe, and the number of studies increased exponentially from 1984 to 2022. Most publications are experimental and on-farm studies which assess AMPs effects at the field scale. Main studied AMPs are fertilization, grazing, organic farming, tillage, mowing and herbicide application. Most ISGs used to study their impacts are flora, carabids, spiders, birds, bees and annelids, often combined with other ISGs. The combinations between AMPs and ISGs studied are detailed as well as monitoring methods. The most used diversity measures are abundance, species richness, Shannon index, evenness, and community composition.ConclusionsWe identified several knowledge clusters: (1) organic farming, fertilization, tillage, grazing and mowing impact on a wide range of ISGs, (2) flora response to agricultural practices, (3) annelids response to agronomic interventions that impact soil structure (e.g., tillage, fertilization, crop rotation, crop residue management), (4) butterflies and orthopterans response to mowing and grazing effects in grasslands, (5) the use of bird monitoring for the impact for assessing the efficiency of AES implementation at the landscape scale. We highlight that further research should be conducted on ISGs that are until now poorly studied regarding agricultural practices, such as amphibians, reptiles, gastropods, millipedes and centipedes. More field evidence of the effects of diversification practices such as intercropping, undersowing, intermediate cropping, and agroforestry are needed to draw conclusions on their benefits on biodiversity.

<p><strong>Background</strong>: Flame retardant (FR) substances are known to pose a risk to environmental (and human) health. Over time, FR substances have become the focus of many environmental risk assessments. A list of potential FR substances has been developed; however, detailed information on the risk, or hazard of such substances to the environment, specifically ecologically relevant endpoints involving animals, plants, bacteria and fungi, has not yet been collated. The main objective of this systematic evidence map is to identify, organise and ground existing evidence of the ecologically relevant (eco)toxicological effects of FR substances to the environment, and to present the evidence in a user-friendly, online, interactive, and interrogable database (i.e., map). </p>\n<p><br><strong>Methods</strong>: This protocol has been prepared in accordance with the Reporting Standards for Systematic Evidence Syntheses (ROSES) and based on guidance from the Collaboration for Environmental Evidence. <strong>Search Strategy</strong>: We will search several databases across two electronic academic indexes (Scopus and Web of Science [All Collections]) for existing evidence on the (eco)toxicological effect of FR substances to organisms and the environment. <strong>Eligibility criteria:</strong> Eligible studies must contain primary research investigating the risk (or hazard) of one or more included FR substances and study an ecologically relevant effect, outcome and/or endpoint. Ecologically relevant effects include impacts on growth, development, survival, reproduction and behaviour. Taxonomic groups considered for inclusion are those classified as animal, plant, bacteria and/or fungi. Human data will not be included. <strong>Screening & extraction:</strong> Articles will be screened in two phases – firstly, title and abstract, before a full-text review. All articles will be screened by a single reviewer, with a second reviewer assessing 10% of articles for consistency. Data extraction will be performed on all articles included at full text, with articles that do not meet the eligibility criteria excluded. All articles excluded at full text will be confirmed by a second reviewer. Assessment of each article's quality will not be assessed. <strong>Study mapping & reporting</strong>: Results of the evidence map will be published in a narrative summary and visualised in a publicly available, user-friendly, interactive and interrogable database (i.e., map).</p>

BackgroundForest disturbances are projected to increase in intensity and frequency in the upcoming decades. The projected change in disturbance regimes is expected to alter the provision of ecosystem services and affect biodiversity. Both are critical for forest ecosystems to provide livelihoods for human societies. Forest management after natural disturbances shapes successional pathways of forest ecosystems. Therefore, the management of post-disturbance sites deserves critical attention to avoid negative effects of management interventions on ecosystem services and biodiversity. The two most common management interventions after natural disturbances are salvage logging (comparator: no salvage logging) and tree planting (comparator: natural regeneration). This planned systematic map of reviews aims to aggregate the existing evidence syntheses on the implications of common forest management interventions after natural disturbances on successional trajectories with regard to selected ecosystem services and biodiversity. Evidence-based post-disturbance management is highly relevant for protected area management as well as for the management of commercial forests.MethodsWe will systematically search the databases Scopus, Web of Science Core Collection and the Forest Science Collection of the CABI Digital Library for reviews and meta-analyses (after 2003). We will apply eligibility criteria for review selection and assess the evidence synthesis validity of selected reviews using the most recent version of CEESAT (Collaboration for Environmental Evidence Synthesis Assessment Tool). The results will be displayed in topic subgroups in summary of scope and summary of findings tables.