Journal of Environmental Management

Accurate tree volume estimation is central to forest management and carbon accounting. Allometric equations are widely used but limited in transferability across species, regions, and environmental conditions. Mobile Laser Scanning (MLS) offers a promising alternative through direct measurement of tree geometry; however, the influence of tree shape on MLS accuracy remains poorly understood. This study evaluated MLS-derived estimates of stem diameters, total tree height, and merchantable stem volume against destructive reference measurements from 176 trees spanning eight species (four hardwood, four softwood) in Wallonia, Belgium. A Zeb Horizon RT scanner was used; tree architectural descriptors extracted from the point cloud were tested for associations with measurement error. Across 7,824 stem diameter measurements, MLS achieved a mean error of 0.46 cm, with precision declining above 15 m. MLS-derived height outperformed Vertex IV clinometer measurements for hardwood species (RMSE% = 6.88 vs. 8.78) but performed slightly less well for softwoods (RMSE% = 7.36 vs. 6.14). QSM-based volume estimates systematically underestimated reference values, while taper-based reconstruction produced nearly unbiased estimates with an RMSE of 15.72%. Correlation analyses and PCA showed that tree architectural variables explained only a small fraction of MLS error variability. Diameter and height errors were largely independent of structural attributes, while volume errors showed moderate associations with tree size and crown density. These findings indicate that tree architecture is not a primary source of MLS measurement uncertainty. Future MLS-based forest inventory efforts should prioritize acquisition and processing optimization, as scanning conditions and forest structure appear more influential than tree shape.

Microbial and biochemical properties of soil respond quickly with management practices, than chemical and physical properties. Moreover, impact of conservation agriculture (CA) on soil microbial properties is limited to microbial enumeration, but its effect on soil enzyme and microbial activity is little documented. To address these problems soil enzyme activities [dehydrogenase (DHA), {beta}-glucosidase (BGA), acid phosphatase (AcP) and alkaline phosphatase (AlP) and fluoresceine diacetate (FDA)], microbial activites ((Nitrogen fixation (NFBAct), Phosphate solubilization (PSBAct) & Cellulolytic activities (CDBAct)), microbial biomass ((Soil microbial biomass carbon (SMBC) & soil microbial biomass nitrogen (SMBN)) and available nutrient were studied to evaluate biological soil health in alluvial soil of lower Indo-Gangetic plain (IGP) under CA. Field experiment was conducted in split plot design (SPD), under 3 cropping systems (RMCp: rice-maize-cowpea; RWGg: rice-wheat- green gram; RCfBr; rice-cauliflower- bororice/summer rice). Tillage operations (CT: conventional; MT: minimum and ZT: zero tillage) was main plot and residue application as sub plot treatments [(R0 (no residue), R50 (50% residue) and R100 (100% residue)], treatments were replicated thrice. Biological soil health index (BSHI) indicated that among different degree of CA, ZT (0.464) and (MT=0.441) and R100 (0.464) treatment showed better response. Among different cropping system RMCp (0.359) & RWGg (0.343) outperformed RCfBr (0.609) cropping system with respect to (wrt) microbial and biochemical properties of the soil. Results indicated that for restoring microbial and biochemical properties of soil CA can be used as sustainable practice to restore agro-ecosystem. Keywords: Conservation agriculture, Cropping systems, Soil enzyme, Soil microbial properties, Residue application, Tillage operations.

Coastal forests are increasingly threatened by saturated soil and elevated salinity levels resulting from sea level rise, saltwater intrusion, and storm surges. In response to rising salinization and flooding, healthy coastal forests that rely on freshwater (both wetland forests and low-elevation upland forests) are transitioning into landscapes dominated by dead or dying trees, known as ghost forests. Situated among salt-tolerant shrubs and grasses, ghost forests eventually become marshes or open water. Here, our main objective was to quantify the dynamics and pathways of these forest landscape conversions, as well as the factors contributing to the changes, which is vital for understanding the progression of coastal ecosystem degradation and forecasting future changes. We focused first on identifying the best method to track forest landscape change by exploring the role of multiple remote sensing indices (i.e., multispectral, bi-seasonal, topographical, and phenological metrics) in enhancing the performance of deep learning models (convolutional neural networks, CNNs) for land cover classification in the coastal plain of North Carolina using surface reflectance of Landsat 8 and Sentinel-2 images. Then, we used the best available data (Landsat 8) to understand long-term change and identify patterns of land cover change from 1985 to 2021. Our study reveals that incorporating phenology and topographical indices enhances the separability of the ghost forests class from all other vegetation classes. In our assessment, the higher-resolution Sentinel-2 data (F1 Score = 96.3) outperformed Landsat images (F1 score = 93.4) for the 2021 co-available year. However, Landsat remains an important tool used due to its long-term data record. Therefore, we used Landsat to determine that 21% of forests were lost between 1985 and 2021, and that the rate of loss is increasing. Between 2010 and 2021, 23,876 ha of forest were converted to marsh, ghost forest, and shrub, which is 1.5 times higher than the 16,968 ha lost between 1985 and 2010. These conversions from forest to ghost forest and marshes were driven primarily by proximity to the channel, salinity, and the increasing rate of relative sea level rise (RSLR), which are the key environmental drivers of observed changes. By quantifying these changes, we highlight regions most vulnerable to environmental stressors, providing a basis for targeted conservation strategies.

Flow regulation for hydropower production affects stream ecosystems through decreased connectivity and changed timing and magnitude of flows. Hydropeaking, a form of regulation in which infrequent large peak flows are replaced with frequent small peaks, increases riparian erosion and causes water and drought stress for riparian vegetation. Hydropeaking is likely to affect soil seed bank (SSB) formation and composition, while SSBs are important sources of self-restoration should a systems flow regulation be relaxed. We tested how hydropeaking intensity affects the size and composition of SSBs, including the functionally important group of large graminoids, and by calculating Ellenberg values for Moisture, Light and Soil disturbance. SSB samples were taken at 15 riparian zones across central and northern Sweden. Each site was regulated, but sites differed in their hydropeaking intensities. SSBs were subjected to a seedling emergence experiment, from which over 700 seedlings from 53 taxa emerged. We found that hydropeaking intensity affects the composition of soil seed banks on multiple levels. Seedling density was negatively correlated with hydropeaking intensity at the sites where samples were taken. SSB richness varied (two to eighteen species per site) and was not affected by hydropeaking intensity. The proportion of large graminoids in the seed bank showed a near-significant decrease with increasing hydropeaking intensity, and community-weighted means for Moisture, Light and Soil disturbance increased (non-significantly) with increasing intensity. Our results suggest that riparian SSBs, should flow regulation be relaxed or ceased, are not sufficient for self-restoration of functional riparian vegetation. Seeds of large graminoids and species that are tolerant to drought in the germination stage are less present in riparian SSBs of heavily-regulated streams. Supply of seeds of these groups, or even planting, may need to be considered when changes in flow management are implemented. HighlightsO_LIHydropeaking negatively affects riparian soil seed banks (SSBs) in Sweden C_LIO_LISSB size slightly decreases with hydropeaking intensity, but richness does not change C_LIO_LIThe proportion of large graminoid seeds in SSBs decreases with hydropeaking intensity C_LIO_LIRiparian SSBs from less-impacted sites have most potential for self-restoration C_LI

The tidal wetlands of Louisiana comprise about 25% of those found throughout the conterminous United States yet estimates of wetland loss rates in the region between 1932 and 2016 have exceeded 60 km2 yr-1. To mitigate further degradation and wetland loss in the region, a globally unprecedented $50B, 50-year plan for coastal Louisiana is driving restoration efforts, and demand exists from multiple stakeholders for regularly updated, regional-scale, accurate land cover information. We used machine learning (random forests; RF) and cloud computing to develop a new Landsat-based, marsh vegetation community geospatial dataset. The dataset depicts wetland vegetation community types defined in a previous study at annual (1985-2025) time steps at 30-m resolution. An RF algorithm was used to integrate training samples with feature variables derived from Landsat imagery, and the resulting geospatial data product achieved an overall correct classification rate of 78%. The approach for development of the land cover dataset presented here has potential for application in other coastal wetland habitats throughout the world.

Context Pumping stations pose a threat to fish globally through land use change, habitat fragmentation and entrainment risk, with the catadromous and critically endangered European eel particularly impacted. Objectives/methods Establish, model, assess and understand the present-day distribution of European eel and resident fishes in 152 pumping station catchments in a once extensive wetland (The Fens) using eDNA metabarcoding (855 samples over two and half years), with specific focus on anthropogenic influences on hydrological connectivity and habitat quality. A removal survey design maximised confidence in negative results while minimising time and consumable costs. Results Eel occurrence upstream of pumping stations was low (occupancy = 28.3%) and positively associated with catchment area, fish species richness and natural hydrological connectivity (gravity drainage or flooding) and negatively associated with distance from the tidal limit. Fish species richness replaced catchment area and improved model performance, potentially acting as a biotic indicator of habitat quality and connectivity. Pumped catchments with manually operated upstream water transfers had reduced eel presence, potentially linked to the direction of water flow or the timing of operation. By contrast, fish species richness increased in these catchments during summer, suggesting displacement into unsuitable long-term habitats. Physical habitat maintenance had no detectable effect on eel occurrence or fish species richness. Conclusions This study provides the first landscape-scale assessment of European eel distribution and drivers of occurrence in pumped river catchments. The highly novel and comprehensive insights have implications for European eel conservation as well as infrastructure and catchment management, including compliance with legislation (EC Regulation No. 1100/2007).

The reintroduction of extinct or endangered species to restore ecosystem function is an essential aspect of rewilding. The Wilder Blean Project at West Blean and Thornden Woods in Canterbury, UK, is committed to rewilding natural processes and enhancing biodiversity in one of England's oldest and largest areas of ancient woodland. The introduction of European bison (Bison bonasus) is an important part of the project. However, how the reintroduction of large herbivores influences local biodiversity and ecosystem functions during the early stages of rewilding remains poorly understood. Soil samples were collected from the same sampling sites before and two years after bison were reintroduced and profiled by metagenomic sequencing using Oxford Nanopore Technologies sequencing platforms. The results showed that the alpha diversity of soil organisms did not change significantly before and after the introduction of European bison, while beta diversity showed modest shifts in community composition. The relative abundance of some nitrogen-fixing and photosynthetic microbial genera showed declines in the 2024 Bison Area, while the mycorrhizal fungus genus Rhizophagus was significantly less abundant than in the 2024 Control Area. Despite relatively stable taxonomic diversity, functional composition differed significantly between the 2022 and 2024 Bison areas and among the 2024 rewilding treatments, revealing a decoupling between taxonomic diversity and functional composition. Amino acid synthesis pathways and carbon metabolism pathways were significantly enriched. These findings highlight the potential of long-read Oxford Nanopore metagenomics to reveal functional shifts that may not be apparent from taxonomic diversity alone. Although these early-stage responses cannot yet predict long-term rewilding trajectories, continued longitudinal monitoring integrating microbial, soil physicochemical, and ecosystem-level measurements will be essential to determine the persistence and ecological significance of these functional shifts.

Deadwood is a fundamental component of forest ecosystem, supporting biodiversity and driving multiple ecological processes. However, structures that may develop on downed coarse woody debris (CWD) create additional microhabitats that are used by numerous organisms and contribute to small-scale habitat heterogeneity. To date, quality of CWD is commonly characterized by its volume, diameter, tree species or stage of decomposition, while fine-scale structures occurring there remain not surveyed and their role in ecosystem is rarely quantified. Here, we introduce the novel concept of microhabitats on CWD. i.e. Deadwood-related Microhabitats (DreMs), defined as distinct features occurring on CWD that may provide shelter, breeding or foraging sites for forest-dwelling organisms. Using an original catalogue comprising 14 groups and 30 types, we inventoried DreMs on 6,003 CWD across 423 study plots located in best-preserved old-growth forests in Poland. We quantified the frequency and richness of DreMs and assessed the link between CWD characteristics and DreM richness in spruce, beech, willow-poplar, fir-beech and oak-lime- hornbeam forests. All inventoried DreMs occurred on both deciduous and coniferous taxa. The most frequent DreM included bryophyte mats, loose bark patches, insect galleries, fungal fruiting bodies and polypores. DreM richness increased with CWD diameter, more complex architecture and the presence of multiple decay classes within single debris. DreM richness peaked at intermediate decay classes and was higher on deciduous than on coniferous taxa. Our study is the first large-scale qualitative and quantitative assessment of DreMs in temperate forests. By focusing on forests characterized by ecological continuity and minimal human-related disturbance, the results provide a reference for downed deadwood-associated structures. By complementing inventory of tree-related microhabitats, DreMs extend potential monitoring schemes of habitat quality and contribute to biodiversity-oriented forest management. Highlights* Downed coarse woody debris (CWD) hosts Deadwood-related microhabitats (DreMs) * Higher DreM richness is associated with CWD diameter * DreM richness peak at intermediate stages of wood decay * CWD of deciduous taxa support more DreMs than coniferous * Diversified CWD and DreMs increase habitat heterogeneity for forest-dwelling taxa

AimHere we aim to disentangle species-specific bioclimatic drivers of forest site productivity and project their future dynamics, providing a spatially explicit basis for anticipating climate-driven shifts in productivity and their implications for forest carbon sequestration. LocationIberian Peninsula. Time period1985-2014 (calibration); 2071-2100 (projected under CMIP6 scenarios). Major taxa studied21 Iberian tree species. MethodsWe used Site Form (SF) maps derived from the Third Spanish National Forest Inventory, spatially interpolating plot-level SF estimates as a continuous productivity index and relating them to 25 bioclimatic variables. Multiple linear regression models were selected via complementary stepwise and subset regression and validated on independent hold-out data (80%/20% split). ResultsValidated [Formula] ranged from 0.46 (Quercus faginea) to 0.97 (Pinus pinaster); 17 of 21 species reached [Formula]. BI013 precipitation of the wettest month), not BI014, was the most frequently retained predictor (15/17); BI014 was retained in only (11/17 models with a near-even sign split. Combining projected changes in mean productivity and habitat extent under SSP5-8.5, fifteen of sixteen applicable species lose total productivity by 2071-2100, six -- including Fagus sylvatica and Betula alba -- collapsing to below 1% of their reference-period value; only Pinus pinaster gains, and only under the lowest-emission pathway (up to 175%) -- under SSP5-8.5 it too loses productivity, albeit less than any other species (35% of its reference-period value retained). Limiting warming to SSP1-2.6 spares Mediterranean pine and oak species but not Euro-Siberian and montane ones. Main conclusionsThese validated, extrapolation-aware models reveal a near-universal, climate-driven collapse in Iberian forest site productivity, with direct implications for the carbon-sink potential currently attributed to these forest types, and provide a route to dynamic, climate-aware carbon-uptake estimates for the region.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are hazardous organic contaminants for which microbial bioaugmentation is a promising remediation strategy, but poor persistence of introduced microorganisms can limit efficacy. Encapsulation may improve persistence, yet the influence of capsule design, microbial species, and environmental conditions on performance remains poorly understood. We evaluated alginate encapsulation of the PAH-degrading bacteria Pseudomonas putida and Novosphingobium aromaticivorans across nutrient conditions and capsule formulations. Encapsulation effects varied by species and medium, influencing growth rate, maximum cell density, overall growth, and lag time; notably, encapsulation shortened lag time of N. aromaticivorans in sRB15 medium (36.9 h to 3.9-5.3 h). Enumeration methods also affected apparent cell recovery. After 8 weeks, encapsulation had no significant effect on P. putida but resulted in increased concentrations of N. aromaticivorans relative to planktonic cultures (1.22 x 10; vs. 2.05 x 10; CFU/mL). Capsule composition further influenced cell retention: increasing alginate approximately doubled capsule-associated cell concentrations, while chitosan coatings reduced cell concentrations within capsules without affecting external concentrations. These findings demonstrate that the benefits of encapsulation are species- and environment-dependent and that capsule formulation can be tuned to influence bacterial persistence and release, informing the design of encapsulated inoculants for bioaugmentation applications.

Trace elements, such as iron, nickel, and cobalt are known to regulate methanogenic activity in anaerobic digestors used for waste valorisation, but the potential role of rare earth elements remains poorly understood. This study investigated the effects of lanthanum (La) supplementation on biogas production, methane generation, volatile fatty acid (VFA) formation, and carbohydrate utilisation in anaerobic digestion (AD). Biomethane potential (BMP) assays conducted under mesophilic conditions (37C) using methanogenic sludge granules, and glucose as substrate, were supplemented with 0.1, 1, 10, and 100 mg/L lanthanum chloride (LaCl3). Biogas production and composition was monitored over a 96-h incubation, while sacrificial, batch bioreactors were used to evaluate temporal VFA and carbohydrate profiles. La supplementation significantly enhanced biogas and methane production in a concentration-dependent manner. The highest cumulative biogas yield (478.9 mL, corresponding to 179.5 mL biogas/g COD) and methane production (285.7 mL, corresponding to 107.1 mL CH4/g COD) were observed with 100 mg/L LaCl3, corresponding to increases of 88.7% and 186%, respectively, compared with La-free controls. CO2 production also increased with La concentration, whereas hydrogen production remained comparatively low. Acetic and butyric acids represented the dominant fermentation products (80-88% of total VFAs), but profiles of accumulated VFA in the bioreactors diversified with La addition, including showing caproate production, indicating changed biodegradation dynamics in the methanogenic microbiome. These findings demonstrate that lanthanum can stimulate anaerobic digestion performance and methane generation, highlighting the potential as a novel trace element additive to enhance biogas production. Research is now required to elucidate the underlying microbial and biochemical mechanisms, and establish optimal dosing strategies for large-scale applications.

Businesses are increasingly encouraged to disclose their nature-related dependencies, impacts, risks and opportunities. A common component of sustainability reporting is screening operational sites for ecologically sensitivity to identify locations for further evaluation and action. However, with 600+ biodiversity metrics available, selecting and interpreting appropriate metrics remains challenging for business. We developed a simple screening framework informed by the Taskforce for Nature-Related Financial Disclosures guidance, grouping eleven widely used global biodiversity metrics into four complementary [&prime]baskets[&prime], representing different aspects of biodiversity. We created hypothetical but realistic mining, onshore wind energy and agricultural companies, to assess how metric choice, buffer size, scoring approach and sensitivity thresholds influence screening outcomes. Our basket framework consistently identified similar high-priority sites across metric combinations, but site rankings varied with methodological choices. We recommend clearer guidance on metric selection and application, alongside greater transparency from business regarding assumptions, methods and limitations when screening sites for ecological sensitivity.

Cocoa (Theobroma cacao L.) is grown in Cote d'Ivoire (the world's leading producer), almost always in association with trees, yet these cocoa-based agroforestry systems (cocoa AFS) remain characterized largely descriptively, without a robust inferential framework or modern diversity indices. We analyse a survey database covering 474 farms and 103 localities across the three main cocoa-producing zones of Cote d'Ivoire, locally known as " loops " (East/South-East, Centre/Centre-West, South/South-West; surveys 2013-2016), applying a renewed ecological and statistical framework: Hill numbers (q = 0, 1, 2), individual-based Hurlbert rarefaction, multiplicative alpha/beta/gamma diversity partitioning, ordination (PCoA) and PERMANOVA on Bray-Curtis matrices, Ward's hierarchical clustering for a data-driven floristic typology, multivariate MANOVA, and linear mixed models. Across 99 adequately sampled localities (>10 stems), mean taxonomic richness and the Shannon index differed significantly among zones (MANOVA: Wilks' = 0.350; F8,180 = 15.5; p < 0.001), including after standardizing sampling effort by rarefaction (F = 8.72; p < 0.001). Floristic composition differed significantly by zone (PERMANOVA, pseudo-F = 2.85; p = 0.001), though with uneven within-group dispersion (PERMDISP, p = 0.024) that calls for caution in interpretation. The Centre/Centre-West zone showed the highest beta diversity (inter-farm floristic turnover = 16.4, versus 7.2 and 2.2 in the other two zones), revealing a highly heterogeneous mosaic of individual agroforestry choices rather than a homogeneous regional system. A typological classification based on floristic composition distinguishes four cocoa-AFS profiles, ranging from dense, diverse stands to impoverished systems with low densities of associated trees, partially but not fully overlapping with the zonal boundaries. At the scale of the three loops (n = 409 farms with both age and yield recorded), cocoa yield varied significantly by orchard age class (Kruskal-Wallis, H = 18.2; p < 0.001), following a bell-shaped profile peaking around 20-35 years, consistent with the intermediate-age yield optimum suggested qualitatively by the source study; this relationship, robust to log-transformation of yield and to the exclusion of extreme values, nonetheless remains of small magnitude (R2=1.5%) and confers no out-of-sample predictive power under cross-validation, illustrating the need to distinguish statistical significance from predictive utility. This reanalysis provides a reproducible and transferable statistical framework for characterizing West African cocoa AFS, and highlights the potential value of high beta diversity as a possible indicator of landscape resilience.

New maritime regulations restricting high-sulfur fuels have led to the transition to new low sulfur fuel oils (LFSOs). We do not know how LSFOs will behave in marine environments and how they will respond to available remediation strategies, presenting an environmental risk. The risk will be even higher in the remote high Arctic, especially along the Northwest Passage (NWP), for which an increase in shipping traffic is expected by the end of the century. In this study, we evaluated the long-term (one year) biodegradation potential of the native microbial community of NWP beach sediment using in situ mesocosm experiments with two different types of LSFOs: a marine gas oil (Marine diesel) and an ultra-low sulfur fuel oil (ULSFO). We observed that the lighter Marine diesel was biodegraded better (72.0%) than the heavier ULSFO (32.5%). We described composition of the microbial community of the mesocosms using 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing and observed a decrease in microbial diversity for the fuel-treated samples compared to the untreated controls. Despite the decrease in overall diversity, we observed significantly higher abundances of known hydrocarbon degrading microbes (e.g., Oleispira, Altererythrobacter, Gilvibacter, Pseudohongiella) in the fuel mesocosms. Our study showed the potential to implement biodegradation as a remediation strategy under the cold and oligotrophic environmental conditions present throughout the NWP. However, we also observed that microbes on their own cannot degrade the entirety of the removed fuel and other types of remediation will need to be considered to complement the natural biodegradation observed here.

Blue Economy models position aquaculture as a key pathway to securing global food security. Species selected for aquaculture typically show rapid growth, high stress tolerance and fast biomass accumulation, but these same traits may increase their potential to become invasive when introduced beyond their native range. We investigated the invasion history and current status of the commercially important red seaweed Kappaphycus alvarezii in the Palk Bay-Gulf of Mannar region of India. This is one of the worlds largest cultivation hubs, a climatically vulnerable marine biodiversity hotspot, and one of the three regions to report invasion. We combined in-water surveys, interviews with wild seaweed collectors, and a review of published literature to reconstruct the history of invasion and assess current status. Invasion has declined substantially, with interviews indicating that the disappearance of invasive populations began around 2014. We discuss several non-mutually exclusive explanations for this decline, including climate change, loss of coral substrate, herbivory, and reduced vitality of the seaweed. Although the decline in invasion is encouraging for coral reefs, our findings raise questions about the ecological and socioeconomic consequences of introducing non-native aquaculture species under Blue Economy initiatives, particularly in ecologically sensitive regions vulnerable to climate change.

Extensive deforestation and disturbance have reshaped forest landscapes in West Africa, including areas surrounding Tai National Park, the largest remaining block of Upper Guinean rainforest. Although many degraded areas are currently undergoing regeneration, the capacity of these secondary forests to recover their biodiversity attributes remains insufficiently assessed within this park. This study quantifies the multidimensional restoration of biodiversity across 125 secondary forest plots and 15 primary forest plots representing 14,731 inventoried individuals in four sectors of the park. Using a Bayesian modelling framework, we estimate recovery trajectories of Shannon diversity, floristic composition, functional traits (wood density, leaf mass per area, seed mass), and conservation-relevant species. The different biodiversity attributes recovered at contrasting rates. Diversity was restored more rapidly ({lambda} = 0.06) than floristic composition ({lambda} = 0.03), and these recovery varied according to environmental variables. Among these, the presence of remnant trees showed the highest median on diversity (0.53 {+/-} 0.61) and floristic composition (0.37 {+/-} 0.17), promoting the rapid recovery of both attributes, followed by prior land use, particularly cocoa farming which also positively influenced the recovery of alpha diversity ({lambda} = 0.03) and floristic composition ({lambda} = 0.02). Regarding functional traits, they displayed contrasting dynamics: specific leaf area and seed mass recovered rapidly along successional gradients, whereas wood density followed a more gradual recovery trajectory. From a conservation perspective, although the proportion of IUCN Red List species remained stable along the successional gradient, old-growth indicator species were significantly more abundant in primary forests. To ensure the long-term conservation of biodiversity, protecting both primary and regenerating forests is essential to preserve the ecological resilience of this park.

Background: Population-based biomonitoring of contemporary-use pesticides remains limited in the United States, particularly in rural agricultural regions, and few studies have repeated measurements within the same individuals over time. Methods: We analyzed 28 urinary pesticide-related biomarkers among 600 adults from the population-based Survey of the Health of Wisconsin with archived urine collected during 2008-2016; 296 participants provided repeat urine and updated exposure information in 2025. Detection frequencies, co-detection, and within-person detection patterns were characterized. Generalized estimating equations were used for stacked, repeated-measures analyses of factors associated with detection of aminomethylphosphonic acid (AMPA), glyphosate, 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D), and any of these three. Prospective-only analyses evaluated more detailed agricultural and recent exposure measures. Results: Glyphosate, AMPA, and 2,4-D were detected in 7.7%, 6.2%, and 4.3% of retrospective specimens and 5.4%, 3.1%, and 4.1% of prospective specimens, respectively. Co-detection and persistent detection across the 9 to 17-year interval was rare. In repeated-measures models, greater fruit and vegetable intake, older age, and male sex were associated with higher 2,4-D detection. Lower household income was associated with lower AMPA detection, while afternoon/evening collection was associated with higher AMPA detection. In prospective analyses, working on field-crop agricultural land showed the strongest agricultural associations, particularly for 2,4-D and detection of any of the three pesticides. Associations were not seen with self-reported conventional versus organic produce consumption. Conclusions: Urinary pesticide detections were generally infrequent in this Wisconsin population. Diet and direct agricultural activities may be more informative exposure pathways than residing near cropland or private well drinking-water characteristics.

Smallholder farming systems in sub-Saharan Africa are constrained by declining soil fertility, erosion, and rising fertilizer costs, creating an urgent need for scalable inputs that sustain yields while maintaining soil health. While there is some evidence that microbial inoculants may offer a promising complement to conventional fertility management, field-scale evidence in tropical cereal and tuber systems remains limited. Here, we evaluated a multi-species inoculant composed of 20-22 Bacillus and Streptomyces species on potato and maize across four sites in Rwanda over two growing seasons (2025A and 2025B). Treatments included the inoculant applied at two rates (150 and 250 g ha-1), both alone and in combination with standard fertilization (inorganic fertilizer plus manure), alongside untreated and fertilized controls. Co-application of the inoculant with standard fertilization increased yield and plant biomass beyond fertilization alone, with gains of 6-51% for maize and 3-58% for potato. However, while the inoculant applied alone outperformed untreated controls, it generally did not match standard fertilization. Responses were strongest and most consistent for large-grade potato tubers, and application rate interacted with crop type, whereby the lower dose maximized marketable tuber yield, while maize showed a positive dose-response for grain and biomass. Yield increases were not accompanied by reductions in crop nutrient density, which was instead governed by site-level differences. Altogether, these results indicate that multi-species microbial inoculants are an effective complement to existing fertility practices that may offer, pending further research, a potential pathway to partial fertilizer replacement while sustaining productivity and nutritional quality in smallholder tropical agriculture.

Freshwater ecosystems in Scotland are increasingly threatened by multiple interacting stressors, including pollution, hydrological alteration, land use change, and climate-driven pressures. Scotland's rivers are amongst the most physically diverse and dynamic in the UK, contributing significantly to the country-s economy and natural heritage. Monitoring 125,000 km of waterways presents an issue, with limited funding and capacity of environmental agencies creating an environmental monitoring deficit at a time when robust data are essential for delivering national and global biodiversity targets. Citizen science offers a scalable, community driven approach to strengthening environmental evidence. This study evaluates the development, implementation, and outcomes of Guardians of our Rivers (GooR), a nationwide citizen science programme using macroinvertebrate-based river health assessments based on the Anglers' Riverfly Monitoring Initiative (RMI) established by the Riverfly Partnership. Between 2022 and 2025, GooR trained more than 850 volunteers, established 123 monitoring sites across Scotland, and generated over 860 surveys-surpassing the previous 16 years of aquatic invertebrate monitoring efforts. Standardised field training, full equipment provision, and structured support enabled high-quality data collection across diverse catchments. The establishment of nationally applied trigger and target thresholds created a consistent mechanism for detecting ecological deterioration and ensured that verified trigger breaches (n = 39 in 2025) resulted in formal investigation or follow-up. Analysis of national abundance patterns revealed ecological and biogeographic trends across the eight RMI taxa, confirming data sensitivity to habitat differences, water quality, and regional pressures. A detailed case study of the Lothian Esk catchment demonstrated the programme's capacity to detect seasonal macroinvertebrate dynamics and site level ecological trajectories over time. Overall, GooR illustrates how well-designed and well-supported citizen science can deliver high resolution spatiotemporal datasets, enhance early warning systems, empower communities, and make a meaningful contribution to promoting river health. Importantly, GooR forged a working partnership with Scottish Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA) that allowed communities to not only gather data but also transformed the way citizen science is recognized as contributing to freshwater conservation. Continued investment and long-term support will be essential to sustain these gains and realise the full potential of citizen-driven freshwater stewardship.

Investigating Changes Detection in Land Use and Land Cover Analysis of Opencast Singareni Coal Mine Area Using Remote Sensing and GIS Techniques was the focus of the current investigation. Change Detection Analysis for Land Use Land Cover over a decade frequency (2005-2015) of cultivated soils surrounding OpenCast Coal Mine areas namely Ramakrishnapur, Srirampur and Medipalli of Telangana State.AWiFS data of IRS Resoursesat Satellite images of 2005 and 2015 were taken for the detection of temporal variation in Land use/ Land cover due to open cast coal mining.The ability of remote sensing techniques to produce precise spatiotemporal statistics of LULC and its changes in the typical coal mining region has been demonstrated, in open cast coal mining per year was the highest at Ramakrishnapur (@ 300 ha / year) followed by Srirampur (@ 150 ha / year) and Medipalli (@ 100 ha / year).At Ramakrishnapur with the onset of mining there was considerable decrease in agricultural land, shallow water bodies and deciduous forests i.e., conversion of these land uses to mining was evident. Whereas, at other two mining sites (Srirampur and Medipalli) conversion of scrubland followed by shallow water bodies, agriculture lands and deciduous forests into mining area was detected. However, the built-up land at all three-mining site was from cultivated lands and at Medipalli and Srirampur it was also contributed from scrubland. On the whole impact of open cast mining on deep water bodies was not detected. If the mining and surrounding regions continued and appropriate use of the land and water resources at hand, careful long-term planning is of utmost importance.