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Topic Review
Rare Earth Elements (REE)
The rare earth elements (REE) comprise a group of 16 chemically very similar elements that occur widespread in rocks, soils, and water bodies, share similar ionic radii to the essential element Ca2+, and consequently also occur in biota. Given that REE form mainly trivalent cations, they also share similarities to Al3+. Compared to their chemical cognate Ca, they have a higher reactivity. Thus, their accumulation in soils may constitute a severe environmental threat. Over the last decades, the increasing use of REE in modern technology and fertilizers raised concerns about the pollution of soils and water bodies, which led to a rapidly increasing number of publications dealing with REE toxicity to plants, animals and humans, the fate of REE in soil–plant systems, REE cycling in ecosystems and impacts of REE pollution on food security.
  • 1.3K
  • 05 Feb 2024
Topic Review
Wetland Construction, Restoration, and Integration
In response to the global loss and degradation of wetland ecosystems, extensive efforts have been made to reestablish wetland habitat and function in landscapes where they once existed. The reintroduction of wetland ecosystem services has largely occurred in two categories: constructed wetlands (CW) for wastewater treatment, and restored wetlands (RW) for the renewal or creation of multiple ecosystem services. Where the spatial and biogeochemical contexts are favorable, Integrated Constructed Wetlands (ICW) present the opportunity to couple CW and RW functions, thereby enhancing the replacement of wetland services on the landscape. 
  • 1.3K
  • 14 Apr 2022
Topic Review
Impacts of COVID-19 on the Aquatic Environment
The COVID-19 pandemic, caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), resulted in ecological changes of aquatic ecosystems, affected the aquatic food supply chain, and disrupted the socio-economy of global populations. Due to reduced human activities during the pandemic, the aquatic environment was reported to improve its water quality, wild fishery stocks, and biodiversity. However, the sudden surge of plastics and biomedical wastes during the COVID-19 pandemic masked the positive impacts and increased the risks of aquatic pollution, especially microplastics, pharmaceuticals, and disinfectants. 
  • 1.3K
  • 03 Nov 2021
Topic Review
Marine Benthos and Corals
Researchers present thorough this review of the developments in the field, point out their current limitations and outline its timelines and unique potential. In order to do so, authors introduce the methods used in each of the advances in the application of deep learning (DL) to coral research that took place between the years: 2016–2018. DL has the unique capability of streamlining the description, analysis, and monitoring of coral reefs, saving time, and obtaining higher reliability and accuracy compared with error-prone human performance. Coral reefs are the most diverse and complex of marine ecosystems, undergoing a severe decline worldwide resulting from the adverse synergistic influences of global climate change, ocean acidification, and seawater warming, exacerbated by anthropogenic eutrophication and pollution. DL is an extension of some of the concepts originating from machine learning that join several multilayered neural networks. Machine learning refers to algorithms that automatically detect patterns in data. In the case of corals, these data are underwater photographic images. Based on “learned” patterns, such programs can recognize new images. The novelty of DL is in the use of state-of-art computerized image analyses technologies, and its fully automated methodology of dealing with large data sets of images. Automated Image recognition refers to technologies that identify and detect objects or attributes in a digital video or image automatically. Image recognition classifies data into selected categories out of many. Authors show that Neural Network methods are already reliable in distinguishing corals from other benthos and non-coral organisms. Automated recognition of live coral cover is a powerful indicator of reef response to slow and transient changes in the environment. Improving automated recognition of coral species, DL methods already recognize the decline of coral diversity due to natural and anthropogenic stressors. Diversity indicators can document the effectiveness of reef bioremediation initiatives. Authors explored the current applications of deep learning for corals and benthic image classification by discussing the most recent studies conducted by researchers. Authors review the developments in the field, point out their current limitations, and outline their timelines and unique potential. Authors also discussed a few future research directions in the fields of deep learning. Future needs are the age detection of single species, in order to track trends in their population recruitment, decline, and recovery. Fine resolution, at the polyp level, is still to be developed, in order to allow separation of species with similar macroscopic features. That refinement of DL will allow such comparisons and their analyses. Authors conclude that the usefulness of future, more refined automatic identification will allow reef comparison, and tracking long term changes in species diversity. The hitherto unused addition of intraspecific coral color parameters will add the inclusion of physiological coral responses to environmental conditions and change thereof. The core aim of this review was to underscore the strength and reliability of the DL approach for documenting coral reef features based on an evaluation of the currently available published uses of this method. Authors expect that this review will encourage researchers from computer vision and marine societies to collaborate on similar long-term joint ventures.
  • 1.2K
  • 30 Oct 2020
Topic Review
Drinking Water Microbiome
Microbial communities interact with us and affect our health in ways that are only beginning to be understood. Microorganisms have been detected in every ecosystem on Earth, as well as in any built environment that has been investigated. Drinking water sources, drinking water treatment plants and distribution systems provide peculiar microbial ecological niches, dismantling the belief of the “biological simplicity” of drinking water. The assemblage of microbes within drinking water is referred to as the drinking water microbiota (“microbiome” when referring to the associated genetic information), and it accounts for about 106–108 cells/L. Recent DNA sequencing and meta-omics advancements allow a deeper understanding of drinking water microbiota.
  • 1.2K
  • 16 Nov 2022
Topic Review
Generation of Phenotypic Diversity in Populations
The generation of phenotypic diversity is fundamental for the environmental adaptation and evolution of populations. It can be produced by genetic and epigenetic mechanisms. The genetic mechanisms include mutation, recombination, drift and gene flow and generate phenotypic diversity by changing the DNA sequence or their relative distribution in populations. Epigenetic mechanisms produce phenotypic diversity by differential expression of the same DNA without changing the DNA sequence and different processing of the gene products. They include DNA methylation, histone modifications, non-coding RNAs, Polycomb/Trithorax group proteins, chemical mRNA modifications and mRNA editing. In sexually reproducing organisms, genetic mechanisms probably play a predominant role in the production of phenotypic diversity. Epigenetic mechanisms are effective in all organisms but are particularly important in asexual reproducers, where they generate phenotypic variation and individuality despite genetic identity. Further main benefiters of the epigenetic contribution to phenotypic diversity are sessile taxa and species with long generation times.
  • 1.2K
  • 13 Jan 2023
Topic Review
Wood-based pellets in Southeastern US
Effects of pellet production on selected Sustainability Development Goals (SDGs) are evaluated using industry information, available energy consumption data, and published research findings. Challenges associated with identifying relevant SDG goals and targets for this particular bioenergy supply chain and potential deleterious impacts are discussed. We find that production of woody pellets in the SE US and shipments to displace coal for energy in Europe generate positive effects on affordable and clean energy (SDG 7), decent work and economic growth (SDG 8), industry innovation and infrastructure (SDG 9), responsible consumption and production (SDG 12), and life on land (SDG 15). Primary strengths of the pellet supply chain in the SE US are the provisioning of employment in depressed rural areas and the displacement of fossil fuels. Weaknesses are associated with potential impacts on air, water, and biodiversity that arise if the resource base and harvest activities are improperly managed. The SE US pellet supply chain provides an opportunity for transition to low-carbon industries and innovations while incentivizing better resource management.
  • 1.2K
  • 31 Jan 2021
Biography
James Francis White
Dr. James F. White, Jr. is Professor of Plant Biology at Rutgers University where he, students and collaborators conduct research on beneficial and endophytic microbes that inhabit plant cells and tissues. Dr. White obtained the Ph.D. in Botany/Mycology from the University of Texas, Austin. Dr. White is the author of more than 350 articles and book chapters, and author and editor of reference bo
  • 1.2K
  • 19 Aug 2022
Topic Review
Nematode Communities and Soil Health under Climate Change
Soil health is intimately intertwined with ecosystem services. Climate change negatively impacts ecosystem functioning, by altering carbon and nitrogen biogeochemical cycles and shifting nutrient bioavailability, thus hampering food production and exacerbating biodiversity loss. Soil ecosystem services are provided by belowground biota, and as the most abundant metazoans on Earth, nematodes are key elements of soil food webs and reliable bioindicators of soil health. 
  • 1.2K
  • 01 Aug 2023
Topic Review
Effects of Sunflower Phenolamides on Infected Bumblebees
Bees may forage on specific floral resources to face parasite infection. Such natural resources are comparable to ‘natural pharmacies’ and may be favoured in bee conservation strategies. Consumption of sunflower pollen, despite being detrimental for larval development, has been recently shown to reduce the load of a widespread bumble bee gut parasite in the common eastern bumble bee. Although the underlying mechanisms remain unknown, it has been suggested that sunflower phenolamides—a family of molecules found in most flowering plants—may be responsible for such a reduction in parasite load. 
  • 1.2K
  • 06 Apr 2022
Topic Review
Benthic Diatoms in River Biomonitoring
The European Water Framework Directive 2000/60/EC (WFD) has been implemented over the past 20 years, using physicochemical, biological and hydromorphological elements to assess the ecological status of surface waters. Benthic diatoms (i.e., phytobenthos) are one of the most common biological quality elements (BQEs) used in surface water monitoring and are particularly successful in detecting eutrophication, organic pollution and acidification. Herein, we reviewed their implementation in river biomonitoring for the purposes of the WFD, highlighting their advantages and disadvantages over other BQEs, and we discuss recent advances that could be applied in future biomonitoring. Until now, phytobenthos have been intercalibrated by the vast majority (26 out of 28) of EU Member States (MS) in 54% of the total water bodies assessed and was the most commonly used BQE after benthic invertebrates (85% of water bodies), followed by fish (53%), macrophytes (27%) and phytoplankton (4%). To meet the WFD demands, numerous taxonomy-based quality indices have been developed among MS, presenting, however, uncertainties possibly related to species biogeography. Recent development of different types of quality indices (trait-based, DNA sequencing and predictive modeling) could provide more accurate results in biomonitoring, but should be validated and intercalibrated among MS before their wide application in water quality assessments.
  • 1.2K
  • 25 May 2021
Topic Review
Rangeland Biodiversity and Climate Variability
Rangeland biodiversity related closely with climate variability. Rainfall plays an important role in arid rangeland restoration. Under favorable conditions, one-year grazing exclusion considerably enhanced species richness and evenness diversity compared to longer resting durations under dry to average rainfall conditions. The decision to how long livestock grazing exclusion would last should not be decided upfront as it depends on the climatic and the site-specific conditions.
  • 1.1K
  • 27 Jun 2021
Topic Review
Red Sea Coral
The recognition of the microbiota complexity and their role in the evolution of their host is leading to the popularization of the holobiont concept. However, the coral holobiont (host and its microbiota) is still enigmatic and unclear. Here, we explore the complex relations between different holobiont members of a mesophotic coral Euphyllia paradivisa. We subjected two lines of the coral—with photosymbionts, and without photosymbionts (apo‐symbiotic)—to increasing temperatures and to antibiotics. The different symbiotic states were characterized using transcriptomics, microbiology and physiology techniques. The bacterial community’s composition is dominated by bacteroidetes, alphaproteobacteria, and gammaproteobacteria, but is dependent upon the symbiont state, colony, temperature treatment, and antibiotic exposure. Overall, the most important parameter determining the response was whether the coral was a symbiont/apo‐symbiotic, while the colony and bacterial composition were secondary factors. Enrichment Gene Ontology analysis of coral host’s differentially expressed genes demonstrated the cellular differences between symbiotic and apo‐symbiotic samples. Our results demonstrate the significance of each component of the holobiont consortium and imply a coherent link between them, which dramatically impacts the molecular and cellular processes of the coral host, which possibly affect its fitness, particularly under environmental stress.
  • 1.1K
  • 29 Oct 2020
Topic Review
Narrow- versus Wide-Ranged Ostrya Species
Four sympatric Ostrya species have different geographic range sizes. O. multinervis and O. rehderiana are narrow-ranged species with narrow potential geographical distributions. O. japonica and O. trichocarpa, both of which have wide potential geographical distributions, are wide-ranged species.
  • 1.1K
  • 25 Oct 2021
Topic Review
Environmental DNA Based Methods (Sensu Stricto)
Worldwide biodiversity loss points to a necessity of upgrading to a fast and effective monitoring method that can provide quick conservation action. Newly developed environmental DNA (eDNA) based method found to be more cost-effective, non-invasive, quick, and accurate than traditional monitoring (spot identification, camera trapping). 
  • 1.1K
  • 06 Dec 2021
Topic Review
Deforestation, Urbanization, and Mosquito and Tick-Borne Diseases
Central America is a unique geographical region that connects North and South America, enclosed by the Caribbean Sea to the East, and the Pacific Ocean to the West. This region, encompassing Belize, Costa Rica, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Panama, and Nicaragua, is highly vulnerable to the emergence or resurgence of mosquito-borne and tick-borne diseases due to a combination of key ecological and socioeconomic determinants acting together, often in a synergistic fashion. Of particular interest are the effects of land use changes, such as deforestation-driven urbanization and forest degradation, on the incidence and prevalence of these diseases, which are not well understood. In recent years, parts of Central America have experienced social and economic improvements; however, the region still faces major challenges in developing effective strategies and significant investments in public health infrastructure to prevent and control these diseases.
  • 1.1K
  • 29 Dec 2021
Topic Review
Beavers, Bugs and Chemistry
The North American beaver (Castor canadensis Kuhl) and cottonwoods (Populus spp.) are foundation species, the interactions of which define a much larger community and affect a threatened riparian habitat type.
  • 1.1K
  • 04 Mar 2022
Topic Review
Pheromones Secreted by Nematodes
Pheromones are chemical signals secreted by one individual that can affect the behaviors of other individuals within the same species. Ascaroside is an evolutionarily conserved family of nematode pheromones that play an integral role in the development, lifespan, propagation, and stress response of nematodes. Their general structure comprises the dideoxysugar ascarylose and fatty-acid-like side chains. Ascarosides can vary structurally and functionally according to the lengths of their side chains and how they are derivatized with different moieties.  Ascarosides (ASCRs) represent the majority of the pheromones secreted by nematodes. The molecular formula for an ascaroside, C33H68O4, was first proposed by Schulz and Becker in 1933. Different phenotypes of nematode species are produced by different ascarosides or combinations of ascarosides; even slight changes in the chemical structure tend to produce drastically different patterns of activity. As a rule, the patterns of the biosynthesis of ascarosides are linked to the phylogeny, lifestyle, and ecological niche of the organism. In addition, different concentrations of the same ascarosides can have different effects on nematodes. Other chemicals such as vanillic acid function as pheromones in some nematodes, but there have been comparatively few studies and discoveries in this area.
  • 1.1K
  • 27 Jun 2023
Topic Review
Vermicompost and Its Derivatives against Phytopathogenic Fungi
Vermicompost, a natural product obtained after decomposition of organic matter by the activity of earthworms, contribute to valuable bioavailable nutrients and use full microbes to increase soil fertility. The application of vermicompost in agriculture has resulted in remarkable improvements in crop yield as well as in crop health and nutritive qualities; it increases the soil mineral content, which enhances the survival of valuable microbes.
  • 1.1K
  • 19 Apr 2022
Topic Review
Graph Metrics for Deepening Landscape Characterization
Graph metrics allow the description of landscape heterogeneity in the same way as classical metrics, and they consider compositional, configurational, and topological characteristics. Some graph metrics that consider topology provide new information owing to the application of topological relationships that are not necessarily based on a Euclidian space. A graph analytical perspective enables the incorporation of new biophysical information related to ecological processes beyond the conventional LULC categories applied in classical landscape analysis. Consequently, more complex ecological questions can be addressed, for example, relationships between ecological processes at the level of topology or topological relationships between processes beyond the traditional dimensions.
  • 1.1K
  • 11 Mar 2022
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