Owing to increasing anthropogenic impacts, wetlands have suffered a serious environmental decline in recent decades. The sustainable management of these natural resources is fundamental to maintain both the ecosystems and the economic activities. The Lake Massaciuccoli and nearby areas represent one of the largest residual coastal marshy areas in Tuscany (Italy). This wetland is characterized by large-scale and intensive agricultural use and affected by reclamation activities, with consequent problems of erosion, subsidence and lake eutrophication and siltation. In this context, an integrated study combining hydrochemical data (water levels, electrical conductivity, pH, turbidity, major ions, trace metals) and stable isotopes (H, O, S) has been performed in the southernmost part of the basin, to better disentangle processes and interactions between groundwater and surface water and to understand the origin of solutes and their evolution. Our results indicated that both groundwater and surface water have a meteoric origin and that geochemical composition of groundwater is mainly affected by local geological and biological processes. Moreover, surface water is affected by sea water mixing and evapotranspiration/precipitation processes. The impact of agricultural activity and the use of fertilizers on the water quality appears to be limited as regards nitrates, indicating that less intense agricultural practices implemented in recent years have been successful. As regards sulfates, Fe, and Mn, we cannot fully elucidate the mechanisms underlying human influence, but the oscillation of water level and degradation of peat enhanced by reclamation and agriculture activities likely played an important role in controlling the fate of these elements. Overall, these results underline the importance of integrated approaches to disentangle geochemical processes and will be useful in supporting policy implementation and environmental protection in this valuable area of Tuscany. Findings from this work suggest the need for policy-making authorities to take actions as soon as possible to mitigate risks. Closer co-operation is essential between authorities and farmers to reduce inputs of fertilizers and chemicals into the lake and the surrounding area. Also, additional policy measures should be enforced to reduce the mechanical soil tillage and limit erosion and runoff, such as the NBSs implemented within the Phusicos Project.

Mangrove forest is an ecosystem-based solution for disaster risk reduction in the Philippines, but its historical deforestation has hampered its capacity to protect coastal communities. With the increasing occurrence of storm surge in the Philippines, mangrove reforestation projects have received renewed attention, but many have failed. Community participation was deemed to be essential in those projects that did well. Hence, this paper examines successful mangrove restoration and rehabilitation projects in the Philippines to find out how community participation contributed to the accomplishments. The study found that while the transfer of science-based ecological knowledge from project managers to the community is an important factor in ensuring successful initial planning and implementation, its integration into existing local ecological knowledge-\'localisation\' of science-based ecological knowledge or hybrid ecological knowledge formation-helped to facilitate long-term community-based mangrove management beyond project duration by empowering community members and enabling project acceptance and ownership. Still, continuous local institutional support is a necessary anchor for community resilience.
マングローブ林は、フィリピンにおける防災のための生態系ベースのソリューションだが、歴史的な森林伐採により、沿岸地域社会を保護するマングローブ林の力が弱まっている。フィリピンで高潮の発生が増加しているため、マングローブ再植林プロジェクトが再び注目を集めたが、多くは失敗に終わった。マングローブプロジェクトの成功には地域社会の参加が不可欠であると考えられていた。そこで筆者らは、コミュニティの参加がこの成功にどのように貢献したかを調べるために、フィリピンで成功したマングローブの修復および再生プロジェクトを調査した。科学に基づいた生態学的知識 (SEK) をプロジェクト マネージャーからコミュニティに移転することが、初期計画と実装を確実に成功させる上で重要な要素である一方で、SEK と既存の地域の生態学的知識 (LEK) の統合、つまり SEKまたはハイブリッド生態学的知識 (HEK) の形成の「ローカライズ」がコミュニティに力を与え、プロジェクトの受け入れと所有権を可能にすることで、プロジェクト期間を超えた長期的なコミュニティベースのマングローブ管理を促進するのに役立っていることが明らかになった。継続的な地域の制度的支援は、依然として地域社会の回復力に必要な基盤である。.
红树林是菲律宾基于生态系统且减少灾害风险的解决方案，但历史上的森林砍伐削弱了其保护沿海社区的能力。随着菲律宾风暴潮频繁发生，红树林恢复造林项目重新受到关注，但许多项目都以失败告终。社区参与被认为是对于红树林项目的成功至关重要。因此，我们研究了菲律宾成功的红树林恢复和重建项目，以了解社区参与如何促成这一成功。我们发现，虽然将基于科学的生态知识 (SEK) 从项目经理转移到社区是确保成功进行初步规划和实施的重要因素，但将 SEK 与现有的当地生态知识 (LEK) 相结合——SEK 的“本土化”或混合生态知识 (HEK) 的形成——有助于通过赋予社区权力并使项目接受和拥有权来促进项目持续时间之外的长期社区红树林管理。尽管如此，当地机构持续的支持仍然是社区恢复力的必要支柱。.

Bio-ingestion of microplastics poses a global threat to ecosystems, yet studies within nature reserves, crucial habitats for birds, remain scarce despite the well-documented ingestion of microplastics by avian species. Located in Jiangsu Province, China, the Yancheng Wetland Rare Birds Nature Reserve is home to diverse bird species, including many rare ones. This study aimed to assess the abundance and characteristics of microplastics in common bird species within the reserve, investigate microplastic enrichment across different species, and establish links between birds\' habitat types and microplastic ingestion. Microplastics were extracted from the feces of 110 birds, with 84 particles identified from 37.27% of samples. Among 8 species studied, the average microplastic abundance ranged from 0.97 ± 0.47 to 43.43 ± 61.98 items per gram of feces, or 1.5 ± 0.87 to 3.4 ± 1.50 items per individual. The Swan goose (Anser cygnoides) exhibited the highest microplastic abundance per gram of feces, while the black-billed gull (Larus saundersi) had the highest abundance per individual. The predominant form of ingested microplastics among birds in the reserve was fibers, with polyethylene being the most common polymer type. Significant variations in plastic exposure were observed among species and between aquatic and terrestrial birds. This study represents the first quantitative assessment of microplastic concentrations in birds within the reserve, filling a crucial gap in research and providing insights for assessing microplastic pollution and guiding bird conservation efforts in aquatic and terrestrial environments.

People often modify the shoreline to mitigate erosion and protect property from storm impacts. The 2 main approaches to modification are gray infrastructure (e.g., bulkheads and seawalls) and natural or green infrastructure (NI) (e.g., living shorelines). Gray infrastructure is still more often used for coastal protection than NI, despite having more detrimental effects on ecosystem parameters, such as biodiversity. We assessed the impact of gray infrastructure on biodiversity and whether the adoption of NI can mitigate its loss. We examined the literature to quantify the relationship of gray infrastructure and NI to biodiversity and developed a model with temporal geospatial data on ecosystem distribution and shoreline modification to project future shoreline modification for our study location, coastal Georgia (United States). We applied the literature-derived empirical relationships of infrastructure effects on biodiversity to the shoreline modification projections to predict change in biodiversity under different NI versus gray infrastructure scenarios. For our study area, which is dominated by marshes and use of gray infrastructure, when just under half of all new coastal infrastructure was to be NI, previous losses of biodiversity from gray infrastructure could be mitigated by 2100 (net change of biodiversity of +0.14%, 95% confidence interval -0.10% to +0.39%). As biodiversity continues to decline from human impacts, it is increasingly imperative to minimize negative impacts when possible. We therefore suggest policy and the permitting process be changed to promote the adoption of NI.
Cuantificación del impacto de la futura modificación de la costa sobre la biodiversidad en un estudio de caso de la costa de Georgia, Estados Unidos Resumen Las personas modifican con frecuencia la costa para mitigar la erosión o proteger su propiedad del impacto de las tormentas. Los dos enfoques principales para la modificación son la infraestructura gris (p. ej.: mamparos y malecones) y la infraestructura verde o natural (IN) (p.ej.: costas vivientes). La infraestructura gris es más común que la IN, a pesar de que tiene efectos dañinos sobre los parámetros ambientales, como la biodiversidad. Evaluamos el impacto de la infraestructura gris sobre la biodiversidad y si la adopción de la IN puede mitigar su pérdida. Analizamos la literatura para cuantificar la relación de la infraestructura gris y la IN con la biodiversidad. También desarrollamos un modelo con datos geoespaciales temporales sobre la distribución de los ecosistemas y la modificación de la costa para proyectar la modificación costera en el futuro en nuestra localidad de estudio: la costa de Georgia, Estados Unidos. Aplicamos las relaciones empíricas derivadas de la literatura de los efectos de la infraestructura sobre la biodiversidad a las proyecciones de modificación de la costa para predecir el cambio en la biodiversidad bajo diferentes escenarios de infraestructura gris versus IN. En nuestra área de estudio, que está dominada por marismas y usa infraestructura gris, cuando un poco menos de la mitad de toda la infraestructura costera nueva debería ser IN, las pérdidas previas de biodiversidad a partir de la infraestructura gris podrían mitigarse para 2100 (cambio neto de la biodiversidad de +0.14%, 95% intervalo de confianza ‐0.10% a +0.39%). Conforme la biodiversidad siga en declive por el impacto humano, cada vez es más imperativo minimizar el impacto negativo cuando sea posible. Por lo tanto, sugerimos que se modifiquen las políticas y el proceso de permisos para promover la adopción de la IN.

This study investigates the intricate and enduring interplay of historical events, human activities, and natural processes shaping the landscape of North European Plain in western Poland over 230 years. Topographic maps serve as reliable historical data sources to quantify changes in forest, grassland, and wetland areas, scrutinizing their fragmentation and persistence. The primary objectives are to identify the permanent areas of the landscape and propose a universal cartographic visualization method for effectively mapping these changes. Using topographic maps and historical data, this research quantifies land cover changes, especially in forest, grassland, and wetland areas. With the help of retrogressive method we process raster historical data into vector-based information. Over time, wetlands experienced a substantial reduction, particularly in 1960-1982, attributed to both land reclamation and environmental factors. Grassland areas fluctuated, influenced by wetland and drier habitat dynamics. Fragmentation in grassland areas poses biodiversity and ecosystem health concerns, whereas forested areas showed limited fluctuations, with wetland forests nearly disappearing. These findings highlight wetland ecosystems\' sensitivity to human impacts and emphasize the need to balance conservation and sustainable development to preserve ecological integrity. This study advances landscape dynamics understanding, providing insights into historical, demographic, economic, and environmental transformations. It underscores the imperative for sustainable land management and conservation efforts to mitigate human impacts on ecosystems and biodiversity in the North European Plain.

Hexachlorocyclohexanes (HCH) isomers and their transformation products, such as chlorobenzenes (ClB), generate severe and persistent environmental problems at many sites worldwide. The Wetland technology employing oxidation-reduction, biosorption, biodegradation and phytoremediation methods can sufficiently treat HCH-contaminated water. The treatment process is inherently natural and requires no supplementary chemicals or energy. The prototype with a capacity of 3 L/s was installed at Hajek quarry spoil heap (CZ), to optimize the technology on a full scale. The system is fed by drainage water with an average concentration of HCH 129 μg/L, ClB 640 μg/L and chlorophenols (ClPh) of 16 μg/L. The system was tested in two years of operation, regularly monitored for HCH, ClB and ClPh, and maintained to improve its efficiency. The assessment was not only for environmental effects but also for socio and economic indicators. During the operation, the removal efficiency of HCH ranged from 53.5 % to 96.9 % (83.9 % on average) depending on the flow rate. Removal efficiency was not uniform for individual HCH isomers but exhibited the trend: α = γ = δ > β = ε. The improved water quality was reflected in a biodiversity increase expressed by a number of phytobenthos (diatoms) species, a common biomarker of aquatic environment quality. The Wetland outranked the conventional WWTP in 10 out of the 15 general categories, and it is the most relevant scenario from the socio, environmental, and economic aspects.

The contamination of wetlands by heavy metals, exacerbated by agricultural activities, presents a threat to both organisms and humans. Heavy metals may undergo trophic transfer through the food web. However, the methods for quantifying the bioaccumulation and trophic transfer processes of heavy metals based on the food web remains unclear. In this study, we employed stable isotope technology to construct a quantitative oriental white stork\'s typical food web model under a more accurate scaled Δ15N framework. On this basis, the concentrations for heavy metal (Cu, Zn, Hg, Pb) were analyzed, we innovatively visualized the trophic transfer process of heavy metals across 13 nodes and 45 links and quantified the transfer flux based on the diet proportions and heavy metal concentrations of species, taking into account biomagnification effects and potential risks. Our findings revealed that as for Cu and Pb, the transfer flux level was consistent with diet proportion across most links. While Hg and Zn transfer flux level exceeded the corresponding diet proportion in the majority of links. In summary, Hg exhibited a significant biomagnification, whereas Cu, Zn, Pb experienced biodilution. The fish dietary health risk assessment for fish consumers showed that Hg, Pb posed certain risks. This research marks a significant step forward in the quantitative assessment of multi-link networks involving heavy metals within the food web.

The East Kolkata Wetlands (EKWT), designated as a Ramsar Site for its crucial role in sewage water purification, agriculture and pisciculture, faces escalating environmental threats due to rapid urbanisation. Employing the pressure-state-response (PSR) framework and Environmental Risk Assessment (ERA), this study spans three decades to elucidate the evolving dynamics of EKWT. Using Landsat TM and OLI images from 1991, 2001, 2011 and 2021, the research identifies key parameters within the PSR framework. Principal component analysis generates environmental risk maps, revealing a 46% increase in urbanisation, leading to reduced vegetation cover and altered land surface conditions. The spatial analysis, utilizing Getis-Ord Gi* statistics, pinpoints risk hotspots and coldspots in the EKWT region. Correlation analysis underscores a robust relationship between urbanisation, climatic response and environmental risk. Decadal ERA exposes a noteworthy surge in high-risk areas, indicating a deteriorating trend. Quantitative assessments pinpoint environmental risk hotspots, emphasizing the imperative for targeted conservation measures. The study establishes a direct correlation between environmental risk and air quality, underscoring the broader implications of EKWT\'s degradation. While acknowledging the East Kolkata administration\'s efforts, the research recognises its limitations and advocates a holistic, multidisciplinary approach for future investigations. Recommendations encompass the establishment of effective institutions, real-time monitoring, public engagement and robust anti-pollution measures. In offering quantitative insights, this study provides an evidence-based foundation for conservation strategies and sustainable management practices essential to safeguard the East Kolkata Wetlands.

Las Tablas de Daimiel National Park (TDNP, Iberian Peninsula) is a semi-arid wetland of international significance for waterfowl and serves as a migratory route for various bird species. However, TDNP presents strong anthropization and fluctuating water levels, making it a highly fragile ecosystem. Water physico-chemical parameters and microbial diversity of the three domains (Bacteria-Archaea- Eukarya) were analysed in Zone A and Zone B of the wetland (a total of eight stations) during spring and summer, aiming to determine how seasonal changes influence the water quality, trophic status and ultimately, the microbial community composition. Additionally, Photosynthetically Active Radiation (PAR) was used to determine the trophic status instead of transparency using Secchi disk, setting the threshold to 20-40 μmol/sm2 for benthic vegetation growth. In spring, both zones of the wetland were considered eutrophic, and physico-chemical parameters as well as microbial diversity were similar to other wetlands, with most abundant bacteria affiliated to Actinobacteriota, Cyanobacteria, Bacteroidota, Gammaproteobacteria and Verrumicrobiota. Methane-related taxa like Methanosarcinales and photosynthetic Chlorophyta were respectively the most representative archaeal and eukaryotic groups. In summer, phytoplankton bloom led by an unclassified Cyanobacteria and mainly alga Hydrodictyon was observed in Zone A, resulting in an increase of turbidity, pH, phosphorus, nitrogen, chlorophyll-a and phycocyanin indicating the change to hypertrophic state. Microbial community composition was geographical and seasonal shaped within the wetland as response to changes in trophic status. Archaeal diversity decreases and methane-related species increase due to sediment disturbance driven by fish activity, wind, and substantial water depth reduction. Zone B in summer suffers less seasonal changes, maintaining the eutrophic state and still detecting macrophyte growth in some stations. This study provides a new understanding of the interdomain microbial adaptation following the ecological evolution of the wetland, which is crucial to knowing these systems that are ecological niches with high environmental value.

The blue carbon ecosystem, including the salt marsh ecosystem, possesses a significant carbon sequestration potential. Therefore, accurately quantifying the carbon storage within such ecosystems is crucial for the adequate accounting of carbon sequestration. The present work chose a Spartina alterniflora ecosystem in the Xiaogan Island (China) as the study area (approximately 11 ha), and employed the Bayesian maximum entropy (BME) approach to assimilate both hard organic carbon (OC) data and soft OC data measured from 2 cm and 10 cm stratified samples. A 3-dimensional model was developed for space-time OC estimation purposes based on the sediment chronology results. The 10-fold BME cross validation results demonstrated a high estimation accuracy, with the R2, RMSE and MAE values equal to 0.8564, 0.1026 % and 0.0748 %, respectively. A noteworthy outcome was the BME-generated carbon storage density maps with 1 m spatial resolution. These maps revealed that the carbon storage density at the top 30 cm sediment depth in the stable zone (with elder stand age of S. alterniflora) was higher than that in the rapid expansion zone, i.e., 71.79 t/ha vs. 69.82 t/ha, respectively. Additionally, the study found that the averaged carbon burial rate and the total carbon storage at the top 30 cm sediment depth across the study area were 266 g C/m2/yr and 781.50 t, respectively. Lastly, the proposed BME-based framework of carbon storage estimation was found to be versatile and applicable to other blue carbon ecosystems. This approach can foster the development of a standardized carbon sink metrological methodology for diverse blue carbon ecosystems.