Research in Ecology

Assessing the Role of Delhi Metro on Urban and Peri-Urban Landscape Change: A GIS Perspective

Rupesh Kumar Gupta — 2025-06-05

This study offers valuable insights into the relationship between metro ridership patterns and the spatial transformations around Delhi Metro stations, underscoring the role of mass transit infrastructure in shaping urban land use and ecosystem landscapes. The primary objective is to assess how high-ridership metro stations can positively influence urban development, particularly regarding socio-economic and ecological dimensions. Integrating primary survey data with ridership statistics from the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC), the research identifies key interchange stations, such as Kashmere Gate and Rajiv Chowk, which exhibit substantial passenger volumes. Utilising GIS-based spatial analysis and remote sensing techniques, land use changes within a 500-meter buffer zone around these stations are considered, focusing on built-up areas, green cover, and open space availability. Time-series satellite imagery generates comparative maps illustrating land use changes pre- and post-introduction of metro services. The analysis reveals that high-ridership stations are linked to significant commercial densification, particularly near Rajiv Chowk, with a p-value of 0.172. Conversely, peripheral stations like Dwarka Sector 21 indicate residential growth trends, with a p-value of 0.087 for residential areas. Importantly, two land use categories—Green Space (t = –2.33, p = 0.045) and Open Space (t = 3.57, p = 0.006)—show statistically significant reductions, highlighting the ecological impacts of metro infrastructure. The findings suggest that metro systems can promote commercial clustering in urban centres while fostering residential growth in surrounding areas. Overall, the study highlights the potential of metro systems to enhance accessibility, reshape urban ecosystems, and encourage the development of compact urban forms. The implications for urban planning advocate for transit-oriented development (TOD) as a strategic approach to manage growth, minimise sprawl, and ensure sustainable and inclusive development.

The findings reveal that major metro stations, including Kashmere Gate and Rajiv Chowk, exhibit the highest ridership levels and function as critical catalysts for commercial intensification and infrastructure concentration. Conversely, peripheral stations such as Dwarka Sector 21 and Anand Vihar reflect more localized development patterns, often characterized by the emergence of residential clusters and supportive infrastructure.

This analysis highlights the crucial role of the metro system in enhancing multimodal connectivity and transforming the urban ecosystem, thus contributing to creating a more compact, accessible, and functionally diverse urban landscape. These insights hold significant importance for planners and policymakers aiming to leverage the spatial impacts of mass transit to promote environmentally sustainable and socially inclusive urban development.

Analysis of Ecological Compensation Willingness and Influencing Factors of Public Welfare Forest—Take Yulong County, Lijiang City as an Example

Falin Ding — 2025-05-07

The construction of ecological public welfare forests is an important ccomponent and foundation of building a beautiful China and plays an important role in the construction of ecological civilization. As an important barrier to maintaining ecological balance and ensuring ecological security, ecological public welfare forests play an extremely important role in human survival and development. The construction and management of ecological public welfare forests can bring many ecological benefits to the local area; Yulong County has effectively improved the ecological environment after years of ecological public welfare forest construction. Therefore, promoting the healthy development of ecological public welfare forests is of great significance. Based on the data from the field questionnaire survey in Yulong County, this paper employs a binary regression model to analyze the influencing factors of willingness to pay for ecological compensation. It identifies the existing problems in the ecological compensation of public welfare forests in Yulong County and puts forward corresponding recommendations. These include improving the compensation policies for public welfare forests, strengthening system construction, adjusting the rural industrial structure, and increasing the income levels of farmers. The aim is to provide a reference for improving the management level and scientific management of ecological public welfare forests in Lijiang City and to achieve the management goal of continuously and stably exerting various ecological and social benefits of ecological public welfare forests.

Impact of Climate Change on Water Resources and Ecological Sustainability in Morocco: A 1990–2022 Analysis

Redouane Kaiss — 2025-05-13

This study comprehensively examines the multifaceted impact of climate change on Morocco’s ecological sustainability and economic development, focusing on four critical environmental stressors: water stress, deforestation, greenhouse gas emissions, and rising temperatures. These interrelated factors contribute significantly to the degradation of natural ecosystems, the decline in biodiversity, reductions in carbon sequestration, and the disruption of ecological balance. Water scarcity—exacerbated by declining precipitation, excessive groundwater extraction, and rising evapotranspiration—threatens the functionality of wetlands, agricultural productivity, and the livelihoods of rural populations. Deforestation accelerates soil erosion, alters hydrological cycles, and leads to the loss of critical habitats, while greenhouse gas emissions and temperature rise intensify climate variability and increase the frequency of extreme events such as droughts and heatwaves. Using longitudinal data from the World Bank (1990–2022) and advanced econometric modeling through EViews 12 software, this study reveals that water stress and rising temperatures have a statistically significant and negative impact on GDP, indicating that climate pressures undermine Morocco’s economic performance, particularly in climate-sensitive sectors. Conversely, the findings show that deforestation and greenhouse gas emissions are positively correlated with short-term economic growth, reflecting a development pattern heavily reliant on natural resource exploitation and carbon-intensive activities, which may offer temporary gains but pose serious long-term risks to sustainability. These results underscore the urgent need for a paradigm shift toward ecosystem-based adaptation and mitigation strategies, including afforestation, wetland restoration, integrated land and water resource management, and the incorporation of climate resilience into national development frameworks.

Isolation and Characterization of Plant Growth Promoting Endophytes from Linum Usitatissimum

Shalu Choudhary — 2025-06-06

This present study identifies endophytic bacteria from Linum usitatissimum with multidimensional plant growth-promoting attributes, positioning them as ecological engineers for sustainable agriculture. Plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB) are present in symbiotic associations with plants or rhizosphere. These microbes enhance crop productivity and resilience under different environmental conditions. Endophytes are a type of PGPB that inhabit inside plant tissues and contribute to plant growth by phytohormone production, phosphate solubilisation, zinc solubilisation, siderophore production, ammonia production, nitrogen fixation, stress tolerance, and biocontrol mechanisms. Twelve bacterial strains were isolated from Linum usitatissimum exhibiting plant growth-promoting attributes such as ammonia and indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) production, siderophore synthesis, phosphate solubilisation, and extracellular enzyme synthesis. The isolated endophytes were also assessed for different enzymatic activities such as; cellulase, pectinase, xylanase, amylase, and gelatinase, which contribute to development of a symbiotic relationship and are crucial for the degradation of plant cell wall components The most efficient endophytes identified in the present study were Pseudomonas sp. strain JL-1 (ESL1) and Staphylococcus sciuri (ESL2), both of which displayed strong plant growth-promoting potential. ESL1 and ESL2 demonstrated promising plant growth-promoting characteristics and cellulase, pectinase, xylanase, amylase, and gelatinase, activity. ESL2 (Staphylococcus sciuri) enhanced nutrient cycling (phosphate solubilisation: 196–209 µg/ml; siderophores: 68–71%) and stress tolerance (IAA: 11–12 µg/ml), reducing reliance on synthetic inputs. By integrating flax microbiomes into agro-ecosystems, we demonstrate a scalable approach to reconcile crop productivity with soil biodiversity conservation. These results demonstrate the potentiality of these endophytic microbes in sustainable agriculture, environmental management, and microbial biotechnology. Further studies on their metabolic pathways may expand their applications in bioremediation and plant-microbe interactions.

Molecular and Toxicological Characterization of Indigenous Bacillus thuringiensis for Eco-Biocontrol of Spodoptera frugiperda in Corn Agroecosystems

Daniel Lantang — 2025-06-10

This study investigated the eco-biocontrol potential of indigenous isolates obtained from agricultural soils in Warbo Village, Papua, Indonesia, targeting the highly destructive fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda) in corn agroecosystems. A total of 58 bacterial colonies were isolated, of which 18 were morphologically confirmed as Bacillus thuringiensis based on endospore and parasporal crystal protein characteristics. These isolates were cultured in Tryptose Phosphate Broth and tested for larvicidal activity against second-instar larvae under controlled conditions. Toxicity tests revealed that isolate 18 exhibited the highest efficacy, causing 100% larval mortality, followed by isolates 12 and 13 with 93.3%, confirming a strong entomopathogenic potential. The most toxic isolates were further verified by the presence of cry1F and cry2Aa genes through PCR analysis, indicating the molecular basis of their virulence. The innovation of this research lies in the combination of morphological, toxicological, and molecular characterizations of locally adapted Bacillus thuringiensis strains, which offers a sustainable, environmentally friendly alternative to chemical pesticides. These findings provide a scientific foundation for developing region-specific bioinsecticides, reducing dependence on synthetic inputs, and supporting sustainable pest management strategies in tropical corn production systems.

Lilium Candidum L. (Liliaceae), a New Exotic Species Reported in the Jbel Sidi Ali El Jawzi (Prerif, Morocco)

Ahmed Chriqui — 2025-05-19

The genus Lilium comprises 119 taxa, primarily native to temperate and alpine regions of the Northern Hemisphere, extending to the northern Philippines. In this study, we report the first occurrence of Lilium candidum L. in Morocco, specifically in the jbel Sidi Ali El Jawzi area, within the territorial commune of Asjen, Ouezzane Province (Pre-Rif region). During a botanical survey conducted in May 2022, a population of L. candidum was identified, marking its first recorded presence in the country. Morphological characteristics were analyzed and compared with existing descriptions in the literature to confirm species identification. The species was found in a humid microclimate with calcareous soils, suggesting specific ecological requirements that facilitated its establishment. This unexpected discovery raises several questions regarding its biogeographical history, potential introduction pathways, and adaptation mechanisms in the Moroccan environment. Given its limited distribution and ecological specificity, its conservation status should be carefully evaluated, as human activities, habitat disturbance, and climate change may pose significant threats. Further studies, including genetic analyses and ecological monitoring, are needed to determine its origin, assess population stability, and establish conservation strategies. The presence of L. candidum in the Pre-Rif region expands the known distribution of the species and highlights the importance of continuous botanical exploration in North Africa, particularly in understudied mountainous ecosystems.

Impact of Iron Nanoparticles, Carbon Nanotube, and Biostimulatory Agents Application on Mushroom (Agaricus bisporus)

Mustafa Algarawi — 2025-05-23

Enhancing A. bisporus L. culture media with nanomaterials and some biostimulants is important for in improving mushroom productivity quantitatively and qualitatively. Magnetic iron nanoparticles (N-FeO), carbon nanotube (CNTs) suspensions, effective microorganisms (EM) bio-fertilisers, and growth stimulants (Atonik) were used individually and in combination to enhance the compost culture media. Quantitative and qualitative traits of the mushroom yield were measured. In a simple oOne-Wway experiment that included 16 treatments —Ssingle agents, two-, three-, and four-way Ccombinations and three replications—, the statistical analysis results of Duncan’'s test showed. Tthat the individual impact of the applied study treatments and their combined synergistic effects resulted in a significant increase in the traits of the number of fruiting bodies, fruiting body rate, yield quantity, mushroom biological efficiency ratio, stem length, stem diameter, head diameter, head thickness, carbohydrates content, protein content, ash, and dry matter. The application of Atonik itself resulted in the highest values of fruiting body number, yield, biological efficiency, and stem length, which were respectively were 128.33 body bags^–1, 2814 g bag^–1, 37.52%, and 3.03 cm, compared to the control of 32.33 body bags^–1, 749 g bag^–1, 9.98%, and 1.72 cm. The treatments N-FeO+CNT+EM+ATO resulted in a significant increase in the traits of the fruiting body rate, stem length, and carbohydrate content by 32.69 g, 3.40 cm, and 16.78%, respectively, compared to the control of 22.97 g, 1.72 cm, and 8.16%, respectively.

Emerging Strategies for Ecological Conservation: Challenging Traditional Theories and Advancing Sustainable Solutions

Sonia Khawand — 2025-04-21

Ecological conservation is at a crossroad as environmental stresses around the world intensify and traditional models of conservation exhibit intrinsic weaknesses in their response to present and future problems. In the project, we evaluated novel approaches integrating adaptive management, technological innovations, and community-based action towards more efficient sustainable conservation results and ecosystem resilience. The multi-site experimental design was based on comparison between conventional reserve management and novel integrative models implemented in diverse ecological zones. Data were collected over a period of three years employing remote sensing technologies, in situ biodiversity assessments, and large socioeconomic surveys. These instruments enabled a robust and multi-dimensional measurement of variables such as species diversity, ecological resilience, community engagement, and stakeholder engagement. The results indicate that adaptive strategies significantly enhance real-time decision-making abilities and enhance long-term ecosystem resilience. Further, technology-driven monitoring greatly enhances data accuracy, responsiveness, and early warning capabilities. Besides that, community-based conservation initiatives were found to be pivotal in facilitating local stewardship, enhancing participatory governance, and enabling more adaptive and adaptive policy systems. This research rejects mainstream conservation paradigms by placing importance on flexibility, interdisciplinarity, and inclusivity of governance systems in effectively mitigating the impacts of climate change and loss of biodiversity. Our findings offer strong evidence that emerging paradigms of conservation can provide greater ecological and social sustainability than traditional methods. These results support the need for a paradigm shift towards conservation strategies that are dynamic, collaborative, and technologically integrated, with significant implications for policy formulation as well as operational environmental management.

Geometric Morphometric Analysis of Body Shape Variation in Glossogobius giuris from Lake Mainit, Agusan del Norte, Philippines

Cresencio C. Cabuga, Jr — 2025-06-03

Most fish exhibit remarkable morphological diversity, which is often influenced by genetic variation and ecological pressures. Consequently, these are the outcomes of organisms' responses to their environment. Meanwhile, modern morphometrics can quantify shape variation within species of the same group. This study aims to determine the body shape variation of Glossogobius giuris from Lake Mainit, Agusan Del Norte, Philippines. 60 adult, uniform-sized fish samples were collected and subjected to standardized laboratory procedures. Further, the samples were digitized for 16 homologous landmark points and loaded into Symmetry Asymmetry Geometric Data (SAGE) Software. Across the tested factors—individuals, sides, and individual x sides—result shows that shape variations among individuals were highly significant (F = 2.1045, p < 0.0001), along with among males (F = 3.2711, p < 0.0001). Females exhibited higher Fluctuating Asymmetry (FA) (F = 18.99, p < 0.0001) compared to males (F = 7.0964, p < 0.0001). It suggests morphological shape differences across the sexes, and the shape variation observed could be a response to environmental perturbations. Shape variations were associated with swimming, food hunting, and predator defense. Moreover, Principal Component Analysis (PCA) demonstrates higher scores of FA in females (81.96%) than in males (74.76%). It was noticed that females had a high fluctuating asymmetry. It might be due to various physiological and ecological pressures compared to males. The observed levels of directional and fluctuating asymmetry in males and females, respectively, may indicate sex-linked morphological and developmental processes, which are important to consider in ecological or evolutionary contexts. Thus, utilizing geometric morphometrics can depict subtle differences across the same populations.

Groundwater Contamination in Semi-Arid Zones: Assessing Organophosphorus and Organochlorine Pesticide Risks from Agricultural Intensification in the Guir Watershed

El Mostapha Albou — 2025-05-13

This study evaluates pesticide contamination in groundwater downstream of the Kaddoussa Dam (Guir watershed, Morocco) and investigates the influence of agricultural activities on water quality. Nine sampling stations were strategically selected during November 2023 (post-agricultural season) to analyze spatial patterns of 18 pesticide residues: 7 organophosphorus and 11 organochlorines. Identification and quantification were performed via gas chromatography method, targeting both compound classes. Key findings reveal moderate yet localized contamination. The total concentration of organophosphorus pesticides (∑POPs) ranged from 0 µg/L (S8) to 0.191 µg/L (S4), with peak concentrations at stations S3 (0.190 µg/L) and S4 (0.191 µg/L), correlating spatially with intensive agricultural zones. Otherwise, the total concentration of organochlorine pesticides (∑POCs) showed lower levels (0–0.060 µg/L), with maxima at S4 linked to endosulfan and HCH isomers. Notably, none of the detected organochlorine concentrations exceeded 0.06 µg/L, indicating relatively low levels of contamination. Central stations (S2–S6) exhibited co-occurrence of both pesticide groups, dominated by organophosphorus pesticides (0.135–0.191 µg/L), while peripheral sites (S1, S7, S8, S9) displayed negligible or undetectable residues. Despite sub-regulatory thresholds, the persistent detection of pesticides underscores ecological and public health risks, particularly in arid regions with heightened vulnerability due to limited healthcare access and water scarcity. Even at low concentrations, organophosphorus and organochlorine pesticides pose significant threats to aquatic ecosystems through bioaccumulation, while also presenting acute health risks to farmworkers and local communities dependent on contaminated groundwater. This study highlights the urgent need for integrated pesticide management strategies to mitigate long-term environmental and socio-economic impacts in agriculturally intensive, water-stressed regions.

Influence of Processed Mustard Seed Meals on Growth and Health Parameters in Indian Major Carps

Shivanshu Garg — 2025-05-23

The current investigation focuses on intertwined relationships of ecology and aquaculture for the benefit of farmers involved in fish farming practices. The study evaluated glucosinolate reduction in black, brown, and white mustard meals as fish feed ingredients for Indian Major Carps. Fish were fed with 10% mustard meal-supplemented diets in three forms: Raw (R), Anti-nutritional Rich (AR), and Anti-nutritional Lowered (AL), alongside a control group using floating feed. The three-month indoor experiment (September-November 2023) was conducted in FRP tanks with triplicate treatments. Blood analysis revealed compromised health in AR-fed carps, with reduced hemoglobin levels in rohu, catla and mrigal and elevated total leukocyte counts indicating inflammation in all the three carps studied here. Liver function was impaired in AR-fed fish, shown by increased alanine transaminase levels, highest in rohu followed by mrigal and catla. Histopathological examination of AR-fed carps liver tissue revealed necrotic spots, deformed hepatocytes, and significant vacuolation. In contrast, AL-fed fish demonstrated improved health parameters through Complete Blood Count analysis, liver function tests, and histo-pathological observations, suggesting successful reduction of anti-nutritional factors in the processed mustard meals. In near future, replacement of unprocessed seed meal with processed seed meal will lead to economic gains in fish farming.

Sorption Activity of Plant Biosorbents in Wastewater Treatment

Anna Poshtarenko — 2025-05-26

Wastewater plays a crucial role in deteriorating water quality and can significantly affect human health and ecosystems if discharged without proper treatment. Among available treatment methods, adsorption is often considered an effective, relatively inexpensive, and environmentally friendly purification technique, but its efficiency depends on the sorbents used. The use of low-cost biosorbents with high adsorption capacity is widely studied. These include various biomaterials such as microalgae, cyanobacteria, fungi, and plant materials. The utilization of different biosorbents derived from plant waste, such as Paulownia wood, aspen, hickory, Ziziphus bark, peach tree shavings, as well as grasses such as red fescue and reed, and Sargassum algae in natural and modified forms, is a crucial research direction. Such studies highlight the potential to address waste issues by repurposing it as biosorbents. Several studies have examined the ability of different biosorbents to treat wastewater and suggested that the physicochemical properties of the material's surface, such as specific surface area, pore size, and pore volume, play a decisive role in adsorption capacity. A quantitative analysis of plant-based biosorbents will significantly aid in developing water treatment systems and achieving optimal adsorption through modifications of their physicochemical properties. Furthermore, the analysis will help understand the relative importance of each physicochemical property in determining adsorption capacity, thereby contributing to the implementation of treatment methods targeting specific pollutants.

Keywords: biosorption, plant sorbents, adsorption capacity, wastewater

Isolation and Identification of the Plant Growth-Promoting Bacterium Pseudomonas fluorescens by 16S rRNA Sequence Analysis Its Efficacy as a Bioinoculator

Naseer Jawad Kadhim — 2025-05-22

The isolation of bacteria from the rhizosphere soil of different plants and locations in Diwaniyah Governorate and their diagnosis by two methods. Isolation and routine molecular diagnosis revealed ten bacterial isolates with the attributes of P. fluorescens out of fifteen local isolates that are represented by the following codes and sequences (P.f9, P.f8, P.f6, P.f5, P.f4, P.f2, P.f1, P.f14, P.f13, P.f11). Results also confirmed the diagnosis of bacterial isolates by biochemical and molecular tests using a specialized primer to amplify the bp698 region of the 16S ribosomal RNA gene, approved by Macrogen/Korea. The test efficiency in dissolving solid phosphate by P. fluorescens bacteria showed that the most effective is the (P.f1) isolate, giving the highest score effectiveness in mineral phosphate dissolution by the diameter of the clear zone around the colony, which was effective in phosphate dissolution up to 6.95 mm. The efficiency of the Nitrogen Fixation Test showed that the isolate (P.f5) scored the highest nitrogen-fixing efficiency amount with a value of 6.81 mg L^–¹. The quantitative amount of the hormone for each of Auxins, Cytokinins, and Gibberellins was assayed; the results with isolate (P.f1) for IAA (Auxins) gave a concentration up to 28.6 µg ml^–¹, which was the most, while the production of GA3 by isolate (P.f1) gave the maximum value of 36.7 µg ml^–¹, and for synthesis of the hormone of Cytokinins represented by isolate (P.f2), the highest value in the production of Cytokinins hormone was recorded at 26.3 µg ml^–¹.

Assessing Ecological Impacts of Urban Land Valuation: AI and Regression Models for Sustainable Land Management

Yana Volkova — 2025-06-07

The results of mass appraisal in many countries are used as a basis for calculating the amount of real estate tax, therefore, regardless of the methods used to calculate it, the resulting value should be as close as possible to the market value of the real estate to maintain a balance of interests between the state and the rights holders. In practice, this condition is not always met, since, firstly, the quality of market data is often very low, and secondly, some markets are characterized by low activity, which is expressed in a deficit of information on asking prices. The aim of the work is ecological valuation of land use: how regression-based mass appraisal can inform ecological conservation, land degradation, and sustainable land management. Four multiple regression models were constructed for AI generated map of land plots for recreational use in St. Petersburg (Russia) with different volumes of market information (32, 30, 20 and 15 units of market information with four price-forming factors). During the analysis of the quality of the models, it was revealed that the best result is shown by the model built on the maximum sample size, then the model based on 15 analogs, which proves that a larger number of analog objects does not always allow us to achieve better results, since the more analog objects there are.

The Role of Indonesia’s Forest Area with Special Purpose in Supporting Sustainable Development Goals

Muhammad Iqbal Nur Madjid — 2025-06-06

Forest areas with special purpose (FASP) are decentralized management rights of state forest areas for universities and research institutions. The area of FASP management licenses continues to increase, as recorded in 2019, covering an area of 37,569 ha. At the end of 2024, there are 45 FASPs in Indonesia with a total area of 107,085.91 ha. The management of FASP is expected to achieve its main objectives of education and research, without leaving the ecological function as the main function of the forest. Various studies have been conducted in FASP on different research topics, but none of them have summarized the role of FASP in supporting sustainable development goals. This study aims to determine the role of FASP in Indonesia in supporting the implementation of SDGs. This research was conducted through a systematic literature review using articles from the Scopus and Web of Science databases. Through a series of data collection activities, 48 articles were obtained as review material in this study. The results of this study indicate that the FASP management that has been implemented in Indonesia not only supports educational and research objectives, but also supports the achievement of SDGs which are divided into 1) ecology and biodiversity (SDG 15), 2) community welfare (SDG 1, 2, and 5), 3) sustainable utilization (SDG 12), 4) climate change response (SDG 13), and 5) water and soil conservation (SDG 6). Further research can be conducted at different FASP locations to support information on the role of FASP in achieving the SDGs.

The Heavy Metal Pollution Index in Seawater of the Coastal Aquaculture Zone in Quang Ninh, Vietnam

Le Xuan Sinh — 2025-06-13

Heavy metal pollution in coastal waters is on the rise, presenting serious threats to both ecosystems and human health. Coastal aquaculture zones, such as those in Quang Ninh province, are especially vulnerable due to the accumulation of heavy metals from multiple sources, including industrial wastewater, land runoff, and maritime activities. This study applies the Heavy Metal Pollution Index (HPI) to assess pollution levels based on the concentrations of nine heavy metals (Cr, Mn, Fe, Cu, Zn, As, Cd, Hg, Pb) found in seawater samples collected from coastal aquaculture areas in Quang Ninh. According to the HPI method, values exceeding 100 indicate polluted water, serving as a benchmark for evaluating heavy metal contamination in the region. A total of 25 seawater samples were collected and analyzed; of these, 18 samples (72%) had HPI values above 100, signaling a concerning level of heavy metal pollution, while only 7 samples (28%) fell below the threshold, suggesting no significant contamination. These results underscore the urgent need for enhanced monitoring of water quality and stricter regulation of pollution sources to protect both environmental and public health.