Research in Ecology

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

Mon, 19 May 2025 00:00:00 +0800

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.

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

Falin Ding, Chong Zhou — Wed, 07 May 2025 00:00:00 +0800

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.

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

Naseer Jawad Kadhim, Jawad Abdul Kadhim Kamal — Thu, 22 May 2025 00:00:00 +0800

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.

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

El Mostapha Albou, Ali El Mansour, Abdellali Abdaoui, Ali Ait Boughrous — Tue, 13 May 2025 00:00:00 +0800

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.

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

Sonia Khawand — Mon, 21 Apr 2025 00:00:00 +0800

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.

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

Tue, 27 May 2025 00:00:00 +0800

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.

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

Tue, 13 May 2025 00:00:00 +0800

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.