Research in Ecology

Implementation of Conservation through the Use of Native Tree Species for Enrichment Planting in Revegetated Post-Coal Mining Sites

Kissinger, Pamela Yvonne Scheffler, Rina Muhayah Noor Pitri, Wirawan Noor Hadi — Sat, 10 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0800

The low diversity of vegetation on revegetated post-coal mining sites presents an ecological problem that can restrict forest structure and biodiversity recovery. Native tree species were evaluated for enrichment planting using social, economic, ecological and field-survival criteria in five-year-old revegetation plots with roughly 70%–80% canopy cover. Initially, ten native species were screened and planted in field trials. The revised four-class screening framework classified Anisoptera marginata as High, whereas Aleurites moluccana, Alstonia scholaris, Aquilaria malaccensis, Ficus benjamina, Shorea balangeran, Anthocephalus cadamba, and Syzygium sp. were Moderate, and Combretocarpus rotundatus and Melaleuca cajuputi were Low. Field survival exceeded 50% for A. malaccensis, F. benjamina, A. scholaris, A. marginata, A. moluccana, and A. cadamba. A. marginata was selected as the major recommended species, since it coupled a High preliminary screening class with adequate field survival. The remaining surviving species were kept as conditional candidates, whereas species with reduced survival were interpreted in connection to the studied microsite circumstances and probable silvicultural restrictions. The sensitivity analysis indicated that the restriction of the advice was greater with an increase in the survival criterion. These results highlight the need to use both feasibility screening and field confirmation, rather than just one of them. The recommendations are particular to the partially shaded reclamation settings that were evaluated and require further validation across contrasting microsites and with longer monitoring periods.

Genetic Diversity and Population Structure of Hilacha Mango (Mangifera indica L.) in Montería, Colombia Based on SSR Markers

Luisa Causil, Teodora Cavadía, Leandro Anaya, Enrique Pardo — Mon, 07 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0800

Understanding the distribution of genetic diversity within cultivated plant populations is essential for developing effective conservation and sustainable management strategies. Hilacha mango (Mangifera indica L.) is one of the most important traditional landraces cultivated in the Colombian Caribbean; however, information on its genetic diversity and population structure remains limited. This study assessed the genetic diversity and population structure of five Hilacha mango populations from Montería, Córdoba, Colombia, using eight Simple Sequence Repeats (SSR) loci. A total of 47 accessions were genotyped, and genetic diversity indices, Wright's F-statistics, gene flow, analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA), Bayesian clustering, and principal coordinates analysis were performed. The SSR loci revealed substantial allelic variation, with pronounced differences in allele distribution among populations. Florida and San Anterito exhibited the highest levels of allelic richness and genetic diversity, whereas all populations showed lower observed than expected heterozygosity, indicating a generalized heterozygote deficit. Wright's statistics revealed moderate genetic differentiation, mean Fixation Index (F_ST) = 0.109 and relatively high number of migrants per generation (Nm) of 2.464, suggesting that historical germplasm exchange has contributed to maintaining genetic connectivity among populations. AMOVA further showed that most genetic variation was distributed among individuals within populations rather than among populations. These findings demonstrate that Hilacha mango populations in Montería constitute a valuable reservoir of genetic diversity and provide a robust molecular foundation for germplasm conservation, sustainable management, and future breeding programs aimed at preserving this traditional mango landrace.

Evolutionary Game Analysis of Construction Suspension Supervision under Persistent Disasters in the Greater Bay Area

Hanxiang Gong, Jinghua Li, Xi Wang, Xuexian Fang — Thu, 03 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0800

This study aims to provide a methodological contribution by demonstrating how to incorporate exogenous environmental temporal dynamics into evolutionary game models. Unlike existing adaptive Evolutionary Game Theory (EGT) models that primarily capture endogenous behavioral feedback (e.g., adjusting penalties based on violation rates), this framework mathematically formalizes how external environmental duration structurally alters the payoff matrix over time. Using the persistent typhoons in the Greater Bay Area (GBA) purely as a narrative device, this study examines how disaster duration alters the cost-benefit structure of suspension supervision and identifies conditions to prevent regulatory failure. We built a tripartite evolutionary game model among government regulatory departments, construction units, and third-party subjects. A disaster persistence index (D) was explicitly embedded into compliance costs, accident losses, and governance benefits. We also treated detection probability as a dynamic variable. Replicator dynamics and numerical simulations were used to analyze equilibrium stability and parameter sensitivity. The system reaches an ideal safety equilibrium (compliant suspension, diligent performance, strict supervision) when compliance returns and diligence benefits outweigh violation and collusion gains. However, as disaster duration (D) extends, accumulating compliance costs quickly erode compliance incentives. This shift can drive the system into a dangerous state of "violation and dereliction" despite strict supervision. Sensitivity analysis reveals that compliance costs have a critical threshold effect. While higher fines promote compliance, their marginal utility diminishes. Furthermore, excessive collusion rent induces third-party dereliction, and rising regulatory costs threaten supervision sustainability. The model theoretically supports a shift toward dynamic governance. While mechanisms like duration-linked penalties or targeted compensation align with the mathematical conditions for safety equilibrium, these remain theoretical pathways requiring empirical validation before practical application.

A novel numerical approach to the study of riverbed morphometric and hydrological characteristics

Thu, 24 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0800

Reliable prediction of riverbed evolution remains limited by the lack of high‑resolution morphometric data, especially for large rivers flowing through easily erodible soils. This study develops and implements a comprehensive numerical framework designed to reconstruct detailed riverbed geometry by combining multi‑source field and remotely sensed datasets. The method was tested within a 5 km reach of the Amu Darya River in the lower reaches of Uzbekistan, located near the Tashsaka Channel water intake, where intense sediment transport, bank deformation, and rapid morphological adjustments are observed throughout the year. The modelling approach integrates topographic maps, multi‑temporal satellite imagery, and long‑term discharge and stage records from two hydrometric stations to produce initial digital elevation models of the channel bed and banks. The reconstructed geometry was then used in a two‑dimensional hydrodynamic model accounting for sediment transport, bed erosion, and deposition processes; iterative calibration ensured consistency between simulated and observed stages within ± 5 cm. The results demonstrate that the morphometric parameters derived through this multi‑source data‑fusion technique can provide a reliable basis for both scientific analysis and practical hydraulic design in data‑scarce regions. The proposed methodology allows robust assessment of riverbed and channel processes, supports the numerical simulation of sediment‑laden and highly dynamic fluvial environments, and is particularly efficient for predicting morphological behaviour where traditional bathymetric surveys are not feasible. This study therefore contributes to improving hydrodynamic modelling accuracy and to the sustainable management of river resources under conditions of high sediment load, complex channel geometry, and limited ground observations.

Environmental Drivers and Group Defense Strategies in Diffusive and Non-Diffusive Predator-Prey Dynamics

Muhammad Shoaib Arif, Asad Ejaz — Fri, 18 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0800

Predator-prey dynamics are strongly influenced by environmental factors, such as the availability of resources, habitat quality and climatic conditions, which determine species survival, species reproduction and aggregate defensive behaviour. Using these ecological processes, a three-species predator-prey model is formulated and analysed, with prey group defence dependent on an environmental logistic function. Predation intensity, influenced by environmental conditions, is examined, and the long-term dynamics of interacting populations under these conditions are explored. Biologically plausible equilibrium points are verified, and their local and global stability is thoroughly investigated by the Routh-Hurwitz criterion and Lyapunov function methods, respectively. The governing equations are modified to include diffusion terms to describe the dispersal of species in space, leading to a reaction-diffusion system that describes the spread of species in heterogeneous habitats. A three-level finite difference scheme is developed to approximate the diffusive model, and its numerical stability is examined through Von Neumann analysis. Furthermore, the stability of the reaction-diffusion system is investigated using a Fourier series expansion and the Routh-Hurwitz criterion. Increased effective predation, larger population oscillations, and less stable coexistence between species are shown to result from a reduction in the strength of environmentally regulated group defence. In contrast, diffusion can help smooth spatial population gradients, making the ecosystem more resilient to effective predation and promoting species redistribution. The mathematical model proposed here can contribute to a better understanding of the complex interplay between environmental drivers, collective defense, and spatial dispersion in predator-prey dynamics and is potentially applicable to ecological modelling, biodiversity conservation, habitat management, and the analysis of spatially structured ecosystems.

A Hybrid Multi-Sensor Monitoring Framework for Spatial Screening of Particulate and Gaseous Pollutants around a Tropical Urban Landfill

Fri, 09 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0800

Open landfills generate complex mixtures of particulate and gaseous pollutants that can affect nearby communities. However, distance alone does not adequately explain their short-term spatial distribution. This study characterized multiple air pollutants surrounding the Tamangapa Landfill in Indonesia, compared concentrations between near and outer zones, and examined their relationships with distance and meteorological conditions. Field observations were conducted at nine locations situated 200–640 m from a central reference point. PM₁.₀, PM₂.₅, PM₁₀, formaldehyde, total volatile organic compounds (TVOC), CO, CO₂, CH₄, H₂S, O₂, and the lower explosive limit (LEL) were measured using complementary portable sensors. Analytical methods included descriptive statistics, Mann–Whitney tests, Cliff's delta, Spearman correlations, and Benjamini–Hochberg corrections. Particulate concentrations exhibited substantial spatial heterogeneity, with maximum PM₁.₀, PM₂.₅, and PM₁₀ concentrations of 146, 242, and 272 µg/m³, respectively. Mean concentrations in the near zone were approximately 3.6–3.7 times higher than those in the outer zone. TVOC showed a strong negative correlation with distance (rₛ = −0.812; p = 0.0079), although this association did not remain statistically significant after correction for multiple testing (q = 0.063). Pollutant distributions appeared to reflect interactions among distance, plume orientation, meteorological conditions, measurement time, and local activities. This study introduces a hybrid multi-sensor screening framework that integrates particulate, gaseous, spatial, and meteorological measurements for tropical landfill environments, particularly in resource-limited settings where conventional monitoring networks remain limited.

Ecological and ameliorative assessment of soil salinization in the Shirvan plain of the Kura-Araz lowland, Azerbaijan

Sun, 20 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0800

The Kura-Araz Lowland is one of the most important agricultural regions of Azerbaijan and plays a significant role in crop production and national food security. This study evaluates the current ecological and ameliorative status of irrigated soils in the Kurdamir and Goychay districts of the Shirvan Plain. For the first time, a comparative assessment of irrigated soils was conducted in the villages of Sor-Sor in Kurdamir District and Chakhirli and Inca in Goychay District. The salinity dynamics of the past two years were examined using six representative soil sections established in characteristic landscape and agricultural areas. Soil samples were collected from depths of 0–25, 25–50, 50–75, 75–100, 100–150, and 150–200 cm and analyzed for physicochemical properties, salinity status, and productivity-related indicators, including exchangeable (absorbed) bases. The results indicate that the soils of both districts are predominantly heavy-textured, carbonate-rich throughout the soil profile, and alkaline in reaction. Soil pH ranged from 7.18 to 7.53 in Kurdamir and from 7.04 to 8.13 in Goychay. Salinity was identified as the principal soil constraint limiting agricultural productivity in both districts. Grain yields in Kurdamir ranged from 3.0 to 5.0 t ha⁻¹, while cotton yields ranged from 2.8 to 3.0 t ha⁻¹. In Goychay, grain productivity ranged from 3.0 to 3.2 t ha⁻¹. The findings demonstrate that irrigation-induced salinization and associated soil degradation require systematic monitoring and improved irrigation and soil-management practices to maintain soil fertility, enhance agricultural productivity, and ensure the long-term sustainability of irrigated agriculture in the Shirvan Plain.

Measuring Environmental Sub-Pillar Disclosure Consistency in Indonesian Listed Firms: A Panel Analysis Using the Disclosure Consistency Index (DCI)

Fri, 11 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0800

Although environmental sustainability reports by companies listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange (IDX) have increased since Financial Services Authority (Otoritas Jasa Keuangan (OJK)) Regulation No. 51/2017, the internal balance of disclosure content across Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) environmental sub-pillars remains understudied. This study measures multidimensional consistency in disclosures across five GRI environmental pillars: energy (GRI 302), water (GRI 303), biodiversity (GRI 304), carbon emissions (GRI 305), and waste (GRI 306). It introduces the Disclosure Consistency Index (DCI), based on the inverse coefficient of variation, to measure and validate multidimensional disclosure balance. Using a longitudinal dataset of 83 IDX-listed companies and 314 firm-year observations (2020–2023), the study applies trend analysis, Pearson correlation, Kruskal–Wallis tests by sector, and K-means clustering to identify disclosure patterns. Results show an average DCI of 0.3704 (median = 0.3552), indicating moderate-to-low consistency and a trend toward selective disclosure; DCI approaches 1 for balanced disclosers and approaches 0 for extreme selective disclosers. Biodiversity (GRI 304) recorded the lowest score and slowest growth, while Carbon (GRI 305) and Waste (GRI 306) performed relatively better. Bivariate K-means clustering (k = 3) identified three disclosure types: low consistency (Infrastructure & Transport), moderate consistency (Consumer Goods/Agriculture, Property & Real Estate), and high consistency (Energy & Mining, Basic Materials), with statistically significant sectoral gaps across 8 industry classifications. These findings suggest that POJK 51's expanded regulatory scope increased disclosure volume without improving multidimensional consistency, supporting the hypothesis of legitimacy-based selective disclosure. The DCI offers a practical screening tool for regulators, environmental, social, and governance (ESG) investors, and sustainability researchers in emerging markets.

Effects of Tillandsia recurvata Colonization on Vegetative Reserve Compounds in Neltuma laevigata

Wed, 09 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0800

Mesquite species are widely distributed across arid and semi-arid regions and provide important ecological and socioeconomic benefits, including timber, livestock forage, fuelwood, and food for human consumption. However, mesquite woodlands are threatened by several biotic factors, including insect pests, parasitic plants, and epiphytes. The abundance of the atmospheric epiphyte Tillandsia recurvata has been associated with the mineral characteristics of potential host-tree canopies. This study evaluated whether colonization by T. recurvata was associated with changes in nitrogenous compounds and carbohydrate reserves in natural stands of Neltuma laevigata in northern Mexico. Total soluble proteins were quantified using the Bradford method, total free amino acids using the Yemm and Cocking method, starch using a colorimetric iodine-based procedure, and total soluble sugars using the Van Handel method. Roots, stems, leaves, and fruits were compared between trees growing at a site colonized by T. recurvata and trees at a site where the epiphyte was absent. Total soluble protein concentrations did not differ significantly between sites in any of the evaluated organs. In contrast, significant differences in total free amino acid and starch concentrations were detected in all organs. Total soluble sugars concentrations did not differ significantly in roots or fruits, whereas significant differences were observed in stems and leaves. These findings indicate that T. recurvata colonization was associated with organ-specific variation in the nitrogen and carbon reserve compounds of N. laevigata, although total soluble protein concentrations remained unchanged.

Optimal Ratio between Ponds and Mangroves in the Management of Silvofishery in Indramayu Regency

Tue, 22 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0800

Communities’ dependence on aquaculture ponds as their main source of livelihood has resulted in the extensive conversion of mangroves, which then becomes a serious concern for the sustainability of coastal areas in Indramayu Regency, West Java. The economic advantages of aquaculture should be in line with the ecological role of mangroves in achieving sustainable silvofishery management. Despite the fact that different pond-to-mangrove ratios have been suggested in previous research, there is still an absence of quantitative data that takes into consideration all of the three main criteria in decision-making. Thus, the purpose of the study is to determine the most efficient pond-to-mangrove ratio for sustainable development in Indramayu Regency using the Preferred Rating Organization Method for Enrichment Evaluation (PROMETHEE) in a multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA) approach. We conducted a field survey, interviewing stakeholders, holding focus group discussions and observing the ecological environment to understand various economic, ecological and social indicators. A PROMETHEE II analysis was conducted to rank the pond-to-mangrove ratios according to the established criteria. As a result, the most profitable ratio was identified at 70:30, with the highest net flow value of 0.1731. Our study indicates that clear and systematic paths to improve silvofishery management decision-making can be achieved by incorporating stakeholder preferences into MCDA. However, the established ratio must take into account the local economic, ecological, and social contexts of the relevant coastal area before being implemented there.