ALBERT

Description: FTIR spectral identification is today’s gold standard analytical procedure for plastic pollution material characterization. High-throughput FTIR techniques have been advanced for small microplastics (10–500 µm) but less so for large microplastics (500–5 mm) and macroplastics (〉 5 mm). These larger plastics are typically analyzed using ATR, which is highly manual and can sometimes destroy particles of interest. Furthermore, spectral libraries are often inadequate due to the limited variety of reference materials and spectral collection modes, resulting from expensive spectral data collection. We advance a new high-throughput technique to remedy these problems using FTIR microplate readers for measuring large particles (〉 500 µm). We created a new reference database of over 6000 spectra for transmission, ATR, and reflection spectral collection modes with over 600 plastic, organic, and mineral reference materials relevant to plastic pollution research. We also streamline future analysis in microplate readers by creating a new particle holder for transmission measurements using off-the-shelf parts and fabricating a nonplastic 96-well microplate for storing particles. We determined that particles should be presented to microplate readers as thin as possible due to thick particles causing poor-quality spectra and identifications. We validated the new database using Open Specy and demonstrated that additional transmission and reflection spectra reference data were needed in spectral libraries.

Description: There has been extensive research into the nonlinear responses of the Earth system to astronomical forcing during the last glacial cycle. However, the speed and spatial geometry of ice sheet expansion to its largest extent at the Last Glacial Maximum 21 thousand years ago remains uncertain. Here we use an Earth system model with interactive ice sheets to show that distinct initial North American (Laurentide) ice sheets at 38 thousand years ago converge towards a configuration consistent with the Last Glacial Maximum due to feedbacks between atmospheric circulation and ice sheet geometry. Notably, ice advance speed and spatial pattern in our model are controlled by the amount of summer snowfall, which is dependent on moisture transport pathways from the North Atlantic warm pool linked to ice sheet geometry. The consequence of increased summer snowfall on the surface mass balance of the ice sheet is not only the direct increase in accumulation but the indirect reduction in melt through the snow/ice–albedo feedback. These feedbacks provide an effective mechanism for ice growth for a range of initial ice sheet states and may explain the rapid North American ice volume increase during the last ice age and potentially driving growth during previous glacial periods.

Description: Recently, seasonal pulses of modified Warm Deep Water have been observed near the Filchner Ice Shelf front in the Weddell Sea, Antarctica. Here, we investigate the temperature evolution of subsurface waters in the Filchner Trough under four future scenarios of carbon dioxide emissions using the climate model AWI-CM. Our model simulates these warm intrusions, suggests more frequent pulses in a warmer climate, and supports the potential for a regime shift from cold to warm Filchner Trough in two high-emission scenarios. The regime shift is governed in particular by decreasing local sea ice formation and a shoaling thermocline. Cavity circulation is not critical in triggering the change. Consequences would include increased ice shelf basal melting, reduced buttressing of fast-flowing ice streams, loss of grounded ice and an acceleration of global sea level rise. According to our simulations, the regime shift can be avoided and the Filchner Trough warming can be restricted to 0.5 ∘C by reaching the 2 ∘C climate goal.

Description: Plasmids alter microbial evolution and lifestyles by mobilizing genes that often confer fitness in changing environments across clades. Yet our ecological and evolutionary understanding of naturally occurring plasmids is far from complete. Here we developed a machine-learning model, PlasX, which identified 68,350 non-redundant plasmids across human gut metagenomes and organized them into 1,169 evolutionarily cohesive ‘plasmid systems’ using our sequence containment-aware network-partitioning algorithm, MobMess. Individual plasmids were often country specific, yet most plasmid systems spanned across geographically distinct human populations. Cargo genes in plasmid systems included well-known determinants of fitness, such as antibiotic resistance, but also many others including enzymes involved in the biosynthesis of essential nutrients and modification of transfer RNAs, revealing a wide repertoire of likely fitness determinants in complex environments. Our study introduces computational tools to recognize and organize plasmids, and uncovers the ecological and evolutionary patterns of diverse plasmids in naturally occurring habitats through plasmid systems.

Description: Respiratory reductases enable microorganisms to use molecules present in anaerobic ecosystems as energy-generating respiratory electron acceptors. Here we identify three taxonomically distinct families of human gut bacteria (Burkholderiaceae, Eggerthellaceae and Erysipelotrichaceae) that encode large arsenals of tens to hundreds of respiratory-like reductases per genome. Screening species from each family (Sutterella wadsworthensis, Eggerthella lenta and Holdemania filiformis), we discover 22 metabolites used as respiratory electron acceptors in a species-specific manner. Identified reactions transform multiple classes of dietary- and host-derived metabolites, including bioactive molecules resveratrol and itaconate. Products of identified respiratory metabolisms highlight poorly characterized compounds, such as the itaconate-derived 2-methylsuccinate. Reductase substrate profiling defines enzyme–substrate pairs and reveals a complex picture of reductase evolution, providing evidence that reductases with specificities for related cinnamate substrates independently emerged at least four times. These studies thus establish an exceptionally versatile form of anaerobic respiration that directly links microbial energy metabolism to the gut metabolome.

Description: Over the past 40 years, the significance of microzooplankton grazing in oceanic carbon cycling has been highlighted with the help of dilution experiments. The ecologically relevant Western Antarctic Peninsula (WAP) ecosystem in the Southern Ocean (SO), however, has not been well studied. Here we present data from dilution experiments, performed at three stations around the northern tip of the WAP to determine grazing rates of small zooplankton (hetero- and mixotrophic members of the 0.2–200 µm size fraction, SZP) on auto- and heterotrophic members of the 〈 200 µm plankton community as well as their gross growth. While variable impacts of SZP grazing on carbon cycling were measured, particulate organic carbon, not the traditionally used parameter chlorophyll a, provided the best interpretable results. Our results suggested that heterotrophic picoplankton played a significant role in the carbon turnover at all stations. Finally, a comparison of two stations with diverging characteristics highlights that SZP grazing eliminated 56–119% of gross particulate organic carbon production from the particulate fraction. Thus, SZP grazing eliminated 20–50 times more carbon from the particulate fraction compared to what was exported to depth, therefore significantly affecting the efficiency of the biological carbon pump at these SO sites.

Description: Plastics are persistent in the environment and may be ingested by organisms where they may cause physical harm or release plastic additives. Monitoring is a crucial mechanism to assess the risk of plastics to the marine and terrestrial ecosystem. Unfortunately, due to unharmonised procedures, it remains difficult to compare the results of different studies. This publication, as part of the Horizon project EUROqCHARM, aims to identify the properties of the available analytical processes and methods for the determination of plastics in biota. Based on a systematic review, reproducible analytical pipelines were examined and the technological readiness levels were assessed so that these methods may eventually (if not already) be incorporated into (harmonised) monitoring programs where biota are identified as indicators of plastic pollution.

Description: Ocean eddies play a critical role in climate and marine life. In the rapidly warming Arctic, little is known about how ocean eddy activity will change because existing climate models cannot resolve Arctic Ocean mesoscale eddies. Here, by employing a next-generation global sea ice–ocean model with kilometre-scale horizontal resolution in the Arctic, we find a surge of eddy kinetic energy in the upper Arctic Ocean, tripling on average in a four-degree-warmer world. The driving mechanism behind this surge is an increase in eddy generation due to enhanced baroclinic instability. Despite the decline of sea ice, eddy killing (a process in which eddies are dampened by sea ice and winds) will not weaken in its annual mean effect in the considered warming scenario. Our study suggests the importance of adequately representing Arctic eddy activity in climate models for understanding the impacts of its increase on climate and ecosystems.

Description: Enhancing ocean productivity by artificial upwelling is evaluated as a nature-based solution for food security and climate change mitigation. Fish production is intended through diatom-based plankton food webs as these are assumed to be short and efficient. However, our findings from mesocosm experiments on artificial upwelling in the oligotrophic ocean disagree with this classical food web model. Here, diatoms did not reduce trophic length and instead impaired the transfer of primary production to crustacean grazers and small pelagic fish. The diatom-driven decrease in trophic efficiency was likely mediated by changes in nutritional value for the copepod grazers. Whilst diatoms benefitted the availability of essential fatty acids, they also caused unfavorable elemental compositions via high carbon-to-nitrogen ratios (i.e. low protein content) to which the grazers were unable to adapt. This nutritional imbalance for grazers was most pronounced in systems optimized for CO2 uptake through carbon-to-nitrogen ratios well beyond Redfield. A simultaneous enhancement of fisheries production and carbon sequestration via artificial upwelling may thus be difficult to achieve given their opposing stoichiometric constraints. Our study suggest that food quality can be more critical than quantity to maximize food web productivity during shorter-term fertilization of the oligotrophic ocean.

Description: Interest in deep-sea mining for polymetallic nodules as an alternative source to onshore mines for various high-technology metals has risen in recent years, as demands and costs have increased. The need for studies to assess its short- and long-term consequences on polymetallic nodule ecosystems is therefore also increasingly prescient. Recent image-based expedition studies have described the temporal impacts on epi-/megafauna seafloor communities across these ecosystems at particular points in time. However, these studies have failed to capture information on large infauna within the sediments or give information on potential transient and temporally limited users of these areas, such as mobile surface deposit feeders or fauna responding to bloom events or food fall depositions. This study uses data from the Peru Basin polymetallic nodule province, where the seafloor was previously disturbed with a plough harrow in 1989 and with an epibenthic sled (EBS) in 2015, to simulate two contrasting possible impact forms of mining disturbance. To try and address the shortfall on information on transient epifauna and infauna use of these various disturbed and undisturbed areas of nodule-rich seafloor, images collected 6 months after the 2015 disturbance event were inspected and all Lebensspuren, ‘traces of life’, were characterized by type (epi- or infauna tracemakers, as well as forming fauna species where possible), along with whether they occurred on undisturbed seafloor or regions disturbed in 1989 or 2015. The results show that epi- and endobenthic Lebensspuren were at least 50% less abundant across both the ploughed and EBS disturbed seafloors. This indicates that even 26 years after disturbance, sediment use by fauna may remain depressed across these areas.

Description: Understanding the genetic structure of populations and the processes responsible for its spatial and temporal dynamics is vital for assessing species’ adaptability and survival in changing environments. We investigate the genetic fingerprinting of blooming populations of the marine diatom Pseudo-nitzschia multistriata in the Gulf of Naples (Mediterranean Sea) from 2008 to 2020. Strains were genotyped using microsatellite fingerprinting and natural samples were also analysed with Microsatellite Pool-seq Barcoding based on Illumina sequencing of microsatellite loci. Both approaches revealed a clonal expansion event in 2013 and a more stable genetic structure during 2017–2020 compared to previous years. The identification of a mating type (MT) determination gene allowed to assign MT to strains isolated over the years. MTs were generally at equilibrium with two notable exceptions, including the clonal bloom of 2013. The populations exhibited linkage equilibrium in most blooms, indicating that sexual reproduction leads to genetic homogenization. Our findings show that P. multistriata blooms exhibit a dynamic genetic and demographic composition over time, most probably determined by deeper-layer cell inocula. Occasional clonal expansions and MT imbalances can potentially affect the persistence and ecological success of planktonic diatoms.

Description: Climate change is opening the Arctic Ocean to increasing human impact and ecosystem changes. Arctic fjords, the region’s most productive ecosystems, are sustained by a diverse microbial community at the base of the food web. Here we show that Arctic fjords become more prokaryotic in the picoplankton (0.2–3 µm) with increasing water temperatures. Across 21 fjords, we found that Arctic fjords had proportionally more trophically diverse (autotrophic, mixotrophic, and heterotrophic) picoeukaryotes, while subarctic and temperate fjords had relatively more diverse prokaryotic trophic groups. Modeled oceanographic connectivity between fjords suggested that transport alone would create a smooth gradient in beta diversity largely following the North Atlantic Current and East Greenland Current. Deviations from this suggested that picoeukaryotes had some strong regional patterns in beta diversity that reduced the effect of oceanographic connectivity, while prokaryotes were mainly stopped in their dispersal if strong temperature differences between sites were present. Fjords located in high Arctic regions also generally had very low prokaryotic alpha diversity. Ultimately, warming of Arctic fjords could induce a fundamental shift from more trophic diverse eukaryotic- to prokaryotic-dominated communities, with profound implications for Arctic ecosystem dynamics including their productivity patterns.

Description: We studied the potential of a recently introduced species, the Asian brush-clawed crab (Hemigrapsus takanoi), to expand its distribution range further into the Baltic Sea. H. takanoi has been documented in the southwestern Baltic Sea since 2014. The ability to persist and further expand into the Baltic Proper will depend on their potential to sustain all stages of their complex life cycle, including pelagic larvae, under the Baltic Sea's conditions. Range limits may be established by the tolerance to low salinity, which in addition may be affected by water temperature. A key question is whether local populations at the distribution limit (within the Baltic Sea) show increased tolerance to low salinities and hence promote further expansion. We quantified the combined effects of salinity (10–33 PSU) and temperature (15–24 °C) on larval development in four populations of H. takanoi (two from the Baltic and two from the North Sea). We found substantial differences in larval performance between the populations from the Baltic and North Seas. Larvae from the North Sea populations always showed higher survival and faster development compared with those from the Baltic Sea. Only weak evidence of elevated tolerance towards low salinity was found in the larvae from the Baltic Sea populations. In addition, larvae from the population located near the range limit showed very low survival under all tested salinity-temperature combinations and no evidence of increased tolerance to low salinity. There was no apparent genetic differentiation among the studied populations in the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit one gene (COI) implying high connectivity among the populations. In conclusion, the weak evidence of low salinity tolerance in Baltic Sea populations, and poor larval performance for the population located near the range limit, coupled with limited genetic differentiation suggest that subsidies are needed for populations to persist near the range limit. Alternatively, ontogenetic migrations would be required to sustain those populations. Monitoring efforts are needed to elucidate the underlaying mechanisms and document potential future range expansions.

Description: Diversity and its drivers and consequences are at the heart of ecological research. Mostly, studies have focused on different species, but if the causes for increases or decreases in diversity are general, the observed patterns should also be observable within genotypes. As previous research shows that there is higher variability in nitrogen to phosphorus ratios (N/P) between slow-growing unicellular algal populations, compared to fast-growing ones, we expected to observe similar patterns within genetically identical strains growing at different rates. We tested this hypothesis in a laboratory experiment performed with a monoculture of the diatom Phaeodactylum tricornutum. Using a growth rate gradient obtained with 10 chemostats, we were able to determine the effect of growth rate on the diatom’s elemental stoichiometry as well as on selected traits, such as cell size and shape. Our results showed indeed less intercellular variability (in the selected traits assessed on single-cell level) in the faster-growing populations, which was accompanied by a downward trend in bulk N/P ratios. We pose that this higher variability at lower growth rates potentially results in higher variability of the food sources available for higher trophic levels with potential consequences for the transfer efficiency of energy and matter in marine food webs.

Description: The Southern Ocean is a major region of ocean carbon uptake, but its future changes remain uncertain under climate change. Here we show the projected shift in the Southern Ocean CO2 sink using a suite of Earth System Models, revealing changes in the mechanism, position and seasonality of the carbon uptake. The region of dominant CO2 uptake shifts from the Subtropical to the Antarctic region under the high-emission scenario. The warming-driven sea-ice melt, increased ocean stratification, mixed layer shoaling, and a weaker vertical carbon gradient is projected to together reduce the winter de-gassing in the future, which will trigger the switch from mixing-driven outgassing to solubility-driven uptake in the Antarctic region during the winter season. The future Southern Ocean carbon sink will be poleward-shifted, operating in a hybrid mode between biologically-driven summertime and solubility-driven wintertime uptake with further amplification of biologically-driven uptake due to the increasing Revelle Factor.

Description: A detailed study of past eruptive activity is crucial to understanding volcanic systems and associated hazards. We present a meticulous stratigraphic analysis, a comprehensive chronological reconstruction, thorough tephra mapping, and a detailed analysis of the interplay between primary and secondary volcanic processes of the post-900 AD activity of La Fossa caldera, including the two main systems of La Fossa volcano and Vulcanello cones (Vulcano Island, Italy). Our analyses demonstrate how the recent volcanic activity of La Fossa caldera is primarily characterized by effusive and Strombolian activity and Vulcanian eruptions, combined with sporadic sub-Plinian events and both impulsive and long-lasting phreatic explosions, all of which have the capacity to severely impact the entire northern sector of Vulcano island. We document a total of 30 eruptions, 25 from the La Fossa volcano and 5 from Vulcanello cones, consisting of ash to lapilli deposits and fields of ballistic bombs and blocks. Volcanic activity alternated with significant erosional phases and volcaniclastic re-sedimentation. Large-scale secondary erosion processes occur in response to the widespread deposition of fine-grained ash blankets, both onto the active cone of La Fossa and the watersheds conveying their waters into the La Fossa caldera. The continuous increase in ground height above sea level, particularly in the western sector of the caldera depression where key infrastructure is situated, is primarily attributed to long-term alluvial processes. We demonstrate how a specific methodological approach is key to the characterization and hazard assessment of low-to-high intensity volcanic activity, where tephra is emitted over long time periods and is intercalated with phases of erosion and re-sedimentation.

Description: Open access funding provided by Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia within the CRUI-CARE Agreement.

Description: Published

Description: 47

Description: OSV2: Complessità dei processi vulcanici: approcci multidisciplinari e multiparametrici

Description: JCR Journal

Description: Background: Wildfires are recognized as an important ecological component of larch-dominated boreal forests in eastern Siberia. However, long-term fire-vegetation dynamics in this unique environment are poorly understood. Recent paleoecological research suggests that intensifying fire regimes may induce millennial-scale shifts in forest structure and composition. This may, in turn, result in positive feedback on intensifying wildfires and permafrost degradation, apart from threatening human livelihoods. Most common fire-vegetation models do not explicitly include detailed individual-based tree population dynamics, but a focus on patterns of forest structure emerging from interactions among individual trees may provide a beneficial perspective on the impacts of changing fire regimes in eastern Siberia. To simulate these impacts on forest structure at millennial timescales, we apply the individual-based, spatially explicit vegetation model LAVESI-FIRE, expanded with a new fire module. Satellite-based fire observations along with fieldwork data were used to inform the implementation of wildfire occurrence and adjust model parameters. Results: Simulations of annual forest development and wildfire activity at a study site in the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia) since the Last Glacial Maximum (c. 20,000 years BP) highlight the variable impacts of fire regimes on forest structure throughout time. Modeled annual fire probability and subsequent burned area in the Holocene compare well with a local reconstruction of charcoal influx in lake sediments. Wildfires can be followed by different forest regeneration pathways, depending on fire frequency and intensity and the pre-fire forest conditions. We find that medium-intensity wildfires at fire return intervals of 50 years or more benefit the dominance of fire-resisting Dahurian larch (Larix gmelinii (Rupr.) Rupr.), while stand-replacing fires tend to enable the establishment of evergreen conifers. Apart from post-fire mortality, wildfires modulate forest development mainly through competition effects and a reduction of the model’s litter layer. Conclusion: With its fine-scale population dynamics, LAVESI-FIRE can serve as a highly localized, spatially explicit tool to understand the long-term impacts of boreal wildfires on forest structure and to better constrain interpretations of paleoecological reconstructions of fire activity.

Description: The Great Lakes region of North America has warmed by 1–2 °C on average since pre-industrial times, with the most pronounced changes observable during winter and spring. Interannual variability in temperatures remains high, however, due to the influence of ocean-atmosphere circulation patterns that modulate the warming trend across years. Variations in spring temperatures determine growing season length and plant phenology, with implications for whole ecosystem function. Studying how both internal climate variability and the “secular” warming trend interact to produce trends in temperature is necessary to estimate potential ecological responses to future warming scenarios. This study examines how external anthropogenic forcing and decadal-scale variability influence spring temperatures across the western Great Lakes region and estimates the sensitivity of regional forests to temperature using long-term growth records from tree-rings and satellite data. Using a modeling approach designed to test for regime shifts in dynamic time series, this work shows that mid-continent spring climatology was strongly influenced by the 1976/1977 phase change in North Pacific atmospheric circulation, and that regional forests show a strengthening response to spring temperatures during the last half-century.

Description: Sea-level rise submerges terrestrial permafrost in the Arctic, turning it into subsea permafrost. Subsea permafrost underlies ~ 1.8 million km2 of Arctic continental shelf, with thicknesses in places exceeding 700 m. Sea-level variations over glacial-interglacial cycles control subsea permafrost distribution and thickness, yet no permafrost model has accounted for glacial isostatic adjustment (GIA), which deviates local sea level from the global mean due to changes in ice and ocean loading. Here we incorporate GIA into a pan-Arctic model of subsea permafrost over the last 400,000 years. Including GIA significantly reduces present-day subsea permafrost thickness, chiefly because of hydro-isostatic effects as well as deformation related to Northern Hemisphere ice sheets. Additionally, we extend the simulation 1000 years into the future for emissions scenarios outlined in the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s sixth assessment report. We find that subsea permafrost is preserved under a low emissions scenario but mostly disappears under a high emissions scenario.

Description: Open-conduit basaltic volcanoes can be characterised by sudden large explosive events (paroxysms) that interrupt normal effusive and mild explosive activity. In June-August 2019, one major explosion and two paroxysms occurred at Stromboli volcano (Italy) within only 64 days. Here, via a multifaceted approach using clinopyroxene, we show arrival of mafic recharges up to a few days before the onset of these events and their effects on the eruption pattern at Stromboli, as a prime example of a persistently active, open-conduit basaltic volcano. Our data indicate a rejuvenated Stromboli plumbing system where the extant crystal mush is efficiently permeated by recharge magmas with minimum remobilisation promoting a direct linkage between the deeper and the shallow reservoirs that sustains the currently observed larger variability of eruptive behaviour. Our approach provides vital insights into magma dynamics and their effects on monitoring signals demonstrating the power of petrological studies in interpreting patterns of surficial activity.

Description: Published

Description: 7717

Description: OSV1: Verso la previsione dei fenomeni vulcanici pericolosi

Description: OSV2: Complessità dei processi vulcanici: approcci multidisciplinari e multiparametrici

Description: JCR Journal

Description: As global temperatures continue to rise, a key uncertainty of terrestrial carbon (C)–climate feedback is the rate of C loss upon abrupt permafrost thaw. This type of thawing—termed thermokarst—may in turn accelerate or dampen the response of microbial degradation of soil organic matter and carbon dioxide (CO2) release to climate warming. However, such impacts have not yet been explored in experimental studies. Here, by experimentally warming three thermo-erosion gullies in an upland thermokarst site combined with incubating soils from five additional thermokarst-impacted sites on the Tibetan Plateau, we investigate how warming responses of soil CO2 release would change upon upland thermokarst formation. Our results show that warming-induced increase in soil CO2 release is ~5.5 times higher in thermokarst features than the adjacent non-thermokarst landforms. This larger warming response is associated with the lower substrate quality and higher abundance of microbial functional genes for recalcitrant C degradation in thermokarst-affected soils. Taken together, our study provides experimental evidence that warming-associated soil CO2 loss becomes stronger upon abrupt permafrost thaw, which could exacerbate the positive soil C–climate feedback in permafrost-affected regions.

Description: Background: Northern ecosystems are strongly influenced by herbivores that differ in their impacts on the ecosystem. Yet the role of herbivore diversity in shaping the structure and functioning of tundra ecosystems has been overlooked. With climate and land-use changes causing rapid shifts in Arctic species assemblages, a better understanding of the consequences of herbivore diversity changes for tundra ecosystem functioning is urgently needed. This systematic review synthesizes available evidence on the effects of herbivore diversity on different processes, functions, and properties of tundra ecosystems. Methods: Following a published protocol, our systematic review combined primary field studies retrieved from bibliographic databases, search engines and specialist websites that compared tundra ecosystem responses to different levels of vertebrate and invertebrate herbivore diversity. We used the number of functional groups of herbivores (i.e., functional group richness) as a measure of the diversity of the herbivore assemblage. We screened titles, abstracts, and full texts of studies using pre-defined eligibility criteria. We critically appraised the validity of the studies, tested the influence of different moderators, and conducted sensitivity analyses. Quantitative synthesis (i.e., calculation of effect sizes) was performed for ecosystem responses reported by at least five articles and meta-regressions including the effects of potential modifiers for those reported by at least 10 articles. Review findings: The literature searches retrieved 5944 articles. After screening titles, abstracts, and full texts, 201 articles including 3713 studies (i.e., individual comparisons) were deemed relevant for the systematic review, with 2844 of these studies included in quantitative syntheses. The available evidence base on the effects of herbivore diversity on tundra ecosystems is concentrated around well-established research locations and focuses mainly on the impacts of vertebrate herbivores on vegetation. Overall, greater herbivore diversity led to increased abundance of feeding marks by herbivores and soil temperature, and to reduced total abundance of plants, graminoids, forbs, and litter, plant leaf size, plant height, and moss depth, but the effects of herbivore diversity were difficult to tease apart from those of excluding vertebrate herbivores. The effects of different functional groups of herbivores on graminoid and lichen abundance compensated each other, leading to no net effects when herbivore effects were combined. In turn, smaller herbivores and large-bodied herbivores only reduced plant height when occurring together but not when occurring separately. Greater herbivore diversity increased plant diversity in graminoid tundra but not in other habitat types. Conclusions: This systematic review underscores the importance of herbivore diversity in shaping the structure and function of Arctic ecosystems, with different functional groups of herbivores exerting additive or compensatory effects that can be modulated by environmental conditions. Still, many challenges remain to fully understand the complex impacts of herbivore diversity on tundra ecosystems. Future studies should explicitly address the role of herbivore diversity beyond presence-absence, targeting a broader range of ecosystem responses and explicitly including invertebrate herbivores. A better understanding of the role of herbivore diversity will enhance our ability to predict whether and where shifts in herbivore assemblages might mitigate or further amplify the impacts of environmental change on Arctic ecosystems.

Description: 〈p〉〈em〉〈span〉This study delves into the management of electronic waste (e-waste) stemming from the disposal of personal electronic items and mobile phones, primarily in response to the remarkable surge in the utilization of these devices within the Hassan city populace in recent years. The principal objectives revolved around investigating the existing disposal methods for electronic devices including mobile phones and collecting fundamental data concerning their disposal practices within the geographical confines of Hassan city of Karnataka State. Additionally, an endeavor was undertaken to gauge the level of awareness among respondents regarding the potential hazards posed by e-waste. It was observed that a significant proportion of the Hassan population typically retains especially electronic devices is cell phones, once these devices become outdated and obsolete. Among the prevalent disposal methods, the most widespread approach involves selling these gadgets to scrap dealers or junk shops, whereas recycling practices remain relatively underutilized. Notably, a mere minority of individuals engage in recycling activities. An intriguing revelation emerged, with 65% of respondents expressing concern about the adverse repercussions of improper e-waste disposal on human health and the environment. Astonishingly, all respondents admitted to having no knowledge of the fate of their discarded electronic devices. Based on the findings gleaned from this survey, it is strongly recommended that a comprehensive review be conducted on the overarching management of e-waste stemming from this electronic waste including mobile phones, gadgets in the Hassan city of Karnataka State. The purpose of these surveys and data collection endeavors is to approximate the volume of e-waste generated through the disposal of these devices. This information is envisioned to assist stakeholders and government agencies in formulating effective and efficient legislation and policies for the proficient management of e-waste〈/span〉〈/em〉〈/p〉

Description: 〈p〉〈em〉Indian Railroads is one of the largest railroad systems in the World. The Indian railway system has grown significantly over the years, as seen by the massive construction of its railroads; nonetheless, some accidents are caused by fractures in the railway track. Splits may occur because of the track's expansion or contraction brought on by seasonal variations. This study proposes a crack monitoring vehicle that employs an ultrasonic sensor to detect fractures on railway tracks and uses an Arduino Uno to facilitate the GSM and GPS module to send an SMS to the testing station, thereby mitigating the problems caused by these cracks. This intelligent system works like a remote monitoring system which gives an alert to stop the passage of trains in that path. The proposed model involves the use of Arduino, ultrasonic sensor, buzzer, GSM module, and GPS module.〈/em〉〈/p〉

Description: 〈p〉〈em〉Road safety is a critical concern in the modern world, where advancements in technology have made our lives easier but have also given rise to increased traffic hazards and road accidents. The "Car Accident Detector and Informer" project is an innovative system aimed at enhancing road safety by accurately detecting and informing about car accidents in real-time. This project integrates advanced sensors, microcontroller technology, and communication protocols to create an efficient accident detection and notification system. Utilizing GPS and GSM technology for precise location tracking and instant notifications, this system has the potential to reduce emergency response times, save lives, and minimize property damage. This research paper presents a detailed overview of the project, including its objectives, working principles, components, advantages, disadvantages, and prospects.〈/em〉〈/p〉

Description: 〈p〉〈em〉Spatiotemporal data analytics is a dynamic field that seeks to extract valuable information from data that integrates both spatial and temporal dimensions. This article explores the importance of this emerging field and its applications in a variety of fields, including environmental science, public health, and urban planning. Spatiotemporal data analysis addresses important research questions, such as determining event probabilities, understanding change patterns, identifying associations between events, and predicting events Future. However, this comes with many challenges, including managing large datasets, ensuring data quality, dealing with spatial and temporal autocorrelation, and more. To address these challenges, proposed solutions include data reduction and sampling, dimensionality reduction, data compression, use of spatial and temporal indexes, parallel and distributed processing, data filtering and pre- processing. Furthermore, strategies to handle spatial and temporal autocorrelation include exploratory data analysis, using spatial weight matrices, including spatially lagged variables, and regression models. spatial attribution, cluster analysis, etc for spatial autocorrelation and for temporal autocorrelation, solutions include time series analysis, differencing, ARIMA models, lagged variables, time series decomposition, exponential smoothing, state space modelling, machine learning, cross-validation, and regularization techniques. These approaches provide valuable insights to address the complexity of spatio-temporal data analysis and unlock its potential in various fields.〈/em〉〈/p〉

Description: 〈p〉〈em〉Diamond drilling, a core drilling technique employing diamond-encrusted drill bits, has emerged as a critical method for extracting cylindrical rock samples from diverse geological formations. This article provides an extensive overview of diamond drilling, encompassing its equipment, applications, challenges, and its pivotal role in geological exploration, mining, and construction projects. The versatility of diamond drilling is evident in its adaptability to various rock types, spanning the gamut from soft sedimentary strata to formidable crystalline structures. In mining, it serves as an indispensable tool for assessing the quality, depth, and size of mineral deposits. Likewise, in construction and civil engineering, diamond drilling aids in ascertaining geological conditions for safe and stable foundation design. Environmental considerations are paramount in contemporary drilling practices, with containment measures for drilling fluids to mitigate ecological impacts. Safety precautions are rigorously adhered to, ensuring the well-being of workers and the integrity of drilling operations. Furthermore, core samples extracted through diamond drilling are instrumental in geological investigations. These samples, meticulously analyzed, yield insights into rock composition, mineral content, and geological structures. They inform decisions in resource exploration, mine planning, and construction project management. This review underscores the invaluable contributions of diamond drilling to our understanding of the Earth's subsurface, emphasizing its adaptability, environmental consciousness, and safety. By examining the critical aspects of this technique, this article illuminates the profound impact of diamond drilling on various industries and the scientific community, positioning it as an indispensable tool for unlocking the secrets hidden beneath the Earth's surface.〈/em〉〈/p〉

Description: 〈p〉〈em〉The COVID-19 pandemic has underscored the necessity for digital infrastructure and accessibility, particularly in the education sector. This paper investigates the benefits and effectiveness of utilizing Green Cloud Computing (GCC) techniques for the dissemination of educational library data in remote regions of India during this critical period. The GCC model, known for its energy efficiency and reduced environmental impact, is proposed as a robust, scalable, and eco-friendly solution for providing remote educational access. The research utilizes a mixed-methods approach, incorporating both quantitative assessments of data reach and usage, and qualitative surveys to understand user experiences. The study reveals that GCC techniques can significantly improve educational resource distribution, thereby mitigating the educational disparities further exacerbated by the pandemic. These findings reinforce the potential of GCC techniques as a sustainable and inclusive technology in reshaping the educational landscape in remote regions.〈/em〉〈/p〉

Description: 〈p〉〈em〉One of the most crucial global issues of our era is climate change, whose consequences are presently being felt all over the world. As climate change keeps on forgoing, it's important that governments, organizations, and businesses take visionary actions for adapting and protecting themselves from calamities.〈/em〉〈em〉 This paper summarizes the application of Remote Sensing (RS) and 〈/em〉〈em〉Geographic Information System (〈/em〉〈em〉GIS) in observing impact of climate change on drought, soil moisture, land degradation, food security, EHIs’ characterization and blue carbon science and review of AI based climate solutions. The〈/em〉〈em〉 〈/em〉〈em〉integration of advanced machine learning algorithms,〈/em〉〈em〉 〈/em〉〈em〉real-time data analysis, and other cutting-edge technologies could lead to even more effective climate change〈/em〉〈em〉 〈/em〉〈em〉adaptation strategies. AI-activated climate change adaptation strategies have the prospective to significantly〈/em〉〈em〉 〈/em〉〈em〉improve the resilience of infrastructure communities, and businesses to the changing climate.〈/em〉〈strong〉〈/strong〉〈/p〉

Description: 〈p〉〈em〉Urban transportation systems face significant challenges due to rapid population growth and development. This study delves into the enhancement of road safety in Navi Mumbai by employing Geographic Information System (GIS) and Remote Sensing (RS) techniques. The escalating rate of vehicular accidents in Navi Mumbai presents a pressing concern. This research investigates accident data and traffic patterns, identifying vulnerable areas prone to accidents and congestion. By conducting spatial analysis using GIS and RS, the study aims to uncover accident hotspots and traffic congestion zones, offering insights into underlying road safety issues. The research methodology involves a multi-stage process. Initial data collection from various sources, including police reports, live traffic data, and satellite imagery, forms the foundation. Geographic coordinates extracted and processed through GIS applications aid in plotting accident locations and creating density maps. Additionally, on-site investigations at strategically chosen locations provide invaluable insights into local conditions, traffic patterns, and contributing factors to congestion and accidents. The findings are presenting tailored solutions for each area, ranging from optimized traffic signal timings to infrastructural improvements. The findings of this study present actionable insights aimed at improving road safety and traffic management in Navi Mumbai. Recommendations encompassing signal optimizations, infrastructure enhancements, and community engagement strategies offer a holistic approach to mitigate traffic congestion and reduce accidents. The collaborative effort with relevant authorities, as highlighted in the study, serves as a crucial step towards implementing these recommendations for meaningful change. This research not only identifies critical areas for intervention but also serves as a model for leveraging GIS and RS techniques to enhance the road safety in urban areas, paving the way for safer and efficient transportation networks in the future.〈/em〉〈/p〉

Description: 〈p〉〈em〉The urgency to transition to renewable energy sources is underscored by the environmental crises stemming from our reliance on non-renewable fuels. This study focuses on assessing wind energy potential in Odisha, India, utilizing satellite data and Geographic Information System (GIS) technologies. The research addresses the critical need for strategic planning and site selection before investing in renewable energy infrastructure. By employing a model that integrates various free satellite datasets and leverages fundamental physical principles, the study calculates wind power density (WPD) at a height of 90 meters above the surface for both onshore and offshore locations. The methodology involves acquiring and processing datasets such as temperature, wind speed, digital elevation model (DEM), pressure, air density, and land use/land cover (LULC) classifications. The model applies equations derived from physical laws to determine key parameters necessary for calculating WPD. Specifically, temperature and pressure data are used to estimate air density, while surface roughness is assigned based on LULC classes with windspeed at 10m to extrapolate wind speed at 90 meters above ground level. The method can be used at any hub height. Results reveal significant wind energy potential in Odisha, particularly along the coastal regions. Jagatsinghpur and Puri emerge as areas with high WPD onshore, while the offshore exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of Odisha exhibits substantial wind energy resources. The model outputs provide valuable insights for various studies related to renewable energy and facilitate informed decision-making in site selection analyses. Furthermore, the study emphasizes the simplicity and effectiveness of the developed model,〈/em〉〈br〉〈em〉making it a practical tool for assessing wind energy potential in other regions as well. Overall, this research contributes to the global effort towards transitioning to sustainable energy sources and combating climate change. By highlighting the renewable energy potential of Odisha, it underscores the importance of harnessing wind energy as a viable pathway towards a cleaner, greener future.〈/em〉〈/p〉

Description: 〈p〉The research strives to enhance digital surveying methodologies for precise and detailed land mapping, utilizing advanced instruments like terrestrial scanners, SLAM scanners, total stations, DGPS, and drones. The survey conducted at Ratnagiri Hill in Udaipur aims to scrutinize and compare the merits and drawbacks of each surveying method. The study outlines a systematic process encompassing data collection, processing, output generation, and validation of survey techniques. It highlights the adaptability of these methods across various〈br〉domains, such as building conservation, restoration, and mapping of typically inaccessible areas, emphasizing their potential for time and resource savings. The research underscores the effectiveness of a one-time data collection process for subsequent work, laying the groundwork for the advancement of digital surveying technologies. When integrated with the Total station and DGPS survey, the combination of terrestrial scanners, drones, and SLAM scanners achieves a vertical accuracy of around 32 mm.〈/p〉