Habitat occupancy of the threatened Diademed Plover (Phegornis mitchellii) is not affected by llama grazing or peatland size, but declines with peatland humidity.

Many habitat-specialist organisms occur in distinct, patchy habitat, yet do not occupy all patches, and an important question is why apparently suitable habitat remains unoccupied. We examined factors influencing patch occupancy in near-threatened, little-known Diademed Plovers (Phegornis mitchellii), arguably the bird most specialized to life in High Andean peatlands. Andean peatlands are well-suited to occupancy modelling because they are discrete patches of humid habitat within a matrix of high-altitude steppe. We hypothesized that Diademed Plovers occupy preferably larger and more humid peatlands, and avoid peatlands used for grazing by llamas and vicuñas, which may trample vegetation and nests. From December 2021 to February 2022 (breeding season), we conducted plover occupancy surveys (2-4) on 40 peatlands at Lagunas de Vilama, a landscape of arid steppe and wetlands above 4,500 m in NW Argentina. We measured peatland size, grazing pressure, topographic and remotely-sensed variables that correlate with humidity, and incorporated these as covariates in occupancy models. Occupancy models showed that more than 50% of the studied peatlands were used by Diademed Plovers and most showed signs of reproduction, highlighting the importance of the Vilama Wetlands for Diademed Plover conservation. Within peatlands, Diademed Plovers were most often associated with headwaters. The top ranked occupancy model included constant detection, random spatial effects, and a single occupancy covariate: mean NDWI (Normalized Difference Water Index, an index correlated with water content and humidity) over the previous three years. Contrary to our prediction, Diademed Plovers preferred less water-saturated peatlands (lower NDWI), possibly to avoid nest flooding. This may be especially important in wet years, like the year when we conducted our surveys. Neither peatland size nor grazing by llamas and vicuñas affected peatland use by Diademed Plovers, suggesting that llama grazing at current levels may be compatible with plover conservation. For organisms that specialize on humid habitats, such as peatlands, factors affecting occupancy may vary temporally with variation in climate, and we recommend follow-up surveys across multi-year timescales to untangle the impact of climate on animals' use of humid habitats.

Quantifying spatiotemporal dynamics in the Kolonnawa marsh of Colombo, Sri Lanka.

Kolonnawa marsh (KM) is an important wetland ecosystem in Colombo district, Sri Lanka that provides essential ecosystem services, and has undergone significant changes over recent decades due to continuous exploitation and reclamation. The values of wetlands are disregarded by decision-makers, despite the fact that they are crucial for improving the quality of water and offer chances for relaxation and amusement in metropolitan areas. Underestimation of the value of wetlands contributes to their continuing deterioration and inevitable loss. Investigating the changes in wetlands can provide crucial information for decision-making. This study aimed to monitor the spatiotemporal land-cover dynamics of KM with the prospect prediction as reduced total extent of KM gradually with time and marsh area being transformed into terrestrial vegetation with time. The collective images from Google Earth (2000 to 2021) and drone data (2022) were analyzed with the GIS application. Subsequently, 50-m2 grid squares with unique cell IDs are designed to link among land cover maps for spatiotemporal land-cover change analysis. Then, we calculate land cover category: surface water, marsh, and terrestrial vegetation proportions for each map in 50-m2 grid cells. Statistical comparison of the land cover changes in grid square cells shows that each land cover category has significant change with the time. The results showed that the reduction of KM marsh resulting in land cover changes has a positive implication on wetland degradation. Thus, interventions should be made for the restoration and sustainable management of KM.

Maribellus mangrovi sp. nov., an iron-reducing bacterium isolated from mangrove sediment.

A novel facultatively anaerobic and Gram-stain-negative bacterium, designated FJH33T, was isolated from mangrove sediment sampled in Zhangzhou, PR China. Cells of strain FJH33T were rod-shaped or slightly curved-shaped, with widths of 0.3-0.5 µm and lengths of 1.0-3.0 µm. Optimum growth of strain FJH33T occurred in the presence of 3 % NaCl (w/v), at 33 °C and at pH 7.0. Oxidase activity was negative, while catalase activity was positive. Its iron-reducing ability was determined. Based on 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity, strain FJH33T was most closely related to Maribellus luteus XSD2T (95.1 %), followed by Maribellus sediminis Y2-1-60T (95.0 %) and Maribellus maritimus 5E3T (94.9 %). Genome analysis of strains FJH33T and M. luteus XSD2T revealed low genome relatedness, with an average nucleotide identity value of 73.8% and a digital DNA-DNA hybridization value of 19.0%. Phylogenetic trees built from 16S rRNA genes and genome sequences showed that strain FJH33T represents a relatively independent phylogenetic lineage within the genus Maribellus. The major cellular fatty acids (≥10 %) were iso-C15 : 0 and C18 : 1 ω9c. The sole respiratory quinone was MK-7. The polar lipids consisted of phosphatidylethanolamine, diphosphatidylcholine, diphosphatidyglycerol and one unidentified lipid. The DNA G+C content was 41.4 mol%. Based on the integrated results of phylogenetic, physiological, biochemical and chemotaxonomic characterizations, we propose that strain FJH33T represents a novel species of the genus Maribellus, for which the name Maribellus mangrovi sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is FJH33T (=KCTC 102210T=MCCC 1H01459T).

Metaproteomics-informed stoichiometric modeling reveals the responses of wetland microbial communities to oxygen and sulfate exposure.

Climate changes significantly impact greenhouse gas emissions from wetland soil. Specifically, wetland soil may be exposed to oxygen (O2) during droughts, or to sulfate (SO42-) as a result of sea level rise. How these stressors - separately and together - impact microbial food webs driving carbon cycling in the wetlands is still not understood. To investigate this, we integrated geochemical analysis, proteogenomics, and stoichiometric modeling to characterize the impact of elevated SO42- and O2 levels on microbial methane (CH4) and carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. The results uncovered the adaptive responses of this community to changes in SO42- and O2 availability and identified altered microbial guilds and metabolic processes driving CH4 and CO2 emissions. Elevated SO42- reduced CH4 emissions, with hydrogenotrophic methanogenesis more suppressed than acetoclastic. Elevated O2 shifted the greenhouse gas emissions from CH4 to CO2. The metabolic effects of combined SO42- and O2 exposures on CH4 and CO2 emissions were similar to those of O2 exposure alone. The reduction in CH4 emission by increased SO42- and O2 was much greater than the concomitant increase in CO2 emission. Thus, greater SO42- and O2 exposure in wetlands is expected to reduce the aggregate warming effect of CH4 and CO2. Metaproteomics and stoichiometric modeling revealed a unique subnetwork involving carbon metabolism that converts lactate and SO42- to produce acetate, H2S, and CO2 when SO42- is elevated under oxic conditions. This study provides greater quantitative resolution of key metabolic processes necessary for the prediction of CH4 and CO2 emissions from wetlands under future climate scenarios.

Changing climatic controls on the greenhouse gas balance of thermokarst bogs during succession after permafrost thaw.

Permafrost thaw in northern peatlands causes collapse of permafrost peat plateaus and thermokarst bog development, with potential impacts on atmospheric greenhouse gas exchange. Here, we measured methane and carbon dioxide fluxes over 3 years (including winters) using static chambers along two permafrost thaw transects in northwestern Canada, spanning young (~30 years since thaw), intermediate and mature thermokarst bogs (~200 years since thaw). Young bogs were wetter, warmer and had more hydrophilic vegetation than mature bogs. Methane emissions increased with wetness and soil temperature (40 cm depth) and modelled annual estimates were greatest in the young bog during the warmest year and lowest in the mature bog during the coolest year (21 and 7 g C-CH4 m-2 year-1, respectively). The dominant control on net ecosystem exchange (NEE) in the mature bog (between +20 and -54 g C-CO2 m-2 year-1) was soil temperature (5 cm), causing net CO2 loss due to higher ecosystem respiration (ER) in warmer years. In contrast, wetness controlled NEE in the young and intermediate bogs (between +55 and -95 g C-CO2 m-2 year-1), where years with periodic inundation at the beginning of the growing season caused greater reduction in gross primary productivity than in ER leading to CO2 loss. Winter fluxes (November-April) represented 16% of annual ER and 38% of annual CH4 emissions. Our study found NEE of thermokarst bogs to be close to neutral and rules out large CO2 losses under current conditions. However, high CH4 emissions after thaw caused a positive net radiative forcing effect. While wet conditions favouring high CH4 emissions only persist for the initial young bog period, we showed that continued climate warming with increased ER, and thus, CO2 losses from the mature bog can cause net positive radiative forcing which would last for centuries after permafrost thaw.

Saccharopolyspora mangrovi sp. nov., a novel mangrove soil actinobacterium with distinct metabolic potential revealed by comparative genomic analysis.

A novel mangrove soil-derived actinomycete, strain S2-29T, was found to be most closely related to Saccharopolyspora karakumensis 5K548T based on 16 S rRNA sequence (99.24% similarity) and genomic phylogenetic analyses. However, significant divergence in digital DNA-DNA hybridization, average nucleotide identity, and unique biosynthetic gene cluster possession distinguished S2-29T as a distinct Saccharopolyspora species. Pan genome evaluation revealed exceptional genomic flexibility in genus Saccharopolyspora, with > 95% accessory genome content. Strain S2-29T harbored 718 unique genes, largely implicated in energetic metabolisms, indicating different metabolic capacities from its close relatives. Several uncharacterized biosynthetic gene clusters in strain S2-29T highlighted the strain's untapped capacity to produce novel functional compounds with potential biotechnological applications. Designation as novel species Saccharopolyspora mangrovi sp. nov. (type strain S2-29T = JCM 34,548T = CGMCC 4.7716T) was warranted, expanding the known Saccharopolyspora diversity and ecology. The discovery of this mangrove-adapted strain advances understanding of the genus while highlighting an untapped source of chemical diversity.

PREVALENCE OF THE BOPYRID ISOPOD PROBOPYRUS PANDALICOLA IN DAGGERBLADE GRASS SHRIMP FROM SALT MARSH CREEKS AND PANNES OF CAPE COD, MASSACHUSETTS.

In salt marsh ecosystems, daggerblade grass shrimp, Palaemon (Palaemonetes) pugio, play a crucial role in food webs and serve as the definitive host for the bopyrid isopod Probopyrus pandalicola. These ectoparasites infest the branchial chambers of grass shrimp, which can lead to decreased energy availability and sterilization of infected hosts. Although bopyrid isopod infestation of daggerblade grass shrimp has been frequently reported in literature from coastal marshes of the southeastern United States, the prevalence of this parasite has not been recently documented in daggerblade grass shrimp from marshes of the northeastern United States. The goal of this project was to quantify the prevalence of Pr. pandalicola infestations in Pa. pugio across Cape Cod, Massachusetts. We evaluated bopyrid isopod prevalence from shrimp collected from 5 different salt marsh habitats along Cape Cod in August 2021. Bopyrid isopod infestations were found in shrimp at 4 of 5 salt marshes, with prevalence ranging from 0.04 to 14.1%. Seasonal resampling of one of the salt marshes revealed the highest average infestation prevalence in spring (<17.1%) and an isolated high of 30.3% prevalence in a single salt panne. A series of linear and multivariate models showed that panne area, shrimp abundance, and distance to shoreline were related to Pr. pandalicola shrimp infestations in salt pannes in summer. This study describes the prevalence of the bopyrid isopod infesting daggerblade grass shrimp in salt marshes in New England, with implications for how parasitized shrimp influence salt marsh food webs in which they are found.

Four decades of data indicate that planted mangroves stored up to 75% of the carbon stocks found in intact mature stands.

Mangroves' ability to store carbon (C) has long been recognized, but little is known about whether planted mangroves can store C as efficiently as naturally established (i.e., intact) stands and in which time frame. Through Bayesian logistic models compiled from 40 years of data and built from 684 planted mangrove stands worldwide, we found that biomass C stock culminated at 71 to 73% to that of intact stands ~20 years after planting. Furthermore, prioritizing mixed-species planting including Rhizophora spp. would maximize C accumulation within the biomass compared to monospecific planting. Despite a 25% increase in the first 5 years following planting, no notable change was observed in the soil C stocks thereafter, which remains at a constant value of 75% to that of intact soil C stock, suggesting that planting effectively prevents further C losses due to land use change. These results have strong implications for mangrove restoration planning and serve as a baseline for future C buildup assessments.

Novel stable isotope concepts to track antibiotics in wetland systems.

Antibiotics, their transformation products, and the translocation of antibiotic-resistant genes in the environment pose significant health risks to humans, animals, and ecosystems, aligning with the One Health concept. Constructed wetlands hold substantial yet underutilized potential for treating wastewater from agricultural, domestic sewage, or contaminated effluents from wastewater treatment plants, with the goal of eliminating antibiotics. However, the comprehensive understanding of the distribution, persistence, and dissipation processes of antibiotics within constructed wetlands remains largely unexplored. In this context, we provide an overview of the current application of stable isotope analysis at natural abundance to antibiotics. We explore the opportunities of an advanced multiple stable isotope approach, where isotope concepts could be effectively applied to examine the fate of antibiotics in wetlands. The development of a conceptual framework to study antibiotics in wetlands using multi-element stable isotopes introduces a new paradigm, offering enhanced insights into the identification and quantification of natural attenuation of antibiotics within wetland systems. This perspective has the potential to inspire the general public, governmental bodies, and the broader research community, fostering an emphasis on the utilization of stable isotope analysis for studying antibiotics and other emerging micropollutants in wetland systems.

Freshwater wetlands for flood control: How manipulating the hydroperiod affects plant and invertebrate communities.

Thoughtfully managed hydroperiods in natural and artificial wetlands could potentially provide a combination of desirable flood control services and high ecological functions. To explore how managed freshwater wetlands typical of the Houston, Texas area would respond to different hydrological regimes that might occur if wetlands were drained in anticipation of a heavy rain that did not materialize, we conducted a mesocosm experiment with six flooding depths and seven drought durations, followed by seven months of recovery. We found that the speed in which mesocosms dried out was a function of initial water depth, with mesocosms initially set with greater water depths (30 cm) taking ~ 38 days to dry out versus zero days for wetlands that were completely drained. Individual plant species (14 species planted; 8 species common at the end of the recovery period) were affected by drought length, flooding depth, or their interaction, although details of these responses varied among the species. The composition of the plant community at the end of the drought period was strongly affected by drought length, and the effect of the drought length treatment persisted through seven months of post-drought recovery, with the 80- and 160-day drought treatments diverging most strongly from shorter drought treatments. Above- and below-ground biomass of plants was not affected by the treatments, but above-ground dead biomass (litter) decreased with increasing drought length. Densities of mosquito larvae, snails and tadpoles were temporally variable, and were affected more during the treatment period and early in recovery than after a disturbance event late in recovery. Our results indicate that managed wetlands in southeast Texas would be quite resilient to dry periods of up to 40 days in duration, especially if water was not completely drained at the beginning of the drought. In addition, many species would persist in managed wetlands even with droughts of up to 160 days. This indicates considerable potential for managing the hydroperiods of artificial detention ponds by retaining water longer to increase ecological function, with little to no loss of flood control services, and for managing the hydroperiods of natural wetlands by draining them in advance of anticipated rains to increase flood control services, with little to no loss of ecological function.

Ecological assessment of water quality in freshwater wetlands based on the effect of environmental heterogeneity on phytoplankton communities in Northeast China.

Phytoplankton community characterized by strong vitality response to environmental change in freshwater ecosystems. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of using phytoplankton diversity as a water quality indicator in wetlands, and find out the main environmental variables affecting the distribution of phytoplankton. From 2020 to 2021, we examined phytoplankton assemblages and water environmental variables in spring, summer, and autumn at eight sampling sites from Hulanhe Wetland, Northeast (NE) China. The results showed that Bacillariophyta was the dominant species. Phytoplankton composition and abundance differed among sampling sites in each season; the abundance in summer (613.71 × 104 ind. L-1) was higher than that in autumn and spring. The water quality assessment of the trophic state index (TSI) based on the four physicochemical indicators was compared with phytoplankton diversity indices, which indicated that the phytoplankton community was stable, and these two indices were significantly lower in summer than in spring and autumn. According to redundancy analysis (RDA), total phosphorus (TP) and nitrogen (TN) were the main environmental variables affecting the distribution of phytoplankton. Temperature and dissolved oxygen (DO) changes also played a role, and their impact on the community was discussed. This work can provide relevant scientific references on the usefulness of phytoplankton diversity structure in assessing water quality in cold regions, in which the succession can be significantly affected by nutrients and temperatures.

Current research hotspots and frontier trends on carbon budget of coastal wetlands: A bibliometric analysis.

Coastal wetlands are the main distribution of blue carbon in coastal zones and well known for their high carbon sequestration capacity. Investigating the variation of carbon budget is crucial for understanding the functionality of coastal wetlands and effectively addressing climate change. In this study, a bibliometric analysis of 4,509 articles was conducted to reveal research progress, hot issues, and emerging trends in the coastal wetland carbon budget field. The number of publications and citations in this field increased exponentially from 1991 to 2022. The leading subject category was Environmental Sciences with 1,844 articles (40.9%). At present, studies have been focused on blue carbon, the effects of climate change and man-made disturbances on carbon cycle, and the restoration of coastal wetlands. Based on the hotspots and trends in this field, the future researches should include (1) exploring the functional mechanisms of various factors affecting carbon cycle and establishing a methodological system for the estimation of blue carbon in coastal wetlands; (2) researching restoration techniques of coastal wetland and constructing wetland restoration evaluation index system; and (3) formulating enforceable carbon trading policy and strengthening international cooperation.

Tannery effluent treatments with mangrove fungi, grass root biomass, and biochar.

Tannery effluents contain high amounts of polluting chemicals, such as salts and heavy metals released often to surface waters. New economic and eco-friendly purification methods are needed. Two adsorbing materials and five salt-tolerant fungal isolates from mangrove habitat were studied. Purification experiments were carried out using the pollutant adsorbents biochar and the biomass of vetiver grass (Chrysopogon zizanioides) roots and the fungi Cladosporium cladosporioides, Phomopsis glabrae, Aspergillus niger, Emericellopsis sp., and Scopulariopsis sp., which were isolated from mangrove sediment. They efficacy to reduce pollutants was studied in different combinations. Salinity, turbidity, total dissolved solids, total suspended solids, phenols, nitrogen, ammonia. Biological and chemical oxygen demand (BOD, COD) and several heavy metals were measured. The adsorbents were efficient reducing the pollutants to 15-50% of the original. The efficiency of the combination of biochar and roots was generally at the same level as the adsorbents alone. Some pollutants such as turbidity, COD and ammonium were reduced slightly more by the combination than the adsorbents alone. From all 14 treatments, Emericellopsis sp. with biochar and roots appeared to be the most efficient reducing pollutants to < 10-30%. BOD and COD were reduced to ca 5% of the original. The treatment was efficient in reducing also heavy metals (As, Cd, Cr, Mn Pb, Zn). The fungal species originating from the environment instead of the strains present in the tannery effluent reduced pollutants remarkably and the adsorbents improved the reduction efficiency. However, the method needs development for effluents with high pollutant concentrations to fulfil the environmental regulations.

Microbial Communities in Standing Dead Trees in Ghost Forests are Largely Aerobic, Saprophytic, and Methanotrophic.

Standing dead trees (snags) are recognized for their influence on methane (CH4) cycling in coastal wetlands, yet the biogeochemical processes that control the magnitude and direction of fluxes across the snag-atmosphere interface are not fully elucidated. Herein, we analyzed microbial communities and fluxes at one height from ten snags in a ghost forest wetland. Snag-atmosphere CH4 fluxes were highly variable (- 0.11-0.51 mg CH4 m-2 h-1). CH4 production was measured in three out of ten snags; whereas, CH4 consumption was measured in two out of ten snags. Potential CH4 production and oxidation in one core from each snag was assayed in vitro. A single core produced CH4 under anoxic and oxic conditions, at measured rates of 0.7 and 0.6 ng CH4 g-1 h-1, respectively. Four cores oxidized CH4 under oxic conditions, with an average rate of - 1.13 ± 0.31 ng CH4 g-1 h-1. Illumina sequencing of the V3/V4 region of the 16S rRNA gene sequence revealed diverse microbial communities and indicated oxidative decomposition of deadwood. Methanogens were present in 20% of the snags, with a mean relative abundance of < 0.0001%. Methanotrophs were identified in all snags, with a mean relative abundance of 2% and represented the sole CH4-cycling communities in 80% of the snags. These data indicate potential for microbial attenuation of CH4 emissions across the snag-atmosphere interface in ghost forests. A better understanding of the environmental drivers of snag-associated microbial communities is necessary to forecast the response of CH4 cycling in coastal ghost forest wetlands to a shifting coastal landscape.

Temporal turnover of viral biodiversity and functional potential in intertidal wetlands.

As the central members of the microbiome networks, viruses regulate the composition of microbial communities and drive the nutrient cycles of ecosystems by lysing host cells. Therefore, uncovering the dynamic patterns and the underlying ecological mechanisms mediating the tiniest viral communities across space and through time in natural ecosystems is of crucial importance for better understanding the complex microbial world. Here, the temporal dynamics of intertidal viral communities were investigated via a time-series sampling effort. A total of 1911 viral operational taxonomic units were recovered from 36 bimonthly collected shotgun metagenomes. Functionally important auxiliary metabolic genes involved in carbohydrate, sulfur, and phosphorus metabolism were detected, some of which (e.g., cysH gene) were stably present within viral genomes over time. Over the sampling period, strong and comparable temporal turnovers were observed for intertidal viromes and their host microbes. Winter was determined as the pivotal point for the shifts in viral diversity patterns. Notably, the viral micro-diversity covaried with the macro-diversity, following similar temporal patterns. The relative abundances of viral taxa also covaried with their host prokaryotes. Meanwhile, the virus-host relationships at the whole community level were relatively stable. Further statistical analyses demonstrated that the dynamic patterns of viral communities were highly deterministic, for which temperature was the major driver. This study provided valuable mechanistic insights into the temporal turnover of viral communities in complex ecosystems such as intertidal wetlands.

Regulating greenhouse gas dynamics in tidal wetlands: Impacts of salinity gradients and water pollution.

Tidal wetlands play a critical role in emitting greenhouse gases (GHGs) into the atmosphere; our understanding of the intricate interplay between natural processes and human activities shaping their biogeochemistry and GHG emissions remains lacking. In this study, we delve into the spatiotemporal dynamics and key drivers of the GHG emissions from five tidal wetlands in the Scheldt Estuary by focusing on the interactive impacts of salinity and water pollution, two factors exhibiting contrasting gradients in this estuarine system: pollution escalates as salinity declines. Our findings reveal a marked escalation in GHG emissions when moving upstream, primarily attributed to increased concentrations of organic matter and nutrients, coupled with reduced levels of dissolved oxygen and pH. These low water quality conditions not only promote methanogenesis and denitrification to produce CH4 and N2O, respectively, but also shift the carbonate equilibria towards releasing more CO2. As a result, the most upstream freshwater wetland was the largest GHG emitter with a global warming potential around 35 to 70 times higher than the other wetlands. When moving seaward along a gradient of decreasing urbanization and increasing salinity, wetlands become less polluted and are characterized by lower concentrations of NO3-, TN and TOC, which induces stronger negative impact of elevated salinity on the GHG emissions from the saline wetlands. Consequently, these meso-to polyhaline wetlands released considerably smaller amounts of GHGs. These findings emphasize the importance of integrating management strategies, such as wetland restoration and pollution prevention, that address both natural salinity gradients and human-induced water pollution to effectively mitigate GHG emissions from tidal wetlands.

Uptake, subcellular distribution, and fate of tetracycline in two wetland plants supplemented with microbial agents: Effect and mechanism.

The use of wetland plants in the context of phytoremediation is effective in the removal of antibiotics from contaminated water. However, the effectiveness and efficiency of many of these plants in the removal of antibiotics remain undetermined. In this study, the effectiveness of two plants-Phragmites australis and Iris pseudacorus-in the removal of tetracycline (TC) in hydroponic systems was investigated. The uptake of TC at the roots of I. pseudacorus and P. australis occurred at concentrations of 588.78 and 106.70 µg/g, respectively, after 7-day exposure. The higher uptake of TC in the root of I. pseudacorus may be attributed to its higher secretion of root exudates, which facilitate conditions conducive to the reproduction of microorganisms. These rhizosphere-linked microorganisms then drove the TC uptake, which was higher than that in the roots of P. australis. By elucidating the mechanisms underlying these uptake-linked outcomes, we found that the uptake of TC for both plants was significantly suppressed by metabolic and aquaporin inhibition, suggesting uptake and transport of TC were active (energy-dependent) and passive (aquaporin-dominated) processes, respectively. The subcellular distribution patterns of I. pseudacorus and P. australis in the roots were different, as expressed by differences in organelles, cell wall concentration levels, and transport-related dynamics. Additionally, the microbe-driven enhancement of the remediation capacities of the plants was studied comprehensively via a combined microbial-phytoremediation hydroponic system. We confirmed that the microbial agents increased the secretion of root exudates, promoting the variation of TC chemical speciation and thus enhancing the active transport of TC. These results contribute toward the improved application of wetland plants in the context of antibiotic phytoremediation.

Sustaining ex-mining lake-converted constructed wetlands as nature-based solutions: A comprehensive assessment of the carbon-water nexus in Paya Indah Wetlands, Malaysia.

Water and carbon, essential for Earth's well-being, face imminent threats from human activities that fuel climate change. This study investigates nature-based solutions, focusing on the carbon-water nexus of ex-mining lake-converted constructed wetlands, specifically in Malaysia's Paya Indah Wetlands (PIW). Addressing research gaps, it assesses the ecosystem services of these wetlands, emphasising integrated evaluations for informed land management and employing a top-down conservation approach. Methodologically, spatial assessments, soil and water sampling, carbon quantification, water quality index calculations, land cover classification and stakeholder surveys were conducted. Results underscore the significant carbon sequestration and water quality improvement potential of constructed wetlands, with soil and sediment carbon accumulation reaching 1553.11 Mg C ha-1 (equivalent to 5700 Mg CO2 ha-1), translating to an annual sequestration capacity of 67.5 Mg C ha-1 year-1. Water quality index values ranged from 58 to 81 (Classes II to III). PIW's establishment led to a reduction of over 90% in barren land, with increases in water bodies (36%) and vegetation-covered land (38%), boosting wildlife populations by 30%. Spatial variations in organic carbon density and water quality underscore the complexity of the carbon-water nexus and its impacts on ecosystem health and water security. Despite land use changes, PIW demonstrates resilience, contributing to climate change mitigation. Stakeholder perceptions vary, emphasising the need for adaptive strategies. The study proposes transdisciplinary conservation initiatives and adaptive plans, stressing the pivotal role of ex-mining lake-converted constructed wetlands in enhancing climate resilience.

Invasibility framework to predict the early colonization of alien Sonneratia in mangrove: Implications for coastal area management.

Invasibility, or an ecosystem's susceptibility to invasion, plays a critical role in managing biological invasions but is challenging to quantify due to its dependence on specific ecosystem variables. This limitation restricts the practical application of this concept in the control of alien species. This study aims to simplify invasibility into measurable components and develop an applicable framework to predict early colonization of alien plants within the coastal mangrove ecosystem. We used the unchanneled path length (UPL), a widely applied hydrological connectivity-related indicator, to assess the accessibility of the mangrove. The enhanced vegetation index (EVI), positively correlated with above-ground biomass, was used to evaluate the potential competitive intensity. Firstly, building on existing studies, we developed a four-quadrant concept model integrating the effects of EVI and UPL on the early colonization of the alien species Sonneratia apetala. Our results revealed significant differences in EVI and UPL values between colonized and uncolonized areas, with colonized regions displaying markedly lower values (P < 0.001). Additionally, logistic regression showed a significant negative association between the probability of successful colonization by S. apetala and both indicators (P < 0.001). These results validate the effectiveness of our conceptual model. Furtherly, we identified four key niche opportunities for exotic species in mangrove: mudflats outside the mangrove forest, tidal creeks, canopy gaps, and unmanaged abandoned aquaculture ponds. Overall, this study provides important insight into the ecological processes of alien S. apetala colonization and practical information for management of coastal areas susceptible to invasion. Additionally, it presents a case study on the practical application of the concept of invasibility in the management of alien species.

Development of a digital droplet PCR approach for the quantification of soil micro-organisms involved in atmospheric CO2 fixation.

Carbon-fixing micro-organisms (CFMs) play a pivotal role in soil carbon cycling, contributing to carbon uptake and sequestration through various metabolic pathways. Despite their importance, accurately quantifying the absolute abundance of these micro-organisms in soils has been challenging. This study used a digital droplet polymerase chain reaction (ddPCR) approach to measure the abundance of key and emerging CFMs pathways in fen and bog soils at different depths, ranging from 0 to 15 cm. We targeted total prokaryotes, oxygenic phototrophs, aerobic anoxygenic phototrophic bacteria and chemoautotrophs, optimizing the conditions to achieve absolute quantification of these genes. Our results revealed that oxygenic phototrophs were the most abundant CFMs, making up 15% of the total prokaryotic abundance. They were followed by chemoautotrophs at 10% and aerobic anoxygenic phototrophic bacteria at 9%. We observed higher gene concentrations in fen than in bog. There were also variations in depth, which differed between fen and bog for all genes. Our findings underscore the abundance of oxygenic phototrophs and chemoautotrophs in peatlands, challenging previous estimates that relied solely on oxygenic phototrophs for microbial carbon dioxide fixation assessments. Incorporating absolute gene quantification is essential for a comprehensive understanding of microbial contributions to soil processes. This approach sheds light on the complex mechanisms of soil functioning in peatlands.