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Citizen Science and Biological Invasions: A Review Front. Environ. Sci. (IF 2.749) Pub Date : 2020-12-30 João Encarnação; Maria Alexandra Teodósio; Pedro Morais
Biological invasions are among the most challenging ecological and conservation riddles of our times. Fortunately, citizen science projects became a valuable tool to detect non-indigenous species (NIS), document their spread, prevent dispersion, and eradicate localized populations. We evaluated the most undisputed definitions of citizen science and proposed that a combination of two of them is a better
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Vegetation Restoration Alleviated the Soil Surface Organic Carbon Redistribution in the Hillslope Scale on the Loess Plateau, China Front. Environ. Sci. (IF 2.749) Pub Date : 2020-12-18 Yipeng Liang; Xiang Li; Tonggang Zha; Xiaoxia Zhang
The redistribution of soil organic carbon (SOC) in response to soil erosion along the loess slope, China, plays an important role in understanding the mechanisms that underlie SOC’s spatial distribution and turnover. Consequently, SOC redistribution is key to understanding the global carbon cycle. Vegetation restoration has been identified as an effective method to alleviate soil erosion on the Loess
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Assessment of Subsampling Strategies in Microspectroscopy of Environmental Microplastic Samples Front. Environ. Sci. (IF 2.749) Pub Date : 2020-12-15 Josef Brandt; Franziska Fischer; Elisavet Kanaki; Kristina Enders; Matthias Labrenz; Dieter Fischer
The analysis of environmental occurrence of microplastic (MP) particles has gained notable attention within the past decade. An effective risk assessment of MP litter requires elucidating sources of MP particles, their pathways of distribution and, ultimately, sinks. Therefore, sampling has to be done in high frequency, both spatially and temporally, resulting in a high number of samples to analyze
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Development of a Novel Model of Soil Legacy P Assessment for Calcareous and Acidic Soils Front. Environ. Sci. (IF 2.749) Pub Date : 2020-12-15 Wenjia Yu; Guohua Li; Tobias Edward Hartmann; Minggang Xu; Xueyun Yang; Haigang Li; Junling Zhang; Jianbo Shen
Phosphate (P) rock is a finite natural resource, and its use for P fertilizer production has resulted in its rapid depletion worldwide. In order to reduce the use of natural P resources, reducing the input of P into agricultural systems is necessary. The assessment of legacy P in soil is an option to maintain crop yield with low P fertilizer input. Many models have been tested to assess the contribution
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Are Endophytic Bacteria an Option for Increasing Heavy Metal Tolerance of Plants? A Meta-Analysis of the Effect Size Front. Environ. Sci. (IF 2.749) Pub Date : 2020-12-21 Valeria Franco-Franklin; Sandra Moreno-Riascos; Thaura Ghneim-Herrera
Plant endophytic bacteria have received special attention in recent decades for their ability to improve plant response to multiple stresses. A positive effect of endophytes on plant’s ability to cope with drought, salinity, nitrogen deficiency, and pathogens have already been demonstrated in numerous studies, and recently this evidence was consolidated in a meta-analysis of published data. Endophytic
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Airborne eDNA Reflects Human Activity and Seasonal Changes on a Landscape Scale Front. Environ. Sci. (IF 2.749) Pub Date : 2020-12-07 Mark D. Johnson; Robert D. Cox; Blake A. Grisham; Duane Lucia; Matthew A. Barnes
Recent research on environmental DNA (eDNA), genetic material shed by organisms into their environment that can be used for sensitive and species-specific detection, has focused on the ability to collect airborne eDNA released by plants and carried by the wind for use in terrestrial plant populations, including detection of invasive and endangered species. Another possible application of airborne eDNA
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Behavioral and Developmental Changes in Brown Trout After Exposure to the Antidepressant Venlafaxine Front. Environ. Sci. (IF 2.749) Pub Date : 2020-12-17 Michael Ziegler; Michel Banet; Rebecca Bauer; Heinz-R. Köhler; Sabine Stepinski; Selina Tisler; Carolin Huhn; Christian Zwiener; Rita Triebskorn
During the last decades, depression has been diagnosed in increasing numbers, accompanied by rising prescription rates of antidepressants. Concomitantly, these pharmaceuticals are frequently detected in surface waters. Serotonin and noradrenalin reuptake inhibitors such as venlafaxine form the second largest group of antidepressants worldwide, and venlafaxine is the second most prescribed antidepressant
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Efficiency of Aerial Drones for Macrolitter Monitoring on Baltic Sea Beaches Front. Environ. Sci. (IF 2.749) Pub Date : 2020-12-11 Gabriela Escobar-Sánchez; Mirco Haseler; Natascha Oppelt; Gerald Schernewski
Marine litter is a global problem that requires soon management and design of mitigation strategies. Marine litter monitoring is an essential step to assess the abundances, distributions, sinks and hotspots of pollution as well as the effectiveness of mitigation measures. However, these need to be time and cost-efficient, fit for purpose and context, as well as provide a standardized methodology suitable
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Alkaline Dehydration of Human Urine Collected in Source-Separated Sanitation Systems Using Magnesium Oxide Front. Environ. Sci. (IF 2.749) Pub Date : 2020-12-14 Prithvi Simha; Christopher Friedrich; Dyllon Garth Randall; Björn Vinnerås
Fresh human urine, after it is alkalized to prevent the enzymatic hydrolysis of urea, can be dehydrated to reduce its volume and to produce a solid fertilizer. In this study, we investigated the suitability of MgO to alkalize and dehydrate urine. We selected MgO due to its low solubility (<2 g·L−1) and relatively high saturation pH (9.9 ± 0.2) in urine. Using a laboratory-scale setup, we dehydrated
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A Multi-Level Framework for Adaptation to Drought Within Temperate Agriculture Front. Environ. Sci. (IF 2.749) Pub Date : 2020-12-11 IP Holman; TM Hess; D Rey; JW Knox
Droughts affect a range of economically important sectors but their impacts are usually most evident within agriculture. Agricultural impacts are not confined to arid and semi-arid regions, but are increasingly experienced in more temperate and humid regions. A transferable drought management framework is needed to transition from coping to adapting to drought through supporting improved planning and
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Influence of Local Sources and Meteorological Parameters on the Spatial and Temporal Distribution of Ultrafine Particles in Augsburg, Germany Front. Environ. Sci. (IF 2.749) Pub Date : 2020-12-09 Esther Giemsa; Jens Soentgen; Thomas Kusch; Christoph Beck; Christoph Münkel; Josef Cyrys; Mike Pitz
Ultrafine particles (UFP; diameter less than 100 nm) are ubiquitous in urban air, and an acknowledged risk to human health. At the same time, little is known about the immission situation at typical urban sites such as high-traffic roads, residential areas with a high amount of solid fuels for home heating or commercial and industrial areas due to missing legal requirements for measurements of UFP
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Effects of Multiconstituent Tides on a Subterranean Estuary With Fixed-Head Inland Boundary Front. Environ. Sci. (IF 2.749) Pub Date : 2020-12-14 Xiayang Yu; Pei Xin; Chengji Shen; Ling Li
While tides of multiple constituents are common in coastal areas, their effects on submarine groundwater discharge (SGD) and salinity distributions in unconfined coastal aquifers are rarely examined, with the exception of a recent study that explored such effects on unconfined aquifers with fixed inland freshwater input. For a large proportion of the global coastline, the inland areas of coastal aquifers
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Successional Herbaceous Species Affect Soil Processes in a High-Elevation Alpine Proglacial Chronosequence Front. Environ. Sci. (IF 2.749) Pub Date : 2020-12-14 Andrea Mainetti; Michele D’Amico; Massimiliano Probo; Elena Quaglia; Simone Ravetto Enri; Luisella Celi; Michele Lonati
The study investigated plant-soil interactions along a proglacial chronosequence in the Italian Alps, with a specific focus on pioneer and grassland species structure and biogeochemical processes, with the aim to evaluate the biotic patterns in ecosystem development. We recorded vascular plant frequencies and the mean diameter of one pioneer and one grassland target species in 18 permanent plots distributed
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Financial Speculation or Capital Investment? Evidence From Relationship Between Corporate Financialization and Green Technology Innovation Front. Environ. Sci. (IF 2.749) Pub Date : 2020-12-07 Zhehao Huang; Xue Li; Shuanglian Chen
In this paper, 3,493 non-financial listed companies in China from 2007 to 2018 are selected as samples to study the impact of corporate financialization on green technology innovation through the panel regression model as well as the mediating effect model, so as to identify whether enterprises tend to financial speculation or capital investment. The main conclusions are as follows. First, corporate
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High Application Rates of Biochar to Mitigate N2O Emissions From a N-Fertilized Tropical Soil Under Warming Conditions Front. Environ. Sci. (IF 2.749) Pub Date : 2020-12-04 Tatiana F. Rittl; Dener M. S. Oliveira; Luiza P. Canisares; Edvaldo Sagrilo; Klaus Butterbach-Bahl; Michael Dannenmann; Carlos E. P. Cerri
Biochar application has been suggested as a strategy to decrease nitrous oxide emissions from agricultural soils while increasing soil C stocks, especially in tropical regions. Climate change, specifically increasing temperatures, will affect soil environmental conditions and thereby directly influence soil N2O fluxes. Here, we show that Miscanthus giganteus biochar applied at high rates suppresses
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Monitoring Droughts From GRACE Front. Environ. Sci. (IF 2.749) Pub Date : 2020-12-04 Bramha Dutt Vishwakarma
With ongoing climate change, we are staring at possibly longer and more severe droughts in the future. Therefore, monitoring and understanding duration and intensity of droughts, and how are they evolving in space and time is imperative for global socio-economic security. Satellite remote sensing has helped us a lot in this endeavor, but most of the satellite missions observe only near-surface properties
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Mitigation of Odor, NH3, H2S, GHG, and VOC Emissions With Current Products for Use in Deep-Pit Swine Manure Storage Structures Front. Environ. Sci. (IF 2.749) Pub Date : 2020-12-02 Baitong Chen; Jacek A. Koziel; Chumki Banik; Hantian Ma; Myeongseong Lee; Jisoo Wi; Zhanibek Meiirkhanuly; Samuel C. O'Brien; Peiyang Li; Daniel S. Andersen; Andrzej Białowiec; David B. Parker
Odorous gas emissions from swine production have been a concern for neighbors and communities near livestock farms. Manure storage is one of the main sources of gaseous emissions. Manure additive products are marketed as a simple solution to this environmental challenge. Manure additives are user-friendly for producers and can be applied (e.g., periodically poured into manure) without changing the
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Environmental and Biological Determinants of Algal Lipids in Western Arctic and Subarctic Seas Front. Environ. Sci. (IF 2.749) Pub Date : 2020-11-30 Vincent Marmillot; Christopher C. Parrish; Jean-Éric Tremblay; Michel Gosselin; Jenna F. MacKinnon
The Arctic is undergoing numerous environmental transformations. As a result of rising temperatures and additional freshwater inputs, ice cover is changing, with profound impacts on organisms at the base of food webs and consequently on the entire Arctic ecosystem. Indeed, phytoplankton not only provide energy as lipids, but also essential fatty acids (EFA) that animals cannot synthesize and must acquire
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Various Digestion Protocols Within Microplastic Sample Processing—Evaluating the Resistance of Different Synthetic Polymers and the Efficiency of Biogenic Organic Matter Destruction Front. Environ. Sci. (IF 2.749) Pub Date : 2020-11-30 Felix Pfeiffer; Elke Kerstin Fischer
The digestion of biogenic organic matter is an essential step of sample preparation within microplastic analyses. Organic residues hamper the separation of polymer particles especially within density separation or polymer identification via spectroscopic and staining methods. Therefore, a concise literature survey has been undertaken to identify the most commonly applied digestion protocols with a
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Impacts of China's Emissions Trading Scheme on the National and Hong Kong Economies: A Dynamic Computable General Equilibrium Analysis Front. Environ. Sci. (IF 2.749) Pub Date : 2020-11-30 Yue Wang; Niven Winchester; Christopher J. Webster; Kyung-Min Nam
In this study, we estimate the economic impacts of China's official carbon-mitigation targets, in connection with Hong Kong's potential participation in a proposed national emissions trading scheme. We find that moderate intensity-reduction targets emulating China's pledged Paris Agreement commitment would incur much larger policy-compliance costs in Hong Kong (0.1–2.5% of baseline gross domestic product)
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Impact of Climate Change on Metal and Suspended Sediment Concentrations in Urban Waters Front. Environ. Sci. (IF 2.749) Pub Date : 2020-12-02 Paul Frogner-Kockum; Gunnel Göransson; Marie Haeger-Eugensson
In order to study the impact of climate change on metal contaminant transport in urban waters and its relevance for water quality, we have analyzed variations in metal- and suspended sediment concentrations (SSC) in three urban rivers and one small creek in the Gothenburg region during various hydrological events such as spring flood, dry period, and wet period. To interpret river loads of metals and
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Instrumental Variable Analysis in Atmospheric and Aerosol Chemistry Front. Environ. Sci. (IF 2.749) Pub Date : 2020-11-30 Prashant Rajput; Tarun Gupta
Due to the complex nature of ambient aerosols arising from the presence of myriads of organic compounds, the chemical reactivity of a particular compound with oxidant/s are studied through chamber experiments under controlled laboratory conditions. Several confounders (RH, T, light intensity, in chamber retention time) are controlled in chamber experiments to study their effect on the chemical transformation
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Biogenic Aggregation of Small Microplastics Alters Their Ingestion by a Common Freshwater Micro-Invertebrate Front. Environ. Sci. (IF 2.749) Pub Date : 2020-11-30 Claudia Drago; Julia Pawlak; Guntram Weithoff
In recent years, increasing concerns have been raised about the environmental risk of microplastics in freshwater ecosystems. Small microplastics enter the water either directly or accumulate through disintegration of larger plastic particles. These particles might then be ingested by filter-feeding zooplankton, such as rotifers. Particles released into the water may also interact with the biota through
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Participatory Modeling With QUICKScan to Shape Sustainable Urban Development Front. Environ. Sci. (IF 2.749) Pub Date : 2020-11-30 Peter Verweij; Anouk Cormont; Michiel van Eupen; Manuel Winograd; Jorgelina Hardoy
Current spatial planning methods are often technocratic, slow, fail to use the right kind of evidence or do not involve (all) the actors needed to create support and consensus. We present a method that facilitates the use of evidence (data) in participatory spatial planning processes, resulting in a joint understanding of the most important causalities, as a means to build capacity across actors. QUICKScan
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Nature Based Solutions for Urban Resilience: A Distinction Between No-Tech, Low-Tech and High-tech Solutions Front. Environ. Sci. (IF 2.749) Pub Date : 2020-11-23 Robbert PH Snep; Joris GWF Voeten; Gerben Mol; Tim Van Hattum
Urbanization and extreme weather require smarter urban water management. Nature-based solutions (NBS) like vegetated roofs and city trees can contribute effectively to climate resilience and future proof urban water management. However, large scale implementation is limited due to a lack of knowledge among professionals on how to capture, store, and reuse water on-site. In this paper we advocate a
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Cetaceans as Ocean Health Indicators of Marine Litter Impact at Global Scale Front. Environ. Sci. (IF 2.749) Pub Date : 2020-11-18 Maria Cristina Fossi; Matteo Baini; Mark Peter Simmonds
Marine litter is a growing concern for marine animals, including cetaceans for which there is a developing body of evidence showing impacts of both entanglement and ingestion. Better understanding is needed of the current and predicted scales of impacts on cetacean species of both macro- and micro-litter. Some emerging methodological approaches, such as the “threefold approach,” will help address data
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On the Performance of Satellite-Based Precipitation Products in Simulating Streamflow and Water Quality During Hydrometeorological Extremes Front. Environ. Sci. (IF 2.749) Pub Date : 2020-11-25 Jennifer Solakian; Viviana Maggioni; Adil N. Godrej
This study provides a comprehensive evaluation of streamflow and water quality simulated by a hydrological model using three different Satellite Precipitation Products (SPPs) with respect to observations from a dense rain gauge network over the Occoquan Watershed, located in Northern Virginia, suburbs to Washington, D.C., U.S. Eight extreme hydrometeorological events within a 5-year period between
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Dam-Induced Hydrologic Alterations in the Rivers Feeding the Pantanal Front. Environ. Sci. (IF 2.749) Pub Date : 2020-11-20 Pedro Ely; Ibraim Fantin-Cruz; Hans M. Tritico; Pierre Girard; David Kaplan
Tropical river basins have experienced dramatically increased hydropower development over the last 20 years. These alterations have the potential to cause changes in hydrologic and ecologic systems. One heavily impacted system is the Upper Paraguay River Basin, which feeds the Pantanal wetland. The Pantanal is a Ramsar Heritage site and is one of the world's largest freshwater wetlands. Over the past
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Distribution Patterns of Microplastics in Seawater Surface at a Portuguese Estuary and Marine Park Front. Environ. Sci. (IF 2.749) Pub Date : 2020-11-18 Diana Rodrigues; Joana Antunes; Vanessa Otero; Paula Sobral; Maria Helena Costa
Measuring local levels of marine pollution by microplastics (MP) and identifying potential sources in coastal areas is essential to evaluate the associated impacts to environment and biota. The accumulation of floating MP at the sea surface is of great concern as the neustonic habitat consists of a feeding ground for primary consumers (including filter-feeders) and active predators, which makes these
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Phytoplankton Community Responses to Interactions Between Light Intensity, Light Variations, and Phosphorus Supply Front. Environ. Sci. (IF 2.749) Pub Date : 2020-11-25 Vanessa Marzetz; Elly Spijkerman; Maren Striebel; Alexander Wacker
In a changing world, phytoplankton communities face a large variety of challenges including altered light regimes. These alterations are caused by more pronounced stratification due to rising temperatures, enhanced eutrophication, and browning of lakes. Community responses toward these effects can emerge as alterations in physiology, biomass, biochemical composition, or diversity. In this study, we
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Water Stagnation and Flow Obstruction Reduces the Quality of Potable Water and Increases the Risk of Legionelloses Front. Environ. Sci. (IF 2.749) Pub Date : 2020-11-24 Muhammad Atif Nisar; Kirstin E. Ross; Melissa H. Brown; Richard Bentham; Harriet Whiley
Legionella is an opportunistic waterborne pathogen associated with Legionnaires' disease and Pontiac fever. Despite improved public awareness, the incidence of Legionella associated infections has been increasing. Aerosols generated from engineered potable water systems are a demonstrated cause of both nosocomial and community-acquired legionellosis. The ecology of Legionella in these systems is complex
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Incorporating Established Conservation Networks into Freshwater Conservation Planning Results in More Workable Prioritizations Front. Environ. Sci. (IF 2.749) Pub Date : 2020-11-20 Nicholas A. Sievert; Craig P. Paukert; Joanna B. Whittier
Resources for addressing stream fish conservation issues are often limited and the stressors impacting fish continue to increase, so decision makers often rely on tools to prioritize locations for conservation actions. Because conservation networks already exist in many areas, incorporating these into the planning process can increase the ability of decision makers to carry out management actions.
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What Visitors Want From Urban Parks: Diversity, Utility, Serendipity Front. Environ. Sci. (IF 2.749) Pub Date : 2020-11-10 Lucy Taylor; Erin H. Leckey; Peter J. Lead; Dieter F. Hochuli
Urban parks may provide a range of ecosystem services, but community perspectives can influence the conservation of parks and their biodiversity. Cultural ecosystem services, or the non-material benefits that people receive from nature, can prompt a park’s use and motivate a management response from local government. Our study aimed to explore why people visit urban parks, whether the tacit biodiversity
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Analysis of Water Pollution Using Different Physicochemical Parameters: A Study of Yamuna River Front. Environ. Sci. (IF 2.749) Pub Date : 2020-11-11 Rohit Sharma; Raghvendra Kumar; Suresh Chandra Satapathy; Nadhir Al-Ansari; Krishna Kant Singh; Rajendra Prasad Mahapatra; Anuj Kumar Agarwal; Hiep Van Le; Binh Thai Pham
The Yamuna river has become one of the most polluted rivers in India as well as in the world because of the high-density population growth and speedy industrialization. The Yamuna river is severely polluted and needs urgent revival. The Yamuna river in Dehradun is polluted due to exceptional tourist activity, poor sewage facilities, and insufficient wastewater management amenities. The measurement
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Further Development of Small Hydropower Facilities May Alter Nutrient Transport to the Pantanal Wetland of Brazil Front. Environ. Sci. (IF 2.749) Pub Date : 2020-10-19 Marcia Divina de Oliveira; Ibraim Fantin-Cruz; Juliana Andrade Campos; Marcel Medina de Campos; Rafael Mingoti; Marcelo Luiz de Souza; Daniela Maimoni de Figueiredo; Eliana Freire Gaspar de Carvalho Dores; Olavo Pedrollo; Stephen K. Hamilton
Small hydropower (SHP) facilities, defined variably but usually by installed capacities of <10–50 MW, are proliferating around the world, particularly in tropical and subtropical regions. Compared to larger dams, SHPs are generally viewed as having less environmental impact, although there has been little research to support that assertion. Numerous SHPs have been built, and many more are in development
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Experimental Study of Freeze-Thaw/Water Compound Erosion and Hydraulic Conditions as Affected by Thawed Depth on Loessal Slope Front. Environ. Sci. (IF 2.749) Pub Date : 2020-11-17 Wei Wang; Zhanbin Li; Rui Yang; Tian Wang; Peng Li
Freeze-thaw cycles have significant influences on slope erosion processes. In this study, simulated rainfall laboratory experiments were implemented to investigate erosion processes and the relationship between the soil loss rate and hydraulics conditions under different thawed depths and rainfall intensities. The results indicated that linear regression could be used to describe the relationship between
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Measures to Control Invasive Crayfish Species in Switzerland: A Success Story? Front. Environ. Sci. (IF 2.749) Pub Date : 2020-11-17 Raphael Krieg; Alex King; Armin Zenker
Invasive crayfish species were first documented in Switzerland in the 1970s. Today, North American crayfish species dominate in most major lakes and streams in Switzerland. In combination with the crayfish plague, they pose a substantial threat to our native crayfish. Over the past 20 years, various techniques have been applied to reduce negative impacts of these invasive crayfish in Switzerland: eradication
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Evaluation of the FLake Model in ERA5 for Lake Champlain Front. Environ. Sci. (IF 2.749) Pub Date : 2020-11-16 Alan K. Betts; Daniel Reid; Caitlin Crossett
Global model reanalyses of temperature and radiation are used for many purposes because of their spatial and temporal homogeneity. However, they use sub-models for lakes that are smaller than the model grid. This paper compares the simplified small-lake model, known as FLake, used in the European Centre global reanalysis known as ERA5, with observations made in and near Lake Champlain in northern Vermont
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Assessment of Soil Functions: An Example of Meeting Competing National and International Obligations by Harnessing Regional Differences Front. Environ. Sci. (IF 2.749) Pub Date : 2020-11-13 Kristine Valujeva; Aleksejs Nipers; Ainars Lupikis; Rogier P. O. Schulte
The increased demand for bio based products worldwide provides an opportunity for Eastern European countries to increase their production in agriculture and forestry. At the same time, such economic development must be congruent with the European Union’s long-term climate and biodiversity objectives. As a country that is rich in bioresources, the Latvian case study is highly relevant to many other
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The Resilience of Inter-basin Transfers to Severe Droughts With Changing Spatial Characteristics Front. Environ. Sci. (IF 2.749) Pub Date : 2020-11-20 Anna Murgatroyd; Jim W. Hall
Faced with the prospect of climate change and growing demands for water, water resources managers are increasingly examining the potential for inter-basin water transfers to alleviate water shortages. However, water transfers are vulnerable to large-scale spatially coherent droughts which may lead to water shortages in neighboring river basins at the same time. Under climate change, increasingly severe
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Environmental DNA (eDNA) Monitoring of Noble Crayfish Astacus astacus in Lentic Environments Offers Reliable Presence-Absence Surveillance – But Fails to Predict Population Density Front. Environ. Sci. (IF 2.749) Pub Date : 2020-11-17 Stein I. Johnsen; David A. Strand; Johannes C. Rusch; Trude Vrålstad
Noble crayfish is the most widespread native freshwater crayfish species in Europe. It is threatened in its entire distribution range and listed on the International Union for Concervation Nature- and national red lists. Reliable monitoring data is a prerequisite for implementing conservation measures, and population trends are traditionally obtained from catch per unit effort (CPUE) data. Recently
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Biomonitoring Studies in Geothermal Areas: A Review Front. Environ. Sci. (IF 2.749) Pub Date : 2020-11-16 Pierfranco Lattanzi; Renato Benesperi; Guia Morelli; Valentina Rimondi; Giovanni Ruggieri
Biomonitoring is a widely employed approach to track changes in the environment. Its use to assess the impact of geothermal energy exploitation for power production is comparatively minor, and largely referred to Tuscany, Italy, geothermal fields. Most examples describe impacts on vegetation, particularly lichens. Biomonitoring proved useful as a tool to reveal the distribution of specific contaminants
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Protected Areas and Endemic Freshwater Fishes of the Cape Fold Ecoregion: Missing the Boat for Fish Conservation? Front. Environ. Sci. (IF 2.749) Pub Date : 2020-11-13 Martine S. Jordaan; Albert Chakona; Dewidine van der Colff
Freshwater systems and their associated biodiversity are among the most threatened ecosystems globally. The greatest threats to freshwater fishes are the introduction and spread of non-native species, pollution, habitat degradation and loss, and overexploitation. While many regions across the world contain extensive networks of protected areas, these are largely ineffective for protecting riverine
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Contingent Effects of Liming on N2O-Emissions Driven by Autotrophic Nitrification Front. Environ. Sci. (IF 2.749) Pub Date : 2020-11-11 Shahid Nadeem; Lars R. Bakken; Åsa Frostegård; John C. Gaby; Peter Dörsch
Liming acidic soils is often found to reduce their N2O emission due to lowered N2O/(N2O + N2) product ratio of denitrification. Some field experiments have shown the opposite effect, however, and the reason for this could be that liming stimulates nitrification-driven N2O production by enhancing nitrification rates, and by favoring ammonia oxidizing bacteria (AOB) over ammonia oxidizing archaea (AOA)
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Analysis and Classification of Stormwater and Wastewater Runoff From the Tijuana River Using Remote Sensing Imagery Front. Environ. Sci. (IF 2.749) Pub Date : 2020-11-06 Mariam Ayad; Jingjing Li; Benjamin Holt; Christine Lee
Urban runoff represents the primary cause of marine pollution in the Southern California coastal oceans. This study focuses on water quality issues originating from the Tijuana River watershed, which spans the southwest border of the United States and Mexico. Frequent discharge events into the coastal ocean at this boundary include stormwater and wastewater. This study focuses on differences in spectral
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Can Environmental Corporate Social Responsibility Reduce Firms’ Idiosyncratic Risk? Evidence From China Front. Environ. Sci. (IF 2.749) Pub Date : 2020-11-09 Xiaoran Kong; Yuying Pan; Huaping Sun; Farhad Taghizadeh-Hesary
Environmental corporate social responsibility (ECSR) can be a strategy to increase the transparency of investment information effectively to alleviate information asymmetry. The purpose of this article is to examine the impact of ECSR on firms’ idiosyncratic risk. Using the data of A-share listed firms in China and data of Rankins CSR Ratings by developing econometrics models, this study documents
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Species Sensitivity to Toxic Substances: Evolution, Ecology and Applications Front. Environ. Sci. (IF 2.749) Pub Date : 2020-11-04 David Spurgeon; Elma Lahive; Alex Robinson; Stephen Short; Peter Kille
Because it is only possible to test chemicals for effects on a restricted range of species and exposure scenarios, ecotoxicologists are faced with a significant challenge of how to translate the measurements in model species into predictions of impacts for the wider range of species in ecosystems. Because of this challenge, within ecotoxicology there is no more fundamental aspect than to understand
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Optimization of Financial Penalties for Environmental Pollution by Chinese Traditional Energy Enterprises Front. Environ. Sci. (IF 2.749) Pub Date : 2020-11-03 Le Chang; Yadong Song; Tao Yu
The formulation of proper financial penalties plays an important role in regulating Chinese traditional energy enterprises’ illegal pollution. Through the construction of a mixed-strategy game model and an evolutionary game model for regulatory agencies and traditional energy enterprises, the article studies how financial penalties impact players’ strategies and evolutionary processes to optimize financial
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The Tripartite Regulation Game of Carbon Financial Products Based on the Prospect Theory Front. Environ. Sci. (IF 2.749) Pub Date : 2020-10-29 Xiaoran Yu; Guanglong Dong; Changyu Liu
Because of the high information asymmetry of carbon financial products (CFPs), financial institutions infringing on the rights of investors occurred worldwide. However, few studies focused on how to protect investors effectively. In this paper, from the perspective of regulation, we analyze the game relationships among governments, financial institutions, and investors. Following this, the tripartite
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Marine Litter Pollution in Baltic Sea Beaches – Application of the Sand Rake Method Front. Environ. Sci. (IF 2.749) Pub Date : 2020-11-04 Mirco Haseler; Arunas Balciunas; Rahel Hauk; Viktorija Sabaliauskaite; Irina Chubarenko; Alexandra Ershova; Gerald Schernewski
Most marine litter monitoring methods used on beaches focus on macro-litter (>25 mm) only and show shortcomings regarding smaller litter classes (<25 mm), especially at Baltic Sea beaches. Therefore, we used a sand rake method developed for large micro- (2–5 mm), and meso- (5–25 mm) litter to quantify the overall pollution status of Baltic Sea beaches and to test if the method is useful in terms of
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Changing Relationship Between Tibetan Plateau Temperature and South China Sea Summer Monsoon Precipitation Front. Environ. Sci. (IF 2.749) Pub Date : 2020-10-26 Mei Liang; Jianjun Xu; Johnny C. L. Chan; Liguang Wu; Xiangde Xu
The present study documents the changes in the relationship between the Tibetan Plateau summer surface temperature (TPST) and the South China Sea summer monsoon precipitation (SCSSMP). A stepwise regression model is used to exclude the signals of global warming, El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO), western North Pacific Subtropical High (WNPSH), Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation (AMO) and Pacific Decadal
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Mammals Make Use of Cashew Plantations in a Mixed Forest–Cashew Landscape Front. Environ. Sci. (IF 2.749) Pub Date : 2020-10-26 Anushka Rege; Girish Arjun Punjabi; Devcharan Jathanna; Ajith Kumar
Heterogeneous landscapes harboring mosaics of natural habitat and agriculture are increasingly gaining conservation focus in the tropics. While research on cash crops such as coffee, rubber, and oil palm has led to an understanding of their role as supplementary habitats, such has remained limited in cashew plantations despite it being a cash crop of global significance. We conducted a study to understand
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Dynamics of Soil Water Content Across Different Landscapes in a Typical Desert-Oasis Ecotone Front. Environ. Sci. (IF 2.749) Pub Date : 2020-10-20 Guohua Wang; Qianqian Gou; Yulian Hao; Huimin Zhao; Xiafang Zhang
An understanding of soil water content dynamics is important for vegetation restoration in an arid desert-oasis ecotone under different landscapes. In this study, the dynamics of soil water content under three typical landscapes (i.e., desert, sand-binding shrubland, and farmland shelter woodland) were investigated in the Hexi Corridor, northwest China, during the growing season from 2002 to 2013.
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Temporal Trends and Potential Drivers of Stranded Marine Debris on Beaches Within Two US National Marine Sanctuaries Using Citizen Science Data Front. Environ. Sci. (IF 2.749) Pub Date : 2020-10-26 Amy V. Uhrin; Sherry Lippiatt; Carlie E. Herring; Kyle Dettloff; Kate Bimrose; Chris Butler-Minor
Marine debris is a threat to our ocean that can be more effectively addressed through monitoring and assessment of items stranded on shorelines. This study engaged citizen scientists to conduct shoreline marine debris surveys according to a published NOAA protocol within the Greater Farallones and Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuaries on the west coast of the United States. Here, we use the results
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Anthropogenic Influences on 2019 July Precipitation Extremes Over the Mid–Lower Reaches of the Yangtze River Front. Environ. Sci. (IF 2.749) Pub Date : 2020-10-26 Nergui Nanding; Yang Chen; Huan Wu; Buwen Dong; Fangxing Tian; Fraser C. Lott; Simon F. B. Tett; Miguel Angel Rico-Ramirez; Yiheng Chen; Zhijun Huang; Yan Yan; Delei Li; Rouke Li; Xuan Wang; Xuewei Fan
Understanding the driving factors for precipitation extremes matters for adaptation and mitigation measures against the changing hydrometeorological hazards in Yangtze River basin, a habitable area that provides water resources for domestic, farming, and industrial needs. However, the region is naturally subject to major floods linked to monsoonal heavy precipitation during May–September. This study
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Exploring Grapevine Phenology and High Temperatures Response Under Controlled Conditions Front. Environ. Sci. (IF 2.749) Pub Date : 2020-10-21 N. K. Merrill; I. García de Cortázar-Atauri; A. K. Parker; M. A. Walker; E. M. Wolkovich
Climate change has challenged growers and researchers alike to better understand how warm temperatures may impact winegrape plant development across varieties. Yet multi-variety studies present challenges. Here we review studies of controlled warming on winegrape varieties alongside a new study of the budburst and flowering phenology of 50 varieties of Vitis vinifera subsp. vinifera in the lab, with
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Deforestation Impacts on Orographic Precipitation in the Tropical Andes Front. Environ. Sci. (IF 2.749) Pub Date : 2020-10-30 Masih Eghdami; Ana P. Barros
This study examines the implications of Tropical Montane Forests (TMFs) loss on orographic precipitation in the Eastern slopes of the Andes (EADS). The focus is on moist processes for synoptic regimes associated with significant EADS precipitation: (1) monsoon rainfall for weak and strong South America Low-Level Jet (LLJ) conditions and (2) heavy rainfall associated with cold air intrusions (CAI) in
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Fluorescent Microplastic Uptake by Immune Cells of Atlantic Salmon (Salmo salar L.) Front. Environ. Sci. (IF 2.749) Pub Date : 2020-10-27 Isabel S. Abihssira-García; Youngjin Park; Viswanath Kiron; Pål A. Olsvik
The ubiquitous presence of microplastics and their marine ecotoxicity are major public concerns. Microplastics are ingested accidentally by the marine fauna or are taken up indirectly through the food chain. These particles can accumulate in cells and tissues and affect the normal biological functions of organisms, including their defense mechanisms. There is limited information available about the
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Lack of Cross-Sector and Cross-Level Policy Coherence and Consistency Limits Urban Green Infrastructure Implementation in Malawi Front. Environ. Sci. (IF 2.749) Pub Date : 2020-10-26 Stavros Afionis; David D. Mkwambisi; Martin Dallimer
The quality, quantity and accessibility of urban greenspaces and green infrastructure offer multiple benefits for city dwellers, the environment and urban sustainability. Green infrastructure provides a wide range of environmental, social, cultural, climate change adaptation, and mitigation benefits. However, for green infrastructure to do so, it needs to be integrated into national policy and city-planning
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Efficiency of Iron- and Calcium-Impregnated Biochar in Adsorbing Phosphate From Wastewater in Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems Front. Environ. Sci. (IF 2.749) Pub Date : 2020-10-20 Sahar S. Dalahmeh; Ylva Stenström; Mohamed Jebrane; Lars D. Hylander; Geoffrey Daniel; Ivo Heinmaa
This study evaluated the potential of biochar impregnated with Fe3+ or Ca2+, or mixed with Polonite®, as a filter material for removal of phosphate (PO4-P) from wastewater in onsite wastewater treatment systems (OWTS). Four treatments with biochar were investigated: unimpregnated biochar (UBC), biochar impregnated with iron Fe3+ (FBC), biochar impregnated with calcium oxide (CBC), and biochar mixed
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