Study region: Ten Iranian strategic aquifers Study focus: Groundwater is a critical component of Iran's water supply, yet the environmental factors shaping the spatial variability of groundwater stable isotopes have not been comprehensively examined. Here, we analyzed 202 groundwater samples from 10 Iranian strategic aquifers-systems that collectively provide drinking water for over half of the country's population-to identify spatial patterns in isotope composition and the environmental drivers behind them. New hydrological insights for the region: Oxygen stable isotope (delta 18O) and deuterium (delta 2H) exhibited strong spatial relationships with latitude, elevation, and climatic gradients. Local meteoric water lines (LMWLs) in most aquifers displayed slopes lower than the global meteoric water line (GMWL), pointing to evaporative enrichment and variations in moisture sources. Spatial contrasts in deuterium-excess (D-excess) and line-conditioned excess (LC-excess) further highlighted regional differences: northern aquifers exhabited elevated D-excess associated with humid winter precipitation, whereas central and eastern regions showed reduced values linked to arid conditions and intense evaporation. Approximately 65% of sampled wells had LC-excess values above -1.8 parts per thousand, indicating notable contributions from return-flow and active recharge processes. Overall, these findings demonstrate how climate, topography, recharge dynamics, and evaporation jointly shape groundwater isotope signatures across Iran. The results offer a robust basis for future hydrological investigations and support national-scale strategies for sustainable groundwater management.
This study investigated the distribution of fig pollinator wasps (Blastophaga psenes) in Fars Province, Iran, focusing on ecological and geostatistical factors. Data were collected from 175 samples in different regions of Fars Province, including Estahban, Khafr, Sarvestan, Kavar, and Shiraz counties during the spring of 2022–2023. The data were analyzed using spatial analysis methods, including isotropic and anisotropic semivariograms, as well as ecological indices such as the infaunal trophic index (ITI), the ecological balance index (EBI), and the ecosystem resilience index (ERI). The results indicated a significant correlation of −0.658 between the ITI and EBI, suggesting that fruit contamination by wasps adversely affects wasp density. Additionally, the quality of the ecosystem was found to significantly influence wasp distribution. Highly dense areas of wasps were mainly concentrated in the fertile plains of Estahban and Sarvestan with deep soil and good drainage, while low-density areas were located in the high and dry lands of Eij and Khafr with unfavorable environmental conditions. Factor analysis showed that the first factor (overall ecosystem suitability) explained 81.146
The taxonomy of Iranian Paeonia species remains unresolved due to overlapping morphological traits and insufficient molecular data. In this study, interspecific and intraspecific genetic variation among four taxa: Paeonia archibaldii, P. mascula, P. tomentosa, and P. wendelboi was analyzed using inter-simple sequence repeat (ISSR) markers. A total of 105 bands were generated across ten ISSR primers, with 68 (68.57
The effectiveness of plant growth-promoting microorganisms (PGPMs) in agriculture depends on their formulation into stable, viable products. This study evaluated the stability and viability of three PGPMs-Trichoderma harzianum I 20, Pseudomonas fluorescens P-187, and Bacillus subtilis SWRIs-using various carrier-based and encapsulation formulations. A factorial experiment was conducted with eight formulations, stored at room and cold temperatures for up to six months. Significant interactions between formulation type, storage temperature, and duration were observed (p < 0.01). After six months at room temperature, the biochar-trehalose-glycerol formulation maintained the highest populations for all three microorganisms. At cold room temperature, this formulation also provided the greatest stability for T. harzianum I 20 (4.33 × 108 CFU/g) and P. fluorescens P-187 (6 × 107 CFU/g), while B. subtilis SWRIs showed the least population reduction in formulation 7 (talc-trehalose-glycerol) with 5 × 108 CFU/g. Although talc and biochar showed comparable overall effectiveness as carriers, biochar generally promoted better microbial survival. Glycerol enhanced the preservation of all three species at cold room temperature, whereas trehalose was more effective for P. fluorescens P-187 and T. harzianum I 20 stability at room temperature. These findings highlight the critical role of carrier selection and osmotic stabilizer inclusion in developing robust bioinoculant formulations for different storage conditions and target microorganisms.
Lake Urmia, once one of Iran’s largest inland water bodies, has severely dried up, creating major sources of salt and dust storms that threaten environmental stability, public health, and regional demographics. This study utilizes a cloud-based Google Earth Engine (GEE) platform to analyze remote sensing big data, defined here as the long-term, multi-sensor processing of thousands of satellite observations at pixel scale using a cloud-based environment, to investigate spatiotemporal environmental degradation associated with hydrological changes in the Lake Urmia basin from 2000 to 2024. Demographic trends in population change were examined to provide contextual insight into regional pressures rather than to imply direct causation. We processed 6500 MODIS and Landsat (TM/ETM+/OLI) images to extract Aerosol Optical Depth (AOD), the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), and the Normalized Difference Water Index (NDWI). Pixel-wise Linear Fit Regression (LFR) was then applied to MODIS- and Landsat-derived indices to quantify long-term trends, with validation using observations from seven regional meteorological stations. Monthly GRACE satellite data (2002–2024) were also used to assess changes in total terrestrial water storage (TWS) using Equivalent Water Height (EWH) anomalies. Results revealed five persistent hotspots of salt and dust emissions concentrated along the eastern and northeastern lake margins. AOD exhibited an overall increase of approximately 55
