The growing reliance on fertilizers for global food production, combined with low nutrient-use efficiency, highlights the need for new, sustainable fertilizers derived from local sources. This study evaluated the release dynamics and leaching potential of phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) in sewage sludge biochar-based fertilizers (BBF) enriched with mica-schist (Mica) or phonolite (Phon) and varying concentrations of oxalic acid (OA) (0, 0.33, 0.67, and 1 mol L−1). Incubation (60 days) and leaching column (6 days) experiments were conducted, and P and K release was described using non-linear kinetic models. The addition of OA increased P and K release in the soil. K release exhibited biphasic behavior—a rapid initial phase followed by gradual release—whereas P was released predominantly during the initial phases. Fertilizers synthesized using biochar produced at 300 °C showed higher P and K release. Despite the increase in the soluble fraction, the BBFs exhibited lower K leaching compared to the conventional fertilizer (KCl), while P leaching was low across all fertilizers due to its limited mobility in the soil. The developed fertilizers demonstrated potential as slow-release nutrient sources, with OA concentration playing a decisive role in modulating release kinetics and the availability of P and K in the soil.
Microplastic (MP) pollution has emerged as a primary threat to aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems, including globally recognized protected areas. This review critically evaluates the presence, distribution, and impacts of MPs in regions classified as UNESCO World Natural Heritage Sites. The analysis encompasses 60 studies published up to December 2024, highlighting temporal trends and geographic gaps. Findings reveal that of the 312 UNESCO-recognized areas, only 28 have been the focus of MP-related studies, primarily in coastal and aquatic ecosystems. Notable sites include the Galápagos Islands, the Great Barrier Reef, and the Fernando de Noronha Archipelago. MPs, predominantly synthetic fibers composed of polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP), were detected across various environmental matrices and organisms, including sediments, surface waters, and marine and freshwater species. Furthermore, human activities such as unregulated tourism and improper waste disposal exacerbate the dispersion of MPs, compromising the ecological integrity of these regions. This review identifies methodological gaps and proposes more integrated approaches to enhance monitoring and mitigation efforts, emphasizing the importance of global and regional public policies. By contributing to a broader understanding of MPs’ impacts in areas of high ecological and cultural value, this study highlights the need for coordinated actions that balance environmental conservation with economic sustainability.
Environmental disturbances may cause physiological, behavioral and demographic changes in wildlife populations, which may translate into changes in community structure and ecosystem functioning. Little is known about fire effects on physiological parameters, and their consequences for population dynamics and persistence. Due to ongoing climate change and anthropogenic pressures, fire has become more intense and frequent in several Brazilian biomes, including the Cerrado. This suggests an urgent need to assess fire’s impact on organism physiology, especially nutritional indicators. We used a longitudinal database (9 years) to test the effects of fire on the body condition of the long-tailed climbing mouse Rhipidomys macrurus at the Panga Ecological Station (Uberlândia/Brazil). The effects of sex and climatic season were also tested. Overall, we failed to corroborate our hypothesis, as body condition was not significantly affected by repeated fires. Several mechanisms may account for this result: (1) reduced intraspecific competition after repeated fire events, due to abrupt density changes, (2) fire acting as a selective agent, increasing mortality of individuals with lower body condition and nutritional reserves, and (3) behavioral strategies that may compensate for energy loss and reduce negative fire impacts on body condition. Furthermore, we cannot discard the possibility of a false negative, due to reduced statistical power resulting from low sample size after fire events. Finally, other fitness metrics may be more affected by fire than body condition. Our results support the theory that body condition may be an unreliable indicator of habitat quality, disturbance, and individual or population health.
Polyembryony, characterized by the formation of multiple embryos within a single seed, and apomixis, a seed production process involving asexual embryos, are reproductive strategies that may confer adaptive advantages to plants, particularly in disturbed environments. This study evaluated the occurrence and association of these traits in the Cerrado, a megadiverse Neotropical savanna region in central Brazil. We analyzed data from the literature (125 species) and new records (91 species), counting embryos and emerging seedlings per seed to evaluate the presence and number of polyembryonic seeds. Plants were classified as monoembryonic or polyembryonic, and thresholds were established to distinguish between low and high polyembryony. Breeding systems were examined to establish the relationship between polyembryony and apomixis, and the origin of extranumerary embryos was investigated, whenever possible, using literature sources. Phylogenetic signals and evolutionary transitions for both traits were also assessed. Polyembryony was observed in one-third of the studied species (72/216), with widely variable polyembryonic seed percentages (PSPs) and percentages of seeds with extranumerary seedlings (PSES). Polyembryony ≥ 5
Moss carpets are a common feature in the maritime Antarctic. They provide habitats for a diverse community of organisms, including microbial groups, micro-invertebrates, and micro-arthropods, all of which depend on the moss for their survival. Despite recognition of this important role, studies of the moss-associated biodiversity to date have rarely involved the application of modern molecular tools. This study focused on an extensive and long-established moss carpet primarily comprising the moss Saniona uncinata, located adjacent to a reconstructed whale skeleton on a coastal beach and of historical importance, located near the Brazilian Antarctic Station (Admiralty Bay, King George Island), and is a popular attraction for tourists and scientists alike. We employed DNA metabarcoding to investigate the biodiversity of organisms potentially associated with the moss carpet, employing three well-established genetic markers, 16S, ITS2, and COX1. The marker generating the greatest number of amplicon sequence variants (ASVs, a proxy for taxon diversity) was 16S with 199 assigned ASVs, followed by COX1 (121) and ITS2 (26). In total, 346 ASVs were assigned, representing two Domains, five Kingdoms, and 38 phyla. As well as representing a diverse range of likely native taxa, a proportion of the assignments were exotic taxa not forming part of Antarctica’s native biodiversity. These assignments, while they cannot be proven to represent the presence of living organisms or established populations, may be an important indication of otherwise invisible human influence on the Antarctic environment, such as the introduction of DNA originating in human food and associated microbes, pests, and parasites.
