A thorough understanding of the natural history and biology of any species of concern is vital to improving their conservation outlook. There are several possible impediments that can arise in compiling the necessary data to have such a measurable impact. The species belonging to the genus Oophaga display brilliant coloration that varies within and between species and extensive parental care that make this group unique among amphibians and highly recognizable to people around the world. The Large Colombian Oophaga, historically known as the histrionica–lehmanni species complex, is a group comprising five distinct species with varying color patterns, preferred habitats, and alkaloid profiles. These species are greatly understudied and there are considerable knowledge gaps about their biology and conservation status, ranging from species distributions and population structures to fecundity and development. These gaps can complicate efforts to conserve them both in their natural habitats and in ex situ efforts. Here we have compiled findings in the published literature on this unique clade of amphibians in an attempt to synthesize available knowledge on their natural history and evolution and alert the reader to ongoing threats. We provide species descriptions, including known ranges and localities, feeding ecology, and reproductive behaviors, as well as current conservation efforts to guard against emergent threats, namely habitat loss and the illegal pet trade. The species profiled here represent a clade of amphibians that are unique in their natural histories and very much in need of further investigations to improve our knowledge base. It is the goal of the authors for this compilation to serve as a starting point for conservation efforts and a springboard for further research on this fascinating group.
Under intensive urbanization, botanical gardens soils can serve as reference plots for urban areas, reflecting both natural (pedogenic) and anthropogenic factors of soil formation. In this context, historical and archeological information on the Botanical garden of Saint Petersburg State University (BG SPbU) is presented. For the first time, morphological, physicochemical, and ecotoxicological characteristics of the BG SPbU soils are assessed using full-profile soil pits. The ecological features of the BG SPbU are noted, and the specific structure of the upper soil layer (up to 2 m) is examined. The physicochemical properties of the BG SPbU soils are consistent with the optimal levels for green spaces of the highest (I) category. In the 0–90 cm layer of the studied soil pits, elevated concentrations (relative to Russian regulatory standards) of toxic trace elements (lead, zinc, arsenic) are found. No signs of vegetation stress were detected during the survey. At the same time, the measured concentrations of Pb, Zn, and As exceed the Russian MPC (maximum permissible concentrations) and APC (approximate permissible concentrations) for heavy metals. These exceedances provide important information for further monitoring and decision-making regarding urban pollution regulation, and contribute to the discussion on revising the MPC and APC values in line with international standards. The results can be used to optimize management practices for green spaces of the BG SPbU and can also be incorporated into the long-term urban environmental monitoring program initiated in Saint Petersburg in 1991.
Polygonal patterned ground (PPG) is an important remote-sensing indicator of permafrost dynamics, yet its high-resolution distribution in alpine permafrost regions remains unknown. In this study, we developed an ensemble modeling framework to map PPG in the Three-River Source Region (TRSR), northeastern Qinghai–Tibet Plateau. A total of 4200 PPG occurrence samples and multi-source environmental variables were used to train four meta models: Random Forest (RF), Support Vector Machine (SVM), Maximum Entropy (MaxEnt), and the BIOCLIM package. Model performance was evaluated using the area under the curve (AUC) and true skill statistics (TSS). An AUC-weighted ensemble model was constructed from the best-performing models. RF showed the highest accuracy, with an AUC of 0.97 and TSS of 0.85, followed by SVM and MaxEnt. The final ensemble map achieved an overall accuracy of 93.7% and a kappa coefficient of 0.91 based on validation with high-resolution satellite imagery. The mapped PPG area was 59,082 km2, accounting for 25.76% of the permafrost area and 16.01% of the TRSR. PPG was mainly distributed in the Yangtze River Source Region, with limited distribution in the Yellow River Source Region and no occurrence in the Lancang River Source Region. Compared with a previous Northern Hemisphere-scale PPG distribution product, our map reduced the estimated PPG area by 21.79% and improved local spatial detail. Variable importance analysis indicated that solar radiation, elevation, freeze–thaw indices, active-layer thickness, topography, soil moisture, and ground ice jointly controlled PPG distribution. PPG mainly occurred at elevations of 4400–5000 m, on gentle slopes of 0–3°, and in areas with 30–40% ground ice content. We also found that PPG can serve as a reliable geomorphic proxy for ice-rich and thermally sensitive permafrost in alpine regions. These findings highlight the utility of PPG for permafrost dynamic assessment and associated eco-hydrological impacts in alpine permafrost regions.
We performed a before–after control–impact (BACI) experiment to assess the impact of red-legged partridge releases on mammalian predators, a common game management measure. During three consecutive years (2014–2016), 100 farm-reared red-legged partridges were kept every year for four weeks in an acclimatisation pen on a hunting estate in southern Spain. Before and after releasing the birds, we estimated partridge and predator abundances in a 1000 m buffer around the release point and at a second point where no partridges were released as a control. Results showed that red fox and red-legged partridge abundances increased significantly close to the release points immediately after releasing the birds. Fox abundance was significantly associated with partridge abundance and distance to the pen. Other non-fox predators did not show the same patterns, nor did their abundance increase after the release. The experimental results suggest that the red fox is the main mammalian predator associated with the released birds and that partridge releases may produce an attraction effect on this predator species. The release of partridges can adversely affect the image of the fox as a predatory species that may take advantage of a newly abundant resource, creating a conservation problem that encourages conflict between predators, without distinguishing species, and hunters.
Wild-food foraging is booming across the Global North, but its meaning—and its value for plant conservation—differs sharply between settings. We compare three case studies: Denmark, an intensively cultivated country with a book- and app-led revival; Southern Scotland, a post-industrial landscape whose foragers are largely incomers with a media-sourced repertoire; and Tel Aviv–Jaffa (Israel), where Nordic-inspired “neo-foraging” coexists with an eroding Arab–Palestinian oral tradition. Pooling three independently collected ethnobotanical datasets (2012–2021; Denmark: questionnaires n = 27 and interviews n = 10; Southern Scotland: questionnaires n = 12 and interviews n = 9; Tel Aviv–Jaffa: interviews only, n = 10), we record 153 wild-food taxa—136 plants (including three macroalgae) and 17 fungi—in 51 plant families. Read through the Latvian (Riga) sociology of foraging, all three cases sit on the delocalised, “lifestyle” side of the forager spectrum. Yet, all three converge on one under-exploited fact: foraging can train ordinary urban people to see, name, track and value wild plants. The apparent contradiction between gathering plants and conserving them, we argue, is resolved by the target flora rather than by the practice itself: harvest risk is concentrated in a small minority of rare, range-edge and habitat-specialist taxa, whereas plant awareness is built through repeated encounters with the commonest species—precisely those whose gathering is demographically trivial. Where foragers anchor their teaching in this ordinary, ubiquitous flora, their role is not merely compatible with plant conservation but quintessential to it. Foragers are, thus, an underused constituency of citizen educators capable of countering plant awareness disparity (also termed “plant unawareness”), provided their enthusiasm is coupled to a stewardship ethic, and we set out how conservation actors might mobilise rather than merely regulate this potential.
The population of Tenualosa toli is primarily distributed in the coastal and estuarine waters of Sarawak, Malaysia, where landings have declined steadily from 1031 tons in 2003 to 586 tons in 2013. To assess stock status and support sustainable management, samples were collected between May 2016 and October 2017. Length-based stock assessment methods, including the TropFishR package and the Length-Based Bayesian Biomass (LBB) model, were used to estimate growth, mortality, exploitation, and biomass indicators. Growth analysis yielded an asymptotic length (L∞) of 57.81 cm, a growth coefficient (K) of 0.34 yr−1, a growth performance index (φ′) of 3.09, and a theoretical age at zero length (t0) of −0.40. Mortality estimates indicated total mortality (Z) of 1.82 yr−1, with natural mortality (M) of 0.49 yr−1 and fishing mortality (F) of 1.33 yr−1. The exploitation rate (E) was estimated at 0.73, substantially higher than the optimal level (E = 0.50), indicating excessive fishing pressure. The length at first capture (Lc50 = 19.16 cm) was considerably lower than the length at first maturity (Lm50 = 31.91 cm), suggesting that most individuals are harvested before reaching maturity. The optimal length (Lopt) was estimated at 35.0 cm (Lopt/L∞ = 0.67), while the observed mean length was much smaller (Lmean/Lopt = 0.73), indicating growth overfishing. Biomass indicators were critically low, with B/B0 = 0.017 and B/BMSY = 0.046, confirming that the stock is severely depleted and far below sustainable levels, suggesting recruitment overfishing. Overall, the results indicate that the fishery is experiencing both growth and recruitment overfishing due to intense harvesting of immature individuals and high fishing pressure. Therefore, management measures such as increasing mesh size, reducing fishing mortality to sustainable levels (F = M), and protecting spawning grounds and peak spawning seasons are urgently required. If these measures are effectively implemented, the T. toli stock could recover and reach sustainable production levels in the waters of Sarawak, Malaysia.
Watersheds and coastal ecosystems are connected through hydrological, geological, ecological and social processes. In Chile, this land–sea continuum is exposed to earthquakes, tsunamis, floods, droughts, wildfires, volcanic activity and mass movements, while territorial inequalities shape the institutional capacity to prevent, prepare for and recover from socionatural disasters. This article examines whether the regional distribution of disaster events, administrative alerts, managed resources and disaster-related training in educational establishments suggests coherence or mismatch in preventive capacity-building. A quantitative, descriptive and inferential design was applied using secondary aggregate data from EM-DAT and SENAPRED for Chilean regions. Non-parametric analyses were used because variables did not follow normal distributions. Results show that central–southern regions, especially Maule, Biobío and Araucanía, experience high disaster recurrence and human impact, while the association between alerts and trained establishments remains weak (Spearman’s rho = 0.12), as does the association between alerts and managed resources (rho = 0.17). The study argues that unequal preventive capacity-building can weaken integrated watershed and coastal conservation because risk governance, biodiversity protection and ecosystem-based management depend on territorially differentiated institutional capacities. Prevention should therefore move from formally homogeneous coverage toward substantive territorial equity.
In 1980, the UNEP, IUCN, and WWF published the World Conservation Strategy (WCS). This was the first time that the United Nations, alongside an intergovernmental organization (IUCN) and NGO (WWF), identified a comprehensive set of global conservation priorities. An evaluation of the WCS after 45 years provides insights into global progress in conservation implementation and its intellectual contribution to international strategies, including the Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. We assess progress on the 13 priority requirements and 14 priority international actions identified in the WCS by evaluating achievements to date, persistent knowledge gaps, and how priorities have shifted over time. Whilst many of the policy and institutional frameworks identified in the WCS have been achieved, most of the key priorities remain, at best, only partially achieved, having progressed more slowly than hoped. In several cases, the situation has worsened. The only clear exception to this trend is the case of protected areas, which, although beset with imperfections that limit their effectiveness, have a coverage far larger than that envisaged in 1980. We explore why some actions have shown progress while others did not and reflect on lessons for future conservation strategies.
Small-scale fisheries are socio-ecological systems in which resource users interact with environmental conditions, fishing regulations, community initiatives, and institutional actors. Understanding how fishers perceive and report these interactions provides information on the social context of fisheries management, although such perceptions cannot substitute for independent assessments of ecological sustainability, behavioural compliance, or governance effectiveness. This study characterized fishers’ environmental perceptions, self-reported fishing practices, participation in environmental education and conservation activities, and perceptions of community and institutional involvement in fisheries management in Tecomate Lagoon, Guerrero, Mexico. A cross-sectional quantitative design was used, and structured questionnaires were administered to 120 active artisanal fishers selected through simple random sampling. Data were analyzed descriptively using frequencies and percentages. Respondents primarily associated the lagoon with economic (49.17%) and food-related (25.83%) functions. Declining water levels (60.00%) and reduced species abundance (40.00%) were the environmental changes reported by respondents. Regarding fishing practices, 94.17% stated that they complied with fishing regulations, and 100% reported releasing organisms below the minimum legal catch size. Environmental training was reported by 95.00% of respondents, while 94.17% reported participation in conservation-related activities. CONAPESCA (80.83%) and UAGro (19.17%) were identified as institutions involved in fisheries-related initiatives. These findings characterize the perceptions and self-reported experiences of surveyed fishers and should not be interpreted as evidence of ecological sustainability, actual behavioural compliance, educational effectiveness, or governance performance. The contribution of the study lies in systematically documenting the resource-user perspective as a component of the social dimension of the fishery. This information provides a descriptive baseline that can complement future ecological, behavioural, institutional, and longitudinal assessments of small-scale fisheries in coastal lagoon systems.
Anthropogenic noise from Australia’s expanding Blue Economy, including shipping, fishing, and offshore renewable energy development, may impact pinnipeds on land and at sea, as they rely heavily on sound for communication, environmental sensing, and predator avoidance. Effective noise management requires species-specific hearing data. We present the first aerial audiograms of two Long-nosed fur seals (Arctocephalus forsteri) between 100 Hz and 20 kHz, following a conditioned-response paradigm. Hearing tests were conducted inside an anechoic chamber at Taronga Zoo, Sydney. Both seals showed peak sensitivity at 3.2 kHz, with thresholds of 7 and 12 dB re 20 µPa. The younger female exhibited greater high-frequency sensitivity, while overall audiogram shapes were comparable to those reported for other (Northern) fur seals. Audiograms were overlain with spectra of common terrestrial noises and detection ranges were discussed. This study provides essential baseline data for developing auditory weighting functions, assessing the potential impacts of noise, and informing environmental management of coastal and offshore developments.
The wildland–urban interface (WUI) refers to areas where forests with little human influence and other vegetation types intersect with human development. Ecosystem management in the WUI presents special challenges. Human dwellings and other infrastructure can constrain management options, such as timber harvesting, prescribed burning, and managing wildlife. Humans can also negatively affect ecosystem functioning through the introduction of invasive plant and animal species, wildfire ignition, habitat fragmentation, and attracting nuisance wildlife species. Although there are WUIs throughout the world, this review will focus mostly on the eastern United States, where a high population density and maturing forests highlight exceptional challenges to forest management. Land ownership in the WUI in this region is dominated by non-industrial private forestlands with diverse ownership objectives and is often distributed in relatively small parcels, creating difficulties for coordinated forest management. Landowners and loggers often plan timber harvests without input from forest managers. On the frontlines of WUI management are extension agents, state and local agencies, non-government organizations, and consulting foresters. Public education, cost-share agreements, and local government engagement are needed to conserve and manage forests in the WUI.
Top predators drive ecosystem functions. Reintroductions of top predators are a vital conservation management strategy to achieve this. Ten spotted hyenas (hyenas—Crocuta crocuta) were reintroduced to the Tswalu Kalahari Reserve (TKR). To determine how hyenas recolonised the TKR, we fitted five hyenas with satellite collars. We assessed home range development and stabilisation using Movement Kernel Density Estimation (MKDE), home range overlap and dynamic interactions between individuals using proximity analysis. From hourly locations, we compared movement rates between individuals. We found that hyena home ranges stabilised within seven months of release. The average home range for reintroduced hyenas was 307 km2 (SD = 124 km2). Home ranges overlapped ≤36% between individuals. Hyenas’ movements synchronised with each other at distances ≤ 10 km. The hyenas moved farther hourly in cooler seasons, and they displayed unimodal activity patterns (longest hourly movements in the afternoon and night). We found that hyenas reintroduced into the TKR (without other top predators) required <7 months to re-establish themselves, and their social dynamics are not strictly tied to those individuals with which they were reintroduced. In arid settings where there are no lions and resources are abundant, home ranges for reintroduced hyenas may be smaller than is typical for this species.
The Oriental stork, Ciconia boyciana Swinhoe, 1873 (Ciconiiformes: Ciconiidae), once common as a sedentary stork species across Japan, experienced a marked population decline during the last century, reaching extinction in the country in 1971 as a result of anthropogenic alterations to the natural environment. After the reintroduction of five captive descendants of continental pairs in 2005, the naturalized population of Oriental storks has steadily increased in Japan, reaching >500 wild storks by 2025. We recently encountered a case of apparent intestinal fluke infection with Chaunocephalus ferox (Echinostomata; Echinostomatidae) in a 2-month-old stork fledgling within a few days after leaving the nest on 29 June 2025. The parasite was subjected to morphological and molecular identification based on nucleotide sequences of the small- to large-subunit ribosomal RNA gene and mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 gene and was identified as C. ferox, a parasite exhibiting high host specificity for ciconiid birds worldwide. This finding suggests the re-establishment of its natural transmission cycle in the field in Japan, accompanied by the dispersal of definitive hosts after a gap of at least 30 years. Following the establishment of a reintroduced sedentary Oriental stork population in Japan, this health-threatening chaunocephalosis may, by chance, have a pronounced impact on infection-susceptible stork chicks cared for and fed by parent birds inhabiting fields with dense C. ferox endemicity (hotspots). Another Oriental stork fledgling from the same nest in June 2025 survived and was observed in March 2026 in a paddy field at a distant locality. Parasites are natural components of healthy ecosystems that contribute to biodiversity and trophic balance; therefore, inappropriate anthropogenic habitat modification may create scenarios in which parasites become overly destructive rather than serving merely as ecological regulators.
The Southern Stuttering Frog, Mixophyes australis, is a newly described threatened species endemic to Australia that is suffering severe and ongoing declines. The species is currently presumed extinct from the southern two thirds of its range, primarily driven by the amphibian chytrid fungus (Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis; Bd). In response to the species' decline, a conservation breeding program (CBP) was established at Symbio Wildlife Park to secure an insurance population and support future reintroductions. Herein, the establishment and management of the CBP for M. australis is described. We detail the captive husbandry framework and tracing progress from the collection of 200 wild-caught tadpoles in April 2022, through to the successful reproduction of the founder colony. Following the revision of husbandry and water management practices, and disease treatment in quarantine to overcome initial mortality, 89 Bd-free individuals were transferred to the breeding facility to establish the insurance colony. Critically, the program has achieved consistent and successful reproduction commencing in April 2024, within 2 years of tadpole collection. The breeding cohort exhibited a distinctive bimodal annual reproductive pattern in captivity, with clear peaks in breeding activity in Austral autumn (March-May) and mid-winter to early spring (July-September). We detail effective husbandry protocols for all life stages of the species, which has resulted in the generation of clutches exhibiting high fertility and high tadpole survivorship. Overall, the program to date has contributed to the reintroduction of over 7700 first-generation (F1) tadpoles and 59 head-started founder (F0) adults across 15 release sites within the species' historical range in NSW. Herein, we provide important natural history data for the species and considerations for their breeding in captivity, which can inform future conservation efforts for this and other threatened frog species globally.
Developing sustainable strategies for natural resource management and conservation under shifting climatic scenarios is increasingly necessary due to exacerbated abiotic stresses, such as salinity. Under salt stress, several negative effects are observed in plants, particularly in leafy vegetables such as lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.). To mitigate the effects of saline stress from brackish water, several strategies have been adopted, including hydroponic cultivation. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the effects of variations in nutrient solution concentration and volume per lettuce plant cultivated in a nutrient film technique (NFT) hydroponic system using brackish water. The experiment was conducted using a randomized complete block design in a 2 & times; 2 & times; 2 factorial scheme, combining two levels of water electrical conductivity (ECw of 0.3 and 5.0 dS m-1), two nutrient solution concentrations (NSC of 50 and 100%), and two nutrient solution volumes (NSV of 1 and 2 L plant-1), with four replications. Growth, production, and water productivity variables were evaluated at 20 and 25 days following the imposition of treatments. The responses of the variables to saline stress varied according to the evaluation period (20 and 25 days), depending on the NSC and NSV levels. At the end of the 25-day cycle, it can be concluded that for lettuce cultivation using brackish water, the NSC can be reduced to 50% and provide an NSV of 2 L plant-1. Under these growing conditions, leaf fresh matter production loss was approximately 40% lower than under cultivation without saline stress, which yielded 144.11 g plant-1 under 100% NSC and an NSV of 2 L plant-1. In contrast, water productivity of fresh matter was similar, at 78.68 and 76.55 g L-1, respectively.
This systematic research was conducted as the first comprehensive scientific analysis of ancient lime plaster samples from Anuradhapura, a World Heritage Site in Sri Lanka. Five ancient heritage sites from 1st to 10th Century AD, covering two stupa domes: Abhayagiri (AP01) and Jethavana (AP02), Monk residence building near Ruwanweliseya Stupa (AP03), Deeghapashan Rock Shelter Building of Abhayagiri Monastery Complex (AP04), and Vessagiriya Rock Shelter wall lime Plaster (AP05) were examined by employing Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray fluorescence (XRF), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), optical microscopy (OM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The current work investigated the composition, mineralogical and microstructural properties, binding media, and organic additives. Our findings indicate that calcareous lime from seashells and river sand are the main raw materials, with ratios of 1:2.7, 1:2.0, 1:2.4, 1:4.4, and 1:3.7 for the AP01, AP02, AP03, AP04, and AP05 samples, respectively. Data also suggest that plant-based materials, mainly wood apple wax, along with nanoscale fibrous materials, were used as the main additives to enhance the properties of lime plasters. This study provides insights into the raw materials, their mixing ratios, and the techniques employed in the lime plastering of ancient Anuradhapura City, and serves as a scientific reference for the conservation and restoration of ancient buildings resilient to climate change.
Costa Rica is a small country in terms of land area, but it is rich in natural resources and home to between 5 and 6 percent of the world’s biodiversity. The country is a leader in the conservation and sustainable use of protected areas through tourism, which is considered a pillar of the national economy and has become one of the most important activities for generating revenue. However, like any other activity, it can exert pressure on the environment in which it takes place, making it essential to analyze and understand how protected areas are used to implement effective management strategies. This study evaluates the frequency of tourism-related use of Corcovado National Park, considering the implementation of three key elements: 1. the frequency with which companies use the park for their tourism activities, 2. visitor density per kilometer by ranger station, and 3. the frequency of trail use based on voluntary geographic information. The research enabled the collection, analysis, and visualization of data using GIS, which facilitated the identification of tourism usage patterns by highlighting the most visited areas and establishing correlations regarding visitor density within the protected area. Among the most significant findings are sites that may be experiencing increased tourism pressure, offering the possibility of managing usage restrictions in specific areas of each station. Spatial analysis has identified areas with lower visitor concentrations, which can be leveraged to promote new attractions and disperse tourist flow throughout the park, thereby reducing pressure on the ecosystem.
Spain is the world's leading producer and exporter of olive oil, with Andalusia being the autonomous community with the largest cultivated area. In recent decades, agricultural practices have followed a trend toward maximizing production without adequately considering ecosystem contamination. Olive groves are, in fact, complex agroecosystems in which thousands of plant species and numerous plant communities have been documented, supporting a rich diversity of vertebrate and invertebrate fauna. Intensive and unsustainable practices have led to a decline in floral diversity and, consequently, in faunal diversity. The aim of this research is to demonstrate the loss of floristic diversity associated with herbicide use. To this end, a comparative analysis of floristic diversity was conducted across 117 plots, contrasting data collected in 2007 with that from the same plots in 2021. From a methodological perspective, an inquiry-based approach was implemented involving students from the Master's program in Olive Growing, Olive Oil, and Health. Abundance-dominance indices were compared, and the Importance Value Index (IVI) was calculated to assess changes in plant community composition. For instance, Hordeum leporinum exhibited an IVI > 70 in 2007, decreasing in 2021 to values ranging between 11 and 31.58. Similarly, Sinapis alba subsp. mairei showed a decline in IVI from 81.06 to 26.35. A notable result is the greater floristic change observed in plots located on basic substrates where herbicides were applied, compared to plots on siliceous substrates designated for grazing. This issue clearly highlights a lack of knowledge regarding appropriate cultivation techniques that promote sustainable development and social awareness. It underscores the need for educational interventions that foster learning at all levels about agricultural practices, sustainability, and ecosystem services.
This study investigates the integration of bioeconomy principles in the Greek livestock sector, framing the transition from conventional farming toward a circular bioeconomy as a strategy for resource conservation and reduced environmental pressure. It assesses farmers' awareness of bioeconomy principles, the adoption of circular practices, and the associated economic and conservation-related performance. Data were collected through a structured questionnaire administered to 383 livestock farmers across the main livestock-producing regions of Greece and analyzed using descriptive statistics and multiple regression. Although respondents show substantial awareness, adoption remains incomplete, mainly because of high initial capital costs and insufficient financial incentives. Farmers implementing circular strategies reported gains in resource-use efficiency, waste minimization, and the conservation of soil, water, and biodiversity, particularly reduced greenhouse-gas emissions, while public subsidies and fiscal incentives emerged as the principal drivers of adoption. In applied terms, support should be prioritized for capital-intensive investments such as anaerobic digestion, manure and nutrient recovery, and water reuse, and the awareness-adoption gap is best closed through targeted subsidies and training. The findings offer concrete guidance for conservation-oriented agri-environmental policy supporting the green transition of livestock farming in Greece.
Seagrasses are vital ecosystem engineers and habitat architects in coastal environments, with Posidonia oceanica in the Mediterranean playing a crucial role as an indicator of ecological health. As an endemic and vulnerable species, P. oceanica meadows are highly susceptible to environmental degradation, underscoring the importance of non-destructive monitoring techniques. Traditional SCUBA-based surveys are accurate but resource-intensive and difficult to scale, especially for estimating shoot density and leaf length. This study applies a conservative acoustic-based approach to assess Posidonia oceanica biometrics, habitat characteristics, and ecological status along the Turkish Levant coast. The method offers a non-destructive alternative to SCUBA surveys and addresses a regional knowledge gap in Mediterranean seagrass monitoring. Acoustic data collected during winter and summer 2019 along the Turkish Levant coast were analyzed to estimate seagrass biometrics and derive ecological indicators, with validation via SCUBA observations. Results show that acoustic methods can reliably estimate shoot density, leaf area index, and canopy height. They provide broad-scale coverage and efficiency, though further refinement is required to improve calibration across depths and substrates. While acoustic methods provide broad, non-invasive coverage, they are affected by spatial and temporal variability that SCUBA surveys capture more reliably. Calibration of the POSIBIOM (vers 1.1) algorithm was based on specimens collected at 15 m depth on rocky substrates. While this provided consistent regression relationships, it may limit accuracy when extrapolated to habitats such as sand, mud, or matte. This study represents the first high-resolution, spatiotemporal mapping of P. oceanica meadows and benthic habitats along a significant portion of the Turkish Levant coast using acoustics alone. Overall, the study highlights the potential of acoustics as a scalable, non-invasive tool for seagrass monitoring. This approach contributes to ecosystem-based management and conservation strategies in the Mediterranean. Future work will focus on refining models to address bottom type- and depth-dependent acoustic responses and improve biometric accuracy.
