Macrophytes are crucial elements in freshwater ecosystems and ecological processes, by supporting biodiversity, stabilizing sediments, and improving water quality. Nowadays, these ecosystems are threatened by environmental changes and the increase in anthropic pressures; moreover, their spatial distribution is often highly fragmented. Considering their importance, monitoring macrophytes’ spatio-temporal variability with non-invasive observations is fundamental. Hyperspectral remote sensing offers a valuable tool for mapping aquatic vegetation and benthic substrates accurately, although its application is often limited by spatial resolution, especially in environments characterized by patch distribution and mixed pixels. To address these limits, this study exploits the PRISMA panchromatic band for a PRISMA image acquired on 09/07/2024 on Lake Garda (Italy), combining high spectral resolution (66 band in the visible-near-infrared range) with enhanced spatial resolution (5 m). The pansharpening procedure is applied to PRISMA Level 2D images using a deep learning model trained through both supervised and unsupervised learning techniques. This study focuses on the optically shallow waters of the Sirmione Peninsula (southern portion of Lake Garda), characterized by the presence of macrophytes coverage, with the goal of classifying the benthic substrate into seven classes, and retrieving bottom depth. In addition to the panchromatic product with a spatial resolution of 5 m, aggregated products with resolutions of 10 m and 30 m were also generated. The results showed overall accuracies of 80%, 68%, and 48% for resolutions ranging from 5 m to 30 m in the classification of the benthic substrate. Similar results were obtained in the validation of bottom depths when compared to data collected by the Institute of the Italian Navy (IIM) and in situ measurements acquired during the field campaign (r = 0.82 for 5 m data, r = 0.78 for 10 m data, r = 0.75 for 30 m data). The outcomes enable more accurate monitoring of spatial-temporal dynamics in freshwater ecosystems and highlight the potential of pansharpened hyperspectral products to enhance the mapping and classification of benthic substrates, with higher accuracy in detecting small patches.
Temporary aquatic habitats are widespread in tropical regions and represent important reservoirs of freshwater biodiversity, yet their copepod fauna remains insufficiently documented. This study examines the diversity, community composition, and habitat preferences of copepods across major types of temporary aquatic habitats in Thailand, including rice fields, ponds, canals, peat swamps, and swamps. Copepods were sampled from multiple sites representing each habitat type, and community patterns were analysed in relation to habitat characteristics and environmental variables. A total of 29 calanoid, 35 cyclopoid, and 11 harpacticoid species were recorded, with species composition varying significantly among habitat types. Several species exhibited strong habitat specificity, occurring exclusively in particular habitats. Peat swamps and temporary swamps supported the highest numbers of habitat-restricted species, particularly benthic and periphytic taxa, whereas rice fields and temporary ponds were dominated by calanoid species associated with open-water conditions and recurrent disturbance. Despite these differences, overall community composition showed high similarity across environmental gradients, indicating that many species function as ecological generalists with broad environmental tolerances. These results highlight the importance of habitat heterogeneity in shaping copepod communities and underscore the need to conserve diverse temporary aquatic habitats to maintain regional copepod diversity in tropical landscapes.
Incorporating the perspectives of local fishing communities and their ecological knowledge (LEK) can enhance policymaking and improve wildlife and economic management strategies. This study aimed to evaluate the local ecological knowledge of fishermen at Beni Haroun Dam regarding the Great Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo) a species legally protected under Algerian law, and to reveal their conservation attitudes toward this species. We qualitatively evaluated and analyzed the respondents' local ecological knowledge, while their attitudes were quantitatively assessed by correlation with factors from the sociological and fishing profiles. Fishermen successfully identified the ecological properties of cormorants, including their habitats, prey types, and foraging behavior. They demonstrated a generally favorable attitude towards the conservation of Great Cormorants. Fishermen's reports were compared against published data on a topic-by-topic basis, showing a moderate to relatively high level of ecological knowledge overall, alongside some notable overestimations (e.g., in daily food intake and residency duration). No significant connections were identified between fishermen's attitudes and any socio-demographic or fishing-related variables. We therefore reiterate the significance of the current study as foundational knowledge about P. carbo in Beni Haroun Dam and the incorporation of Local Ecological Knowledge into conservation strategies and future ecological studies for Mediterranean inland freshwater habitats.
After a long-term monitoring campaign spanning 1999-2025, the populations of Nymphaeids growing in Sardinia were comprehensively investigated. Within the family Nymphaeaceae, Nuphar lutea and Nymphaea alba are native species on the island, while two other taxa are alien: Nymphaea mexicana and N. × marliacea, both currently naturalized in Sardinia. Two additional taxa, one native (Nymphoides peltata) and one alien (Nelumbo nucifera) remain unconfirmed: the former was reported only once in 1827, and the latter was recorded as naturalized twenty years ago, but with no precise location or subsequent observations. Overall, we recorded the occurrence of N. alba at 166 sites (eight of which are now locally extinct) and N. lutea at 38 sites (two of which are now locally extinct). Regarding N. alba, its populations in northern Sardinia have all been described in detail, with numerous metapopulations documented, particularly within the hydrographic basins of the Coghinas, Temo, and Posada rivers, as well as in other smaller basins. Moreover, some stations in South Sardinia have been confirmed after more than a century. In addition, N. candida is definitively excluded from Sardinian flora. As for Nuphar lutea, its localities have been further refined, all concentrated in the Coghinas River basin, whereas the only known sites in the South have now disappeared. Moreover, an updated and verified distribution of exotic waterlily populations in Sardinia is provided. Furthermore, the ecological requirements, the main threats and conservation issues affecting native taxa on the island are identified.
Freshwater ecosystems of the Mediterranean basin are increasingly exposed to hydroclimatic fluctuations, often interacting with sustained anthropogenic pressures. However, in North African rivers, the ecological patterns of endemic aquatic invertebrates remain poorly documented. In this context, the Upper Loukkos Watershed (northern Morocco), a mountainous system within the Intercontinental Mediterranean Biosphere Reserve, provides a relevant setting to examine how environmental gradients and seasonal dynamics influence these assemblages. Endemic macroinvertebrates were sampled across 18 sites during four sampling campaigns (spring and autumn 2014-2015), capturing contrasting hydro-seasonal conditions from drought-induced low flows to post-flood periods. A total of 667 individuals belonging to 24 endemic species were recorded, including Moroccan, Maghrebian, and Ibero-Maghrebian taxa. Diversity metrics varied across sites and seasons, with a clear peak in spring, coinciding with increased flow permanence and partial recovery of hydrological connectivity. The mayfly Choroterpes atlas was the most abundant taxon, whereas the genus Hydraena showed the highest diversity. Multivariate analyses (NMDS, CCA) revealed that environmental gradients strongly structured species distribution. Sites characterized by elevated organic load and suspended solids were associated with disturbance-tolerant taxa (mainly Coleoptera and Hemiptera), whereas well-oxygenated lotic habitats supported rheophilic Ephemeroptera and Plecoptera. Spatial and seasonal patterns revealed a marked turnover in endemic assemblages based on their temporal stability, dominated by intermittent taxa (41.7%); only Hydraena allomorpha was classified as permanent, being recorded throughout all sampling periods. The Jaccard similarity index revealed consistently low overlap in community composition among sampling campaigns, indicating pronounced temporal turnover in the macroinvertebrate assemblage. The predominance of Ibero-Maghrebian taxa underscores the biogeographical significance of the Betico-Rifan region as a link between Europe and Africa. Overall, these findings identify Rif headwaters as key habitats for range-restricted freshwater taxa and highlight their potential role as climatic refugia under increasing hydroclimatic variability. This underscores the need for sustained, long-term monitoring and for explicitly incorporating intermittent and headwater streams into conservation frameworks, which remain underrepresented despite their ecological importance in North African river networks.
