This study evaluates the influence of the commissioning of a wastewater treatment plant on waterbird communities in a wetland classified as a Ramsar site located in the central Algerian Sahara. Bird communities of Lake Hassi El Gara were compared between two seasonal survey cycles, twenty years apart (2005-2006) and (2024-2025). Initial results show that no statistically significant difference in diversity indices was detected between survey cycles, whereas PERMANOVA analysis revealed a statistically significant change in the composition of the avian community. This dissimilarity between the two periods is mainly attributable to nine species accounting for approximately 75
The Amazon harbours a high diversity of anuran species, sustained by its remarkable environmental heterogeneity. However, anuran biodiversity in Amazonian floodplains has been overlooked, and few research efforts have been made to unveil the composition and diversity of anurans in Amazonian tidal floodplains. In this study, we investigated richness and composition of anurans in the tidal floodplains of Amazonas river delta. Sampling was carried out along five transect at three sites with different degrees of urbanization in tidal floodplains of Amapá State, Brazil. We analyzed species’ richness and abundance and calculated dissimilarity between sites. In addition, we partitioned beta diversity into turnover and nestedness components and accessed the contribution of each site to regional beta diversity (LCBD). = We found 22 species of frogs from 10 genera and three families (Bufonidae, Leptodactylidae, and Hylidae). Rarefaction curves showed a tendency toward stabilization of species richness and diversity, for both common and dominant species. Bray–Curtis index ranged from 0.51 to 0.66 between sites, with Leptodactylus podicipinus and Dendropsophus walfordi as the main species contributing to the dissimilarities in composition. Dissimilarity was driven mainly by the turnover component with LCDB values showing that the variation between sites significantly contributes to the total beta diversity.. Our findings underscore the importance of conserving tidal floodplains along the Amazonas estuary as a refugia for the diversity of anurans.
Wetland degradation resulting from anthropogenic activities is a critical global environmental issue with far-reaching consequences on human and natural environment. The present study examined the drivers of wetland degradation in coastal settlements of Lagos, Nigeria. A random sampling method was adopted to administer survey questionnaires to 500 respondents. Data collected were subjected to descriptive statistics, factor analysis, and linear regression. The ANOVA result revealed that the model consisted of four significant variables. The regression equation model identified four predictors of wetland degradation. The study concluded that poor enforcement of government policy on wetland, industrial revolution, population increase pressure on wetland, and high rate of land acquisition for various uses are the major factors contributing to wetland degradation. The study provides policymakers and regulatory agencies with baseline information for sustainable and effective wetland management in coastal settlements. The study recommends enforcing policies to prevent wetland degradation.
Wetlands are a critical ecosystem that can be adversely affected by heavy metal pollution. Chromium (Cr) is a major pollutant coming from industrial runoff and urban activities that poses a danger to biodiversity. The current study examines the biomonitoring of Cr contamination in wetlands through the bioaccumulation potential of the Cattle egret (Bubulcus ibis) as a bioindicator species across eight sampling locations in Odisha, India. Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy was used to determine the distribution of Cr in soil, prey and feathers of Cattle egrets to evaluate the accumulation of Cr. The findings showed spatial variations in Cr levels across the sites, with the highest Cr levels in the soil samples from Hirakud and the lowest in the soil samples from Chilika, whereas for prey and feather samples, the highest Cr levels were in Koraput and the lowest in Daringbadi (prey: 1.46 µg/g) and Chilika (feathers: 2.42 µg/g). Mean Cr concentrations were measured in the range of 82.05–266 µg/g in soil, 1.46–9.82 µg/g in prey, and 2.42–23.59 µg/g in feathers, demonstrating a clear pathway of Cr transfer from the environment to the birds. Linear regression models across individual sample units (n = 144) revealed a strong, highly significant positive relationship between prey Cr and feather Cr (R2 = 0.75, p < 0.001), whereas relationships between soil Cr and prey Cr (R2 < 0.001, p > 0.05) and soil Cr and feather Cr (R2 = 0.003, p > 0.05) were statistically decoupled. The findings demonstrated that Cr concentrations in the birds and prey samples are elevated and less related to soil Cr, suggesting trophic transfer of Cr in wetlands. The results highlight that there is a need to constantly monitor and effectively manage Cr contamination to ensure the conservation of these ecologically significant habitats.
Coastal salt marshes are recognized as crucial nature-based climate solutions due to their high carbon accumulation efficiency. However, the spatial linkages between salt marsh carbon sequestration services (CSS) and surrounding CO2 sources remain unclear. Taking the Yancheng National Nature Reserve wetland in China as a case study, this research evaluated the spatiotemporal dynamics of both coastal salt marsh CSS and CO2 source areas during wetland restoration by combining net ecosystem productivity (NEP) estimation, meteorological data, and HYSPLIT model. The results indicate that CSS exhibited significant seasonal and spatial variations (p < 0.05), peaking in summer and varying among land cover types (Spartina alterniflora > Phragmites australis > mixed communities > Suaeda salsa). Furthermore, warming and vegetation restoration partially explained the increase in CSS, supported by a significant temperature correlation with quarterly NEP (R2 = 0.91, p < 0.05) and a 45.13
