{"title":"Integrating airborne chemical ecology with informed intercropping for sustainable crop protection.","authors":"Sourav Manna, Ishita Paul, Mousumi Poddar Sarkar","doi":"10.1007/s00114-026-02175-3","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s00114-026-02175-3","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The role of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in plant-insect interactions has been studied in detail in recent decades, especially in the context of environment-friendly integrated pest management (IPM) in agroecosystems. Field-based study and behavioural investigations have shown that specific VOCs (or combinations of VOCs) of companion crops are crucial in diverting phytophagous insects from main food or cash crops, along with attracting beneficial insects which decimate pest species. The functional mechanisms of these olfactory cues, however, are not always clear and distinctive, especially since these ecological interactions are highly variable. The complex 'odourscapes' occurring in mixed cropping systems are determined by species-specific interactions, local climate, prevalent agricultural/landscaping practices, and other environmental factors which need to be examined in localized contexts. This review aims to cover the dynamics and mechanisms of VOCs mediating plant-insect interactions in mixed crop settings, the variables and technical constraints to be considered for implementing these interactions for cost-effective IPM, and potential challenges presented by ecological fine-tuning of such interactions.</p>","PeriodicalId":794,"journal":{"name":"The Science of Nature","volume":"113 6","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2026-10-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149223004","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"First occurrence of a herrerasaurid dinosaur in a traversodontid cynodont-dominated Late Triassic fauna of southern Brazil.","authors":"Rodrigo Temp Müller","doi":"10.1007/s00114-026-02185-1","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s00114-026-02185-1","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Herrerasauridae comprises the oldest large-bodied predatory dinosaurs and is currently known exclusively from the Carnian (Late Triassic) of South America. In both Argentina and Brazil, herrerasaurid occurrences have previously been restricted to rhynchosaur-dominated assemblages, with no records from younger strata characterized by the abundance of the traversodontid cynodont Exaeretodon. Here, I describe CAPPA/UFSM 0539, a partial left pubis recovered from the Exaeretodon-dominated strata of the Hyperodapedon Assemblage Zone (AZ) of southern Brazil. The specimen preserves a combination of pubic features that is currently unique to herrerasaurids, including a well-developed pubic boot with anterior and posterior distal expansions. A phylogenetic analysis further supports its referral to an indeterminate herrerasaurid. This specimen represents the first record of Herrerasauridae from the Exaeretodon-dominated strata, demonstrating that members of the clade persisted despite the faunal turnover associated with the decline of rhynchosaurs and the increasing abundance of Exaeretodon. The occurrence expands the known diversity of large predators in these ecosystems and suggests that herrerasaurids retained the ecological plasticity to occupy apex predatory roles under changing community compositions. If the Brazilian Exaeretodon-dominated strata are younger than the Hyperodapedon Acme Zone, CAPPA/UFSM 0539 may also represent the youngest known record of Herrerasauridae worldwide.</p>","PeriodicalId":794,"journal":{"name":"The Science of Nature","volume":"113 6","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2026-10-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149222971","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Zumin Xian, Qinyuan Xue, Yingtian Zhao, Qiang Li, Min Zhu
{"title":"The earliest euantiarch from the Pragian (Early Devonian) of Guangnan, Yunnan Province, China.","authors":"Zumin Xian, Qinyuan Xue, Yingtian Zhao, Qiang Li, Min Zhu","doi":"10.1007/s00114-026-02186-0","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s00114-026-02186-0","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Antiarchs represent a highly specialized clade of early jawed vertebrates adapted to benthic habitats and form a major component of Devonian aquatic ecosystems. Euantiarchs, the most diverse antiarch clade, previously had their earliest record from the Emsian of the Early Devonian in China. They achieved a nearly cosmopolitan distribution during the Middle to Late Devonian. Here, we describe a new euantiarch, Yangfanyu anachoresis gen. et sp. nov., based on articulated specimens from the Pragian (Early Devonian, ~ 410 Ma) of Guangnan, Wenshan Prefecture, Yunnan Province, southwestern China. Using X-ray computed tomography and three-dimensional digital visualization, we reconstructed the complete dermal head and trunk shields. In addition to diagnostic euantiarch characters, Yangfanyu retains several plesiomorphic features, notably the cavity for the cranio-spinal process and the oblique ridge on the lateral wall of the trunk shield. Phylogenetic analysis placed Yangfanyu at the most basal position among euantiarchs, forming the sister taxon to all other euantiarchs. This placement extends the fossil record of Euantiarcha by approximately 10 million years, refines character polarity at the base of the clade, and indicates that the characteristic euantiarch morphology was assembled progressively through the sequential acquisition of derived characters during the earliest stages of euantiarch evolution.</p>","PeriodicalId":794,"journal":{"name":"The Science of Nature","volume":"113 6","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2026-10-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149222981","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Shuwei Liu, Runying Bai, Jinyun Song, Tongan Kang, Rui Cao
{"title":"Removal of Organophosphorus Pesticides from Water Using a TiO2/g-C3N4-Based Sequential Adsorption–Photocatalysis System","authors":"Shuwei Liu, Runying Bai, Jinyun Song, Tongan Kang, Rui Cao","doi":"10.1007/s11270-026-10089-z","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s11270-026-10089-z","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Excessive pesticide residues in natural waters are closely associated with agricultural drainage, and organophosphorus pesticides (OPPs) account for more than 80% of pesticides used in China. Although semiconductor photocatalysis for pesticide removal has been widely studied, adsorption-assisted strategies to reduce photocatalytic treatment loads remain underexplored. In this study, a TiO<sub>2</sub>/g-C<sub>3</sub>N<sub>4</sub> (CP1:1) heterojunction with adsorption–photocatalytic capability was synthesized via a pyrolysis-calcination method. Diazinon (DAZ) was selected as a representative OPP, and DAZ and its transformation product diethyl thiophosphate (DETP) were defined as pesticide-derived organic phosphorus. A sequential adsorption–photocatalysis system was established, where CP1:1 first removed pesticide-derived organic phosphorus through adsorption, followed by photocatalytic degradation of residual species. CP1:1 exhibited rapid adsorption performance, with a maximum adsorption capacity of 297.82 mg/g (as TP) at pH 7, an initial DAZ concentration of 60 mg/L (as TP), and an adsorbent dosage of 0.1 g/L. The adsorption process was likely associated with electrostatic attraction, π–π interactions, and hydrogen bonding. Under photocatalytic conditions (0.4 g/L catalyst dosage, 5 mg/L DAZ as TP), 93.4% removal of pesticide-derived organic phosphorus was achieved after 6 h of irradiation with 365 nm UV light. The optimized sequential system achieved over 95% overall removal, with adsorption contributing approximately 60%. This study provides a strategy to reduce photocatalytic treatment loads and enhance pesticide-derived organic phosphorus removal through a sequential adsorption–photocatalysis process.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":808,"journal":{"name":"Water, Air, & Soil Pollution","volume":"237 24","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2026-10-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149189607","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Mahboobe Safari Sinegani, Maria Manzoor, Karl Hermann Mühling
{"title":"Availability and Shoot Cadmium Content in Wheat Differentially Respond to Liming: The Impact of Exchangeable Calcium and pH in Bulk and Rhizosphere Soil","authors":"Mahboobe Safari Sinegani, Maria Manzoor, Karl Hermann Mühling","doi":"10.1007/s11270-026-10066-6","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s11270-026-10066-6","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Cadmium (Cd) contamination in soil poses significant risks to environmental and crop safety. One of the most important parameters controlling Cd uptake by plants from soil is pH. The role of soil pH in regulating Cd availability and its uptake by plants has been studied; however, no study has yet compared how pH changes in the rhizosphere and bulk soil differentially influence these processes. This study examined how nitrification inhibitor (3,4-Dimethylpyrazole phosphate (DMPP)) and lime affect Cd availability and concentration in wheat via modulating pH and calcium (Ca) availability in rhizosphere and bulk soil. Wheat was grown in acidic sandy soil under three lime application rates and two DMPP levels to investigate Cd accumulation. Our results indicated that DMPP application was associated with decreased rhizosphere pH, exchangeable Ca and Cd accumulation in wheat shoots. The impact of lime on shoot Cd varied depending on the presence of DMPP. Liming generally increased soil pH and exchangeable Ca and was associated with decreased plant-available Cd (CaCl₂-extractable Cd) in both bulk soil and the rhizosphere. In the absence of DMPP, liming was associated with a greater increase in exchangeable Ca in the rhizosphere and reduction in plant-available Cd (CaCl₂-extractable Cd) in the rhizosphere and bulk soil. Despite the decline in soil Cd availability, these changes were associated with higher Cd concentration and content in wheat shoots. In contrast, under DMPP application, liming decreased shoot Cd concentration but did not affect shoot Cd content, suggesting that DMPP may influence the response of shoot Cd concentration to liming. The results provide useful insights into Cd management in agricultural systems and may contribute to strategies for reducing Cd-related risks in crop production.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":808,"journal":{"name":"Water, Air, & Soil Pollution","volume":"237 24","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2026-10-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s11270-026-10066-6.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149189998","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Enhanced Photocatalytic Degradation of Propylparaben Using Metal Oxide Catalysts: Kinetic Analysis and Light Source Evaluation","authors":"Dilek Kucuklu, Gülin Selda Pozan Soylu","doi":"10.1007/s11270-026-10085-3","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s11270-026-10085-3","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>This study investigates the photocatalytic degradation of propylparaben (PP), a widely used preservative associated with environmental and health risks, in wastewater using various metal oxides (TiO₂, ZnO, α-Bi₂O3-CP, and β-Bi₂O<sub>3</sub>-SG). It also provides a comparative evaluation of metal oxide photocatalysts and synthesis methods under different light sources, highlighting the strong influence of catalyst preparation and irradiation conditions on photocatalytic efficiency. All catalysts were synthesized using simple preparation techniques. Their structural, morphological, and optical properties were characterized using Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and photoluminescence spectroscopy (PL). Identification of PP and its reaction intermediates was performed using liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS). Bi₂O₃-CP and Bi₂O₃-SG, synthesized via co-precipitation and sol–gel methods, respectively, exhibited superior photocatalytic activity. The Bi₂O₃-CP catalyst achieved complete removal of PP under UV-B irradiation within 90 min, while 94.55% removal was obtained under natural sunlight within 45 min. Bi₂O₃-SG achieved 100% PP removal within 60 min of UV-B irradiation, with the highest reaction rate constant (0.088 min⁻<sup>1</sup>). These results elucidate the roles of Bi₂O₃ phase composition, band gap energy, and crystallite size in enhanced photocatalytic activity under both UV-B and natural sunlight irradiation, highlighting the potential of Bi₂O₃-based photocatalysts for removing pharmaceutical contaminants from wastewater.</p><h3>Graphical Abstract</h3>\u0000<div><figure><div><div><picture><source><img></source></picture></div></div></figure></div></div>","PeriodicalId":808,"journal":{"name":"Water, Air, & Soil Pollution","volume":"237 24","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2026-10-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149189606","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Biofilm-Mediated Bacterial Sorption onto Microplastics in Water: Mechanistic Pathways, Plastisphere Formation, and Implications for Disinfection Performance","authors":"Kassim Chabi, Jinjin Fu, Mahmoud Gad, Xinyan Xiao, Nashwa Hamido, Fidèle Suanon, Daouda Mama, Lei Wang, Xin Yu","doi":"10.1007/s11270-026-09979-z","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s11270-026-09979-z","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Microplastic-associated biofilms represent emerging interfaces for microbial attachment, persistence, and transport in aquatic environments, yet the mechanisms governing bacterial sorption onto microplastics and their implications for water treatment remain insufficiently resolved. This study investigated bacterial colonization, sorption behavior, plastisphere assembly, and disinfection interference associated with microplastics in water using high-throughput 16S rRNA sequencing, scanning electron microscopy, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, Brunauer–Emmett–Teller surface analysis, confocal laser scanning microscopy, flow cytometry, and chlorine disinfection assays. Microplastics recovered from raw surface water showed pronounced surface modification and altered functional groups. Biofilm formation and extracellular polymeric substances were clearly observed on microplastic surfaces after exposure to water. The maximum thickness of the bottom biofilm layer in contact with the microplastics reached 43.4 μm, whereas the upper biofilm layer reached 19.53 μm. Sequencing analysis indicated that microplastics altered bacterial community structure and supported distinct plastisphere assemblages compared with the surrounding water phase. Adsorption and desorption assays demonstrated that bacteria could attach and detach from microplastics. The maximum numbers of <i>Escherichia-Shigella</i> attached to and detached from microplastics were approximately 4 × 10<sup>5</sup> CFU/mL and 2 × 10⁶ CFU/mL, respectively. Notably, the presence of microplastics reduced the effectiveness of chlorine disinfection against <i>Escherichia-Shigella</i>, suggesting that microplastic-associated bacteria may be partially protected from oxidative inactivation. These findings demonstrate that microplastics are not merely passive particles in water but dynamic microbial carriers that can influence bacterial persistence, community assembly, and treatment efficiency. The results highlight the need to incorporate microplastic-biofilm interactions into water-quality assessment and disinfection-risk frameworks.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":808,"journal":{"name":"Water, Air, & Soil Pollution","volume":"237 24","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2026-10-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149189955","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Mostafa R. Abukhadra, Hager K. Ahmed, Amira S. Diab, Nabila Shehata, Hasan Arman, Mabrouk Sami, Mohammad Ahmad Hamdan, Ahmed M. El-Sherbeeny
{"title":"Characterization and Photocatalytic Performances of Green Pyrite-based Fe/Zn Composite (G-PyFeZn) for Enhanced Degradation of Methyl Parathion Pesticide: Pathway and Toxicity Studies","authors":"Mostafa R. Abukhadra, Hager K. Ahmed, Amira S. Diab, Nabila Shehata, Hasan Arman, Mabrouk Sami, Mohammad Ahmad Hamdan, Ahmed M. El-Sherbeeny","doi":"10.1007/s11270-026-10083-5","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s11270-026-10083-5","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Transforming low-value pyrite into pesticide-detoxification catalysts while retaining the mineral scaffold and introducing bio-derived Fe/Zn interfaces remains underexplored. A green pyrite-based Fe/Zn composite (G-PyFeZn) was prepared by nitric-acid activation of framboidal pyrite followed by marjoram-assisted precipitation without removing the residual pyrite solids. X-ray diffraction confirmed retained cubic FeS₂ as the dominant crystalline phase, whereas infrared spectroscopy, electron microscopy, and N₂ sorption evidenced a poorly crystalline, phytochemical-functionalized Fe/Zn surface fraction and mesoporosity (surface area, 30 m<sup>2</sup> g⁻<sup>1</sup>; mean pore diameter, 4.3 nm). G-PyFeZn was evaluated for methyl parathion (MPn) removal in photocatalytic, Fenton-like, and photo-Fenton systems under metal-halide irradiation. At the optimum pH of 4, photo-Fenton treatment removed 97.8% of MPn within 120 min, exceeding photocatalysis and Fenton-like oxidation by 88.2 and 61.6 percentage points, respectively. With 5 mg L⁻<sup>1</sup> MPn, 0.20 g L⁻<sup>1</sup> catalyst, and 0.02 mL of 30% H₂O₂ per 50 mL, MPn was completely degraded within 60 min and total organic carbon (TOC) was apparently completely removed within 180 min; the pseudo-first-order constants (0.1050 and 0.03060 min⁻<sup>1</sup>) show that transformation was 3.4 times faster than mineralization. Scavenger tests (76.4, 42.7, and 16.6% inhibition) indicated the reactive-species order •OH > O₂•⁻ > h⁺, supporting a surface-mediated mechanism involving Fe<sup>2</sup>⁺/Fe<sup>3</sup>⁺ cycling, H₂O₂ activation, and photoinduced charge transfer, together with a literature-based pathway of desulfuration, P–O cleavage, hydroxylation, and ring opening. Ecotoxicity rose by 8–9 percentage points at 20 min but finally declined by 93.2–95.1% for bacterial, daphnid, and algal endpoints. G-PyFeZn retained 77.1% efficiency in the sixth cycle, demonstrating a promising pyrite-valorization strategy coupling degradation, mineralization, and detoxification.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":808,"journal":{"name":"Water, Air, & Soil Pollution","volume":"237 24","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2026-10-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149189669","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Cladophora sp. Algae Biomass-Derived Hydrochar for Selectivity Toward Anionic Dyes Adsorption","authors":"Muhammad Badaruddin, Laila Hanum, Elda Melwita, Sahrul Wibiyan, Yulizah Hanifah, Aldes Lesbani","doi":"10.1007/s11270-026-10090-6","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s11270-026-10090-6","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>The utilization of algal biomass as a precursor for developing functional adsorbents offers an attractive and environmentally sustainable approach to mitigating dye-contaminated wastewater. This research investigates biomass obtained from <i>Cladophora</i> sp. (CLA) was subjected to hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) to generate hydrochar (HCCLA), which was subsequently assessed for its selective adsorption capacity for anionic dyes. The characterization results indicated that the HTC procedure significantly increased carbon content, diminished mineral impurities, and substantially improved surface area (from 8.52 to 15.8 m<sup>2</sup>/g) and pore volume (from 0.013 to 0.058 cm<sup>3</sup>/g). Compared to untreated CLA, the synthesized HCCLA demonstrated markedly improved adsorption selectivity, with DY showing the highest removal effectiveness. The kinetic evaluation indicated that the adsorption behavior adhered to a pseudo-second-order (PSO) model, whereas the isotherm analysis revealed that the Freundlich model provided a more accurate representation, signifying multilayer adsorption on heterogeneous surfaces. Thermodynamic assessments further confirmed that the adsorption process was spontaneous (ΔG < 0) and endothermic (ΔH > 0), with enhanced favorability observed for HCCLA. Moreover, regeneration studies demonstrated that HCCLA shown improved stability and reusability during multiple adsorption–desorption cycles. These findings highlight HTC as an effective method for transforming algal biomass into superior hydrochar adsorbents, indicating considerable promise for the sustainable elimination of anionic dyes from water.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":808,"journal":{"name":"Water, Air, & Soil Pollution","volume":"237 24","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2026-10-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149189668","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Development of A Mathematical Model to Control Crisis Management of Oil Spill Caused by Weathering Processes","authors":"Mahmoodreza Ahgharian, Ehsan Moosavi","doi":"10.1007/s11270-026-10069-3","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s11270-026-10069-3","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Oil spills represent a major environmental threat to marine ecosystems, coastal resources, and oil transportation infrastructure, particularly in regions with intensive petroleum activities. Ras Tanura Port, Saudi Arabia, is one of the world's largest oil export terminals and remains vulnerable to accidental oil spill incidents. In this study, a coupled mathematical model based on ordinary differential equations (ODEs) was developed in MATLAB to simulate oil spill evolution under the environmental conditions of the Ras Tanura Port. The model integrates established formulations for oil spreading, evaporation, emulsification, viscosity, volume reduction, and biodegradation into a unified ODE-based framework. The results showed that wind speed significantly influenced oil spill behavior, with increasing wind speed reducing the predicted spreading area and enhancing oil redistribution processes. Oil thickness decreased from 94.62 mm to 7.54 mm during the simulation period. Sensitivity analysis indicated that Ras Tanura crude oil (API = 33.5) exhibited the highest tendency for evaporation and emulsification among the investigated crude oils, resulting in increased viscosity and density due to the progressive removal of lighter hydrocarbon fractions. Furthermore, spill location was identified as a major controlling factor, with offshore release scenarios producing the highest spreading rates and the greatest potential for large-scale contamination. The findings demonstrate that oil properties, environmental conditions, and spill location collectively govern oil spill evolution. The developed model provides a practical tool for environmental risk assessment, emergency response planning, resource allocation, and crisis management in oil-producing coastal regions.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":808,"journal":{"name":"Water, Air, & Soil Pollution","volume":"237 24","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2026-10-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149189952","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}