Frontiers in Environmental Science最新文献

{"title":"The global drivers of wildfire","authors":"Olivia Haas, Theodore Keeping, José Gomez-Dans, I. Colin Prentice, Sandy P. Harrison","doi":"10.3389/fenvs.2024.1438262","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3389/fenvs.2024.1438262","url":null,"abstract":"Changes in wildfire regimes are of growing concern and raise issues about how well we can model risks in a changing climate. Process-based coupled fire-vegetation models, used to project future wildfire regimes, capture many aspects of wildfire regimes poorly. However, there is now a wealth of information from empirical studies on the climate, vegetation, topography and human activity controls on wildfire regimes. The measures used to quantify these controls vary among studies, but certain variables consistently emerge as the most important: gross primary production as a measure of fuel availability, vegetation cover as a measure of fuel continuity, and atmospheric humidity as a measure of fuel drying. Contrary to popular perception, ignitions are generally not a limiting factor for wildfires. In this review, we describe how empirical fire models implement wildfire processes, synthesise current understanding of the controls on wildfire extent and severity, and suggest ways in which fire modelling could be improved.","PeriodicalId":12460,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Environmental Science","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":4.6,"publicationDate":"2024-09-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142209721","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"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":"Effect of cellulose-lignin ratio on the adsorption of U(Ⅵ) by hydrothermal charcoals prepared from Dendrocalamus farinosus","authors":"FanQin Yang, Hanhan Li, Boya Wang, Wei Fan, Xiaoyan Gu, Ying Cao, Shanglian Hu","doi":"10.3389/fenvs.2024.1451496","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3389/fenvs.2024.1451496","url":null,"abstract":"Herein, the impact of varying proportions of cellulose/lignin in bamboo on the production of hydrothermal biochar was investigated. Different characterization techniques were applied to explore the structure of hydrothermal biochar derived from three different genotypes (215, 30-A, 52-B) of <jats:italic>Dendrocalamus farinosus</jats:italic>, and the adsorption behavior of uranium by these hydrothermal biochars was evaluated. It was found that a decrease in cellulose/lignin ratio (3.08, 2.68, and 2.58) positively influenced the specific surface area and pore volume of hydrothermal biochar. Consequently, the prepared hydrothermal biochars exhibited adsorption capacities for U(VI) ions at levels of 14.78 mg/g, 24.68 mg/g, and 26.02 mg/g respectively under these three ratios. The adsorption process by 52-B-220 well complied with the Freundlich isotherm, which indicated that the multi-layer adsorption occurred on the solid liquid interface, but single-layer adsorption was evident in those prepared from genotypes 30-A and 215. This study demonstrated that adjusting biomass feedstock composition as an effective strategy for enhance the quality of biochar.","PeriodicalId":12460,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Environmental Science","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":4.6,"publicationDate":"2024-09-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142209741","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"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":"Spatial and temporal changes and influencing factors of urban ecological efficiency in the Yellow River Basin","authors":"Zhang Qian-Ming, Li Ji-Xia","doi":"10.3389/fenvs.2024.1435331","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3389/fenvs.2024.1435331","url":null,"abstract":"The Yellow River Basin serves as a vital ecological shield for China, and enhancing the urban ecological efficiency (UEE) is essential for the region’s ecological civilization and high-quality development. This research employs the slacks-based measure-data envelopment analysis (SBM-DEA), which incorporates undesirable outputs, and the Malmquist index to measure the UEE of 65 cities in the Yellow River basin from 2008 to 2017, described its spatio-temporal evolution characteristics, and utilizes its influencing factors using the Bootstrap truncated regression model. The main findings are as follows. ① The UEE in the Yellow River Basin has seen a steady, albeit low, increase from 2008 to 2017, with notable disparities existed in the upper, middle and lower reaches. Low pure technical efficiency is the main factor limiting the improvement of UEE in the Yellow River Basin. ② Cities with higher ecological efficiency in the Yellow River Basin generally exhibit a spatial distribution pattern of “lower reaches &amp;gt; middle reaches &amp;gt; upper reaches,” and it shows that cities with growing UEE are continuously shifting to the middle and lower reaches. ③ Environmental regulation, scientific and educational investment, economic scale, and greening level significantly promote the improvement of UEE in the Yellow River Basin, but population density and industrial structure lead to a decline in UEE. However, this result is heterogeneous between the upper, middle, and lower reaches, such as environmental regulation hindering the growth of UEE in the upper reaches, scientific and educational investment hindering the improvement of UEE in the downstream areas, and industrial structure significantly enhancing UEE in the midstream areas. These findings offer valuable insights for policymakers aiming to address ecological challenges and promote sustainable development within the Yellow River Basin, highlighting the need for targeted strategies that consider regional differences and the unique characteristics of each reach.","PeriodicalId":12460,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Environmental Science","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":4.6,"publicationDate":"2024-09-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142209726","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"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":"Pharmaceutical consumption in human and veterinary medicine in Germany: potential environmental challenges","authors":"Mies Abdallah, Jenny Bethäuser, Felix Tettenborn, Arne Hein, Melanie Hamann","doi":"10.3389/fenvs.2024.1443935","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3389/fenvs.2024.1443935","url":null,"abstract":"Pharmaceutical usage in both human and veterinary medicine contributes substantially to societal wellbeing. However, concerns regarding its environmental impacts are increasing. Despite global awareness, a substantial knowledge gap exists in Germany and several other countries regarding pharmaceutical residues, hindering comprehensive environmental risk assessments. This study aims to bridge this gap by analyzing veterinary pharmaceutical consumption in livestock farming in Germany and comparing it with human pharmaceutical usage, subsequently correlating these findings with environmental data on pharmaceutical residues to conduct a straightforward analysis of the environmental risk posed on non-target entities such as soil, water bodies, and microorganisms. Data from 129 agricultural farms in Germany were utilized to comprehensively analyze veterinary pharmaceutical usage. Extrapolation to national levels estimates a substantial quantity of active substances used, particularly antibiotics and electrolytes. Comparison with human pharmaceutical usage highlights differences in substance prevalence and usage patterns. Environmental correlations indicate a considerable presence of pharmaceutical residues in Germany, with notable distinctions between human and veterinary sources. In the environmental risk analysis, significant differences are evident between individual active substances within the same substance group. The study underscores the importance of addressing pharmaceutical residue impacts on the environment and emphasizes the necessity of comprehensive data for informed decision-making and environmental management strategies.","PeriodicalId":12460,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Environmental Science","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":4.6,"publicationDate":"2024-09-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142209724","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"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 environmental performance and circular economy in the European Union countries: the case of “post-2004” members","authors":"Roman Lacko, Zuzana Hajduová, Radúz Dula","doi":"10.3389/fenvs.2024.1467370","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3389/fenvs.2024.1467370","url":null,"abstract":"The study aims to compare the environmental efficiency within the group of European Union countries that joined the European Union in 2004 and later, and to identify the common circular economy determinants of efficiency. For this purpose, we performed Data Envelopment analysis and correlation analysis. We applied both constant and variable returns to scale models. Findings reveal that countries with a significant focus on services, particularly tourism, are more environmentally efficient. However, most countries are still heavily industry-oriented, with Bulgaria, Romania, and Croatia being the least efficient. The study also highlights the need for significant efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Interestingly, a positive correlation was found between resource productivity and the circular materials used, suggesting the importance of circular economy tools in improving the environment. Despite having a higher material and consumption footprint, these countries still produce a relatively high product and relatively low CO<jats:sub>2</jats:sub> emissions. Based on these analyses, we found regional differences and the need for setting cluster policies within the circular economy at the European Union level.","PeriodicalId":12460,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Environmental Science","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":4.6,"publicationDate":"2024-09-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142209725","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"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":"Exploring the spatiotemporal dynamics and coupling coordination of urbanization and habitat quality in the Yangtze river basin, China","authors":"Jianfeng Wu, Zhongyang Guo, Guangjie Luo, Fengtai Zhang, Jingpeng Chen, Wei Li, Qiwei Chen, Jingjing Liao, Guangjie Cao","doi":"10.3389/fenvs.2024.1435293","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3389/fenvs.2024.1435293","url":null,"abstract":"Rapid urbanization induces significant changes in land use, exerting a profound impact on regional habitat quality. Understanding the interconnectedness of urbanization and habitat quality is crucial for safeguarding the regional ecological environment and promoting sustainable urban development. Cities along the Yangtze River, as the core region of the Yangtze River Economic Belt in China, serve as a typical and critically important area to investigate the dynamic response of habitat quality to rapid urbanization. This study employs the InVEST model and entropy method to assess the spatiotemporal dynamics of habitat quality and urbanization in Yangtze River cities. Using the coupling coordination degree model, it analyzes the interplay between urbanization and habitat quality, elucidating dynamic response patterns and emphasizing the need for pertinent policy measures. Our findings reveal that from 1990 to 2019, urbanization levels in the study area surged by over six times, while habitat quality consistently declined, reflecting a 4.5% decrease. Notably, spatial variances were observed along the upstream, midstream, and downstream segments of the river. Although an inverse relationship between urbanization and habitat quality predominates, three cities demonstrated a positive correlation. The study also indicates a stable increase in the coupling coordination degree between urbanization and habitat quality, evolving from a phase of urbanization lag to one of synchronization followed by habitat quality lag. Among the cities, Chongqing emerges as an exemplary model for the coordinated development of urbanization and habitat quality. These insights provide a theoretical foundation and policy guidance for enhancing sustainable urban and ecological strategies in the region.","PeriodicalId":12460,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Environmental Science","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":4.6,"publicationDate":"2024-09-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142209727","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"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":"A blueprint for overcoming barriers to the use of nature-based coastal protection in Australia","authors":"Rebecca L. Morris, Andrew W. M. Pomeroy, Anthony Boxshall, Gildas Colleter, David Dack, Andrew R. Dunlop, David Hanslow, Sam King, Ariana Magini, Katrina O’Malley-Jones, Sel Sultmann, Murray Townsend, Fiona Valesini, Jacquie White, Elisa Zavadil, Stephen E. Swearer","doi":"10.3389/fenvs.2024.1435833","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3389/fenvs.2024.1435833","url":null,"abstract":"The global loss of coastal habitats is putting communities at risk of erosion and flooding, as well as impacting ecosystem function, cultural values, biodiversity, and other services. Coastal habitat restoration can provide a nature-based solution to the increasing need for climate adaptation on the coast while recovering lost ecosystems. Despite the benefits of using nature-based coastal protection to manage coastal hazards, there are scientific, socio-political and economic barriers to the broad use of this approach. Understanding the details of these barriers from the perspective of multiple stakeholders is essential to identifying solutions to overcome them. Using a workshop with participants that are key partners and stakeholders (from government, engineering consulting firms, and non-governmental organisations) in the management, design, and delivery of a coastal protection solution we aimed to: (1) gain a better understanding of the barriers faced by multiple stakeholders involved in the implementation of nature-based coastal protection; and (2) identify tangible solutions to these barriers to increase or support implementation, help focus attention on areas for future research, and inform pathways forward for the governance of nature-based coastal protection. We defined 19 barriers to nature-based coastal protection, but the primary ones that are experienced during the delivery of a project are a lack of: education and awareness; community support; necessary expertise and technical guidance; and uncertainty around: the risk reduction that can be achieved; planning and regulatory processes; and ownership of the structure. Two barriers that do not persist during the design stages of a project but are overarching as to whether nature-based coastal protection is considered in the first place, are government support and the availability of funding. The importance of these primary barriers changes depending on the method of nature-based coastal protection. We conclude by identifying both immediate actions and long-term solutions for enabling nature-based coastal protection in response to each of the primary barriers.","PeriodicalId":12460,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Environmental Science","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":4.6,"publicationDate":"2024-09-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142209729","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"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":"Envirotyping helps in better understanding the root cause of success and limitations of rainfed production systems","authors":"Gajanan L. Sawargaonkar, Moses Shyam Davala, S. Rakesh, Prasad J. Kamdi, Rohan Y. Khopade, Rajesh Nune, Rajesh Pasumarthi, Pushpajeet Choudhari, Aviraj Datta, Venkata Radha Akuraju, Sreenath Dixit, Ramesh Singh, Mangi Lal Jat","doi":"10.3389/fenvs.2024.1417199","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3389/fenvs.2024.1417199","url":null,"abstract":"The current diagnostic agronomy study of the Bankura region of West Bengal, India, examined the variations in crop yields through a socio-ecological analysis of multiple production system components. Envirotyping for root cause analysis was employed to delve into the variables that affect the performance of rainfed production systems. Mother Earth, man, machine, management, and materials (5Ms concept) were the five indicators under which the variables were grouped. Findings demonstrated the fragility of the region’s soils due to its undulating terrain, unpredictable rainfall patterns, and frequent drought scenarios. The LULC’s NDVI showed that the agricultural area is about 60% and 43% of the total geographical area in the Hirbandh and Ranibandh blocks, respectively. Soils are acidic and diagnosed with deficiency of both macro and micronutrients (phosphorous, sulfur, and boron) having poor water holding capacity (35 to 55 mm for a 50 cm soil depth). The sand and soil organic carbon contents ranged between 43.04%–82.32% and 0.17%–1.01%, respectively with a low bacterial population. These factors are the root cause for low cropping intensity (106%) and low paddy productivity (3,021 kg/ha). Overall, the study contributes to designing and scaling-up of sustainable landscape management practices that could ensure higher cropping intensity and system productivity in similar agro-ecologies with limited evidence.","PeriodicalId":12460,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Environmental Science","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":4.6,"publicationDate":"2024-09-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142209742","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"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":"Distinct microbial community structures formed on the biofilms of PLA and PP, influenced by physicochemical factors of sediment and polymer types in a 60-day indoor study","authors":"Yiying Jiao, Anqi Zhou, Delang Zhang, Mo Chen, Liang Wan","doi":"10.3389/fenvs.2024.1452523","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3389/fenvs.2024.1452523","url":null,"abstract":"Microplastics (MPs) are colonized by biofilm-forming microbes. Biodegradable plastics, popular replacements for traditional plastics, still have unknown biofilm formation characteristics. We conducted a 60-day indoor experiment, where sediment was exposed to traditional MPs (polypropylene, PP), biodegradable MPs (polylactic acid, PLA), and glass beads (GLASS). The microbial communities in the MPs-biofilm were analyzed using high-throughput sequencing. Results indicated that Proteobacteria was the dominant phylum on all substrates, followed by Actinobacteria, and Firmicutes. At the genus level, the majority of microorganisms colonizing PP possessed nitrification and denitrification capabilities, while the dominant bacteria on PLA were capable of degrading lignin, cellulose and carbon metabolism. The genus <jats:italic>Sphingomonas</jats:italic>, a promising bacteria capable of degrading biodegradable microplastics, was particularly discovered on the PLA biofilm, meanwhile, bacterial colonization of PLA indirectly increased the potential for human transmission of pathogens. Redundancy analysis revealed that the pH and moisture significantly affected the bacterial communities. Pearson correlation heatmap indicated that the abundance of the majority of dominant bacterial genera of two MPs biofilms is negatively correlated with the physicochemical parameters of sediment (pH, moisture, TN, TP), except for salinity. The microbial communities associated with PP and PLA exhibited distinct differences caused by the combined effects of changes in physicochemical properties of sediment and different material substrates. This study provides further evidence of the significant selective features exhibited by microbial colonization on these two MPs when exposed to the same source community, offering insights into the exploration of promising bacteria for MPs degradation.","PeriodicalId":12460,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Environmental Science","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":4.6,"publicationDate":"2024-09-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142209743","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"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":"A comprehensive review of landfill leachate treatment technologies","authors":"Jiachen Wang, Zhen Qiao","doi":"10.3389/fenvs.2024.1439128","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3389/fenvs.2024.1439128","url":null,"abstract":"The management of landfill leachate presents a significant environmental challenge, necessitating a comprehensive and dynamic treatment approach. This comprehensive review delves into the critical issue of landfill leachate treatment, exploring its environmental impact, treatment technologies, regulatory frameworks, and the path towards sustainable management practices. This review explores the complexities of landfill leachate, emphasizing the need for sustainable waste management practices to safeguard environmental health. Our analysis highlights the evolution of conventional and advanced treatment technologies designed to mitigate these risks, focusing on membrane technologies, advanced oxidation processes, and the promising potential of emerging techniques such as adsorption and biological nutrient removal. These technologies are evaluated for their efficiency, cost implications, and sustainability impacts, underscoring the challenges and opportunities within the current landscape of leachate treatment. The review aims to provide insights into designing efficient and effective treatment systems through a detailed analysis of conventional and advanced treatment methods. By examining a case study in Changsha City, the effectiveness of a comprehensive treatment system integrating various technologies is demonstrated. The review underscores the interconnectedness of human activities, environmental health, and waste management, emphasizing the importance of a holistic approach. It stresses the continuous improvement of leachate treatment technologies and the adoption of sustainable practices to reduce the environmental footprint of landfills. Ultimately, it calls for integrating multiple treatment processes, economic considerations, and readiness to address future challenges in landfill leachate treatment, contributing to the advancement of sustainable waste management practices.","PeriodicalId":12460,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Environmental Science","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":4.6,"publicationDate":"2024-09-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142209746","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"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}