环境科学与生态学最新文献

Oil-fired construction machinery (OCM) is a major source of urban air pollutants and CO₂ emissions, and electrification is a crucial pathway for improving air quality and achieving China's dual carbon goals; however, its feasibility has not been fully explored. This study uses data envelopment analysis and the analytic hierarchy process to establish a development potential index, covering technical efficiency, economic cost, application scenarios, and charging time and range, with an empirical analysis conducted in Beijing. The findings indicated the high feasibility of replacing OCM with electric alternatives, especially within the low-power range. Based on 2023 registered coding data, it is projected that by 2030, electrification could reduce regional average concentrations of CO, NO_x, PM_2.5 and VOCs by 12.2 % to 56.4 % and reduce CO₂ by 11.7 % to 56.9 %. Owing to economic considerations, small- and medium-sized machinery are particularly feasible for electrification. Key recommendations include prioritizing the electrification of forklifts, lifting platforms, and small-sized machinery in high-emission areas, particularly in central urban districts. Policies such as carbon taxes, carbon markets, and performance grading systems are suggested to incentivize electrification, along with expanding high-emission restriction zones and improving energy infrastructure to support widespread electrification.

Zooplankton are a key food source for fish and shellfish in the Arctic. One of the most valuable areas for fishing potential is the southern Barents Sea. To assess the productive capacity of this coastal area, we examined spatial variations in the summer zooplankton community. We recorded 44 different zooplankton taxa with the most common species being copepods Acartia longiremis, Calanus finmarchicus, Oithona similis, and Temora longicornis. The study revealed two distinct zooplankton groups, one in the fjords and the other in the open sea. These groups were noticeably different because of environmental factors, which aligned closely with the distribution of the zooplankton populations. Smaller neritic (coastal) species made up most of the zooplankton in shallow, inshore waters, while larger Calanus copepods were more common in deeper, offshore waters. Zooplankton biomass and daily production were generally higher in the open sea, reaching averages of 5.4 g (dry mass per m²) and 204 mg (dry mass per m² per day), compared to 0.9 g and 40 mg in inshore waters. The findings showed that water depth, temperature, and chlorophyll a levels were the main environmental factors influencing zooplankton abundance, biomass, and productivity. Zooplankton diversity was higher in the bays, likely due to the more varied environmental conditions found there. Comparative assessment of summer zooplankton biomass and production values underscores the considerable productive potential of the southern Barents Sea. Our findings provide novel insights into the structure and function of Arctic coastal zooplankton communities and offer a valuable baseline for ongoing pelagic ecosystem monitoring.

A trace analytical method based on solid-phase extraction gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (SPE-GC-MS/MS) was developed for the rapid detection of 256 semi-volatile organic compounds (SVOCs), including 25 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), 70 polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), 123 pesticides, 20 phthalate esters (PAEs), 4 organophosphate esters (OPEs), 9 synthetic musks (SMs), and 5 UV filters (UVs) in water. Notably, this method provided a decent linearity of calibration standards (R² > 0.999), excellent method limits of quantification (MLOQs) (0.12-11.41 ng/L), satisfactory matrix spiking recovery rates (60.4 %-126 %), and high precision (intra-day relative standard deviations (RSDs): 1.0 %-10.0 %, inter-day RSDs: 3.0 %-15.0 %, and inter-week RSDs: 3.4 %-15.7 %), making it suitable for trace-level studies. Statistical analysis revealed that SVOCs with higher volatility exhibited enhanced recovery rates. Validation of the methodology involved analyzing SVOCs in real spring water and river water samples. Twenty-seven SVOCs were detected in spring water and 58 in river water, with an average concentration of 631.73 and 16,095 ng/L, respectively. Among the detected SVOCs, PAEs constituted the predominant proportion. This study underscored the presence of SVOCs contamination specifically within the spring water, although SVOCs concentrations in river water were significantly greater than those found in spring water. In summary, this sensitive method based on SPE-GC-MS/MS was successfully developed and validated for the rapid analysis of a diverse array of 256 SVOCs at trace levels in water, including not only the traditional highly valued PAHs, PCBs, pesticides, and PAEs, but also the emerging OPEs, UVs, and SMs.

Seagrasses are marine angiosperms that function as ecosystem engineers, forming complex structure that enhance nearshore environments. Globally, seagrass habitats are threatened by intensifying impacts from climate change, which exacerbate non-climatic stressors such as coastal development, invasive species, and overfishing. Advances in the methodological efficacy of active seagrass restoration efforts have sought to mitigate substantial anthropogenic-induced losses. Restoration efforts along the U.S. West Coast have primarily focused on Zostera marina (common eelgrass) in shallow, sheltered estuarine environments, where most coastal development occurs. However, within the Southern California Bight, Zostera spp. also occurs along the exposed coastlines of the California Channel Islands archipelago. Despite their unique location and the ecosystem services they provide, a paucity of information persists on open-coast seagrass systems and restoration efforts. In this study, we conducted a novel transplant of Z. marina on Catalina Island and tracked temporal and spatial performance metrics (i.e., areal coverage, morphometrics, and fish assemblages) at the restoration site and seven extant Z. marina reference beds on the island from 2021 to 2024. The transplant activities successfully established over 0.18 hectares of Z. marina habitat. The transplant site paralleled or exceeded extant reference beds morphometrically (shoot density and blade length) and functionally (fish composition and fish diversity), while concomitantly providing habitat for the occupancy of, and utilization by, federally listed endangered and managed species. Our results provide a model for broadening the scope of, and augmenting strategies for, seagrass habitat recovery beyond conventional restoration spaces by underscoring the role of open-coast seagrasses in enhancing nearshore ecosystem function and resilience.

Supplementary information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12237-025-01609-x.

Marine litter is a key vector of dispersing invasive species in the marine environment. However, our knowledge of the ecological interactions between these species and litter is still incomplete. Here, we investigated the substrate preferences and physical characteristics of marine litter colonized by the invasive mussel Mytella strigata, and explored the role of litter in the population expansion of this species along the Tamil Nadu coast, India. A total of 72 fouled debris were observed along the study areas. The majority of the fouling litter was composed of plastic (87.5 %), followed by rubber (4.2 %), wood (4.2 %), glass (2.8 %) and metal (1.4 %). A total of 2637 individuals of M. strigata were recorded on the marine litter, with recruitment on plastic substrates. Particularly, M. strigata were most common on large marine litter with irregular or cylindrical shapes, rough surfaces and transparent, blue or green colours. Our work provides evidence that marine litter can play a role in the reproduction of this invasive mussel. Consequently, M. strigata benefits from the litter substrates and the habitat complexity created by anthropogenic materials along the Tamil Nadu coast, enhancing its survival and reproduction. This could promote the expansion of the M. strigata population and thus affect the composition and structure of the marine ecosystem.

Ecosystems are interconnected, and ecological processes frequently transcend the physical boundaries that define them. Fluxes of energy, matter, and organisms not only form important ecosystem processes within but also between ecosystems. However, the role of biological drivers in simultaneously supporting multiple ecosystem processes at the interface between aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems (that is, aquatic-terrestrial ecosystem processes) remains poorly understood, both locally and across regions. To assess the relative importance of riparian forests, detritus consumers and leaf litter mixing on different ecosystem processes of freshwater detrital food webs, we used leaf litter bags to subsidise local terrestrial leaf litter to forested and non-forested headwater stream sites in a temperate and tropical region. We also manipulated macroinvertebrate access and the composition of leaf litter mixtures. We measured three key aquatic-terrestrial ecosystem processes: biomass accrual of aquatic fungi, nitrogen loss, and decomposition rates of local leaf litter. Across both temperate and tropical streams, ecosystem multifunctionality, that is, the simultaneous sustaining of these processes, was positively associated with macroinvertebrates and riparian forests but not with leaf litter mixing. Especially leaf litter nitrogen loss and decomposition rates were consistently higher when macroinvertebrates had access across all leaf litter species. Decomposition rates were also positively associated with the other ecosystem processes. These findings highlight consistent, cross-regional effects of riparian forests and macroinvertebrate detritivores on freshwater detrital food webs. In a rapidly changing world, understanding ecosystem processes in headwater streams demands a holistic view that transcends ecosystem borders and incorporates cross-ecosystem interactions.

Supplementary information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s10021-025-01024-0.

Intertidal environments are highly dynamic, exposing organisms to multiple physical stressors simultaneously. This study evaluates the physiological responses of encapsulated Acanthina monodon embryos to stressors associated with tidal cycles, using oxidative damage and antioxidant activity as indicators. Egg capsules collected from the rocky intertidal zone were subjected to a tidal cycle including 3 h of emersion followed by re-immersion. Environmental variables such as temperature, humidity, PAR and UV-B radiation were recorded. Samples were analyzed for lipid peroxidation, protein carbonyls, and total antioxidant capacity. Previous studies have shown that initial-stage embryos are particularly vulnerable to desiccation and thermal stress, yet little is known about their antioxidant responses under natural tidal fluctuations. Based on this, we hypothesize that embryos possess a developmentally regulated and environmentally responsive antioxidant defense system envolving an enzymes or non-enzymatic antioxidants that mitigates oxidative damage during emersion and activates repair mechanisms upon re-immersion. Results showed that early-stage embryos exhibited high antioxidant capacity, particularly during air exposure, suggesting an adaptive response to oxidative stress. Prolonged emersion increased oxidative damage markers, while re-immersion reduced them, indicating activation of repair mechanisms. No mortality was observed in any developmental stage. These findings support the hypothesis and highlight antioxidant capacity as a key strategy for survival during early ontogeny in fluctuating intertidal conditions. This study provides insight into the defense mechanisms of A. monodon embryos and their resilience to environmental stress during encapsulated development.

Fenton-like technology based on peroxymonosulfate activation has shown great potential in refractory organics degradation. In this work, single Fe atom catalysts were synthesized through facile ball milling and exhibited very high performance in peroxymonosulfate activation. The Fe single-atom filled an N vacancy on the triazine ring edge of C₃N₄, as confirmed through X-ray absorption fine structure, density functional calculation and electron paramagnetic resonance. The SAFe_0.4C₃N₄/PMS system could completely remove phenol (20 mg/L) within 10 min and its first-order kinetic constant was 12.3 times that of the Fe₃O₄/PMS system. Under different initial pH levels and in various anionic environments, SAFe_0.4C₃N₄ still demonstrated excellent catalytic activity, achieving a removal rate of over 90 % for phenol within 12 min. In addition, SAFe_0.4C₃N₄ exhibited outstanding selectivity in reaction systems with different pollutants, showing excellent degradation effects on electron-rich pollutants only. Hydroxyl radicals (^•OH), singlet oxygen (¹O₂) and high-valent iron oxide (Fe(Ⅳ)=O) were detected in the SAFe_0.4C₃N₄/PMS system through free radical capture experiments. Further experiments on the quenching of active species and a methyl phenyl sulfoxide probe confirmed that ¹O₂ and Fe(Ⅳ)=O played dominant roles. Additionally, the change in the current response after adding PMS and phenol in succession proved that a direct electron transfer path between organic matter and the catalyst surface was unlikely to exist in the SAFe_0.4C₃N₄/PMS/Phenol degradation system. This study provides a new demonstration of the catalytic mechanism of single-atom catalysts.

Imidazole (IM) particles in the atmosphere affect climate, atmospheric chemical reactions, and human health. However, research on IM particles in the Sichuan Basin (SCB), one of the areas of China affected most heavily by haze, remains very scarce. This study used single-particle aerosol mass spectrometry to investigate IM-containing particles in Chengdu, one of the megacities in the SCB, during summer and winter before and after implementation of the Three-year Action Plan to Win the Blue-Sky Defense War (BSDW). We found that IM-containing particles accounted for 1.2 %-12.0 % of all detected particles, and they highly mixed with carbonaceous components, secondary inorganic species, and organic nitrogen. From before to after the BSDW, the proportion of IM-containing particles decreased by 1.8 % in summer, but increased by 9.6 % in winter. Ammonium/amines and carbonyl compounds were closely related to IM-containing particles; the highest proportion of IM-containing particles occurred in particles mixed with amines and carbonyls. The number fraction of IM-containing particles in all seasons was higher at night than during daytime. The potential source areas of IM-containing particles showed notable narrowing after the BSDW, and the high-value areas were found distributed closer to Chengdu and its surrounding areas. In the winter before the BSDW, most IM-containing particles (> 70 %) were mixed with organic carbon (OC) particles, and the contributions of OC and mixed organic-elemental carbon (OC-EC) particles increased with aggravation of pollution, whereas OC-EC and Metal particles played a more crucial role in the winter after the BSDW.