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Shoreline armouring in coastal cities can cause habitat degradation and biodiversity loss, often exacerbated by common anthropogenic stressors. Boulders are used as riprap to create revetments walls; but the homogenous surface and absence of shelter reduces intertidal biodiversity and ecosystem functioning. Eco-engineering can mitigate habitat loss through the addition of water retention and other microhabitats. We deployed four eco-engineered designs in a degraded harbour riprap for 18 months. Two units with site-specific designs combined multiple microhabitat types, attracting the highest species diversity. All four designs generally increased within-site β diversity and fish diversity compared to nearby unmanipulated ripraps. Suspension-feeding species and more species within key functional groups colonised eco-engineered units at patch and site scale. Tailored, site-specific eco-engineering shows great potential to rehabilitate degraded ripraps into functional, novel ecosystems. Combining eco-engineering with anthropogenic stress reduction to enable recovery can enhance biodiversity and ecosystem functioning in coastal cities.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2025.117961 | DOI Listing |
Int J Phytoremediation
September 2025
Laboratory of Applied Stress Biology, Department of Botany, University of Gour Banga, Malda, West Bengal, India.
Urbanization and increasing vehicular traffic have intensified air pollution, particularly the accumulation of particulate matter (PM), trace elements (TEs), and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in urban environments. These pollutants pose significant risks to human health, urban ecosystems, and biodiversity. This study evaluates the efficacy of mixed-species vegetation barriers, comprising , , , and , in mitigating air pollution along three road types (highway, urban, and suburban).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBMC Microbiol
September 2025
Faculty of Kinesiology, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada.
Background: A plant-focused, healthy dietary pattern, such as the Mediterranean diet enriched with dietary fiber, polyphenols, and polyunsaturated fats, is well known to positively influence the gut microbiota. Conversely, a processed diet high in saturated fats and sugars negatively impacts gut diversity, potentially leading to weight gain, insulin resistance, and chronic, low-grade inflammation. Despite this understanding, the mechanisms by which the Mediterranean diet impacts the gut microbiota and its associated health benefits remain unclear.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCurr Opin Insect Sci
September 2025
Department of Biology, University of Southern Denmark, 5230 Odense M, Denmark; MIVEGEC, University of Montpellier CNRS IRD, Centre IRD, Montpellier, France.
An increasing number of studies have highlighted the insidious effects of endocrine disruptors on insect endocrinology, development, and behavior, prompting concerns regarding the ecological consequences of these pollutants. This review explores the effects of endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) on insect communication and behavior, focusing on the molecular mechanisms and ecological consequences. This study underscores the importance of addressing EDC risks in maintaining biodiversity and ecosystem functions.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMar Environ Res
August 2025
Marine Macroecology and Biogeography Lab, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Brazil.
Transition zones exhibit a unique combination of abiotic characteristics derived from the merging of two distinct areas, hosting communities with different thermal tolerance and distribution ranges. Given these characteristics, these zones are key to unmasking the effects of climate change on biodiversity since rapid changes in the sea temperature can favor some populations more than others. This study aimed to investigate the community structure of reef fish in seven islands of the southwestern Atlantic in a transition zone.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMed Oncol
September 2025
Department of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, Majmaah University, 11952, Al-Majmaah, Saudi Arabia.
The global incidence of early-onset cancer has surged by nearly 80% over the past three decades, yet the underlying causes remain poorly understood. While genetics and lifestyle are among the traditional risk factors, emerging evidence implicates the human microbiome as a potent and overlooked contributor to early tumorigenesis. Increases in the studies that are exploring the tissue-specific microbiome signatures such as the enrichment of Actinomyces and Bacteroidia in early-onset colorectal cancer, or Enterobacter and Neisseria in pancreatic tumors offer compelling evidence for age-stratified microbial contributions.
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