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A Centralized Web Platform for eLTER Romania: Connecting Observations, Research, and Decision-Making
No full textThe eLTER Romania Web Platform is designed to support long-term ecosystem research by integrating in situ observations, remote sensing data, and advanced analytics. This platform serves as a centralized data hub for environmental monitoring across Romania developed under the eLTER network part of the European infrastructure, enabling researchers, policymakers, and stakeholders to access, visualize, and analyze ecological data efficiently.The platform features automated data ingestion, integrating real-time observations from environmental monitoring stations, remote sensing products from Copernicus (Sentinel-2, Sentinel-3, Sentinel-5P), and climate models. A GIS-based decision-support system enhances spatial analysis, allowing users to assess ecosystem dynamics, biodiversity trends, and environmental changes over time.Key functionalities include:a) Stakeholder & Research Dashboard – Providing interactive maps, time-series analysis, and ecosystem indicators;b) Data Integration & Interoperability – Connecting field stations, remote sensing datasets, and global observatories;c) AI-Powered Analytics – Identifying patterns in ecosystem health, biodiversity shifts, and climate impacts (to be done in the future);d) Citizen Science & Public Engagement Tools – Facilitating participatory data collection and ecosystem monitoring;e) Learning & Collaboration Hub – Offering training modules, research publications, and case studies.The platform is designed to support FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable) principles, ensuring seamless integration with European research infrastructures such as LifeWatch and ICOS. By providing standardized data interfaces and enabling real-time environmental monitoring, it enhances long-term ecosystem research and adaptive management strategies.This initiative aligns with EU Biodiversity Strategy 2030 and the goals of the eLTER ESFRI research infrastructure, fostering scientific collaboration, open data access, and evidence-based policy decisions. The eLTER Romania Web Platform will serve as a dynamic, scalable, and interactive system, driving innovation in environmental research and ecological sustainability
The value of long-term socio-ecological research platforms in transdisciplinary research in Scotland
No full textThe growing interest in transdisciplinarity as a mode of research and development, i.e. ‘problem solving science’, co-developed with non-academic stakeholders, is evidenced by the increase in academic literature and funding calls on the topic. Transdisciplinary research, particularly in the environmental, health and education sectors has the potential to better inform funding practices, policy and research impacts. However, academia often struggles with fully enabling either interdisciplinary or transdisciplinary science because of institutional barriers, funding constraints, time limitations, and evaluation criteria which can all hinder collaboration (Harris et al. 2024). The longitudinal studies which characterise long-term socio-ecological research (LTSER) platforms (Mirtl et al. 2021) can overcome some of these barriers through deep understanding of the local environmental and cultural issues, consistency of personal relationships and persistence of funding rounds, while setting local knowledge gaps in a global context.LTSER platforms encompass classic long-term ecological research (LTER) sites, but also include the broader geographic area that contains them, along with cultural, administrative, historic, economic and other social dimensions of the region. A review involving 25 self-selected LTSER platforms of the International Long-Term Ecological Research (ILTER) network assessed 4983 publications, of which 1112 were deemed relevant to the socio-ecological objectives of the platform (Dick et al. 2018).In this presentation we will focus on the Cairngorms LTSER platform established in 2013 and the research journey conducted on sustainable appreciation of nature by humans which informs the Cairngorms National Park Sustainable Tourism Strategy. Tourism is vital to the Cairngorms National Park, accounting for 30% of the economy (GVA) and 43% of employment. Visitors and locals appreciate the outstanding landscapes, wildlife and huge range of activities available. The park was awarded the EUROPARC Federation charter for Sustainable Tourism in Protected Areas in early 2000’s and has used the federation’s five principles to practically manage and develop tourism in the area. The 2017 verifier’s evaluation report highlights the positive improvements but also comments on the need for a deeper knowledge about the recreational potential of the whole Cairngorms National Park to inform visitors and so reduce the high concentration of visitors in certain places and times.The Cairngorms LTSER platform formed one case studies in the EU funded OpenNess project which aimed to translate the concepts of ecosystem services and natural capital into operational frameworks that provided tested, practical and tailored solutions. A recreational potential model ESTIMAP-Recreation (Zulian et al. 2013) was further developed for the Cairngorms (Zulian et al. 2018) providing a practical example of co-production and collaboration (Dick et al. 2022). Further research funding was won in the form of the Biodiversity Digital Twin (BioDT) project, an innovative EU funded project which provided a practical example of knowledge co-production and collaboration tackling critical global biodiversity challenges. The recreation and biodiversity cultural ecosystem services digital twin (Rolph et al. 2024) build on the previous work and focused on the management of the cultural ecosystem services provided by landscapes i.e. non-material benefits people obtain from ecosystems, such as recreation, tourism. Biodiversity is central to these services as it enhances human experiences and connects people to nature. The hope is that by combining recreational potential and the probability of sighting biodiversity the prototype digital twin increases awareness of the recreational potential of the whole park (Fig. 1). Stakeholders have co-designed the prototype digital twin (Dick et al. 2025).This work has been further advanced through the SPEAK project funded by the UK Natural Environment Research Council ‘Growing Shoots’ programme. The SPEAK project is focused on the co-production of knowledge related to the use of the digital twin of recreational potential to increase awareness of places to visit while passively monitoring human behaviour coupled with biomarker data (Powell 2024). The SPEAK project funded 40 Garmin Instinct 2 watches which will collect location and biometric data while the wearers spend time in nature (Fig. 2). The volunteers will use the recreational potential model to select suitable places to recreate while wearing a Garmin watch, enabling analysis of the value of nature. We will conduct a workshop to enable the governance of this type of project to be co-developed with participants and the wider community. Our work links to the global developments enhancing inter- and transdisciplinary science such as the recent IPBES thematic assessment report on interlinkages among biodiversity, water, food and health. This report stresses the nexus approach, which echoes the WAILS approach of eLTER Research Infrastructure (Mirtl et al. 2021). The continuity of personnel during successive projects is a major advantage of the LTSER platform approach, while the increasing inter- and transdisciplinary nature of the research fits the current funding landscape
From Information Flow to Generative Insights: Advancing AI/ML Applications for Predicting Solute Dynamics in Streams
No full textPredicting and understanding solute dynamics in streams is critical for managing water quality, protecting aquatic ecosystems, and addressing broader hydrological challenges. This presentation explores how the integration of advanced AI and machine learning (ML) methodologies enhances our predictive understanding of solute transport while fostering novel perspectives on system behavior. Beginning with an information-theoretic framework, we demonstrate how causal history analysis captures the interplay of self- and cross-dependencies among environmental variables, unraveling how multivariate interactions sustain the emergent behaviors of solute dynamics. This foundational approach provides a lens to understand the systemic influences that drive variability and long-term trends.Building on this theoretical foundation, we incorporate Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) models to enhance temporal predictions by embedding solute flux dynamics, highlighting the model’s capacity to bridge the temporal resolution gap and capture rapid fluctuations. To further advance predictive capabilities, we leverage transformer models, which excel in learning contextual dependencies across temporal and spatial scales. By adapting non-stationary transformers for environmental applications, we overcome limitations of stationarity assumptions in traditional models, enabling better predictions of both transient and extreme solute dynamics. These models provide a significant leap in uncovering system behaviors while maintaining robustness across diverse hydrological conditions.However, conventional ML models, even transformers, often lack the capacity to interrogate the mechanisms behind their predictions. To address this, we turn to the transformative potential of generative AI, employing counterfactual reasoning to explore alternative scenarios and push the boundaries of predictive understanding. Finally, we introduce agentic large language models (LLMs) that dynamically interact with data and hypotheses, enabling iterative exploration and facilitating decision-making frameworks that are as responsive as they are insightful.This progression—from information-theoretic approaches to predictive ML models like LSTMs and transformers, to generative and interactive AI—illustrates a seamless integration of methodologies designed to tackle the complexity and nonlinearity inherent in solute transport. By weaving together these complementary perspectives, we offer a holistic framework that not only improves predictive accuracy but also fosters new lines of inquiry into the mechanisms shaping stream solute dynamics. This vision underscores the promise of AI/ML as tools for advancing both scientific discovery and practical solutions in environmental science, paving the way for more informed management of water resources and ecosystems
Effects of meldonium on the behavior of rats in a model of lipopolysaccharide-induced systemic inflammation
No full textMeldonium is a metabolic modulator used for its cardioprotective properties and presumed ergogenic effects. The current study aimed to determine its psychopharmacological effects in rats subjected to a model of neuroinflammation. Male Wistar rats were allocated into 4 groups (n = 6 per group): Control, LPS, LPS + CS and LPS + meldonium. Control group received saline and the other groups received lipopolisacharides intraperitoneally every other day for induction of subchronic systemic inflammation. LPS + CS and LPS + meldonium rats were orally daily treated with dexamethasone and meldonium, respectively. The duration of the study was 10 days. At the end of the experiment behavioral tests for assessment of locomotor activity, recognition memory and anxiety- and depression-like behavior were performed. Meldonium increased rat locomotor activity and prevented the suppression of exploratory behavior induced by lipopolysaccharide administration. Meldonium did not affect the recognition memory of the rats, as well as the parameters of anxiety- and depression-like behavior
Rhoifolin potentiates the anti-cancer activity of doxorubicin in MDA-MB-231 triple-negative breast cancer cells
No full textBackground: The combination of chemotherapeutic agents with natural compounds has gained attention as a strategy to improve treatment effectiveness and reduce adverse effects of cancer therapies. This study investigates the potential use of rhoifolin, a citrus-derived flavonoid, to sensitize triple-negative breast cancer cells (MDA-MB-231) to doxorubicin. Materials and methods: The cytotoxicity of rhoifolin, doxorubicin, and their combination was assessed via MTT assay. Cell migration and proliferation were evaluated through scratch and colony formation assays, respectively. Caspase 3, Bax, and Bcl-2 gene expression were analyzed to explore apoptotic mechanisms. Results: The IC50 values were 6.22 µM for doxorubicin and 102 µM for rhoifolin. Rhoifolin significantly enhanced doxorubicin’s cytotoxic effect with a combination index <1 at various ratios. At a dose of 50 µM rhoifolin, the anti-migratory effect of 1.5 µM doxorubicin was significantly increased (p < 0.01). The combination reduced colony formation to 72.5 ± 8.5 colonies compared to 202 ± 9 in the control group. Moreover, the combination increased caspase 3 gene expression by 22.2-fold. Conclusion: Rhoifolin potentiated the anti-cancer effects of doxorubicin, suggesting its potential as an adjuvant therapy in cancer
Long-distance dispersals and ecological transitions underlie the biogeographic expansion of the pantropical Magnoliid genus Xylopia (Annonaceae)
No full textPantropical taxa with broad and changing distributions provide useful systems for assessing drivers of tropical tree biodiversity. Xylopia, a vertebrate-dispersed woody plant genus with species evenly distributed across the tropics, including on isolated islands, occurs in rainforest as well as in subhumid, inundated, and ultramafic habitats. To determine the significance of biogeographic and ecological transitions in the genus, we generated reconstructions for 168 species using a nuclear phylogenomic framework. Xylopia originated at the Eocene-Oligocene boundary with the ancestral area reconstructed as paleotropical. A core clade, comprising 90% of species, dispersed once from Africa to the Asia-Pacific area and once to the Americas. Five lineages dispersed between Africa and Madagascar; in the Asia-Pacific area, multiple dispersals occurred between the Sunda and Sahul plates. Niche conservatism in continental rainforests continued, while the genus repeatedly dispersed, overcoming environmental filters to occupy novel environments. Notably, diversification continued in drier subhumid environments as many rainforest groups underwent extinction, and species richness on islands showed no correlation with isolation index. Novel environments largely acted as sinks, together encompassing about half the species in the genus. High value seed rewards taken by birds that transit long distances, combined with the capacity to transition to novel habitats, were fundamental drivers of pantropical expansion and diversification. These drivers remained the same in all regions, while idiosyncratic historical factors determined the timing and routes of dispersals
A new species of the genus Afissa Dieke, 1947 (Coleoptera, Coccinellidae) from China
No full textRecent morphological and molecular studies have clarified some aspects of the taxonomy of Afissa Dieke, 1947, but many species remain unexamined or misclassified. Additional taxonomic work is essential to resolve the classification and distribution of Afissa species in Asia, particularly in China.Afissa xuexii sp. nov. is described from Yunan and Guizhou Province, China. This new species is characteried by its typical bifurcated penis guide. Diagnosis, description and illustrations are provided
Details of a non-fatal human-crocodile interaction in the Laguna del Carpintero, Tampico, Mexico
No full textHuman-crocodile interaction in the Laguna del Carpintero, Tampico, Tamaulipas, Mexico has been a growing concern for the last several years, with homeless people being the most affected, although individuals of fixed address have also been involved. The objective of this document is to describe in detail a case of non-fatal human-crocodile interaction in this lagoon and the response of the SOS Crocodile Tampico working group. To document the case, we collected information on the interaction, the causative crocodile and the affected person. On June 8, 2024 a male person was involved in a non-fatal interaction with a 278 cm long crocodile, which caused a fracture in his left leg, requiring him to be transported to the nearest hospital. This event activated the first response team who provided pre-hospital and hospital care; search and capture of the crocodile involved, as well as the custody, handling and final disposal of the crocodile into captivity. Therefore, we consider that inter-institutional coordination between federal, state, municipal, health and crocodile specialists, integrated as the SOS Crocodile working group, is fundamental to rapidly and efficiently attend the interactions with crocodiles in urban areas
Three new species of Orchestina Simon, 1882 (Araneae, Oonopidae) from Xizang, China
No full textThe genus Orchestina is recorded for the first time from Xizang, China. One known species and three new species are reported: Orchestina colubrina Liu, Henrard & Xu, 2019 (♂♀), Orchestina lini Tong & Li, sp. nov. (♂♀), Orchestina wuzu Tong & Li, sp. nov. (♂♀) and Orchestina yigong Tong & Li, sp. nov. (♂)
The fish assemblage of a Mexican protected spring system dominated by invasive fishes
No full textSprings, as sensitive freshwater ecosystems, are particularly vulnerable to anthropogenic factors such as water extraction, pollution, and climate change. Las Estacas spring in Central Mexico, managed as a water park within a state reserve, serves as an ideal space for environmental education and conservation efforts. Snorkel surveys identified 14 fish species, with 70% being invasive and most of these come from ornamental fish. The fish assemblage was dominated by Xiphophorus helleri and Amatitlania nigrofasciata with 23% and 21% of the sample respectively, followed by two native species Poecilia sphenops and Astyanax mexicanus with 15% each aquaculture. To address this, a rewilding project is now in place, with the goal to establish a fish assemblage dominated by native species through habitat management, invasive species control, native species introduction, and education