Basin-centric approach to the sustainable development of agriculture in the context of climate change

The aim is to develop conceptual principles of sustainable development of the agrosphere and reproduction of degraded riverbeds of small rivers under climate change. Methods. Methodology and methods of system approach, monitoring, statistical analysis, and synthesis of scientific data. Results. It has been determined the ecological condition in Ukraine and the world has been by the manifestations of degradation processes in terrestrial ecosystems and small river basins on the principle of causation. It has been suggested the conceptual bases of restoration of channels of small rivers and their basins by carrying out engineering, culture-technical works in channels and floodplains of small rivers, the organization of adaptive landscaping of the territory, and also carrying out agro-, chemo-, bio- and phyto-meliorations in their basins without disturbance the basis of erosion and giving impetus to self-renewal of natural fauna and flora. In the processes of nature restoration, the leading role of domestic science in the methodological and methodological support of projects has been identified, and importance is attached to the restoration of natural biodiversity and biologization in agricultural systems. We proposed to create a state mortgage land bank with a concentration in it of land fees of ecological funds with the involvement of domestic and foreign investment. It is recommended to test the idea in several model pools of soil-climatic zones with further replication in Ukraine and the spread of technology beyond its borders. Conclusions. А systematic approach is needed to carry out reclamation works in the basins of small rivers is to implement the basin approach. To implement the program, the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine must adopt the Law of Ukraine “On Agriculture, Sustainable Development of the Biosphere and Ecological Nature Management”, the project of which was developed at the NSC “Institute of Agriculture of NAAS”. The NSC “Institute of Agriculture of NAAS” with appropriate financial and personnel support on a multifunctional basis can perform the functions of a methodological center for the development of methodology and techniques of land management and reclamation in the process of restoring small river basins.

High resolution species detection: accurate long read eDNA metabarcoding of North Sea fish using Oxford Nanopore sequencing

To monitor the effect of nature restoration projects in North Sea ecosystems, accurate and intensive biodiversity assessments are vital. DNA based techniques and especially environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding from seawater is becoming a powerful monitoring tool. However, current approaches are based on genetic target regions of <500 nucleotides, which offer limited taxonomic resolution. This study aims to develop and validate a long read nanopore sequencing method for eDNA that enables improved identification of fish species. We designed a universal primer pair targeting a 2kb region covering the 12S and 16S rRNA genes of fish mitochondria. eDNA was amplified and sequenced using the Oxford Nanopore MiniON. Sequence data was processed using the new pipeline Decona, and accurate consensus identities of above 99.9% were retrieved. The primer set efficiency was tested with eDNA from a 3.000.000 L zoo aquarium with 31 species of bony fish and elasmobranchs. Over 55% of the species present were identified on species level and over 75% on genus level. Next, our long read eDNA metabarcoding approach was applied to North Sea eDNA field samples collected at ship wreck sites, the Gemini Offshore Wind Farm, the Borkum Reef Grounds and a bare sand bottom. Here, location specific fish and vertebrate communities were obtained. Incomplete reference databases still form a major bottleneck in further developing high resolution long read metabarcoding. Yet, the method has great potential for rapid and accurate fish species monitoring in marine field studies.

High resolution species detection: accurate long read eDNA metabarcoding of North Sea fish using Oxford Nanopore sequencing

To monitor the effect of nature restoration projects in North Sea ecosystems, accurate and intensive biodiversity assessments are vital. DNA based techniques and especially environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding from seawater is becoming a powerful monitoring tool. However, current approaches are based on genetic target regions of <500 nucleotides, which offer limited taxonomic resolution. This study aims to develop and validate a long read nanopore sequencing method for eDNA that enables improved identification of fish species. We designed a universal primer pair targeting a 2kb region covering the 12S and 16S rRNA genes of fish mitochondria. eDNA was amplified and sequenced using the Oxford Nanopore MiniON. Sequence data was processed using the new pipeline Decona, and accurate consensus identities of above 99.9% were retrieved. The primer set efficiency was tested with eDNA from a 3.000.000 L zoo aquarium with 31 species of bony fish and elasmobranchs. Over 55% of the species present were identified on species level and over 75% on genus level. Next, our long read eDNA metabarcoding approach was applied to North Sea eDNA field samples collected at ship wreck sites, the Gemini Offshore Wind Farm, the Borkum Reef Grounds and a bare sand bottom. Here, location specific fish and vertebrate communities were obtained. Incomplete reference databases still form a major bottleneck in further developing high resolution long read metabarcoding. Yet, the method has great potential for rapid and accurate fish species monitoring in marine field studies.

Assessment of contamination by rocket fuel components of remedied sites of silo launchers

Introduction. The use of highly toxic and highly hazardous components of liquid rocket fuel in silo-based intercontinental ballistic missiles makes it necessary to assure the health and epidemiological well-being of the population and environmental safety when eliminating silo launchers. The study aims to assess the chemical safety of the sites of silo launchers after their elimination by detonation and remediation of disturbed lands. Materials and methods. Samples of soil, water, vegetation were taken at 20 remedied sites of the former silo launchers of "single start" located in the Chelyabinsk region and the Altai Territory. These samples were analyzed in an accredited laboratory for the content of unsymmetrical dimethyl-hydrazine and its degradation products using certified photometric methods. Results. At the time of the survey in 2019, in 19 of 20 sites of former silo launchers, facts of unauthorized intrusion to the remedied sites were established in order to recover a scrap of non-ferrous and ferrous metals, building materials up to the depth of the location of the destroyed shafts of mine structures. In soil samples from 3 sites of silo launchers located in the Chelyabinsk region, asymmetric dimethyl-hydrazine was found in concentrations exceeding the MPC by 1.02 - 1.6 times. In water samples from open and water-flooded shafts of silo launchers, degradation products of unsymmetrical dimethyl-hydrazine were absent. Contamination of herbaceous and coniferous vegetation with asymmetric dimethyl-hydrazine at the surveyed sites has not been established. Conclusion. Soil contamination with asymmetric dimethyl-hydrazine at three remedied sites of 20 surveyed ones may be the result of their unauthorized opening. After the intrusion, the orphan sites of the silo launchers become objects of increased chemical hazard and environmental risk. Such things require carrying out nature restoration work, strengthening supervision over their technical, health and ecological condition.

Nature Restoration Shifts the Abundance and Structure of Soil Nematode Communities in Subtropical China

Aims Soil nematode community is an important component of the soil food web, which has been widely recognized as a key bio-indicator for assessing the influence of nature restoration on ecological functions. However, the dynamics of the abundance, diversity and function of soil nematode community remain unclear under different forest succession phases. Methods The soil nematode community of natural secondary forests was investigated using a chronosequence approach. Nature restoration for five succession stages were sampled in this study to represent a wide range of stand age groups.Results Soil nematode abundance gradually increased with forest stand age, which reached a peak value (574 individuals 100 g-1 dry soil) in the older age classes. In contrast, soil nematode diversity was not affected by forest stand age. Soil available nitrogen and phosphorus were key factors influencing soil nematode abundance and diversity during forest secondary succession. The plant parasite index decreased with forest stand age, which indicated that ecosystem function and health would be improved as nature restoration progresses. In addition, the structure of soil nematode community was more sensitive to forest secondary succession compared to plant community and soil microbial community. The bottom-up effects of the plant and microbial communities on soil nematode community were important drivers of nematode community structure in subtropical forests. Conclusions Overall, this study demonstrates the active responses of soil nematode community to nature restoration, and highlights the importance of the above-ground and below-ground interactions to the soil food web.

Potential synergy between solar energy and biodiversity

&lt;p&gt;Like other countries The Netherlands are facing several societal challenges. As space is very scarce in the Netherlands it is vital to find chances for synergy in solutions to the challenges. It is investigated whether an upgrade of natural values in a large Dutch freshwater lake could go together with installing solar panels on water and thus generate sustainable energy. Our first exploration shows that this kind of synergy has potential for both biodiversity and renewable energy. The presentation will show the design, requirements, uncertainties, chances and risks.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The&amp;#160;area of interest is Lake &amp;#306;ssel, a freshwater lake covering an area of 1,100&amp;#160;km&lt;sup&gt;2&lt;/sup&gt;&amp;#160;with an average depth of 5.5&amp;#160;m. Lake IJssel was constructed by the completion of a dam in 1932, transforming the former brackish water of the Zuiderzee into a lake. The water levels are precisely controlled, and the lake provides several ecosystem services. The present ecosystem is imbalanced with low productivity and low biodiversity.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;To strengthen the delta nature in the Dutch waters a national Program for nature restoration has been launched. Goal for Lake IJssel is creating more natural transitions: from wet to dry and from fresh to salt. This is done by creating the missing habitats necessary for a healthy ecosystem like shallows with submerged vegetation and wetlands with a natural fluctuation of water levels. At the same time, the region surrounding Lake IJssel is trying to find opportunities for generation of renewable energy. Solar panels on the open water of the lake is one of the options. We have developed a design consisting of a cluster of artificial island modules.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The entire design consists of seven modules of which four modules provide space for solar panels. Each solar module consists of a constructed ring dike with an open connection to the lake providing a water surface where wave action is greatly reduced so thatsolar panels can be installed safely. In this exploration, we opted for a panel coverage percentage of 50% of the surface. If we decrease the water depth by one or two meters under the solar panels with local sediment, the light can penetrate to the lake floor. This creates a favorable environment for aquatic plants. Under the panels, a relatively open, structure-rich vegetation of mainly pondweeds is expected, which is interesting for growing young fish in the summer due to a combination of food supply and shelter. In winter, when the vegetation has disappeared, these waters are expected to be attractive for the wintering of (larger) fish. In addition, the mounting structures of the panels also contribute, providing a substrate for mussels and other invertebrates.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The idea has not yet been tested in practice. The possibility of multiple use of space for ecology and energy is so far based on the judgement of the best available experts and experiences. A pilot study and monitoring are required to gain more insights in the ecological impacts of solar panels in this ecosystem.&lt;/p&gt;

Integrating Habitat Suitability and the Near-Nature Restoration Priorities into Revegetation Plans Based on Potential Vegetation Distribution

Selecting optimal revegetation patterns and filtering priority areas can improve the effectiveness and efficiency of revegetation planning, particularly in areas with severe vegetation damage. However, few people include optimal revegetation patterns and priority restoration areas into revegetation plans. The Near-Nature restoration pays attention to “based on nature” ideas, guiding the degraded ecosystems to reorganize and achieving sustainable restoration through self-regulation. In this study, we conducted a field survey of the native vegetation communities in the Yanhe River catchment, and the data obtained were used to construct the potential distribution suitability of the habitat and screen the priority areas through the combination of MaxEnt and prioritizr models. We drew a heat map of species richness by simulating the potential distribution of 60 native species. The results showed that the potentially suitable habitats for forest cover were distributed in the southern part of the Yanhe River catchment; the potentially suitable habitats for herbaceous plant species were located in the center and the northwest parts of the study area; the potentially suitable habitats for shrub plant species in this area were larger than that of the forest, and herbaceous plants species were distributed in many zones of the study area. This study demonstrated that shrubs and herbaceous plant species in parts of the Loess Plateau should be considered as the pioneer plants of revegetation in future revegetation plans. Moreover, we also mapped the priority area of the Near-Nature restoration based on the richness of the potential native species. The procedure followed in this study could provide guidance for revegetation planning and manual management in the regions where vegetation damage occurs.

Influence of the Mechanical Environment on the Regeneration of Osteochondral Defects

Articular cartilage is a highly specialised connective tissue of diarthrodial joints which provides a smooth, lubricated surface for joint articulation and plays a crucial role in the transmission of loads. In vivo cartilage is subjected to mechanical stimuli that are essential for cartilage development and the maintenance of a chondrocytic phenotype. Cartilage damage caused by traumatic injuries, ageing, or degradative diseases leads to impaired loading resistance and progressive degeneration of both the articular cartilage and the underlying subchondral bone. Since the tissue has limited self-repairing capacity due its avascular nature, restoration of its mechanical properties is still a major challenge. Tissue engineering techniques have the potential to heal osteochondral defects using a combination of stem cells, growth factors, and biomaterials that could produce a biomechanically functional tissue, representative of native hyaline cartilage. However, current clinical approaches fail to repair full-thickness defects that include the underlying subchondral bone. Moreover, when tested in vivo, current tissue-engineered grafts show limited capacity to regenerate the damaged tissue due to poor integration with host cartilage and the failure to retain structural integrity after insertion, resulting in reduced mechanical function. The aim of this review is to examine the optimal characteristics of osteochondral scaffolds. Additionally, an overview on the latest biomaterials potentially able to replicate the natural mechanical environment of articular cartilage and their role in maintaining mechanical cues to drive chondrogenesis will be detailed, as well as the overall mechanical performance of grafts engineered using different technologies.