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Research Spotlights (111)
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Understanding how invasive species, such as the Atlantic blue crab (Callinectes sapidus), perform in European salt marshes is important for protecting these ecosystems. Researchers conducted an 18-month survey of a Spanish salt marsh to provide useful data for conservation as the climate warms.
Swedish social supermarkets offer surplus food at reduced prices to people on low income. This study assessed the trade-offs between environmental sustainability and social impact, finding that these venues provide positive climate and social impacts, and boost nutritional value and user autonomy.
Spatial plans are decision-making tools for the physical or socioeconomic arrangement of space within a territory. This study explores how spatial plans from seven European countries could improve in order to benefit biodiversity and ecosystem services and bring about truly ‘transformative change’.
Bathing in urban rivers is becoming more popular across Europe. Enabling this in a healthy, safe, and accessible way is the mission of the Urban Bathing Consortium at the University of Lyon. Their latest research gives recommendations for sustainable river bathing that works within EU guidelines.
High-rise buildings have small footprints relative to their height, giving them good potential as sites for photovoltaic solar panels. This Serbian study provides an analysis of high-rise installations using modelling software, resulting in a low-cost assessment method for urban solar projects.
Artificial light pollution can disorient birds that migrate at night, particularly in cloudy conditions. This Croatian study compared two migratory sites with and without light pollution and found that light pollution increases disorientation, causing birds to collide with manmade structures.
Diversity of macroinvertebrates (e.g. snails, worms, and larval insects) is an indicator of river health. This study sampled locations along a Chinese watershed and found that downstream locations, where interconnectivity of river habitats was greater, saw higher macroinvertebrate diversity.
Microalgae can remove pollutants from wastewater, though their ability to do so is influenced by how pollutants interact. This study explored the use of the microalgae Chlorella vulgaris to remove nitrates, phosphates, and the common antibiotic florfenicol from wastewater.
Commercially farmed fish are at risk of becoming contaminated by ingested microplastics. This study measured ingested microplastics in farmed European seabass, finding the highest levels of microplastics in the intestine, blood, gills, liver and fillet. Larger particles accumulated in the fillet.
As seen for many amphibians globally, the Natterjack Toad is in decline in Europe due to reduction in habitat and breeding failure. The species requires monitoring for conservation. This study introduces audio recording at breeding ponds as an effective form of long-term, non-invasive monitoring.