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Abstract Whereas temporal variability of plant phenology in response to climate change has already been well studied, the spatial variability of phenology is not well understood. Given that phenological shifts may affect the magnitude of biotic interactions, there is a need to investigate how the variability in environmental factors relates to the spatial variability in herbaceous species’ phenology by at the same time considering their functional traits to predict their general and species-specific responses to future climate change. In this project, we analysed phenology records of 148 herbaceous species, which were observed for a single year by the PhenObs network in 15 botanical gardens. For each species, we characterised the spatial variability in six different phenological stages across gardens. We used boosted regression trees to link these variabilities in phenology to the variability in environmental parameters (temperature, latitude, and local habitat conditions) as well as species traits (seed mass, vegetative height, specific leaf area, and temporal niche) hypothesised to be related to phenology variability. We found that spatial variability in the phenology of herbaceous species was mainly driven by the variability in temperature but also photoperiod was an important driving factor for some phenological stages. In addition, we found that early-flowering and less competitive species indicated by small specific leaf area and vegetative height were more variable in their phenology. Our findings contribute to the field of phenology by showing that besides temperature, photoperiod and functional traits are important to be included when spatial variability of herbaceous species is investigated.

Methane is the final product of the anaerobic decomposition of organic matter. The conversion of organic matter to methane (methanogenesis) as a mechanism for energy conservation is exclusively attributed to the archaeal domain. Methane is oxidized by methanotrophic microorganisms using oxygen or alternative terminal electron acceptors. Aerobic methanotrophic bacteria belong to the phyla Proteobacteria and Verrucomicrobia, while anaerobic methane oxidation is also mediated by more recently discovered anaerobic methanotrophs with representatives in both the bacteria and the archaea domains. The anaerobic oxidation of methane is coupled to the reduction of nitrate, nitrite, iron, manganese, sulfate, and organic electron acceptors (e.g., humic substances) as terminal electron acceptors. This review highlights the relevance of methanotrophy in natural and anthropogenically influenced ecosystems, emphasizing the environmental conditions, distribution, function, co-existence, interactions, and the availability of electron acceptors that likely play a key role in regulating their function. A systematic overview of key aspects of ecology, physiology, metabolism, and genomics is crucial to understand the contribution of methanotrophs in the mitigation of methane efflux to the atmosphere. We give significance to the processes under microaerophilic and anaerobic conditions for both aerobic and anaerobic methane oxidizers. In the context of anthropogenically influenced ecosystems, we emphasize the current and potential future applications of methanotrophs from two different angles, namely methane mitigation in wastewater treatment through the application of anaerobic methanotrophs, and the biotechnological applications of aerobic methanotrophs in resource recovery from methane waste streams. Finally, we identify knowledge gaps that may lead to opportunities to harness further the biotechnological benefits of methanotrophs in methane mitigation and for the production of valuable bioproducts enabling a bio-based and circular economy.

Alors que l'accès à l'énergie s'améliore dans tous les groupes économiques du monde, il reste le défi monumental de l'inégalité des énergies propres qui aggrave encore les problèmes liés au climat. Pour mieux lutter contre les inégalités en matière d'énergie propre, cette étude offre une nouvelle compréhension des forces à l'origine de la fracture de l'accès à l'énergie propre associée à l'urbanisation et à la ruralisation en utilisant le cas des économies à revenu élevé, faible, intermédiaire inférieur et intermédiaire supérieur entre 2010 et 2021. En utilisant une analyse empirique, les résultats révèlent que (i) la croissance annuelle de l'économie et (ii) la parité d'alphabétisation entre les hommes et les femmes aggravent encore l'accès à l'énergie propre entre les populations urbaines et rurales. Au contraire, les activités innovantes réduisent l'accès à l'énergie propre urbaine-rurale d'une élasticité de 3,510. Ces résultats, en théorie et en pratique, fournissent des informations sur les politiques visant à atteindre spécifiquement les objectifs de développement durable 7 et 10 des Nations Unies, ainsi que d'autres défis mondiaux. Si bien el acceso a la energía está mejorando en todos los grupos económicos a nivel mundial, aquí permanece el desafío monumental de la desigualdad de energía limpia que ha agravado aún más los problemas relacionados con el clima. Para abordar aún más la desigualdad de energía limpia, este estudio ofrece una comprensión novedosa de las fuerzas detrás de la brecha de acceso a la energía limpia asociada con la urbanización y la ruralización mediante el empleo del caso de las economías de ingresos altos, bajos, medios-bajos y medios-altos en el período 2010 a 2021. Mediante el uso de análisis empíricos, los resultados revelan que (i) el crecimiento anual de la economía y (ii) la paridad de alfabetización entre hombres y mujeres empeoran aún más el acceso a la energía limpia entre la población urbana y rural. Por el contrario, las actividades innovadoras reducen el acceso a la energía limpia urbana-rural en una elasticidad de 3.510. Estos hallazgos, en teoría y en la práctica, proporcionan información sobre políticas para lograr específicamente los Objetivos de Desarrollo Sostenible 7 y 10 de las Naciones Unidas, y otros desafíos globales. While energy access is improving across economic groups globally, here remains the monumental challenge of clean energy inequality that has further aggravates climate-related problems. To further address clean energy inequality, this study offers novel understanding on the forces behind clean energy access divide associated with urbanization and ruralization by employing the case of the high, low, lower-middle, and upper-middle income economies in the period 2010 to 2021. By using empirical analysis, the results reveal that (i) annual growth in the economy, and (ii) literacy parity between male and female further worsen clean energy access between urban and rural population. Contrarily, innovative activities reduce urban-rural clean energy access by an elasticity of 3.510. These findings, in theory and practice, provide policy insight toward specifically achieving the United Nation's Sustainable Development Goals 7 and 10, and other global challenges. في حين أن الوصول إلى الطاقة يتحسن عبر المجموعات الاقتصادية على مستوى العالم، لا يزال هنا التحدي الهائل المتمثل في عدم المساواة في الطاقة النظيفة الذي يزيد من تفاقم المشاكل المتعلقة بالمناخ. ولمزيد من معالجة عدم المساواة في الطاقة النظيفة، تقدم هذه الدراسة فهمًا جديدًا للقوى الكامنة وراء فجوة الوصول إلى الطاقة النظيفة المرتبطة بالتوسع الحضري والريفي من خلال توظيف حالة الاقتصادات ذات الدخل المرتفع والمنخفض والمتوسط الأدنى والمتوسط الأعلى في الفترة من 2010 إلى 2021. باستخدام التحليل التجريبي، تكشف النتائج أن (1) النمو السنوي في الاقتصاد، و (2) تكافؤ محو الأمية بين الذكور والإناث يزيد من سوء الوصول إلى الطاقة النظيفة بين سكان الحضر والريف. على النقيض من ذلك، تقلل الأنشطة المبتكرة من الوصول إلى الطاقة النظيفة بين المناطق الحضرية والريفية بمرونة تبلغ 3.510. توفر هذه النتائج، من الناحية النظرية والعملية، نظرة ثاقبة للسياسات نحو تحقيق هدفي التنمية المستدامة للأمم المتحدة 7 و 10 على وجه التحديد، والتحديات العالمية الأخرى.

Populations of fishes provide valuable services for billions of people, but face diverse and interacting threats that jeopardize their sustainability. Human population growth and intensifying resource use for food, water, energy and goods are compromising fish populations through a variety of mechanisms, including overfishing, habitat degradation and declines in water quality. The important challenges raised by these issues have been recognized and have led to considerable advances over past decades in managing and mitigating threats to fishes worldwide. In this review, we identify the major threats faced by fish populations alongside recent advances that are helping to address these issues. There are very significant efforts worldwide directed towards ensuring a sustainable future for the world's fishes and fisheries and those who rely on them. Although considerable challenges remain, by drawing attention to successful mitigation of threats to fish and fisheries we hope to provide the encouragement and direction that will allow these challenges to be overcome in the future.

In the present work we wanted to know what happens during time to biomass and lipid productivities of Chlorococcum littorale repeatedly subjected to N-starvation. Experiments were done using repeated cycles of batch-wise N run-out (after 2days N=0). Two different cycles were used: repeated short-starvation (6days of N=0) over a total period of 72days and repeated long-starvation (13days of N=0) over a total period of 75days. Batches (using fresh inocula) were done separately as control. Shorter and longer periods of starvation showed no differences in biomass productivities and PSII quantum yield evolution. The repeated short-starvation-batches showed the same lipid productivities as the control short-starvation batches. Most importantly, the biomass lipid content was the same between control and repeated-batches. Altogether, the results point to C. littorale as a resilient and stable strain, with potential to be used under semi continuous cultivation.