Most allelopathic studies have focused only on the allelopathy of invasive plants on the growth performance of native plants, while neglecting the allelopathy of native plants on the growth performance of invasive plants, especially species that can co-invade the same ecosystem. This study aimed to evaluate the allelopathy of the native plant Pinus massoniana Lamb. on the seed germination and seedling growth of two invasive Amaranthaceae species, Celosia argentea L. and Amaranthus retroflexus L. using a germination bioassay. Pinus massoniana showed significant allelopathy on the seed germination and seedling growth of the two invasive Amaranthaceae species. The allelopathy of P. massoniana on the seed germination and seedling growth of the two invasive Amaranthaceae species may be attributed to the effects of the generated stress on their germination activity. Pinus massoniana exhibited stronger allelopathy on the seed germination and seedling growth of A. retroflexus than on that of C. argentea. Thus, the invasiveness of A. retroflexus is expected to be lower than that of C. argentea in contact with P. massoniana. The allelopathy of P. massoniana on the seed germination and seedling growth of the two invasive Amaranthaceae species under the co-cultivated conditions was stronger than that under the monocultural conditions. Accordingly, the aqueous extract of P. massoniana can be considered a potential bioherbicide for the control of the two invasive Amaranthaceae species, particularly when both species co-occuring.

The primary objective of this study was to investigate the densities and age structure of Christmas tree worms Spirobranchus sp. (Serpulidae, Polychaeta), on colonies of massive stony corals of the genus Porites, which have not been reported before in the region. Pulau Sempu, East Java, Indonesia. Pulau Sempu is a small island and also the sole remaining nature reserve within the region of. This small island is encompassed by shallow and narrow fringing reefs, characterized by a composition of algae and an occurrence of hard corals, specifically from genera Porites, Pocillopora, and Coelastrea (formerly known as Goniastrea). The majority of Porites specimens creating a narrow reef encompassing the island is colonized by boring polychaets known as the Christmas tree worms, Spirobranchus sp., which inhabit the interior of coral skeletons. Studies were carried out in two specific locations within the nature reserve Pulau Sempu, i.e., Watu Mejo and Waru-Waru. Two species: Spirobranchus corniculatus and Spirobranchus cruciger, have been identified dwelling on corals. Our findings indicated that the density of the worms residing in large Porites was 8.62 individuals/ m² in Watu Mejo and 9.02 individuals/m² in Waru-Waru. The age of the worms found on Pulau Sempu, as determined by operculum size, ranged between 14 and 22 years. Worm age differ among study sites with older individuals observed at Waru-Waru.

Many coastal habitats worldwide are anthropogenically developed (transformed) at such a rate that they experience negative impacts from human activities. These include nutrient inputs within and among estuaries with varying levels of anthropogenic influence depending on flushing time. These impacts may affect species interactions (including host-parasite) and health in estuarine marsh habitats. The condition of organisms, such as eastern mud snails (Ilyanassa obsoleta), can be an indicator of the quality of these ecosystems, and their degree of anthropogenic influence. Snails, sediments, and water samples were collected from two different conservation areas in a small, highly eutrophic estuarine system along the east coast of the United States (Barnegat Bay, New Jersey). Both areas are designated as protected; one is in an area just north of one of three main inlets that provide ocean access to the estuary, and the other is to the south of the inlet. Condition of the mud snails was determined by length and thickness of the snail shell, snail total weight, and presence of epibiosis (visible algae on snail shells), as well as the number of cysts of the parasitic trematode Pleurogonius malaclemys. Overall, the sediment and water qualities were better in the southern area than in the northern area. In the summer months, snails at both areas were significantly heavier, with thicker and longer shells. There was a significantly higher prevalence of P. malaclemys cysts found on the snails, and thinner and shorter snail shells in the northern area, which can be attributed to the degraded environmental conditions. This bottom-up study utilizes I. obsoleta as an indicator organism to exemplify the repercussions of human intrusion on the state of estuarine ecosystems, which is a microcosm for global estuarine health. Our results show that the location of conservation areas is key to the quality and effectiveness of these areas, especially with regard to seasonal changes.

While numerous censuses are conducted in Rook (Corvus frugilegus) populations, there is still a lack of comprehensive evaluations regarding the methodologies employed and factors influencing population estimates. Here, we assess patterns of nest number variation in colonies through the breeding season and examine some factors influencing this variability. We conducted four censuses in 18 colonies of the entire Spanish breeding population of Rook spread out over the breeding season, from 18th March to 11th April. The total population's nests count increased by 22% over the census period, with the highest count of 1,877 nests recorded on the last census date. Number nests within the rookeries exhibited fluctuations throughout the census period, with an average variation of 12%, predominantly decreasing over time; variations were higher during the second half of March compared to the first half of April. The temporal variability in rookery nest numbers was found to be independent of colony size, rookery type or census technique. However, it was positively influenced by the number of nests in nearby rookeries located within a 6 km radius, likely due to immigration and emigration processes. While most rookeries (72%) reached their peak nest numbers on the last census day (April 11th), the timing of this peak varied among colonies. This asynchrony leads to variations in the total population nest counts, depending on whether we base it on a single census date or select different dates when colonies reach their maximum nest numbers. Our results emphasize the importance of considering intra-colony temporal variations during the breeding period in census surveys to ensure robust comparisons among colonies and of the total population over time.