Microplastics (MPs) have been characterised in South African rivers, lakes, and the marine environment, yet we know less about MPs in subterranean environments. In this study, we assessed MP pollution in the sediment, subsurface water, and resident freshwater amphipod, Sternophysinx species across six South African subterranean cave systems. We hypothesised that MP pollution will increase with human visitations and activities...

Microplastic (MP) pollution has become a significant environmental concern, particularly in freshwater systems. However, little is known about the occurrence and characteristics of MPs in groundwater-fed freshwater sources such as natural springs. In this study, the presence, abundance and characteristics of MPs were investigated in freshwater natural springs across South Africa, representing different land-use types (i.e. rur...

This study aims to optimize the production of activated carbon from discarded disposable diapers (D3AC) using Box–Behnken design (BBD) under response surface methodology. Biochar (D3B) was initially produced via carbonization at 900 °C for 90 min under nitrogen flow, followed by physical activation with CO 2 . The BBD model demonstrated strong reliability (R 2 = 0.9972), effectively predicting the influence of activation tempe...

The burgeoning population growth and landscape developments over the last decades have had a profound effect on natural resources including riverine water quality and quantity. This resulted in increased pollution events, loss of aquatic biodiversity and the introduction of alien invasive species, which cumulatively have transformed freshwater ecosystem structure, processes and functions. Macroinvertebrate-based biomonitoring,...

Background and Aims Beneficial plant–microbe interactions can improve plant performance under drought; however, we know less about how drought-induced shifts in microbial communities affect plant traits. Methods We cultivated Zea mays in fritted clay with soil microbiomes originating from contrasting environments (agriculture or forest) under two irrigation treatments (well-watered or water limited). Using this design, we inve...

We identified 14 emerging and poorly understood threats and opportunities for addressing the global conservation of freshwater mussels over the next decade. A panel of 17 researchers and stakeholders from six continents submitted a total of 56 topics that were ranked and prioritized using a consensus‐building Delphi technique. Our 14 priority topics fell into five broad themes (autecology, population dynamics, global stressors...