22 Jan 2026

Guideposts and Guardrails for Biodiversity Accounting in the 21st Century

Abstract: The new Kunming-Montreal Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) calls for transformative change to integrate biodiversity and conservation goals into decision-making across public and private sectors. As a result, biodiversity accounting approaches, which reduce the multifaceted complexity of nature to quantitative metrics for practical applications, are proliferating rapidly. These approaches will be essential for implementing growing practices like nature-based solutions, corporate biodiversity stewardship, no net loss policies, and sustainable infrastructure development. In this perspectives article, we identify ten considerations for biodiversity accounting to ground ongoing discourse in sound ecological science and to better integrate biodiversity into societal decision-making. These considerations pertain to three processes within biodiversity accounting: (1) selecting biodiversity targets, facets, indicators, and metrics, (2) tool and framework design, and (3) implementation. For each consideration, we highlight desirable attributes or practices, which we call “guideposts”, and cautionary notes demarcating problems to be avoided, or “guardrails”. These help to delineate the safe design space for creators and users of biodiversity accounting systems to avoid unintended consequences and reduce risks of failing to achieve conservation objectives via misuse or ineffective approaches. Major considerations include the need for careful disclosure of effort and statistical uncertainty, interoperability and flexibility of frameworks, careful justification and explanation of selected facets, metrics, and indicators, and attention to local social and ecological context. Consideration of these guideposts and guardrails could help avoid unintended consequences like accelerated biodiversity loss and exacerbated environmental injustice while providing a practical basis for achieving the sustainable futures envisioned in the GBF.

22 Jan 2026

Assessing Longer-Term Effectiveness of Forest Management Guidelines on Breeding Habitat for Cerulean Warblers

Abstract: Widespread clear-cutting in the late 19th and early 20th centuries and subsequent regrowth has resulted in homogenous, closed-canopy forest structure across much of eastern deciduous forests in temperate North America. Forest management prescriptions designed to diversify stand structure have been increasingly applied with the goal of improving breeding habitat for declining species that require heterogenous forest structure, including Cerulean Warblers (“ceruleans”; Setophaga cerulea). Although a few studies have documented positive short-term (1–4 years post-treatment) responses of ceruleans to forest management prescriptions in the Appalachian Mountains region, longer-term responses have yet to be assessed. In 2019–2020, we followed the same spot-mapping methods as used previously (2005–2006 pre-harvest and 2007–2010 post-harvest) and compared territory density with previous estimates at each of 4 treatment levels (reduced basal area and overstory canopy by 0–75 %) across four forest stands on study sites in Tennessee, Kentucky and Ohio (n = 12 stands total) that had exhibited short-term positive density responses. Ceruleans did not exhibit consistently positive longer-term responses compared with pre-treatment densities when all stands were analyzed together. Compared with pre- treatment surveys, after 13–14 years post-harvest we documented density decreases of 1.0–3.1 territories per 10 ha at 5/9 stands, and positive responses of 1.8–2.2 territories per 10 ha at 3/9 treated stands. Over this period, midstory cover changed significantly (increased) during the 10 years since these stands were last surveyed. Thus, sustaining the short-term (1–4 year) positive response of cerulean warbler territory density to timber harvest may require periodic follow-up treatments that reduce the development of a dense midstory; we recommend that this hypothesis, along with the methods to achieve these conditions, should be tested.

22 Jan 2026

Exopolysaccharides from Rhizobium Tropici Modified the Surface Characteristics of a Mississippi River Levee Soil Clay and its Bulk Soil Properties

Abstract: Global climate change has led to the increased frequency of extreme flooding events and heightened the vulnerability of river levees to flood related damage. One promising approach to enhancing the sustainability of levee stabilization is the use of eco-friendly, biologically produced soil additives as alternatives to conventional materials for erosion control. This study investigates the effects of exopolysaccharides (EPS) produced by Rhizobium tropici on the physical and engineering properties of clayey soil from a Mississippi River levee. Specifically, the study examines how EPS affects particle size, surface charge, surface area, and key bulk soil properties, including Atterberg limits, compaction behavior, and hydraulic conductivity. Soil samples were collected from a levee embankment located in south of Vidalia LA, an area historically prone to slough slides due to highly plastic nature of its floodplain clay soils. X-ray Power Diffraction was used to characterize the mineralogy of soil clay, EPS and EPS-clay composites. Particle size distribution and Zeta potentials measurements were performed on EPS and EPS-amended clays. Engineering test included Atterberg limit determinations (liquid and plastic limits) and standard compaction tests. The addition of EPS significantly increased the aggregate particle sizes of the levee clay through formation of EPS-clay composites. A strong correlation was observed between mean particle sizes and zeta potential in the composites. EPS also increased the liquid limit and plasticity of the soil while significantly reducing its hydraulic conductivity. Overall, EPS-amended soil demonstrated improved resistance to seepage and erosion, indicating that EPS has the potential to enhance levee soil stability and contribute to more sustainable flood control infrastructure.

21 Jan 2026

Supporting Urban Sustainability Through Resilient Rail Transit Systems

Abstract: Urban rail transit is vital to supporting urban sustainability across environmental, economic, and social pillars. However, recent extreme weather events, particular flooding, have increasingly disrupted its operations, high-lighting the urgent need to strengthen system resilience. Developing comprehensive resilience assessment methods with results of practical relevance is essential for evaluating the system’s capacity to withstand and recover from such disruptions, using quantifiable impacts across physical, operational, social, and economic dimensions. While resilience and sustainability are often discussed together in the context of climate change, methodologies for integrating sustainability considerations into resilience assessments to develop informed adaptation strategies remain underdeveloped. Drawing on the UN Sustainable Development Goals, this commentary examines the relationship between resilience and sustainability in the urban rail transit sector under disruptions related to natural disasters and climate change. Following this, it proposes a three-tier network modelling roadmap for assessing the resilience of urban rail transit, illustrating how sustainability concerns can be incorporated into resilience planning. This roadmap progresses from current mainstream topology-based approaches to a state-of-the-art performance-oriented method, and ultimately to a forward-looking vision that integrates socio-demographic considerations and prioritises equity. Positioned at the infrastructure-disaster- society nexus, this commentary advocates embedding a systemic view in transport network modelling to yield actionable resilience strategies that address extreme weather events while promoting urban sustainability.

8 Dec 2025

Assessing Fish-Passage Rates

Abstract: Riverine fragmentation by dams, culverts, and other barriers has led to the precipitous decline of migratory fishes nationwide. Accordingly, fish-passage restoration has emerged as a significant issue for resource agencies, restoration professionals, and fisheries managers. This special report addresses the key scientific challenge of measuring fish-passage rates before and after restoration. A variety of techniques for both forecasting (preproject) and monitoring (postproject) fish-passage rates are reviewed. A set of guiding questions are presented to help practitioners select a method appropriate to their site, resources, and time line. Four case studies are then presented to demonstrate a subset of these methods in practice: fish community movement through floodgate structures in Missouri, movement patterns through river restoration structures in Colorado, fish movement around a low-head weir in Mississippi, and watershed-wide passability estimation using professional judgment in Nevada. These projects represent a range of conditions and are intended to provide practitioners with real-world examples to use as models for their own studies.

8 Dec 2025

Modeling Tools for Proactive Ecosystem Restoration and Assisted Migration Planning: A State of the Science Review and Synthesis

Abstract: Decision-support modeling tools are needed to help aquatic ecosystem restoration (AER) planners understand how habitat footprints and species distributions will change in response to future changing conditions. Specifically, environmental projections and predictive model outputs that inform proactive AER planning and investments. This report provides a literature synthesis of resources and tools to create such a decision support tool. Select models identified were evaluated for applicability to AER planning using prediction confidence, user-friendliness, and suitability. This uncovered several existing, primarily terrestrially, predictive models that could be adapted to inform proactive AER planning efforts. Research efforts are still needed to fill gaps for aquatic data to train and validate predictive models, refine key drivers, and build and pilot aquatic-focused tools. Future condition vulnerability screening tools could be used to identify which proposed AER project sites are best suited for proactive AER measures, such as assisted migration, and determine if investments in more rigorous, spatially explicit, or species-specific models are needed. Species-specific assessments of habitat suitability changes and adaptive capacity can then inform restoration targets and enable end-users to achieve AER planning objectives. Such a decision support tool would improve planner ability to restore key aquatic habitats resilient to future conditions.

24 Nov 2025

3D Printing Natural Materials for Nature-Inspired Infrastructure— A Beneficial Use Opportunity: Collaborative Research Workshop Synthesis

Abstract: Natural infrastructure—crucial for coastal resilience, flood risk management, and ecosystem services—confronts escalating challenges from rising seas, erosion, storms, and human impacts. Innovative approaches are needed to enhance infrastructure functionality and broaden social, economic, and environmental benefits. Traditional manufacturing constrains engineering creativity required for nature-inspired infrastructure (NII). Additive manufacturing, or 3D printing (3DP), could revolutionize the design and functionality of NII. However, existing capability gaps hinder the effective transition of these technologies from conceptualization to implementation. Our workshop explored NII-3DP structures using natural materials, aligning with Engineering With Nature® (EWN®) principles and US Army Corps of Engineers infrastructure goals. Discussion included engineering solutions to provide social, recreational, environmental, and economic benefits, including flood risk reduction, wave energy dissipation, nutrient sequestration, and habitat enhancement. The participants sought to understand material selection and optimize morphologies to ensure the successful biocompatibility of nature-based habitats. By using locally sourced, biocompatible materials and drawing inspiration from nature, these technologies offer a means to enhance habitat function and improve aesthetics for communities. A timely opportunity exists to reshape the perception of locally available materials, such as sediment, by presenting dredged material as an environmentally and economically beneficial use asset and resource for 3DP feedstocks.

29 Oct 2025

Beneficial Use of Contaminated Sediments: A Review of Technical, Policy, and Regulatory Needs

Abstract: This special report summarizes key results from the March 2024 Sediment Management Working Group (SMWG) Contaminated Sediment Beneficial Use Workshop sponsored by US Army Engineer Research and Development Center’s (ERDC’s) Advanced Materials and Substances of Emerging Environmental Concern (AMSEEC) center, a multilaboratory research collaborative reviewing solutions to environmental challenges, and the Dredging Operations Environmental Research (DOER) Program, the navigational dredging research arm of ERDC. The workshop focused on potential avenues for treatment and management of contaminated sediments to support expanded beneficial use (BU) opportunities. AMSEEC, with support from DOER, sponsored four pilot studies to advance the technical aspects of the workshop program and partnered with the SMWG, an industry consortium, to organize the workshop in Washington, DC. The workshop was attended by more than 75 practitioners and relevant stakeholders to review these pilot studies and the challenges of advancing treatment and management of contaminated sediment to support BU. This special report summarizes and prioritizes technical, regulatory, and policy needs to enable expanded BU opportunities for contaminated sediments.

29 Oct 2025

A Multigenerational Exposure of the Zebrafish (Danio rerio) to PFOS

Abstract: The ecological risk of PFOS in extended chronic and multigenerational exposures was quantified through survival, growth, reproduction, and vitellogenin (egg yolk protein precursor) responses as well as PFOS bioconcentration in zebrafish (Danio rerio). Fish were exposed to environmentally relevant PFOS concentrations through 180 days postfertilization (dpf) in the parental (P) and first filial (F1) generations and 16 dpf in the second filial (F2) generation. Survival decreased significantly in P and F2 generation exposures, but not F1, at the highest PFOS treatment. Significant adverse effects on body weight and length occurred predominantly at highest exposure treatment. Finally, PFOS had no significant effects on P or F1 egg production and survival or whole-body vitellogenin levels in P or F1 male fish. The present investigation indicated a threshold for ecologically relevant adverse effects in zebrafish at 119 μg/L (standard deviation [S.D.] 23 μg/L, n = 10) for survival and 87 μg/L (S.D. 48 μg/L, n = 19) for all statistically significant negative effects observed. Importantly, males had significantly increased PFOS accumulation and bioconcentration factors versus females in both P and F1 generations. PFOS transfer to eggs was not a depuration pathway. Finally, a toxicokinetic model was developed to reliably predict PFOS whole-body burdens.

15 Oct 2025

An Investigation into the Correlation Between Selected Coastal Protection Indices and Percent Residual Dune and Berm Volumes Following Coastal Storms

Abstract: Morphometric indices describe the dimensions of a dune and berm profile and can serve as relative metrics of coastal protection. However, coastal vulnerability to storm damage also depends on storm, wave, sediment, and offshore characteristics. Recently, more elaborate non-morphometric indices have been proposed in an effort to account for these other factors. This study compares the correlation between these morphometric and non-morphometric indices and one measure of coastal protection, the ability of a dune and berm profile to resist storm-induced changes in volume. This study uses a numerical-simulation approach rather than an empirical approach because a sufficiently comprehensive set of observational data does not exist. A randomized sample of dune and berm profiles were generated at eight coastal locations. Using the cross-shore numerical model (CSHORE), storm-induced changes in dune and berm volume were simulated for storms of low to moderate severity. The correlation between the various prestorm indices and the percentage of prestorm dune and berm volume remaining after the storm was calculated at each location. Results show that no single index always exhibits a higher correlation with percent dune and berm volume remaining. However, some indices were far more likely than others to produce higher correlations.