Camera traps can generate huge amounts of images, and thus reliable methods for their automated processing are in high demand: in particular to find those images or image sequences that actually include animals. Automatically filtering out images that are empty or contain humans can be challenging, as images can be taken in different landscapes, habitats and light. Weather and seasonal conditions can vary greatly. Most of the images can be empty, because cameras using passive infrared sensors (PIR) trigger easily due to moving vegetation or rapidly varying shadows and sunny spots. Animals in images are often hiding behind vegetation, and camera traps will see them from previously unseen angles. Therefore, conventional animal image detection methods based on deep learning need huge training sets to achieve good accuracy. We present a novel background removal approach based on movement masked images computed using sequences of images. Our deep vision classifier uses these movement images for classification instead of the original images. Additionally, we apply a deep active learning (active learning for deep models) for collecting training samples to reduce the number of annotations required from the user. Our method performed well in singling out image sequences that actually include animals, thus filtering out the majority of images that were empty or contained humans. Most importantly, the method performed well also for backgrounds and animal species not seen in the training data. Active learning brought good separation between classes already with small training sets, without the need for laborious large-scale pre-annotation. We present a reliable and efficient method for filtering out empty image sequences and sequences containing humans. This greatly facilitates camera trapping research by enabling researchers to restrict the task of animal classification to only those image sequences that actually contain animals.

We studied the effect of a demonstrator on the learning of a novel foraging task in 12 groups of free-living cooperative breeding Arabian babblers (Argya squamiceps). We allowed naïve babblers to forage jointly on a foraging grid with a demonstrator previously trained to solve a task in one of 2 possible methods: lifting covers of 1 color or pecking through covers of another color. We found that most group members learned to solve the task using one of the methods, and persisted with it even when later tested with covers of a third (neutral) color that could be opened by both lifting and pecking. However, the method learned by group members did not necessarily follow the method used by the pre-trained demonstrator. Instead, learners within each group tended to use the same method (significantly more than expected by chance), and the extent to which groups differed from the demonstrator was correlated with the extent to which the demonstrator occasionally (and quite rarely) exhibited also the alternative method. These results, together with further analysis of the sequence of events in each group, suggest that both naïve birds and demonstrators learn socially from each other, as well as through individual trial-and-error learning, which enables naïve individuals to become demonstrators themselves and influence the pattern of social transmission. This process mostly leads to a homogenous group behavior, but one that cannot be predicted by the seeded demonstration.

Microbial endolithic communities in the sandstone rocks of the southern Negev Desert, particularly in Timna Park, were initially discovered by Imre Friedmann and Roseli Ocampo-Friedmann in their pioneering study about 50 years ago. Nonetheless, this harsh microecosystem, dominated by cyanobacterial taxa, raises questions about the adaptive mechanisms that enable the survival of these microorganisms. The present study provides comprehensive data, including extensive precipitation records for the Timna Valley, and multi-year microclimatic data from a colonised site. It includes examinations of rock structure, as well as microscopic and metagenomic analysis. Our findings point to a distinct bacterial endolithic population dominated by the cyanobacterial genus Chroococcidiopsis. Although the taxa are well known, we show here how their exclusive persistence is driven by the sandstone's fine porosity and thermal properties, combined with rare, low-volume precipitation. This highly selective microenvironment highlights how specific rock and climate interactions can filter microbial diversity in hyper-arid deserts. Additionally, it demonstrates an adaptation strategy based on both short-term and decadal-scale dormancy. Thus, it offers new insights for the survival of these unique ecosystems and provides valuable perspectives for astrobiology and the search for evidence of microbial life on Mars.

The Ararat Depression (Armenia), situated between the southern Caucasus and northern Mesopotamia, holds substantial archaeological Middle Paleolithic sites. However, as paleoclimate archives are scarce in the region, the climatic history is not well constrained. To reconstruct the local paleoclimatic conditions in the past, we studied a ∼30 m-thick sequence of carbonates deposited in the Vedi Valley, a tributary of the Ararat Valley. We applied field mapping, petrography, geochemistry, stable isotope analysis, and U–Th dating to investigate the genesis and evolution of these carbonates. Two main facies are identified: (1) a micritic-peloidal microbial facies formed in low-energy palustrine settings, and (2) a sparitic calcite facies formed via CO₂ degassing from deeply sourced hypogene fluids. δ¹³C and δ¹⁸O values, together with elemental proxies, indicate early closed-system degassing of hydrothermal solutions interacting with marine carbonates of the Yerakh Anticline, followed by increased meteoric influence and detrital input in the upper portion of the sequence.

Three distinct detrital units coincide with heavier δ¹⁸O and lighter δ¹³C values and likely reflect wetter intervals during interglacial phases. Isochron U–Th dating constrains deposition to occur between 319 ± 84 and 198 ± 14 ka, corresponding to Marine Isotope Stages (MIS) 9–7. The results indicate that the Vedi Valley carbonates constitute a Middle Pleistocene sequence formed under the combined influence of active tectonics, volcanism, and climatic shifts. As such, they provide a rare archive of landscape evolution in a region critical for understanding past environmental variability and human dispersal pathways.

Conservation campaigns via digital media are becoming increasingly popular amongst conservationists. However, effectively measuring their impacts remains a challenge, and campaign effectiveness often goes unmeasured. Conservation culturomics, which explores the intricate relationship between people and nature in the digital sphere, can help fill this gap. Here, we used culturomics data to evaluate impacts of two digital conservation campaigns: one regional campaign promoting the importance of the Western Ghats biodiversity hotspot in India and one global campaign using humorous skits to address broader conservation themes. Specifically, we used a synthetic control approach to analyze Wikipedia pageviews of topics featured in the two campaigns and compared these to Wikipedia pageviews of related topics that were not featured in the campaigns. We found that across 21 topics in multiple languages, the regional campaign showed limited success in boosting engagement for specific topics in local languages, whereas the global campaign had no measurable impact on Wikipedia page views. We also found evidence on negative impact for one topic in the regional campaign. Overall, we found a limited effect of the campaigns in increasing online traffic to Wikipedia, with the impact detected being associated with localized topics as opposed to global ones. The study highlights the utility of combining digital data with counterfactual-based methods for rapid, cost-effective evaluations while acknowledging the need for deeper investigation into how digital engagement translates to real-world behavior change. Future research should explore integrating digital and traditional evaluation methods to enhance the evidence base for conservation communication strategies.

Despite extensive archaeological explorations in En-Gedi, the largest oasis along the western shore of the Dead Sea, over the past seven decades, a significant component of its settlement landscape has so far gone unnoticed. This component, referred to in this article as Cenotaph Hill, is located in the northern part of the oasis plain, somewhat removed from the nucleus area of previously explored ancient settlement remains. Recent investigation of Cenotaph Hill, combining analysis of a forgotten excavation conducted on its slope in the 1960s with a high-resolution surface survey and new trial excavations, underscores the existence of significant activity from the Hellenistic and Roman periods in this part of the oasis. The discovery and research of this hitherto unknown multi-period site has important implications for settlement dynamics in the oasis during the late Second Temple period.

Paleogeographic changes have significantly shaped ocean circulation and climate dynamics throughout Earth’s history. This study integrates geological proxies with climate simulations to assess how ocean gateway evolution influenced ocean salinity near the end of the Mesozoic (~66 Ma). Our modeling results demonstrate that 1) Central American Seaway shoaling reorganizes ocean currents, and 2) Arctic marine gateway restrictions, confining Arctic–Global Ocean exchange exclusively to the Greenland–Norwegian Seaway, drive Arctic Ocean surface freshening and southward outflow of buoyant, low-salinity waters. However, only the combined effect of these two factors leads to both Arctic freshening and increased water mass stratification in the Greenland–Norwegian Seaway, proto-North Atlantic, and the Western Tethys. This scenario aligns with Maastrichtian palynological, micropaleontological, and geochemical records from high- and low-latitude sites. Our findings highlight the profound impact of these latest Cretaceous paleogeographic reconfigurations in altering global salinity patterns, underscoring their role as key drivers of global climate dynamics.

Duarte's 1999 review, “Seagrass ecology at the turn of the millennium” established a benchmark for seagrass research. Twenty-five years later, an analysis of 11,245 publications (published between 2000–2023) reveals substantial growth but persistent biases. While the volume of annual publications on seagrasses has increased over this period almost 4 folds, seagrass research remains significantly less extensive than studies on mangroves and coral reefs. Authors from only two countries (Australia and the USA) were still responsible for a huge proportion (35 %) of the world's seagrass publications. The seagrass community has remained disproportionately focused on only 4 key species which together account for 59 % of all seagrass publications. While scientific attention continues and even becomes stronger in the last 12 years for Zostera marina and Cymadocoae nodosa, there are some signs of change with recent growing attention to the tropical species Thalassia hemprichii and Halophila stipulacea. While previously dominated by basic descriptive ecology, seagrass research topics have become more quantitative and focused on responses to stressors, genetics and genomics, ecosystem services, and restoration and resilience building.

These findings demonstrate that the seagrass research community needs to shift towards a more holistic and inclusive approach. We must prioritize under-represented species and geographical regions, adopt integrated methodologies and foster strong interdisciplinary collaborations to secure the long-term health and sustainability of these vital coastal ecosystems. Only through such concerted efforts can we effectively address the multifaceted challenges facing seagrasses globally.

Organic and mineral growing media are commonly used in horticultural soilless systems for vegetable cropping in greenhouses and net-houses. However, extraction of these materials adversely affects environmental quality. The objective of this study was to assess the horticultural potential of biochar and compochar (a mix of biochar and compost) growing media—both produced from human (domestic) sewage sludge—as an alternative to tuff/tephra (light porous medium formed by consolidation of volcanic ash). The study was conducted in the Israeli drylands, where lettuce and cherry tomato were grown in a net-house under deficit nutrient management (50% of the recommended rate). The biochemical properties of the three substrates ((i) 100% biochar; (ii) compochar (50% biochar+50% compost); and (iii) 100% commercial tuff) and productivity of the two crops were assessed. For the two crops, the nutrient status of biochar and compochar were similar, and different from that of tuff. In the lettuce, mean values of substrate general quality index (SQIgen) and substrate quality index minimum dataset (SQIMDS) were similar for biochar and compochar (0.550 and 0.541, respectively, for SQIgen; 0.614 and 0.613, respectively, for SQIMDS), and significantly greater than that of tuff (0.337 for SQIgen; 0.310 for SQIMDS). In the cherry tomato, a similar trend was recorded, with significantly greater means for biochar and compochar (0.499 and 0.497, respectively, for SQIgen; 0.436 and 0.482, respectively, for SQIMDS) than those of tuff (0.320 for SQIgen; 0.192 for SQIMDS). In terms of crop yields, mean productivity of lettuce followed the trend of compochar>biochar>tuff, whilst cherry tomato yields followed the trend of biochar>compochar>tuff. Thus, biochar and compochar can be recommended as viable, sustainable alternatives in soilless horticulture systems. Further, insights of this study highlight the climatic change mitigation and adaptation capacities of biochar and compochar when used as horticultural growing media.

In tropical regions, seagrass meadows provide a unique habitat for benthic foraminifera, both serving as important ecosystem engineers and sensitive indicators of coastal marine ecosystems. However, their interactions remain poorly understood, particularly in the context of anthropogenic pressures and climate change. This study investigates benthic foraminiferal assemblages associated with the tropical seagrass Halophila stipulacea in the Gulf of Aqaba-Eilat (GoA) as a model system to monitor natural and anthropogenic changes. Sampling was conducted during 11 campaigns (January 2020–April 2021) at two sites: South Coast (SC), a pristine shoreline, and North Coast (NC), an urbanized area. At each site, samples were collected from three distinct environments: seagrass leaves (L), sediments within meadows (SIM), and sediments outside meadows (SOM).

Throughout all of the sampling period, we found higher abundance and diversity of benthic foraminifera in sediments within H. stipulacea meadows (SIM) compared with sediments outside meadows (SOM). These results demonstrate that H. stipulacea creates a favorable environment for benthic foraminifera compared to adjacent bare sediments. Notably, the occurrence of certain foraminiferal species in the GoA is directly linked to the presence of seagrass. The leaves also serve as nurseries for juvenile Amphistegina, a key cosmopolitan symbiont-bearing genus. Additionally, the seagrass meadows appear to mitigate anthropogenic impacts, maintaining “healthy” foraminiferal assemblages even in the urbanized northern region of the GoA (NC). These findings highlight the ecological importance of seagrass meadows for benthic foraminifera and emphasize their susceptibility to anthropogenic stressors.