This article presents the results of a study on the impact of long-term cultivation of energy crops (Silphium perfoliatum L., Sida hermaphrodita (L.) Rusby, Miscanthus giganteus) on the microbiota of grey forest soils in the western region of Ukraine.The relevance of investigating the changes in microbial communities is substantiated by the growing implementation of energy crops as alternative sources of bioenergy and as tools for the ecological stabilization of agro-landscapes.The analysis included the abundance of major physiological groups of microorganisms: ammonifiers, amylolytics, oligonitrotrophs, oligotrophs, pedotrophs, humatetransforming, and cellulolytic organisms.It was established that after more than twenty years of energy crop cultivation, the abundance of most microbial groups increased by 1.3-2.5 times compared to the soils under traditional crop rotation.The most pronounced positive effect was observed under Sida hermaphrodita, which contributed to the highest increase in soil biogenicity.At the same time, the soils under Miscanthus giganteus and Silphium perfoliatum showed moderate enrichment of microbial complexes along with a reduction in the activity of cellulolytic organisms.The study concluded that long-term cultivation of energy crops does not lead to degradation of the microbiological condition of grey forest soils, but rather enhances their biogenic activity and can be considered a promising strategy for the environmentally sound use of marginal lands.

Hydrogen sulfide (H 2 S) is a toxic gas commonly released from industrial activities, wastewater treatment, and biogas production, posing serious risks to human health and the environment.This study evaluated the adsorption efficiency of H 2 S using coconut shell-derived activated carbon (AC) and iron oxide (FO).A series of experiments were conducted on a continuous laboratory scale adsorption column to examine the effects of adsorbent dosage, contact time, gas flow rate, and mixing ratio.The study results revealed a highest H 2 S adsorption efficiency at the experiment conditions of 1 g material dosage, 60 min adsorption time, 500 mL.min -1 gas flow rate, initial HS concentration of 70 ppm, and a mixing ratio of AC:FO = 70:30.The Thomas and Adams-Bohart models were applied to simulate the adsorption process.The Adams-Bohart model indicated that FO had a higher maximum adsorption capacity per unit volume (87.57mg.L -1 versus 7.55 mg.L -1 for AC), suggesting a stronger initial adsorption ability.Further research on the effectiveness of the absorbents under real conditions are necessary.

Marine macroinvertebrates are essential organisms that contribute significantly to the structure and function of aquatic ecosystems such as coral reef.This study examined the relationship between substrate types and macroinvertebrate communities in the Sempu Strait, Malang, to understand the ecological interactions within the coral reef ecosystems.Using belt transect and quadrat transect methods, macroinvertebrate species were recorded and analyzed for their diversity, density, and distribution across different substrates, such as hard coral, macroalgae, dead coral, sand, and rubble.The data conducted in 5 stations in Sempu Strait.The findings revealed that hard coral and macroalgae positively influenced macroinvertebrate abundance, whereas dead coral and muddy substrates were associated with lower diversity and density.A total of 706 macroinvertebrates were recorded, belonging to six classes and 16 genera.Among the stations, the Floating House station exhibited the highest coral cover and macroinvertebrate abundance, while the Jetty station had the highest dominance of Diadema and the lowest diversity, suggesting a disturbed habitat.The principal component analysis demonstrated significant relationships between substrate types and the abundance of specific macroinvertebrate species.For example, the Tridacna clam showed a positive correlation with macroalgae, while Diadema was more prevalent on silt and dead coral substrates.The study emphasizes the importance of substrate complexity in supporting macroinvertebrate diversity and highlights the need for maintaining healthy coral reef ecosystems to preserve biodiversity in the Sempu Strait.

Heavy metal contamination in agricultural soils poses a growing global threat to food safety, particularly in rapidly urbanising and industrial regions.Despite widespread documentation of soil pollution, few studies have experimentally linked land-use stratification with plant metal uptake and human health risk using integrated field-based approaches.This study conducted a controlled assessment of heavy metal accumulation and associated dietary health risks across urban, peri-urban, and rural zones in the North Kazakhstan Region.A total of 36 composite topsoil samples (0-20 cm) and corresponding Lactuca sativa and Lolium perenne specimens were collected from 12 georeferenced plots and analysed for eight heavy metals.Urban soils exhibited significantly elevated concentrations of lead (131.2 19.8 mg/kg) and cadmium (12.6 2.7 mg/kg), exceeding national maximum permissible concentrations by 4.4 and 3.6 times, respectively (p < 0.01).Bioconcentration and transfer factors were highest for Cd (BCF = 1.82,TF = 1.27 in lettuce), confirming its strong phytoavailability.Health risk assessments revealed that children consuming urban-grown lettuce exceeded US EPA thresholds for noncarcinogenic risk (HRI = 1.75 for Cd; 1.38 for Pb).Strong correlations were observed between soil contamination levels and both plant uptake (r = 0.87 for Cd) and estimated daily intake (r = 0.81), reinforcing the direct link between contaminated soils and dietary exposure.

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