ecosystem-health
Ecosystem health refers to the overall condition and functional integrity of an ecosystem, encompassing its biodiversity, productivity, resilience, and ability to sustain ecological processes over time. For plant scientists, understanding ecosystem health is critical because plants form the structural foundation of most terrestrial ecosystems, driving nutrient cycling, carbon sequestration, and habitat provision. Monitoring shifts in plant community composition, productivity, and stress responses serves as a key indicator of broader ecosystem degradation or recovery under pressures such as climate change, invasive species, and land-use change.
open_in_new WikipediaPubMed · 2026-04-29
Wastewater treatment plants in two protected Mediterranean regions fail to fully eliminate human viruses before releasing water back into freshwater ecosystems, raising concerns as water reuse for irrigation becomes more common under climate-driven scarcity.
Human enteric and respiratory viruses were detected in wastewater samples at treatment plants within two Mediterranean protected areas (Albufera Natural Park and the Ebro River region).
Testing was conducted across three separate sampling campaigns, suggesting the viral presence is not an isolated event but a recurring condition.
Standard faecal indicator tests using culture-based methods were used alongside molecular virus detection, implying indicators alone may underestimate actual viral risk.