Abstract: Let us first express our respectful thanks to the founder of Journal Dr. R. C. Dalela, who has entrusted us the responsibility to look after the Processing and Editing of research papers submitted to the Journal of Environmental Biology. We have humbly accepted the responsibility and are committed to follow his footsteps to further enhance the scientific quality and popularity of the Journal of Environmental Biology. Journal's launching: In 1975, there were only a few research Journals available in India to the researchers of Biological Sciences. To cater to the needs of Environmental Biologists, Dr. Dalela mooted the idea of introducing research Journal in 1975 & after a pan India consultation launched the title “Journal of Environmental Biology ” after due registration with the Government of India. The International Editorial Board of Journal was constituted, the Editorial Policy and Guidelines for authors were prepared and the first issue was released on 7th October 1978 in Muzaffarnagar, Uttar Pradesh, India. Since then, the Journal is being published uninterruptedly in-spite of varied problems and difficulties faced time to time. In the beginning most of the research papers received were from Indian researchers but with passage of time overseas research papers started pouring. Gradually, Journal became a favored choice of the International Scientific Community. From 1978 to 1997, the periodicity of Journal was quarterly and currently, it is bimonthly i.e. six issues in a year. The Journal is sponsored by Dalela Educational Foundation (DEF) - a charitable educational trust. The Journal neither receives any financial grant from Government nor from Non-government organizations. The Journal is independent and financially depends largely upon subscriptions and the publication fees. . Growth and Progress: In 1997, the Registered Office and the secretariat of the Journal was shifted from Muzaffarnagar to Lucknow, the capital city of Uttar Pradesh. The worldwide acceptance of our Journal grew exponentially because of its scientific merit, print quality and its double-blind peer review system. Peer-review system and editing of research papers became more intense and recommendations of reviewers became the sole criterion for publication of research papers. The Marketing & Distribution of the Journal was given to Triveni Enterprises - an educational setup, to make this important task efficient. As the Journal's credibility grew over a period of time, new policies were promulgated to meet the increasing needs of International Scientific community. These are as follows: 1) Website: In 2001, Journal developed its website (www.jeb.co.in), where in all relevant information of the Journal and the published papers were uploaded. Open Access of research papers was made available. 2) R & D Division: In 2008, Journal established its own Research & Development (R & D) division under the guidance of a consultant and scientists to scrutinize all submitted manuscripts for unethical practices and recommend ways to improve quality and scientific merit. Looking to its relevance, the reviewer selection and monitoring of the review process were also handed over to this division. Our reviewers, Editorial Board members and R & D experts voluntarily and generously contribute their expertise to upscale the Journal. We highly value their role. The contributions of the reviewers are appropriately acknowledged by publishing their names in the Reviewer's Panel of the Journal. 3) Digital Object Identifier: Journal took the membership of Crossref in 2016, so as to allot the DOI number to each paper published in the Journal of Environmental Biology. 4) JEB International Awards: In 2018, the Journal introduced “JEB - International Award (IA)” for the best paper published in a calendar year to recognize and appreciate the outstanding research paper published in the Journal. In 2019, the Journal introduced, “Young Researcher Award (YRA)” – another International Award for innovative research paper published by a young research scholar. The papers are evaluated by an International Scientific Committee and the awardees are given “Certificate of Excellence” and cash prizes of USD 500 to IA and USD 200 to YRA, respectively. Scientific Leadership: In September 2020, the National Academy of Agricultural Research Management (NAARM), Hyderabad organized an online training program and the JEB editor was invited as an expert in a panel discussion on "Science of Writing Good Research Papers". Dr. Sumati Gaumat, Editor-JEB based on her vast experience highlighted many short comings normally committed by the young research scholars while writing research papers and what should they do to avoid rejection. COPE Membership: In December - 2020, we have applied for the registration of Journal for the membership of “Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE)” to follow the highest standards of ethics for scholarly publication. Year 2020, has been the most challenging and disruptive year for the entire world due to Covid-19 global pandemic. The pandemic and various regulations of the Government to curtail the pandemic have affected the normal working of secretariat. The secretariat is slowly resuming the regular functioning. Our priority now is to enhance efficiency of Editorial office and to clear the backlog of accumulated research papers. Further, we are keen to work with more enthusiasm to attract high level, innovative and impactful researches for publication in the Journal. Future Strategies: We are pleased to share that our current research credibility & acceptance has made the Journal one of the most acceptable International Research Journal for publication of scientific research related to Environmental Sciences and Toxicology. We wish to concentrate on the following in 2021: 1. To seek more active participation of Editors of JEB. 2. To attract more authentic and transparent research for publication. 3. To follow the best publication practices and ethics laid down by COPE for scholarly publication. 4. To accord priority to innovative research. 5. To adopt stricter review and editing systems of papers. We acknowledge the efforts of all the contributors, readers, researchers, scientists and subscribers of the Journal - Libraries, organizations and laboratories for their continued cooperation and support. We also thank the members of the Editorial Board, for rendering their expertise voluntarily to the Journal and also the reviewers for their robust and critical review of papers. The services of Information System Consultant are sincerely acknowledged for supervising the designing and for managing Journal's website. The reputation and popularity of Journal is due to hard and sincere working of the secretariat staff. At last but not the least, we express our highest gratitude to the Managing Editor of the Journal for her constant support and encouragement.

Abstract: Improving the effectiveness of marine spatial management is crucial to preserve marine ecosystems and also to support the fisheries economy. In this study, we aimed to determine the spatial distribution and suitable habitats (spawning and nursery sites) of Sciaena umbra and Dentex dentex using catches data in Corsica Island. Random forest models have been used as they are highly accurate and are suited to predict rare species distribution. Predictive maps of spatial distribution based on presence/absence data showed a high degree of spatial variability between species. Suitable habitats were close to shore in shallow waters for S. umbra and deeper and further offshore for D. dentex. We also observed that spawning sites were mainly located on the west coast, while nursery areas were distributed all around the island for D. dentex. In addition, we demonstrated the important contribution of environmental factors and local habitats (depth and Posidonia oceanica meadows) in the selection of their suitable habitats. Our results provide new knowledge for understanding ecological processes such as the selection of suitable habitats by fish species. Based on this information, spatial mapping can be implemented to improve the effectiveness of resource management over the long term.

Abstract: Food webs are central entities mediating processes and external pressures in marine ecosystems. They are essential to understand and predict ecosystem dynamics and provision of ecosystem services. Paradoxically, utilization of food web knowledge in marine environmental conservation and resource management is limited. To better understand the use of knowledge and barriers to incorporation in management, we assess its application related to the management of eutrophication, chemical contamination, fish stocks, and non-indigenous species. We focus on the Baltic, a severely impacted, but also intensely studied and actively managed semi-enclosed sea. Our assessment shows food web processes playing a central role in all four areas, but application varies strongly, from formalized integration in management decisions, to support in selecting indicators and setting threshold values, to informal knowledge explaining ecosystem dynamics and management performance. Barriers for integration are complexity of involved ecological processes and that management frameworks are not designed to handle such information. We provide a categorization of the multi-faceted uses of food web knowledge and benefits of future incorporation in management, especially moving towards ecosystem-based approaches as guiding principle in present marine policies and directives. We close with perspectives on research needs to support this move considering global and regional change.

Abstract: The Western Ghats, a range of ancient hills extends between 8° N and 21° N latitude, and 73° E and 77° E longitude(from the tip of peninsular India at Kanyakumari to Gujarat). The Western Ghats runs parallel to the west coast of India, covering approximately 160,000 sq. km, which constitutes less than 5% of India's geographical extent. Numerous streams originate in the Western Ghats, which drain millions of hectares, ensuring water and food security for 245 million people and hence are aptly known as the water tower of peninsular India(Ramachandra and Bharath, 2019; Bharath et al., 2021). The region is endowed with diverse ecological regions depending on altitude, latitude, rainfall, and soil characteristics. The Western Ghats are among the eight hottest hotspots of biodiversity and 36 global biodiversity hotspots with exceptional endemic flora and fauna. Natural forests of Western Ghats have been providing various goods and services and are endowed with species of 4,600+ flowering plants (38% endemics), 330 butterflies (11% endemics), 156 reptiles (62% endemics), 508 birds (4% endemics), 120 mammals (12% endemics), 289 fishes (41% endemics) and 135 amphibians (75% endemics). The Western Ghats, gifted with enormous natural resource potential, and the mandate of sustainable development based on the foundation of prudent management of ecosystems, is yet a reality. Various unplanned developmental programs, which are proclaimed to be functioning on sustainability principles, have only been disrupting the complex web of life, impacting ecosystems, and causing a decline in overall productivity, including four major sectors: forestry, fisheries, agriculture, and water (Ramachandra and Bharath, 2019).The prevalence of barren hilltops, conversion of perennial streams to intermittent or seasonal streams, frequent floods and droughts, changes in water quality, soil erosion and sedimentation, the decline of endemic flora, and fauna, etc. highlights the consequences of unplanned developmental activities with a huge loss to the regional economy during the last century. The development goals need to be ecologically, economically, and socially sustainable, which can be achieved through the conservation and prudent management of ecosystems. Sustainability implies the equilibrium between society, ecosystem integrity, and sustenance of natural resources. Water sustenance in streams and rivers depends on the integrity of the catchment (watershed), as vegetation helps in retarding the velocity of water by allowing impoundment and recharging of groundwater through infiltration (Ramachandra et al., 2020). As water moves in the terrestrial ecosystem, part of it is percolated (recharging groundwater resources and contributing to sub-surface flow during post-monsoon seasons), while another fraction gets back to the atmosphere through evaporation and transpiration. Forests with native vegetation act as a sponge by retaining and regulating water transfer between land and the atmosphere. The mechanism by which vegetation controls flow regime is dependent on various bio-physiographic characteristics, namely, type of vegetation, species composition, maturity, density, root density and depth, hydro-climatic condition, etc. Roots of vegetation help (i) in binding soil, ii) improve soil structure by enhancing the stability of aggregates, which provide habitat for diverse microfauna and flora, leading to higher porosity of the soil, thereby creating the conduit for infiltration through the soil. An undisturbed native forest has a consistent hydrologic regime with sustained flows during lean seasons. Native species of vegetation with the assemblage of diverse native species help in recharging the groundwater, mitigating floods, and other hydro-ecological processes (Ramachandra et al., 2020; Bharath et al., 2021). Hence, it necessitates safeguarding and maintaining native forest patches and restoring existing degraded lands to sustain the hydrological regime, which caters to biotic (ecological and societal) demands. A comparative assessment of people's livelihood with soil water properties and water availability in sub-catchments of four major river basins in the Western Ghats reveals that streams in catchments with 〉 60% vegetation of native species are perennial with higher soil moisture (Ramachandra et al., 2020). The higher soil moisture due to water availability during all seasons facilitates farming of commercial crops with higher economic returns to the farmers, unlike the farmers who face water crises during the lean season. In contrast, streams are intermittent (6-8 months of water) in catchments dominated by monoculture plantations and seasonal (4 months, monsoon period) in catchments with vegetation cover lower than 30%. The study highlights the need to maintain ecosystem integrity to sustain water. Also, lower instances of COVID 19 in villages with native forests emphasize ecosystems' role in maintaining the health of biota. The need to maintain native vegetation in the catchment and its potential to support people's livelihood with water availability at local and regional levels is evident from the revenue of Rs. Rs.2,74,658 ha-1 yr-1 (in villages with perennial streams and farmers growing cash crops or three crops a year due to water availability), Rs. 1,50,679 ha-1 yr-1 (in villages with intermittent streams) and Rs. 80000 ha-1 yr-1 (in villages with seasonal streams). Also, the crop yield (at least 1.5 to 1.8 times) is higher in agriculture fields due to efficient pollination with the prevalence of diverse pollinators in the vicinity of native forests. The study emphasizes the need for maintaining the natural flow regime and prudent management of watershed to i) sustain higher faunal diversity, ii) maintain the health of water body, and iii) sustain people's livelihood with higher revenues. Hence, the premium should be on conserving the forests with native species to sustain water and biotic diversity in the water bodies, vital for food security. There still exists a chance to restore the lost natural ecosystems through appropriate ecological restoration approaches, with location-specific conservation and management practices to ensure adequate and clean water for all. GDP (Gross Domestic Product), a measure of the current economic well-being of a population, based on the market exchange of material well-being, will indicate resource depletion/degradation only through a positive gain in the economy and will not represent the decline in these assets (wealth) at all. Thus, the existing GDP growth percentages used as yardsticks to measure the development and well-being of citizens in decision-making processes are substantially misleading, yet they are being used. The traditional national accounts need to include resource depletion or degradation due to developmental activities and climate change. The country should move toward adopting Green GDP by accounting for the environmental consequences of the growth in the conventional GDP, which entails monetizing the services provided by ecosystems, the degradation cost of ecosystems, and accounts for costs caused by climate change. The forest ecosystems are under severe threat due to anthropogenic pressures, which are mostly related to the GDP.The appraisal of forest ecosystem services and biodiversity can help clarify trade­-offs among conflicting environmental, social, and economic goals in the development and implementation of policies and to improve the management in order biodiversity.Natural capital accounting and valuation of ecosystem services reveal that forest ecosystems provide (i) provisioning services (timber, fuelwood, food, NTFP, medicines, genetic materials) of Rs 2,19,494 ha-1 yr-1, (ii) regulating services (global climate regulation - carbon sequestration, soil conservation, and soil fertility, water regulation and groundwater recharge, water purification, pollination, waste treatment, air filtration, local climate regulation) of Rs 3,31,216 ha-1 yr-1 and (iii) cultural services (aesthetic, spiritual, tourism and recreation, education and scientific research) of Rs.1,04,561 ha-1 yr-1. Total ecosystem supply value (TESV), an aggregation of provisioning, regulating, and cultural services, amounts to Rs. 6,56,172 ha-1 yr-1, and the Net Present Value (NPV) of one hectare of forests amounts to 16.88 million rupees ha-1. NPV helps in estimating ecological compensation while diverting forest lands for other purposes. The recovery of an ecosystem with respect to its health, integrity, and sustainability is evident from an initiative of planting (500 saplings of 49 native species) in a degraded landscape (dominated by invasive species) of two hectares in the early 1990s at the Indian Institute of Science campus (Ramachandra et al., 2016),and the region has now transformed into a mini forest with numerous benefits such as improvements in groundwater at 3-6 m (compared to 30-40 m in 1990), moderated microclimate (with lower temperature) and numerous fauna (including four families of Slender Loris). While confirming the linkages of hydrology, ecology, and biodiversity, the experiment advocates the need for integrated watershed approaches based on sound ecological and engineering protocols to sustain water and ensure adequate water for all. A well-known and successful model of integrated wetlands ecosystem (Secondary treatment plant integrated with constructed wetlands and algae pond) at Jakkur Lake in Bangalore (Ramachandra et al., 2018) provides insights into the optimal treatment of wastewater and mitigation of pollution. Complete removal of nutrients and chemical contaminants happens when partially treated sewage (secondary treated) passes through constructed wetlands and algae pond (sedimentation pond), undergoes bio-physical and chemical processes. The water in the lake is almost potable with minimal nutrients and microbial counts. This model has been functioning successfully for the last ten years after interventions to rejuvenate the lake. This system is one of the self-sustainable ways of lake management while benefitting all stakeholders - washing, fishing, irrigation, and local people. Wells in the buffer zone (500 m), now have higher water levels and are without any nutrients (nitrate). Groundwater quality assessment in 25 wells in the same region during 2005 (before the rejuvenation of Jakkur Lake) had higher nitrate values. Adopting this model ensures optimal sewage treatment at decentralized levels, and letting treated water to the lake also provides nutrient-free and clean groundwater. The Jal Shakti ministry,the Government of India, through Jal Jeevan Mission, has embarked on the noble and novel mission of providing tap water supply to all rural households and public institutions in villages such as schools, health centers, panchayat buildings, etc. The success of this program depends on the availability of water. The imminent threat of acute water scarcity due to climate changes with global warming necessitates implementing integrated watershed development (planting of native species in the watershed of water bodies), rainwater harvesting (rooftop harvesting at individual household levels, and retaining rainwater in rejuvenated lakes, which also helps in recharge of groundwater) and reuse of wastewater through treatment at decentralized levels (a model similar to Jakkur lake at Bangalore). These prudent management initiatives at decentralized levels throughout the country aid in achieving the goals of providing clean and adequate water to the local community.

Abstract: Forage and supplemental feed costs remain the overriding factors driving profitability in U.S. cow/calf operations. The cow/calf sector uses 74% of the total feed energy required to produce one pound of carcass weight. Methane is the second most abundant anthropogenic greenhouse gas after carbon dioxide. The cow/calf sector of beef production accounts for 77 to 81% of enteric methane emissions per unit of carcass weight produced. Reducing feed energy required and methane emissions by the cow/calf segment of the beef production system will improve economic, environmental, and social sustainability. Most of the beef production cycle occurs on land not suitable for raising crops. Of the 2.3 billion acres available in the United States, about 655 million acres (29%) are classified as grassland pasture and rangeland, and 316 million acres (14%) are identified as parks and wildlife areas, some of which are grazed. Therefore, improving forage utilization efficiency would have a wide-reaching impact on U.S. food security and profitability of cow/calf enterprises. Beef production is a critical component in U.S. and global food security because cattle upcycle poorly digestible plant components and food waste products into high-quality human edible protein. In recent years, substantial progress has been made in understanding biological variation and genetic components of feed efficiency in growing animals consuming energy-dense mixed diets during the post-weaning phase. Much less is known about within-animal variation of forage utilization efficiency for beef cows consuming moderate to low-quality forage diets common to most cow/calf production systems. Considerable evidence indicates the existence of an environment by genetic interaction for feed efficiency. More rapid progress in forage utilization efficiency and reduction in greenhouse gas emissions could be made by studying forage utilization efficiency directly.

Abstract: Insects (Insecta, Arthropoda), undeniably represent the most triumphant group of living organisms, in terms of evolutionary achievement, existing on earth. With over one million described species, they account for more than 75 percent of all known species, and it is estimated that at least 4-5 million insect species still remain undiscovered and undescribed (Stork, 2018). They represent one of the largest components of biodiversity in the world, closely associated with human's wellbeing in different forms like pests, natural enemies, producers of economic products and facilitators of pollination. In contemporary times, despite notable progress in agricultural output and economic prosperity in many regions, the problem of food insecurity persists as a significant concern affecting substantial segments of the global population (Palli, 2022). To cater the food demand of the fast expanding global population, intensive agricultural practices like extensive use of chemical fertilizers and insecticides, greater tillage and irrigation, as well as heavy mechanization are followed. The result is frequent outbreak of phytophagous insect pests along with a rapid decline in the biodiversity of beneficial insects including natural enemies and pollinators. It is estimated that crop losses caused by insects are a major problem in both developed and developing countries, destroying 18 to 20 per cent of the annual crop production globally, having worth over US$ 470 billion (Srivastava and Chakravarty, 2021). Initially, when pesticides were used to control or prevent insect pest outbreaks, the chemicals were often applied as soon as a problem was perceived, without accurate identification of the insect's identity or discovery of why the problem had developed in the first place. This lack of understanding of the cause of outbreak meant that the same problem could reoccur. Sustainable pest management requires a more scientific approach. The first step in this direction is the correct identification of the insect species. Accurate species identification, whether of the pest or its associated natural enemy along with their biological systematic studies provide backbone information for the success of any integrated pest management programme (Chakravarty et al., 2022). Traditional systematics or taxonomy was primarily reliant on morphology-based taxon identification systems. However, the process of morphological identification poses significant challenges in numerous insect taxa, mostly attributable to the absence of dependable diagnostic traits or the presence of cryptic species complexes (Shashank et al., 2022). Moreover, due to a decrease in the number of proficient morpho-taxonomists, specifically those specializing in lesser-known insect groups, there is a need for alternate approaches to species identification. Presently, entomologists are leveraging a wide array of molecular techniques that were previously untapped, while also embracing novel technologies under the paradigm of a "technology-driven revolution" in the field of systematics (Srivastava et al., 2019). Molecular techniques present a highly advantageous strategy for the identification and classification of insects, offering distinct benefits when compared to traditional morphological methods. Over the past twenty years, DNA barcoding has emerged as a swift and dependable technique for the identification of species, thereby revitalizing the field of taxonomic study. It refers to the technique, where short fragment of the conserved mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) gene, the “DNA barcode,” is sequenced from a taxonomically undesignated specimen and comparisons are made with the DNA sequence of species of known origin for establishing a species level identification (Hebert et al., 2003). This approach has been frequently employed in various studies focusing on insects (and other arthropods in general), leading to the identification of previously unknown or cryptic species. Additionally, it has helped identify species complexes and evolutionary significant units, thereby establishing a basis for further comprehensive integrative taxonomic research (Firake and Behere, 2021). DNA barcoding considerably facilitates the monitoring of invasive species, vectors, and economically important endangered and/or endemic arthropod species. Furthermore, the utilization of DNA metabarcoding in ecological and surveillance initiatives has become increasingly prevalent. This approach enables the rapid evaluation of biodiversity in certain geographical regions, as well as the study of arthropod biosystems and communities that would otherwise be inaccessible. In recent times, entomologists in India have efficiently identified various invasive insect pest species, such as the elephant beetle, tomato pinworm, rugose spiralling whitefly, coconut case caterpillar, fall armyworm, and cassava mealy bug, by incorporating molecular systematics either as the sole method or in conjunction with traditional taxonomical tools (Srivastava and Chakravarty, 2021). In addition, there have been endeavours to offer extensive data through molecular characterization and/or DNA barcoding of indigenous organisms that serve as natural enemies and pollinators within diverse agricultural systems of India (Srivastava et al., 2019). A good number of insect genomes, particularly the mitochondrial genome have also been wholly sequenced in the country, including both crop pests and beneficial insects (Firake and Behere, 2021). However, our nation renowned for its exceptional biodiversity, exhibits a mere 3.73% coverage of DNA barcodes for its documented insect species. Notably, the orders Lepidoptera and Hemiptera are the most extensively represented in this limited dataset (Shashank et al., 2022). Such a delay in developing DNA barcode reference libraries for insects will set us back in our efforts to effectively document and preserve our rich biodiversity. The introduction of molecular systematics has also precipitated a revolution in our understanding of intraspecific genetic diversity and population genetic structure of several key insect pest species of agricultural importance in the country, helpful to detect the changes they adapt to overcome hurdles of various selection pressures including insecticides (Chakravarty et al., 2020). A necessity for the development of effective and safe management techniques for a target pest is the acquisition of comprehensive knowledge pertaining to its population structure and dynamics. Despite the emergence of inconsistencies between morphological and molecular phylogenies, as well as conflicting results from different molecular research, the utilization of phylogenomic analysis has proved helpful in resolving numerous controversial connections within insects. Over the past decade, our working group has devoted its research efforts entirely to this particular issue. Based on the molecular characterization with RAPD markers (Deepa and Srivastava, 2011) and COI gene (Chakravarty et al., 2021), phenotyping of immature and adult stages (Chakravarty and Srivastava, 2020; Chakravarty et al., 2023b), and other biological traits (Chakravarty et al., 2019 and 2023a), existence of sub-specific level variations among Helicoverpa armigera populations from diverse agro-ecologies of India has been deciphered. Similar studies for Leucinodes orbonalis (Padwal et al., 2022), Spodoptera litura (Ganguly et al., 2023) and Maruca vitrata (Mahalle et al., 2022) revealed genetic homogeneity for these pest species in the country. Further, Mahalle et al. (2023) have also screened publically accessible expressed sequence tag resources to identify microsatellites and evaluate their suitability as DNA markers for investigating gene flow patterns among populations of M. vitrata from pigeonpea fields throughout India. Molecular systematics has also proven to be a valuable tool in the identification of convergent evolution phenomena, such as the emergence of eusocial behaviours and caste systems among Hymenoptera (Berens et al., 2015); comprehending predator-prey dynamics within trophic food web investigations (Novotny and Miller, 2014), as well as resolving challenges associated with limited specimen availability or local species populations (Deng et al., 2019). Nevertheless, it is important to note that relying solely on molecular analyses to determine the identity of a species or assess population diversity can be precarious. This is due to potential biases introduced by the improper utilization of neighbor-joining trees, fixed distance thresholds, bootstrap resampling, interpretation of the barcoding gap, as well as limitations associated with DNA barcode repositories such as the Barcode of Life Data Systems (BOLD) and the National Centre for Biotechnology Information (NCBI). For instance, in a study conducted by Kvist (2013), it was found that 42% of invasive insects were not included in the BOLD database. Furthermore, the outcomes of phylogenetic analyses can be affected by various factors, such as the occurrence of recent speciation events, the presence of paraphyly, inadequate taxonomy, interspecific hybridization, and the high prevalence of endosymbiotic bacteria like Wolbachia, that hinders the replication or detection of the target sequence from insect specimens during the polymerase chain reaction, as highlighted by Shashank et al. (2022). Therefore, it is recommended that molecular methodologies should be utilized in conjunction with, rather than in lieu of, morphological identification in order to achieve optimal outcomes (Chakravarty et al., 2023b). Last but not the least, a note of appreciation for the “Journal of Environmental Biology” is also appropriate at this juncture. We are pleased to share our research experience and expertise through this editorial in the aforementioned journal, with which we have been affiliated for several years in various roles such as author, reviewer, and editor. This open access journal is notable for its comparatively modest processing charges, which enable researchers to publish their original work at an affordable cost. The enduring anticipation for highly critical reviews has contributed to the continued prominence of this journal within the realm of environmental science and related disciplines. We appreciate the visions of late Professor R.C. Dalela and his dedicated team, who have worked tirelessly over the years to make this journal a valuable resource for the global environmental outlook, with the ultimate aim of promoting societal well-being. Currently, the responsibility of overseeing this journal rests with Dr. Divakar Dalela, the Executive Editor, and Dr. Sumati Gaumat, the Editor, together with their dedicated publication team. They are diligently working towards upholding the international standards of this esteemed journal. We extend our best wishes for the continued success of the journal in the years to come.

Abstract: This study incorporated two pathways of environmental forcing (i.e. “larval mortality forcing” and “somatic growth forcing”) into an end-to-end ecosystem model (Object-oriented Simulator of Marine ecOSystEms, OSMOSE) developed for the Pacific North Coast Integrated Management Area (PNCIMA) off western Canada, in order to evaluate alternative fisheries management strategies under environmental changes. With a suite of ecosystem-level indicators, the present study first compared the ecosystem effects of different pathways of environmental forcing scenarios; and then evaluated the alternative fisheries management strategies which encompassed a series of fishing mortality rates relative to FMSY (the fishing mortality rate that produces maximum sustainable yield) and a set of precautionary harvest control rules (HCRs). The main objectives of this study were to (i) explore the ecosystem effects of different environmental forcing scenarios; (ii) identify the impacts of different fishing mortality rates on marine ecosystem structure and function; and (iii) evaluate the ecosystem-level performance of various levels of precautionary HCRs. Results indicated that different pathways of environmental forcing had different ecosystem effects and incorporating appropriate HCRs in the fisheries management process could help maintain ecosystem health and sustainable fisheries. This study provides important information on future fisheries management options within similar marine ecosystems that are facing global changes.

Abstract: In response to global climate change, managed retreat has emerged as a controversial adaptation strategy. The purposeful movement of people and communities away from hazardous places raises numerous social and environmental justice concerns that will become even more pressing as retreat occurs more frequently and at larger scales. This special issue contributes to an emerging body of literature on managed retreat by providing a range of perspectives and approaches to considering justice in managed retreat. The assembled papers represent diverse voices (including perspectives from individuals whose communities are currently relocating or considering relocation), disciplines (including oral histories, legal analyses, and cultural heritage considerations), and lenses through which to consider the justice implications of managed retreat. They describe completed, in-progress, and foiled relocations. They suggest opportunities for improvement through improved evaluations and broader collaborations. While each presents a unique lens, key themes emerge around the need for transparent and equitable policies, self-determination of communities, holistic metrics for assessing individual and community well-being, the importance of culture both as something to be protected and an asset to be leveraged, and the need to address historical and systemic injustices that contribute to vulnerability and exposure to risk.

Abstract: Does the influence of forest edges on plant species richness and composition depend on forest management? Do forest specialists and generalists show contrasting patterns? Location Mesic, deciduous forests across Europe. Methods Vegetation surveys were performed in forests with three management types (unthinned, thinned 5–10 years ago and recently thinned) along a macroclimatic gradient from Italy to Norway. In each of 45 forests, we established five vegetation plots along a south‐facing edge‐to‐interior gradient ( n  = 225). Forest specialist, generalist and total species richness, as well as evenness and proportion of specialists, were tested as a function of the management type and distance to the edge while accounting for several environmental variables (e.g. landscape composition and soil characteristics). Magnitude and distance of edge influence were estimated for species richness per management type. Results Greatest total species richness was found in thinned forests. Edge influence on generalist plant species richness was contingent on the management type, with the smallest decrease in species richness from the edge‐to‐interior in unthinned forests. In addition, generalist richness increased with the proportion of forests in the surrounding landscape and decreased in forests dominated by tree species that cast more shade. Forest specialist species richness, however, was not affected by management type or distance to the edge, and only increased with pH and increasing proportion of forests in the landscape. Conclusions Forest thinning affects the plant community composition along edge‐to‐interior transects of European forests, with richness of forest specialists and generalists responding differently. Therefore, future studies should take the forest management into account when interpreting edge‐to‐interior because both modify the microclimate, soil processes and deposition of polluting aerosols. This interaction is key to predict the effects of global change on forest plants in landscapes characterized by the mosaic of forest patches and agricultural land that is typical for Europe.

Abstract: The field of biogeography is often described as a hub between research disciplines. Here we apply science mapping to study how biogeography has changed and evolved between 1995 and April 2022, and to analyse the mix of disciplines used in this field. We explore how research foci have changed over time and if biogeographical topics have entered the public discourse. Location Local to global. Taxon All taxa. Methods We created a semantic map of the field based on co‐occurrences of keywords or composite keywords from 40,000+ scientific papers published between the 1970s and April 2022, structuring these data into three hierarchical sets. A fourth set of Top 100 researchers was constructed in September 2022. To address our public‐discourse question, we used the Factiva archive of global media. Results Five core journals contained 14,386 papers (or 35.7% of the full set), while the remaining papers appeared in 2247 journals of which 59% included only one or two biogeographical papers. Since 1995, frequencies of keywords related to core concerns of biogeography have remained stable or even decreased, while ‘computing’ and ‘climate change’ have increased. There is an increasing association with Mathematics & Statistics, Computer Sciences, and Planning & Management, and a decreased association with Physical Geography. Biogeography‐related terms increasingly appearing in the public discourse are ‘biodiversity’, ‘urban nature’, ‘conservation’, ‘extinction’ and ‘rewilding’, while more technical concepts, such as ‘ecoregions’, ‘macroecology’ and ‘island biogeography’ remain at very low rates. Main Conclusions Biogeographical research is moving towards the social sciences, probably linked to a growing concern over global environmental issues and the Anthropocene. It is difficult to disentangle to what extent the public discourse is influenced by biogeographical research or vice versa, but ‘rewilding’ and ‘extinction’ are examples of topics that began in basic ecological‐biogeographical research and are now debated publicly.