Many ecosystem services (ES) models exist to support sustainable development decisions. However, most ES studies use only a single modelling framework and, because of a lack of validation data, rarely assess model accuracy for the study area. In line with other research themes which have high model uncertainty, such as climate change, ensembles of ES models may better serve decision-makers by providing more robust and accurate estimates, as well as provide indications of uncertainty when validation data are not available. To illustrate the benefits of an ensemble approach, we highlight the variation between alternative models, demonstrating that there are large geographic regions where decisions based on individual models are not robust. We test if ensembles are more accurate by comparing the ensemble accuracy of multiple models for six ES against validation data across sub-Saharan Africa with the accuracy of individual models. We find that ensembles are better predictors of ES, being 5.0-6.1% more accurate than individual models. We also find that the uncertainty (i.e. variation among constituent models) of the model ensemble is negatively correlated with accuracy and so can be used as a proxy for accuracy when validation is not possible (e.g. in data-deficient areas or when developing scenarios). Since ensembles are more robust, accurate and convey uncertainty, we recommend that ensemble modelling should be more widely implemented within ES science to better support policy choices and implementation.Analytical performance and optimization of figures of merit of a portable nano liquid chromatograph (NanoLC) with UV detection at 255 nm have been established for in place analysis. Methylxanthines caffeine, theophylline and theobromine were selected as target analytes. A fast lab method based on IT-SPME coupled on line with capillary liquid chromatograph (CapLC) with diode array detection (DAD) was employed for comparative studies. IT-SPME and solid phase extraction were coupled off-line to NanoLC for improving instrumental parameters, mainly detection capacity and selectivity. IT-SPME or SPE/portable NanoLC based methods were superior in terms of chromatographic resolution and organic solvent consumption per sample, around 200 μL vs 10 mL for IT-SPME-CapLC-DAD. Limits of detection (LODs) obtained with the SPE/portable NanoLC were 2-10 ng/mL, which can be suitable for testing the presence of the analytes in several environmental waters in the field. As predictable, the lab method provided better LODs, between 0.1 and 0.5 ng/mL. Good linearity was achieved for both methods and precision was similar for them (≤7%). Both systems were tested for the analysis of real water samples with suitable results.Wildlife mortality caused by vehicles is a serious conservation and economic problem as collisions with large mammals are global, pervasive and increasing. We analysed 14,989 reports of ungulate-vehicle collisions (UVC) that occurred in Lithuania from 2002 to 2017. We analysed UVC data for four major ungulate species (roe deer, red deer, moose and wild boar) and checked for potential seasonal or daily trends. The temporal distribution of collisions was species-dependent. UVC analysis showed strong monthly and hourly pattern. Most occurrences took place before or during sunrise (dawn) and after or during sunset (dusk) during the year. In spring, the highest UVC peaks occurred early in the morning and late in the evening, while in winter these peaks occurred in late mornings and early evenings. With most UVC occurring on Fridays, daily variations were weak. We conclude that temporal variations of UVC distributions are result of a complex interaction of phenological factors and animal behaviour. The information provided in this study reinforces the knowledge on the dynamics and patterns of UVC and represents an important element for the identification of mitigation measures. Our findings suggest that efforts to reduce UVC should also focus on driver attitudes considering the seasonal and daily variations in UVC.The removal of arsenic from water by adsorption is currently hindered by the elevated cost of conventional adsorbent materials. To overcome this limit, an innovative iron-coated adsorbent was produced by hydrothermal carbonization (170 °C, 30 min) of olive pomace, an inexpensive byproduct of the olive oil production. Hydrothermal carbonization experiments were performed starting from olive pomace dispersions in solutions with acidic, neutral and alkaline pH, in presence and absence of FeCl3. Acidic conditions improved the carbonization, ensuring reduced H/C and O/C ratios, and increased the adsorbent stability. However, acidic pH yielded unsatisfactory iron coating, with only 32% of the iron dissolved in the initial solution transferred to the produced hydrochar. Under alkaline pH, 96% of the iron in the feedwater was, in contrast, stably dispersed over the hydrochar surface, giving the highest maximum arsenic adsorption capacity (4.1 mg/g). However, alkaline pH promoted biomass hydrolysis, causing the loss of 60% and 87% of the total C and N, respectively, and reducing the stability of the produced hydrochar. A two-stage process was tested to overcome these issues, including hydrothermal carbonization under acidic pH with FeCl3, followed by the addition of NaOH. This process prevented biomass hydrolysis yielding a stable hydrochar. However, as compared to the one-stage alkaline synthesis, the two-stage process produced an hydrochar with reduced arsenic adsorption capacity (1.4 mg/g), indicating that biomass hydrolysis could positively influence hydrochar adsorption characteristics, possibly by increasing the specific surface area. Indications are then provided on how to optimize the two-stage process in order to produce a hydrochar with both satisfactory stability and arsenic adsorption capacity.The main challenge for partial nitrification is to reach stable nitrite accumulation, which strongly depends on the nitrite-oxidizing bacteria (NOB) growth in the reactor. The on-line estimation of active biomass may enhance the decision-making process to maintain a high nitrite accumulation in the reactor. mTOR inhibitor In this work, we propose an active biomass estimator based on ASM1 and on-line oxygen uptake rate measurements (OUR-E) in a sequencing batch reactor. In order to validate the OUR-E, two operating scenarios were applied during 200 days of operation unfavorable (sludge retention time (SRT) = 40 d, pH = 7.6, dissolved oxygen (DO) = 2 mg/L) and favorable for partial nitrification (SRT = 10 d, pH = 8.5, DO = 2 mg/L). Furthermore, a second estimation method based on off-line measurements of N-species concentrations (Nsp-E) was implemented to evaluate the performance of the OUR-E. The OUR-E was able to predict a reduction in the NOB active fraction from 10.3% to 1.6% with nitrite accumulation over 80% when we shifted the operating scenario. Although both estimators predicted similar results, the OUR-E showed a better prediction quality than the Nsp-E, according to Theil’s coefficient of inequality.Croplands are heterogeneous in productivity and their sustainable use holds a prominent place in supporting a virtual society-economy-ecology-environment circle. This study developed a model for the evaluation of cropland use sustainability by integrating the revised ecological footprint model with multi-objective optimization. The model enabled to gain insights into changes of the supply-demand balance of cropland use ecologically from a planning perspective, and also enables policy makers to determine the optimal patterns of cropland use in order to reconcile contradictions between multiple dimensions in agroecosystems, such as resource utilization, economy, society, and environment. The model was demonstrated by solving a real-world problem of cropland use management in Heilongjiang Province, northeast China. Results of demonstration were found to be satisfactory for generating sustainable cropland use patterns in promoting the equilibrium of water use efficiency, net economic benefit, land resource allocation equity, and greenhouse gas emissions. Then, whether various cropland use patterns were ecologically safe based on crop ecological footprint and crop ecological carrying capacity were determined. The status and scenario-based trend of cropland use sustainability provided alternatives for policy makers to allocate cropland efficiently and sustainably. The model is applicable for similar planting-centered regions with limited land and water resources.Potentially toxic elements (PTEs) present in abandoned mining wastes (AMW) are of great concern because of potential risks to human health and ecosystems. Indices of contamination (IC) applied to mining wastes are calculated using the total concentration of PTEs and comparing them with regional geochemical backgrounds. However, determining the total content of heavy metals is insufficient to assess the hazard of mining wastes. Therefore, in addition to total concentration, the potential risk is also evaluated through water mobility of elements. Accordingly, leaching procedures are useful tools for the geochemical characterization of soluble constituents that are mobilized. In this study, the solubility of PTEs from different types of mining wastes is comparatively assessed using three standard leaching methods (European; U.S. Geological Survey and; Mexican). The Hazard Average Quotient (HAQ) was calculated to assess the potential Toxicity Factor (TF). TF is an indicator of the relative potential toxicity of wastes and is the basis for the classification of AMW. A comparative assessment provides evidence that there are no statistically significant differences in PTEs solubility by the three leaching methods and it was also found that the pH of the eluates was dictated by the type of waste. Results suggest that the IC gives an indicator of the potential contamination of soils and sediments by erosive processes, or a long-term measure, whereas TF assesses the possibility of contaminating water in the short term. The most significant finding is the new ranking scale of TF, as a function of HAQ, applied to the Mexican standard leaching test. This factor, together with other considerations relating to risk-generating processes, might then be applied in places having large amounts of recorded AMW, such as the Iberian Peninsula and Latin America, where effective management is required to rank sites, based on preliminary environmental and human risk assessment.This paper assesses the relationship between greenhouse gas emissions, fossil energy use and economic development, arguing that human development is not responsible for carbon dioxide emissions. To address the mechanism through which the latter relationship operates, a recursive system of three equations is estimated. The empirical results for a sample of 41 Sub-Saharan African countries observed over the period from 1990 to 2013 support our reasoning. Specifically, contrary to causality analyses which imply economic growth causing pollution, our recursive analysis indicates that greenhouse gas emissions are direct consequences of fossil energy use. Thus, economic growth is not to blame for carbon dioxide emissions. In terms of environmental policy for African countries, this study encourages efforts towards less polluting and renewable energies supply as well as investments in energy efficient technologies.