The aim of the study was to screen the waste wood biomass of 10 wood species as biosorbents for synthetic dye Congo Red (CR) removal from water and to single out the most efficient species for further batch biosorption experiments. Euroamerican poplar (EP), the most efficient species achieving 71.8% CR removal and biosorption capacity of 3.3 mg g⁻¹, was characterized by field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Different factors affecting the biosorption process were investigated: initial biosorbent concentration (1–10 g dm⁻³), contact time (5–360 min), initial CR concentration (10–100 mg dm⁻³), and the initial pH (pH = 4–9). The results showed that CR removal efficiency increased with the increase of biosorbent concentration and contact time. Increase of initial CR concentration led to an increase of the biosorption capacity, but also a decrease of CR removal efficiency. The highest CR removal efficiency was achieved at pH = 4, while at pH = 9 a significant decrease was noticed. The percentage of CR removal from synthetic wastewater was 18.6% higher than from model CR solution. The Langmuir model fitted well the biosorption data, with the maximum biosorption capacity of 8 mg g⁻¹. The kinetics data were found to conform to the pseudo-second-order kinetics model.

Valorisation of grape pomace, a by-product of the winery industry, has been pushed into the spotlight in recent years since it can enable lower environmental impact, but it can also bring an added value to the wine production process by recovering several grape pomace biologically active compounds. The first step that allows for grape pomace reuse is its drying, which should be carefully performed in order to preserve the biologically active compounds’ stability. In this study, the effects of different drying methods on the stability of polyphenols, tannins and tartaric acid in grape pomace (Vitis vinifera) cv. Graševina were investigated. In particular, vacuum drying (at different temperatures: 35, 50 and 70 °C), conventional drying at 70 °C and open sun drying were performed and the drying kinetics was described using Peleg’s model. Considering the processing time and thermodynamics, vacuum drying at 70 °C was the most convenient processing method. Polyphenols were highly stable during drying, and slight degradation occurred during vacuum drying at 35 and 50 °C. Tannins and tartaric acid were more prone to degradation depending on the drying method applied and showed the greatest stability during vacuum drying at 70 °C.

Urban ecosystems are increasingly shaped by multiple environmental stressors, which may threaten both biodiversity and human well-being. We summarised the current knowledge on the ecological and social consequences of seven major urban pressures: air pollution, freshwater degradation, biological invasions, noise pollution, habitat fragmentation, soil pollution and climate crisis. Air and soil pollution, largely driven by traffic and industrial activities, compromises vegetation functions, reduces ecosystem services, and affects human health. Urban freshwater systems face contamination from stormwater runoff, wastewater, and microplastics, leading to biodiversity loss, altered ecosystem processes, and reduced water availability. Biological invasions, facilitated by human activities and habitat disturbances, reshape ecological communities, outcompete native species, and impose socio-economic costs, while management requires integrated monitoring and citizen engagement. Noise pollution disrupts animal communication, alters species distributions, and poses significant risks to human physical and mental health. Simultaneously, habitat fragmentation and loss reduce ecological connectivity, impair pollination and dispersal processes, and heighten extinction risks for both plants and animals. Collectively, these stressors interact synergistically, amplifying ecological degradation and exacerbating health and social inequalities in urban populations. The cumulative impacts highlight the need for systemic and adaptive approaches to urban planning that integrate biodiversity conservation, public health, and social equity. Nature-based solutions, ecological restoration, technological innovation, and participatory governance emerge as promising strategies to enhance urban resilience. Furthermore, fostering citizen science initiatives can strengthen monitoring capacity and create community ownership of sustainable urban environments. Addressing the combined pressures of urban environmental stressors is thus pivotal for building cities that are ecologically robust, socially inclusive, and capable of coping with the challenges of the climate crisis and global urbanization.

Mediterranean forest ecosystems in Croatia are of very high significance because of the ecological functions they provide. This region is highly sensitive to abiotic stresses such as air pollution, high sunlight, and high temperatures alongside dry periods; therefore, it is important to monitor the state of these forest ecosystems and how they respond to these stresses. This study was conducted on trees in situ and focused on the four most important forest species in the Mediterranean region in Croatia: pubescent oak (Quercus pubescens Willd.), holm oak (Quercus ilex L.), Aleppo pine (Pinus halepensis Mill.) and black pine (Pinus nigra J. F. Arnold.). Trees were selected and divided into two groups: trees with defoliation of >25% (defoliated) and trees with defoliation of ≤25% (undefoliated). Leaves and needles were collected from selected trees. Differences in chlorophyll content, hydrogen peroxide content, lipid peroxidation and enzyme activity (superoxide dismutase, catalase, ascorbate peroxidase, non-specific peroxidase), and nutrient content between the defoliated and undefoliated trees of the examined species were determined. The results showed that there were significant differences for all species between the defoliated and undefoliated trees for at least one of the examined parameters. A principal component analysis showed that the enzyme ascorbate peroxidase can be an indicator of oxidative stress caused by ozone. By using oxidative stress indicators, it is possible to determine whether the trees are under stress even before visual damage occurs.