Human society is currently facing a growing demand for forest resources, which causes overexploitation and endangers biodiversity. In this regard, it is important to be aware that 10% of trees across the world are used in traditional and modern medicine. South America has the greatest diversity, with 40% of tree species in the world. The aim of our review consists of the assessment of the state of the art of micropropagation through somatic embryogenesis of representative medicinal trees in South America and of targeting the tree species that should be prioritized for conservation plans. From a total of 23,631 tree species from Central and South America, 31 are extinct, 7047 are threatened, and 1434 are possibly threatened. In this sense, in order to conserve them, various strategies are applied both in situ and ex situ. The application of in vitro multiplication protocols represents effective ways both in conservation and in the sustainable use of resources in order to obtain secondary metabolites of interest. Somatic embryogenesis is a well-known method in woody multiplication. According to the VOSviewer analyses, very few studies were available concerning aspects of somatic embryogenesis in medicinal trees. From the 10 representative species selected in our study, somatic embryogenesis protocols were established for 3 species, only for conservation purpose, not for secondary metabolites production. The development of protocols focused on obtaining secondary metabolites of medicinal trees will allow for the obtainment of valuable plant material as a non-invasive alternative.

This study analyzed the metabolic potential of some functional groups of bacteria in aquatic urban systems and evaluated the abundance of communities of total heterotrophic bacteria in the water in relation to the monitored physico-chemical factors. The results obtained showed seasonal differences, especially in spring. The high values of the abundance of heterotrophs in winter are related to human activity at the sampling stations. Screening for four types of extracellular hydrolytic enzyme with potential for degradation of organic matter (amylases, lipases, proteases and cellulases) led to the conclusion that lipolytic bacteria were dominant in the studied ecosystems, while proteolytic bacteria were observed in low numbers, but were present in urbanized areas. The presence of cellulolytic bacteria is correlated with the development of macrophytic vegetation. The aim of the present study was oriented towards the evaluation of the anthropogenic input in several lakes surrounding Bucharest in the Nord-Eastern region. These urban ecosystems are generated as a requirement of city development. The microbiological and general enzymatic approaches generated some novel results concerning the pollution degree of aquatic urban ecosystems and could be considered as a platform for further investigation.

Urban areas face numerous provocations, such as air, water, and soil contamination. Additionally, urban lakes have numerous beneficial services that contribute to urban sustainability. In urban aquatic ecosystems, X-ray fluorescence can provide complex answers regarding the presence of elements associated with environmental risk. The study aimed to screen the elements with different potentials (critical raw materials—CRMs; toxic; potentially toxic) from Phragmites australis leaves along the Colentina urban river. The samples from the peri-urban and urban river courses highlighted the presence of elements with different potentials for ecosystems and human health. The investigated stations were influenced by regional anthropogenic pressures, where P. australis highlighted the absorption of the dominant elements found in the environment. From the total of 56 elements present in the samples, some have structural roles (K, Si, Ca, and Cl), some are from the CRM category, and some are airborne heavy metals and rare metals. Furthermore, among CRMs, cesium, lanthanum, magnesium, phosphorus, vanadium, sulfur, holmium, and titanium were recorded with higher values. Although the values of the elements in the anthropogenic source were in low concentrations, spatial differences were highlighted. The stations in agricultural areas were different from the peri-urban and urban ones.

Zooplankton is an essential functional component of the aquatic food web, reflecting, through its structure and biomass, the impact of anthropogenic pressures on ecosystems. In this study, we investigated the traits of the Rotifera and Crustacea communities along a rural–urban gradient in the Colentina River system. The results revealed a partial separation between rotifers and crustaceans, with distinct distributions determined by trophic conditions and habitat type. Trophic indices (Carlson’s TSI, TSI_ROT, TSI_CR) indicated increased eutrophication in peri-urban and urban areas (Fundeni, Plumbuita) compared to rural reference ecosystems (Colentina, Crevedia). The relationships between Resource Use Efficiency (RUE) and trophic indices were positive and significant in rural areas, indicating a balanced ecosystem, but were decoupled in urbanised sectors, where high RUE values were driven by increased biomass of opportunistic species, whereas TSI indicated eutrophic conditions. The results confirm the role of zooplankton as a sensitive bioindicator, capable of capturing both the impact of eutrophication and the capacity of urbanised ecosystems to maintain trophic functionality. The integration of zooplankton-based metrics into monitoring schemes offers a complementary perspective on ecological resilience in aquatic ecosystems under urban pressures.

The Colentina River is a tributary of the Dâmbovița River in Romania, flowing through the city of Bucharest before joining the main river. It has been significantly altered by human activities, including river course fragmentation, shoreline modification, and exposure to various pollutants from local sources. Macrophytes, which are crucial biotic components, are significantly influenced by human activities. They play several important roles in lakes, such as enhancing water transparency, absorbing nutrients and carbon dioxide, and providing habitats for diverse species. This study aims to assess the structural aspects of two primary producer components (macrophytes and phytoplankton) in different sections of the Colentina River. A specific methodology was employed to evaluate macrophytes and phytoplankton, considering three habitat variables: rural, peri-urban, and urban. The principal findings indicated that anthropogenic pressures have shaped the taxonomic structure. The spatial distribution of macrophytes was found to be correlated with both the geomorphology and water quality of the ecosystems. Peri-urban and rural areas, closer to natural conditions, support greater macrophyte diversity compared to urban areas. Extended periods of eutrophication have resulted in significant growth of Chlorophyceae and Cyanobacteria, negatively impacting the ecological conditions that support macrophytes. Despite these adverse interactions, certain plants, such as Phragmites australis and Typha angustifolia, have demonstrated adaptability and resilience, occupying niches even in hypereutrophic waterbodies. The varying levels of urbanization along the Colentina River have led to ecological degradation, characterized by a decline in macrophyte and phytoplankton diversity and an increase in pollution-resistant species. This highlights the urgent need for sustainable management strategies to mitigate human impacts and preserve ecosystem health.