Research Spotlights

Turning complex biodiversity data into information that can be used to inform policy is a challenging task. The European Marine Observation and Data Network (EMODnet) produces free, standardised biological data products to address this challenge.

Compounds used in pharmaceuticals, cosmetics and agriculture persist in aquatic environments, potentially impacting water quality and ecosystem health.

Good media coverage has been found to motivate citizens to report species observations, which can help efforts to track invasive species in Europe.

Researchers in China have developed a novel method of extracting lithium from spent lithium batteries.

The invasive and widespread blue crab species has a broad highly adaptable diet and responds well to changes in environmental conditions. It may serve as a useful indicator species in ecosystem management and for high levels of nitrogen pollution in European estuaries.

Nitrogen plasma gasification is a process that kills pathogens and produces valuable waste-to-energy bi-products. It’s a promising, economically viable method for the sustainable medical waste treatment of plastic, rubber, fibre and biomass. Policymakers should consider integrating this technology.

A study near Belgium indicates that oestrogen pollution has decreased during the past 40 years, but remains present in the North Sea, sediments and estuary waters.

Using small-scale green infrastructure can significantly reduce the impact of flooding in high-risk Mediterranean coastal areas. New models suggest flow rates can be reduced by up to 60%, floodplain areas can be reduced by up to 17%, and run-off volume can be reduced by up to 24%

A questionnaire examining financial and non-financial incentives influencing car sharing among commuters in Paris found that employees aged 18-49 with higher education are more receptive to social nudges, such as trust and peer behaviour, than they are to employer subsidies.