Hasil untuk "Environmental effects of industries and plants"

Didik Triwibowo, Muthia Elma, Eko Suhartono et al.

Open-pit coal mining operations require the removal of overburden and the creation of waste dump piles. Waste dump management must consider the classification of the material, specifically whether it is Potentially Acid-Forming (PAF) or Non-Acid-Forming (NAF), based on its geochemical characteristics. This paper examined the geochemical stability of a 10-year-old coal mining overburden waste dump in Paringin, South Kalimantan, which has since been revegetated. Samples were taken from the upstream and downstream sections of the catchment area, based on the NAF homogeneous type of overburden moved to the waste dump area during the reclamation process. This was achieved by creating a soil profile to a depth of 120 cm, resulting in nine samples for each soil profile. The analysis results in the upstream and downstream sections suggested the capacity to neutralize acid. The conclusion was that the overall waste dump has stable geochemical conditions with lower acid mine drainage generation, as represented by a negative NAPP, due to the presence of adequate ANC to neutralize acidity from the Sulfur content in the upstream section and low total Sulfur in the downstream section. The geochemical stability of the waste dump, which is NAF, has a significant influence on the water quality of Paringin Pit Lake, where all surface water from the catchment area flows. These results indicated that no AMD generation occurs in the water of Paringin Pit Lake. With no potency for AMD generation, the overall post-mining landscape could have potential future utilization.

P. J. Neale, Samuel Hylander, A. Banaszak et al.

This Assessment Update by the Environmental Effects Assessment Panel (EEAP) of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) addresses the interacting effects of changes in stratospheric ozone, solar ultraviolet (UV) radiation, and climate on the environment and human health. These include new modelling studies that confirm the benefits of the Montreal Protocol in protecting the stratospheric ozone layer and its role in maintaining a stable climate, both at low and high latitudes. We also provide an update on projected levels of solar UV-radiation during the twenty-first century. Potential environmental consequences of climate intervention scenarios are also briefly discussed, illustrating the large uncertainties of, for example, Stratospheric Aerosol Injection (SAI). Modelling studies predict that, although SAI would cool the Earth’s surface, other climate factors would be affected, including stratospheric ozone depletion and precipitation patterns. The contribution to global warming of replacements for ozone-depleting substances (ODS) are assessed. With respect to the breakdown products of chemicals under the purview of the Montreal Protocol, the risks to ecosystem and human health from the formation of trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) as a degradation product of ODS replacements are currently de minimis. UV-radiation and climate change continue to have complex interactive effects on the environment due largely to human activities. UV-radiation, other weathering factors, and microbial action contribute significantly to the breakdown of plastic waste in the environment, and in affecting transport, fate, and toxicity of the plastics in terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, and the atmosphere. Sustainability demands continue to drive industry innovations to mitigate environmental consequences of the use and disposal of plastic and plastic-containing materials. Terrestrial ecosystems in alpine and polar environments are increasingly being exposed to enhanced UV-radiation due to earlier seasonal snow and ice melt because of climate warming and extended periods of ozone depletion. Solar radiation, including UV-radiation, also contributes to the decomposition of dead plant material, which affects nutrient cycling, carbon storage, emission of greenhouse gases, and soil fertility. In aquatic ecosystems, loss of ice cover is increasing the area of polar oceans exposed to UV-radiation with possible negative effects on phytoplankton productivity. However, modelling studies of Arctic Ocean circulation suggests that phytoplankton are circulating to progressively deeper ocean layers with less UV irradiation. Human health is also modified by climate change and behaviour patterns, resulting in changes in exposure to UV-radiation with harmful or beneficial effects depending on conditions and skin type. For example, incidence of melanoma has been associated with increased air temperature, which affects time spent outdoors and thus exposure to UV-radiation. Overall, implementation of the Montreal Protocol and its Amendments has mitigated the deleterious effects of high levels of UV-radiation and global warming for both environmental and human health.

J.M. Ribeiro, G.A. Tsalidis, E. Nika et al.

The desalination sector adopts Minimal Liquid Discharge (MLD) systems to become more circular, reduce brine discharge and enhance water recovery, which transforms them to multifunctional systems. This multifunctionality requires a methodologically consistent and goal-aligned approach to environmental impact assessment that recognises how different modelling choices are connected with specific decision contexts. A criterion LCA-based framework aligned with the ISO 14044 hierarchy and tailored specifically to desalination has been developed. It guides the selection of allocation approaches based on system characteristics, integration level, and assessment objectives and is applied to assess an MLD system which co-produces desalinated water, sodium chloride, magnesium hydroxide, calcium hydroxide, sodium sulphate and hydrochloric acid. Multifunctionality was handled with system expansion and partitioning (physical and economic) approaches, resulting in different functional units. For physical and economic partitioning, the MLD system is modelled from a process and system perspective. The results indicate that the MLD system has larger environmental benefits than the reference system with system expansion. When physical and economic partitioning under different perspectives are applied, they result in different environmental burdens per co-product. The MLD system performs better than the reference system (0.005 kg CO2/kg desalinated water) only when process economic partitioning (0.003 kg CO2/kg desalinated water) is applied. Whereas, the rest co-products perform better than reference products for all partitioning approaches applied. Our results highlight the potential of brine as a secondary source of products. This study underscores the importance of selecting appropriate allocation approaches, contributing to sustainable practices in the desalination sector.

Athraa Ismaal, Jasim M. Salman and Moayed J. Yass

The study assessed the efficiency of immobilized algae (Scenedesmus quadricauda (Turpin) Brébisson) in treating copper toxicity in common carp fish. Acute toxicity of copper towards carp fish was determined. Fish were exposed in aqueous tanks to different heavy metal concentrations (10, 15, 25, and 35 ppm) for 96 h to examine their response. The lethal concentration (LC50) of copper for common carp over 96 h was found to be 1.4 ppm, with fish mortality increasing gradually with higher metal concentrations. Subsequently, half of the LC50 concentration (0.7 ppm) was used as a chronic toxicity concentration, and fish were treated for 21 days to assess copper accumulation in their gills and muscles. Copper concentration in gills on day 5 of the experiment was 16.89 ± 2.2 mg.kg-1 (Mean ± S.D), a significant increase from in muscles, which recorded 10.72 ± 1.1 mg.kg-1 (Mean ± S.D). On day 21, the copper concentration decreased significantly in both gills (4.73 ± 0.5 mg.kg-1) and muscles (8.4 ± 4.5 mg.kg-1) compared to the control group (significant LSD 0.05). But the copper and algae group recorded on day 21 of the experiment (a significant decrease LSD 0.05) in both the gills (mg.kg-1) Mean± S.D) (4.73±0.5) and the muscles (mg.kg-1) Mean± S.D) (8.4±4.5) compared to the copper group. The removal rate in the gills was 75.57%, and in the muscles was 21.17%. Therefore, treatment with immobilized algae is an efficient and promising method for treating copper toxicity in aquatic environments.

Teresa Ries, Alexandra Rese

This research explores the widely known gap between the attitudes on sustainability that consumers express and their subsequent behavior concerning the purchase of sustainable clothing. Given the increasing global mass production and consumption of clothes, the textile industry is taking action to achieve greater sustainability. Previous research has identified the availability of sustainability information as an influencing factor on consumers to engage in pro-environmental behaviour. Study 1 (n = 441) investigates different factors concerning information transition on sustainable clothing and confirms the importance of information quality in this context. Study 2 (n = 448) finds different preferences for online information channels and information content depending on the age group. Our findings indicate that merely communicating information is not sufficient to close the attitude–behavior gap; consumers need appealing and clear information in all purchase phases in line with their age-related preferences if they are to respond pro-environmentally.

Fachrurizal Sai Kintoro, Tjahyo Nugroho Adji, Margaretha Widyastuti

Bantul Regency, located on Java Island, is one of the areas in Indonesia with abundant groundwater sources, thus experiencing rapid urban growth. The hazard of groundwater vulnerability in this area has increased due to urban expansion that coevals with changes in land use and human population growth. The objective of this study was to analyze how groundwater vulnerability has changed due to land use conditions and what impact those changes have had. Because of the various variables associated with urban growth, the sub-districts of Bantul and Bambanglipuro were explicitly chosen as research areas. This study compared groundwater vulnerability and land use between 2009 and 2021 in a spatiotemporal manner. The vulnerability determination method used is the Susceptibility Index (SI), which consists of the parameters depth of groundwater table, groundwater recharge, aquifer media, topography, and land use. Each parameter is processed into an index of groundwater vulnerability by scoring and weighting methods. Techniques for descriptive comparative analysis are employed to ascertain how changes in land use will affect the degree of groundwater vulnerability. The results of the land use classification show that the agroforestry area has decreased while the semi-urban area has increased in 2009 and 2021. The sub-district of Bambanglipuro underwent numerous changes. On the other hand, it is known that medium and high vulnerability levels dominate groundwater vulnerability. In this instance, it is concluded that variations in land use have impacted how groundwater vulnerability levels are distributed.

Fatih Merdan, Ozgur B. Akan

Molecular communication (MC) studies biological signals that are found in nature. Most MC literature focuses on particle properties, even though many natural phenomena exhibit wave-like behavior. One such signal is sound waves. Understanding how sound waves are used in nature can help us better utilize this signal in our interactions with our environment. To take a step in this direction, in this paper, we examine how plants process incoming sound waves and take informed actions. Indeed, plants respond to sound, yet no quantitative communication-theoretic model currently explains this behavior. This study develops the first end-to-end acoustic communication framework for plants. The model is formed following the biological steps of the incoming signal, and a mathematical description is constructed at each step following basic biological models. The resulting end-to-end communication-theoretic model is analyzed using MATLAB. Simulations show that a $200$ $Hz$, $20$ $mu Pa$ stimulus elevates cytosolic $Ca^{2+}$ from $150$ $nM$ to $230 \pm 10$ $nM$ within $50$ seconds which can cause root bending in plants in the long run. This work establishes quantitative phytoacoustics, enabling bio-inspired acoustic connections for precision agriculture and plant signaling research.

Jean-Marc Deragon, Rémy Merret

Tight regulation of messenger RNA (mRNA) stability is essential to ensure accurate gene expression in response to developmental and environmental cues. mRNA stability is controlled by mRNA decay pathways, which have traditionally been proposed to occur independently of translation. However, the recent discovery of a co-translational mRNA decay pathway (also known as CTRD) reveals that mRNA translation and decay can be coupled. While being translated, a mRNA can be targeted for degradation. This pathway was first described in yeast and rapidly identified in several plant species. This review explores recent advances in our understanding of CTRD in plants, emphasizing its regulation and its importance for development and stress response. The different metrics used to assess CTRD activity are also presented. Furthermore, this review outlines future directions to explore the importance of mRNA decay in maintaining mRNA homeostasis in plants.

E. E. Osayi, N. J. Onu, N. H. Osayi et al.

The objective of this paper was to evaluate the effects of industry effluent on the anatomical parameters of Air Plant (Bryophyllum Pinnatum (Lam.) Oken) collected from Nsukka, Enugu State, Nigeria using appropriate standard procedures. Data collected reveals that the Brewery effluent was found to be alkaline in nature with a pH of 7.5. The results of using brewery industry effluents as alternative fertilizer during off-seasonal vegetable planting seasons showed significant increase 4 on the number of epidermal cells, revealed stomata increase and increase in abaxial and adaxial surfaces from 20% to 100% treatments. In conclusion, Brewery effluent should not be discharged directly into the water bodies and their surroundings. Alternatively, since applying Brewery effluent promoted an increase in soil pH, Mg, N, K, and Ca thus, it can provide nutrients to the soil and thus to plants, therefore making it an alternative to mineral fertilizers.

Lei Xu, Wenjun Xie, H. Dai et al.

Microplastics (MPs) can enter the soil environment through industry, agricultural production and daily life sources. Their interaction with heavy metals (HMs) poses a significant threat to a variety of terrestrial ecosystems, including agricultural ones, thereby affecting crop quality and threatening human health. This review initially addresses the impact of single and combined contamination with MPs and HMs on soil environment, including changes in soil physicochemical properties, microbial community structure and diversity, fertility, enzyme activity and resistance genes, as well as alterations in heavy metal speciation. The article further explores the effects of this pollution on the growth characteristics of terrestrial plants, such as plant biomass, antioxidant systems, metabolites and photosynthesis. In general, the combined contaminants tend to significantly affect soil environment and terrestrial plant growth, i.e., the impact of combined contaminants on plants weight ranged from -87.5% to 4.55%. Similarities and differences in contamination impact levels stem from the variations in contaminant types, sizes and doses of contaminants and the specific plant growth environments. In addition, MPs can not only infiltrate plants directly, but also significantly affect the accumulation of HMs in terrestrial plants. The heavy metals concentration in plants under the treatment of MPs were 70.26% ∼ 36.80%. The co-occurrence of these two pollution types can pose a serious threat to crop productivity and safety. Finally, this study proposes suggestions for future research aiming to address current gaps in knowledge, raises awareness about the impact of combined MPs+HMs pollution on plant growth and eco-environmental security.

Peter Quandahor, Leesun Kim, Minju Kim et al.

As agricultural production increases, the use of chemical fertilisers, herbicides, and other synthetic pesticides has equally increased over the years. Inadequate pesticide application description and monitoring has generated a heated debate among governmental organisations, agricultural industries, and conservation organisations about pesticide effects on insect species richness and abundance. This review is therefore aimed at summarizing the decline in insects’ species and individual numbers as a result of extensive pesticide utilisation and recommends possible management strategies for its mitigation. This review revealed an average pesticide application of 1.58 kg per ha per year, 0.37 kg per person per year, and 0.79 kg per USD 1000 per year. Insects have experienced a greater species abundance decline than birds, plants, and other organisms, which could pose a significant challenge to global ecosystem management. Although other factors such as urbanisation, deforestation, monoculture, and industrialisation may have contributed to the decline in insect species, the extensive application of agro-chemicals appears to cause the most serious threat. Therefore, the development of sustainable and environmentally friendly management strategies is critical for mitigating insect species’ decline.

G. Duarte, P. Volkova, Fabricio Fiengo Perez et al.

In present times, the levels of ionizing radiation (IR) on the surface of Earth are relatively low, posing no high challenges for the survival of contemporary life forms. IR derives from natural sources and naturally occurring radioactive materials (NORM), the nuclear industry, medical applications, and as a result of radiation disasters or nuclear tests. In the current review, we discuss modern sources of radioactivity, its direct and indirect effects on different plant species, and the scope of the radiation protection of plants. We present an overview of the molecular mechanisms of radiation responses in plants, which leads to a tempting conjecture of the evolutionary role of IR as a limiting factor for land colonization and plant diversification rates. The hypothesis-driven analysis of available plant genomic data suggests an overall DNA repair gene families’ depletion in land plants compared to ancestral groups, which overlaps with a decrease in levels of radiation exposure on the surface of Earth millions of years ago. The potential contribution of chronic IR as an evolutionary factor in combination with other environmental factors is discussed.

A. Firth, Bo Zhang, A. Yang

Abstract Waste heat is a major source of recoverable loss in societal energy use, offering significant potential for reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. A number of studies have been carried out to determine the size of the available resource but have been limited in scope or confined to the status quo. This work reports a method to quantify future global waste heat emissions from the Power Generation, Industry, Transport, and Buildings sectors, and investigates their environmental effects. Four projected energy landscapes (World Energy Outlook 2016: 1. Current Policies; 2. New Policies; 3. 450-scenario. 4. 100% renewable energy penetration) were simulated to assess the amount of waste heat produced in different sub-sectors in the year 2030. The impact of CO2 radiative forcing and various technological shifts are reported. Total waste heat emissions are found to account for 23.0–53.0% of global input energy depending on year and scenario, with a range of theoretical and economic recovery potentials of 6–12% and 6–9% respectively. Further insight is gained into the waste heat landscape through analysis of temperature and sectoral distributions, and identification of hotspots for targeted waste heat recovery. When considering emissions from 2014 to 2030, the integrated radiative forcing of CO2 is found to be 13 times greater than that of waste heat, primarily attributable to the former’s cumulative nature. Full recovery of the theoretical potential is found to lead to a 10–12% reduction in the combined forcing of CO2 and waste heat over this period, mainly due to a reduction in CO2 emissions. Under a conservative carbon tax, this reduction is estimated to offer potential economic savings of $20-77bn/year. A 10% increase in the penetration of solar/wind/tidal hydroelectric power and electric vehicles are found to decrease global waste heat losses in liquid and gaseous streams by 5% and 0.7–2.0%, respectively; retrofitting of Carbon Capture and Storage to power plants decreases CO2 radiative forcing, outweighing the increase in thermal radiative forcing from additional waste heat streams.

Tingting Zhang, Lili Zhou, Ying Han et al.

BACKGROUND Ligusticum chuanxiong Hort., with over 2000 years of medicinal use and cultivation history, is extensively used in clinical settings for treating heart disease, headache, dysmenorrhea, and amenorrhea. Constructing the geographic distribution pattern of L. chuanxiong and identifying the environmental factors limiting its range, as well as clarifying the effects of key environmental factors on the content of major active constituents and transcription regulation, could provide a scientific foundation for the conservation and effective management of this valuable medicinal resource. RESULTS The results reveal that the predominant environmental factors influencing the distribution were the minimum temperature of the coldest month (Bio6) and solar radiation (Srad), with cumulative account for 87.46% of the importance. Correlation analysis further reveals significant negative correlations between Bio6 and the content of major active constituents in L. chuanxiong, with Srad exhibiting a negative correlation with these constituents. The gene differential expression analysis indicated that the expression levels of some genes associated with growth and active constituent biosynthesis pathways, such as RPT2_13888, UVR8_16871, CLPB3_3155, and 4CLL5_116, varied significantly among locations influenced by differing key environmental factors. Consequently, alterations in the environment were found to influence the gene expression levels within these pathways, resulting in variations in the content of active constituents. CONCLUSIONS These findings contribute to an enhanced understanding of how environmental factors impact the distribution and quality of medicinal plants and offer a theoretical reference for the introduction, cultivation, quality improvement, resource utilization and management of L. chuanxiong. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.

S. Yoon, Jong-pil Jung, I. Seo et al.

This study examines the emission characteristics of nonylphenol (NP) and octylphenol (OP) in the discharged water of Northern Gyeonggi Province, South Korea, where the textile industry predominates. We evaluated 104 individual wastewater discharge facilities, six public wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs), and the Shincheon River. Our findings reveal that NP and OP concentrations were notably high in the textile industry, with median levels of 0.53 µg/L and 0.43 µg/L, respectively, in individual wastewater discharge facilities. Furthermore, monitoring NP and OP levels in the influent and effluent of WWTPs and river water demonstrated that WWTP effluent has a remarkable impact on NP and OP concentrations in the river. The removal rates of NP and OP in WWTPs averaged 69.6% and 41.8%, respectively, and these rates tended to increase with higher temperatures and influent concentrations. The average concentrations in the Shincheon River were 0.31 µg/L for NP and 0.45 µg/L for OP, slightly exceeding EU standards. It is essential to closely monitor NP and OP levels to protect aquatic ecosystems.

Javier Sáez-Guinoa, Enrique García-Franco, Eva Llera-Sastresa et al.

Aluminium industry emits around 1–2% of the world’s total greenhouse gas emissions. Up to one-third of those are linked to the thermal energy consumed during its initial process: the alumina refining (Bayer process). Previous studies consider the Bayer process a single stage despite its being made of several reaction stages. This work presents a disaggregated energy analysis of the Bayer process that facilitates to find relationships between the main variables in regular alumina production and the environmental impacts. Two different thermodynamic simulations of the Bayer process were carried out using Aspen V11 software. The results of these simulations were validated with referenced data, and afterwards, they were used to perform a life cycle assessment. ISO 14040 and 14,044 standards were followed during the analysis. LCA was implemented on SimaPro 9.0, and ReCiPe 2016 Midpoint (H) method was used to calculate environmental impacts. The influence of bauxite mineral form, type of fuel (energy input), and the distance from the mine to the plant was analysed throughout the study. As expected, the type of fuel was revealed as the most crucial factor in the environmental impact of alumina production, with potential savings of up to 75.5% of CO2-equivalent emissions. Nonetheless, the tendency is diverse for other indicators, such as marine eutrophication or terrestrial acidification. On the other hand, while bauxite transportation always has the same impact on the different environmental indicators, bauxite mineral form affects differently depending on the fuel, causing variations in the CO2-eq emissions from 7.7 to 51.3%. Results indicated that the electrification of heat-demanding processes and the use of renewable power is the most effective approach for reducing environmental impacts. This strategy, however, must be considered in combination with others, as interdependent effects exist on the type of mineral used. These results provide strong evidence of the potential for environmentally friendly strategies in the metal industry, including new processes, alternative fuels, or mineral switching to promote more sustainable aluminium production.

Paul Adjei Kwakwa, Hamdiyah Alhassan, Solomon Aboagye et al.

University students are among those associated with high energy consumption but with low conservational practices. Such behavior has serious implications on energy sustainability and emission of greenhouse gases. For developing countries, low electricity conservation increases the burden on utility companies and the government as a whole. Efforts to promote electricity conservation have led to an increased number of studies. However, such research have not given much consideration to the role of emotions as well as religion in energy conservation. Evidence from Ghana is also limited. This study examines the factors of electricity conservation intention among University students in Ghana. With the lens of the theory of planned behavior, electricity conservation intention associated with the usage of laptops, refrigerators, light and electric fans was assessed. Emotions and religion were included in the model to assess their effect. Data was collected through the administration of questionnaires to 204 university students. The findings from ordered probit regression indicate that subjective norms, perceived behaviourial control, attitude, emotions and religion influence the extent that students intend to conserve electricity. However, their effects were somehow found to be appliance-specific. The results suggest that continuous teaching of the need for electricity conservation at religious centers or among religious groups could generate some guaranteed levels of electricity conservation among students and may be, even among the larger population. Individuals that assume considerable importance in society should act as conservation leaders to promote such behavior among students and the general public.

Nelson Mwesiga Ishengoma

While there have been numerous studies in the occupational safety and health hazards (OSHHs’) domain in the heavy and beleaguered manufacturing industries, where men are quantitatively dominant, the same level of attention has not been accorded to lighter and small-medium enterprises such as the fish processing subsector, where most women sell their labour-power. This apathy is the failure to acknowledge the existence of numerous OSHHs and their gendered-differentiated effects in such spaces. This paper demonstrates how women got affected in less considered environments, particularly the fish processing subsector. The findings used in this paper were obtained from the study conducted in the five fish processing plants (FPPs) in Tanzania, which involved 157 respondents. Questionnaires, focus group discussions, in-depth interviews, and observations were used to collect data. Findings revealed that women in the FPPs were confronted with various OSHHs emanating from the physical, environmental, mental, psychological, and cultural domains that significantly affected their health in the short and long run. Thus, a gender-based analysis in studying, recommending, and addressing OSHHs is highly recommended.

Hoda Kamal Soussa, Mostafa E.Y. Ahmed, Moawad M. Taha et al.

Water scarcity presents a pressing challenge in Egypt, exacerbated by factors such as population growth, urbanization, and climate change impacts. With over 95% reliance on the Nile River for freshwater supply, Egypt's water resources are strained, particularly with a population exceeding 100 million. Egypt's arid climate intensifies water scarcity, necessitating sustainable management strategies. This study explored greywater treatment as a solution to alleviate water scarcity in Egypt, investigating its technical feasibility, economic viability, and environmental benefits. Greywater, derived from domestic activities, is an underutilized resource that can be reclaimed and treated for reuse, reducing demand for freshwater sources. Through greywater treatment systems, households and communities can recycle water, conserve resources, and mitigate pollution. The study investigated using polymers as a coagulant in greywater treatment, examining its efficacy in removing contaminants and improving water quality. Experimental trials were conducted to evaluate the performance of polymer addition in greywater treatment compared to conventional methods. Results demonstrate that polymer addition reduces turbidity, suspended solids, and organic pollutants in greywater. Poly aluminum chloride (PAC) polymer, in particular, exhibits strong coagulation capabilities, versatility across pH ranges, and high efficiency in contaminant removal. Additionally, PAC offers operational advantages such as low dosage requirements and reduced sludge production.

Mozzamil Mohammed, Mohammed AY Mohammed, Abdallah Alsammani et al.

Carnivores interact with herbivores to indirectly impact plant populations, creating trophic cascades within plant-herbivore-carnivore systems. We developed and analyzed a food chain model to gain a mechanistic understanding of the critical roles carnivores play in ecosystems where plants face intense herbivory. Our model incorporates key factors such as seed production rates, seed germination probabilities, local plant interactions, herbivory rates, and carnivore predation rates. In the absence of carnivores, herbivores significantly reduce plant densities, often driving plants to extinction under high herbivory rates. However, the presence of carnivores suppresses herbivore populations, allowing plants to recover from herbivore pressure. We found that plant densities increase with carnivore predation rates, highlighting top-down effects and underscoring the importance of conserving carnivores in ecosystems where plants are at high risk of extinction from herbivory. Our results also show that carnivore density increases with seed-production rates, while herbivore density remains constant, indicating that plants benefit carnivores more than herbivores. This increase in carnivore density driven by high seed-production rates reflects bottom-up effects in the system. Overall, our study demonstrates that plants, herbivores, and carnivores can coexist even under intense predation stress. It suggests that carnivores play a crucial role in regulating plant and herbivore populations, with significant potential for maintaining biodiversity within ecosystems.