https://tecnoscientifica.com/journal/tebt/issue/feed Tropical Environment, Biology, and Technology 2024-12-09T02:32:06+00:00 Editorial Office - Tropical Environment, Biology, and Technology tebt@tecnoscientifica.com Open Journal Systems <p>Tropical Environment, Biology, and Technology is an international, scientific, peer-reviewed, open access journal focusing on tropical science especially environment, biology, and technology published biannual online by Tecno Scientifica.</p> https://tecnoscientifica.com/journal/tebt/article/view/461 Stress and Struggles of Soil Biodiversity in the Global Innovative Technology for Food Sustainability 2024-09-29T23:56:52+00:00 Joseph Ekenwosu josephekenwosu@gmail.com Peter Okorie peterokorie@gmail.com Peter Nzenwa peterznzenwa@gmail.com <p>Right from pre-historic times, humans have always looked for ways to explore the environment to satisfy basic economic needs such as food, clothing, and shelter. History is filled with various strategies borne out of this desire by humans to subdue the environment and judging from the drawbacks of some scientific advancements, one will be stating the obvious that the soil environment is at the receiving end of the brazen intrusion of nature. Regardless of the improvement in science we still experience environmental challenges such as soil pollution, soil degradation, drought, biodiversity loss, deforestation, etc. This article advocates that the advancement in science with the sole aim of food security and sustainability should not necessarily translate into stress and struggle for soil biodiversity.</p> 2024-08-30T00:00:00+00:00 Copyright (c) 2024 Joseph Ekenwosu, Peter Okorie, Peter Nzenwa https://tecnoscientifica.com/journal/tebt/article/view/532 Phytoremediation of Petroleum Hydrocarbons: An Update of Its Recent Progress 2024-12-09T02:32:06+00:00 Kuok Ho Daniel Tang daniel.tangkh@yahoo.com <p>Phytoremediation continues to play an important role in the remediation of soils contaminated with hydrocarbons, as demonstrated by the ongoing influx of research articles in this field. A review of the recent literature reveals that studies on phytoremediation continue to assess the effectiveness of both existing and new plant species, particularly in treating contaminated soils. Fertilization and soil amendments are commonly incorporated into these studies. There is significant interest in microbial-assisted phytoremediation and the optimization of phytoremediation with surfactants and root exudates. Phytoremediation using plants alone often encounters limited efficiency (&lt;65% petroleum hydrocarbon removal). However, fertilization, soil amendments, and additives like root exudates can boost efficiency to slightly above 80%, particularly with compost. Microbial-assisted phytoremediation could further increase efficiency to more than 90%, depending on the microorganisms used. Endomycorrhizal fungi and <em>Acinetobacter sp.</em> Tust-DM21 appear to have pronounced enhancing effects on petroleum hydrocarbon removal. Combining and optimizing good agricultural practices, fertilization, soil amendments, additives, and microbial-assisted phytoremediation could enhance overall efficiency while improving plant growth, even in saline or highly contaminated soils. Research on phytoremediation of water contaminated with petroleum hydrocarbons is significantly less prevalent. This review contributes to the identification of effective phytoremediation strategies and suggests that future research could focus on further exploring plant-microbe interactions to improve petroleum hydrocarbon removal. Artificial intelligence could also be incorporated to optimize factors that positively influence phytoremediation.</p> 2024-12-09T00:00:00+00:00 Copyright (c) 2024 Kuok Ho Daniel Tang https://tecnoscientifica.com/journal/tebt/article/view/482 The Shift Towards Green Construction: A Review of Environmental Management Strategies and Sustainable Materials in Developed Countries 2024-10-20T09:14:32+00:00 Brendan Sen brendansen1123@gmail.com Nicholas Tam tamnfy@gmail.com Rabin Maharjan maharjan49rabin@gmail.com Amit Kumar Maharjan amit_kmr@hotmail.com Gaurav Talukdar gauravt@ku.edu <p>Green materials have proven to be highly effective in managing environmental impacts when implemented in construction activities. The aim of this review paper is to critically examine the shift towards green construction practices in developed countries, with a focus on the integration of environmental management strategies and the use of sustainable materials. Currently, developed countries such as Switzerland, Japan, and China have significantly benefited their local environments by implementing these practices in the construction industry. Authorities and governments in these nations have taken proactive steps to establish standards and policies for the construction sector, encouraging more industries to participate in environmental management and protection efforts. The enforcement of rules and regulations in these developed countries has led the construction industry to prioritize environmental management and protection. The use of green materials in construction projects, including autoclaved aerated concrete blocks and green roof technology, has shown positive trends in advancing environmental protection and management. Developing countries are encouraged to adopt similar initiatives and utilize green materials in their construction industries to help secure the importance of environmental sustainability.</p> 2024-10-11T00:00:00+00:00 Copyright (c) 2024 Brendan Sen, Nicholas Tam, Rabin Maharjan, Amit Kumar Maharjan, Gaurav Talukdar https://tecnoscientifica.com/journal/tebt/article/view/492 Groundwater Contamination by Heavy Metals in Malaysia: Sources, Transport, and Remediation Strategies 2024-10-20T09:14:29+00:00 Wei Lin Wong weilinwong@gmail.com Mehmet Emre mehmetzemre21@gmail.com Gaurav Talukdar gaurav@ku.edu <p>Groundwater contamination by heavy metals is a pressing environmental concern, particularly in regions highly dependent on groundwater as a freshwater source. While Malaysia primarily relies on river water, certain states and islands depend on groundwater for their supply. Research on heavy metal contamination in Malaysia’s groundwater remains limited, making it crucial to study the distribution and mobility of contaminants to develop appropriate remediation strategies. In addition to natural sources, anthropogenic activities such as landfills, mining, and the use of fertilizers contribute significantly to heavy metal pollution in groundwater. Factors like rainfall, fluctuating groundwater levels, and low soil pH can exacerbate heavy metal leaching into aquifers. Various models and techniques, including 2D resistivity imaging and MODFLOW, are used to assess groundwater flow and contaminant transport. These models suggest that contaminant concentrations decrease with increased depth and radial distance from pollution sources such as landfills and mining areas. The health risks associated with heavy metal exposure through groundwater consumption are significant, necessitating effective remediation strategies. Phytoremediation is an economical solution for groundwater containing low concentrations of heavy metals, while permeable reactive barriers may be suitable for more complex cases, pending detailed site investigation. This review aims to examine the current state of knowledge on heavy metal contamination in Malaysia’s groundwater, focusing on sources, distribution patterns, and movement of pollutants. It also seeks to evaluate existing remediation methods, including phytoremediation and permeable reactive barriers, while identifying gaps in research, particularly concerning risk assessments and heavy metal speciation.</p> 2024-10-20T00:00:00+00:00 Copyright (c) 2024 Wei Lin Wong, Mehmet Emre, Gaurav Talukdar https://tecnoscientifica.com/journal/tebt/article/view/451 Utilization of Aquatic Plants and Microalgae for Sustainable Aquaculture Production and Potential Biotechnological Applications 2024-09-29T23:56:54+00:00 Job Ombiro Omweno omwenojob@gmail.com Omondi Argwings owinoargwings@gmail.com Berrick Moturi Sieberi bericksm@gmail.com Merceline Angima mangima@kisiiuniversity.ac.ke Peter Maangi Ondieki ondiekip1974@gmail.com <p>Locally available feedstuffs, such as grain seed cakes, oilseeds, and vegetable waste, hold immense potential as alternative feed sources in fish farming. However, these plant-based ingredients have low crude protein content and lack essential fatty acids, which lowers palatability and feed conversion efficiencies, leading to suboptimal fish growth. Traditional feedstuffs like fishmeal and soybean meal face sustainability challenges such as local unavailability, the presence of anti-nutritional factors, and energy-intensive processing. The rising costs of commercial aqua-feeds and feed scarcity necessitate exploring alternative fish feed options. Aquatic plants like Ipomoea aquatica, <em>Lemna minor</em>, and <em>Azolla pinnata</em>, along with green and blue-green microalgae such as <em>Chlorella spp.</em> and <em>Arthrospira spp.</em> (Spirulina), are promising alternatives due to their high protein content, availability of essential omega-3 fatty acids such as EPA (Eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA (Docosahexaenoic acid), and beneficial bioactive compounds. These plants and microalgae, with crude protein content ranging from 25% to 65%, can significantly enhance fish growth, health, and product quality by partially or entirely replacing fishmeal. Their nitrogen-fixing abilities contribute to their high protein levels. Additionally, these organisms have various biotechnological applications, including phytoremediation, Integrated Multi-trophic Aquaculture (IMTA), aquaponics, biofloc technology, and constructed wetlands. Despite their potential, challenges in scaling up and integrating these alternatives into existing systems remain. Collaborative efforts and advocacy among farmer groups are crucial for knowledge sharing and fostering sustainable biotechnological solutions. Long-term strategies should focus on upscaling local feed production and research and development to achieve self-sufficiency and cost-effective natural feed production systems in fish farming.</p> 2024-08-30T00:00:00+00:00 Copyright (c) 2024 Job Ombiro Omweno, Omondi Argwings, Berrick Moturi Sieberi, Merceline Angima, Peter Maangi Ondieki