Search Results (430)

The intensification of agriculture over the past 80 years has led to significant changes in farm management, resulting in the creation of large-scale fields and the elimination of ecological structural elements. The loss of these areas has dramatically affected natural communities. This study aimed to test whether the implementation of floral margins generates significant differences in insect abundance over time. The study was carried out on an intensive vegetable farm in Spain over a ten-year period (2013–2022) where a floral margin was sown and maintained over the years. The results showed a clear linear increase in insect individuals, with a total increase of 403.33% from 2013 to 2022. The number of species increased by 138.80% overall, with most growth occurring in the first three years before stabilising (0.63% increase from 2016 to 2022). The analysis of community structure demonstrates a gradual evolution in the insect population dynamics aligned significantly with both log-series and log-normal distributions (p-value > 0.05). This long-term study demonstrates that floral margins are an essential tool for fostering insect biodiversity in intensive agricultural areas. The steady, rather than abrupt, shift in the ecosystem suggests that sustained implementation of floral margins can effectively prevent or reverse insect decline over time. Full article

In semi-arid basins, riparian vegetation is an important part of the river ecosystem. However, with the decrease in river runoff caused by human activities and the continuous changes in climate, riparian vegetation has gradually degraded. To identify the main influencing factors of riparian vegetation changes, we extracted the river flow indicators, climate indicators, and riparian vegetation indicators of a Xiliao River typical section from 1985 to 2020 in spring and summer, and established a random forest model to screen the key driving factors of riparian vegetation. Then, we simulated the response characteristics of riparian vegetation to the key driving factors in spring and summer based on nonlinear equations. The results showed that the contribution of river flow factors to riparian vegetation was higher than that of climate factors. In spring, the key driving factors of riparian vegetation were the average flow in May and the average flow from March to May; in summer, the key driving factors were the average flow in May, the maximum 90-day average flow, and the average flow from March to August. Among them, the average flow in May contributed more than 50% to the indicators of riparian vegetation in both spring and summer. The final conclusion is that in the optimal growth range of plants, increasing the base flow and pulse flow of rivers will promote seed germination and plant growth, but when the river flow exceeds this threshold, vegetation growth will stagnate. The research results improve the existing knowledge of the influencing factors of riparian vegetation in semi-arid basins, and provide a reference for improving the natural growth of riparian vegetation and guiding the ecological protection and restoration of rivers in semi-arid areas. Full article

Analyzing the current trends and causes of carbon storage changes and accurately predicting future land use and carbon storage changes under different climate scenarios is crucial for regional land use decision-making and carbon management. This study focuses on Beijing as its study area and introduces a framework that combines the Markov model, the Patch-based Land Use Simulation (PLUS) model, and the Integrated Valuation of Ecosystem Services and Tradeoffs (InVEST) model to assess carbon storage at the sub-district level. This framework allows for a systematic analysis of land use and carbon storage spatiotemporal evolution in Beijing from 2000 to 2020, including the influence of driving factors on carbon storage. Moreover, it enables the simulation and prediction of land use and carbon storage changes in Beijing from 2025 to 2040 under various scenarios. The results show the following: (1) From 2000 to 2020, the overall land use change in Beijing showed a trend of “Significant decrease in cropland area; Forest increase gradually; Shrub and grassland area increase first and then decrease; Decrease and then increase in water; Impervious expands in a large scale”. (2) From 2000 to 2020, the carbon storage in Beijing showed a “decrease-increase” fluctuation, with an overall decrease of 1.3 Tg. In future carbon storage prediction, the ecological protection scenario will contribute to achieving the goals of carbon peak and carbon neutrality. (3) Among the various driving factors, slope has the strongest impact on the overall carbon storage in Beijing, followed by Human Activity Intensity (HAI) and Nighttime Light Data (NTL). In the analysis of carbon storage in the built-up areas, it was found that HAI and DEM (Digital Elevation Model) have the strongest effect, followed by NTL and Fractional Vegetation Cover (FVC). The findings from this study offer valuable insights for the sustainable advancement of ecological conservation and urban development in Beijing. Full article

Evapotranspiration (ET) is a critical process in the interaction between the terrestrial climate system and vegetation. In recent years, ET has undergone significant changes in the Jiziwan region of the Yellow River Basin, primarily due to the implementation of ecological restoration programs and the dual impacts of climate change. As a result, hydrological cycle processes have been profoundly affected, making it crucial to accurately capture trends in ET and its components, as well as to identify the key drivers of these changes. In this study, we first systematically analyzed the dynamic evolution of ET and its components in the Jiziwan of the Yellow River area between 1982 and 2018 from the perspective of land use change. To achieve accurate ET simulations, we introduced a multiple linear regression algorithm and quantitatively evaluated the specific contributions of five climate factors, including precipitation, temperature, wind speed, specific humidity, and radiation, as well as the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), a vegetation factor, to ET and its components. On this basis, we explored the combined influence mechanism of climate change and vegetation change on ET in detail. The results revealed that the structure of ET in the Jiziwan of the Yellow River area has changed significantly and that vegetation evapotranspiration has gradually replaced soil evaporation, occupies a dominant position, and has become the main component of ET in this area. Among the many factors affecting ET, the contribution of climate change is the most significant, with an average contribution rate of approximately 59%. Moreover, the influence of human activities on total ET and its components is also high. The factors that had the greatest impact on total ET, soil evaporation, and vegetation transpiration were precipitation, radiation, and the NDVI, respectively. In terms of spatial distribution, the eastern part of Jiziwan was more significantly affected by environmental changes, and the trends of the ET changes were more dramatic. This study not only enhances our scientific understanding of the changes in ET and their driving mechanisms in the Jiziwan area of the Yellow River but also provides a solid scientific foundation for the development of water resource management and ecological restoration strategies in the region. Full article

The forest swamp ecosystem, as a special wetland ecosystem, is a key link in the material cycle and an important carbon sink in the carbon cycle. The global carbon cycle is of great significance, but the impact of forest swamp succession and soil depth on soil active organic matter and nematode community structure and diversity is unclear. This study used the “space instead of time” method to investigate the succession process of forest swamps from grasslands (WC) and shrubs (WG) to forests (WS) in national nature reserves. The results showed that during the forest succession process, the dominant nematode communities in the WC and WG stages were dominated by the genera Apis and Labroidei, while the dominant genera increased in the WS stage. The total abundance of nematodes increased, and the number of groups was ordered WG > WC > WS. The diversity in soil nematode communities according to Shannon–Wiener (H′), Pielou (J), and Trophic diversity (TD) was WS > WG > WC, which is related to vegetation, soil physical and chemical properties, and microbial community structure. The maturity index (MI) was WG > WS > WC. The soil food web was dominated by bacterial channels and had characteristics in forest metabolic activity and regulation ability. At different soil depths, there were significant differences in the community, with species such as the spiny cushioned blade genus being key. The number and group size of nematodes varied from 0–10 cm > 10–20 cm > 20–30 cm. The relative abundance of feeding nematodes changed with depth, while diversity indices such as H′, J, and TD decreased with depth. Ecological function indices such as MI and PPI showed depth variation patterns, while basic indices (BI) and channel indices (CI) showed significant differences. In terms of soil variables, during the forest succession stage, soil organic carbon (SOC), soluble organic nitrogen (DON), easily oxidizable organic carbon (ROC), microbial biomass carbon (MBC), and microbial biomass nitrogen (MBN) showed a gradually increasing trend with WC-WG-WS, while total nitrogen (TN), soluble organic carbon (DOC), soil temperature (ST), and soil moisture (SM) showed opposite changes. There were significant differences in soil ST, SM, and DON values with succession (p < 0.05). At different soil depths, except for DON and ROC, which increased first and then decrease with depth, the values of other physical and chemical factors and active carbon and nitrogen components at depths of 0–10 cm were higher than those at other depths and decreased with depth. An analysis of variance showed significant differences in MBC and MBN values at different soil depths (p < 0.05), which is of great significance for a deeper understanding of the mechanism of soil nematode community construction and its relationship with the environment. Full article

Manganese ore, as an important strategic metal resource for the country, was subject to unreasonable mining practices and outdated smelting technologies in early China, leading to severe ecological damage in mining areas. This study examines the trends in vegetation cover change in the historical manganese mining areas of Yongzhou under the influence of policy, providing technical references for mitigating the ecological impact of these legacy mining areas and offering a basis for adjusting mine restoration policies. This paper takes the manganese mining area in Yongzhou City, Hunan Province as a case study and selects multiple periods of Landsat satellite images from 2000 to 2023. By calculating the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) and the Fractional Vegetation Coverage (FVC), the spatiotemporal changes and driving factors of vegetation coverage in the Yongzhou manganese mining area from 2000 to 2023 were analyzed. The analysis results show that, in terms of time, from 2000 to 2012, the vegetation coverage in the manganese mining area decreased from 0.58 to 0.21, while from 2013 to 2023, it gradually recovered from 0.21 to 0.40. From a spatial perspective, in areas where artificial reclamation was conducted, the vegetation was mainly mildly and moderately degraded, while in areas where no artificial restoration was carried out, significant vegetation degradation was observed. Mining activities were the primary anthropogenic driving force behind the decrease in vegetation coverage, while effective ecological protection projects and proactive policy guidance were the main anthropogenic driving forces behind the increase in vegetation coverage in the mining area. Full article

In recent decades, excessive human activities have led to large-scale rocky desertification in karst areas. Vegetation restoration is one of the most important ways to control rocky desertification. In this study, vegetation surveys were conducted on three typical plantations in Jianshui County, Yunnan Province, a typical karst fault basin area, in 2016 and 2021. The plantations were Pinus massoniana forest (PM), Pinus yunnanensis forest (PY), and mixed forests of Pinus yunnanensis and Quercus variabilis (MF). Plant diversity and soil nutrients were compared during the five-year period. This paper mainly draws the following results: The plant diversity of PM, PY, and MF increased. With the increase of time, new species appeared in the tree layer, shrub layer, and herb layer of the three forests. Tree species with smaller importance values gradually withdrew from the community. In the tree layer, the Patrick index, Simpson index, and Shannon–Wiener index of the three forests increased significantly. The Pielou index changed from the highest for PM in 2016 to the highest for PY in 2021. In the shrub layer, the Pielou index of the three forests increased. The Patrick index changed from the highest for MF in 2016 to the highest for PY in 2021. There was no significant difference in species diversity index for the herb layer. With the increase of vegetation restoration time, the soil bulk density (BD) of the three forests decreased. There was no significant difference in soil total porosity (TP), soil capillary porosity (CP), and non-capillary porosity (NCP). The pH of PM increased significantly from 5.88~6.24 to 7.24~7.34. The pH of PY decreased significantly (p < 0.05). The contents of total nitrogen (TN) and ammonium nitrogen (NH₄⁺-N) in PY and MF decreased. The content of nitrate nitrogen (NO₃⁻-N) in the three forests increased significantly (p < 0.05). Total phosphorus (TP) content decreased in PM and MF. The content of available phosphorus (AP) in PM and PY increased. In general, with the increase of vegetation restoration time, plant diversity and soil physical and chemical properties have also been significantly improved. The results can provide important data support for vegetation restoration in karst areas. Full article

As one of China’s largest national parks, Sanjiangyuan National Park (SNP) plays a crucial role in preserving ecological security and biodiversity. Conducting a scientific evaluation of dynamic changes in vegetation ecological quality and landscape patterns within the park is essential for ensuring its sustainable development and conservation as a national ecological security barrier. This study analyzed the spatial and temporal dynamics of vegetation ecological quality index (VEQI) and Landscape Pattern Metrics (LPM) in SNP using the VEQI model and Fragstats 4.2.1, along with spatial correlation analyses spanning from 2007 to 2022. The findings indicated an overall upward trend in VEQI, with a notable increase of approximately 38.88% over the 15-year period. Particularly in the Yangtze River Source Park, VEQI exhibited the most significant increase, reaching 48.99%. Furthermore, forest and shrub cover types displayed higher VEQI values and demonstrated an increasing trend, signifying significant ecological improvement in these ecosystems. Regarding landscape patterns, patch density (PD) and landscape shape index (LSI) demonstrated an increasing trend, while average patch area and edge density (ED) gradually decreased, indicating a rising level of landscape fragmentation. High values of the largest patch index (LPI) were primarily concentrated in the Lancangjiang source park, the Yellow River source park, and the southern part of the Yangtze River source, suggesting greater ecological connectivity in these regions. Spatial autocorrelation analysis between VEQI and LPM revealed significant spatial heterogeneity. Specifically, VEQI exhibited positive correlations with LPI and mean patch area, while showing negative correlations with PD, ED, PR, TE, NP, and mean shape index. This indicates that areas with lower vegetation ecological quality tend to exhibit higher landscape fragmentation and complexity. The study’s findings highlight the increasing trend in VEQI and changing landscape fragmentation within SNP, offering a scientific foundation for ecological protection policy formulation and sustainable park development. Full article

In arid regions, climatic fluctuations significantly affect vegetation structure and function. Sun-induced chlorophyll fluorescence (SIF) can quantify certain physiological parameters of vegetation but has limitations in characterizing responses to climate change. This study analyzed the spatiotemporal differences in response to climate change across various ecological regions and vegetation types from 2000 to 2020 in Xinjiang. According to China’s ecological zoning, R1 (Altai Mountains-Western Junggar Mountains forest-steppe) and R5 (Pamir-Kunlun Mountains-Altyn Tagh high-altitude desert grasslands) represent two ecological extremes, while R2–R4 span desert and forest-steppe ecosystems. We employed the standardized precipitation evapotranspiration index (SPEI) at different timescales to represent drought intensity and frequency in conjunction with global OCO-2 SIF products (GOSIF) and the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) to assess vegetation growth conditions. The results show that (1) between 2000 and 2020, the overall drought severity in Xinjiang exhibited a slight deterioration, particularly in northern regions (R1 and R2), with a gradual transition from short-term to long-term drought conditions. The R4 and R5 ecological regions in southern Xinjiang also displayed a slight deterioration trend; however, R5 remained relatively stable on the SPEI24 timescale. (2) The NDVI and SIF values across Xinjiang exhibited an upward trend. However, in densely vegetated areas (R1–R3), both NDVI and SIF declined, with a more pronounced decrease in SIF observed in natural forests. (3) Vegetation in northern Xinjiang showed a significantly stronger response to climate change than that in southern Xinjiang, with physiological parameters (SIF) being more sensitive than structural parameters (NDVI). The R1, R2, and R3 ecological regions were primarily influenced by long-term climate change, whereas the R4 and R5 regions were more affected by short-term climate change. Natural grasslands showed a significantly stronger response than forests, particularly in areas with lower vegetation cover that are more structurally impacted. This study provides an important scientific basis for ecological management and climate adaptation in Xinjiang, emphasizing the need for differentiated strategies across ecological regions to support sustainable development. Full article

Salt marshes are declining due to the dual pressures of coastal erosion and land reclamation. However, there remains a lack of quantitative analysis regarding this reduction process and its driving mechanisms. This study examines the dynamics and influencing factors of salt marsh vegetation along the eroding coastline of Sheyang County, Jiangsu Province, China, between 1985 and 2020, using remote sensing to analyze changes in artificial coastlines, water boundaries, vegetation front edge, and its topography. Our results showed an extensive seaward movement of artificial coastlines due to reclamation, coupled with severe reductions in salt marsh area and width. Coastal erosion further caused a 10.5% decline in vegetation elevation and a 46.7% increase in slope steepness, amplifying vulnerability to wave action. Native species were largely replaced by Spartina alterniflora, reducing ecological diversity. Currently, human pressure on the landward side has been alleviated; thus, addressing coastal erosion is vital to preventing the further loss of salt marshes. Sediment retention engineering and native vegetation restoration efforts can gradually facilitate the recovery of salt marshes. This study provided critical insights for sustainable coastal management under bidirectional pressures. Full article

This study aims to analyze the impact of sea-level rise and tropical cyclones on mangroves in the context of global climate change from 1993 to 2023, and to explore the development status, co-operative relationships and future trends in this research field. In order to analyze future research directions for mangroves in the context of climate, this study also provides an important basis and reference for the development of research related to the mitigation of natural disasters. Using CNKI and the Web of Science as data sources, this study employs the bibliometric tool CiteSpace 6.3 R1 to conduct a quantitative and visual analysis of the research field. The research findings indicate the following: (1) The volume of publications in this field has been increasing year by year; especially since 2010, the rate of increase has accelerated, indicating an increased academic interest in this area. (2) From the authorship maps of the two data sources, it can be observed that the collaboration network is dense, indicating the existence of co-operative relationships among researchers. (3) From the analysis of the keywords, it is evident that, with the rise of artificial intelligence, the focus of keywords has gradually shifted from traditional mangrove mechanism research and ecosystem studies to research on mangroves that integrates big data, artificial intelligence, and high-resolution remote sensing data. (4) As time has progressed, areas of research interest have been shifting from the study of disturbances and damage to mangrove vegetation to the study of mangrove resilience and vulnerability in the context of natural disasters, their carbon sequestration capabilities, and their protective functions against wind and waves. The use of remote sensing technology for the monitoring and conservation of mangroves has emerged as a key area of focus for future research. In future research, there will be a focus on the adaptive capacity of mangroves to varying degrees of sea-level rise and the increasing frequency of tropical cyclones, as well as on what measures can be taken to enhance the resilience of mangrove ecosystems. Quantitative and visual analysis of the development trends in this field can provide a reference for the construction of a disaster monitoring platform for mangroves affected by sea-level rise and tropical cyclones, and can aid the development of research aimed at mitigating the impacts of natural disasters. Furthermore, the integration of remote sensing technology and ecological models can facilitate more detailed research, offering more effective tools and strategies for the conservation and management of mangroves. This approach also provides a reference point for developing a monitoring platform for mangrove disasters associated with sea-level rise and the impact of tropical cyclones. Full article

When vegetable waste (VW) is used as a sole substrate for anaerobic digestion (AD), the rapid accumulation of volatile fatty acids (VFAs) can impede interspecies electron transfer (IET), resulting in a relatively low biogas production rate. In this study, Chinese cabbage and cabbage were selected as the VW substrates, and four continuous stirred tank reactors (CSTRs) were employed. Different concentrations of biochar-loaded nano-Fe₃O₄(Fe₃O₄@BC) (100 mg/L, 200 mg/L, 300 mg/L) were added, and the organic loading rate (OLR) was gradually increased during the AD process. The changes in biogas production rate, VFAs, and microbial community structure in the fermentation tanks were analyzed to identify the optimal dosage of Fe₃O₄@BC and the maximum OLR. The results indicated that at the maximum OLR of 3.715 g (VS)/L·d, the addition of 200 mg/L of Fe₃O₄@BC most effectively promoted an increase in the biogas production rate and reduced the accumulation of VFAs compared to the other treatments. Under these conditions, the biogas production rate reached 0.658 L/g (VS). Furthermore, the addition of Fe₃O₄@BC enhanced both the diversity and abundance of bacteria and archaea. At the genus level, the abundance of Christensenellaceae_R-7_group, Sphaerochaeta, and the archaeal genus Thermovirga was notably increased. Full article

Senegalese cities have experienced rapid urbanisation, leading to profound landscape changes. Dakar, one of Senegalese’s fastest-growing cities, is experiencing rapid urban expansion, significantly reducing green spaces. These green spaces, essential for urban sustainability and resilience, have become increasingly scarce, affecting the city’s environment and the quality of life for its residents. This study aims to assess the spatiotemporal changes in Dakar’s green spaces from 1990 to 2022. Using satellite imagery, this study produces land use maps to quantify green space coverage over the years. The results show a gradual decline in green spaces in Dakar between 1990 and 2022. In 1990, green spaces covered an estimated 13.36% of Dakar’s area, which decreased significantly to 9.54% by 2022. In contrast, other land uses, such as built-up areas, increased significantly over this period, rising from 19.23% in 1990 to 39.34% in 2022. Moreover, built-up areas are not the sole contributor to the reduction of green spaces in Dakar. The study revealed that, between 1990 and 2022, 5.49% of green spaces were converted into bare soil due to excessive tree cutting. This pattern highlights the growing challenge of green space availability as built-up areas expand rapidly, particularly when growth is unplanned. This study underscores the importance of sustainable urban planning that integrates the protection and conservation of Dakar’s vegetation to preserve vital ecosystem services. Full article

The gradual decline in feed resources for livestock needs alternate ways to ensure non-stop feed supply throughout the year. The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of vegetable waste and rice straw silage (VTRS) on immune response, antioxidant status, and microbial changes in duodenum and caecum in Hu sheep. Eight healthy male Hu sheep were randomly distributed into control (fed farm roughage) and VTRS (fed vegetable waste silage) groups for 35 days. Results had shown that silage had less mycotoxin content (p < 0.05). The VTRS increased butyrate content in duodenal digesta, while acetate, butyrate, total volatile fatty acids (TVFA), and valerate were enhanced in caecal digesta (p < 0.05). The VTRS also increased amylase activity in duodenum and ileum tissues, along with GLUT2 and SGLT1 expressions. In serum, Interleukin-10 (IL-10) concentration and total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) were increased while malondialdehyde (MDA) was decreased. An increase in T-AOC and GSH-Px activity was also observed, along with increased IL-6, immunoglobulin A (IgA), and catalase in duodenum tissue (p < 0.05). Prevotella was increased in the duodenum and caecum, with Prevotellacae UCG-001 and Christensenellacae R-7 group representing the VTRS group in the duodenum (p < 0.05). KEGG pathway prediction also indicated the enrichment of energy metabolism-related pathways. Significant microbes had shown a significant correlation with immune parameters. It can be concluded that vegetable waste silage has the ability to improve antioxidant status, enhance energy metabolism, and balance intestinal microbiota in Hu sheep. Full article

Exploring NPP changes and their corresponding drivers is significant for the achievement of sustainable ecosystem management and in addressing climate change. This study aimed to explore the spatiotemporal variation in NPP and analyze the effects of vegetation and climate change on the global NPP from 2003 to 2020. Methodologically, the Theil–Sen and Mann–Kendall methods were used to study the spatiotemporal characteristics of global NPP change. Moreover, a ridge regression model was built by selecting the vegetation indicators of the leaf area index (LAI) and fraction vegetation coverage (FVC) and the climate factors of CO₂, shortwave downward solar radiation (R_sd), precipitation (P), and temperature (T). Then, the relative contributions of each factor were evaluated. The results showed that, over the previous two decades, the global mean NPP reached 503.43 g C m⁻² yr⁻¹, with a fluctuating upward trend of 1.52 g C m⁻² yr⁻¹. The regions with a significant increase in NPP (9.22 g C m⁻² yr⁻¹) were mainly located in Central Africa, while the regions with decreasing NPP (−3.21 g C m⁻² yr⁻¹) were primarily in the Amazon Rainforest in northern South America. Additionally, CO₂, the LAI, and the FVC exhibited positive contributions to the NPP trend, with the predominant factors being CO₂ (relative contribution of 32.22%) and the LAI (relative contribution of 21.96%). In contrast, the contributions of R_sd and precipitation were relatively low (<10%). In addition, the contributions varied at different land cover and climate zone scales. The CO₂, LAI, FVC, and temperature were the predominant factors affecting NPP across the vegetation types. At the scale of climate zones, CO₂ was the predominant factor influencing changes in vegetation NPP. As the climate gradually transitioned towards temperate and cold regions, the contribution of the LAI to NPP increased. The findings of this study help to clarify the effects of vegetation and climate change on the ecosystem, providing theoretical support for ecological environmental protection and other related initiatives. Full article