Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Chao Luo, Xiaoping Guo, Changdong Feng, Chaoqun Xiao
Summary: Close-to-nature restoration of mining areas is recognized for promoting ecosystem resilience and mitigating biodiversity losses. A field study in an arid mining area in northwestern China found that disturbances affect seed banks and their potential for vegetation restoration. Mild-to-moderate disturbances had limited negative effects on the soil seed bank. The study highlights the significance of soil seed banks for ecological recovery in arid mining areas.
ECOLOGICAL INDICATORS
(2023)
Article
Agronomy
Tereza Maskova, Shyam S. Phartyal, Mehdi Abedi, Maik Bartelheimer, Peter Poschlod
Summary: This study monitored the long-term effects of moisture and substrate on seed persistence. The results showed that moisture levels were the main driver for seed persistence, and different species had different seed viability in the soil. The classification of soil seed bank type should consider both environmental factors and seed germination traits.
Article
Forestry
Christian Adjalla, Felicien Tosso, Kolawole Valere Salako, Achille Ephrem Assogbadjo
Summary: This study investigated the characteristics of the soil seed bank in a protected tropical semi-deciduous dense forest in Benin, West Africa, and found that herbaceous plants dominated the SSB, while the distribution of tree species varied significantly among different vegetation types.
FOREST ECOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Miaojun Ma, Carol C. Baskin, Yunpeng Zhao, Hang An
Summary: Some research aimed to understand the mechanism of plant assembly and the role of seed bank in degraded grassland restoration. Samples from different secondary successional stages were exposed to different light treatments to evaluate species richness, seed density, species composition, and seed mass of the germinated species in soil samples. The results showed that light intensity change significantly affected species composition and seed recruitment.
ECOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Hang An, Carol C. Baskin, Miaojun Ma
Summary: Grazing disturbance has a nonlinear effect on both plant community and seed bank, with persistent seed banks being more important than transient ones in plant community regeneration.
JOURNAL OF APPLIED ECOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Agronomy
Mingrui He, Chunming Xin, Carol C. Baskin, Jinghua Li, Yunpeng Zhao, Hang An, Xiongjie Sheng, Liang Zhao, Yin Zhao, Miaojun Ma
Summary: The study found that decreasing soil moisture directly led to an increase in richness and density of the transient seed bank, and indirectly led to a decrease in density of the transient seed bank and an increase in richness and density of the persistent seed bank through soil pH and richness and abundance of vegetation. As wetlands degraded, the similarity between the seed bank and vegetation increased.
Article
Ecology
Taylor N. Turner, Thomas J. Dean, Jeff S. Kuehny
Summary: Native hardwood regeneration in the southeast United States is hindered by repeat disturbance events and the presence of invasive species. A study indicated that the presence of Chinese privet may inhibit native hardwood establishment. Repeat measurements showed that Chinese privet remains highly present, there is no increase in regenerating individuals, and overstory trees density and basal area remain low. Therefore, management measures are needed to promote reproduction of native overstory tree species.
FRONTIERS IN FORESTS AND GLOBAL CHANGE
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Ya-Fei Shi, Shan-Heng Shi, Xiao-Min Huang, Ying-Sha Jiang, Jia Liu, Yang Zhao, Zhi-Shan Zhang
Summary: Livestock grazing has a negative effect on soil seed bank abundance, but does not alter seed bank richness or the compositional similarity between the soil seed bank and the aboveground vegetation. The impact of grazing intensity on soil seed bank richness varies, with light-intensity grazing increasing richness, moderate-intensity grazing having no effect, and heavy-intensity grazing having a negative effect. Soil seed bank richness declines with increasing grazing intensity in both arid and mesic areas.
LAND DEGRADATION & DEVELOPMENT
(2022)
Article
Plant Sciences
Cun-Zhi Jia, Jing-Jing Wang, Da-Li Chen, Xiao-Wen Hu
Summary: This research examined the seed dormancy, germination, and soil seed bank dynamics of Eruca sativa, a versatile cruciferous species. The study found that E. sativa seeds can germinate in a wide temperature range and exhibit non-deep physiological dormancy at maturity. The germination of seeds is sensitive to water and salinity stress. When buried in soil, the seeds form a persistent soil seed bank, but emergence is hindered when buried deeper than 5 cm. This species' germination characteristics allow it to adapt to the harsh low-temperature climate of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.
FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Forestry
Colin A. Chapman, Carmen Galan-Acedo, Jan F. Gogarten, Rong Hou, Michael J. Lawes, Patrick A. Omeja, Dipto Sarkar, Anna Sugiyama, Urs Kalbitzer
Summary: Tropical forests are important for biodiversity and climate change mitigation. A study in Kibale National Park, Uganda, found subtle changes in tree community over 40 years, significant increases in primate numbers, a substantial rise in the elephant population, and a local temperature increase. However, the specific interactions impacting tree community change remain unclear.
Article
Agronomy
Runqin Wu, Xueying Huo, Yunshu Wang, Zengfeng Li, Dexiang Wang
Summary: This study investigates the influence of different developmental stages on aboveground vegetation and soil seed banks in pine and oak forests in the Qinling Mountains. The results show that species richness of seed banks is highest in middle-aged forests, and seed density and abundance increase with forest developmental stages. The similarity between seed banks and aboveground vegetation is low, and the persistent soil seed bank contributes less to forest recovery.
Article
Agronomy
P. Kardol, T. Yang, D. N. Arroyo, F. P. Teste
Summary: Plant-soil feedback (PSF) is a crucial mechanism that controls plant growth and community diversity. It is influenced by external factors such as nutrient availability, water availability, and interactions with neighboring plants. Fire, as a complex external factor, can have significant effects on PSF by altering plant-soil biota interactions.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Zhenchang Zhu, Tjeerd J. Bouma, Qin Zhu, Yanpeng Cai, Zhifeng Yang
Summary: This study evaluated the response of cordgrass seed bank dynamics to changing physical disturbance at tidal flats, revealing that wave disturbance reduced the persistence of seeds on the surface, while amplified sediment disturbance lowered the persistence of both surface and buried seeds. This indicates that increasing storminess and associated sediment variability under climate change threatens seed bank persistence in tidal flats.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Plant Sciences
Alexandro B. Leverkus, Ines Polo, Claire Baudoux, Simon Thorn, Lena Gustafsson, Rafael Rubio de Casas
Summary: The study found that salvage logging does not have generalized detrimental effects on tree regeneration, with most effect moderators not significant. However, the effect size of salvage logging on tree density increases over time after logging, and tree density in old forests is less affected compared to young and intermediate-aged forests. Local conditions and species characteristics should be considered for potential impacts and their mitigation strategies.
JOURNAL OF ECOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Plant Sciences
Si-Chong Chen, Xiao-Wen Hu, Carol C. Baskin, Jerry M. Baskin
Summary: This study demonstrates that there is no trade-off between seed persistence and seedling emergence from the soil seed bank. Physically dormant seeds are more persistent but exhibit lower emergence. Monocarpic species have both higher persistence and emergence than polycarpic species. Seed mass has a marginal effect on persistence, while emergence increases nearly twofold from the smallest to the largest seeds.
Article
Ecology
Xuezheng Zong, Xiaorui Tian, Xianli Wang
Summary: Climate change has caused longer fire seasons and more intense wildfires worldwide, leading to significant economic and environmental impacts. A study conducted in Southwest China evaluated the effectiveness of different fuel treatment designs in mitigating wildfire risk under varying fire severity conditions. The results showed that fuel treatments were effective in reducing risk under low and normal fire severity scenarios, but their effectiveness was limited under high fire severity conditions.
LANDSCAPE AND URBAN PLANNING
(2024)
Article
Ecology
Jian Peng, Xiaoyu Wang, Huining Zheng, Zihan Xu
Summary: This study developed an index system to evaluate the trade-off between grain production service and water purification service in the Dongting Lake Basin. The results showed that converting cropland with high nitrogen output into forest land can minimize this trade-off.
LANDSCAPE AND URBAN PLANNING
(2024)
Article
Ecology
Francois Chiron, Romain Lorrilliere, Carmen Bessa-Gomes, Piotr Tryjanowski, Joan Casanelles-Abella, Lauri Laanisto, Ana Leal, Anskje Van Mensel, Marco Moretti, Babette Muyshondt, Ulo Niinemets, Marta Alos Orti, Pedro Pinho, Roeland Samson, Nicolas Deguines
Summary: In cities, green areas play a crucial role in biodiversity conservation, and the heterogeneity of land cover is an important factor. The relationship between area and heterogeneity affects the richness of bird species in urban green areas, with urban avoider species benefiting from large and heterogeneous patches.
LANDSCAPE AND URBAN PLANNING
(2024)
Article
Ecology
Aleksandra Lis, Karolina Zalewska, Pawel Iwankowski, Katarzyna Betkier, Paulina Bilska, Viktoriia Dudar, Aleksandra L. Lagiewka
Summary: Appleton's prospect-refuge theory suggests that the presence of dense vegetation, topography, and people in a park can influence the safety and privacy felt by visitors in different ways. This study aimed to understand the relationship between observation point height, vegetation location, presence of other people, and perceived privacy and safety. The results showed that flat or lower ground without the presence of others was considered the safest, while landscapes higher up with dense vegetation and no other people were rated highest in terms of privacy. The findings have practical implications in terms of providing privacy without compromising safety.
LANDSCAPE AND URBAN PLANNING
(2024)
Article
Ecology
Jianting Zhao, Guibo Sun, Chris Webster
Summary: This study developed a geospatial database to document the locations and urban environments of pandemic-induced street experiments on a global scale, and conducted quantitative analysis based on spatial and temporal visualizations. The study aims to enhance comparability of built environment indicators between cities and provide a robust foundation for future research on tactical urbanism.
LANDSCAPE AND URBAN PLANNING
(2024)
Article
Ecology
Huaqing Wang, Louis G. Tassinary
Summary: This study investigated the influence of urban greenspace spatial morphology on non-communicable diseases and found that neighborhoods with more connected, aggregated, coherent, and complex-shaped greenspace had a lower prevalence of these diseases. Such associations were mediated by air pollution and physical inactivity. The results suggest that the spatial morphology of designed urban greenspace plays a significant role in neighborhood health.
LANDSCAPE AND URBAN PLANNING
(2024)
Article
Ecology
Chiwei Xiao, Yi Wang, Mingyan Yan, Jeffrey Chiwuikem Chiaka
Summary: Regional integration initiatives, such as cross-border transportation corridors, have significant impacts on land use changes and landscape patterns. This study examines the China-Laos Railway as a case study to evaluate the extent and significance of these impacts. Using land-use data and geospatial analysis, the study quantifies and compares the effects of the railway on land use changes within a buffer zone along the corridor.
LANDSCAPE AND URBAN PLANNING
(2024)
Review
Ecology
Astrid Zabel, Mara-Magdalena Hausler
Summary: Developing a green infrastructure is an important environmental policy goal in many countries around the world. Different countries have different requirements on the spatial allocation of conservation sites for green infrastructure. Price-type and procedural instruments are commonly used, but the utilization of incentive mechanisms that internalize the benefit of clustering is relatively low. There is a need for more studies on incentive mechanisms and green infrastructure policies in the global South.
LANDSCAPE AND URBAN PLANNING
(2024)
Article
Ecology
Timothy Fraser, Olivia Feeley, Andres Ridge, Ava Cervini, Vincent Rago, Kelly Gilmore, Gianna Worthington, Ilana Berliavsky
Summary: This study examines the inequality of social infrastructure in Boston, finding significant racial and income disparities in access. These disparities have implications for the health and resilience of neighborhoods.
LANDSCAPE AND URBAN PLANNING
(2024)
Article
Ecology
Yutian Lu, Running Chen, Bin Chen, Jiayu Wu
Summary: The inequitable distribution of urban green spaces has become a significant concern, with variations found between cities in different development stages, and socioeconomic factors playing a crucial role in the spatial equity of urban green spaces.
LANDSCAPE AND URBAN PLANNING
(2024)
Article
Ecology
Di Chen, Jie Yin, Chia-Pin Yu, Shengjing Sun, Charlotte Gabel, John D. Spengler
Summary: Observational and experimental studies have shown that exposure to greenness is beneficial for long-term health and well-being. However, more evidence is needed regarding the short-term health impacts of nearby nature in urban areas. This study used immersive virtual reality technology to investigate how transitions between built and natural environments affect urban residents. Results showed that transitioning from built to natural environments led to reductions in negative mood and transient anxiety, while transitions from natural to built environments had the opposite effect. Additionally, participants showed more emotional responses to nature through physiological measures. The study also highlighted the influence of contextual factors, such as physical health conditions, stress levels, experience with nature, and growth environments, on stress recovery. Overall, this study provides empirical evidence supporting the promotion of nearby nature in urban built environments.
LANDSCAPE AND URBAN PLANNING
(2024)
Article
Ecology
Daniele Codato, Francesca Peroni, Massimo De Marchi
Summary: This study examines climate justice in the Ecuadorian Amazon Region (EAR), highlighting the multiple injustices caused by oil extraction activities. Using spatial analysis, the study shows that the EAR has been a major producer of oil since 1972, leading to environmental impacts such as oil spills and pollution. The results emphasize the need to include these territories in climate justice discussions and promote the rights to a non-toxic environment.
LANDSCAPE AND URBAN PLANNING
(2024)
Article
Ecology
Jingli Yan, Wendy Y. Chen, Zixiao Zhang, Wenxing Zhao, Min Liu, Shan Yin
Summary: Vegetation barriers are an effective strategy in urban planning to mitigate traffic-induced air pollution and reduce exposure. This study uses field measurements and numerical modeling to show that constructing vegetation barriers with short bushes can effectively reduce PM2.5 pollution in open-road environments, while higher coverage of tall bushes may worsen the pollution.
LANDSCAPE AND URBAN PLANNING
(2024)