Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Khikeya Semy, M. R. Singh, Wati Lemla, Wati Temjen
Summary: This study assessed the seasonal changes in soil parameters and soil quality in a tropical forest. The results showed significant differences in most parameters, except for clay content, electrical conductivity, and cation exchange capacity. Available nitrogen and electrical conductivity were identified as the most representative indicators of the soil system. The study also found that the highest soil quality index was recorded in the autumn season. Overall, the study highlights the influence of seasonal variations on soil characteristics and quality through their aggregate effects.
APPLIED BIOCHEMISTRY AND BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Soil Science
Severin-Luca Belle, Jean Riotte, Muddu Sekhar, Laurent Ruiz, Marcus Schiedung, Samuel Abiven
Summary: The study found that soil organic carbon stocks and quality in southwestern India are influenced by various factors including vegetation, geology, and soil properties. Importantly, a significant portion of organic carbon is stored in soils below 30 cm, highlighting the importance of tropical subsoils.
Article
Forestry
Samuel Mensah Opoku, Andrew J. Burton, Emmanuel Opuni-Frimpong
Summary: Tropical forest soils in Ghana were studied to quantify the carbon and nitrogen content in different forest cover types and soil depths. The results showed that deeper soil layers have the potential to store more carbon, and are less susceptible to forest disturbance. This highlights the importance of further quantifying and preserving this important soil carbon pool.
Article
Forestry
Alisson Borges Miranda Santos, Vinicius Andrade Maia, Cleber Rodrigo de Souza, Natalia de Aguiar-Campos, Aurelio de Jesus Rodrigues Pais, Wilder Bento da Silva, Nathalle Cristine Alencar Fagundes, Jean Daniel Morel, Rubens Manoel dos Santos
Summary: The study examined the impact of drought events on the composition and structure of plant communities within a riparian fragment, revealing a trend of drier climate that has the potential to affect vegetation structure patterns. The floristic-structural complexity of the study fragment was maintained during the monitoring period despite the changing hydrological regimes.
JOURNAL OF FORESTRY RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Forestry
Subhashree Pattnayak, M. Kumar, N. K. Dhal, Sudam C. Sahu
Summary: Secondary tropical forests sequester atmospheric CO2 at a faster rate in vegetation and soil compared to old-growth primary forests. Understanding the spatial distribution of biomass and carbon stocks in different plant functional types is crucial for these forests.
JOURNAL OF FORESTRY RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Victor Van der Meersch, Irie Casimir Zo-Bi, Bienvenu H. K. Amani, Justin Kassi N'dja, Anny Estelle N'Guessan, Bruno Herault
Summary: Most of the West African forests have disappeared or been fragmented due to deforestation, with reforestation projects also underway. The spread of Cedrela odorata in West African forests is linked to factors such as past fire occurrences, forest edge proximity, and hydromorphic soils. While the invasion of Cedrela odorata does not significantly impact above-ground biomass, it does have a strong negative effect on tree community diversity.
BIOLOGICAL INVASIONS
(2021)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Bienvenu H. K. Amani, Anny E. N'Guessan, Geraldine Derroire, Justin K. N'dja, Aka G. M. Elogne, Karidia Traore, Irie C. Zo-Bi, Bruno Herault
Summary: In West Africa, deforestation has led to the disappearance of over 80% of the original forest cover, but secondary forests are widespread. Limited knowledge exists on the recovery trajectories and environmental factors influencing recovery rates. Research shows that different dimensions of biodiversity recover at different rates, with factors like remnants and proximity to old-growth forests playing a positive role in recovery rates.
BIOLOGICAL CONSERVATION
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Raphael Manu, Marife D. Corre, Alfred Aleeje, Majaliwa J. G. Mwanjalolo, Fred Babweteera, Edzo Veldkamp, Oliver van Straaten
Summary: In a humid tropical forest in Uganda, the response of tree stem growth to nutrient additions varied based on tree sizes, species, and leaf habits. Nitrogen additions primarily increased growth in medium-sized trees and Lasiodiscus mildbraedii species. Potassium limitation was evident in semi-deciduous trees, while the role of phosphorus in promoting tree growth was not pronounced.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Justin D. Gay, Bryce Currey, E. N. J. Brookshire
Summary: The study found that soil nitrogen concentration in tropical montane forests significantly increases with elevation, while stable isotopes decrease, indicating reduced microbial nitrogen processing and lower gaseous nitrogen losses. Temperature plays a key role in nitrogen changes, with an apparent temperature sensitivity of around 1.9. These findings support the widespread microbial nitrogen limitation and high sensitivity to climate warming in tropical montane forest ecosystems.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Anna M. Stefanowicz, Pawel Kapusta, Malgorzata Stanek, Kaja Rola, Szymon Zubek
Summary: This study compared the effects of herbaceous plant species on soil physicochemical and microbial properties in forest ecosystems, and found that herbaceous plants have a significant impact on soil microbial communities, but have less influence on soil chemical properties.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
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
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Justin D. Gay, Bryce Currey, E. N. J. Brookshire
Summary: This study examines the topographic signatures of the tropical nitrogen cycle by investigating soil nitrogen content and stable isotopes in tropical montane forests across elevation gradients worldwide. The findings suggest that microbial nitrogen limitation is widespread in tropical montane forest ecosystems and that they are highly sensitive to climate warming.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Lourens Poorter, Danae M. A. Rozendaal, Frans Bongers, de Jarcilene S. Almeida, Francisco S. Alvarez, Jose Luis Andrade, Luis Felipe Arreola Villa, Justin M. Becknell, Radika Bhaskar, Vanessa Boukili, Pedro H. S. Brancalion, Ricardo G. Cesar, Jerome Chave, Robin L. Chazdon, Gabriel Dalla Colletta, Dylan Craven, Ben H. J. de Jong, Julie S. Denslow, Daisy H. Dent, Saara J. DeWalt, Elisa Diaz Garcia, Juan Manuel Dupuy, Sandra M. Duran, Mario M. Espirito Santo, Geraldo Wilson Fernandes, Bryan Finegan, Vanessa Granda Moser, Jefferson S. Hall, Jose Luis Hernandez-Stefanoni, Catarina C. Jakovac, Deborah Kennard, Edwin Lebrija-Trejos, Susan G. Letcher, Madelon Lohbeck, Omar R. Lopez, Erika Marin-Spiotta, Miguel Martinez-Ramos, Jorge A. Meave, Francisco Mora, Vanessa de Souza Moreno, Sandra C. Muller, Rodrigo Munoz, Robert Muscarella, Yule R. F. Nunes, Susana Ochoa-Gaona, Rafael S. Oliveira, Horacio Paz, Arturo Sanchez-Azofeifa, Lucia Sanaphre-Villanueva, Marisol Toledo, Maria Uriarte, Luis P. Utrera, Michiel van Breugel, Masha T. van der Sande, Maria D. M. Veloso, S. Joseph Wright, Katia J. Zanini, Jess K. Zimmerman, Mark Westoby
Summary: One-third of Neotropical forests are secondary forests that regrow naturally after agricultural use through secondary succession. Wet and dry forests show marked differences in functional traits and successional pathways. Climatic water availability influences the start and trajectory of succession, resulting in convergence of community trait values with forest age.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Sandra Baquie, Johannes Urpelainen, Sarika Khanwilkar, Christopher S. Galletti, Nandini Velho, Pinki Mondal, Harini Nagendra, Ruth DeFries
Summary: The study found that internal migration has the potential to alleviate poverty, but does not reduce forest degradation in the short term.
ECOLOGICAL ECONOMICS
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Manutai Thakrey, Lalji Singh, Manoj Kumar Jhariya, Anurag Tomar, Akhilesh Kumar Singh, Shalini Toppo
Summary: The tropical deforestation caused by biotic interference, land use change, and population explosion in Asian countries has raised global concerns regarding the conservation and protection of forest resources. Indian soils have limited nutrient reserves and organic matters. This study examines the influence of disturbance on phytosociology, vegetation carbon and nitrogen, and soil properties in a tropical deciduous forest in Chhattisgarh. The results show that disturbances alter forest attributes and result in a loss of biomass. Proper conservation, protection, and restoration of these forests are essential for improving carbon storage and ecological services.
LAND DEGRADATION & DEVELOPMENT
(2022)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Liliana Cadavid-Florez, Javier Laborde, Rakan A. Zahawi
ECOLOGICAL INDICATORS
(2019)
Article
Ecology
Natalia Mesa-Sierra, Javier Laborde, Federico Escobar
ACTA OECOLOGICA-INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ECOLOGY
(2020)
Article
Ecology
Liliana Cadavid-Florez, Javier Laborde, Douglas James Mclean
LANDSCAPE AND URBAN PLANNING
(2020)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Juan J. Von Thaden, Javier Laborde, Sergio Guevara, Pierre Mokondoko-Delgadillo
REVISTA MEXICANA DE BIODIVERSIDAD
(2020)
Article
Plant Sciences
Omar Hernandez-Davila, Javier Laborde, Vinicio J. Sosa, Claudia Gallardo-Hernandez, Cecilia Diaz-Castelazo
BOTANICAL SCIENCES
(2020)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Natalia Mesa-Sierra, Federico Escobar, Javier Laborde
REVISTA MEXICANA DE BIODIVERSIDAD
(2020)
Article
Plant Sciences
Juan Alberto Cervantes-Pasqualli, Javier Laborde
Summary: This study investigated the syconium development of two different life forms of fig trees in rainforest and pastures in Los Tuxtlas, Mexico. It found that there was no significant difference in the duration and process of syconium development between rainforest and pasture trees, with both species completing reproductive events in a relatively short time.
Article
Ecology
O. A. Hernandez-Davila, V. J. Sosa, J. Laborde
Summary: The study reveals that human activities in tropical montane cloud forest areas have led to land cover changes. The attributes of bird communities in riparian belts are influenced by vegetation and landscape structure. Tree height and the amount of urban area in the vicinity are positively correlated with bird abundance, while the abundance of forest interior birds is negatively correlated.
ECOLOGICAL ENGINEERING
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Juan Von Thaden, Helen Salazar-Arteaga, Javier Laborde, Israel Estrada-Contreras, Humberto Romero-Uribe
Summary: Agriculture is a major driver of deforestation globally, affecting the ecological dynamics of forest species. This study used high-resolution images to identify the arboreal elements of the Los Tuxtlas Biosphere Reserve and assessed landscape connectivity using graph theory. Old growth forest fragments and treed living fences had the greatest impact on connectivity.
ECOLOGICAL ENGINEERING
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Jorge H. Valencia, H. Mauricio Ortega-Andrade, Javier Laborde, Eduardo Pineda
Summary: The Cordillera del Condor is a discontinuous mountain range located parallel to the Eastern Andes, bordering Ecuador and Peru. It has unique geology, vegetation, and a wide variety of climates. A thorough evaluation based on databases, scientific literature, and field work shows that the CC is of great importance in terms of species diversity of amphibians and reptiles. With 165 amphibian species and 137 reptile species recorded, the CC has the greatest number of species among the compared cordilleras in South America. Its species composition is similar to that of the Kutuku and Kampankis cordilleras. The CC should be a high conservation priority due to its enormous regional importance in amphibian and reptile diversity.
Article
Ornithology
Omar A. Hernandez-Davila, Javier Laborde, Vinicio J. Sosa, Cecilia Diaz-Castelazo
Summary: The study focused on the interaction network between frugivorous birds and zoochorous plants in riparian strips of cloud forest in deforested landscapes of Central Veracruz, Mexico. The network consisted of 24 bird species and 30 plant species, with low connectance and moderate modularity. High centrality values of certain bird and plant species were found to be crucial for network stability, with the loss of these species severely undermining the network's robustness.
Article
Forestry
N. Mesa-Sierra, J. Laborde, R. Chaplin-Kramer, F. Escobar
Summary: This study reveals the importance of the highly fragmented tropical dry regions in the Neotropics for carbon storage and sequestration. The tree species in the study area have higher carbon content than the standard value proposed by the IPCC. Factors such as maximum precipitation, soil organic matter, clay and silt content drive the spatial variability in carbon stocks.
Article
Agriculture, Multidisciplinary
Beatriz Bolivar-Cime, Rafael Flores-Peredo, Scarlett Aislinn Garcia-Ortiz, Rene Murrieta-Galindo, Javier Laborde
ECOSISTEMAS Y RECURSOS AGROPECUARIOS
(2019)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Haihua Wang, Huaiyang Ke, Hongping Wu, Siyuan Ma, Muhammad Mohsin Altaf, Xiaoping Diao
Summary: Carbon storage in mangroves is crucial for mitigating climate change, but our understanding of this aspect is limited. This study investigated the seasonal changes in the carbon metabolic profile of microbial communities in mangrove soils on Hainan Island, China, and found that season plays a critical role in shaping the carbon functional diversity of microbial communities.
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Donghui Zhao, Congcong Shen, Zhi-Ming Zhang, Jichen Wang, Li-Mei Zhang, Baodong Chen, Guo-Xin Sun, Yuan Ge
Summary: By studying soil samples from different slope directions along an elevational gradient in a mountain ecosystem, we found that soil bacterial diversity and microbial functions exhibit distinct elevational patterns, which are consistent across slope directions. The bacterial diversity shows a hump-shaped pattern, while microbial functions exhibit a linear increasing trend. Additionally, the beta diversity pattern of soil bacteria is significantly influenced by elevational distance decay relationships. Soil bacterial diversity patterns are determined by transitions in community assembly processes, whereas microbial functions are mainly influenced by bacterial community composition.
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Guanfang Sun, Yan Zhu, Wei Mao, Yonghong Li, Jinzhong Yang, Zhaoliang Gao
Summary: This study developed a water and salt balance model to predict long-term water and salt dynamics in seasonally frozen arid agricultural regions. The model was validated in a region in China and showed that increasing autumn irrigation water can decrease soil salinity during the irrigation period, but has limited impact on long-term average soil salinity.
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Alfredo Mayoral, Ana Ejarque, Arnau Garcia-Molsosa, Mercourios Georgiadis, Giannis Apostolou, Vincent Gaertner, Constantina Kallintzi, Eurydice Kefalidou, Hector Orengo
Summary: This paper presents an integrated Geoarchaeological approach to studying the landscape change and socio-environmental interaction around ancient Abdera. The study uses a combination of remote sensing, geomorphological mapping, sedimentary coring, and radiocarbon dating to reconstruct the palaeogeographic evolution of the area. The results challenge previous narratives about the rise and decline of Abdera and provide new insights into the role of historical and environmental factors. It also introduces evidence of submerged Neolithic landscapes and the impact of anthropogenic forcing on the sedimentary systems.
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Jiale Chen, Michael Dannenmann, Qiang Yu, Yalong Shi, Matthew D. Wallenstein, Xinguo Han, Honghui Wu, Klaus Butterbach-Bahl
Summary: This study investigated the effects of temperature and moisture on soil nitrogen turnover through field experiments and laboratory incubation experiments. The results showed that soil temperature had a greater explanatory power than moisture in gross ammonification and nitrification rates. Climate warming may have a greater impact on gross nitrogen turnover compared to changes in rainfall.
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Zhen Han, Xiuchao Yang, Xiaoai Yin, Qian Fang, Longshan Zhao
Summary: This study investigated the effects of exposed root distribution patterns on rainfall-runoff processes. The results showed that the distribution patterns of exposed root had a significant impact on rainfall-runoff processes. A vertical slope arrangement was conducive to rainfall infiltration, a parallel slope arrangement resulted in more surface runoff, and a transverse slope arrangement could reduce water loss.
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Bo Zhao
Summary: Seismic earthflows, as special seismic landslides, have not received much attention in previous studies. This study analyzed the characteristics and movement of earthflows induced by recent earthquakes. The results showed that earthflows occur in high-rainfall areas and are sensitive to rainfall. Compared to other seismic landslides, seismic earthflows occur on gentler hills and have higher mobility.
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Tingxi Liu, Xueqin Wang, Mingyang Li, Dongfang Li, Limin Duan, Xin Tong, Guanli Wang
Summary: Soil respiration plays a crucial role in the global carbon cycle in arid and semi-arid regions, and is regulated by hydrothermal factors. This study examined the seasonal and diurnal dynamics of soil respiration in two typical ecosystems in northern China, and investigated their responses to precipitation, temperature, and drought. The results showed that soil respiration varied seasonally and diurnally, and its response to environmental factors depended on the ecosystem type and soil moisture status. Incorporating multiple factors into carbon cycle models can improve the simulation and prediction of carbon emissions in arid and semi-arid regions.
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Yaochen Xu, Ninghua Chen, Deguo Zhang, Bowen Gao, Xuhua Weng, Hongcheng Qiu
Summary: This study provides systematic investigation on how yardangs exert control over dune morphology, and reveals the intricate wind dynamics and mechanisms involved. Computational fluid dynamics modeling and remote sensing data further support the observations and shed light on the influences of yardangs on wind deposition and dune formation.
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Yuri Lopes Zinn, Welton Pereira da Rocha Jr
Summary: This study assessed the evolution of Journal Impact Factors (JIF) and related data in the field of Soil Science over a 26-year period, and compared it with the field of Agronomy. The results showed a significant growth in JIFs and output in Soil Science, with commercial scientific publishers' journals experiencing higher growth rates than non-profit journals. The study also highlighted the importance of considering not only JIF, but also the bibliometric footprint, in determining the relevance and leadership of journals in the discipline.
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Shanshan Liao, Xiaodong Nie, Aoqi Zeng, Wenfei Liao, Yi Liu, Zhongwu Li
Summary: Lake drawdown areas, where sediment is exposed due to water level fluctuations, have a significant impact on the carbon cycle. This study examined microbial necromass carbon (MNC) content and its contribution to soil organic carbon (SOC) in different habitats within the drawdown area of Dongting Lake. The results showed that MNC content varied among habitats and was primarily influenced by carbon and nitrogen availability, plant biomass, clay content, and soil moisture. External factors, such as plant and soil properties, played a more crucial role in the long-term accumulation of MNC. These findings enhance our understanding of MNC stability in drawdown areas.
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Vanessa Alves Mantovani, Marcela de Castro Nunes Santos Terra, Andre Ferreira Rodrigues, Carlos Alberto Silva, Li Guo, Jose Marcio de Mello, Carlos Rogerio de Mello
Summary: There is a lack of research on the potential of tropical soils in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest biome to store carbon. This study aimed to determine the soil carbon stocks at different depths, describe their temporal variability, and identify the main drivers that influence their variations. The results showed significant spatial and seasonal variability in soil carbon stocks, with a high accumulation in December and a low accumulation in August. The study also found that litterfall, throughfall, tree sizes, and soil moisture were important factors affecting the distribution of soil carbon.
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Anais Zimmer, Timothy Beach, Sheryl Luzzadder-Beach, Antoine Rabatel, Rolando Cruz Encarnacion, Joshua Lopez Robles, Edison Jara Tarazona, Arnaud J. A. M. Temme
Summary: Climate warming has accelerated glacial retreat and soil formation in mountainous regions. The accumulation of soil organic carbon and nitrogen is influenced by environmental factors, with maximum temperature and initial site conditions playing important roles in soil development.
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Ren-Min Yang, Lai-Ming Huang, Feng Liu
Summary: This study investigated the soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks in seasonally frozen ground (SFG) in the Tibet Autonomous Region, China, in 2020 and 2021, and explored the effects of various factors on SOC using partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM). The results showed that C inputs exerted the greatest control on SOC, and the influence of these factors decreased with increasing soil depth. Additionally, timely spatial SOC estimates were found to be important for assessing carbon stocks in the context of environmental changes.
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Shue Wei, Kuandi Zhang, Chenglong Liu, Youdong Cen, Junqiang Xia
Summary: This study analyzed the effects of different vegetation components on erosion through simulated rainfall experiments and found that litter had the best effect in reducing erosion, followed by roots. The study also revealed that the reduction in runoff and sediment by the treatments decreased with increasing rainfall intensity.