Article
Forestry
Yueming Liang, Xunyang He, Xiangbi Chen, Yirong Su, Fujing Pan, Lening Hu
Summary: The study revealed that plants associated with symbiotic nitrogen-fixers have low frequency in karst shrub ecosystems, while soil free-living nitrogen-fixing bacteria community structure varies among different topographies and plant types. Plant type has a predominant effect on bacterial community structure, with topography and soil pH having minor effects. A negative correlation between the abundance of soil free-living nitrogen-fixing bacteria and the richness index for plants associated with symbiotic nitrogen-fixers was observed.
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Hui Wei, Yusong Deng, Liwen Lin, Jinyue Wang, Juan Huang
Summary: This study investigates the relationship between soil structure and nutrient content during vegetation restoration in a karst peak-cluster depression. The results show that vegetation restoration enhances the formation of larger soil aggregates and increases the content of organic matter and nutrients. The composition of soil aggregates determines the distribution of nutrients.
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Feng Tianjiao, Ji Mingxin, Wang Yixin, Wang Dong, Xin Zhiming, Xiao Huijie, Li Junran
Summary: Four typical farmland shelterbelt patterns in the desert oasis ecotones of Hetao irrigated area were studied, and their effects on soil properties, vegetation attributes, microclimate, and soil water, carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus storage were analyzed. The results showed that the four-line pattern had higher soil organic content, total nitrogen content, and total phosphorus content, as well as the highest soil water, carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus storage. The findings provide a useful theoretical basis for agricultural management and ecological restoration in ecofragile regions.
Review
Ecology
Nicholas J. J. Russo, Andrew B. B. Davies, Rachel V. V. Blakey, Elsa M. M. Ordway, Thomas B. B. Smith
Summary: Vegetation structure and animal ecology form a feedback mechanism, where each influences the other. By integrating separate lines of research and utilizing remote sensing and animal tracking technologies, we can understand the consequences of these feedback loops for ecosystem functioning. Understanding how animals interact with vegetation structure in feedback loops is crucial for conserving ecosystems facing disruptions from climate and land-use change.
Article
Engineering, Marine
Thibault Laigre, Yann Balouin, Deborah Villarroel-Lamb, Alexandre Nicolae Lerma, Nico Valentini, Manuel Moisan, Ywenn de la Torre
Summary: Increasing evidence suggests that coastal ecosystems play a significant role in coastal flooding mitigation. However, human activities and climate change have negatively impacted these ecosystems, reducing their extent and limiting their protective function. To assess the impact of different ecosystem health statuses on coastal inundation, a numerical modeling approach was used. The results highlight the potential of multiple ecosystems working together for coastal protection, warn against further destruction of these ecosystems, emphasize the importance of vegetation in sea-level rise scenarios, and provide strategies to mitigate the effects of reef degradation.
JOURNAL OF MARINE SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Yu Zhao, Zhongti Sun, Yuyang Yi, Chen Lu, Menglei Wang, Zhou Xia, Xueyu Lian, Zhongfan Liu, Jingyu Sun
Summary: This study investigates the effects of edge-N and graphitic-N doping on potassium-ion storage in carbon anodes, providing guidance for the design of low-cost and high-performance PIB systems.
Article
Agronomy
Xinhao Li, Tianshan Zha, Peng Liu, Charles P. -A. Bourque, Xin Jia, Yun Tian, Chuan Jin, Xiaoshuai Wei, Xinyue Liu, Hongxian Zhao, Qingfeng Xu, Shaorong Hao
Summary: Carbon gains and water losses are crucial for assessing vegetation recovery potential in drylands. This study examined the interannual variability and key controls of carbon and water vapor fluxes in a semiarid grassland ecosystem in northern China. The results suggest that temperature and atmospheric aridity play important roles in regulating carbon gains and water losses in recovering dryland vegetation, and future climate change may enhance the transition from grass to shrub cover in the region.
AGRICULTURAL AND FOREST METEOROLOGY
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Caixia Liu, Huabing Huang, Fangdi Sun
Summary: The impact of Arctic warming on vegetation greenness is complex and variable, differing across regions. This study found that the Russian tundra region has lower spatial resolution in greenness trend analysis, indicating a need for higher resolution images and field measurement studies to better understand vegetation trends.
Article
Forestry
Cecilia Smith-Ramirez, Jessica Castillo-Mandujano, Pablo Becerra, Nicole Sandoval, Rosario Allende, Rodrigo Fuentes
Summary: The study evaluated the post-fire recovery of sites in the Chilean Mediterranean vegetation 20-30 years after the last fire. It found that sites burned once and twice had similar vegetation cover, but three consecutive fires reduced cover, richness, and abundance, even 20 years after the fire.
FOREST ECOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Mark Baah-Acheamfour, Mark Dewey, Erin C. Fraser, Stefan G. Schreiber, Amanda Schoonmaker
Summary: This study provides a quantitative evaluation of the effectiveness of past and current reclamation criteria in boreal Alberta, Canada. The results indicate that the current criteria are more effective in promoting ecosystem recovery. Changes to the criteria, including metrics around soil quality, woody stem requirements, and native plant coverage, have positive impacts on the recovery process.
FRONTIERS IN FORESTS AND GLOBAL CHANGE
(2022)
Article
Plant Sciences
Fiona M. Seaton, David A. Robinson, Don Monteith, Inma Lebron, Paul Buerkner, Sam Tomlinson, Bridget A. Emmett, Simon M. Smart
Summary: Sulphur deposition through rainfall has caused species loss and ecosystem degradation globally. This study analyzes data from thousands of sites across Great Britain and finds that reductions in sulphur emissions have led to gradual recovery of acidified ecosystems in low-intensity habitats, but not in high-intensity habitats. Nitrogen deposition has no additional effect on soil acidity once sulphur deposition is accounted for.
JOURNAL OF ECOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Wenqing Li, Yaojun Liu, Han Zheng, Jin Wu, Haiqun Yuan, Xi Wang, Wenbin Xie, Yue Qin, Huade Zhu, Xiaodong Nie, Zhongwu Li
Summary: Steep terrace walls are often subject to erosion and soil degradation due to lack of vegetation cover. The contents and stoichiometry of soil aggregate carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus (C-N-P) can reflect nutrient status, cycling, and limitation. This study found that the proportion of macroaggregates, stability of aggregates, and C-N-P contents and stoichiometry in terrace walls increased with increasing vegetation pattern complexity and recovery times. Vegetation recovery time had a greater influence on C-N-P contents and stoichiometry through soil properties and aggregate size composition. The colonization of mosses on bare terrace walls is crucial for improving soil nutrients and forming a stable ecological environment. These findings provide a theoretical basis for the ecological restoration of steep slopes and the function of terraces.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Yong Zhou, Jenia Singh, John R. Butnor, Corli Coetsee, Peter B. Boucher, Madelon F. Case, Evan G. Hockridge, Andrew B. Davies, A. Carla Staver
Summary: This study provides one of the first direct estimates of the impact of over 60 years of fire exclusion in African savannas, showing that fire suppression can increase whole-ecosystem carbon storage but to a lesser extent than previously assumed, with significant belowground carbon reserves being overlooked.
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Hongying Yu, Quanhui Ma, Xiaodi Liu, Yibo Li, Lang Li, Miao Qi, Wenjuan Wu, Yuhui Wang, Zhenzhu Xu, Guangsheng Zhou, Feng Zhang
Summary: The study conducted a field experiment in the desert steppe of Inner Mongolia to examine the responses of plant communities to precipitation and nitrogen deposition fluctuations. It found that altered precipitation patterns caused by nitrogen deposition significantly impact vegetation productivity, particularly in terms of drought resistance and recovery. Perennial species, C3 plants, and forbs were identified as key contributors to variations in vegetation productivity in response to changes in precipitation regimes.
JOURNAL OF CLEANER PRODUCTION
(2021)
Article
Forestry
Farkhanda Bibi, Kyle W. Tomlinson, Chenggang Liu, Chang'an Liu, Yanqiang Jin, Jianwei Tang
Summary: This study examined the changes in fine root production and soil available nutrients at different soil depths in rubber monoculture and rubber-Flemingia macrophylla agroforestry of different stand ages. The results showed that root production and macronutrient concentrations generally decreased with increasing soil depth. Fine root production was highest in the youngest stand age of rubber monoculture, while root growth and soil available P and K were lower in the agroforestry system compared to monoculture.
