Article
Engineering, Civil
Jing Zhang, Junfeng Gao, Qing Zhu, Rui Qian, Qimou Zhang, Jiacong Huang
Summary: This study successfully characterized nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) loading in a mountain-lowland mixed watershed system by coupling different models. The investigation revealed that three watersheds (Nanfei, Pai and Baishitian River Watersheds) contributed significantly to N and P loading in Lake Chaohu Basin. Additionally, polders in the basin exhibited higher N and P retention capacity compared to mountain watersheds. Population density, precipitation intensity, and soil erosion were identified as critical drivers of N and P loss.
JOURNAL OF HYDROLOGY
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Yue Luo, Hengbin Xiao, Xiao Wu, Xian Wu, Yupeng Wu, Yanbin Jiang, Ronggui Hu
Summary: In citrus orchards in central China, reducing N fertilizer input and planting green manure are dominant measures for improving N use efficiency. This study found that reducing N fertilizer input can decrease total N losses but increase total P losses. Planting green manure can reduce total N losses but increase both total N and P losses during the ground mulching stage.
JOURNAL OF SOILS AND SEDIMENTS
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Yong Zhou, Arielle Biro, Michelle Y. Wong, Sarah A. Batterman, A. Carla Staver
Summary: The biogeochemical signature of fire affects the functioning of ecosystems by altering soil extracellular enzyme activities (EEAs) and nutrient cycles. Fire reduces EEAs by decreasing soil microbial biomass and organic matter substrates, resulting in a slower microbially mediated nutrient cycle, particularly for phosphorus. These effects may become increasingly important as fire frequency and severity continue to change in response to global change.
Article
Ecology
Carola Kiene, Eun-Young Jung, Bettina M. J. Engelbrecht
Summary: This study examined the effect of different nutrient conditions on the whole-plant drought responses in 13 common temperate grassland species. It found that the species' responses to drought varied under different nutrient conditions, which may explain the seemingly contradicting effects of drought on grassland composition and productivity along nutrient and land-use gradients – ranging from amplifying to dampening.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Tetsuro Kikuchi, Toshihiko Anzai, Takao Ouchi, Ken Okamoto, Yoshifumi Terajima
Summary: Excessive loadings of nitrogen and phosphorus, combined with imbalances in silicon, have a detrimental effect on water quality and ecosystems in receiving waters. This study conducted periodic water quality monitoring in rivers and streams on Ishigaki Island, Japan, to identify the factors influencing the concentrations of dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN), total phosphorus (TP), and dissolved silicon (DSi), with a focus on catchment characteristics. Using a machine learning algorithm called Random Forest (RF), predictive models were developed to estimate nutrient concentrations based on catchment properties. The results showed that agricultural land use significantly influenced DIN and TP concentrations, while broadleaf forests were the most important factor for DSi. Additionally, the study estimated the contributions of DIN from sugarcane fields and livestock barns to riverine DIN, which accounted for up to 60% of the total in the studied river basins. The findings also indicated that DIN from sugarcane fields is more likely to leach into groundwater and rivers in catchments dominated by calcareous geology. These results and methodology have implications for water quality assessment and management in both inland and coastal waters.
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Ethan D. Pawlowski, Diana L. Karwan, Randall K. Kolka
Summary: This study uses a user-friendly field-scale tool to model nutrient and sediment export reductions in the Fox River Watershed, Wisconsin, USA. The results show that targeted vegetation implementation can significantly reduce nutrient and sediment exports from agricultural areas. However, further parameter adjustments are needed to improve the accuracy of the model.
JOURNAL OF SOILS AND SEDIMENTS
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Sarah Stackpoole, Robert Sabo, James Falcone, Lori Sprague
Summary: This study quantified annual changes in nitrogen and phosphorus river loads and nutrient balances at the Mississippi River outlet. It was found that the river load response to watershed nutrient balances shifted between 1975 and 2017. The impacts of legacy nutrients and other latent factors on river nutrient load trends were evaluated, showing the potential importance of factors such as best management practices and changes in watershed buffering capacity.
WATER RESOURCES RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Kaveh G. Siah, Steven S. Perakis, Julie C. Pett-Ridge, Gregory van der Heijden
Summary: Nutrient limitation of tree growth can intensify when nutrients are lost to forest harvest, creating challenges for forest growth and sustainability. Forest harvest accelerates nutrient loss by removing nutrient-containing biomass and by increasing nutrient leaching, shaping patterns of nutrient depletion that cause long-term shifts in nutrient limitation.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Yali Wu, Jin Fu, Xiaoqi Kang, Xiaoying Zhan, Yuan Niu, Hui Yu
Summary: In crop production systems, the use of high rates of fertilizer application leads to significant losses of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) to the environment, causing air pollution and water body eutrophication. Quantifying daily N and P losses and their drivers in rice-rapeseed growing systems revealed significant trade-off relationships between daily uptake and surplus for N and P during the entire growing stages. Water input and leaching loss were found to contribute most to N and P loss in rice and rapeseed systems.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Jia Zhou, Yinghuai Wei, Kaibin Wu, Hao Wu, Xinyi Jiao, Mingpeng Hu, Dingjiang Chen
Summary: This study used the modified ELEMeNT-N model to quantify the legacy nitrogen effects in China and capture the spatial heterogeneity. The results showed that 88.2% of riverine nitrogen flux originated from the legacy nitrogen pool. The average nitrogen lag time was 11.9 years, with 219-239 kg N ha(-1) accumulated in soil and 143-188 kg N ha(-1) accumulated in groundwater. The study concluded that the ELEMeNT-N model is an effective tool for addressing legacy nitrogen dynamics and provides critical information for optimizing watershed nitrogen pollution control strategies.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH LETTERS
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Dongyang Ren, Bernard Engel, Johann Alexander Vera Mercado, Tian Guo, Yaoze Liu, Guanhua Huang
Summary: Identifying key processes and sources of water and nutrient losses is crucial in watershed management. This study used the SWAT model to simulate water and nutrient balance in an agricultural watershed in the U.S. Corn Belt. The results showed that the corn-soybean rotation system was the main contributor to nitrogen and phosphorus inputs and losses, and the non-growing season was identified as the critical period for water and nutrient losses.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Lorrayne Miralha, Rebecca L. Muenich, Donald Scavia, Karlie Wells, Allison L. Steiner, Margaret Kalcic, Anna Apostel, Samantha Basile, Christine J. Kirchhoff
Summary: This study compares different bias correction methods on nutrient loads and hydrological processes in waterbodies, showing that the choice of method significantly impacts predictions. In a changing climate scenario, nutrient loads in the Maumee basin are expected to decrease.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2021)
Article
Food Science & Technology
R. W. McDowell, C. A. Rotz, J. Oenema, K. A. Macintosh
Summary: Pasture-based and grass-fed branding are often associated with consumer perceptions of improved human health, environmental performance and animal welfare. However, there is insufficient evidence to suggest that grazed dairy systems have lower nutrient losses than confined ones, and trade-offs exist between systems at farm scale.
Article
Food Science & Technology
R. W. McDowell, C. A. Rotz, J. Oenema, K. A. Macintosh
Summary: This study examined the impacts of different dairy farming systems on nitrogen and phosphorus losses from land globally, finding that confined systems performed best in terms of productivity, while grazed systems could mitigate animal welfare issues to a certain extent.
Article
Environmental Sciences
F. S. Pacheco, J. P. H. B. Ometto, L. Gomes, K. Tosto, M. Miranda, S. Loverde-Oliveira, D. D. Pessi, C. Cox
Summary: The study found that phosphorus balance in cropping systems in the Vermelho River watershed in Upper Pantanal, Brazil, is positive, while in grazing systems it tends to be negative. The positive balance in cropping systems is mainly due to high phosphorus inputs from mineral fertilizers and high soil phosphorus sorbing capacities, while the negative balance in grazing systems is a result of nutrient removal without replenishment.
JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH-BIOGEOSCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Iuliia Burdun, Michel Bechtold, Valentina Sagris, Viacheslav Komisarenko, Gabrielle De Lannoy, Ulo Mander
Article
Plant Sciences
Katerina Machacova, Libor Borak, Thomas Agyei, Thomas Schindler, Kaido Soosaar, Ulo Mander, Claudine Ah-Peng
Summary: The study found that in a tropical lowland rainforest situated on a basaltic lava flow on Reunion Island, trees and cryptogams have a significant potential for absorbing CH4 and N2O, impacting greenhouse gas fluxes. The volcanic tropical lowland rainforest appears to be an important CH4 sink, as well as a possible N2O sink.
Article
Ecology
Riin Tamme, Meelis Partel, Urmas Koljalg, Lauri Laanisto, Jaan Liira, Ulo Mander, Mari Moora, Ulo Niinemets, Maarja Opik, Ivika Ostonen, Leho Tedersoo, Martin Zobel
Summary: The distribution of nitrogen-fixing plant species worldwide shows regional hotspots and coldspots related to environmental conditions and biogeographical history. The diversity and relative richness of nitrogen-fixing plants are highest in warm and wet climates, dry biomes, Australasia, warm and dry climates, tropical and temperate grasslands, and Eurasia.
GLOBAL ECOLOGY AND BIOGEOGRAPHY
(2021)
Article
Limnology
Jacob S. Diamond, Florentina Moatar, Matthew J. Cohen, Alain Poirel, Cecile Martinet, Anthony Maire, Gilles Pinay
Summary: Research reveals that despite substantial changes in the ecological state of the middle Loire River, the declines in gross primary production and ecosystem respiration were relatively modest. The shift to a macrophyte-dominated state altered internal feedbacks and ecological effects, significantly impacting the overall health of the ecosystem.
LIMNOLOGY AND OCEANOGRAPHY
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Camille Vautier, Tamara Kolbe, Tristan Babey, Jean Marcais, Benjamin W. Abbott, Anniet M. Laverman, Zahra Thomas, Luc Aquilina, Gilles Pinay, Jean-Raynald de Dreuzy
Summary: The study indicates that predicting groundwater nitrate concentration can be effectively approximated with a limited number of key parameters, while historical nitrogen input time series can be simplified without substantially altering predictions. Mean and standard deviation of residence time distribution can help make reasonable predictions at watershed to regional scales.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2021)
Article
Forestry
Thomas Schindler, Katerina Machacova, Ulo Mander, Jordi Escuer-Gatius, Kaido Soosaar
Summary: Tree stems play a crucial role in the dynamics of forest methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O) flux, acting as a transporter for soil-produced gases rather than a producer. Seasonal dynamics were observed due to changing environmental conditions, but no significant diurnal variability in greenhouse gas fluxes between daytime and nighttime was found in this study.
Article
Meteorology & Atmospheric Sciences
Ulo Mander, Alisa Krasnova, Jordi Escuer-Gatius, Mikk Espenberg, Thomas Schindler, Katerina Machacova, Jaan Parn, Martin Maddison, J. Patrick Megonigal, Mari Pihlatie, Kuno Kasak, Ulo Niinemets, Heikki Junninen, Kaido Soosaar
Summary: Riparian forests are considered hotspots of nitrogen cycling, with climate warming accelerating the process. High soil emissions of N2O in riparian forests are mainly processed in the canopy, with rapid water content changes and freeze-thaw periods being major factors contributing to elevated soil emissions. Eddy covariance measurements suggest that riparian forests are a moderate source of N2O, with photochemical reactions and dissolution in canopy-space water proposed as reduction mechanisms.
NPJ CLIMATE AND ATMOSPHERIC SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Jacob S. Diamond, Susana Bernal, Amine Boukra, Matthew J. Cohen, David Lewis, Matthieu Masson, Florentina Moatar, Gilles Pinay
Summary: An explosion in high frequency dissolved oxygen (DO) observations at river network scales is providing new opportunities to understand dynamic signals in streams and rivers. Simple DO metrics are useful proxies of stream metabolism, capturing key features of its spatiotemporal variation, and predicting patterns in dissolved organic matter quality and catchment nitrogen processing via denitrification. However, DO metrics were less successful as proxies for ecosystem respiration, and the relationships with dissolved organic matter quality and denitrification were stronger than those with gross primary production or ecosystem respiration.
ECOLOGICAL INDICATORS
(2021)
Article
Forestry
Azadeh Rezapour, Marika Truu, Martin Maddison, Gristin Rohula-Okunev, Arvo Tullus, Veiko Uri, Uelo Mander, Ivika Ostonen
Summary: This study investigated the morphological variation in absorptive roots in drained peatland forests and found that the dominating tree species had a significant effect on the variation. The distance from the ditch also affected the absorptive root morphological traits, indicating a potential shift in nutrient foraging. However, soil physical and chemical properties were not dependent on the distance from the ditch. The study also revealed a species-specific response in absorptive root morphological traits to soil properties.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Iuliia Burdun, Ain Kull, Martin Maddison, Gert Veber, Oleksandr Karasov, Valentina Sagris, Ulo Mander
Summary: This study explored the potential of using remotely sensed land surface temperature (LST) to monitor ecosystem respiration (R-eco) in disturbed peatlands, finding that in disturbed sites, in situ temperatures were a stronger driver of CO2 fluxes and LST had a higher association with in situ measured temperatures.
JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH-BIOGEOSCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Limnology
Jacob S. Diamond, Gilles Pinay, Susana Bernal, Matthew J. Cohen, David Lewis, Anna Lupon, Jay Zarnetske, Florentina Moatar
Summary: Stream dissolved oxygen dynamics are influenced by light and discharge, and their synchrony patterns are important for scaling metabolic activity estimates in stream networks and regions.
LIMNOLOGY AND OCEANOGRAPHY
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Reti Ranniku, Thomas Schindler, Jordi Escuer-Gatius, Ulo Mander, Katerina Machacova, Kaido Soosaar
Summary: Nutrient-rich northern peatlands, once drained for enhancing forest productivity, result in peatland soils becoming methane (CH4) sinks and nitrous oxide (N2O) sources. In addition to soil, tree stems can also emit CH4 and N2O. This study investigates the winter-time dynamics of CH4 and N2O fluxes in a drained peatland forest, considering both soil and stem emissions. The results show that tree stems are a net source of CH4 and N2O during winter, and their emissions can offset the CH4 sink and contribute to forest floor N2O emissions.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Anne Menert, Triin Korb, Kaja Orupold, Alar Teemusk, Holar Sepp, Ulo Mander, Tanel Ilmjarv, Jaak Truu, Paarn Paiste, Kalle Kirsimae, Terje Menert, Inna Kamenev, Eeva Heinaru, Ain Heinaru, Sirli Sipp Kulli, Maia Kivisaar
Summary: This study investigates the impact of microorganisms on the decomposition of organic matter and leaching/precipitation of metals in Estonian sedimentary deposits. It reveals the microbial diversity associated with methane production and metal leaching and explains the role of betaine in the biodegradation of organic matter. A tentative mechanism for simultaneous organic matter degradation and methanogenesis is proposed.
ENVIRONMENTAL TECHNOLOGY & INNOVATION
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Bruno Montibeller, Michael Marshall, Ulo Mander, Evelyn Uuemaa
Summary: This study analyzed the monthly trends in gross primary productivity and evapotranspiration in undisturbed core forest areas in Europe. The results showed that increases in productivity during spring and autumn led to improved water-use efficiency, but these increases were not enough to compensate for decreases in summer. Overall, around 20% of forest areas exhibited a net decrease in productivity during summer.
COMMUNICATIONS EARTH & ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Review
Environmental Sciences
Mohamed Abdalla, Ziyin Shang, Mikk Espenberg, Xiaoqing Cui, Ulo Mander, Pete Smith
Summary: This study aims to estimate the BNE from Chinese cropland soils and to assess the impacts of crop type, management, and soil quality indicators on BNE. The results showed that crop type has a significant impact on BNE, and it is variably controlled by soil quality indicators, climate, and management. Estimating the BNE at a national level is suggested to reduce uncertainty in total N2O emissions from Chinese croplands.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE-ATMOSPHERES
(2022)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Yongcui Lan, Jinliang Wang, Qianwei Liu, Fang Liu, Lanfang Liu, Jie Li, Mengjia Luo
Summary: This study focuses on the five major plateau lake basins in central Yunnan, China, and constructs an ecological security pattern using the source-resistance surface-corridor-pinch point framework. The study simulates land use/cover change in the region and identifies early warning regions where future urban expansion poses a threat to current ecological source areas and corridors.
ECOLOGICAL INDICATORS
(2024)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Pingping Huang, Feng Zhao, Bailing Zhou, Kuidong Xu
Summary: This study investigates the distribution of benthic microeukaryotes in the China Seas and finds that they can stride over the ecological barrier of 32 degrees N. The study also highlights the significant influence of depth, temperature, and latitude on communities in the China Seas.
ECOLOGICAL INDICATORS
(2024)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Federico Morelli, Yanina Benedetti, Jesse Stanford, Leszek Jerzak, Piotr Tryjanowski, Paolo Perna, Riccardo Santolini
Summary: Species distribution models (SDMs) are numerical tools used for predicting species' spatial distribution. This study found that ecological characteristics, such as habitat specialization, play a role in improving the accuracy of SDMs.
ECOLOGICAL INDICATORS
(2024)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Xiaoxuan Wu, Hang Liu, Wei Liu
Summary: Global climate change, urbanization, and economic development have increased the need for sustainable human development, urban ecological governance, and low-carbon energy transformation. This study analyzes the green ecological transition in Chengdu based on panel data from 2010 to 2020, exploring its spatiotemporal evolution and key factors. The results show an overall upward trend in Chengdu's green ecological development and positive spatial autocorrelation in certain districts.
ECOLOGICAL INDICATORS
(2024)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Castaldi Simona, Formicola Nicola, Mastrocicco Micol, Morales Rodriguez Carmen, Morelli Raffaella, Prodorutti Daniele, Vannini Andrea, Zanzotti Roberto
Summary: Sustainable agricultural practices are increasingly important for global and national environmental policies and economy. This study compared the sustainability of grape production under integrated and organic management using multiple indicators. The results showed that organic management was more beneficial for most environmental aspects of the agroecosystem compared to integrated management, without affecting grape yield.
ECOLOGICAL INDICATORS
(2024)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Gaia Vaglio Laurin, Alexander Cotrina-Sanchez, Luca Belelli-Marchesini, Enrico Tomelleri, Giovanna Battipaglia, Claudia Cocozza, Francesco Niccoli, Jerzy Piotr Kabala, Damiano Gianelle, Loris Vescovo, Luca Da Ros, Riccardo Valentini
Summary: Phenology monitoring is important for understanding forest functioning and climate impacts. This research compares the phenological behavior of European beech forests using Tree-Talker (TT+) and Sentinel 2 satellite data. The study finds differences in the information derived by the two sensor types, particularly in terms of season length, phenology changepoints, and leaf period variability. TT+ with its higher temporal resolution demonstrates precision in capturing the phenological changepoints, especially when satellite image availability is limited.
ECOLOGICAL INDICATORS
(2024)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Huanhuan Pan, Ziqiang Du, Zhitao Wu, Hong Zhang, Keming Ma
Summary: The land use and cover changes resulting from coal mining activities and ecological restoration have had a significant impact on ecosystem services in mining areas. This study investigates the relationship between ecosystem services and land use intensity in coal mining areas, emphasizing the importance of understanding this interdependence for balanced human-land system development. The research examines the evolving relationship across different reclamation stages in Shanxi, China, using a coupling coordination degree model. The findings suggest the need for timely and judicious reclamation of coalfields, considering the land's bearing capacity.
ECOLOGICAL INDICATORS
(2024)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Jingjuan He, Yijun Shi, Lihua Xu, Zhangwei Lu, Mao Feng
Summary: This study examines the spatial interplay between changes in the blue-green spatial distribution and modifications in land surface temperature grades in Shanghai. The findings reveal that the transformation of the blue-green spatial pattern differs between different sectors of the city, and the impact on the thermal environment varies spatially.
ECOLOGICAL INDICATORS
(2024)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Yi Xu, Di Zhang, Junqiang Lin, Qidong Peng, Xiaohui Lei, Tiantian Jin, Jia Wang, Ruifang Yuan
Summary: This study analyzed the response relationship between phytoplankton growth and water environmental parameters in the Middle Route of the South-to-North Water Diversion Project in China using long-term monitoring data and machine learning models. The results revealed the differences between monitoring sites and identified the key parameters that affect phytoplankton growth.
ECOLOGICAL INDICATORS
(2024)