Article
Plant Sciences
Linna Ma, Xiaofeng Xu, Chaoxue Zhang, Yixia Lv, Guofang Liu, Qibing Zhang, Jinchao Feng, Renzhong Wang
Summary: The study found that deciduous trees maintain a high level of nitrogen uptake throughout the non-growing season, challenging the traditional view that deciduous trees remain dormant during this time. Soil nitrogen transformation remained active in winter, with microbial nitrogen immobilization reaching its peak in late winter. Evergreen and deciduous trees showed higher uptake rates for NH4+ and glycine than NO3- and tyrosine, while deciduous shrubs and herbs preferred NO3- over other forms of nitrogen.
JOURNAL OF ECOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Plant Sciences
Aris Kyparissis, Efi Levizou
Summary: In this study, a 21-year time-series of Enhanced Vegetation Index (EVI) derived from MODIS satellite images was used to analyze the phenological cycle of the drought semi-deciduous shrub Phlomis fruticosa and compare phenological events between two Mediterranean sites. The results showed that climatic factors, particularly rain and temperature, have different influences on phenological events in different sites. The study also identified temperature and rain days as the main drivers of EVI fluctuations through regression and machine learning methods.
Article
Ecology
Ziyang Gui, Luchen Li, Shugao Qin, Yuqing Zhang
Summary: The study found that four dominant shrub species in the Mu Us Desert of northern China have the ability to absorb dew water through their leaves, increasing their water potential and potentially enhancing their survival in arid environments.
JOURNAL OF ARID ENVIRONMENTS
(2021)
Article
Agronomy
Mubarak Mahmud, Tania L. Maxwell, Sixtine Cueff, Romain Schroeder, Stephane Bazot, Nicolas Delpierre, Anne Marmagne, Gaelle Vincent, Laure Barthes
Summary: This study quantified the distribution of nitrogen, dry-matter, and soil-applied (15)N in different compartments of five naturally-growing oak trees. The results showed that the xylem rings compartment contained the most biomass, while branches and coarse roots contained the most nitrogen. The labeled (15)N was found in all compartments except the heartwood, with the majority being in the leaves. Overlooked compartments such as coarse roots, stumps, xylem, and other branches accounted for a significant portion of the (15)N recovery. The study also revealed that (15)N was present in all sapwood rings, with more being found in younger rings compared to older ones. The (15)N allocated to ancient rings could originate from various sources, including direct uptake from the soil, autumnal resorption from leaves, or transport through ray parenchyma. Additionally, the study confirmed the role of microbial biomass as a nitrogen sink in forests.
Article
Ecology
Jason A. Clark, Ken D. Tape, Jessica M. Young-Robertson
Summary: Vegetation water content is crucial for ecosystem water balance and plant physiology, especially in relation to drought resistance. This study utilized time-domain reflectometry to continuously measure shrub water content and established calibration equations for different shrub species. The findings revealed seasonal variations in stem water content, highlighting the dependence of shrubs on soil moisture availability.
ECOHYDROLOGY & HYDROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Agronomy
Jumpei Toriyama, Akihiro Imaya, Ayumi Tanaka-Oda, Taiki Mori, Mao Hak
Summary: This study aims to investigate the differences in soil carbon and nitrogen isotopes between evergreen and deciduous forests in the seasonally dry tropics of Southeast Asia. The results showed no significant differences in carbon and nitrogen isotopes between forest types, possibly due to the interaction of multiple factors such as tree biomass, precipitation, and soil acidity.
Article
Plant Sciences
Christos Chondrogiannis, George Grammatikopoulos
Summary: The study found that differences in photosynthetic activity between adults and juveniles of different plant species do not follow a common pattern, but depend on the growth form and survival strategy of the plant. Adults of Nerium oleander showed superior photosynthetic activity compared to juveniles, while Cercis siliquastrum and Phlomis fruticosa exhibited smaller differences between adults and juveniles in terms of photosynthesis.
ENVIRONMENTAL AND EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY
(2021)
Article
Forestry
Xiaoyu Liu, Xinghao Tang, Huan Ran, Mengyang Deng, Qingni Song, Qingpei Yang, Dongmei Huang, Jun Liu
Summary: Si availability may affect the uptake and assimilation of different forms of inorganic N by plants. This study found that bamboo had higher inorganic N root uptake and assimilation rates compared to other species. Si supply did not change the overall uptake and assimilation rates, but it slightly increased NO3--N uptake and assimilation rates in some species. These findings have implications for coexistence and competition between bamboo and other trees.
Article
Agriculture, Multidisciplinary
Feng Zhang, Jonathan A. Bennett, Bin Zhang, Zhongwu Wang, Zhiguo Li, Haigang Li, Jing Wang, Guodong Han, Mengli Zhao
Summary: Grasslands are important ecosystems supporting biodiversity and human livelihoods, but overgrazing has led to their degradation. This study examined the effects of grazing cessation on the temporal stability of plant community productivity in a desert steppe landscape. The results showed that grazing cessation increased the temporal stability of plant productivity, with species asynchrony and the temporal stability of shrubs/semi-shrubs being key drivers. Short-term grazing cessation had a greater impact on temporal stability than medium- or longer-term cessation.
AGRICULTURE ECOSYSTEMS & ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Svenja Dobbert, Roland Pape, Joerg Loeffler
Summary: This study focuses on the growth response mechanisms of arctic-alpine dwarf shrubs to climate change, revealing distinct growth patterns for evergreen and deciduous species under different seasons and climate conditions, showing high phenotypical plasticity.
Article
Soil Science
Rui Hu, Takashi Hirano, Kaho Sakaguchi, Syunpei Yamashita, Rui Cui, Lifei Sun, Naishen Liang
Summary: This study measured CH4 flux with and without plant roots in a regenerating deciduous forest, and found that the soil was a CH4 sink throughout the experimental period. The presence of roots significantly enhanced CH4 uptake by improving soil aeration. The CH4 uptake rate varied seasonally and showed significant spatial variation due to differences in soil properties. Machine learning approaches, such as Random Forest, showed potential for investigating the dynamic variation in soil CH4 flux using continuous and high-resolution data.
SOIL BIOLOGY & BIOCHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
Dan Li, Yanshu Liu, Xiaohui Yang, Xiao Zhang, Zhongjie Shi
Summary: The encroachment of shrubs on arid and semi-arid grasslands can impact grassland traits and growth in the context of increasing nitrogen deposition. This study examined the effects of different nitrogen input rates on the traits of Leymus chinensis, a dominant grass species, in an Inner Mongolia grassland encroached by the shrub Caragana microphylla. The results showed that nitrogen addition increased the leaf nitrogen concentration per unit mass (LNCmass) of L. chinensis, and plants within shrubs had higher aboveground biomass, heights, LNCmass, leaf area, and leaf number compared to those growing between shrubs. However, the number of leaves, leaf area, and heights of plants within shrubs did not vary with nitrogen addition rates. Structural Equation Modelling revealed that nitrogen addition indirectly affected leaf dry mass through the accumulation of LNCmass. These findings provide new insights into the management of shrub-encroached grassland in the context of nitrogen deposition.
FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Jurie Theron, James S. Pryke, Nicolas Latte, Michael J. Samways
Summary: Alien invasive plant species are a major driver of global biodiversity loss. Monitoring methods are needed to track their spread and mitigate impact on local biodiversity. Recent advances in deep learning and image fusion offer great potential for mapping and managing these species.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Xingyue Yan, Shuchen Wang, Yu Duan, Jing Han, Donghua Huang, Jian Zhou
Summary: Climate change significantly affects the growth and distribution of vegetation, such as the widely distributed Hydrangea macrophylla. Using the maximum entropy model, researchers predicted changes in the distribution of suitable habitats for H. macrophylla in China under current and future climate scenarios, finding that precipitation and temperature play key roles. The optimal model showed high accuracy in predicting the potential geographical distribution of H. macrophylla, with habitat expanding northwards in China and centroids shifting the furthest under the maximum greenhouse gas emission scenario.
ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Parvaiz Ahmad Lone, Javid Ahmad Dar, Subashree Kothandaraman, Mohammed Latif Khan
Summary: This study assessed the impact of Lantana camara invasion on plant communities and soil properties in Central Indian forest ecosystems. The results showed that Lantana invasion significantly reduced the number of saplings and juveniles, and increased soil organic carbon, soil total nitrogen, and soil moisture content, while decreasing soil pH. Lantana invasion can greatly impact vegetation and soil, potentially increasing its invasive potential and threatening native species.
Article
Soil Science
Jonathan Nunez, Gabriel Y. K. Moinet, Scott L. Graham, Matthew H. Turnbull, Gwen-Aelle Grelet, David Whitehead
Summary: The addition of sorptive mineral phases to soils can rapidly and proportionally reduce soil organic matter (SOM) decomposition, leading to decreased microbial access to SOM. This effect occurs independently of soil organic carbon concentration and pH, suggesting a universal impact on SOM stability.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF SOIL SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
S. J. Sapsford, A. Wakelin, D. A. Peltzer, I. A. Dickie
Summary: Plant invasions can lead to a loss of biodiversity in invaded ecosystems, with pine invasion causing a decrease in soil fungal diversity. The study shows that as pine density increases, there is a shift in fungal community structure and a significant loss of fungal diversity across all scales.
BIOLOGICAL INVASIONS
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Thomas R. Etherington, Duane A. Peltzer, Sarah Wyse
Summary: Non-native conifers pose a significant threat to New Zealand's ecology and biodiversity. A study using ecological niche modelling found that the potential distribution of most non-native conifer species is predicted to decline in future climates. However, some species may experience an increase in suitable climate space. These findings can guide the management of non-native conifers in New Zealand and can also contribute to invasion risk modelling in other areas where these species are introduced in the Southern Hemisphere.
NEW ZEALAND JOURNAL OF ECOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
P. J. Bellingham, E. A. Arnst, B. D. Clarkson, T. R. Etherington, L. J. Forester, W. B. Shaw, R. Sprague, S. K. Wiser, D. A. Peltzer
Summary: Tree species in the Pinaceae family, especially radiata pine, have been widely introduced as non-native species globally, particularly in the Southern Hemisphere. Despite the perception that radiata pine has not invaded extensively in New Zealand, our comprehensive review reveals that it has in fact invaded throughout the country. Our findings demonstrate that up to 76% of the land area in New Zealand is climatically suitable for supporting radiata pine populations, and it has invaded a variety of ecosystems. This highlights the need for stricter regulations and management measures to prevent and control the further invasion of radiata pine. Rating: 8/10.
BIOLOGICAL INVASIONS
(2023)
Article
Computer Science, Interdisciplinary Applications
J. A. P. Pollacco, J. Fernandez-Galvez, P. Ackerer, B. Belfort, L. Lassabatere, R. Angulo-Jaramillo, C. Rajanayaka, L. Lilburne, S. Carrick, D. A. Peltzer
Summary: HyPix is a newly developed hydrological model written in Julia language, efficiently solving the mixed form of Richardson-Richards' equation. It includes modules for simulating rainfall interception, root water uptake, soil evaporation, ponding, and runoff. The model's performance and accuracy are improved through novel time-step management and physical smoothing criterion.
ENVIRONMENTAL MODELLING & SOFTWARE
(2022)
Review
Ecology
Ian A. Dickie, Rowan Sprague, Joanna Green, Duane A. Peltzer, Kate Orwin, Sarah Sapsford
Summary: The removal of wilding conifers has become a major conservation focus in New Zealand. Short-term management activities may not achieve desired long-term outcomes, so greater integration of ecological research with management is needed. Understanding the impacts and legacies of wilding conifers over time is crucial for successful transition to different land uses.
NEW ZEALAND JOURNAL OF ECOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Computer Science, Interdisciplinary Applications
J. A. P. Pollacco, J. Fernandez-Galvez, C. Rajanayaka, S. C. Zammit, P. Ackerer, B. Belfort, L. Lassabatere, R. Angulo-Jaramillo, L. Lilburne, S. Carrick, D. A. Peltzer
Summary: This study presents a new optimization algorithm for deriving soil hydraulic parameters and simulating water-flow processes in the vadose zone. The algorithm uses a new physically based hydrological model and experimental data from multiple depths to calibrate the parameters. The results show that the accuracy of the simulated water balance components improves with the number of soil layers.
ENVIRONMENTAL MODELLING & SOFTWARE
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Robin J. L. Hartley, Sam J. Davidson, Michael S. Watt, Peter D. Massam, Samuel Aguilar-Arguello, Katharine O. Melnik, H. Grant Pearce, Veronica R. Clifford
Summary: This study evaluated the use of unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) technologies for fuel characterisation. UAV laser scanning (ULS) point clouds were used to predict field measurements of total above ground biomass (TAGB) and above ground available fuel (AGAF). The study found that ULS-derived structural metrics offered higher levels of precision compared to non-destructive field measurements. Additionally, UAV photogrammetric data and deep learning techniques were used to classify vegetation into different fuel categories with high levels of precision. The findings suggest that UAV technologies have important applications in research, wildfire risk assessment, and fuel management.
Article
Environmental Sciences
R. Sprague, P. E. Hulme, M. A. Nunez, D. A. Peltzer
Summary: This article discusses how the National Wilding Conifer Control Programme in New Zealand overcomes the challenge of managing non-native tree invasions through a partnership approach, transferring new scientific knowledge, and adopting adaptive management. The collaborative strategy and flexible governance structure of the programme have successfully united diverse stakeholders. However, there are ongoing challenges to secure funding and prevent re-invasion.
FRONTIERS IN ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Forestry
Mark Owen Kimberley, Michael Stuart Watt
Summary: This article describes the development of growth models for the cypress species Hesperocyparis lusitanica and H. macrocarpa in New Zealand. These models, based on measurements from 521 sample plots, include height/age, diameter/age, mortality, and stand-level volume functions. They are valuable tools for forest managers in evaluating regimes and predicting yields. By accurately describing site productivity using the 300 Index, these models provide an improved framework for understanding and quantifying site productivity.
Article
Food Science & Technology
Nick W. Smith, Andrew J. Fletcher, Peter Millard, Jeremy P. Hill, Warren C. McNabb
Summary: This study presents a mathematical model that can forecast the future cropland requirement for a given quantity of crop mass, in conjunction with the DELTA Model that calculates global availability of 29 nutrients against human requirements. The results show that crops with the greatest yield variation between high and low production are nuts, fruits, and vegetables. The potential for increasing global food production lies in improving yield for maize, wheat, and rice.
FRONTIERS IN SUSTAINABLE FOOD SYSTEMS
(2022)
Article
Agronomy
Michael S. Watt, Tomas Poblete, Dilshan de Silva, Honey Jane C. Estarija, Robin J. L. Hartley, Ellen Mae C. Leonardo, Peter Massam, Henning Buddenbaum, Pablo J. Zarco-Tejada
Summary: Dothistroma needle blight is a widespread and damaging disease of pine trees caused by fungi, resulting in chlorosis, necrosis, and premature needle loss. This study used hyperspectral data collected from a UAV to improve predictions of disease severity using plant functional traits determined from a 3D radiative transfer model. The final model accurately predicted disease severity with an R2 of 0.85.
AGRICULTURAL AND FOREST METEOROLOGY
(2023)
Review
Environmental Sciences
Ewane Basil Ewane, Midhun Mohan, Shaurya Bajaj, G. A. Pabodha Galgamuwa, Michael S. Watt, Pavithra Pitumpe Arachchige, Andrew T. Hudak, Gabriella Richardson, Nivedhitha Ajithkumar, Shruthi Srinivasan, Ana Paula Dalla Corte, Daniel J. Johnson, Eben North Broadbent, Sergio de-Miguel, Margherita Bruscolini, Derek J. N. Young, Shahid Shafai, Meshal M. Abdullah, Wan Shafrina Wan Mohd Jaafar, Willie Doaemo, Carlos Alberto Silva, Adrian Cardil
Summary: Protecting and enhancing forest carbon sinks is important for mitigating climate change, but droughts caused by climate change can threaten their stability and growth. The use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) has the potential to bridge the gap between field inventory and satellite remote sensing for assessing forest characteristics and their responses to drought conditions. UAVs can also help optimize forest carbon management with climate change adaptation and mitigation practices.
Article
Forestry
Michael S. Watt, Mark O. Kimberley
Summary: Carbon sequestration has become an important source of supplementary revenue in forest plantations, and this study compared the profitability of growing radiata pine and redwood based on carbon and timber yields. The findings showed that the legislated carbon averaging age underestimated the actual time needed for carbon accumulation in redwood, and the optimal rotation length for redwood varied across regions and carbon prices. Redwood outperformed radiata pine in terms of internal rate of return (IRR) in most regions when revenue was derived solely from timber. However, when revenue came from both carbon and timber, redwood had a higher IRR up to certain carbon price thresholds.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Sadeepa Jayathunga, Grant D. Pearse, Michael S. Watt
Summary: This study proposes an unsupervised method to map and detect young conifer seedlings using UAV digital aerial photogrammetric point clouds. By combining spatial, spectral, and structural metrics, the method achieves excellent seedling detection accuracy. The inclusion of a row segment detection algorithm significantly reduces false positives and improves overall detection accuracy. The automated pipeline generates valuable outputs for precision management and can be applied without extensive training data.
