Article
Ecology
David R. R. Kienle, Severin D. H. Irl, Carl Beierkuhnlein
Summary: This study finds that there is a clear relationship between global treeline elevation and temperature (or latitude). However, this relationship is influenced by factors such as mass elevation effect, continentality, and isolation. The study demonstrates that mass elevation effect and distance to coastline significantly affect treeline elevation, while the impact of isolation is inconsistent.
GLOBAL ECOLOGY AND BIOGEOGRAPHY
(2023)
Review
Biodiversity Conservation
Maaike Y. Bader, Luis D. Llambi, Bradley S. Case, Hannah L. Buckley, Johanna M. Toivonen, J. Julio Camarero, David M. Cairns, Carissa D. Brown, Thorsten Wiegand, Lynn M. Resler
Summary: Globally, treeline ecotones exhibit diverse spatial patterns, providing valuable information about the processes influencing treeline dynamics. A new framework focuses on hillside-scale patterns and dimensional changes in tree cover, clustering, height, and shape, to better understand demographic processes and growth patterns affecting treelines. Improved recognition of treeline patterns and collaborative research efforts are necessary to advance our understanding of treeline-forming processes and vegetation dynamics in response to climate warming.
Article
Forestry
Mengyue Huang, Guoyan Wang, Xiaojuan Bie, Yunqing Jiang, Xiyue Huang, Jing-Ji Li, Songlin Shi, Tingbin Zhang, Pei-Hao Peng
Summary: This study reveals that seasonal snow cover patterns play a crucial role in determining treeline elevation in the eastern Himalayas. The research finds that treeline elevation increases with summer temperature and snowline elevation, but decreases with snow cover days and spring temperature. Spring snowline elevation and seasonal snow cover days have the greatest impact on treeline elevation, suggesting that the effects of temperature and moisture on treeline elevation are strongly mediated by seasonal snow cover.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Xiaoxia Li, Eryuan Liang, J. Julio Camarero, Sergio Rossi, Jingtian Zhang, Haifeng Zhu, Yongshuo H. Fu, Jian Sun, Tao Wang, Shilong Piao, Josep Penuelas
Summary: Under warmer springs, growth reactivation in trees is advanced while delayed in shrubs at the alpine treeline. This phenological mismatch creates a competitive advantage for trees and offers a new explanation for the dynamics of alpine treeline under climate change. A combination of long-term monitoring and meta-analysis revealed that shrubs are more sensitive to chilling accumulation, leading to delayed response in warmer winters and a shorter growing season. The findings suggest that the warming-induced phenological mismatch may contribute to the increasing shifts in alpine treeline.
NATIONAL SCIENCE REVIEW
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Orencio Duran Vinent, Benjamin E. Schaffer, Ignacio Rodriguez-Iturbe
Summary: Barrier islands are ubiquitous coastal features that provide low-energy environments for the development of salt marshes, oyster reefs, and mangroves while offering protection to interior coastal communities from storm surges and erosion. The dynamics of barrier systems are controlled by stochastic processes involving various factors such as sea level rise, sand availability, and plant ecosystem stress. The recovery time of barriers after storms changes rapidly with control parameters, indicating a tipping point in barrier response to external drivers.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2021)
Article
Plant Sciences
Quan Zhou, Hang Shi, Quanfa Zhang, Haishan Dang
Summary: This study analyzed data from 67 studies and found that increasing elevation promotes NSC accumulation in aboveground organs of mountain trees, without affecting the sugar:starch ratio. Trees in warmer mountain regions stored more NSC in leaves in response to elevation compared to colder mountain regions. Additionally, elevation had a negative effect on NSC in the roots of angiosperms.
ENVIRONMENTAL AND EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
Nina Pakharkova, Anna Kazantseva, Ruslan Sharafutdinov, Irina Borisova, Vladimir Gavrikov
Summary: In an underexplored region of the East Sayan mountains, ecophysiological traits of two conifers, Pinus sibirica Du Tour and Abies sibirica Ledeb., have been studied. The study found that as altitude increases, the photosynthetic pigment content and electron-transport rate of Abies sibirica decrease, while Pinus sibirica is not affected by stress factors during the growing season.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Zhipeng Shi, Jun Yang, Yuqing Zhang, Xiangming Xiao, Jianhong Cecilia Xia
Summary: The study found that urban ventilation corridors are effective in mitigating the urban heat island effect and improving urban livability. The impact of ventilation corridors on heat island intensity varies with different local climate zones, with scattered tree areas showing the greatest mitigation effect.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Xinyue He, Xin Jiang, Dominick V. Spracklen, Joseph Holden, Eryuan Liang, Hongyan Liu, Chongyang Xu, Jianhui Du, Kai Zhu, Paul R. Elsen, Zhenzhong Zeng
Summary: This study focused on closed-loop mountain treelines that surround mountains completely, and found a surprisingly large quantity of such treelines, with a total length of approximately 916,425 km. It revealed a bimodal latitudinal distribution of treeline elevations and identified temperature as the main climatic driver in polar and tropical regions, while precipitation influenced treeline position in temperate zones. The study also showed that 70% of closed-loop mountain treelines have shifted upward at an average rate of 1.2 m/year in the first decade of the 21st century. This research provides a new mountain treeline database that separates climate impacts from other human activities, and has significant implications for biodiversity, natural resources, and ecosystem adaptation in a changing climate.
GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Paulo Quadri, Lucas C. R. Silva, Erika S. Zavaleta
Summary: This study investigated the changes in tree growth and resource use on south and north-facing slopes in a high-elevation forest in central Mexico over the past 143 years using dendroecological and isotopic methods. It was found that trees on south-facing slopes grew faster until the mid-20th century, when this pattern reversed with notable growth rate declines on south-facing slopes and increases on north-facing slopes. The reversal was linked to interactions between CO2 stimulation of photosynthesis and water or nitrogen limitation, highlighting the importance of incorporating landscape processes and habitat heterogeneity in predictions of tree growth responses to global environmental change.
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Laijun Zhao, Yong Yang, Chenchen Wang, Yang Lv, Jian Xue
Summary: With the upgrading of consumer goods and accelerating trade globalization, pollution related to the light industry sector's production is transferred globally. A study developed an analytical framework to analyze the network of trade-embodied pollutant emissions transfer (TPET) in the light industry sector. The study revealed key economies, industries, and paths, and provided insights into reduction strategies.
JOURNAL OF CLEANER PRODUCTION
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Sudeep Chandra, Ankit Singh, Jincy Rachel Mathew, C. P. Singh, Mehul R. Pandya, Bimal K. Bhattacharya, Hitesh Solanki, M. C. Nautiyal, Rajesh Joshi
Summary: This study focuses on the effects of soil and air temperature on the flowering response of Rhododendron arboreum Sm. It is found that the increase in winter soil temperature may be one of the factors leading to the absence of flowering in high altitude regions.
ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING AND ASSESSMENT
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Linqing Zou, Feng Tian, Tianchen Liang, Lars Eklundh, Xiaoye Tong, Torbern Tagesson, Yujie Dou, Tao He, Shunlin Liang, Rasmus Fensholt
Summary: The upper elevational limits of vegetation growth in global high-mountains have been studied using two independent methods based on satellite remote sensing data and land cover dataset. The results demonstrate that mountain height is the dominant factor in determining the upper elevational limits of tree and vegetation lines globally, while climatic conditions and soil properties also play important roles at regional scales.
REMOTE SENSING OF ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Agronomy
Hang Shi, Quan Zhou, Rui He, Quanfa Zhang, Haishan Dang
Summary: Altitudinal treelines are sensitive to climate change, and they have been responding to climate warming by increasing in elevation and stand density. However, the relationship between upward shift of treelines and tree densification is not well understood. Studies have shown heterogeneous results, with some treelines experiencing densification without significant upward shift, while others have shifted upward without noticeable densification. In this study, we quantified the difference between the rate of upward shift and the rate of tree densification within treelines worldwide and identified the global drivers. Our findings revealed that over 63% of the treelines globally exhibited a mismatch between upward shift and tree densification, primarily driven by temperature change. The rate of treeline shift tended to decrease compared to the rate of tree densification when accompanied by increasing warming. Therefore, our study highlights that climate warming has enlarged the mismatch between upward shift and tree densification, widening the lagging gap of global treeline shift relative to densification.
AGRICULTURAL AND FOREST METEOROLOGY
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Zhi Zheng
Summary: This study introduces a non-differentiated producer responsibility (NDPR) principle for carbon dioxide emission allocation, aiming to address the unfairness in emission transfers caused by transnational production processes. The research reveals that carbon emissions are concentrated in European countries, the United States, and emerging markets, suggesting that countries with the highest emissions should bear more responsibility for global emission reduction.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2021)
Review
Environmental Sciences
Yuanming Zhang, Akash Tariq, Alice C. Hughes, Deyuan Hong, Fuwen Wei, Hang Sun, Jordi Sardans, Josep Penuelas, Gad Perry, Jianfang Qiao, Alishir Kurban, Xiaoxia Jia, Domitilla Raimondo, Borong Pan, Weikang Yang, Daoyuan Zhang, Wenjun Li, Zeeshan Ahmed, Carl Beierkuhnlein, Georgy Lazkov, Kristina Toderich, Shirin Karryeva, Davron Dehkonov, Hikmat Hisoriev, Liliya Dimeyeva, Dmitry Milko, Ahmedou Soule, Malgozhata Suska-Malawska, Jumamurat Saparmuradov, Alilov Bekzod, Paul Allin, Sidy Dieye, Birane Cissse, Wondmagegne Whibesilassie, Keping Ma
Summary: The strategic goals of the United Nations and the Aichi Targets for biodiversity conservation have not been met. Instead, biodiversity has continued to rapidly decrease, especially in developing countries.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Nichola A. Strandberg, Mary Edwards, Joanna C. Ellison, Manuel J. Steinbauer, Anna Walentowitz, Patricia L. Fall, David Sear, Peter Langdon, Shane Cronin, Alvaro Castilla-Beltran, Ian W. Croudace, Matiu Prebble, William D. Gosling, Sandra Nogue
Summary: In this study, we investigated how changing sea levels and recurrent volcanic eruptions have influenced vegetation dynamics in low-lying coastal areas in Tonga. We analyzed pollen, charcoal, and sediment characteristics from a sediment core to examine past vegetation and environmental change. We found that relative sea level change has impacted vegetation on three out of the four investigated islands, while volcanic eruptions were not identified as a driver of vegetation change.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Dagmar M. Hanz, Vanessa Cutts, Martha Paola Barajas-Barbosa, Adam Algar, Carl Beierkuhnlein, Flavien Collart, Jose Maria Fernandez-Palacios, Richard Field, Dirk N. Karger, David R. Kienle, Holger Kreft, Jairo Patino, Franziska Schrodt, Manuel J. Steinbauer, Patrick Weigelt, Severin D. H. Irl
Summary: Oceanic islands, including the Canary Islands in Spain, have unique floras with a high proportion of endemic species. This study aimed to assess the impact of climate change on the range sizes of island plants and identify species in need of conservation. The results showed that single-island endemic species are projected to lose a greater proportion of their climatically suitable area compared to archipelago endemics or nonendemic native species.
DIVERSITY AND DISTRIBUTIONS
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Anna Walentowitz, Bernd Lenzner, Franz Essl, Nichola Strandberg, Alvaro Castilla-Beltran, Jose Maria Fernandez-Palacios, Svante Bjorck, Simon Connor, Simon G. Haberle, Karl Ljung, Matiu Prebble, Janet M. Wilmshurst, Cynthia A. Froyd, Erik J. de Boer, Lea de Nascimento, Mary E. Edwards, Janelle Stevenson, Carl Beierkuhnlein, Manuel J. Steinbauer, Sandra Nogue
Summary: Human-mediated changes in island vegetation are largely caused by the introduction and establishment of non-native species. However, data on past changes in non-native plant species abundance are scarce. Using fossil pollen data and botanical status information, we studied the changes in non-native plant abundance on 29 islands over the past 5000 years. Our findings reveal a proportional increase in non-native plant pollen in the last 1000 years and highlight the importance of considering the longer and more dynamic history of non-native plant introductions.
Article
Ecology
Vanessa Cutts, Dagmar M. Hanz, Martha Paola Barajas-Barbosa, Franziska Schrodt, Manuel J. Steinbauer, Carl Beierkuhnlein, Pierre Denelle, Jose Maria Fernandez-Palacios, Pierre Gauzere, Matthias Grenie, Severin D. H. Irl, Nathan Kraft, Holger Kreft, Brian Maitner, Francois Munoz, Wilfried Thuiller, Cyrille Violle, Patrick Weigelt, Richard Field, Adam C. Algar
Summary: Current models of island biogeography treat endemic and non-endemic species as if they were functionally equivalent, focussing primarily on species richness. Thus, the functional composition of island biotas in relation to island biogeographical variables remains largely unknown.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Md Lokman Hossain, Jianfeng Li, Yangchen Lai, Carl Beierkuhnlein
Summary: Grassland ecosystems in northern China show varying levels of resistance and resilience to extreme climate events, such as droughts. Alpine and steppe grasslands exhibit higher resistance and lower resilience after extreme wet conditions, while lower resistance and higher resilience after extreme dry conditions. Hay meadows show stable resistance and resilience under climatic perturbations. Increasing trends of greenness were observed in alpine grassland, grass-dominated steppe, and hay meadow, while no significant changes were observed in arid and semi-arid steppes.
ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING AND ASSESSMENT
(2023)
Article
Ecology
David R. R. Kienle, Severin D. H. Irl, Carl Beierkuhnlein
Summary: This study finds that there is a clear relationship between global treeline elevation and temperature (or latitude). However, this relationship is influenced by factors such as mass elevation effect, continentality, and isolation. The study demonstrates that mass elevation effect and distance to coastline significantly affect treeline elevation, while the impact of isolation is inconsistent.
GLOBAL ECOLOGY AND BIOGEOGRAPHY
(2023)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Alexandra Lawrence, Carl Beierkuhnlein
Summary: EU member states aim to establish additional protected areas preserving 30% of terrestrial land by 2030, with a focus on high ecological quality. Targeted expansion of existing protected areas into less fragmented surroundings can maximize area, facilitate species movement, and enhance climate change resilience. Our study found that mountainous and remote regions have the lowest fragmentation levels in the vicinity of Natura 2000 protected areas, which are highly correlated with national population density rather than economic wealth. Additionally, there is a disparity in resource availability for nature conservation among EU countries, with Eastern European states, particularly Romania, having underfunded Natura 2000 protected areas but great potential for expansion into low fragmented lands.
JOURNAL FOR NATURE CONSERVATION
(2023)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Roberto Cazzolla Gatti, Piero Zannini, Gianluca Piovesan, Nicola Alessi, Alberto Basset, Carl Beierkuhnlein, Michele Di Musciano, Richard Field, John M. Halley, Samuel Hoffmann, Jacopo Iaria, Athanasios Kallimanis, Gabor L. Lovei, Albert Morera, Antonello Provenzale, Duccio Rocchini, Ole R. Vetaas, Alessandro Chiarucci
Summary: Protecting global biodiversity is crucial, and area-based conservation is essential for preserving ecosystems and species. Our analysis of strictly protected areas in Europe revealed limited coverage, with a bias towards higher elevations. We propose identifying potential areas for expansion with low economic and social costs, and emphasize the need for a coordinated effort and strategic plan to achieve continental-scale conservation.
BIODIVERSITY AND CONSERVATION
(2023)
Correction
Biodiversity Conservation
Roberto Cazzolla Gatti, Piero Zannini, Gianluca Piovesan, Nicola Alessi, Alberto Basset, Carl Beierkuhnlein, Michele Di Musciano, Richard Field, John M. M. Halley, Samuel Hoffmann, Jacopo Iaria, Athanasios Kallimanis, Gabor L. L. Lovei, Albert Morera, Antonello Provenzale, Duccio Rocchini, Ole R. R. Vetaas, Alessandro Chiarucci
BIODIVERSITY AND CONSERVATION
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Anna Walentowitz, Thalita Ferreira-Arruda, Severin D. H. Irl, Holger Kreft, Carl Beierkuhnlein
Summary: The study found that the richness of native and non-native plant species on islands is influenced by different drivers, specifically habitat heterogeneity and island inhabitants. Area was confirmed as the most important predictor of species richness, primarily acting through other natural and anthropogenic drivers.
JOURNAL OF BIOGEOGRAPHY
(2023)
Article
Forestry
Frank Weiser, Anna Walentowitz, Esther Baumann, Christopher Shatto, Maria Guerrero-Campos, Anke Jentsch, Manuel Nogales, Felix Manuel Medina, Ole Reidar Vetaas, Carl Beierkuhnlein
Summary: Volcanic eruptions have significant environmental impacts on surrounding forests, including mechanical damage, volcanic gas emissions, and tephra deposition. The 2021 Tajogaite eruption on the island of La Palma, Spain, caused chlorotic damage to Canary Pine forests due to high levels of volcanic sulphur dioxide. However, the affected trees exhibited widespread resprouting. Needle samples of Pinus canariensis taken from different locations on the island showed a strong increase in sulphur content near the eruption site, while carbon content decreased significantly. The impact of volcanic gases on trees led to resource allocation for resprouting, resulting in lower carbon levels. Surprisingly, we found higher nitrogen levels in needles with high sulphur content, indicating complex environmental factors influencing nitrogen levels. Remote sensing imagery was effective in analyzing large-scale canopy damage, but variations in needle levels at a local and tree-based level were not reflected.
FOREST ECOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT
(2023)
Article
Forestry
Mirela Beloiu Schwenke, Valeska Schoenlau, Carl Beierkuhnlein
Summary: The study found that all tree species showed significant recovery following the 2018 drought, although there was a slight decrease in vitality by 2021. Forest types, soil depth, and understory vegetation were key factors influencing sapling resilience to drought, while litter and forest canopy cover had a negative impact.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Gregor H. Mathes, Manuel J. Steinbauer, Laura Cotton
Summary: This study aims to assess the water quality and stress sources in Kane'ohe Bay, Hawai'i, by using benthic foraminifera as bio-indicators. The results show that water quality in the northern sector of Kane'ohe Bay supports the growth and recovery of coral reefs, while it deteriorates around Kane'ohe City.
PACIFIC CONSERVATION BIOLOGY
(2023)