Search Results (3,108)

Urban forests provide many ecosystem services in urbanized landscapes, including biodiversity conservation. The sustainable management of urban forests requires a thorough understanding of biodiversity changes in the context of rapid urbanization. As biodiversity in rapidly changing urban areas is very dynamic, we need a better understanding of long-term biodiversity changes in urban forests. Birds are very good bioindicators of urban forest biodiversity because they are strongly habitat-sensitive. However, a major knowledge gap exists in long-term trends in bird diversity in temperate urban forests. This study analyzed a comparison of bird-species richness in a temperate Central European urban forest over a time span of 37 years. Bird-counts using the standard line-transect method conducted in 2023–2024 were compared with older field data from 1987 gained using the same method in a lowland hardwood floodplain forest in the Czech Republic. The results revealed significant faunistic similarities in the bird-species diversity of an urban forest during the 1987–2024 period. The high local alpha diversity of the bird community (42 nesting bird species) as well as the relatively high long-term stability in bird richness indicated the importance of the studied urban forest as a stable biodiversity refugium in a dynamic urbanized landscape. Therefore, urban forests can be considered very stable biodiversity refugia in dynamically changing urban areas. Full article

Assessing fish biodiversity is essential for freshwater ecosystem conservation. This study compares environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding and traditional morphological surveys to investigate fish communities in the Gaya River, China. A total of 42 fish species were identified, with 13 detected only by eDNA, 7 exclusively by morphology, and 11 by both methods. A comparative analysis of species composition, functional diversity, and phylogenetic diversity revealed significant differences between the two approaches. Notably, eDNA data indicated higher phylogenetic diversity (PD), while morphological surveys captured greater functional evenness (FEve). Multivariate analyses indicated that total phosphorus (TP), total suspended solids (TSS), electrical conductivity (EC), temperature (T), and pH significantly influenced fish community composition, while dissolved oxygen (DO) was a key driver of species richness (SR), functional richness (FRic), and PD. These findings highlight the methodological differences and complementary strengths of eDNA and morphological approaches in biodiversity assessments. By providing comparative insights into fish diversity patterns, this study underscores the importance of using multi-method approaches to improve freshwater biodiversity monitoring and conservation strategies. Full article

Silvicultural practices significantly influence the diversity and composition of soil fungal communities, which play crucial roles in maintaining forest ecosystem functionality. This study evaluated the impact of three silvicultural treatments, consisting of liberation cutting, first thinning, and second thinning, on rhizospheric fungal and ectomycorrhizal (ECM) fungi communities in Pinus forests located in Puebla, Mexico. Using high-throughput metabarcoding of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS2) region, we identified 346 fungal genera across all treatments, with Ascomycota and Basidiomycota being the dominant phyla. Alpha diversity indices revealed a trend toward higher fungal richness for first thinning, followed by liberation cutting and lower values for second thinning. A beta diversity analysis demonstrated significant shifts in the fungal community composition across treatments, highlighting the influence of the thinning intensity. The proportions of different functional guilds were consistent across the treatments. However, compositional differences were observed, mainly in soil and wood saprotrophs and in pathogenic taxa. Liberation cutting showed enrichment in ECM taxa such as Russula and Cenococcum, whereas Tuber, Humaria, and Tricholoma were decreased for first thinning and Russula was decreased for second thinning. These findings underscore the need for sustainable forest management practices that balance productivity with the conservation of fungal biodiversity to ensure ecosystem stability and functionality. Full article

The rapid expansion of transportation infrastructure on Hainan Island has intensified ecological pressures such as landscape fragmentation and decreased connectivity, threatening the environmental integrity of Hainan Tropical Rainforest National Park. As China’s only tropical island national park, it is important to maintain biodiversity and ecological resilience. Therefore, this study attempts to examine the park and its 5 km buffer zone to assess how transport expansion from 2003 to 2023 has altered land use patterns and landscape connectivity. Through the analysis of multi-period land use data, the land use changes are tracked by using ArcGIS and Fragstats 4.3 software, and the landscape dynamics are quantified. We linked these patterns to ecological processes via a resistance-surface model, which is further refined by spatial structural indices to better reflect ecological realism. Ecological sources were subsequently identified through morphological analysis and ecosystem service evaluation, and circuit theory was applied to delineate potential corridors and construct an ecological security network. The results indicate that (1) transportation development has significantly increased landscape fragmentation and ecological resistance, particularly along major highways; (2) while core forest areas inside the park remain relatively intact, the buffer zones show accelerating degradation; and (3) Although there are many ecological conflict points between the transportation network and the ecological corridor, the construction of animal channels in combination with bridges, tunnels and culverts can effectively improve ecological connectivity and protect the integrity of animal habitat. These findings highlight the vulnerability of ecological integrity as the network expands. The proposed modeling framework provides a more realistic assessment of infrastructure impact and offers a scientific basis for coordinating ecological protection and transport planning in tropical island national parks. Full article

This article addresses agroforestry knowledge and practices of peasant and quilombola women. It draws from research using ethnographic methods, conducted in two different Brazilian communities: with peasant women in the municipality of Pinhão, Paraná, Brazil, and with quilombola women in the Quilombo Ribeirão Grande-Terra Seca in the municipality of Barra do Turvo, in the Ribeira Valley, São Paulo, Brazil. This investigation demonstrates the connection between the exploitation of nature and the oppression of women, and it identifies counter-practices that value cooperation and mutual care. It highlights the importance of recovering ancestral knowledge and resisting the rupture with nature imposed by colonialism. The conclusion indicates that these agroforestry practices play a crucial role in the lives of women and in their resistance to the monocultural model and the market economy in both communities studied. In both communities, women play a central role in sustaining agroforestry practices as forms of resistance, care, and cultural preservation. In Pinhão, peasant women uphold biodiversity and traditional knowledge through everyday practices like seed exchange and in the Quilombo Ribeirão Grande-Terra Seca, quilombola women link agroforestry to identity, territorial defense, and Black resistance. Full article

The assessment of microplastics (MPs) in terrestrial ecosystems has garnered increasing global attention due to their accumulation and migration in soils, which may have potential impacts on soil health, biodiversity, and agricultural productivity. However, research on their distribution and interactions in soil remains limited, especially in tropical regions. This study aimed to characterize MPs extracted from tropical soil samples and relate their abundance to soil and terrain attributes under different land uses (forest, grassland, and agriculture). Soil samples were collected from an experimental farm in Lavras, Minas Gerais, Southeastern Brazil, to determine soil physical and chemical attributes and MP abundance in a micro-watershed. These locations were also used to obtain terrain attributes from a digital elevation model and the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI). The majority of microplastics found in all samples were identified as polypropylene (PP), polyethylene (PE), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), and vinyl polychloride (PVC). The spatial distribution of MP was rather heterogeneous, with average abundances of 3826, 2553, and 3406 pieces kg⁻¹ under forest, grassland, and agriculture, respectively. MP abundance was positively related to macroporosity and sand content and negatively related to clay content and most chemical attributes. Regarding terrain attributes, MP abundance was negatively correlated with plan curvature, convergence index, and vertical distance to channel network, and positively related to topographic wetness index. These findings indicate that continuous water fluxes at both the landscape and soil surface scales play a key role, suggesting a tendency for higher MP accumulation in lower-lying areas and soils with greater porosity. These conditions promote MP transport and accumulation through surface runoff and facilitate their entry into the soil. Full article

Landscape patterns serve as important drivers of macroinvertebrate biodiversity. However, the mechanisms through which landscape dynamics influence biodiversity across different elevation gradients in undammed rivers remain poorly understood. Here, this study investigated macroinvertebrate communities in the Chishui River, which represents the only undammed tributary maintaining a natural flow regime in the upper Yangtze River. We documented 97 macroinvertebrate taxa (3 phyla, 16 orders, and 57 families) with a mean density of 314.93 ind./m². NMDS and PERMANOVA analyses revealed significant spatial heterogeneity in macroinvertebrate community composition, but no overall seasonal variation. However, functional diversity indices (e.g., FRic) exhibited seasonal fluctuations across the river system. Furthermore, we assessed nine landscape metrics to capture heterogeneity, complexity, and fragmentation effects. Random forest modeling with nine predictors revealed that landscape heterogeneity primarily drove functional diversity in the upstream areas, whereas landscape fragmentation was the dominant factor in the downstream areas. Functional diversity, which reflects trait-based ecological roles, provides more direct insights into ecosystem processes than taxonomic diversity alone. Notably, the taxonomic diversity indices (Margalef richness, Shannon–Wiener diversity, Simpson diversity, and Pielou evenness index) showed no significant correlations with landscape metrics. These findings highlight the critical role of functional diversity in evaluating landscape-mediated ecological effects. For effective conservation, management strategies should prioritize reducing anthropogenic disturbances in downstream areas while preserving natural landscape heterogeneity. Full article

Linpan ecosystems, distinct to western Sichuan, China, are integral to regional biodiversity and carbon cycling. However, comprehensive biomass estimation for these systems has not been thoroughly investigated. This study seeks to fill this gap by enhancing the accuracy and precision of biomass estimation in these ecologically vital landscapes through the application of multi-source remote sensing techniques, specifically by integrating the strengths of optical and radar remote sensing data. The focus of this research is on the forest biomass of Linpan, encompassing the tree layer, which includes the trunk, branches, leaves, and underground roots. Specifically, the research focused on the Linpan ecosystems in the Wenjiang District of western Sichuan, utilizing an integration of Sentinel-1 SAR, Sentinel-2 multispectral, and GF-2 high-resolution data for multi-source remote sensing-based biomass estimation. Through the preprocessing of these data, Pearson correlation analysis was conducted to identify variables significantly correlated with the forest biomass as determined by field surveys. Ultimately, 19 key modeling factors were selected, including band information, vegetation indices, texture features, and phenological characteristics. Subsequently, three algorithms—multiple stepwise regression (MSR), support vector machine (SVM), and random forest (RF)—were employed to model biomass across mixed-type, deciduous broadleaved, evergreen broadleaved, and bamboo Linpan. The key findings include the following: (1) Sentinel-2 spectral data and Sentinel-1 VH backscatter coefficients during the summer, combined with vegetation indices and texture features, were critical predictors, while phenological indices exhibited unique correlations with biomass. (2) Biomass displayed a marked north–south gradient, characterized by higher values in the south and lower values in the north, with a mean value of 161.97 t ha⁻¹, driven by dominant tree species distribution and management intensity. (3) The RF model demonstrated optimal performance in mixed-type Linpan (R² = 0.768), whereas the SVM was more suitable for bamboo Linpan (R² = 0.892). The research suggests that integrating multi-source remote sensing data significantly enhances Linpan biomass estimation accuracy, offering a robust framework to improve estimation precision. Full article

Coastal marine ecosystems are facing serious ecological risks from metals pollution, threatening biodiversity and human health. The main objective of this study is to evaluate the spatial distributions and ecological risks of dissolved cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), and copper (Cu) in the Shandong Peninsula coastal areas, China. Two sampling campaigns were conducted at 21 sites in early spring 2025 to measure the concentrations of the three trace metals in the study area using an electrochemical detection system. The results revealed higher metals concentrations in nearshore areas (e.g., port entrances, aquaculture zones, and estuaries). Specifically, the Cd, Pb, and Cu concentrations in the study area ranged from 0 to 0.079 µg L⁻¹, 0.30 to 0.84 µg L⁻¹, and 2.19 to 4.79 µg L⁻¹, with average concentrations of 0.033, 0.55, and 3.18 µg L⁻¹, respectively. The contamination factors (C_f) of the three metals were below 1, indicating low pollution levels and thus meeting China’s Class I seawater quality standard. However, the ecological risk assessment, employing complementary methods, revealed varying interpretations: the risk quotient (RQ), based on species sensitivity distribution and predicted no-effect concentrations (PNECs), indicated low risks associated with Cd and Pb (RQ < 0.1) but a high risk for Cu (RQ > 1) at all sites, attributable to the exceedance of Cu’s protective threshold (0.46 µg L⁻¹), despite its low C_f. These findings highlight the need for continuous monitoring of Cu due to its high ecological impacts. In contrast, the Hakanson potential ecological risk index (ERI), which incorporates toxicity coefficients, suggested overall low risks (ERI < 150) for the combined metals; however, Cd contributed approximately 70% to the ERI due to its high toxicity coefficient, warranting attention despite the low individual Erⁱ values for Cd across the study area. This study provides valuable recent data on metals pollution dynamics in the Shandong Peninsula coastal areas, offering a scientific basis for developing marine pollution control policies and sustainable marine resource management. Full article

Wetland ecosystems are critical for biodiversity conservation and carbon sequestration, underpinning climate regulation and sustainable development. Accurate prediction of wetland evolution is therefore essential for informed regional planning, particularly in International Wetland Cities. As one of the first designated International Wetland Cities, Haikou exemplifies the intensifying pressures faced by coastal wetlands in rapidly urbanizing regions, balancing economic development imperatives with ecological conservation. This study addresses this challenge by employing the PLUS model to simulate the spatiotemporal dynamics of wetland evolution in Haikou from 2010 to 2030 under four distinct scenarios: Business-as-Usual (BAU), Ecological Conservation (EC), Economic Development (ED), and Multi-Objective Development (MOD). The integrated approach combines landscape pattern dynamics analysis, land-use transition matrices, and quantitative assessment of driving factor contributions. Key findings reveal significant historical wetland loss between 2010 and 2020 (21.01 km²), characterized by substantial declines in artificial wetlands (paddy fields: −14.43 km²; agricultural ponds: −8.99 km²) alongside resilient growth in natural wetlands (rivers: +2.70 km²; mangroves: +1.25 km²), highlighting fundamental trade-offs between economic and ecological priorities. Scenario projections indicate that unregulated development (ED) would exacerbate wetland loss (−26.33 km²; dynamic change rate: −0.61%), including unprecedented river fragmentation (−16.0%). Conversely, strict conservation (EC) achieves near net-zero wetland loss (−0.05%) but constrains economic development capacity by 24%. Critically, the MOD scenario demonstrates an effective balance, maintaining 86% of EC’s wetland preservation efficacy while satisfying 73% of ED’s development demand. This is achieved through strategic interventions including establishing wetland protection constraints and optimizing bidirectional land conversion rules, yielding synergistic benefits. Spatial analysis identifies key conflict hotspots such as Nandu River shoreline, Dongzhai Port mangroves, necessitating targeted management strategies aligned with the heterogeneity of driving factors. This study advances the framework for sustainable wetland governance by demonstrating how multi-objective spatial planning can transform ecological-economic trade-offs into synergistic co-benefits. It provides a transferable methodological approach for coastal cities in the Global South and other International Wetland City. Full article

Globally, biodiversity is declining, meaning that many endemic plants are under threat; therefore, it is essential to develop conservation strategies. Scutellaria indica var. coccinea has great potential as an ornamental ground cover plant, but it is a plant that requires ex situ conservation. This study was conducted in order to investigate the seed germination characteristics and classify the dormancy type of S. indica var. coccinea seeds, with the aim of developing mass propagation protocols for ex situ conservation and preservation of their genetic diversity. Fresh and mature seeds of S. indica var. coccinea are in a dormant state, which is released by low temperatures during winter, resulting in radicle and seedling emergence the following spring. At the time of dispersal, the seeds had fully developed embryos, and the seed coat was permeable. When the seeds were incubated under four different temperature regimes (4, 15/6, 20/10, or 25/15 °C), they showed a low germination percentage (≤20%), indicating that a substantial proportion of the seeds remained in a dormant state. In the cold stratification experiment (0, 4, 8, or 12 weeks at 4 °C), germination increased, and the time required for germination shortened as the duration of cold treatment lengthened. This suggests that low temperatures are the primary environmental signal that induces germination. In the gibberellic acid (GA₃) treatment (GA₃ 0, 10, 100, or 1000 mg·L⁻¹), relatively high concentrations (100 and 1000 mg·L⁻¹) were effective in promoting germination. The highest germination was obtained in GA₃ 1000 mg·L⁻¹ with 100.0%, which is about 7 times higher than the control (13.6%). Therefore, seeds of S. indica var. coccinea were classified as having non-deep physiological dormancy (PD). Additionally, because the minimum germinable temperature range of the seeds was extended to lower temperatures, the seeds were classified as having type 2 non-deep PD. Full article

This paper examines the characteristics of agriculture in High Nature Value farmlands (HNVf) in Poland and assesses their capacity to implement key environmental measures under the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) 2023–2027. Using spatial and statistical analyses at the municipal level, the study compares agricultural structures, production types, participation in eco-schemes, organic farming and agri-environment-climate measures under the CAP 2023–2027. The delimitation of HNVf areas was based on the EU methodology, focusing on the extent of agricultural production and the environmental value of the surrounding landscape. The results indicate that HNVf areas are predominantly located in regions with challenging natural conditions, a high share of permanent grasslands, and limited capacity to diversify crop structures. Farms in these areas show lower participation in eco-schemes compared to more intensive farming regions, suggesting that current instruments may not fully align with the specific needs of low-intensity systems. In contrast, higher levels of engagement were observed in organic farming and agri-environment-climate measures in HNVf. These findings highlight the need for better-adapted CAP instruments that reflect the environmental and economic realities of HNVf areas. Enhancing support mechanisms for these regions is essential to safeguard biodiversity, promote sustainable land use, and maintain the socio-environmental functions of rural landscapes. Full article

Hippophae neurocarpa S. W. Liu & T. N. Ho exhibits established medicinal characteristics, valuable dietary attributes, and remarkable adaptability, displaying strong resistance to cold, drought, and to acidic and alkaline soils. These traits and others make it a valuable species for soil erosion control and a distinctive economic forest tree in western China. However, research on its geographic distribution remains limited. To address this gap, we employed the MaxEnt model to map its current distribution and to predict the future geographic distribution of suitable habitats for this species under SSP1-2.6, SSP2-4.5, and SSP5-8.5 climate scenarios. Collectively, these data suggest that the species’ current and future suitable habitats are predominantly concentrated at the junction of the northeastern Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and the Loess Plateau. Under present climatic conditions, highly suitable habitats are primarily located in the northeastern Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, with smaller patches in the Hengduan and Himalaya mountains. The AUC value of this model reached 0.954; projections under three future emission scenarios indicate an overall expansion trend in suitable habitat area. Notably, by the 2070s under the SSP2-4.5 scenario, the total suitable habitat area is projected to increase by 11.64%—the highest among all scenarios. Additionally, climate change is expected to drive a slight northward shift in the species’ distribution center toward higher latitudes. Key environmental factors influencing its projected distribution include elevation (elev), temperature seasonality (bio04), mean temperature of the coldest quarter (bio11), and precipitation of the warmest quarter (bio18). These insights are critical for conserving H. neurocarpa’s genetic resources and guiding future biodiversity conservation strategies. Full article

Forests, both natural and managed, provide a critical habitat for a significant part of global biodiversity. Among many different groups of forest biota, tree species occupy a special position as they create conditions upon which the existence of virtually all other forest organisms depends, either directly or indirectly. To permanently play this role, particular tree species must be demographically stable; i.e., their populations should be distinguished by the balanced, size-dependent proportions of individuals representing different developmental stages (from seedlings and saplings to mature and old trees). In this study, we examined the extent to which this condition is met in the managed part of Białowieża Forest in northeastern Poland, an important biodiversity hotspot in Central Europe. Comparison of species-specific equilibrium vs. actual size distributions revealed that almost half of all trees growing in Białowieża Forest represented “inappropriate” (i.e., occurring in excess compared to the balanced models) species and/or diameter ranges. The amount of deficits was also large (around 30% of the current tree number), concerning primarily the smallest trees. Considering this, we recommend targeted, active management strategies to restore the demographic balance of key tree species and, thus, to enhance the conservation of local biodiversity. We also indicate that the key elements of such strategies should be the gradual removal of trees from surplus diameter ranges and assisted regeneration of species with the greatest deficiencies in small diameter classes. Full article

Bee pollination is an indispensable part of agricultural production and a crucial factor in maintaining ecosystem balance and biodiversity. Understanding foraging behavior and pollination effects is essential for the management of bee pollination. Over a two-year experiment, we evaluated the foraging behavior and pollination effects of bumblebee Bombus terrestris and Chinese honeybee Apis cerana cerana on cherries in orchards. Results showed that all bees exhibited enhanced foraging activity as daytime temperatures rose in early spring. However, the daytime foraging activity of bumblebees differs from that of Chinese honeybees. The number of bumblebees leaving the hive exhibited two peak periods, whereas Chinese honeybees showed only one peak period. Bumblebees had longer working hours and greater pollen-carrying capacity than Chinese honeybees. Undoubtedly, cherries pollinated by bees had higher yields, as indicated by a greater fruit setting rate and yield. Thus, as effective pollinators, their pollination significantly boosts production and presents a viable option for widespread use in cherry cultivation. However, the risk of biological invasion by exotic bumblebees cannot be overlooked before extensive use. Full article