Search Results (4,528)

Plant vegetation is nature’s symphony, offering sensory experiences that influence ecological systems, human well-being, and emotional states and significantly impact human societal progress. This study investigated the emotional and perceptual impacts of specific monocultural vegetation (palm and rubber) in Nigeria, through audiovisual interactions using facial expression analysis, soundscape, and visual perception assessments. The findings reveal three key outcomes: (1) Facial expressions varied significantly by vegetation type and time of day, with higher “happy” valence values recorded for palm vegetation in the morning (mean = 0.39), and for rubber vegetation in the afternoon (mean = 0.37). (2) Gender differences in emotional response were observed, as male participants exhibited higher positive expressions (mean = 0.40) compared to females (mean = 0.33). (3) Perceptual ratings indicated that palm vegetation was perceived as more visually beautiful (mean = 4.05), whereas rubber vegetation was rated as having a more pleasant soundscape (mean = 4.10). However, facial expressions showed weak correlations with soundscape and visual perceptions, suggesting that other cognitive or sensory factors may be more influential. This study addresses a critical gap in soundscape research for monocultural vegetation and offers valuable insights for urban planners, environmental psychologists, and restorative landscape designs. Full article

Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) have increasingly proven to be flexible tools for mapping mine terrain, offering expedient and precise data compared to alternatives. Photogrammetric outputs are particularly beneficial in open pit operations and waste dump areas, since they enable cost-effective and reproducible digital terrain models. Meanwhile, UAV-based LiDAR has proven invaluable in situations where uniform ground surfaces, dense vegetation, or steep slopes challenge purely photogrammetric solutions. Recent advances in machine learning and deep learning have further enhanced the capacity to distinguish critical features, such as vegetation and fractured rock surfaces, thereby reducing the likelihood of accidents and ecological damage. Nevertheless, scientific gaps remain to be researched. Standardization around flight practices, sensor selection, and data verification persists as elusive, and most mining sites still rely on limited, multi-temporal surveys that may not capture sudden changes in slope conditions. Complexity lies in devising strategies for rehabilitated dumps, where post-mining restoration efforts involve vegetation regrowth, erosion mitigation, and altered land use. Through expanded sensor integration and refined automated analysis, approaches could shift from information gathering to ongoing hazard assessment and environmental surveillance. This evolution would improve both safety and environmental stewardship, reflecting the emerging role of UAVs in advancing a more sustainable future for mining. Full article

Soil microorganisms are crucial in global biogeochemical cycles, impacting ecosystems’ energy flows and material cycling. This study, via high-throughput sequencing in four forests—the original Larix gmelinii (Rupr.) Kuzen. forest (LG), the conifer–broad-leaved mixed Pinus sylvestris var. mongolica Litv. forest (PS), the original pure Betula platyphylla Sukaczev forest (BP), and the original pure Populus L. forest (PL) in Shuanghe National Nature Reserve, Daxing’anling mountains—explored soil microbial community structures and diversities. The results indicated that the BP and PL forests had the lowest soil bacterial ACE and Chao1 indices, and the original pure birch forest’s Shannon index was higher than that of the poplar forest. The soil’s fungal Chao1 index of the birch forest was higher than that of the larch forests. Bradyrhizobium and Roseiarcus were the dominant soil bacterial genera; the dominant soil fungal genera were Podila, Russula, and Sebacina. RDA and mantel analyses indicated that soil microbial community structures varied across forest types mainly because of the effective phosphorous and pH levels, soil’s total nitrogen level, and available phosphorus level. This study offers a scientific foundation for cold-temperate-forest ecosystem management regarding soil microbial diversity and community structural changes in different forest types. Full article

Heavy metal pollution poses a significant threat to aquatic ecosystems and drinking water sources, necessitating comprehensive environmental assessments. This study investigated the spatial distribution, potential ecological risks, and sources of heavy metals in the surface sediments of Wanfeng Lake to inform effective pollution management strategies. Twelve sediment samples were collected and analyzed for eight heavy metals (Hg, As, Cu, Pb, Cd, Cr, Ni, Zn) using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. The geo-accumulation index (I_geo) and potential ecological risk index (RI) were applied to assess contamination levels and ecological risks. Cluster analysis and Kriging interpolation were used to identify potential pollution sources and spatial patterns. Results revealed that heavy metal concentrations decreased in the order Zn > Pb > Cu > Cr > Ni > As > Cd > Hg, with Hg concentrations exceeding the national average for Chinese lake sediments. Ecological risk assessments identified Hg (0.06 μg/g) and Cd (0.10 μg/g) as the priority pollutants. The Hg posed a moderate ecological risk, particularly in upstream areas, while Cd pollution was concentrated downstream. Atmospheric deposition was identified as the primary source of Hg, whereas agricultural activities were determined to be the main driver of Cd contamination. These findings provide a scientific basis for developing targeted pollution control measures in Wanfeng Lake. Full article

Intensive farming in urban suburbs often causes habitat loss, soil erosion, wastewater discharge, and agricultural productivity decline, threatening long-term benefits for the local community. We developed a nature-based solution for sustainable land restoration by establishing “Green Treasure Island” (GTI). The aim of this study is to evaluate the ecological restoration effectiveness of GTI and explore its feasibility and replicability for future applications. The core eco-functional zone of GTI—a 7 hm² forested wetland—embedded a closed-loop framework that integrates land consolidation, ecological restoration, and sustainable land utilization. The forested wetland efficiently removed 65% and 74% of dissolved inorganic nitrogen and phosphorus from agricultural runoff, raised flood control capacity by 22%, and attracted 48 bird species. Additionally, this biophilic recreational space attracted over 3400 visitors in 2022, created green jobs, and promoted local green agricultural product sales. Through adaptive management and nature education activities, GTI evolved into a landmark that represents local natural–social characteristics and serves as a publicly accessible natural park for both rural and urban residents. This study demonstrates the feasibility of creating GTI for improving ecosystem services, providing a practical, low-cost template that governments and local managers can replicate in metropolitan rural areas worldwide to meet both ecological and development goals. Full article

The Middle Yangtze River Urban Agglomeration, a critical ecological barrier in China, faces escalating pressures from rapid urbanization and climate change, leading to fragmented landscapes and degraded ecosystem services. To address the synergistic challenges of ecological protection and risk management, this paper takes the urban agglomeration in the middle reaches of the Yangtze River as the study area, and obtains the source patches through morphological spatial pattern analysis. Based on the spatial distribution of risky source areas, ecological blind zones are cut down by optimizing buffer zones and merging fragmented patches. Finally, a composite ecological network is constructed through circuit theory superimposed on the dual network method. The results showed that (1) there are 16 ecological source patches and 16 risk source patches in the study area. Six complementary ecological sources and four new ecological sources were obtained through the blind zone reduction strategy. The percentage of ecological blind zones reduced from 58.4% to 39.5%. (2) The integrated nodes with 11,366 connecting edges were identified. The integrated nodes are distributed around the central Jiuling-Mafushan Mountains, mainly in the western and southern areas of the Dongting Lake Plain. (3) Primary integration nodes are critical for network stability, with a 75% node failure threshold triggering systemic collapse. The proposed strategy of “mountain protection–plain control–railway monitoring” is consistent with China’s territorial and spatial planning. By incorporating the risk network into the conservation framework, this study provides feasible insights for balancing development and sustainability in ecologically fragile areas. Full article

The transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy is fundamental to the mitigation of global climate change. Renewable power capacity is increasing globally, and solar photovoltaics will be the dominant renewable energy source by 2050. Photovoltaic parks (PVPs) require great expanses of land, usually in drylands, creating impacts that can compromise the sustainability of surrounding ecosystems and PVPs. But both novel ecosystems in PVPs and the effect of PVPs on ecosystems are rarely studied. This paper reviews the current knowledge on the impact of PVPs on arid and semi-arid ecosystems and describes the structure and functioning of these novel ecosystems, including changes in microclimatic conditions, soil properties, vegetation and fauna, and shows how these factors hinder the full recovery of ecosystems in PVPs. Ensuring that we do not sacrifice biodiversity for clean energy production restoration is necessary; hence, we address the limitations and challenges of restoring ecosystems within PVPs and suggest the use of modern ecological restoration techniques and the incorporation of grazing into rational planning. More research is needed to fully understand the long-term impacts and interactions of PVPs with the environment, the evolution of novel ecosystems in PVPs and the restoration techniques needed to achieve the long-term sustainability of these infrastructures. Full article

To evaluate the ecological remediation effect of Salix matsudana × alba on saline coastal soils, we established a five-year field experiment in Rudong County, Jiangsu Province, China. The experiment was designed with three salinity gradients (low, medium, and high) and five plant spacing treatments (2 × 2 m, 2 × 3 m, 3 × 3 m, 3 × 4 m, and 4 × 4 m). Soil samples were collected annually at a depth of 0–20 cm using grid and random sampling methods. Indicators of soil physicochemical properties and heavy metal content were measured, including soil organic matter (SOM), pH, total nitrogen (TN), total phosphorus (TP), total potassium (TK), electrical conductivity (EC), total salinity (TS), and bulk density (BD). Additionally, eight heavy metals were analyzed: zinc (Zn), chromium (Cr), nickel (Ni), copper (Cu), cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), arsenic (As), and mercury (Hg). Results showed that the hybrid willow significantly improved SOM content by up to 90% and reduced EC and TS by 52% and 60% over five years, especially under low and medium salinity conditions with dense planting (2 × 2 m, 2 × 3 m). The content of most heavy metals exhibited a decreasing trend or remained stable, indicating the plant’s phytostabilization potential (i.e., stabilization of heavy metals via plant-soil interaction). Principal component analysis (PCA) and random forest (RF) modeling identified SOM, EC, TS, and BD as the dominant factors influencing soil quality improvement. A soil quality index (SQI) was constructed based on PCA-derived weights, which further confirmed the positive ecological effect of this hybrid species on coastal saline soils. This study provides scientific evidence supporting the use of Salix matsudana × alba as a promising species for large-scale ecological restoration in coastal saline-alkaline lands. Full article

Ochradenus baccatus Delile (Resedaceae) is a widely distributed desert shrub known for its remarkable growth form plasticity, growing either independently or as a facultative climber on other vegetation. Despite its ecological adaptability, the drivers underlying its dual growth strategy remain poorly understood in arid ecosystems. This study aimed to investigate the growth form plasticity of O. baccatus across diverse ecological gradients in Saudi Arabia and identify key environmental and floristic factors influencing its climbing and independent forms. Field surveys were conducted from 2020 to 2024 across 103 sites, using stratified random sampling. At each site, vegetation data were collected using 50 × 50 m quadrats, and species composition, life form percentage, and O. baccatus behavior were recorded. Results revealed clear ecological separation between behaviors. Climbing individuals were associated with higher elevations, greater tree and shrub cover, and moderate soil fertility, while independent individuals were broadly distributed in herbaceous and open habitats. Diversity indices (Shannon, Simpson, evenness) increased with altitude, particularly in climbing habitats. PERMANOVA confirmed significant differences in species composition between behaviors (p = 0.0001), and SIMPER analysis identified species like Haloxylon salicornicum and Zygophyllum album as key contributors in climbing habitats. Indicator species analysis revealed behavior-specific taxa, while CCA demonstrated that rainfall, soil moisture, and temperature were the strongest environmental predictors of growth behavior. This study highlights the ecological flexibility of O. baccatus and the role of environmental filtering and plant community structure in shaping its growth strategy. These results have implications for the growth form plasticity of desert plants and can be applied to vegetation management and restoration in arid ecosystems. Full article

As the largest carbon emitter globally, China has formally adopted dual-carbon targets of achieving a carbon peak by 2030 and carbon neutrality by 2060. Urban renewal, as an essential approach to promoting sustainable urban development, plays a critical role in realizing dual-carbon targets. However, carbon emission reduction in urban renewal involves multiple stakeholders with divergent interests, significantly hindering the effective achievement of emission reduction goals. In this context, this paper innovatively selects the government, developers, and construction enterprises as game subjects and constructs an evolutionary game model of the three parties’ participation in carbon emission reduction from the perspective of carbon trading. Through simulation analysis, it explores the impacts of government subsidies, penalty mechanisms, additional benefits, and carbon trading on stakeholder decision-making. The findings indicate the following: (1) The emission reduction process in urban renewal follows an evolutionary pattern of the initial, growth, and mature stages. (2) Sensitivity analysis demonstrates that government subsidies and penalty mechanisms play important roles. (3) Additional benefits serve as intrinsic motivation for developers and construction enterprises to reduce emissions, while a well-developed carbon trading market provides additional incentives and benefit pathways for stakeholders. By integrating urban renewal with carbon trading for the first time, this study aims to enhance stakeholders’ engagement in emission reduction and provide practical reference suggestions, thereby contributing to sustainable urban development. Full article

Vegetation restoration in seismically active regions involves complex interactions between geological hazards and ecological processes. Understanding the spatiotemporal patterns of vegetation recovery is critical for assessing disaster evolution, evaluating mitigation effectiveness, and guiding ecological resilience planning. This study investigates post-earthquake vegetation dynamics in the Chutou Gully watershed, located in the 12 May 2008 Wenchuan earthquake zone, using NDVI data from 2000 to 2022. Results reveal a sharp decline in vegetation cover following the earthquake, followed by a steady recovery trend, with NDVI values projected to return to pre-earthquake levels by 2030. Degradation was concentrated in debris flow channels, while more stable adjacent slopes exhibited stronger recovery. Over time, the area of poorly restored vegetation significantly declined, indicating increased ecosystem resilience. The findings highlight the need for site-specific ecological restoration strategies tailored to localized recovery conditions. This study provides valuable insights for disaster mitigation agencies, ecological planners, and local governments working in mountainous hazard-prone regions, and contributes to the long-term sustainability of ecosystems in disaster-prone areas. Full article

Drought stress is a crucial factor limiting plant survival and growth, especially during the seedling establishment stage. A deep understanding of different plants’ responses to drought stress and their drought resistance is of great significance for vegetation restoration under drought conditions. This study selected one-year-old seedlings of Winter Jasmine (Jasminum nudiflorum), Oleander (Nerium oleander), Privet (Ligustrum lucidum), and Redleaf Photinia (Photinia × fraseri) as research objects. Through pot experiments, we investigated the physiological and biochemical responses of these shrubs under different levels of drought stress (control, mild, moderate, and severe drought stress, corresponding to 75%, 60%, 45%, and 30% of field maximum water holding capacity) to comprehensively assess their drought resistance capabilities. The research results indicated that as the level of drought stress increased, significant changes (p < 0.05) occurred in the physiological and biochemical indicators of all four plant species. The chlorophyll content (Chla+b) of Winter Jasmine and Redleaf Photinia gradually decreased with the intensification of stress, while the Chla+b of Oleander showed the most significant decline under moderate stress and Privet was most affected under mild stress. The proline (Pro) and soluble sugar (SS) contents of all four plants exhibited an upward trend, suggesting that the plants coped with drought stress by accumulating these osmoregulatory substances. Drought stress led to damage to plant cell membranes, manifested by an increase in malondialdehyde content (MDA), with Winter Jasmine showing the most pronounced increase. The activities of peroxidase (POD) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) in the four plant species responded differently to drought stress: the POD activity of Oleander and Redleaf Photinia increased with the deepening of stress, while that of Winter Jasmine and Privet decreased. A comprehensive evaluation of the drought tolerance of the four plant species was performed using principal component analysis and affiliation function value methods. The drought tolerance of the four shrubs, from strongest to weakest, was as follows: Redleaf Photinia > Oleander > Privet > Winter Jasmine. This finding provides valuable insights for plant selection in ecological slope protection projects, and Redleaf Photinia and Oleander can be promoted for use in vegetation restoration work under drought conditions. Full article

Scientific and rational monitoring of eco-environmental effects induced by mining activities is a prerequisite for optimizing mining planning and contributes to the advancement of ecological civilization. Remote sensing and multi-source data provide advanced methods for long-term dynamic evaluation of mining-induced eco-environmental effects. This study systematically constructs eco-environmental effect indicators tailored to mining characteristics and establishes quantitative extraction methods based on Landsat data and spectral indices. The Mine Eco-environmental Effect Index (MEEI) was developed using kernel principal component analysis (KPCA). The Heidaigou Open-pit Coal Mine in Jungar Banner was selected as the study area to validate the MEEI’s performance and analyze ecological dynamics across five key temporal phases. Results indicate the following: (1) the KPCA-based MEEI effectively integrates multi-indicator features, offering an objective representation of comprehensive eco-environmental impacts; (2) from 1990 to 2020, the ecological trajectory of the coal mine followed a pattern of “sharp deterioration → gradual slowdown → relative stabilization”, with post-mining restoration and management measures significantly mitigating negative impacts and improving regional ecological quality. This study provides a methodological framework for dynamic evaluation of mining-related eco-environmental effects, supporting sustainable mining practices and ecological governance. Full article

Hippophae rhamnoides L. is an ecologically and medicinally significant species widely distributed across Eurasia, the suitable habitat of H. rhamnoides subsp. sinensis (is hereinafter referred to as sinensis) is concentrated in Northwest and Southwest China (approximately 34–40° N, 100–115° E). H. rhamnoides subsp. yunnanensis (hereinafter referred to as yunnanensis) is mainly distributed in the Hengduan Mountains and surrounding areas (approximately 25–30° N, 98–103° E). H. rhamnoides subsp. mongolica (hereinafter referred to as mongolica) is native to Central Asia to Siberia and is mainly distributed in Northern Xinjiang and Western Inner Mongolia in China (approximately 40–50° N, 100–120° E). H. rhamnoides subsp. turkestanica (hereinafter referred to as turkestanica) is mainly distributed in Western Xinjiang (approximately 40–45° N, 70–85° E). Climate change poses a considerable challenge, affecting its distribution and leading to shifts in its habitat ranges. This study applies the MaxEnt model to assess climate-driven distribution patterns of Hippophae species in China, and predicts current and future suitable habitats under climate change scenarios. This study employs the MaxEnt model and ArcGIS to simulate the potential distribution of four subspecies of H. rhamnoides during the current period and future projections under scenarios SSP1–2.6 and SSP5–8.5. The analysis reveals that the distributions of sinensis, mongolica, yunnanensis, and turkestanica are influenced primarily by climate variables such as temperature and precipitation, while yunnanensis is predominantly restricted by altitude. Future projections indicate that under the extreme climate of SSP5–8.5, centroid migration will be disrupted; specifically, sinensis is expected to migrate northeast or oscillate, mongolica will expand southwest but be limited by desert steppe zones, and turkestanica may face risks associated with groundwater depletion. This study advocates for integrating climate, ecological, and genetic data into conservation planning, with an emphasis on groundwater restoration and exploring genetic resources for stress resilience. The insights offered here contribute significantly to understanding climate adaptation mechanisms in arid and mountainous ecosystems and guide biodiversity conservation efforts. Full article

The Honghe Hani Rice Terraces, a UNESCO World Heritage agroecosystem, embody a millennia-old synergy of cultural heritage and ecological resilience, yet face declining water yields amid land-use intensification and climate variability. This study employs the InVEST model and geographic detector analysis to quantify water-yield dynamics from 2010 to 2020 and identify their spatial and mechanistic drivers. Annual water yield averaged 558 mm, with cultivated lands contributing 33% of total volume, while built-up areas reached 980 mm per unit in 2018. A 31% decline by 2020, driven by cropland fragmentation and tourism growth, revealed persistent-yield hotspots in forested central-eastern terraces and cold spots in southwestern dryland margins. Land-use pattern accounted for 80–95% of yield variability, exacerbated by temperature interactions. Forests, delivering 68.7 million m³ over the decade, highlight the hydrological significance of traditional landscape mosaics. These findings advocate reforestation in critical recharge zones, terrace restoration to preserve agroecological integrity, and regulated tourism integrating rainwater harvesting to sustain water security and cultural heritage. By blending hydrological modeling with socio-cultural insights, this study provides a scalable framework for safeguarding terraced agroecosystems worldwide, aligning heritage conservation with sustainable development. Full article