Search Results (609)

Biodiversity maintenance function (BMF) denotes the capacity of ecosystems to sustain genetic, species, ecosystem, and landscape diversity. Assessing the spatial distribution and underlying drivers of BMF at the regional scale is essential for biodiversity management. However, research on the socio-ecological drivers of BMF from a geographical perspective remains scarce. Therefore, this study developed an integrated assessment framework encompassing climatic factors, species richness, vegetation status, ecosystem protection, and anthropogenic disturbance. We analyzed the BMF spatial patterns across Liaoning Province, China, and identified the dominant drivers and their spatial heterogeneity using multi-scale geographically weighted regression and geographical detector. The results show that (1) the eastern/western mountainous regions and Liaohe River estuary are critical BMF zones for prioritized conservation; (2) BMF spatial variation is mainly shaped by precipitation, temperature, slope, and forestland/farmland proportion, with factor interactions amplifying their impacts; (3) drivers show distinct spatial heterogeneity. Specifically, precipitation, slope, and NDVI exert homogeneous effects, whereas elevation, temperature, farmland/wetland proportion, and GDP exhibit pronounced heterogeneity. Natural factors generally exert positive effects, while the farmland/urban proportion tends to exert negative impacts—for example, farmland’s negative influence is stronger in the west, whereas the forestland and temperature exert more positive effects in the east. The results enhance the methodological framework for elucidating the spatial relationships between BMF and drivers, providing a scientific basis for biodiversity conservation and ecosystem management in Liaoning Province and similar regions. Full article

The wisdom embedded within traditional human settlements offers profound insights for addressing contemporary ecological challenges. This study systematically investigates the spatial management strategies and ecological wisdom of ancient settlements in the Yiluo River Basin (Luoyang Section), a cradle of Chinese civilization. A mixed-methods approach combined with historical document analysis was utilized, and the results reveal how these settlements achieved harmonious coexistence between human activities and the natural environment over millennia. The research uncovers a sophisticated system of ecological wisdom, primarily manifested across four key dimensions: (1) Macro-Topography-Responsive Siting Strategy: Settlement locations adhered to the principle of “nestling against mountains and facing water,” utilizing natural barriers and resources to mitigate flood risks and optimize microclimates. (2) Context-Adaptive Spatial Layout: The internal layout of settlements was attuned to local topography, water systems, and wind corridors, enhancing living comfort and aesthetic appeal. (3) Gray–Green–Blue infrastructure Synergy: Ancient water management systems were integrated with farmland and transportation routes, forming a synergistic network for irrigation, drainage, flood control, and transportation. (4) Culture–Nature Symbiosis: Cultural practices integrated human life cycles with natural landscapes, fostering regional identity and cultural sustainability. This study argues that the ecological wisdom of ancient Yiluo settlements—marked by its systematic and adaptive nature—provides a valuable historical paradigm for enhancing ecosystem services, building climate resilience, and achieving human–nature harmony in contemporary watershed management and urban–rural development. Full article

Soil aggregates are critical determinants of soil erosion resistance and nutrient retention capacity, while freeze–thaw cycles (FTCs) induce the structural reorganization of soil aggregates, thereby altering soil stability and influencing soil organic carbon (SOC) sequestration. This study was located in the Minjia River Basin in the typical seasonal freeze–thaw areas of the Loess Plateau and aimed to quantify the effects of FTCs on soil aggregate stability and SOC content under different land use types. Farmland, grassland, and forestland with more than 20 years of usage in the region were selected, and a 0–20 cm soil layer was subjected to seven FTCs (−8 °C to 20 °C), followed by wet and dry sieving classification, focusing on soil aggregate distribution, aggregate stability, mean weight diameter (MWD), geometric mean diameter (GMD), aggregate particle fractal dimension (APD), and SOC content of the aggregate. The results showed that soil aggregates in all land use types were dominated by macroaggregates (>2 mm), with the proportion in forestland (61–63%) > grassland (54–58%) > farmland (38–51%). FTCs enhanced aggregate stability across all land use types, especially in farmland. Concurrently, FTCs reduced the SOC content in all aggregate size fractions, with reduction rates ranging from farmland (9.00–21%) to grassland (4–26%) to forestland (5–31%). Notably, FTCs significantly increased the contribution of 2–5 mm water-stable (WS) aggregates to SOC sequestration, with increment rates of 86% (farmland), 80% (grassland), and 86% (forestland). Furthermore, FTCs altered the correlation between SOC content and aggregate stability. Specifically, the positive correlations of SOC with MWD and GMD were strengthened in aggregates < 0.5 mm but weakened in aggregates >0.5 mm. These findings advance our understanding of the coupled mechanisms underlying soil erosion and carbon cycling across land uses under freeze–thaw, providing a theoretical basis for ecosystem restoration and optimized soil carbon management in cold regions. Full article

Accurate assessment of avian community structure and bird-strike risk within airport ecosystems is vital for balancing aviation safety with biodiversity conservation. From October 2019 to July 2020, we conducted systematic bird surveys at Lincang Boshang Airport (Yunnan, China) and its surrounding area. By integrating taxonomic, functional, and phylogenetic diversity analyses, we examined spatial–temporal patterns of bird diversity and characterized bird-strike risk. In total, 4859 individuals of 148 species were recorded, representing 51 families and 15 orders. The avifauna was dominated by broadly distributed Oriental–Palearctic species, reflecting the pronounced biogeographic transition of southwestern Yunnan. Functional diversity (FD) and phylogenetic diversity (PD) differed significantly among habitats: wetlands exhibited the highest FD and PD, indicating strong functional and lineage overdispersion driven by high environmental heterogeneity, whereas farmland showed the lowest FD and PD, consistent with stronger environmental filtering. Seasonal dynamics also shaped community structure, with the highest individual abundance in winter and the lowest species richness in spring. Standardized effect sizes (SES) revealed an overall tendency toward functional and phylogenetic clustering (SES < 0), most pronounced in forest and urban communities, while wetland assemblages consistently showed greater overdispersion across seasons. Risk evaluation indicated that low-risk species comprised 76.35% of the fauna, whereas high and very-high risk species accounted for only 3.38%, mainly large raptors (Accipitriformes) and pelicans/herons (Pelecaniformes). Integrating community patterns with risk distribution, we propose zone-specific management: remove standing water and tall grass in wetlands and farmland; optimize vegetation structure along forest–urban edges; and adopt acoustic/visual deterrents and dynamic management within core airport areas to reduce strike risk. Our findings provide a comprehensive baseline of airport bird diversity and bird-strike risk in southwestern China, offering evidence-based guidance for airport ecological safety management and regional biodiversity conservation. Full article

Current research predominantly focuses on the microbial-driven processes of soil organic nitrogen mineralization, often overlooking the significant contributions of abiotic pathways mediated by reactive minerals. While manganese oxides are known to promote the abiotic mineralization of organic nitrogen, the influence of key environmental factors on this process remains poorly understood. This study established a simulated system to investigate the effects of dissolved oxygen and pH on the γ-MnO₂-mediated abiotic nitrogen mineralization of peptone. The results showed that under an air atmosphere at pH 5.0–8.0, the rate of nitrogen mineralization from peptone catalyzed by γ-MnO₂ initially increased and then subsequently decreased. Dissolved oxygen was identified as a major electron acceptor in the peptone nitrogen mineralization process, playing a critical role in its rate and extent. Direct oxidation by Mn (IV) and Mn (III) within γ-MnO₂ accounted for 72.5% of the peptone nitrogen mineralization, and reactive oxygen species generated on the mineral surface accounted for 27.5% through a catalytic oxidation mechanism. This study provides a preliminary analysis of how key environmental factors influence the abiotic mineralization of protein-derived organic nitrogen, which is expected to deepen the understanding of soil organic nitrogen mineralization mechanisms, enrich the knowledge of nitrogen cycling in agricultural ecosystems, and provide a theoretical basis for efficient nitrogen management in farmland. Full article

Background/Objectives: The application of manure introduces antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) into farmland, posing a significant public health risk. While tillage and fertilization practices are known to influence soil ecosystems, a systematic synthesis of how tillage patterns specifically regulate the fate of manure-derived ARGs is lacking. Methods: This review bridges this critical knowledge gap by systematically analyzing the interactions between conventional/conservation tillage and the distribution, persistence, and transmission of these ARGs. Results: It is observed that conservation tillage (e.g., no tillage), while beneficial for soil health, can lead to ARG accumulation at the soil surface, potentially increasing runoff risks, whereas conventional tillage promotes vertical mixing and dilution. A key unique contribution of this review is the systematic comparison of conventional versus conservation tillage, revealing quantitative reductions in ARG abundance. under practices like no till or deep plowing. Conclusions: We further con-solidate and propose integrated management strategies, combining precision agriculture, optimized fertilization, and scientific soil management, to mitigate ARG pollution. This work provides a targeted framework for developing more effective intervention measures to ensure agricultural sustainability and safeguard human health. Full article

This study aims to quantify the spatiotemporal evolution of ecosystem service value (ESV) in the Zhengzhou Metropolitan Area from 2010 to 2022. We employed an improved equivalent factor method to calculate ESV and used Geodetector analysis to identify its key driving factors. Over this 12-year period, the total ESV exhibited a spatial decreasing pattern from west to east, with farmland and forestland contributing the most to total ESV. Geodetector results across four grid scales indicate that vegetation cover (Fractional Vegetation Cover, FVC) and slope Digital Elevation Model (DEM) are the primary natural drivers; notably, the optimal model fit was achieved at finer grid scales. These findings provide a scientific basis for promoting coordinated eco-economic development and formulating conservation strategies during the urbanization process of the Zhengzhou Metropolitan Area. Full article

In response to the widespread decline in ecosystem service value (ESV) caused by rapid industrialization and urbanization-driven land-use transitions in Coastal China—characterized by shrinking farmland and expanding built-up land and crystallized in the “core-city sprawl and surrounding-farmland encroachment” pattern—this study integrated land-use and socioeconomic data from 1980 to 2020. Employing the equivalent-factor method and Geodetector model, we quantified the spatiotemporal evolution of ESV and its driving mechanisms across the entire coastal region. The results show that (i) the total ESV experienced a fluctuating increase. (ii) Spatially, the ESV exhibited a “high in the south, low in the north, and higher inland than along the immediate coast” pattern, with mountain–hill belts and estuarine wetlands in the south forming high-value clusters, whereas the Bohai Rim in the north emerged as a low-value zone. (iii) Socioeconomic factors increasingly dominated the driving forces, while NDVI became the most influential natural factor; the interactions between the drivers consistently produced bi-factor enhancement effects. These findings provide a scientific basis for implementing the “Two-Mountains Theory” and optimizing coastal territorial spatial planning. Full article

Soil moisture (SM) is crucial for ecosystems and agriculture. Since the root systems of plants absorb water at different depths with different intensities, monitoring multi-layer SM can better respond to the water demand of plants and offer a crucial technical backing for drought monitoring and precision irrigation. Synthetic aperture radar (SAR) and multispectral (MS) have been widely used in SM estimation; however, their combined application for multi-layer SM profiling remains underexplored. Existing research based on these two data types has primarily focused on surface soil moisture (SSM), with limited investigation into estimating SM at deeper or varying depths. Therefore, the aims of this research are to integrate Sentinel-1 SAR and Sentinel-2 MS data and employ machine learning algorithms to estimate multi-layer SM in the Shandian River Basin. The results showed that (1) MS + SAR-based SM estimation significantly outperformed single-source data (MS or SAR alone). Specifically, MS data performed better in the root-zone estimation, while SAR data showed superior performance in SSM estimation. (2) The BKA-CNN estimation accuracy significantly outperformed RF and XGBoost. The results of its five-fold cross-validation are as follows: R² = 0.768 ± 0.011 at 3 cm, R² = 0.777 ± 0.013 at 5 cm, R² = 0.799 ± 0.011 at 10 cm, R² = 0.792 ± 0.01 at 20 cm, and R² = 0.782 ± 0.011 at 50 cm. (3) The BKA-CNN model performed better in grassland than in farmland. These findings indicate that the BKA-CNN model proposed in this study effectively improves the estimation precision of multi-layer SM by fusing SAR and MS data, demonstrating considerable generalization ability and robustness. It holds potential application value in ecological protection and agricultural water resource management. Full article

To address land space issues in the West Qinling Mountains—including habitat degradation, ecosystem damage, spatial pattern imbalance and unsustainable resource use—this study employed the InVEST habitat quality model and spatial autocorrelation analysis. Based on land use remote sensing data from 1990 to 2020, we simulated and evaluated habitat quality and degradation over this 30-year period to propose scientific recommendations and optimization strategies. The results showed that: (1) The area of grassland and farmland in the West Qinling Mountains decreased significantly, the area of construction land, bare land and forest land increased mainly; (2) The habitat quality of the West Qinling Mountains was generally high, and the average of the habitat quality showed an overall decreasing trend in the period of 1990–2020. The proportion of worst habitat increased from 4.11% to 5.21%. The habitat quality is in the process of polarization, the spatial distribution of habitat quality in West Qinling shows a pattern of “high in the west, low in the north and southeast”; (3) The hot and cold spots of habitat quality in West Qinling are spatially manifested as “hotter in the west and the south; colder in the center and the east”; (4) The spatial clustering of habitat quality in the West Qinling Mountains is obvious, with the area of the high–high area and the low–low area increasing with time, the high–low area decreasing, and the low–high area slightly increasing. (5) The degree of habitat degradation in the West Qinling Mountains is generally low, the average value of degradation from 1990 to 2020 showed an upward trend, habitat degradation is in the process of converging to medium risk. The area of medium habitat degradation expanded by nearly 1.5 times between 1990 and 2020. The spatial distribution of habitat degradation in the West Qinling Mountains generally shows a pattern of low in the west and high in the north and high in the southeast. In future planning and management, the west Qinling Mountains should formulate and carry out scientific ecological restoration plans and projects in terms of improving the quality of habitats, curbing habitat degradation, optimizing the direction of regional land use and reasonably protecting land resources, in an effort to balance urban development and ecological protection, curbing ecological degradation, guaranteeing the sustainable development of the habitats in a benign direction. Full article

The degradation of soil structure in black soils has become a key factor limiting the productivity of farmland ecosystems. However, systematic studies on restoring soil physical properties and improving crop yields through biological tillage remain scarce. In this study, Eisenia fetida was employed as a biological tillage agent to create soil macropores. An orthogonal experiment with three factors was conducted to investigate the mechanisms by which different gradients of soil moisture, decomposed straw, and soil compaction affect soil pore structure and the yield of Brassica chinensis L. X-ray-computed tomography (CT) was used to quantitatively characterize the macropore network mediated by earthworms. The results indicated that the critical threshold conditions for optimized biological tillage were 50 g of decomposed straw, a compaction of 50–150 kPa, and a soil moisture content of 30–37%. Under these conditions, earthworm activity significantly enhanced the leaf dry weight of Brassica chinensis L. by approximately 55.29%, while root dry weight increased by 96.60%. Compared with treatments of low soil moisture combined with 50 g of decomposed straw, higher moisture levels further increased total biomass by 75.46%. Compared with the control, earthworm-induced macropores had 27 times more pore throats than abiotic pores, and network models showed significantly improved connectivity, indicating enhanced soil structure. This study revealed a synergistic threshold of water–food–physical resistance regulation for soil structural improvement under biological tillage and innovatively proposed a biological tillage evaluation system based on CT-quantified pore networks and root structure–function relationships. These findings provide a theoretical basis for the ecological restoration of degraded black soils. Full article

Population growth, urbanization, improved infrastructure, and climate change are reshaping land use systems worldwide, creating spatial trade-offs between economic development, ecosystem services, and cultural heritage. In Ladakh, Himalayan India, mass tourism and recent political changes have triggered a particularly rapid transition from traditional subsistence farming to market-oriented production, raising concerns about the sustainability of changing land management practices, cultural identity, and growing dependence on external inputs. To disentangle these concerns, we investigated land use changes, development patterns, and socio-economic drivers over the past 40 years. To this end we merged Landsat-based remote sensing data with household surveys in two contrasting, urbanizing regions—the Union Territory’s capital Leh and its more remote, third largest town of Diskit. Spatially explicit land cover maps for three periods of the 1970s, the 2000s, and the 2020s revealed an eightfold increase in residential area in Leh, with 41.7% of agricultural land converted to urban use, compared to a twofold increase and only 1.7% farmland loss in Diskit. Expansion of urban land use in Leh occurred in all directions across multiple land use types, while in Diskit, it remained localized to previously unused land. Survey data on socio-economic parameters showed a production shift toward goods demanded by tourism and the military, the latter being linked to border tensions with China and Pakistan. The divergent dynamics highlight the need for integrated spatial planning and scenario analysis to balance globalization-driven development with the conservation of cultural landscapes and ecosystem services. We recommend ecotourism-based strategies as an optimized pathway toward sustainable and multifunctional land systems in mountain regions. Full article

Straw return is crucial for sustainable agriculture, but its efficiency is limited by low temperatures in cold regions, especially in saline-alkali soils. This study investigates the degradation process of maize straw and the response of soil properties and microbial communities during the winter low-temperature period in the alkaline farmland of Anda, China. A two-year field experiment with straw return (SR) and no return (NR) treatments was conducted. Straw degradation rates and structural changes (as observed via scanning electron microscope, SEM) were monitored. Soil physicochemical properties and enzyme activities were analyzed. Microbial community composition was characterized using 16S rRNA and ITS sequencing. The cumulative straw degradation rate over two years reached 94.81%, with 18.33% occurring in the first winter freeze–thaw period. Freeze–thaw cycles significantly damaged the straw structure, facilitating microbial colonization. Straw return significantly improved soil properties after winter, increasing field water capacity (3.45%), content of large aggregates (6.57%), available nutrients (P 38.17 mg/kg, K 191.93 mg/kg), and organic carbon fractions compared to NR. Microbial analysis revealed that low temperatures filtered the community, enriching cold-tolerant taxa like Pseudogymnoascus, Penicillium, and Pedobacter, which are crucial for lignocellulose decomposition under cold conditions. The winter period plays a significant role in initiating straw degradation in cold regions. Straw return mitigates the adverse effects of winter freezing on soil quality and promotes the development of a cold-adapted microbial consortium, thereby enhancing the sustainability of alkaline farmland ecosystems in Northeast China. Full article

Functioning as a critical ecotone between terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, riparian zones exhibit soil enzyme activities that serve as key biomarkers of their nutrient cycling processes. However, despite considerable focus on riparian soil properties, the dynamics and underlying drivers of these enzymatic activities are not yet fully characterized. To this end, soils were systematically sampled across varying widths and depths from three representative riparian zones to quantify the driving forces of physicochemical properties on enzyme activity dynamics. The results showed that the soil enzyme activity was highest in the forest riparian zone and lowest in the farmland riparian zone, with average enzyme activities of 37.95 (μmol·g⁻¹·h⁻¹) and 26.85 (μmol·g⁻¹·h⁻¹), respectively. The width of the riparian zone changes the spatial distribution of soil enzyme activity. The soil enzyme activity is higher in the land edge area far from the river (profile-1) and lower in the water edge area near the river (profile-4), with average enzyme activities of 47.4384 (μmol·g⁻¹·h⁻¹) and 17.0017 (μmol·g⁻¹·h⁻¹), respectively. Moreover, soil water content (SWC) has a strong impact on enzyme activity changes. The increase in soil depth reduces soil enzyme activity, with enzyme activity in the 0–20 cm soil layer being 1.5 times higher than in the 20–50 cm soil layer. Meanwhile, the primary factors influencing changes in soil enzyme activity have gradually shifted from total nitrogen (TN), nitrate nitrogen (NO₃-N), and soil organic carbon (SOC) to the sole control of SOC. Research has shown that human influence strongly interferes with soil enzyme activity in riparian zones. The width of the riparian zone and soil depth serve as key drivers of the spatial distribution of soil enzyme activity by modulating soil environmental factors. The patterns revealed in this study indicate that maintaining appropriate riparian zone width and reducing anthropogenic disturbances can enhance nutrient cycling dynamics at the micro-scale by increasing soil enzyme activity. This process is crucial for strengthening the riparian zone’s macro-level ecosystem services, particularly by effectively enhancing its capacity to sequester and transform nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus from agricultural nonpoint sources, thereby safeguarding downstream water quality. Consequently, soil enzyme activity serves as a key indicator, providing essential scientific basis for assessing riparian health and guiding ecological restoration efforts. Full article

Mountainous urban areas like Guiyang face unique fire safety challenges due to rugged terrain and complex road networks, which hinder fire station accessibility. This study proposes a GIS-based framework that integrates nighttime light (NPP/VIIRS) and point of interest (POI) data to assess fire risk and accessibility. Kernel density estimation quantified POI distributions across four risk categories, and the Spatial Appraisal and Valuation of Environment and Ecosystems (SAVEE) model combined these with NPP/VIIRS data to generate a composite fire risk map. Accessibility was evaluated using the enhanced two-step floating catchment area (E2SFCA) method with road network travel times; 80.13% of demand units were covered within the five-minute threshold, while 53.25% of all units exhibited low accessibility. Spatial autocorrelation analysis (Moran’s I) revealed clustered high risk in central basins and service gaps on surrounding hills, reflecting the dominant influence of terrain alongside protected forests and farmlands. The results indicate that targeted road upgrades and station relocations can improve fire service coverage. The approach is scalable and supports more equitable emergency response in mountainous settings. Full article