Search Results (1,278)

The Mass Ratio Hypothesis states that the growth dynamics of dominant species influence forest species diversity by regulating the niches of subordinate and transient species. However, this prediction has not yet been empirical confirmed in subtropical forests over long term. Using data from 1995 to 2017, we examined how dominant tree species regulate species evenness and richness by analyzing their height and diameter growth in three clear-cut forests (Castanopsis carlesii (Hemsl.) Hayata, Castanopsis fissa (Champ. ex Benth.) Rehder & E. H. Wilson, and Cunninghamia lanceolata (Lamb.) Hook. stands), combined with the mean value of species niche breadth (measures the diversity of resources a species utilizes) across the community, including separate analyzes for subordinate (persistently coexisting with dominants species) and transient species (temporarily occurring species). Our results showed that an increase in height and diameter growth of dominant species had a negative effect on niche breadth of subordinate species, which in turn reduced species evenness (p < 0.01) but showed no significant relationship with species richness (p ≥ 0.05). Growth dynamics of dominants had no significant influence on the niche breadth of transient species. The early-fast growing dominant C. lanceolata significantly restricted the niche breadth of subordinate species (1.16 ± 0.23), resulting in relatively low evenness (0.49 ± 0.11). Conversely, the late-fast growing dominant C. carlesii promoted niche expansion (6.62 ± 1.20), resulting in higher evenness (0.81 ± 0.02). C. fissa -dominated strands with intermediate growth increments, exhibited moderate species evenness. These findings provide long-term empirical support for the Mass Ratio Hypothesis by demonstrating that growths of dominant species modulate niche partitioning in subordinates and thereby shape species diversity in subtropical forest communities. Full article

Drought, a complex and frequent natural hazard in the context of global change, poses a major threat to key forest ecosystems in the carbon cycle. However, current research lacks a systematic and quantitative analysis of the multi-factor drivers of drought sensitivity based on lagged and accumulative effects. To address this gap, a drought sensitivity model was established by integrating both lagged and accumulative effects derived from long-term remote sensing datasets. To leverage both predictive power and interpretability, the XGBoost–SHAP framework was employed to model nonlinear associations and identify the threshold effects of driving factors. In addition, the Geodetector model was applied to examine spatially explicit interactions among multiple drivers, thereby uncovering the coupling effects that jointly shape forest drought sensitivity across China. The results reveal the following: (1) Drought had lagged and accumulative effects on 99.52% and 95.55% of forest GPP, with evergreen broadleaf forest showing the strongest effects and deciduous needleleaf forest the weakest. (2) Evergreen needleleaf forests have the highest proportion of extremely high drought sensitivity (16.94%), while deciduous needleleaf forests have the least (1.02%), and the drought sensitivity index declined in 67.12% of forests over decades. (3) Temperature and precipitation are the primary drivers of drought sensitivity, with clear threshold effects. Evergreen forests are mainly driven by climatic factors, while forest age is a key driver in deciduous needleleaf forests. (4) Interactive effects among multiple factors significantly amplify spatial variations in drought sensitivity, with water–heat coupling dominating in evergreen forests and structure–climate interactions prevailing in deciduous forests. Full article

The intensification of urban heat in high-density cities has raised growing concerns for public health, infrastructural resilience, and environmental sustainability. As large-scale, multi-functional open spaces, sports stadiums play an underexplored role in shaping urban thermal patterns. This study investigates the spatial and temporal thermal characteristics of eight representative stadiums in central Shanghai and the Pudong New Area from 2018 to 2023. A dual-framework approach is proposed: the Stadium-based Urban Island Regulation (SUIR) model conceptualizes stadiums as active cooling agents across micro to macro spatial scales, while the Multi-source Thermal Cognition System (MTCS) integrates multi-sensor satellite data—Landsat, MODIS, Sentinel-1/2—with anthropogenic and ecological indicators to diagnose surface temperature dynamics. Remote sensing fusion and machine learning analyses reveal clear intra-stadium thermal heterogeneity: track zones consistently recorded the highest land surface temperatures (up to 37.5 °C), while grass fields exhibited strong cooling effects (as low as 29.8 °C). Buffer analysis shows that cooling effects were most pronounced within 300–500 m, varying with local morphology. A spatial diffusion model further demonstrates that stadiums with large, vegetated buffers or proximity to water bodies exert a broader regional cooling influence. Correlation and Random Forest regression analyses identify the building volume (r = 0.81), NDVI (r = −0.53), nighttime light intensity, and traffic density as key thermal drivers. These findings offer new insight into the role of stadiums in urban heat mitigation and provide practical implications for scale-sensitive, climate-adaptive urban planning strategies. Full article

Climate change has intensified the frequency and severity of forest disturbances globally, including windthrow, which poses substantial risks for both forest productivity and ecosystem stability. Rapid and precise assessment of wind-induced tree damage is essential for effective management, yet many injuries remain visually undetectable in the early stages. This study employed drone-based multispectral imaging and a simulated wind stress experiment (static pulling) on Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.) to investigate the detectability of physiological and structural changes over four years. Multispectral data were collected at multiple time points (2023–2024), and a suite of vegetation indices (the Normalised Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), the Structure Insensitive Pigment Index (SIPI), the Difference Vegetation Index (DVI), and Red Edge-based indices) were calculated and analysed using mixed-effects models. Our results demonstrate that trees subjected to mechanical bending (“Bent”) exhibit substantial reductions in the near-infrared (NIR)-based indices, while healthy trees maintain higher and more stable index values. Structure- and pigment-sensitive indices (e.g., the Modified Chlorophyll Absorption Ratio Index (MCARI 2), the Transformed Chlorophyll Absorption in Reflectance Index/Optimised Soil-Adjusted Vegetation Index (TCARI/OSAVI), and RDVI) showed the highest diagnostic value for differentiating between damaged and healthy trees. We found the clear identification of group- and season-specific patterns, revealing that the most pronounced physiological decline in Bent trees emerged only several seasons after the disturbance. Full article

Understanding the mechanisms governing forest community assembly across different growth stages is essential for revealing succession dynamics and guiding forest restoration. While much attention has been given to overstory trees, the understory regeneration layer, critical for forest succession, remains less explored, particularly regarding its stage-specific survival strategies and assembly processes. This study investigates the natural regeneration of Quercus variabilis forests in northern China, focusing on the transition from early to later growth stages. Our objectives were to (1) identify the phylogenetic and functional structures of regeneration communities at early and later stages, (2) explore their responses to environmental gradients, and (3) assess the roles of deterministic and stochastic processes in shaping community assembly. We integrated phylogenetic structure, functional traits, and environmental gradients to examine natural regeneration communities. The results revealed clear stage-dependent patterns: communities exhibited random phylogenetic and functional structures in the early growth stage, suggesting a dominant role of stochastic processes during early recruitment. In contrast, communities showed phylogenetic clustering and functional overdispersion in later growth stages, indicating the increasing influence of environmental filtering and interspecific competition as individuals developed. Generalized Dissimilarity Modeling (GDM) further revealed that dispersal limitation and pH were key predictors of phylogenetic β-diversity in the later growth stage, while total phosphorus drove functional β-diversity in the later growth stage. No significant predictors were found for β-diversity in the early stage. These findings highlight the shift from stochastic to deterministic processes during forest regeneration, emphasizing the stage-dependent nature of assembly mechanisms. Our study elucidates the stage-specific assembly rules of Q. variabilis forests and offers theoretical guidance for stage-targeted interventions in forest management to promote positive succession. Full article

Holm oak groves of Quercus ilex subsp. ilex are one of the most characteristic environmental elements of the Cantabrian strip of the Iberian Peninsula. The Cantabrian holm oak forest does not have a clear origin. There is a possibility that it has a relict character, and it could also respond more to human activity over the last 10,000 years. Nowadays, it is a rare, scarce, and finicultural forest in this demarcation, but it provides many ecosystem services. To carry out a comparative analysis and assessment of its potential as Green Infrastructure and of its coastal facies (Urdaibai, Bizkaia), 10 random and stratified inventories were carried out. These plots were monitored regularly for more than 2 years and in seasonal visits to avoid phenological bias. The resulting synthetic syninventories were then assessed according to the LANBIOEVA (Landscape Biogeographical Evaluation) Methodology, which has been applied for more than 35 years in different ecosystems and landscapes at a global scale. Scores for various parameters related to ecosystem services are of high conservation interest, and the cultural services are medium to high. Concerning conservation priority, the low records of the three threat parameters result in mean values that are in the first quartile for this parameter, which attests to a good level of conservation. The conclusion is clear: the Biosphere Reserve status has had a positive influence on the proper management and conservation of the Cantabrian holm oak forest and its associated ecosystem services. However, certain threats that still weigh on this ecosystem need to be addressed. Full article

Traditional Forest Management Plans (FMPs), which often span hundreds of pages on paper, present significant challenges due to their extensive length and lack of clear spatiotemporal context. This study aimed to integrate complex data from FMPs into an interactive, spatially referenced database. Using Gârda Forest in Romania’s Apuseni Mountains as a case study, we gathered raw data, developed the geodatabase’s spatial and alphanumerical components, and conducted spatial analyses related to ecological and production factors. Our GIS was designed to accommodate multiple attributes within the compartment layer’s attribute table. Unlike previous studies, we incorporated the full range of information from the Compartment Description, not just isolated management aspects. This comprehensive approach enabled spatial analysis to highlight, in maps, key features across the 50 compartments (totaling 752.5 ha) including dominant species (Norway spruce, silver fir, beech), target species composition (Norway spruce as the predominant target), land protection needs (required for 4% of the area), median forest volume (1565 m³ per compartment), elevation range (1020–1420 m), compartments with production functions, and silvicultural treatments. These thematic maps provide a tool for further analyses and clear spatial visualization. Our GIS-based methodology supports rapid condition assessments and aids forest professionals and decision-makers in promoting sustainable forest management. Full article

Forest degradation, characterized by the gradual loss of the forest’s ecological and ecosystem functions, has been happening rapidly in the Amazon. Its main anthropogenic vectors are deforestation, forest fragmentation, selective logging, forest fires, and the edge effect. Impacts on the forest canopy and biomass can be estimated using satellite images and field data. The present study examines the dynamics of edges created annually by forest clearing and the effects of these edges considering the annual extent and loss of forest biomass between 2007 and 2023 in the municipality of Rorainópolis, located in the southern portion of the state of Roraima, in the far north of the Brazilian Amazon. We (i) delimited the edge areas created annually by deforestation between 2007 and 2023; (ii) tested the hypothesis of the existence of a spatial gradient for forest degradation using the increasing distance from the edge as a reference and the spectral behavior of three vegetation indices (NDVI, NBR, and NDWI) at the pixel level from average values of images from the Landsat-5/8 and Sentinel-2 satellites; and (iii) estimated the biomass exposed to deforestation and the edge effect and the consequent loss of biomass due to these processes. The loss of biomass in the study area due to deforestation totaled 17.1 × 10⁶ Mg in 2023, and the forest edge areas totaled 244.9 km², containing 10.5 × 10⁶ Mg of biomass. During 2023, we estimated a cumulative loss of 0.92 × 10⁶ Mg (8.73%). Analysis of the three vegetation indices showed that there is a gradient of forest degradation, characterized by an increase in the pixel index value from the edge to the interior of the forest. Forest degradation due to the edge effect is an important source of carbon emissions and should be included in national reports on greenhouse gas emissions. Full article

This study aims to critically assesses the application and limitations of Universal Design (UD) and Inclusive Design (ID) in Bangkok’s public parks and proposes a context-sensitive framework to enhance urban inclusivity. While UD has contributed significantly to improving physical accessibility—through standardized features such as ramps, tactile paving, and clear circulation paths—it often fails to address emotional comfort, cultural representation, and participatory engagement. In contrast, ID emphasizes co-creation, contextual adaptability, and symbolic inclusion, offering a more holistic and equity-driven approach. Using a five-dimensional comparative framework—philosophy, function, spatial logic, user engagement, and evaluation—this research analyzes three major public parks: Benjakitti Forest Park, Chatuchak (Railway) Park, and Chulalongkorn Centenary Park. Each site was evaluated through narrative critique, dimension scoring, and radar diagram visualizations. The findings reveal that while all three parks exhibit strong UD characteristics, they lack alignment with ID principles, particularly in the areas of community engagement and emotional resonance. These typologies highlight a broader trend in Thai public space planning, wherein accessibility is interpreted narrowly as compliance rather than inclusion. The study concludes by proposing policy and design recommendations for embedding ID into future park development, positioning ID not only as a design approach but as a paradigm for spatial justice, belonging, and cultural sustainability. Full article

Under the backdrop of global climate warming, both forest vegetation greening and resilience decline coexist, and the consistency of these trends at the regional scale remains controversial. This study uses the kNDVI (Kernel Normalized Difference Vegetation Index) and TAC (Temporal Autocorrelation) index framework, combined with BEAST and Random Forest methods, to quantify and analyze the spatiotemporal evolution of forest resilience and its driving factors in Southwest China from 2000 to 2022. The results show the following: (1) Forest resilience exhibits a “high in the northwest and low in the southeast” spatial distribution, with a temporal pattern of “increase-decrease-increase.” The years 2010 and 2015 are key turning points. Trend shift analysis divides resilience into six types. (2) Although forest vegetation shows a clear greening trend, resilience does not necessarily increase with greening, and in some areas, an “increase in greening—decline in resilience” asynchronous pattern appears. (3) The annual average temperature, precipitation, and solar radiation are the main climate factors and their influence on resilience follows a nonlinear relationship. Higher temperatures and increased radiation may suppress resilience, while increased precipitation can enhance it. This study suggests incorporating the TAC indicator into ecological monitoring and early warning systems, along with applying trend classification results for region-specific management to improve the scientific basis and adaptability of forest governance under climate change. Full article

Predictive maintenance is widely used in modern industrial systems. It helps improve the working life of machines. It also reduces risk and lowers overall operating costs. Many current approaches still face problems when handling both fast processing and balanced performance across different measurements. In this research, twelve machine learning models are tested. These include standard algorithms and deep learning-based solutions. Two manufacturing datasets are used. One has more samples, while the other shows uneven class labels. Important features are selected by applying strict screening. Model parameters are fine-tuned to obtain stable results. To measure how each model performs, several metrics are used—accuracy, precision, recall, F1-score, and ROC AUC. Among all tested models, random forest shows the best results. It reaches a classification accuracy of 99.5%. At the same time, it keeps a good balance between recall and precision. This model works well when data from sensors is imbalanced. It is also strong in handling patterns that do not follow a clear rule. The system is potentially suitable for real-time deployment in industrial machines with rotating parts, as demonstrated on two representative manufacturing datasets. However, broader validation across diverse equipment types is recommended before large-scale adoption. Full article

Forest fires are commonly regarded as negative for ecosystems; however, they also represent a major ecological force shaping the biodiversity of invertebrates and many other organisms. The aim of this study was to better understand how multiple groups of invertebrates respond to wildfire across different forest types in Central Europe. The research was conducted following a large forest fire (ca. 1200 ha) that occurred in 2022. Data were collected over two years (2023 and 2024), from April to September. The research was conducted in coniferous forests and included six pairwise study types: burnt and unburnt dead spruce (bark beetle affected), burnt and unburnt clear-cuts, and burnt and unburnt healthy stands. In total, 96 traps were deployed each year. Across both years, 220,348 invertebrates were recorded (1.Y: 128,323; 2.Y: 92,025), representing 24 taxonomic groups. A general negative trend in abundance following forest fire was observed in the groups Acari, Auchenorhyncha, Blattodea, Dermaptera, Formicidae, Chilopoda, Isopoda, Opiliones, and Pseudoscorionida. Groups showing a neutral response included Araneae, Coleoptera, Collembola, Diplopoda, Heteroptera, Psocoptera, Raphidioptera, Thysanoptera, and Trichoptera. Positive responses, indicated by an increase in abundance, were recorded in Hymenoptera, Orthoptera, Lepidoptera, and Diptera. However, considerable differences among management types (clear-cut, dead spruce, and healthy) were evident, as their distinct characteristics largely influenced invertebrate abundance in both unburnt and burnt variants of the types across all groups studied. Forest fire primarily creates favorable conditions for heliophilous, open-landscape, and floricolous invertebrate groups, while less mobile epigeic groups are strongly negatively affected. In the second year post-fire, the total invertebrate abundance in burnt sites decreased to 59% of the first year’s levels. Conclusion: Forest fire generates a highly heterogeneous landscape from a regional perspective, creating unique ecological niches that persist more than two years after fire. For many invertebrates, successional return toward pre-fire conditions is delayed or incomplete. Full article

The Mayanghe National Nature Reserve, a key habitat for the endangered François’ langur (Trachypithecus francoisi), faces significant anthropogenic disturbances, including extensive distribution of croplands, roads, and settlements. These human-modified features are predominantly concentrated at elevations between 500 and 800 m and on slopes of 10–20°, which notably overlap with the core elevation range utilized by François’ langur. Spatial analysis revealed that langurs primarily occupy areas within the 500–800 m elevation band, which comprises only 33% of the reserve but hosts a high density of human infrastructure—including approximately 4468 residential buildings and the majority of cropland and road networks. Despite slopes >60° representing just 18.52% of the area, langur habitat utilization peaked in these steep regions (exceeding 85.71%), indicating a strong preference for rugged karst terrain, likely due to reduced human interference. Habitat type analysis showed a clear preference for evergreen broadleaf forests (covering 37.19% of utilized areas), followed by shrublands. Landscape pattern metrics revealed high habitat fragmentation, with 457 discrete habitat patches and broadleaf forests displaying the highest edge density and total edge length. Connectivity analyses indicated that distribution areas exhibit a more continuous and aggregated habitat configuration than control areas. These results underscore François’ langur’s reliance on steep, forested karst habitats and highlight the urgent need to mitigate human-induced fragmentation in key elevation and slope zones to ensure the species’ long-term survival. Full article

Gully erosion refers to the landform formed by soil and water loss through gully development, which is a critical manifestation of soil degradation. However, research on the spatio-temporal variations in erosion gullies at the county scale remains insufficient, particularly regarding changes in gully aggregation and their driving factors. This study utilized high-resolution remote sensing imagery, gully interpretation information, topographic data, meteorological records, vegetation coverage, soil texture, and land use datasets to analyze the spatio-temporal patterns and influencing factors of erosion gully evolution in Bin County, Heilongjiang Province of China, from 2012 to 2022. Kernel density evaluation (KDE) analysis was also employed to explore these dynamics. The results indicate that the gully number in Bin County has significantly increased over the past decade. Gully development involves not only headward erosion of gully heads but also lateral expansion of gully channels. Gully evolution is most pronounced in slope intervals. While gentle slopes and slope intervals host the highest density of gullies, the aspect does not significantly influence gully development. Vegetation coverage exhibits a clear threshold effect of 0.6 in inhibiting erosion gully formation. Additionally, cultivated areas contain the largest number of gullies and experience the most intense changes; gully aggregation in forested and grassland regions shows an upward trend; the central part of the black soil region has witnessed a marked decrease in gully aggregation; and meadow soil areas exhibit relatively stable spatio-temporal variations in gully distribution. These findings provide valuable data and decision-making support for soil erosion control and transformation efforts. Full article

Bombus haematurus (Hymenoptera: Apidae), which arrived from the Balkan Peninsula, was first reported in Italy in 2020 in the Friuli Venezia Giulia region (FVG) (northeastern Italy) near the border with Slovenia. To study the spread and biology of the species, a survey was conducted at several sites of the FVG in the period 2023–2025. Bombus haematurus was recorded at 22 new sites across all four districts of the FVG (Trieste, Gorizia, Udine, and Pordenone), indicating its expansion towards the west. Bumblebees of this species were detected in plain and hilly areas at sites between 10 and 364 m a.s.l. They were observed more frequently at forest edges, undergrowth paths or clearings and meadows adjacent to woods, confirming the species is hylophilous. The activity of adults from February to July confirms that the bumblebee is an univoltine spring species. Specimens were observed foraging on the flowers of 19 wild and ornamental plants belonging to 12 families (in particular, Lamiaceae), confirming that the species is polylectic. The data collected indicate that B. haematurus are permanently established in the FVG and that a further spread of the species towards the west in the neighbouring Veneto region is likely. Full article