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This research scrutinizes the instrumental contributions of public libraries in augmenting community resilience. The study deploys a methodological framework predicated on comprehensive literature examination and empirical investigation by focusing on the National Taiwan Library and the New Taipei City Library as paradigmatic instances. Employing a multi-layered approach of case studies and in-depth interviews with various library staff, the study aims to (1) formulate a nascent conceptual architecture of community resilience, (2) identify the multifaceted strategies public libraries employ to bolster resilience, and (3) articulate specific functional roles libraries execute in this resilience ecosystem. Empirical data coalesce into six salient categories: (1) Knowledge Curation, Skill Development, and Lifelong Learning; (2) Community Network Dynamics; (3) Human-Place Connections; (4) Infrastructure and Foundational Resources; (5) Innovation and Diversification; and (6) Public-Governmental Interface. Libraries surface as agile orchestrators in intricate socio-environmental nexuses, utilizing adaptive service models that leverage emergent community networks, enhancing intrinsic and extrinsic resilience. The roles libraries fulfill in community systems are manifold: they act as (1) Adaptive Sustainers in volatile conditions, (2) Socio-Organizational Mediators in community networking, (3) Stewards of Cultural Integrity, (4) Facilitators of Inclusive Information Access, and (5) Navigators in Collaboration with governmental and social entities. The findings contribute rich scholarly and practical perspectives on how public institutions fortify socio-ecological resilience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agroforestry is a widely proposed solution for climate change adaptation and resilience in agriculture due to the multiplicity of socio-ecological benefits. However, agroforestry as a practice exists on a dynamic scale of ecological complexity, which may cause different management regimes to respond distinctively to climate change. Due to the limited literature on climate change impacts on agroforestry in the temperate region, this paper reviews disturbance regimes and the observed and predicted responses of forests and farms using the US Northeast as an example. We also reference scholarship from tropical regions, where agroforestry adoption/study is more advanced, to enhance understanding of the growing field of agroforestry in temperate systems. We view transitions to and from agroforestry from a complex systems lens by identifying the disturbance, complexity, resilience, and adaptive capacity of systems to drive and respond to rapid change via human management, focusing on invasive species, phenological changes and range shifts in plants, pests, and pathogens of agroforestry systems. Management considerations including structural diversity, species selection and the intentional/non-intentional incorporation of introduced species can promote community ecological resilience to build systems that have adaptive capacity to withstand changing conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The northwest Arabian Gulf encounters significant anthropogenic pressures, including nutrient enrichment from coastal development and effluent discharge. Methods: This study presents the first shotgun metagenomics-based characterization of microbial communities in Kuwaiti waters of the northwest Arabian Gulf, focusing on Kuwait's first Marine Protected Area (MPA) in Sulaibikhat Bay, a vital nursery ground for commercially important fish. Results: Analysis revealed significantly higher microbial diversity within the MPA compared to adjacent waters, with Rhodobacteraceae (27.8%) and Flavobacteriaceae (15.3%) being dominant. Elevated inorganic phosphorus, nitrogen, and salinity were key factors driving this diversity. Multivariate analysis highlighted phosphate as a critical component affecting the MPA microbial community structure, particularly for the families Microbacteriaceae, Flavobacteriaceae, and Rhodobacteraceae. Discussion: This study underscores the ecological importance of MPAs and highlights the impact of nutrient enrichment and other environmental stressors on microbial diversity, emphasizing the need to reduce nutrient influx to mitigate eutrophication and enhance marine ecosystem resilience in stressed environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rapid construction of expressways in China has brought significant economic and social benefits, but it has also imposed substantial ecological pressures, particularly in sensitive regions. Landscape ecological risk assessment, as an important means to predict and measure the adverse effects of human activities on the ecological environment, is being paid more and more attention. However, most studies focus on the static landscape mosaic pattern and lack dynamic analysis. Moreover, they mainly focus on the ecological effect of the road operation stage, ignoring the monitoring and analysis of the whole construction process. Based on this, the current study examines the landscape ecological risk and land use changes along the Linghua Expressway in Gansu Province using high-resolution GF-1 remote sensing imagery. A landscape ecological risk assessment (LERA) model was employed to quantify the land use changes and assess the ecological risks before and after the expressway construction between 2018 and 2022. The results revealed a decrease in cropland and forest land, accompanied by an increase in the grassland and road areas. The landscape ecological risk index decreased from 0.318 in 2018 to 0.174 in 2022, indicating an improvement in ecological resilience. However, high-risk zones remain near the expressway, emphasizing the need for continuous monitoring and proactive ecological management strategies. These findings contribute to sustainable infrastructure planning, particularly in ecologically sensitive regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The digital economy is key to ecological security in the Yellow River Basin and to harmonious coexistence between humans and nature. This study uses data from 80 cities in the Yellow River Basin from 2010 to 2022 to examine how the digital economy affects urban ecological resilience. It uses three models to do this. The conclusion that the development of digital economy in the Yellow River Basin can significantly promote the enhancement of urban ecological environment resilience still holds after the robustness tests of phased regression, variable substitution and the introduction of instrumental variables. There is regional heterogeneity in the impact of digital economy on urban ecosystem resilience, showing the unbalanced spatial characteristics that the middle reaches are the highest, the upper reaches are the second highest, and the lower reaches are the lowest. The digital economy was shown to influence ecological resilience through a "double fixed-effects model" and a mediation effect model, via two intermediary pathways: "digital economy development → industrial structure upgrading → ecological resilience enhancement" and "digital economy development → resource allocation improvement → ecological resilience enhancement". The digital economy was shown to transform and upgrade industrial structures and optimize capital and labor allocation, strengthening the ecological resilience of cities in the Yellow River Basin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ecological health of Hebei Province is critical to the sustainable development of the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei region. However, the increasing intensity of land use in recent years has placed significant pressure on local ecosystems, making it essential to understand how land use changes affect ecological resilience across different regions and time periods. This study takes Hebei Province as the research area and selects four time points—1990, 2000, 2010, and 2020—to systematically evaluate the spatiotemporal variations in ecological resilience and land use intensity using indicators such as the water resource supply, climate regulation, hydrological regulation, biodiversity, the landscape pattern index, and land use types. This study employs spatial analysis methodologies, including the spatial autocorrelation model and the Geographically Weighted Regression (GWR) model, to systematically analyze spatial clustering patterns, spatial heterogeneity, and influencing mechanisms. Scenario simulations are also conducted to predict ecological resilience trends in 2030 under a sustainable development scenario. The results indicate that (1) over the past 30 years, both ecological resilience and land use intensity in Hebei Province have generally increased, with notable spatial disparities among cities. (2) Moreover, a significant negative correlation exists between ecological resilience and land use intensity, with the GWR model revealing pronounced spatial heterogeneity. The impact of land use intensity on ecological resilience is relatively minor in highly urbanized central and southern regions, while northern and northwestern regions are more sensitive to changes, highlighting the need for better coordination between land use planning and ecological protection. (3) Finally, scenario simulations predict a slight overall decline in ecological resilience by 2030, with central and southern cities projected to experience the largest decreases, while some northern cities are expected to see modest improvements. These findings underscore the importance of regionally differentiated land use management and ecological protection strategies. This study provides scientific evidence and planning recommendations to improve ecological resilience and environmental protection in Hebei Province. At the same time, this study contributes to a deeper understanding of how land use dynamics influence ecological resilience. The methodologies and findings presented in this study can also be applied to guide sustainable development planning in other rapidly urbanizing areas, providing a valuable framework for addressing regions facing similar ecological challenges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The boreal forest biome is warming four times faster than the global average. Changes so far are moderate, but time lags in responses may transiently maintain forest states which are no longer supported by current environmental conditions. Here, we explore whether tree cover dynamics hint at the state to which the biome may be shifting. Our results suggest that global boreal tree cover is heading for a unimodal state of open forest (30 to 50%), contrasting starkly to the bimodal distribution of dense forests (>60%) and sparse woodlands (5 to 15%) found today. A future open forest in a warmer world would likely increase the risk of forest fires, leading to potentially substantial releases of stored carbon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ecosystem restoration has historically been viewed as an ecological endeavor, but restoration possesses significant, yet largely untapped, potential as a catalyst for personal and social transformation. We highlight the opportunity for restoration to enhance community resilience by increasing agency and collective action and countering the pervasive perception that we are powerless witnesses to environmental decline. In this perspective, we take a "bright spots" approach and highlight successful examples of ecosystem restoration that have helped to nurture a sense of place, foster optimism, and cultivate stronger and more diverse social networks. These three individual-and community-level capacities have the potential to lead to increased psychosocial resilience, which is a key component of community resilience. Our aim is to spark discussion and research to better understand how we can transform restoration from a largely technical endeavor to a practice and process through which human-nature relationships are infused with deliberate meaning and human well-being is improved. With current calls to upscale and technologize restoration to meet sustainable development goals, we cannot lose sight of the value of community-engaged ecosystem restoration as a strategy with great potential for psychosocial benefits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Current rates of habitat and biodiversity loss, and the threat they pose to ecological and economic productivity, would be considered a global emergency even if they were not occurring during a period of rapid anthropogenic climate change. Diversity at all levels of biological organization, both within and among species, and across genomes and communities, is critical for the resilience of the world's ecosystems in the face of such change. However, it remains an urgent scientific challenge to understand how biodiversity underpins these ecological outputs, how patterns of biodiversity are being affected by current threats, and how and where such biodiversity contributes most directly to human economies, well-being and social justice. In addition, even with such scientific understanding, there is a pressing need for societies to incorporate biodiversity protection into their economies and governance, and to stop subsidizing the loss of humanity's future prosperity for short-term private benefit. We highlight key issues and ways forward in these areas, inspired by the research and career of Dame Georgina Mace FRS, and by our discussions during the Royal Society meeting of June 2023. This article is part of the discussion meeting issue 'Bending the curve towards nature recovery: building on Georgina Mace's legacy for a biodiverse future'. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The assessment of ecological resilience in arid regions is crucial for understanding and mitigating the impacts of climate change and human activities, ensuring the sustainable management of these vulnerable ecosystems. Taking the Economic Belt on the Northern Slope of the Tianshan Mountains (EBNSTM) as the research area, a multi-dimensional evaluation model coupling vulnerability, health, and connectivity was used to explore the spatiotemporal variation and driving forces of ecological resilience. Firstly, a sub-item evaluation of ecological resilience was conducted from three aspects, including ecological vulnerability evaluation based on the CRITIC and AHP models, ecological health evaluation based on the InVEST model, and landscape connectivity evaluation based on the MSPA method. Then, the sequence polygon method was utilized to conduct a comprehensive multi-dimensional assessment of ecological resilience based on the aforementioned three evaluation results. Finally, the geographical detector model was utilized to identify the driving factors behind the spatial heterogeneity of ecological resilience. The results show the following: (1) From 2000 to 2020, the overall ecological resilience showed an upward trend and significant spatial heterogeneity. The overall distribution pattern exhibited a spatial feature of south higher, north lower, where the southern region displayed a clear high-high clustering characteristic, exerting a positive and radiating influence on surrounding areas. (2) The main driving factors of the spatial heterogeneity are DEM, precipitation, NPP, GDP, and PM2.5. And among different factors, the dual-factor enhancement effect is greater than the nonlinear enhancement of a single factor. (3) Human activities are important influencing factor, and the impact of urban expansion and economic growth on ecological resilience is becoming increasingly significant. Therefore, in the process of economic development, full consideration should be given to the self-repairing and adaptive capabilities of the ecosystem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vegetation greening resulting from ecological engineering efforts has statistically contributed to environmental improvement, through enhancing ecosystem effectiveness remains a challenge. Nevertheless, there has been a notable lack of research dedicated to enhancing vegetation resilience and restoration potential by mitigating vegetation browning in watersheds within arid and semi-arid regions. This study fills that gap by identifying the spatial heterogeneity in ecological resilience using statistical analyses and an exponential decay approach. It then evaluates the potential for ecological restoration by optimizing ecosystem structures in browning areas based on resilience and reference state. The key findings included the following: (1) With a narrower interquartile range, kNDVI values from 2015 to 2023 demonstrated notable increases as compared to 2000–2014. The northern and eastern sub-watersheds showed greater vegetation restoration, but the southern regions showed less resilience. (2) Vegetation resilience in the majority of sub-watersheds was concentrated at moderate levels, and the number of grids with strong positive tendencies decreased, according to the analysis of grid trends. (3) Fifteen reference states were established for browning areas based on the current natural conditions. The larger restoration potential ratio showed notable differences in sub-watershed restoration, indicating opportunities for improvement. Extreme vegetation degradation demonstrated little potential for restoration in resource-poor areas. This study provides valuable insights into integrating resilience and restoration potential into ecological restoration practices, advancing the application of ecological engineering strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Examining forest stand structures is crucial for effective forest management, as it provides essential insights into current conditions and informs future strategies. Coppice systems, a historic forest management practice with centuries of documented use across various regions, play a vital role in supporting unique flora and fauna, making them integral to conservation efforts. This study has two primary objectives: (i) to evaluate how various forest management approaches impact species composition and structural characteristics of forest stands, and (ii) to assess and compare diversity within these stands using a range of indices. In this research, two management systems in Iran's Arasbaran forests were compared: the traditional coppice system and the coppice-with-standard (CWS) stands system. Fieldwork was conducted in 24 sample plots for each management system, where quantitative indicators and biodiversity indices were employed to evaluate and compare stand characteristics. The findings revealed that the CWS system exhibited higher mean values for tree height, diameter at the breast height (DBH), and basal area compared to the coppice system. Coppice stands had a sprout clump density of 546 per hectare, primarily composed of Quercus macranthera, while the CWS stands had a combined tree and sprout clump density of 421 per hectare. Diversity assessments showed that species diversity, as measured by Pielou's index, was higher in the coppice system (1.42) than in the CWS system (1.01). However, species richness, represented by the Menhinik index, was lower in both systems, with values of 0.31 for the coppice system and 0.19 for the CWS system. These results suggest that the CWS system is more effective in promoting growth and stand development, whereas the coppice system may better support biodiversity. The findings have practical implications for forest managers and policymakers in Iran and other regions with similar forest ecosystems. For instance, if the objective is to enhance biodiversity and ecosystem resilience, the coppice system—with its higher diversity indices—may be the preferred choice. On the other hand, if the aim is to boost timber production while maintaining a baseline level of biodiversity, the CWS system could be more suitable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This review delves into the pressing concerns surrounding environmental performance, addressing the urgent need for action in light of environmental degradation and climate change threats. It surveys existing literature across geographical, industrial, and methodological dimensions, offering conceptual insights and empirical analyses. The study carefully examines factors influencing environmental performance, measurement scales, contextual elements, and intervening factors, exposing gaps and inconsistencies in current research. The analysis advocates for interdisciplinary, long‐term, innovative approaches to assess and enhance environmental performance holistically. It stresses the importance of inclusive strategies involving diverse stakeholders to foster sustainable environmental management. Ultimately, the review emphasizes collaborative efforts among policymakers, industries, communities, and individuals to tackle environmental challenges and promote ecological resilience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Leaf endospheres harbor diverse bacterial communities, comprising generalists and specialists, that profoundly affect ecosystem functions. However, the ecological dynamics of generalist and specialist leaf-endophytic bacteria and their responses to climate change remain poorly understood. We investigated the diversity and environmental responses of generalist and specialist bacteria within the leaf endosphere of mangroves across China. Our findings show a predominance of specialists in the mangrove leaf endosphere. Temperature is the key factor driving community dissimilarity in both groups, yet it negatively influences the alpha diversity. Soil nutritional factors, particularly phosphate for generalists and total organic carbon for specialists are critical in shaping the functional profiles. Interestingly, temperature has a limited impact on functional profiles. Stochastic processes govern community assembly in both bacterial groups, altering the β-nearest taxon indices as temperatures increase. Our findings indicate that the halophytic leaf endosphere favors microbial niche specialization, due to its unique microenvironment and discrete niches, showing thermal sensitivity in terms of the microbial community profile. This study provides insights into niche differentiation and environmental adaptation mechanisms of leaf endophytic microbes in woody halophytes in response to environmental perturbations. Thermal sensitivity of mangrove leaf endosphere microbiome reveals distinct niche adaptations in generalist and specialist bacteria. Specialists dominate, while temperature significantly drives diversity, impacting mangrove ecosystem resilience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The succulent shrubs Desmidorchis penicillata and D. retrospiciens, part of the taxonomically challenging genus Desmidorchis, are well‐known for their ecological resilience and medicinal significance. This study sequences the first complete chloroplast genomes of these species, shedding light on their genomic characteristics and evolutionary relationships. The circular genomes of D. penicillata (161 776 bp) and D. retrospiciens (162 277 bp) display a quadripartite structure typical of Angiosperms. Gene content, order, and GC content are consistent, featuring 114 unique genes, including 80 protein‐coding, 30 transfer RNAs, and four ribosomal RNAs genes. Codon usage analysis underscores A/U‐rich preferences, while RNA editing sites, predominantly in ndhB and ndhD genes, suggest post‐transcriptional modifications. Analysis of long repeated sequences reveals a predominance of forward and palindromic repeats. Simple sequence repeats (SSRs), particularly A/T motifs, are abundant, with high presence of mononucleotide, offering potential molecular markers. Comparative analysis with their relatives in subtribe Stapeliinae identifies mutational hotspots such as ycf1, ndhF, trnG(GCC)‐trnfM(CGA) and ndhG‐ndhI that could be potential DNA barcoding markers. The inverted repeat (IR) boundaries analysis revealed an expansion of IR on the small single copy region, leading to the formation of a pseudogene. Overall, substitution rate analysis indicated purifying selection, with a few genes (rpl22, clpP and rps11) showing signatures of positive selection. Additionally, the phylogenetic analysis positioned Desmidorchis within the Stapeliinae clade and strongly supported the sister relationship between D. penicillata and D. retrospiciens. This study provides comprehensive molecular data for future research in Desmidorchis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study provides an in-depth analysis of specific land use areas within a semi-arid rangeland region by utilizing the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI). The stream areas, local roads, main roads, and rock mining areas were subjected to NDVI analysis, revealing distinct vegetation health patterns. The stream areas, encompassing a 10-meter buffer, exhibited NDVI values ranging from 0.0098 to 0.447, covering 0.3% of the total study area. NDVI values for local roads (5 m buffer) ranged from 0.07 to 0.438, while main roads (10 m buffer) showed values between 0.017 and 0.172. In the rock mining areas, NDVI values varied at 10-meter and 20-meter buffer distances, with a polygon region indicating values from 0.012 to 0.276. The findings underscore the impact of specific land use practices on rangeland health and advocate for integrating NDVI techniques in monitoring and decision-making processes. The study also emphasizes the importance of selective management strategies to preserve healthy rangeland areas and mitigate the negative effects of degradation drivers, such as population density, grazing intensity, deforestation, unmanaged mining, and unplanned road networks. These insights contribute to of developing sustainable land use practices and ecological resilience in semi-arid rangeland ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As rapid urbanization challenges urban ecosystem stability, understanding the relationship between manufacturing agglomeration (MA) and urban ecological resilience (UER) has become increasingly critical. This study examines how MA influences UER in China's Yangtze River Delta region, employing dynamic spatial panel models to analyze prefecture-level panel data from 2003 to 2020. Our findings reveal an inverted U-shaped relationship between MA and UER, with significant spatial spillover effects. Specifically, moderate levels of MA enhance UER through improved resource efficiency and technological innovation, while excessive agglomeration leads to environmental degradation. The study also identifies green technological innovation as a critical mediating mechanism in this relationship. These findings contribute to theoretical understanding and policy formulation for sustainable urban development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This response to commentaries by Micah Muscolino, Judith Shapiro, Chris Courtney, and Peter Perdue considers whether An Ecological History of Modern China is too political and not ecological enough or too ecological and not political enough; whether it is biased either in favor of or against the Chinese Communist Party regime; whether ecologically based periodization provides a valuable new perspective on the history of the People's Republic of China; whether ecological change would be better illuminated if viewed at a different scale; and whether valid or useful history can be written primarily using scientific papers available on the internet. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

These reflections on Stevan Harrell's An Ecological History of Modern China evaluate the book in relation to existing historiography of the ecological transformations that have accompanied China's development since the founding of the People's Republic of China (PRC). After outlining the theoretical underpinnings of Harrell's history of modern China as a "system of social-ecological systems" and his revisionist periodization of PRC history in terms of the "adaptive cycle," the commentary contrasts Harrell's central arguments with those advanced in earlier studies. Interpretative differences relate to whether 1949 constituted a watershed in China's ecological history or a continuation of longer-term environmental trends, and the significance of the PRC's acquisition of technology for synthetic fertilizer plants after rapprochement with the United States in 1972 in making it possible for China to replenish its nutrient-depleted soils, increase agricultural productivity, and overcome environmental constraints that limited economic growth. Despite bringing unprecedented economic prosperity, as Harrell shows, that growth has decreased ecological resilience and increased vulnerability. The commentary concludes by asking how Harrell's arguments might be reconciled with alternative understandings of modern China's ecological and environmental history. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Disturbance-prone ecosystems, such as the world's savannas, are predominantly composed of plant species that developed several morphoanatomical adaptations that grant them high resilience to natural and anthropogenic disturbances. An essential adaptation is the protection of aboveground buds, which play a crucial role in the formation of new photosynthetic organs and enable colonization of these areas. Our study aims to assess whether the protection mechanisms of aboveground buds of Psidium grandifolium Mart. ex DC. are affected by environmental stressors in two distinct environments: a natural Cerrado area and a Cerrado area under regeneration after decades of use as a pine plantation. Aerial branches were collected from both environments and processed using standard methodologies for light, fluorescence, and scanning microscopy analyses. Our observations revealed the presence of hairy leaf primordia with phenolic compounds and secretory cavities covering the buds in both areas. Additionally, crystals, brachysclereids, and colleters were consistently found near the buds in all analyzed nodes. In the plants from the regenerating area, the buds increased hairiness and deposition of epicuticular waxes on both surfaces of expanded leaves as a response to the intense sunlight exposure. Our findings highlight that belowground resprouting species also invest in aboveground bud protection and morphological adaptations to enhance their adaptability and resilience in disturbance-prone ecosystems, such as the Cerrado. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Addressing the need to harmonize environment conservation and sustainable economic development within the Yellow River Basin (YRB) requires a profound comprehension of the spatiotemporal dynamics of urban ecosystem resilience. This study developed an index system utilizing the resistance-adaptability-recovery framework to measure these dynamics. By applying the advanced multi-attribute boundary area comparison method and a spatial autocorrelation model, we investigated the spatiotemporal variations and spatial correlation patterns of urban ecological resilience across the YRB. The results of this study indicated that: (1) from 2011 to 2020, the value of urban ecological resilience index (UERI) in the YRB consistently ranged between 0.43 and 0.83, and the resilience degree of the urban ecosystem in the YRB progressively improved, with notably higher resilience in the southeast compared to the northwest; (2) the resilience degree of the urban ecosystem in the YRB was non-equilibrium in space. Spatial analysis indicates significant disparities in resilience levels across different areas within the YRB, marked by considerable fluctuations in the global Moran's I index and significant changes in local autocorrelation clustering patterns; and (3) key factors such as wastewater discharge volume, sewage treatment rate, and the rate of non-hazardous treatment of domestic waste were identified as critical determinants of the overall ecological resilience. This research not only deepens our understanding of the factors driving urban ecological resilience but also aids in the formulation of strategic regional policy for sustainable development across the YRB. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The management and creation of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) is currently under great focus, with international organisations aiming to protect 30% of our oceans by 2030. The success of MPAs depends on a nuanced understanding of local ecological dynamics and threats, which can significantly influence ecosystem balance. Herbivory can be a stressor for foundation species, namely kelp forests, contributing to their decline in several regions of the globe. However, the dynamics inherent to herbivory and MPA's implementation are still poorly understood. Here, the impact of protection status, depth, kelp species, and grazer type on herbivory (occurrence, rate, and grazer frequency) was assessed through a comprehensive experimental approach involving tethering experiments and faunal characterisation of macro-herbivores. The research was conducted in habitats off the central coast of Portugal: Peniche (PEN) and the MPA Berlengas Archipelago (MPA-BER). Our findings revealed that herbivory occurrence and rate are higher within the MPA, especially at greater depths. Instead of urchins, fish are the significant contributors to kelp consumption, showing a preference for the kelp S. polyschides. Results provide the first experimental evidence in the Atlantic region identifying fish as the dominant herbivores driving increased kelp biomass loss, a relationship potentially magnified by MPA implementation. Hence, protection status may not benefit all ecosystem components, enhancing the need for robust MPA management to balance trophic interactions and support biodiversity and ecosystem resilience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study presents a redefinition of maladaptation to climate change, offering a comprehensive analysis through qualitative content analysis with an inductive approach, supported by focus group discussions. The main goal was to uncover the conceptual dimensions of the unintended and negative impacts of adaptation strategies on socio-ecological systems, particularly forests and natural resources. The findings indicate that some adaptation measures, though initially aimed at mitigating climate change effects, can paradoxically exacerbate long-term vulnerability, leading to environmental degradation and a diminished adaptive capacity of these systems. In response to these outcomes, the study offers strategic recommendations for managing maladaptation risks. These include adopting integrated adaptation management practices, fostering participatory policymaking, and leveraging local knowledge to enhance both social and ecological resilience. By highlighting the critical need to recognize maladaptation's potential, this research equips policymakers and natural resource managers with insights into the unintended consequences of adaptation efforts, enabling them to craft more effective strategies for climate resilience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The primary aim of this study was to assess multi-year land use and land cover (LULC) changes utilizing GIS techniques within different landscape patterns of the Wakatobi National Park, Indonesia. The study area, i.e., the Kapota Island is one of the important regions where its terrestrial ecosystem consists of protected and developed zones. A spatial pattern analysis technique was implemented to classify and assess changes in LULC from 1990 to 2020 using Landsat 5, 7, and 8 images. As many as 275 to 414 samples were used in the maximum likelihood procedure, and their accuracy was assessed following field investigations to understand the landscape response to LULC changes. A number of landscape metrics were calculated to understand the landscape patterns in the study region. The results of the analysis show that vegetated areas have changed from 1,111.6 ha in 1990, then to 1,410.9 and 1,227.5 ha in 2010, and 2020, respectively, and this is related to the climate, as during the peak dry season, planting patterns change, leading to a reduction in green cover compared to the rainy season. The results also reveal that landscape metric indices vary considerably according to the variation of nature conditions, especially in the extreme climate events and human intervention. This becomes the implication of the condition where the landscape pattern is realistically fragmented, and complex, with lower connectivity and greater diversity. This approach has proven effective in interpreting human interventions in land utilization, as well as assessing the influence of extreme climate events on ecosystem sustainability in small islands. The higher the spatial resolution of spatial images, the better the interpretation of ecological landscape structure, function, and changes. This study gives an important insight into spatial regulation, especially in the designation of spatial pattern delineation as well as land utilization and ecosystem management at small islands with a dominant protected function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The assessment of fire effects in Aleppo pine forests is crucial for guiding the recovery of burnt areas. This study presents a methodology using UAV-LiDAR data to quantify malleability and elasticity in four burnt areas (1970, 1995, 2008 and 2015) through the statistical analysis of different metrics related to height structure and diversity (Height mean, 99th percentile and Coefficient of Variation), coverage, relative shape and distribution strata (Canopy Cover, Canopy Relief Ratio and Strata Percent Coverage), and canopy complexity (Profile Area and Profile Area Change). In general terms, malleability decreases over time in forest ecosystems that have been affected by wildfires, whereas elasticity is higher than what has been determined in previous studies. However, a particular specificity has been detected from the 1995 fire, so we can assume that there are other situational factors that may be affecting ecosystem resilience. LiDAR metrics and uni-temporal sampling between burnt sectors and control aids are used to understand community resilience and to identify the different recovery stages in P. halepensis forests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although it promotes national economic development, urbanization causes regional ecosystems to suffer from disturbances and impacts that cannot be completely avoided. Ecosystems urgently need to improve their resilience; however, existing studies lack an analysis of the interaction between urbanization and ecological resilience. In this study, the interaction between urbanization and ecological resilience is investigated, taking the urban agglomeration on the north slope of Tianshan Mountain (UANST) as a study area and using the entropy value method to construct an urbanization evaluation system. Based on land use change data, an ecological resilience evaluation model is constructed using the InVSET model, the landscape pattern index, and the unit area value equivalent factor method. The degree of coupling and coordination of the interaction coupling between urbanization and ecological resilience are measured for the years 1990–2020, and their internal action mechanisms are analyzed. The results show that (1) with the development of urbanization, ecological resilience shows a decreasing and then increasing double "U"-shaped change characteristic. (2) The coupling degree of urbanization and ecological resilience in the UANST increased from 0.6888 to 0.9485, and the coordination degree increased from 0.3367 to 0.4410. (3) There are three types of coupling coordination: basic coordination, basic dysfunction, and serious dysfunction. Basic coordination is mainly distributed in the central part of the urban agglomeration, and basic dysfunction and serious dysfunction are mainly concentrated on the east and west sides; the overall trend is to shift from dysfunction to coordination. (4) Economic urbanization plays a driving role, and population urbanization, spatial urbanization, and social urbanization have an inhibitory role in the degree of coupling coordination; base quality and structural stability have a driving role in the degree of coupling coordination, while ecological services have an inhibitory role; and the population density, the proportion of built-up area to the total land area of the city, and the value of ecosystem services have a stronger influence on the level of coupling coordination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: In the Southern Ocean, myctophids are the most successful pelagic fish group in terms of diversity, biomass, and abundance. They play a crucial role in linking primary consumers and coupling carbon flux between surface and mesopelagic depths. Understanding their trophodynamics is key to assessing pelagic ecosystem resilience under environmental change. Conventional stomach content analyses indicate that myctophids predominantly feed on crustaceans, such as copepods and euphausiids, but are less effective at detecting easily digestible, soft-bodied organisms like gelatinous zooplankton (GZP) and pteropods. Methods: This study used multimarker (COI Leray-XT and 18S v1-v2) DNA metabarcoding to analyze the diets of two abundant myctophids in the Scotia Sea, Electrona antarctica and Electrona carlsbergi. Results and discussion: We found a diverse diet dominated by copepods and euphausiids, followed by pteropods and GZP in terms of frequency of occurrence and relative read abundances. Within the GZP, salps and appendicularians were major components of the diet for E. carlsbergi , while hydrozoans were prominent in E. antarctica. With regards seasonal and spatial variability in the dietary contribution of GZP, E. carlsbergi consumed primarily appendicularians, chaetognaths, and hydrozoans during spring (2006) in the northern region, and more salps (predominantly Ilhea racovitzai) and other cnidarians in autumn (2009) in the southern region. Our study reveals the dietary diversity of myctophid fish as well as the importance GZP consumption as a key trophic pathway in the Southern Ocean. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Patterns in a semiarid ecosystem are important because they directly and indirectly affect ecological processes, biodiversity, and ecosystem resilience. Understanding the causes and effects of these patterns is critical for long-term land surface management and conservation efforts in semiarid regions, which are especially sensitive to climate change and human-caused disturbances. In addition, developing mathematical models is challenging because of the involvement of several interacting components within an ecosystem. It is known that there is a regular connection between the vegetation and the living species in a habitat since some animals evolved to live in a semiarid ecosystem and rely on plants for food. In this work, we have constructed a coupled mathematical model to connect the water resource, vegetation, and living organisms and have investigated how the soil surface affects the resulting patterns in the long term. This study contributes to a better understanding of ecological patterns and processes in semiarid environments by shedding light on the complex interaction mechanisms that depend on the structure of semiarid ecosystems. For example, the impact of intensive rainfall on ecosystem dynamics can be profound, triggering critical transitions and leading to significant yield loss. The energy lost as it moves from one trophic level to the next, the potential for diversity to exacerbate species extinction rates, and the role of water flow in driving the system towards more robust stripe pattern formations are all significant factors. Despite these complexities, the findings offer critical insights into the influence of efforts to enhance ecosystem resilience and adapt to the challenges of climate change and human activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Given the multitude of risks and challenges faced by the water ecological environment during urbanization, enhancing water ecological resilience and improving the water ecological environment have emerged as crucial topics in China's economic and social development, as well as its ecological civilization construction. This study proposes a research hypothesis on the relationship between new urbanization and water ecological resilience. Employing various econometric models such as the extended STIRPAT model, dynamic panel model, panel threshold effect model, dynamic panel mediating effect model and dynamic panel difference-in-difference model, empirical tests were conducted to examine the impact of new urbanization on water ecological resilience in central China. The findings indicate that: (1) there exists a U-shaped curve relationship with a threshold effect between new urbanization and water ecological resilience; this conclusion remains valid even after conducting several robustness tests including extreme value treatment, re-measurement of independent variables, and replacement of econometric models. (2) In regions with lower levels of new urbanization, new urbanization exerts more significant stress effect on water ecological resilience through economic scale effect, population scale effect, investment pulling effect and foreign trade effect; whereas in regions with higher levels of new urbanization, new urbanization exerts more significant positive effect on water ecological resilience through factors agglomeration effect, technological progress effect, human capital effect, industrial structure effect and marketization effect. (3) Compared to non-pilot cities, the implementation of comprehensive pilot policies for new urbanization has significantly improved the water ecological resilience of cities in central China and the promotion of new urbanization of pilot cities contributes to enhancing water ecological resilience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carotenoids are membrane-bound pigments that are essential for photosynthesizing plants and algae, widely applied in food, feed and cosmetics due to their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. The production of carotenoids, particularly C30 forms, has been documented in some non-photosynthetic prokaryotes. However, their function, distribution and ecology beyond photosynthesizing organisms remains understudied. In this study, we performed an eco-evolutionary analysis of terpenoid biosynthetic gene clusters in the Lactobacillaceae family, screening 4203 dereplicated genomes for terpenoid biosynthesis genes, and detected crtMN genes in 28/361 (7.7%) species across 14/34 (41.2%) genera. These genes encode key enzymes for producing the C30 carotenoid 4,4′-diaponeurosporene. crtMN genes appeared to be convergently gained within Fructilactobacillus and horizontally transferred across species and genera, including Lactiplantibacillus to Levilactobacillus. The phenotype was confirmed in 87% of the predicted crtMN gene carriers (27/31). Nomadic and insect-adapted species, particularly those isolated from vegetable fermentations, e.g., Lactiplantibacillus, and floral habitats, e.g., Fructilactobacillus, contained crtMN genes, while vertebrate-associated species, including vaginal associated species, lacked this trait. This habitat association aligned with the observations that C30 carotenoid-producing strains were more resistant to UV-stress. In summary, C30 carotenoid biosynthesis plays a role in habitat adaptation and is scattered across Lactobacillaceae in line with this habitat adaptation. Pangenome wide study suggests that C30 carotenoid biosynthesis genes in Lactobacillaceae have a role in habitat adaptation, with higher abundance in insect-adapted and nomadic species, alleviating UV-stress and supporting ecological resilience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of China Population Resources & Environment is the property of Shandong Normal University and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Wetlands are ecosystems that can provide numerous services critical for sustainable development, especially in urban areas, by ensuring environmental stability. The wetlands receive increasing recognition as Nature-Based Solutions (NBSs) to environmental challenges. This review synthesizes the numerous roles of wetlands as NBSs for promoting sustainability in both rural and urban environments and highlights the potential contributions of multiple wetland services and benefits towards sustainable built environments. The review methodology involved an article search from various databases with the utilization of specific keywords in an organized framework to understand the contribution of wetlands as NBSs. The articles were reviewed to provide a comprehensive analysis of the existing research on the associated topics, focusing on specific sub titles and pre-selected themes. The findings of this review identify various parameters through which wetlands contribute to sustainable built environments, including ecological resilience, storm water management, climate adaptation, biodiversity enhancement, recreational opportunities, pollution control, and cultural values. The review also encompasses case studies of different types of wetland features such as riparian buffer zones, retention ponds, reed beds, bio swales, rain gardens, constructed wetlands, etc. in the urban environment and their contribution as NBSs. These contributions are discussed in terms of integration in urban development planning in different segments. Future work recommendations consist of a holistic integration of wetlands into urban planning and design considerations to promote more resilient, healthy, and sustainable built environments for present and future generations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Bulletin of Soil & Water Conservation is the property of Bulletin of Soil & Water Conservation Editorial Office and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Healthy agroecological zones (AEZs) are crucial for food security in the face of climate change, especially in Africa, where climate-induced challenges are still less contained. However, AEZs are gradually subject to significant human-induced imbalances that negatively affect their ability to support agricultural production and respond to unforeseen climate impacts. The Upper Guinean Savanna (UGS) includes large AEZs suitable for agricultural production while undergoing hazardous anthropogenic practices combined with climate-induced stresses that may disrupt its agroecological characteristics. However, there is no clear evidence of agroecological systems' ability to cope with such disturbances, particularly drought episodes. Using key resilience-based indicators in line with resilience principles, this study developed an ecological drought resilience index (EDRI) based on remote-sensing data, field experiments, and community inputs to estimate the resilience of nine AEZs to climate-induced droughts in the UGS. Moreover, the explanatory factor analysis (EFA) was performed to identify factors underlying resilience. The EDRI showed that, among the selected AEZs, Kolokalan was the least resilient (0.109), whereas Woulada Plateau was the most resilient (0.412). The EFA revealed that the diversity of the land and vegetation cover (0.909), the diversity of species and ecosystems (0.885), the diversity of protected and conservation areas (0.712), and soil quality (0.633) were key factors shaping the resilience of the selected AEZs, which should be subject to regular monitoring for tailored remedial actions. The methodological approach developed in this study could guide future studies to assess similar ecosystems and adaptation planning purposes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fuelled by climate change, low flows, heavy rain and flooding will likely intensify in the future, adding to the pressures experienced by rivers in western and central Europe in recent decades. To meet these challenges, comprehensive water-related adaptation to climate change is indispensable. Based on the case study of the Spree river basin in Germany, this study analysed legally defined plans for water management, spatial planning and landscape planning for their current status of integrated climate change adaptation. To pre-structure the document analysis, eight water management fields of action for adaptation to climate change were identified using official recommendations for action. A total of 39 % of the 28 plans analysed specify objectives and measures for adapting to climate change. Of these, 55 % address the diverse impacts of climate change in a more comprehensive way, including prevention and mitigation of droughts and floods, as well as protection of water ecosystems and groundwater resources. Filling these planning gaps may include more frequent updating of plans, a greater focus on evidence from informal plans, multifunctional measures, and the adaptation of best-practice examples for the systematic integration of climate change impacts and adaptation. Planning and implementing comprehensive climate change adaptation will strengthen the resilience of ecosystems and secure human livelihoods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Invertebrates have a central role in food webs and ecosystem functioning. By boosting productivity, allochthonous nutrient inputs influence the food webs of recipient communities. Understanding how allochthonous nutrient subsidies affect invertebrates is crucial, particularly in highly productive coastal areas. Here, we examine how mangrove macroinvertebrates are impacted by nutrient‐rich guano delivered by nesting seabird populations at Aldabra Atoll in the Indian Ocean. We compare nitrogen and carbon stable isotope ratios and nitrogen composition of basal resources and macroinvertebrate consumers in mangroves with and without nesting seabirds. Seabird‐derived nutrient enrichment increased the nitrogen content of basal food sources and herbivorous littorinid gastropods and sesarmid crabs. In mangroves with breeding seabirds, mean carapace widths of sesarmid and omnivorous portunid crabs were 6% and 11% larger, respectively. Isotopic niches of littorinid gastropods and sesarmid crabs were larger and had higher overlap at seabird compared to non‐seabird sites. Epiphytic macroalgae and guano comprised >50% of resource contributions to littorinid gastropods and sesarmid crabs at seabird sites. This differed markedly from non‐seabird sites where the main resource contributions were 77% mangrove leaves for littorinid gastropods, 36% sediment organic matter, and 41% mangrove leaves for sesarmid crabs. The increased sizes of mangrove crabs suggest that seabird nutrient enrichment can promote mangrove crab fisheries productivity and benefit the provisioning of mangrove ecosystem services. By shifting resource use of functionally important macroinvertebrates, we discuss how seabirds modify trophic interactions, with potential consequences for mangrove ecosystem processes and resilience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gut microbial diversity influences the health and vitality of the host, yet it is itself affected by internal and external factors, including land-use. The impact of land-use practices on wild rodents' gut microbiomes remains understudied, despite their abundance and potential as reservoirs for zoonotic pathogens. We examined the bacterial and fungal gut microbiomes of bank voles (Myodes glareolus) and common voles (Microtus arvalis) across grassland and forest habitats with varying land-use intensities and types. We collected rodents seasonally and used 16S rRNA and ITS amplicon sequencing for microbe identification. We found significant differences in alpha and beta diversities between the species, with M. arvalis exhibiting higher diversity. Seasonality emerged as a prominent factor influencing microbial diversity, with significant variations between sampling months. While land-use affects the gut microbiome, its impact is subordinate to seasonal variations. Differential abundance analysis underscores the dynamic nature of microbial composition, with seasonal changes playing a predominant role. Overall, our findings highlight the significant influence of seasonality on gut microbiome diversity and composition in wild rodents, reflecting dietary shifts associated with seasonal changes. Understanding the interplay between environmental factors and microbial communities in wild rodents enahnces our knowledge of ecosystem health and resilience, warranting further investigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Symbiotic relationships between plants and bacteria play a pivotal role in both natural and agricultural ecosystems, particularly through endophytic colonization or rhizospheric interactions. This study evaluated the plant growth-promoting potential (PGP) of native rhizobial strains Rhizobium sp. ACO-34A and Mesorhizobium sp. 28A (now reclassified within the genus Kumtagia), isolated from Agave americana. Through phenotypic characterization, PGP evaluation, and comparative genomic analysis, both strains demonstrated the ability to thrive under diverse salinity levels and pH conditions, reflecting their adaptability to challenging environments. Rhizobium sp. ACO-34A exhibited superior resistance to antibiotics and heavy metals, coupled with robust PGP traits, such as phosphate solubilization and indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) production, which are crucial for enhancing nutrient availability and root development. Similarly, Mesorhizobium sp. 28A showed exceptional phosphate solubilization efficiency and contributed to improved seedling performance. These findings highlight the capacity of rhizobia associated with agave species to improve plant growth, reduce dependence on chemical fertilizers, and support sustainable agriculture, particularly in nutrient-depleted or semi-arid soils. Genomic analyses revealed the presence of genes linked to stress resilience and nutrient acquisition, underlining the functional versatility of these strains. By leveraging these native rhizobial strains, agricultural practices can achieve higher productivity and sustainability, making them valuable tools for enhancing the agronomic yield and ecological resilience of agave crops for agro-industries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Disaster-prone mountainous regions face complex human–environment conflicts resulting from the combined influences of natural disaster threats, ecosystem conservation, and resource development. This study takes Mentougou District as the research area, leveraging landscape character identification methods to develop a multidimensional evaluation framework integrating safety, ecology, and landscape aspects, providing a foundation for zoning and management decisions. Four characteristic elements—elevation, geomorphology, vegetation type, and land cover type—were extracted during the landscape character identification phase. Two-step clustering and eCognition multi-scale segmentation were used to identify 12 landscape character types (LCTs) and delineate Landscape Character Areas (LCAs). The MaxEnt model was applied during the evaluation phase to assess debris flow susceptibility. At the same time, AHP and ArcGIS spatial overlay methods were used to evaluate ecological resilience and landscape resource quality. The three-dimensional evaluation results for the 12 LCAs were clustered and manually interpreted, resulting in four levels of protection and development areas. Management strategies were proposed from three perspectives: debris flow disaster prevention, ecosystem conservation, and landscape resource development. This method provides a pathway to balance human–environment conflicts in disaster-prone mountainous regions, promoting scientific zoning management and sustainable development in vast mountainous areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The concepts of resilience and resistance (R&R) have been used to improve wildland fuel treatment outcomes by identifying parts of the landscape that are more likely to respond well to treatment. This study examined how the economic benefits and costs of fuel treatments in sagebrush (Artemisia spp.) ecosystems varied with the resilience and resistance properties of the treatment site. Generalized ecological models were developed for the economic analysis of fuel treatments that integrated ecological succession, annual grass invasion, pinyon–juniper expansion, and wildfire to simulate ecosystem dynamics over time. The models incorporated resilience and resistance by varying model parameters related to each plant community's ability to resist annual grass invasion and recover post-disturbance. Simulations produced estimates of the expected (ex ante) benefit–cost ratio for each treatment. The approach also considered the benefits associated with the system remaining in an ecologically favorable condition, allowing us to report a more holistic measure of the net economic benefits of fuel treatments. The results from the simulations indicated fuel treatment was economically efficient in late-successional sagebrush and early-successional juniper in mountain big sagebrush associations. For sagebrush associations where treatment was economically efficient, higher R&R status sites had higher benefit–cost ratios. The results suggested that treatment costs were more determinative of economic efficiency than treatment benefits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coastal zones are facing intensive ecological pressures and challenges, which could vary over a wide range of spatiotemporal scales. Our limited capability to understand and especially predict this variability can lead to the misinterpretation of coastal ecological resilience. Therefore, the assessment and prediction of ecological resilience are particularly important. In this study, a new approach based on the Pressure–State–Response model is developed to assess and predict pixel-scale multi-year ecological resilience (ER) and then applied to investigate the spatiotemporal variations of ER in the China's coastal zone (CCZ) in the past few decades and predict future ER trend under various scenarios. The results show that ER in the CCZ displayed a general spatial distribution pattern of "higher in the southern half and lower in the northern half" from 1995 to 2020. Over the 25-year period, ER exhibited a declining trend. Specifically, the eastern provinces experiencing the most significant decline. The ER levels across scenarios ranked from high to low as follows: SSP1-2.6 > SSP4-3.4 > SSP2-4.5 > SSP3-7.0 > SSP5-8.5. The assessment and prediction methods designed can be applied to ER studies in other coastal zones, making it a valuable approach for broader applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Land use and land cover (LULC) changes are the primary drivers of ecosystem transformation and have substantial impacts on local livelihoods. However, most research has focused on assessing the intensity of these changes in specific regions using remotely sensed data, thus generalizing trends and often overlooking the nuanced effects on local communities and their adaptive strategies. In this study, we integrated traditional ecological knowledge (TEK) with a remote sensing analysis to achieve a more comprehensive understanding of LULC changes and their social implications. Our results indicate that the grassland area in the studied region decreased significantly from 1985 to 2020, primarily due to socioeconomic development and rising temperatures, with a significant negative correlation observed between the size of the grassland area and livestock numbers. This loss of grassland has deeply affected the well-being and sustainability of pastoralist communities, whose livelihoods are intimately tied to grazing resources. A notable shift occurred around 2000; before this period, the grassland area was relatively stable, and camel populations were gradually declining. However, after 2000, grassland loss accelerated, accompanied by an increase in camel numbers. This trend reflects local herders' adaptive strategies, as they leveraged ecological knowledge to adjust livestock composition in favor of camels, which are better suited to cope with the diminished grassland. By combining remote sensing data with TEK, we provide an integrated, longitudinal perspective on vegetation and livelihood changes. These insights are essential for shaping sustainable development policies in arid regions, where fostering ecological resilience and supporting community adaptation are critical. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Enhancing urban ecological resilience (UER) is important in promoting sustainable urban development, and developing new quality productivity (NQP) is an intrinsic requirement to promote industrial change and high-quality development. The coordinated development of UER and NQP can help realize the green transformation and upgrading of various industries. This study considered 30 provinces in China as research objects, quantified their UER from nature, economy, and society, and explored the essential connotation of NQP under the guidance of Marx's productivity theory. The entropy weight-CRITIC method and TOPSIS model were used to comprehensively measure the development levels of the UER and NQP from 2011 to 2022, and their coupling coordination degree (CCD) of UER and NQP was measured by combining the coupling coordination degree model. Consequently, the Global Moran's I index and Geographical and Temporal Weighted Regression (GTWR) model were used to explore the effects of different influencing factors on the CCD from the spatiotemporal variability perspective. The results indicated the following: (1) UER and NQP improved during the study period but with large differences between the regions. (2) The overall CCD evolved from a mild imbalance to primary coordination. The average CCD values ranged from low to high in the northeastern, western, central, and eastern regions. (3) The GTWR results showed that the levels of economic development, urbanization rate, and technological innovation contributed positively to the CCD, with the urbanization rate having the strongest positive effect. Foreign investment, environmental regulations, and industrial structure generally negatively inhibit the CCD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explores spatiotemporal variations of microplastics (MPs) in beach sediments along India's southeast coast, focusing on Tamil Nadu and Puducherry from 2020 to 2021. The MPs were extracted from the sediments through density separation and wet peroxidation. Following extraction, they were quantified and physically characterized using stereo-microscopy and chemically analyzed using ATR-FTIR. During the monsoon, Chennai (923 ± 380 MPs/kg) exhibited the highest MP abundance, followed by Puducherry (805 ± 222 MPs/kg), Nagapattinam (799 ± 257 MPs/kg), Thoothukudi (653 ± 258 MPs/kg), Rameswaram (585 ± 151 MPs/kg), and Kanyakumari (344 ± 71 MPs/kg). Similarly, in summer, Chennai (719 ± 192 MPs/kg) recorded the highest mean, trailed by Puducherry (645 ± 163 MPs/kg), Rameswaram (529 ± 138 MPs/kg), Nagapattinam (523 ± 95 MPs/kg), Thoothukudi (492 ± 104 MPs/kg), and Kanyakumari (335 ± 72 MPs/kg). Fibers predominated as the most common MP type. FTIR revealed polymers like polystyrene, polyethylene terephthalate, polyethylene, polypropylene, polyurethane, and polyamide. The Polymer Hazard Index indicated high polymer pollution risk, while the Pollution Load Index showed minimal contamination. The Potential Ecological Risk Index revealed low-to-medium MP pollution levels. Tailored strategies addressing plastic usage reduction and mitigation of terrestrial MP sources are imperative for coastal ecosystem resilience. Highlights: High microplastic (MP) levels found in sediment of Southeast India's six beaches. Among the MPs, red-, transparent-, blue-, and black-colored particles were prevalent. MPs abundance in the monsoon season was higher than in the summer season. Overall, prominent shape was fiber, color was red, and polymer type was polyethylene. Polymer Hazard Index (PHI) values denote extreme degree of risk in beach sediments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In fire‐prone regions such as the Mediterranean biome, fire seasons are becoming longer, and fires are becoming more frequent and severe. Post‐fire recovery dynamics is a key component of ecosystem resilience and stability. Even though Mediterranean ecosystems can tolerate high exposure to extreme temperatures and recover from fire, changes in climate conditions and fire intensity or frequency might contribute to loss of ecosystem resilience and increase the potential for irreversible changes in vegetation communities. In this study, we assess the recovery rates of burned vegetation after recurrent fires across Mediterranean regions globally, based on remotely sensed Enhanced Vegetation Index (EVI) data, a proxy for vegetation status, from 2001 to 2022. Recovery rates are quantified through a statistical model of EVI time‐series. This approach allows resolving recovery dynamics in time and space, overcoming the limitations of space‐for‐time approaches typically used to study recovery dynamics through remote sensing. We focus on pixels burning repeatedly over the study period and evaluate how fire severity, pre‐fire vegetation greenness, and post‐fire climate conditions modulate vegetation recovery rates of different vegetation types. We detect large contrasts between recovery rates, mostly explained by regional differences in vegetation type. Particularly, needle‐leaved forests tend to recover faster following the second event, contrasting with shrublands that tend to recover faster from the first event. Our results also show that fire severity can promote a faster recovery across forested ecosystems. An important modulating role of pre‐fire fuel conditions on fire severity is also detected, with pixels with higher EVI before the fire resulting in stronger relative greenness loss. In addition, post‐fire climate conditions, particularly air temperature and precipitation, were found to modulate recovery speed across all regions, highlighting how direct impacts of fire can compound with impacts from climate anomalies in time and likely destabilise ecosystems under changing climate conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Under accelerating threats from climate‐change impacts, marine protected areas (MPAs) have been proposed as climate‐adaptation tools to enhance the resilience of marine ecosystems. Yet, debate persists as to whether and how MPAs may promote resilience to climate shocks. Here, we use 38 years of satellite‐derived kelp cover to empirically test whether a network of 58 temperate coastal MPAs in Central and Southern California enhances the resistance of kelp forest ecosystems to, and their recovery from, the unprecedented 2014–2016 marine heatwave regime that occurred in the region. We also leverage a 22‐year time series of subtidal community surveys to mechanistically understand whether trophic cascades explain emergent patterns in kelp forest resilience within MPAs. We find that fully protected MPAs significantly enhance kelp forests' resistance to and recovery from marine heatwaves in Southern California, but not in Central California. Differences in regional responses to the heatwaves are partly explained by three‐level trophic interactions comprising kelp, urchins, and predators of urchins. Urchin densities in Southern California MPAs are lower within fully protected MPAs during and after the heatwave, while the abundances of their main predators—lobster and sheephead—are higher. In Central California, a region without lobster or sheephead, there is no significant difference in urchin or kelp densities within MPAs as the current urchin predator, the sea otter, is protected statewide. Our analyses show that fully protected MPAs can be effective climate‐adaptation tools, but their ability to enhance resilience to extreme climate events depends upon region‐specific environmental and trophic interactions. As nations progress to protect 30% of the oceans by 2030, scientists and managers should consider whether protection will increase resilience to climate‐change impacts given their local ecological contexts, and what additional measures may be needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article adopted exploratory spatio-temporal data analysis (ESTDA), geographic detector, and spatial Markov chain model to analyze the spatio-temporal evolution characteristics, main influencing factors, and future trend predictions of urban ecological economic resilience (EER). The results show that EER has been significantly enhanced, and high-level cities have a "rhombus" spatial distribution pattern. EER has a noticeable spatial agglomeration effect and the range of high–high agglomeration areas has gradually expanded. The LISA time path reflects that the spatial structure of EER is relatively stable, and urban units and neighboring cities show a more apparent synergistic growth trend. Social development, economic support, ecological restoration, and innovation and transformation strongly influence the development of EER, and the interaction between factors is more significant. In the future, EER will still tend to maintain the existing stable and unchanged state, and cross-grade leapfrogging development will not be achieved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents an essay which traces the evolution of resilience from material sciences to ecology and social sciences. It explores its application in ecological systems and human development, particularly in psychology and social work. It critiques the concept, highlighting concerns about its focus on individual responsibility and emphasizing the need to consider social, historical, and structural factors in understanding resilience.

An introduction is presented to this journal's special issue, which explores the theme of resilience histories and includes articles on topics such as resilience in environmental history, protected fengshui forests in Southern China, and resilience among the Rapa Nui.

Submerged under the reservoirs for large dams lie the remains of displaced communities that reveal the depths of "resilience." Exploring the histories of such places brings to the surface not only a wide spectrum of resistance (the most common yet most limited definition of "resilience") but also resilience in two forms: (1) an insistence on the value of inundated communities and the perspectives of people who call them home, and (2) the persistence of such places and people. These ideas have emerged out of the Atlas of Drowned Towns (drownedtowns.com). This digital public history project creates processes and spaces in which communities affected by dam-induced displacement can participate in finding, remembering, and making sense of the histories of such places. Currently under development with a focus on thirteen dams in Oregon's Willamette Valley, the project's processes include community outreach, engagement, and archiving events called "History Jamborees," which help build a digital archive that contributes to the Atlas's website. The artifacts, stories, and memories shared with the Atlas of Drowned Towns reveal acts of resistance, insistence, and persistence in the past, and those acts of sharing and participation themselves provide opportunities to express and define resilience in the present. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]