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• Interactive effects of natural-human factors on vegetation coverage were quantified. • The area with a probability of degeneration ≥80% covered 16.6% of study area. • Models with vegetation coverage (2000) largely accounted for the vegetation variance. • The major drivers of vegetation coverage changed with time and variables. Vegetation coverage in coastal wetlands has been significantly altered in response to multiple disturbances over recent decades. However, the major driving factor of vegetation coverage in coastal wetlands remains unclear, with natural and human factors playing interactive roles at the national scale. To identify the major controls of vegetation coverage in coastal wetlands, structural equation modeling (SEM) was conducted to quantify the relative contribution of natural and human factors to vegetation coverage in coastal wetlands in China over a 16-year period (2000–2015). The results showed that, in brief, vegetation coverage was slightly degraded (k = −0.0035) over the 2000–2015 period. The area with a probability of vegetation coverage degeneration ≥80% covered 16.6% of the study area. Most annual mean vegetation coverage was lower but improved near the sea, with inverse results obtained near land. In 2000, human1 (population and GDP, r = −0.31) and topography (r = 0.32) were the major controls of vegetation coverage. The vegetation coverage (2000) played the most important and positive role (r = 0.62, r = 0.66) in the vegetation coverage in 2015. Our findings highlight that the major drivers of vegetation coverage in coastal wetlands changed with time and selected variables. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Influenced by the interplay of global climate change and urbanization, urban plants have become increasingly homogenized in China. However, regional effects of biotic homogenization cannot be clearly explained due to the lack of continuous large-scale data. Thus, we explored the characteristics and regional effects of biotic homogenization, which not only contributes to the improvement of urban biodiversity, but also has important value for human well-being. Here, we analyzed the woody plants of 101 cities in 8 major urban agglomerations in China. The diversity patterns and influencing factors were explored using generalized additive, geographically weighted regression, and structural equation models. The main results were as follows: (1) The issue of woody plant homogenization is primarily manifested in urban greening species in China. (2) The characteristics of woody plant homogenization exhibit notable regional effects at a large scale. (3) Latitude, urban area, altitude and climatic factors all impact the woody plant homogenization. Thus, we found that the homogenization characteristics of urban greening species exhibit regional variations, influenced by both natural and anthropogenic factors. Finally, we suggested that urban biodiversity management should be considered specific regional environmental, both to meet the needs of residents. [Display omitted] • Woody plants in urban greening had a more similar species composition. • Homogenization characteristics are more obvious in northern China, affected by altitude, climate and human activities. • We examine the regional effects on woody plant diversity patterns. • Suggestions were provided on the scientific application and management of urban greening woody plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]