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Copyright of Bulletin of Botanical Research is the property of Bulletin of Botanical Research Editorial Department 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.)

Rubus idaeus is a pivotal cultivated species of raspberry known for its attractive color, distinct flavor, and numerous health benefits. It can be used in pharmaceutical, cosmetics, agriculture and food industries not only as fresh but also as a processed product. Nowadays due to climatic changes, genetic diversity of cultivars has decreased dramatically. However, until now, the status of wild R. idaeus resources in China have not been exploited. In this study, we investigated the resources of wild R. idaeus in China to secure its future potential and sustainability. The MaxEnt model was used to predict R. idaeus suitable habitats and spatial distribution patterns for current and future climate scenarios, based on wild domestic geographic distribution data, current and future climate variables, and topographic variables. The results showed that, mean temperature of the coldest quarter (bio11), precipitation of the coldest quarter (bio19), precipitation of the warmest quarter (bio18), and temperature seasonality (bio4) were crucial factors affecting the distribution of R. idaeus. Presently, the suitable habitats were mainly distributed in the north of China including Xinjiang, Inner Mongolia, Gansu, Ningxia, Shaanxi, Shanxi, Hebei, Beijing, Liaoning, Jilin, Heilongjiang. According to our results, in 2050s, the total suitable habitat area of R. idaeus will increase under SSP1-2.6 and then will be decreased with climate change, while in the 2090s, the total suitable habitat area will continue to decrease. From the present to the 2090s, the centroid distribution of R. idaeus in China will shift towards the east and the species will always be present in Inner Mongolia. Our results provide wild resource information and theoretical reference for the protection and rational utilization of R. idaeus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Currently, tapping is the only method of obtaining natural rubber, an essential industrial raw material. The stability of the labor force supply for tapping is crucial for the sustainable development of the natural rubber industry. As China's second-largest rubber planting area, Hainan Island had a planting area of 585,800 hectares in 2020, accounting for 45% of the country's total, with over 2 million workers. Labor force shortages and the aging phenomenon in tapping have become increasingly severe and have attracted significant attention. However, the related research lacks detailed spatial information for conversion estimation, which hinders macroeconomic regulation. This study is based on the 2020 Hainan Island natural rubber distribution map, Dynamic World land use classification products, and the WorldPop population distribution dataset. It employs multiple technical operations such as temporal and spatial filtering, removal of small patches, buffer parameter settings, and masking to obtain the 2020 potential tapping labor density map for Hainan's rubber planting areas. Spatial statistical methods are used to analyze the spatial distribution and age structure characteristics of potential tapping labor force in Hainan's rubber planting areas as well as the spatial distribution of labor force shortage degrees after conversion to actual tapping labor force, including the labor force shortage levels and areas for each city and county, revealing the spatial pattern. The results reveal the following: 1) The total number of potential tapping laborers in Hainan's rubber planting areas is 1.567 4 million, with a spatial distribution pattern of high in the north and low in the south. The proportion of the population aged 45~59 years is 34%, indicating a significant aging trend. 2) There are significant spatial differences in the degree of labor shortage. The primary shortage areas are mainly concentrated in the junction areas of the central-western and central-eastern counties, with a belt-like distribution. In contrast, the secondary and tertiary shortage areas are widely distributed in the central-western, central, and some central-eastern county junctions, with shortage in the central area being particularly severe, showing a contiguous distribution. 3) The primary shortage areas in Danzhou City, Baisha County, and Qiongzhong County rank in the top three, with a cumulative area of 50, 500 hectares. Baisha, Qiongzhong, Chengmai, and Ledong Counties are also prominent in the secondary and tertiary shortage areas, covering a total area of 23, 300 hectares. In total, the area of labor shortage regions in Hainan Island is 141, 700 hectares, necessitating a future focus. To address the labor force shortage issue in tapping, it is recommended to strengthen infrastructure construction in the rubber plantations within the shortage areas and actively promote new tapping methods (e. g., low-frequency tapping) or tools (e. g., electric tapping knives) to reduce the labor intensity of tapping and increase the number of trees tapped per capita. This will provide favorable support for the sustainable and healthy development of Hainan's natural rubber industry. By revealing the spatial distribution characteristics and degree of tapping labor shortage, this study aims to provide robust decision-making support for the Hainan provincial government in addressing employment issues of tapping labor, optimizing human resource management strategies, and promoting the sustainable development of the natural rubber industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Most studies assessing soil environmental capacity (EC) often overlook the impact of heavy metal sources. Analyzing the sources of heavy metals (HMs) provides a better understanding of regional environmental capacity characteristics and their dynamic changes. The current study focuses on the surface soil of Shantou, using 511 soil samples to assess the soil environmental capacity. Results indicate that the contents of As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg, Ni, Pb, and Zn in Shantou's surface soil are notable, with lead moderately enriched and other metals lightly enriched. The principal component analysis (PCA) identifies five primary sources of heavy metals: mixed natural and agricultural sources, mixed agricultural and industrial sources, industrial sources, mining sources, and quarrying sources. The primary source contributing significantly to soil HM concentrations in Shantou City is a complex interplay between natural geological processes and extensive agricultural practices. In terms of static environmental capacity, Zn, Cr, Ni, Pb, Cu, As, Hg, and Cd are ranked in descending order. The overall environmental capacity for heavy metals in the soil is at a medium level, influenced by geological backgrounds. However, regions such as Yanhong Town, Guiyu Town, and Chendian Town face lower environmental capacities due to comprehensive human activities, posing certain risks. This study provides a scientific reference for forecasting, controlling soil heavy metal pollution, and improving soil quality and environmental capacity in Shantou City. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Rubus idaeus is a pivotal cultivated species of raspberry known for its attractive color, distinct flavor, and numerous health benefits. It can be used in pharmaceutical, cosmetics, agriculture and food industries not only as fresh but also as a processed product. Nowadays due to climatic changes, genetic diversity of cultivars has decreased dramatically. However, until now, the status of wild R. idaeus resources in China have not been exploited. In this study, we investigated the resources of wild R. idaeus in China to secure its future potential and sustainability. The MaxEnt model was used to predict R. idaeus suitable habitats and spatial distribution patterns for current and future climate scenarios, based on wild domestic geographic distribution data, current and future climate variables, and topographic variables. The results showed that, mean temperature of the coldest quarter (bio11), precipitation of the coldest quarter (bio19), precipitation of the warmest quarter (bio18), and temperature seasonality (bio4) were crucial factors affecting the distribution of R. idaeus. Presently, the suitable habitats were mainly distributed in the north of China including Xinjiang, Inner Mongolia, Gansu, Ningxia, Shaanxi, Shanxi, Hebei, Beijing, Liaoning, Jilin, Heilongjiang. According to our results, in 2050s, the total suitable habitat area of R. idaeus will increase under SSP1-2.6 and then will be decreased with climate change, while in the 2090s, the total suitable habitat area will continue to decrease. From the present to the 2090s, the centroid distribution of R. idaeus in China will shift towards the east and the species will always be present in Inner Mongolia. Our results provide wild resource information and theoretical reference for the protection and rational utilization of R. idaeus.

Currently, tapping is the only method of obtaining natural rubber, an essential industrial raw material. The stability of the labor force supply for tapping is crucial for the sustainable development of the natural rubber industry. As China's second-largest rubber planting area, Hainan Island had a planting area of 585,800 hectares in 2020, accounting for 45% of the country's total, with over 2 million workers. Labor force shortages and the aging phenomenon in tapping have become increasingly severe and have attracted significant attention. However, the related research lacks detailed spatial information for conversion estimation, which hinders macroeconomic regulation. This study is based on the 2020 Hainan Island natural rubber distribution map, Dynamic World land use classification products, and the WorldPop population distribution dataset. It employs multiple technical operations such as temporal and spatial filtering, removal of small patches, buffer parameter settings, and masking to obtain the 2020 potential tapping labor density map for Hainan's rubber planting areas. Spatial statistical methods are used to analyze the spatial distribution and age structure characteristics of potential tapping labor force in Hainan's rubber planting areas as well as the spatial distribution of labor force shortage degrees after conversion to actual tapping labor force, including the labor force shortage levels and areas for each city and county, revealing the spatial pattern. The results reveal the following: 1) The total number of potential tapping laborers in Hainan's rubber planting areas is 1.567 4 million, with a spatial distribution pattern of high in the north and low in the south. The proportion of the population aged 45~59 years is 34%, indicating a significant aging trend. 2) There are significant spatial differences in the degree of labor shortage. The primary shortage areas are mainly concentrated in the junction areas of the central-western and central-eastern counties, with a belt-like distribution. In contrast, the secondary and tertiary shortage areas are widely distributed in the central-western, central, and some central-eastern county junctions, with shortage in the central area being particularly severe, showing a contiguous distribution. 3) The primary shortage areas in Danzhou City, Baisha County, and Qiongzhong County rank in the top three, with a cumulative area of 50,500 hectares. Baisha, Qiongzhong, Chengmai, and Ledong Counties are also prominent in the secondary and tertiary shortage areas, covering a total area of 23,300 hectares. In total, the area of labor shortage regions in Hainan Island is 141,700 hectares, necessitating a future focus. To address the labor force shortage issue in tapping, it is recommended to strengthen infrastructure construction in the rubber plantations within the shortage areas and actively promote new tapping methods (e.g., low-frequency tapping) or tools (e.g., electric tapping knives) to reduce the labor intensity of tapping and increase the number of trees tapped per capita. This will provide favorable support for the sustainable and healthy development of Hainan's natural rubber industry. By revealing the spatial distribution characteristics and degree of tapping labor shortage, this study aims to provide robust decision-making support for the Hainan provincial government in addressing employment issues of tapping labor, optimizing human resource management strategies, and promoting the sustainable development of the natural rubber industry.

Abstract Malus sieversii, commonly known as wild apples, represents a Tertiary relict plant species and serves as the progenitor of globally cultivated apple varieties. Unfortunately, wild apple populations are facing significant degradation in localized areas due to a myriad of factors. To gain a comprehensive understanding of the nutrient status and spatiotemporal variations of M. sieversii, green leaves were collected in May and July, and the fallen leaves were collected in October. The concentrations of leaf nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) were measured, and the stoichiometric ratios as well as nutrient resorption efficiencies were calculated. The study also explored the relative contributions of soil, topographic, and biotic factors to the variation in nutrient traits. The results indicate that as the growing period progressed, the concentrations of N and P in the leaves significantly decreased (P P > N. The resorption efficiencies were mainly regulated by nutrient concentrations in fallen leaves. A robust spatial dependence was observed in leaf nutrient concentrations during all periods (70.1–97.9% for structural variation), highlighting that structural variation, rather than random factors, dominated the spatial variation. Nutrient resorption efficiencies (NRE, PRE, and KRE) displayed moderate structural variation (30.2–66.8%). The spatial patterns of nutrient traits varied across growth periods, indicating they are influenced by multifactorial elements (in which, soil property showed the highest influence). In conclusion, wild apples manifested differentiated spatiotemporal variability and influencing factors across various leaf nutrient traits. These results provide crucial insights into the spatiotemporal patterns and influencing factors of leaf nutrient traits of M. sieversii at the permanent plot scale for the first time. This work is of great significance for the ecosystem restoration and sustainable management of degrading wild fruit forests.

In order to explore the spatial distribution pattern and intra-specific correlation of Platycladus orientalis population in the Loess hilly region of Inner Mongolia, the natural Platycladus orientalis sparse forest in the typical Loess hilly region of Inner Mongolia was taken as the research object, and the spatial pattern of Platycladus orientalis population in different slope directions was analyzed using the point pattern combined with the complete spatial randomness, the heterogeneous Poisson model and the Poisson aggregation model of the single variable function, and the intra-specific grade was determined after the availability of the age class was determined by the fitting curve, a bivariate function was constructed to study the intra-specific correlation of Platycladus orientalis population. The results showed that the resources of regenerated seedlings were abundant, followed by young trees, and the number of mature trees was the least. The proportion of grade I was as high as 27.79%, grade II was 21.84%, and the cumulative proportion of grade III to grade V was 32.85%. The population distribution of each age class was pyramidal, and the population structure was stable, showing a steady growth trend.The quantity distribution of each age of 4~22 m, and the shady slope presents a small scale of 0~1 m aggregation distribution. The heterogeneous Poisson model showed that the slope direction had an impact on the aggregation degree of Platycladus orientalis population, and the Poisson aggregation model had an aggregation distribution within the range of 1~5 m, indicating that there was a certain relationship between species. There were 3 kinds of correlations in Platycladus orientalis species. The relationship between seedlings and adult trees was positive within 0~1 m of the scale of shady slope and semi-shady slope. The relationship between young trees and adult trees was completely in the confidence interval of sunny slope. The relationship between young trees and adult trees was negative at 6~7 and 3~4 m under the conditions of semi-shady slope and semi-sunny slope, respectively. The relationship between young trees and adult trees was negative at shady slope, semi-shady slope and semi-sunny slope, and the sunny slope was not negative relationship . To sum up, in addition to its own biological characteristics, the impact of microenvironment and intra-specific competition on the distribution of Platycladus orientalis population in the loess hilly area was also very important. Above results provided a basis for the planting and management of Platycladus orientalis and its habitat adaptability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Afforestation is an important way to effectively reduce carbon emissions from human activities and increase carbon sinks in forest ecosystems. It also plays an important role in climate change mitigation. Currently, few studies have examined the spatiotemporal dynamics of future afforestation areas, which are crucial for assessing future carbon sequestration in forest ecosystems. In order to obtain the dynamic distribution of potential afforestation land over time under future climate change scenarios in China, we utilized the random forest method in this study to calculate weights for the selected influencing factors on potential afforestation land, such as natural vegetation attributes and environmental factors. The "weight hierarchy approach" was used to calculate the afforestation quality index of different regions in different 5-year intervals from 2021 to 2060 and extract high-quality potential afforestation lands in each period. By dynamically analyzing the distribution and quality of potential afforestation land from 2021 to 2060, we can identify optimal afforestation sites for each period and formulate a progressive afforestation plan. This approach allows for a more accurate application of the FCS model to evaluate the dynamic changes in the carbon sequestration capacity of newly afforested land from 2021 to 2060. The results indicate that the average potential afforestation land area will reach 75 Mha from 2021 to 2060. In the northern region, afforestation areas are mainly distributed on both sides of the "Hu Line", while in the southern region, they are primarily distributed in the Yunnan–Guizhou Plateau and some coastal provinces. By 2060, the potential calculated cumulative carbon storage of newly afforested lands was 11.68 Pg C, with a peak carbon sequestration rate during 2056–2060 of 0.166 Pg C per year. Incorporating information on the spatiotemporal dynamics of vegetation succession, climate production potential, and vegetation resilience while quantifying the weights of each influencing factor can enhance the accuracy of predictions for potential afforestation lands. The conclusions of this study can provide a reference for the formulation of future afforestation plans and the assessment of their carbon sequestration capacity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The investigation into the spatial distribution of living woody (LWD) and coarse woody debris (CWD) within forests represents a fundamental methodology for probing the inherent mechanisms governing coexistence and mortality within forest ecosystems. Here, a complete spatial randomness (CSR) null model was employed to scrutinize the spatial pattern, while canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) and the Torus-translation test (TTT) were utilized to elucidate the distribution patterns of LWD and CWD within warm-temperate deciduous broadleaf secondary forests in Dongling Mountains plot, northern China. The results reveal that both LWD and CWD exhibit an aggregated distribution as the predominant pattern in the Dongling Mountains plot, with the proportion and intensity of aggregation diminishing as spatial scale increases. Specifically, the aggregation intensity g0–10 demonstrates a significant negative correlation with abundance and maximum diameter at breast height (DBH). Notably, the g0–10 of LWD manifests a stronger correlation with the maximum DBH, whereas the g0–10 of CWD exhibits a greater association with the mortality rate. CCA outcomes suggest that elevation, convexity, and aspect significantly impact LWD distribution, whereas CWD distribution shows substantial negative correlations with elevation, convexity, slope, and aspect. TTT findings indicate that ecosystems characterized by a substantial presence of LWD also display a notable prevalence of CWD. Additionally, the majority of species exhibit no habitat preference, displaying neutral habitat connections and low ecological niche differentiation within the sampled plot. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Serpula himantioides is a globally distributed wood decay fungus that causes heartwood decay in several tree species. We investigated the occurrence of S. himantioides fruiting bodies in Japan for two years and six months to characterize their biology. The fruiting bodies matured in autumn and occurred on living Chamaecyparis pisifera, Chamaecyparis obtusa, Larix kaempferi, and Cryptomeria japonica trees, as well as on dead trees and soil. Assessing three circular plots, the incidence of living trees with S. himantioides fruiting bodies was lowest in the plot with the most advanced heartwood decay. Furthermore, fruiting bodies occurred more frequently in the lower slope direction of the trunk. Analysis using the pair correlation function suggested that the spatial distribution pattern of living trees with fruiting bodies may change from intensive to random with heartwood decay progress. Finally, according to generalized linear and generalized linear mixed models, which were used to investigate the factors affecting the development of fruiting bodies in C. pisifera, C. obtusa, and L. kaempferi, no clear relationship was found between the presence or absence of fruiting bodies and heartwood decay. Thus, we suggest that fruiting bodies can occur in healthy living trees as well as in living trees in the early stages of heartwood decay. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Arid Land Geography is the property of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology & Geography 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.)

Copyright of Xinjiang Agricultural Sciences is the property of Xinjiang Agricultural Sciences Editorial Department 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.)

Rural areas around developed metropolitan areas continue to attract capital inflows, promoting rural spatial commodification. Taking Shanghai as a case study, this paper analyzes the characteristics of the spatial distribution pattern and the influencing factors of rural spatial commodification (RSC) through kernel density analysis, multiple regression models, and spatial autocorrelation analysis. This study explores four types of RSC at the township scale outside the center of Shanghai: agricultural product-oriented commodification, farm housing commodification, tourism-oriented commodification, and construction land commodification. The results show the following: (1) The four types of RSC show positive spatial correlation, a clear pattern of agglomeration, and an obvious core–edge pattern, with high-density areas distributed in rural areas with specific advantages around metropolitan areas. The distribution of RSC also demonstrates an obvious polarization, forming an uneven distribution pattern. (2) Socio-economic factors, agriculture, transportation location, urbanization, and industrialization are key factors driving RSC. (3) Different types of RSC should be effectively guided at the policy and planning levels according to regional conditions and development stages to enhance the spatial organization of rural regions and achieve the effective revitalization of the countryside surrounding the metropolis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Chinese Journal of Applied Entomology is the property of Chinese Journal of Applied Entomology, Editorial Department 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.)

Biological invasion poses a critical global issue, leading to substantial detrimental impacts on biodiversity, the environment, and the economy. The objective of the study is to offer a thorough understanding of how both climatic and human-induced elements impact the geographic richness of invasive plant species across the Loess Plateau. We evaluate the distribution of invasive plant species at the county level across the Loess Plateau by examining herbarium records from China. We incorporate 16 climatic and anthropogenic variables to depict the local environmental settings. Furthermore, we apply a classification and regression tree approach to investigate the correlation between the richness of invasive plant species and the identified factors. Our study demonstrates that a total of 401 invasive plant species are identified, which are spread across 249 genera and 61 families. Among these, the Asteraceae family stands out as the most prevalent, trailed by Poaceae and Fabaceae. The spatial distribution of invasive plant species richness reveals a notable trend, with the highest frequencies found in the southeastern parts of the region and the lowest in the northwestern areas. It is noteworthy that regions with higher levels of economic advancement tend to harbor a more significant abundance of invasive plant species. The richness of invasive plant species on the Loess Plateau is predominantly shaped by a combination of climatic and human variables, such as annual precipitation, gross domestic product, maximum temperature of warmest month, and minimum temperature of coldest month. To fully comprehend the ecological and biological mechanisms underlying the diversity of invasive plant species on the Loess Plateau, a pioneering conceptual framework has been established. Our study suggests that achieving a harmonious equilibrium among development, conservation, and invasion mitigation is essential for recognizing emerging risks associated with habitat alterations, climate change, and socio-economic advancements in arid regions.

Shiwandashan is one of the hotspots of biodiversity in Guangxi, and its main vegetation type is mountain evergreen broad-leaved forest. In order to understand the current community status and the development status of dominant species population structure of mountain evergreen broad-leaved forests in the region, this study was conducted in a fixed monitoring sample plot of 1 hm2 established within the evergreen broad-leaved forest community in the Shiwandashan. Woody plants with diameter at breast height (DBH) ≥ 1 cm in the sample plot community were used as the research objects to analyze their species compositions, diameter class structures, tree height structures, and the spatial distribution patterns of dominant species using the g(r) function. The results were as follows: (1) There were 7 517 woody plants with DBH ≥ 1 cm in the community, belonging to 52 families, 108 genera and 153 species. The dominant species in the community were Clethra delavayi, Schima argentea, Hartia villosa, Castanopsis hystrix, Engelhardtia roxburghiana, Ardisia quinquegona, Itea chinensis, Symplocos adenophylla, Eurya subintegra, Ilex pubescens, but the dominant position of dominant species was not obvious. (2) The overall average DBH of the community was 5.51 cm, and the distribution of diameter class and tree height was approximately an inverted “J” shape. The diameter class distribution of dominant species was mostly an inverted “J” or “L” shape, and the community had a large number of small and medium-sized diameter class standing trees, indicating a strong self-renewal ability of the community. (3) Dominant species coexisted stably in the community; the dominant species exhibited aggregated distribution in the sample plot, but there were differences in the location of aggregated distribution among dominant species. Overall, the community is currently in a good state of renewal, with the existence of dominant species in the top level community. However, the community has certain secondary characteristics and has not yet reached a stable top level community state. The dominant species can coexist stably and have the potential to inherit towards a stable top level community. Therefore, it is necessary to continue to strengthen management and promote the renewal and survival of the evergreen broad-leaved forest community in the Shiwandashan areas.

Shiwandashan is one of the hotspots of biodiversity in Guangxi, and its main vegetation type is mountain evergreen broad-leaved forest. In order to understand the current community status and the development status of dominant species population structure of mountain evergreen broad-leaved forests in the region, this study was conducted in a fixed monitoring sample plot of 1 hm² established within the evergreen broad-leaved forest community in the Shiwandashan. Woody plants with diameter at breast height (DBH) ≥ 1 cm in the sample plot community were used as the research objects to analyze their species compositions, diameter class structures, tree height structures, and the spatial distribution patterns of dominant species using the g(r) function. The results were as follows: (1) There were 7 517 woody plants with DBH ≥ 1 cm in the community, belonging to 52 families, 108 genera and 153 species. The dominant species in the community were Clethra delavayi, Schima argentea, Hartia villosa, Castanopsis hystrix, Engelhardtia roxburghiana, Ardisia quinquegona, Itea chinensis, Symplocos adenophylla, Eurya subintegra, Ilex pubescens, but the dominant position of dominant species was not obvious. (2) The overall average DBH of the community was 5.51 cm, and the distribution of diameter class and tree height was approximately an inverted "J" shape. The diameter class distribution of dominant species was mostly an inverted "J" or "L" shape, and the community had a large number of small and medium-sized diameter class standing trees, indicating a strong self-renewal ability of the community. (3) Dominant species coexisted stably in the community; the dominant species exhibited aggregated distribution in the sample plot, but there were differences in the location of aggregated distribution among dominant species. Overall, the community is currently in a good state of renewal, with the existence of dominant species in the top level community. However, the community has certain secondary characteristics and has not yet reached a stable top level community state. The dominant species can coexist stably and have the potential to inherit towards a stable top level community. Therefore, it is necessary to continue to strengthen management and promote the renewal and survival of the evergreen broad-leaved forest community in the Shiwandashan areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

China is currently the world’s largest carbon emitter and has pledged to achieve carbon neutrality by 2060, which requires significant reductions in emissions and the removal of carbon dioxide removal. Precise and efficient forestation has become a key strategy to increase carbon sequestration and mitigate the effects of climate change. In order to obtain a high-accuracy distribution area of potential forestation land, a variety of influencing factors on potential forestation land were selected in this study, including vegetation factors and environmental factors. Combining the two models “law of the minimum factors (LMF)” and “equal weight classification (EWC)” predicts the spatial distribution pattern of potential forestation land in China. And, we calculated the available forestation area in each province and predicted future forest coverage. The results showed that the potential forestation area using the LMF method reached approximately 5.65 × 105 km2, and the potential forestation area using the EMC method reached approximately 4.95 × 105 km2. Combining the two models, the final potential forestation area in China was approximately 6.29 × 105 km2, of which approximately 1.02 × 105 km2 was evaluated as a high-confidence area. If all potential forestation land obtained from the two models was successfully planted, China’s forest coverage rate would reach nearly 26 %. Two newly introduced vegetation factors, namely vegetation resilience and top vegetation succession, were considered in this study to make the prediction results of potential forestation distribution more accurate and reasonable. In addition, the results obtained in this study can provide certain assistance for the specific implementation of national forestation policies, and can provide a reference for promoting forestation actions and achieving the goal of carbon neutrality.

The imprudent cultivation of Pinus sylvestris var. mongolica has led to degradation in the watersheds surrounding Chongli County. This study investigates the artificial forests of P. sylvestris var. mongolica in the Xiaotaojiagou watershed, Chongli County. Twenty-five subplots measuring 20 m × 20 m were established at upper, upper-middle, middle, and lower positions within the watershed. Spatial distribution patterns and fractal characteristics of P. sylvestris var. mongolica were analyzed using univariate pair correlation function g(r), marked correlation functions (marked correlation function Kmm(r), marked variation function γm(r), and Schlather’s Im(r) function), and fractal dimensions (box-counting dimension, information dimension). The findings are as follows: (1) P. sylvestris var. mongolica in the middle section of the watershed displayed the largest average diameters at breast height and tree height, while those in the lower section exhibited the largest average crown width. (2) P. sylvestris var. mongolica populations in the upstream, middle, and downstream sections of the watershed exhibited three alternating states: aggregated distribution, uniform distribution, and random distribution. However, with increasing spatial scale, the distribution gradually tended towards randomness. P. sylvestris var. mongolica in the upper-middle section of the watershed showed aggregated distribution at scales of 1.5–32.5 m, transitioning to random distribution and then to uniform distribution with increasing spatial scale. (3) Individual attributes of P. sylvestris var. mongolica (diameter at breast height, tree height, and crown width) exhibited high correlation and facilitation in the upstream and upper-middle sections at small-to-medium scales, whereas negative correlations and inhibitions were observed in the middle and lower sections. These attributes tended to be uncorrelated with increasing spatial scale. (4) Fractal dimensions indicated that the degree of aggregation of P. sylvestris var. mongolica population was lowest in the downstream section of the watershed. In conclusion, spatial distribution patterns and intraspecies relationships of P. sylvestris var. mongolica populations are influenced by spatial scale and environmental conditions, particularly in more resource-competitive downstream areas. Effective management and protection of P. sylvestris var. mongolica populations require targeted measures such as adjusting afforestation density, improving soil conditions, and implementing differentiated ecological restoration strategies to alleviate intraspecies competitive pressures and promote population health and sustainable development.

This paper selected Sansha Bay which was a typical aquacultural bay in Fujian Province as the research area to investigate the current status of aquaculture, and calculated the amount and values of carbon sequestration contributed by mariculture from Sansha Bay. The results showed that the total aquaculture output of Sansha Bay in 2022 was 664 700 t, including 266 700 t of shellfish and algae. The dominant economic species included large yellow croaker, abalone, kelp, Gracilaria and oyster. The carbon ratio of these main cultured organisms varied spatially and temporally, ranging from 23.67% to 43.89% in tissues and 11.12% to 15.05% in shells. The carbon ratio of kelp decreased with the growth cycle, while the carbon ratio of shells showed no significant difference. In 2022, the mariculture of oysters, kelp, Gracilaria and other filter-feeding shellfish in Sansha Bay could remove carbon about 29 100 t from seawater, equivalent to reducing 106 700 t of CO2. It also created an economic value of 1.62 million yuan, with considerable carbon sequestration capacity and economic benefits. However, abalone, large yellow crock, sea cucumber and other bait-based culture organisms introduced about 925 500 t of extraneous carbon sources in the process of mariculture. Irrational input of bait and culture structure were important factors leading to the weak carbon sequestration ability of bait-based culture. This paper focused on the fishery carbon sink accounting of the typical aquaculture bay, and discussed the carbon sequestration capacity of locally bait-based aquaculture species. It would provide scientific basis for the aquaculture planning and the green upgrading and transformation of the aquaculture industry in this area.

The investigation into the spatial patterns of living woody (LWD) and coarse woody debris (CWD) in warm-temperate deciduous broadleaved secondary forests serves as a foundational exploration of the mechanisms governing coexistence and mortality in forest ecosystems. The complete spatial randomness null model (CSR) was employed to analyze spatial distribution patterns, with the independent component null model (IC) and canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) utilized to elucidate spatial correlations and topographic influences. All three models were applied to LWD and CWD across various size classes within a 20-hectare plot in the Dongling Mountains. The study's findings indicate that both LWD and CWD predominantly exhibited aggregated patterns, transitioning to a random distribution as the size class increased. Both increasing abundance and maximum diameter at breast height (DBH) also have a significant influence on the distribution of species. Notably, rare species exhibited higher aggregation compared to common and abundant species. The spatial correlation results between LWD and CWD across various size classes predominantly showed positive correlations and uncorrelated patterns within the sampled plots. CCA analysis further revealed that elevation, convexity, slope, and aspect significantly influenced the spatial patterns of LWD and CWD across different size classes. Within the sample site, trees display a tendency to grow and die in clusters. Biotic factors have a more significant influence on species distribution than abiotic factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mangrove forests play a vital role in maintaining ecological balance in coastal regions. Accurately assessing changes in the ecosystem service value (ESV) of these mangrove forests requires more precise distribution data and an appropriate set of evaluation methods. In this study, we accurately mapped the spatial distribution data and patterns of mangrove forests in Guangxi province in 2016 and 2020, using 10 m spatial resolution Sentinel-2 imagery, and conducted a comprehensive evaluation of ESV provided by mangrove forests. The results showed that (1) from 2016 to 2020, mangrove forests in Guangxi demonstrated a positive development trend and were undergoing a process of recovery. The area of mangrove forests in Guangxi increased from 6245.15 ha in 2016 to 6750.01 ha in 2020, with a net increase of 504.81 ha, which was mainly concentrated in Lianzhou Bay, Tieshan Harbour, and Dandou Bay; (2) the ESV of mangrove forests was USD 363.78 million in 2016 and USD 390.74 million in 2020; (3) the value of fishery, soil conservation, wave absorption, and pollution purification comprises the largest proportions of the ESV of mangrove forests. This study provides valuable insights and information to enhance our understanding of the relationship between the spatial pattern of mangrove forests and their ecosystem service value. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the spatial patterns and correlations of Diospyros morrisiana in Fangcheng Yellow Camellia National Nature Reserve were analysed using pairwise correlation functions g( r) and g12 ( r) for the different developmental periods of the populations. The results showed that the distribution of the Diospyros morrisiana population at different diameter levels was of a “single-peaked” type. Young and medium-sized trees were predominantly clustered within the study scale, while seedlings and adult trees showed a random distribution trend. Seedlings were positively correlated with young, medium and adult trees within a range of small medium scales. Young and medium trees were mainly positively correlated at the scale studied, while young and medium trees showed no correlation with adult trees. In summary, the population of Diospyros morrisiana has an abundant stock of regenerating seedlings and the population shows a stable growth trend. The distribution pattern and correlations vary with population density and tree size. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this research on the spatial distribution pattern and correlation of populations is to predict the succession trend of populations and vegetation reconstruction which has a great significance meaning for further research investigation. Based on the geographic location and growth stage data of sand-fixing shrubs on fixed sand dunes in the Mu Us Sandy Land, the spatial distribution pattern and correlation of three dominant populations of Artemisia ordosica (AO), Hedysarum mongolicum (HM) and Caragana korshinskii (CK) were analyzed by using univariate and bivariate paired correlation functions and Monte Carlo fitting test. The results are as follows. (1) The three populations were aggregated at small scale and randomly or uniformly distributed at large scale; the populations of HM and CK showed aggregation distribution within the spatial scale of the study. (2) The interspecies relationships showed that AO and HM were negatively correlated at the scale less than 5 meters and basically uncorrelated at other scales. (3) The intraspecific correlation among different growth and development stages of the populations showed that the intraspecific relationships of the 3 populations were basically positively correlated at small scales. At large scales, there was a negative correlation between the intraspecifc relationships of AO, while there was no correlation between the intraspecifc relationships of HM and CK. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Arid Land Geography is the property of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology & Geography 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.)

[Objective] The relationship between water adaptation and the distribution pattern of desert shrubs at the regional scale was studied and the process and mechanism of plant population response to environment in arid and semi-arid areas was analyzed in order to provide a basis for further understanding the co-evolution relationship between plants and environments. [Methods] The spatial distribution pattern and water use strategy of Reaumuria songarica populations were analyzed by using point pattern analysis and hydrogen and oxygen stable isotope tracing techniques. [Results] ① Under the complete spatial randomness model, the R. songarica population was uniformly distributed at 32 m scale. The intra-population ecological relationship changed from competition to promotion. After habitat heterogeneity was eliminated, the population showed random distribution at > 30 m scale, and the intra-population ecological relationship showed a weakening trend, indicating that habitat heterogeneity played an important role in the formation of the spatial distribution pattern of the R. songarica population. This result indicated that habitat heterogeneity played an important role in the formation of the spatial distribution pattern of R. songarica populations at large scales. ② As the multi-year average precipitation decreased, the water use depth of the R. songarica population deepened from 0—20 cm to 60—100 cm. The density of the R. songarica population showed a highly significant negative correlation with multi-year precipitation (p

Serpula himantioides is a globally distributed wood decay fungus that causes heartwood decay in several tree species. We investigated the occurrence of S. himantioides fruiting bodies in Japan for two years and six months to characterize their biology. The fruiting bodies matured in autumn and occurred on living Chamaecyparis pisifera, Chamaecyparis obtusa, Larix kaempferi, and Cryptomeria japonica trees, as well as on dead trees and soil. Assessing three circular plots, the incidence of living trees with S. himantioides fruiting bodies was lowest in the plot with the most advanced heartwood decay. Furthermore, fruiting bodies occurred more frequently in the lower slope direction of the trunk. Analysis using the pair correlation function suggested that the spatial distribution pattern of living trees with fruiting bodies may change from intensive to random with heartwood decay progress. Finally, according to generalized linear and generalized linear mixed models, which were used to investigate the factors affecting the development of fruiting bodies in C. pisifera, C. obtusa, and L. kaempferi, no clear relationship was found between the presence or absence of fruiting bodies and heartwood decay. Thus, we suggest that fruiting bodies can occur in healthy living trees as well as in living trees in the early stages of heartwood decay.

The investigation into the spatial distribution of living woody (LWD) and coarse woody debris (CWD) within forests represents a fundamental methodology for probing the inherent mechanisms governing coexistence and mortality within forest ecosystems. Here, a complete spatial randomness (CSR) null model was employed to scrutinize the spatial pattern, while canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) and the Torus-translation test (TTT) were utilized to elucidate the distribution patterns of LWD and CWD within warm-temperate deciduous broadleaf secondary forests in Dongling Mountains plot, northern China. The results reveal that both LWD and CWD exhibit an aggregated distribution as the predominant pattern in the Dongling Mountains plot, with the proportion and intensity of aggregation diminishing as spatial scale increases. Specifically, the aggregation intensity g0–10 demonstrates a significant negative correlation with abundance and maximum diameter at breast height (DBH). Notably, the g0–10 of LWD manifests a stronger correlation with the maximum DBH, whereas the g0–10 of CWD exhibits a greater association with the mortality rate. CCA outcomes suggest that elevation, convexity, and aspect significantly impact LWD distribution, whereas CWD distribution shows substantial negative correlations with elevation, convexity, slope, and aspect. TTT findings indicate that ecosystems characterized by a substantial presence of LWD also display a notable prevalence of CWD. Additionally, the majority of species exhibit no habitat preference, displaying neutral habitat connections and low ecological niche differentiation within the sampled plot.

Afforestation is an important way to effectively reduce carbon emissions from human activities and increase carbon sinks in forest ecosystems. It also plays an important role in climate change mitigation. Currently, few studies have examined the spatiotemporal dynamics of future afforestation areas, which are crucial for assessing future carbon sequestration in forest ecosystems. In order to obtain the dynamic distribution of potential afforestation land over time under future climate change scenarios in China, we utilized the random forest method in this study to calculate weights for the selected influencing factors on potential afforestation land, such as natural vegetation attributes and environmental factors. The “weight hierarchy approach” was used to calculate the afforestation quality index of different regions in different 5-year intervals from 2021 to 2060 and extract high-quality potential afforestation lands in each period. By dynamically analyzing the distribution and quality of potential afforestation land from 2021 to 2060, we can identify optimal afforestation sites for each period and formulate a progressive afforestation plan. This approach allows for a more accurate application of the FCS model to evaluate the dynamic changes in the carbon sequestration capacity of newly afforested land from 2021 to 2060. The results indicate that the average potential afforestation land area will reach 75 Mha from 2021 to 2060. In the northern region, afforestation areas are mainly distributed on both sides of the “Hu Line”, while in the southern region, they are primarily distributed in the Yunnan–Guizhou Plateau and some coastal provinces. By 2060, the potential calculated cumulative carbon storage of newly afforested lands was 11.68 Pg C, with a peak carbon sequestration rate during 2056–2060 of 0.166 Pg C per year. Incorporating information on the spatiotemporal dynamics of vegetation succession, climate production potential, and vegetation resilience while quantifying the weights of each influencing factor can enhance the accuracy of predictions for potential afforestation lands. The conclusions of this study can provide a reference for the formulation of future afforestation plans and the assessment of their carbon sequestration capacity.

Rural areas around developed metropolitan areas continue to attract capital inflows, promoting rural spatial commodification. Taking Shanghai as a case study, this paper analyzes the characteristics of the spatial distribution pattern and the influencing factors of rural spatial commodification (RSC) through kernel density analysis, multiple regression models, and spatial autocorrelation analysis. This study explores four types of RSC at the township scale outside the center of Shanghai: agricultural product-oriented commodification, farm housing commodification, tourism-oriented commodification, and construction land commodification. The results show the following: (1) The four types of RSC show positive spatial correlation, a clear pattern of agglomeration, and an obvious core–edge pattern, with high-density areas distributed in rural areas with specific advantages around metropolitan areas. The distribution of RSC also demonstrates an obvious polarization, forming an uneven distribution pattern. (2) Socio-economic factors, agriculture, transportation location, urbanization, and industrialization are key factors driving RSC. (3) Different types of RSC should be effectively guided at the policy and planning levels according to regional conditions and development stages to enhance the spatial organization of rural regions and achieve the effective revitalization of the countryside surrounding the metropolis.

The recruitment process is a fundamental step in population life cycles that determines survival, population demographic structure, and dynamics. The success of recruitment events repeated over successive years greatly affects the survival of long-lived gorgonian populations. Here, we report the recruitment process of the precious, heavily harvested Mediterranean gorgonian Corallium rubrum (red coral) on both settlement tiles and natural substrates over different Mediterranean areas. Red coral is a gonochoric internal brooder that reproduces in early summer. Lecithotrophic planulae settle 15–30 days after release in semi-dark environments at depths between 15 and 800 m. In autumn, 0.58–0.68 mm-wide recruits can be observed on the vaults of small crevices and caves and on rocky cliffs and boulders. Owing to their small size, there is limited knowledge of C. rubrum recruitment in the field. In this study, we examined the recruitment density and distribution in Canadells (Banyuls sur Mer, France) and Calafuria (Livorno, Italy) and compared these findings with those collected over different Mediterranean areas. Red coral exhibited high recruitment values ranging from 0.43 to 13.19 recruits dm−2. The distribution pattern of recruits, examined at a small spatial scale via nearest-neighbor distance analysis, revealed a significantly higher patch frequency on the natural substrate than on settlement tiles, presumably because of the scarcely available spots of free space on the former substrate, which are crowded by competitor species.

The traditional Tibetan area of China is an ethnically and culturally significant region with a historical geographical connection. This study investigates the spatial-temporal distribution patterns and entropy changes of historical and cultural heritage by examining the association between cultural heritage and socio-historical factors. It utilizes analytical methods such as information entropy and incorporates temporal, spatial, and typological information from the data obtained in the Third National Cultural Relics Census. The findings are as follows: (1) The three major regions in the Tibetan area of China alternately serve as development cores for the traditional Tibetan area, exhibiting a fluctuating "dispersion-aggregation" trend of historical and cultural heritage, which also displays notable regional variations. (2) The quantity and entropy change of historical and cultural heritage exhibit correlations between different periods, but there are also some intergenerational differences. (3) The spatial-temporal distribution pattern of historical and cultural heritage demonstrates an inter-era correlation, indicating that socio-historical development is a nonlinear process characterized by both "transition" and "accumulation". These findings are of significant importance for further understanding the social evolutionary process of human settlements in high-altitude areas and for the comprehensive protection of cultural heritage in ethnic regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The spatial aggregation patterns of wildlife-vehicle collisions are used to inform where mitigation measures are most needed. Based on 10 years of observations of vertebrate roadkill on the Ring Changbai Mountain Scenic Road, the spatial distribution characteristics of roadkill incidence were analyzed in this study. Using the field survey method to investigate roadkill incidents and their influencing factors, we applied generalized linear mixed modeling (GLMM) for model selection and constructed roadkill models for different taxa groups. The spatial distribution patterns of roadkill hotspots vary among different taxa and exhibit a unimodal or multimodal distribution. The road section along a river and with a minimal distance between the road and the water has a high incidence of roadkill. The density of roadkill for various taxa decreases as the distances from rivers, bridges, and ponds increases. However, there appears to be no correlation between the density of bird roadkill and any factors. Finally, wildlife crossing facilities and guidance measures aimed at reducing the incidence of roadkill and enhancing the selection of routes and wildlife crossing structures in the area are formulated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Northwest A & F University - Natural Science Edition is the property of Editorial Department of Journal of Northwest A&F University (Natural Science Edition) 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.)

Copyright of Mountain Research (10082786) is the property of Mountain Research 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.)

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.)

The recruitment process is a fundamental step in population life cycles that determines survival, population demographic structure, and dynamics. The success of recruitment events repeated over successive years greatly affects the survival of long-lived gorgonian populations. Here, we report the recruitment process of the precious, heavily harvested Mediterranean gorgonian Corallium rubrum (red coral) on both settlement tiles and natural substrates over different Mediterranean areas. Red coral is a gonochoric internal brooder that reproduces in early summer. Lecithotrophic planulae settle 15–30 days after release in semi-dark environments at depths between 15 and 800 m. In autumn, 0.58–0.68 mm-wide recruits can be observed on the vaults of small crevices and caves and on rocky cliffs and boulders. Owing to their small size, there is limited knowledge of C. rubrum recruitment in the field. In this study, we examined the recruitment density and distribution in Canadells (Banyuls sur Mer, France) and Calafuria (Livorno, Italy) and compared these findings with those collected over different Mediterranean areas. Red coral exhibited high recruitment values ranging from 0.43 to 13.19 recruits dm−2. The distribution pattern of recruits, examined at a small spatial scale via nearest-neighbor distance analysis, revealed a significantly higher patch frequency on the natural substrate than on settlement tiles, presumably because of the scarcely available spots of free space on the former substrate, which are crowded by competitor species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rural governance is the basic requirement for promoting the modernization of the national governance system and governance capacity, so it is closely related to the implementation of the national rural revitalization strategy and the realization of the modernization goal of national governance. Taking 2189 rural governance demonstration villages and towns in China as the research object, the spatial distribution structure and influencing factors of rural governance demonstration villages and towns were explored in this study by using the nearest neighbor index method, the kernel density estimation method, the grid dimension analysis method and the spatial autocorrelation analysis method. The results show that the spatial distribution of rural governance demonstration villages and towns in China tends to be clustered, and the spatial differentiation is obvious. The analysis of kernel density in the rural governance demonstration villages and towns presents a number of kernel centers in space, and the distribution pattern of secondary centers is in the form of a belt distribution, which is formed by decreasing and spreading around the surrounding kernel centers. The rural governance demonstration village and town system features obvious scale-free areas and fractal characteristics. The spatial distribution of the rural governance demonstration villages and towns is mainly influenced by natural and cultural factors, among which, the topography and lake water systems are the main influencing factors. Among the humanistic factors, the social economy, transportation and national culture are the main influencing factors, while the influence of population distribution is not significant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urban Functional Zone (UFZ) identification is vital for urban planning, renewal, and development. Point of Interest (POI), as one of the most popular data in UFZ studies, is transformed into a geo-corpus under specific sampling strategies, which can be used with Natural Language Processing (NLP) technology to extract geo-semantic features and identify UFZs. However, existing studies only capture a single spatial distribution pattern of POIs, while ignoring the other spatial distribution information. In this paper, we developed an integrated geo-corpus construction approach to capture multi-spatial distribution patterns of POIs that were represented by different modal POI embeddings. Subsequently, random forest model was leveraged to classify UFZs based on those embeddings. A set of combination experiments were designed for performance validation. The results show that our proposed method can effectively identify UFZs with an accuracy of 72.9%, with an improvement of 8.5% compared to the baseline methods. The outcome of this study will help urban planners to better understand UFZs through investigating the integrated spatial distribution patterns of POIs embedded in UFZs.

The study examined fast food's geographical distribution and patronage in Calabar urban, Nigeria. Data were acquired from both secondary and primary sources. Inferential and descriptive statistical techniques were used to analyse the acquired data for the study. The findings indicated a clustered pattern of forty-seven operating fast-food outlets scattered across the area. The study also observed that large population density, central city business and shopping districts known as the CBD/tourist attractions and security were the main factors of fast food location. Furthermore, the study revealed a substantial negative correlation between patrons' distance from the fast food outfits and their frequency of patronage, meaning that the larger the distance between patrons and fast-food establishments, the lower the degree of patronage. The study further showed that fast food patronage fluctuates substantially depending on the time of day. The study recommended that fast food proprietors and government evaluate the critical factors of the geographical distribution of fast food in the area for the long-term viability of the business.

Rapid urbanization has brought about continuous urban expansion, which has put enormous pressure on ecosystems. In this paper, we take both temporal and spatial dimensions into account to discuss the interaction between various ecological services (ESs) and urbanization in Shandong Province based on data at different scales. We utilize the InVEST model for quantifying ESs indicators. Pearson correlation analysis and geographically weighted regression were used to investigate the relationship with the four urbanization indicators. The results of the study indicate that with the development of urbanization, the regulating and supporting services of land in Shandong province show an upward trend. In contrast, the supply services show a downward trend. There is a significant correlation between ESs and urbanization (p

The investigation into the spatial patterns of living woody (LWD) and coarse woody debris (CWD) in warm-temperate deciduous broadleaved secondary forests serves as a foundational exploration of the mechanisms governing coexistence and mortality in forest ecosystems. The complete spatial randomness null model (CSR) was employed to analyze spatial distribution patterns, with the independent component null model (IC) and canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) utilized to elucidate spatial correlations and topographic influences. All three models were applied to LWD and CWD across various size classes within a 20-hectare plot in the Dongling Mountains. The study’s findings indicate that both LWD and CWD predominantly exhibited aggregated patterns, transitioning to a random distribution as the size class increased. Both increasing abundance and maximum diameter at breast height (DBH) also have a significant influence on the distribution of species. Notably, rare species exhibited higher aggregation compared to common and abundant species. The spatial correlation results between LWD and CWD across various size classes predominantly showed positive correlations and uncorrelated patterns within the sampled plots. CCA analysis further revealed that elevation, convexity, slope, and aspect significantly influenced the spatial patterns of LWD and CWD across different size classes. Within the sample site, trees display a tendency to grow and die in clusters. Biotic factors have a more significant influence on species distribution than abiotic factors.

Mangrove forests play a vital role in maintaining ecological balance in coastal regions. Accurately assessing changes in the ecosystem service value (ESV) of these mangrove forests requires more precise distribution data and an appropriate set of evaluation methods. In this study, we accurately mapped the spatial distribution data and patterns of mangrove forests in Guangxi province in 2016 and 2020, using 10 m spatial resolution Sentinel-2 imagery, and conducted a comprehensive evaluation of ESV provided by mangrove forests. The results showed that (1) from 2016 to 2020, mangrove forests in Guangxi demonstrated a positive development trend and were undergoing a process of recovery. The area of mangrove forests in Guangxi increased from 6245.15 ha in 2016 to 6750.01 ha in 2020, with a net increase of 504.81 ha, which was mainly concentrated in Lianzhou Bay, Tieshan Harbour, and Dandou Bay; (2) the ESV of mangrove forests was USD 363.78 million in 2016 and USD 390.74 million in 2020; (3) the value of fishery, soil conservation, wave absorption, and pollution purification comprises the largest proportions of the ESV of mangrove forests. This study provides valuable insights and information to enhance our understanding of the relationship between the spatial pattern of mangrove forests and their ecosystem service value.

Major challenges for plant conservation are predicting the effect of habitat loss on pollination success and plant reproduction potential. Most studies report that pollinator movement is affected by quantitative and spatial characteristics of landscapes. However, little is known about the role of pollinator movement, impacted by floral volatiles and intraspecies interaction, on plant reproduction in fragmented landscapes.To clarify the effect of pollinator movement on plant reproduction relative to habitat loss, we developed an integrated model incorporating pollinator's foraging response with its dispersal process mediated by a density‐dependent dispersal (DDD) strategy. This model performed better in capturing behaviour response of pollinators than do current methods. The integrated model was verified with field results of pollinator visitation and plant reproduction of saltcedar Tamarix chinensis inhabiting the Yellow River Delta, and then was compared against a dispersal strategy called density‐independent dispersal (DID). The model was applied to landscapes with various non‐habitat percentage (NHP) to explore the effect of habitat loss on plant reproduction.Results suggested that saltcedar populations differ in their responses to habitat loss, which depended on the spatial scales considered. At landscape scale, increasing NHP significantly inhibited dispersion extent of floral volatiles and therefore reduced pollinator visitation and subsequent seed production, especially when NHP exceeded the critical threshold of 0.6. However, at patch scale, comparing with DID strategy, the DDD strategy enabled pollinators to increase their utilization of flowers by 43.42% and 6.79% in low‐density and distant plant patches, whereas their utilization was reduced by 7.75% and 2.24% in high‐density and central patches, respectively. Plant reproduction was improved correspondingly in low‐density and distant patches under different NHPs.Consequently, habitat loss inhibits the volatile dispersion and interferes the foraging success of pollinators, a major factor influencing plant reproduction at landscape scale. At patch scale, adaptive utilization of pollinators exhibiting DDD strategy alleviates the negative effect of habitat loss on plant production, and maintain plant population persistence. Since pollinator behavioural response is critical to plant reproduction, we recommend the use of the here presented integrated model to assess the impact of habitat loss on plant reproduction. Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The spatial differences in the distribution of mosques reflect to a certain extent the diversity of the interaction between natural and human elements and Islamic beliefs in different geographic spaces. The Kashgar region of Xinjiang is one of the most developed regions of Islamic culture in China, its dominant religion is Islam, and the survival of Islamic culture in the region has a long history. The development of Islam in the region, after the founding of the People's Republic of China, was influenced by the religious policy of Chinese Socialism, and the spatial distribution of mosques in the region has changed significantly. However, the distribution pattern of mosques in the spatial features of the region that had been especially indicated by the transformations in religious practice on the development of Islam impacted by geographical conditions and social factors has been less explored. Based on the Chinese Religious Digital Map dataset provided by the China Information Center at the University of Michigan, mathematical statistics and spatial analyses are used to analyze the spatial distribution pattern of mosques in the Kashgar region from 1955 to 2004, and the causes of the pattern characteristics in the context of the historical background of the study period. The results show that, during the study period, the spatial clustering of mosques occurred mainly in the northwestern and central parts of the Kashgar region. In all districts and counties, the number of mosques had increased and there was a growing gap in the number of mosques. Islam in the area had been well developed and the trend of spatially concentrated distribution of mosques had been increasing. The mosques in the region are mostly clustered in areas with gentle terrain, rivers and a dense population. In terms of the causes affecting the spatial distribution pattern of mosques in the Kashgar region, geographical conditions and population were the underlying factors that set the basic pattern for the location of mosques. In addition, the different effects of social factors, such as the improvement of productivity, the administrative system, religious management policies, and the historical background on the development of Islam in the area had led to a variation in the development of Islam, thus causing changes in the spatial distribution pattern of mosques in the area. In the period from 1976 to 1992, for example, the end of the Cultural Revolution and the shift in China's foreign policy had a very major impact on Islam so that during this period the spatial distribution pattern of mosques varied the most in the area. This research has implications for learning about the spread of Islam in the Kashgar region after the founding of the People's Republic of China, and the changes in the spatial distribution of mosques, and the causes of such variations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To explore the community structural characteristics and spatial distribution pattern of dominant species, three companion communities of Chimonobambusa angustifolia (Doupengshan, Laoshanjie, and Leigongshan） were selected as research objects, and the communities were investigated using quadrat method. The community vertical structure, diameter class structure, height class structure, species importance value, and spatial distribution pattern of dominant species were studied, and the factors affecting community structure and spatial distribution pattern were also analyzed. The results showed the following: the vertical structure of the three communities was clear, and it could be divided into three layers-tree layer, shrub layer and herb layer from the canopy to the ground. The interlayer plants were underdeveloped with few vines and epiphytes. The diameter class structure（DBH≥1 cm） of the three communities had an inverse "J" shape, indicating successful regeneration, and the average diameter was ranked as follows: Laoshanjie (16.02 cm)＞Leigongshan (11.38 cm)＞Doupengshan（8.98 cm）, but the individual density showed the opposite trend. The diameter class structure of dominant species had an inverse "J" shape in Doupengshan and Leigongshan, implying that the population was a growing type. However, the diameter structure of dominant species had a unimodal type in Laoshanjie. The population of Fagus lucida was a declining type, and there was a degradation risk in the population of Cyclobalanopsis multinervis and Quercus engleriana. Dominant species of Laoshanjie will be replaced gradually by other plants with community succession. Overall, the height class structure of the communities was an inverse "J" shape, and the average height was ranked as follows: Doupengshan (8.14 m)＞Leigongshan (6.87 m)＞Laoshanjie (6.69 m). The height class structures of dominant species were different, and most were an inverse "J" shape, followed by unimodal type. The importance values of communities and layers were different, and the importance values of dominant species accounted for 47.58%, 57.72%, and 25.81% of the importance values of the tree layer in Doupengshan, Laoshanjie, and Leigongshan, respectively. The spatial distribution pattern of dominant species tended to be uniform or clumped in small size (DBH＜10 cm), but it tended to be uniform or random in middle size（10 cm≤DBH＜30 cm） and large size (DBH≥30 cm). This suggest that the community structure and spatial distribution pattern of dominant species in the three communities were comprehensively influenced by combined factors. Community succession time and competitive exclusion were the major factors affecting the community structure, whereas dispersal limitation and competitive exclusion were the major factors affecting the spatial distribution pattern of dominant species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]