Search

In permafrost regions, the strong spatial and temporal variability in soil temperature cannot be explained by the weather forcing only. Understanding the local heterogeneity of soil thermal dynamics and their controls is essential to understand how permafrost systems respond to climate change and to develop process-based models or remote sensing products for predicting soil temperature. In this study, we analyzed soil temperature dynamics and their controls in a discontinuous permafrost region on the Seward Peninsula, Alaska. We acquired one-year temperature time series at multiple depths (at 5 or 10 cm intervals up to 85 cm depth) at 45 discrete locations across a 2.3 km2 watershed. We observed a larger spatial variability in winter temperatures than that in summer temperatures at all depths, with the former controlling most of the spatial variability in mean annual temperatures. We also observed a strong correlation between mean annual ground temperature at a depth of 85 cm and mean annual or winter season ground surface temperature across the 45 locations. We demonstrate that soils classified as cold, intermediate, or warm using hierarchical clustering of full-year temperature data closely match their co-located vegetation (graminoid tundra, dwarf shrub tundra, and tall shrub tundra, respectively). We show that the spatial heterogeneity in soil temperature is primarily driven by spatial heterogeneity in snow cover, which induces variable winter insulation and soil thermal diffusivity. These effects further extend to the subsequent summer by causing variable latent heat exchanges. Finally, we discuss the challenges of predicting soil temperatures from snow depth and vegetation height alone by considering the complexity observed in the field data and reproduced in a model sensitivity analysis.

We present a representation of nitrogen and phosphorus cycling in the Functionally Assembled Terrestrial Ecosystem Simulator, a demographic vegetation model within the Energy Exascale Earth System land model. This representation is modular, and designed to allow testing of multiple hypothetical approaches for carbon-nutrient coupling in plants. Novel model hypotheses introduced in this work include, (a) the controls on plant acquisition of aqueous mineralized nutrients in the soil and (b) fairly straight forward methods of allocating nutrients to specific plant organs and their losses through live plant turnover as well as litter fluxes generated through plant mortality. This combines the new with pre-existing hypotheses (such as nitrogen fixation and soil decomposition) into a system that can accommodate plant-soil dynamics for a large number of size- and functional-type-resolved plant cohorts within a time-since-disturbance-resolved ecosystem. Root uptake of nutrients is governed by fine root biomass, and plants vary in their fine root biomass allocation in order to balance carbon and nutrient limitations to growth. We test the sensitivity of the model to a wide range of parameter variations and structural representations, and in the context of observations at Barro Colorado Island, Panama. A key model prediction is that plants in the high-light-availability canopy positions allocate more carbon to fine roots than plants in low-light understory environments, given the widely different carbon versus nutrient constraints of these two niches within a given ecosystem. This model provides a basis for exploring carbon-nutrient coupling with vegetation demography within Earth system models.

The North Campus Open Space (NCOS) restoration project has created more than 40 acres of estuarine and palustrine wetlands that historically comprised the upper portion of Devereux Slough that was filled in the mid-1960s to create the Ocean Meadows golf course. The project also restored more than 60 acres of upland habitats that include native grassland, coastal sage scrub, riparian, oak chaparral woodland, vernal pools and patches of annual wildflowers in clay and sandy soils. This report summarizes the results from monitoring native and non-native plants, birds, small mammals, aquatic invertebrates, tree growth, and hydrological functions.

Urban heat stress is a critical issue, particularly in cities where dense infrastructure and limited green space exacerbate temperature extremes. This study investigates the impact of greenery (EVI2), canopy cover (CC), impervious cover (IC), and water bodies on heat index in Chicago using high‐resolution data from the Heat Watch campaign. We find that EVI2, CC and proximity to water body significantly reduce heat while IC increases heat, particularly in the afternoon when solar radiation is intense. Additionally, the effective radius that land cover impacts heat is smaller in the afternoon. The combined effect analysis indicates that enhancing total greenness, not just canopy cover, is the most effective strategy to reduce heat. This study underscores the importance of strategic vegetation management, highlighting the critical role of integrated approaches in reducing urban heat. Plain Language Summary: This study looks at how greenery, tree canopy cover, impervious surfaces (like concrete), and water bodies affect air temperature in Chicago. Using detailed air temperature data from the Heat Watch campaign, we found that vegetation and proximity to water significantly reduce temperatures, while impervious surfaces increase temperatures, especially in the afternoon when the sun is strongest. The influence of these factors on temperature is more localized in the afternoon. Our analysis shows that increasing overall greenery, not just tree canopy cover, is the most effective way to reduce heat. This study highlights the importance of strategic vegetation management and integrated approaches to effectively reduce urban heat. Key Points: Greenery, canopy cover, and proximity to water lower heat index, while impervious cover raises heat index, especially in the afternoonInteractions exist between greenery, canopy cover, and impervious cover, affecting their combined impact on heat indexSelecting impactful areas and using integrated approaches are crucial for effective urban heat reduction [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vegetation serves as a crucial indicator of ecological environment and plays a vital role in preserving ecosystem stability. However, as urbanization escalates rapidly, natural vegetation landscapes are undergoing continuous transformation. Paradoxically, vegetation is pivotal in mitigating the ecological and environmental challenges posed by urban sprawl. The middle and lower Yangtze River Basin (MLYRB) in China, particularly its economically thriving lower reaches, has witnessed a surge in urbanization. Consequently, this study explored the spatiotemporal variations of normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) in the MLYRB, with an emphasis on elucidating the impact of climate change and urbanization on vegetation dynamics. The results indicate that a significant increasing trend in NDVI across the MLYRB from 2000 to 2020, a pattern that is expected to persist. An improvement in vegetation was observed in 94.12% of the prefecture-level cities in the study area, predominantly in the western and southern regions. Temperature and wind speed stand out as dominant contributors to this improvement. Nevertheless, significant vegetation degradation was detected in some highly urbanized cities in the central and eastern parts of the study area, mainly attributed to the negative effects of escalating urbanization. Interestingly, a positive correlation between NDVI and the urbanization rate was observed, which may be largely related to proactive ecological preservation policies. Additionally, global climatic oscillations were identified as a key force driving periodic NDVI variations. These findings hold significant importance in promoting harmonious urbanization and ecological preservation, thereby providing invaluable insights for future urban ecological planning efforts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intertidal habitats have been significantly impacted by accelerated climate change in Arctic regions over the past few decades, particularly in Svalbard. New substrates are exposed as glacier retreat, making them accessible to benthic vegetation. Remote sensing techniques, including Sentinel-1 synthetic aperture radar (SAR) imagery and drones, provide the opportunity to acquire and study submerged habitats when they are exposed to the atmosphere during low tide. St. Jonsfjorden, Eidembukta, and Trygghamna were the three bays in Svalbard where this research was conducted. We used SAR imagery to determine relatively narrow intertidal zones, acknowledging that the spatial resolution of Sentinel-1 SAR imagery is limited to 10 m. Although this limitation posed a challenge when attempting to classify these narrow intertidal zones due to the coarse resolution of the data, we categorized the intertidal zones into three habitat types: vegetated rock, rock, and mixed sediment. The accuracy of this classification was consistently reliable, with a range of 64–78%. The classification results indicated that 25% of the total intertidal zone is composed of substrates that are suitable for macroalgae growth. It is remarkable that 80% of this substrate is vegetated. Additionally, this investigation demonstrated that vegetation is significantly absent in areas adjacent to glaciers. The magnitude of the glacier appears to influence the extent of this vegetation-free zone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT Acoustic communication plays a prominent role in various ecological and evolutionary processes involving social interactions. The properties of acoustic signals are thought to be influenced not only by the interaction between signaller and receiver but also by the acoustic characteristics of the environment through which the signal is transmitted. This conjecture forms the core of the so‐called “acoustic adaptation hypothesis” (AAH), which posits that vegetation structure affects frequency and temporal parameters of acoustic signals emitted by a signaller as a function of their acoustic degradation properties. Specifically, animals in densely vegetated “closed habitats” are expected to produce longer acoustic signals with lower repetition rates and lower frequencies (minimum, mean, maximum, and peak) compared to those inhabiting less‐vegetated “open habitats”. To date, this hypothesis has received mixed results, with the level of support depending on the taxonomic group and the methodology used. We conducted a systematic literature search of empirical studies testing for an effect of vegetation structure on acoustic signalling and assessed the generality of the AAH using a meta‐analytic approach based on 371 effect sizes from 75 studies and 57 taxa encompassing birds, mammals and amphibians. Overall, our results do not provide consistent support for the AAH, neither in within‐species comparisons (suggesting no overall phenotypically plastic response of acoustic signalling to vegetation structure) nor in among‐species comparisons (suggesting no overall evolutionary response). However, when considering birds only, we found weak support for the AAH in within‐species comparisons, which was mainly driven by studies that measured frequency bandwidth, suggesting that this variable may exhibit a phenotypically plastic response to vegetation structure. For among‐species comparisons in birds, we also found support for the AAH, but this effect was not significant after excluding comparative studies that did not account for phylogenetic non‐independence. Collectively, our synthesis does not support a universal role of vegetation structure in the evolution of acoustic communication. We highlight the need for more empirical work on currently under‐studied taxa such as amphibians, mammals, and insects. Furthermore, we propose a framework for future research on the AAH. We specifically advocate for a more detailed and quantitative characterisation of habitats to identify frequencies with the highest detection probability and to determine if frequencies with greater detection distances are preferentially used. Finally, we stress that empirical tests of the AAH should focus on signals that are selected for increased transmission distance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores the optimal temperature change in normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) growth in the Huang-Huai-Hai Plain under the background of climate change, aiming to better cope with the impact of global warming on vegetation growth. The temporal and spatial variation characteristics of the NDVI and temperature factors were analyzed by using the NDVI, average temperature (Tavg), maximum temperature (Tmax) and minimum temperature (Tmin) datasets from 1982 to 2020. Through the Buishand U test and sliding slope detection, 1998 was determined to be a year of abrupt climate change. Furthermore, SHAP important feature analysis, a generalized additive model, correlation analysis, and other methods were used to identify the trend in the optimum temperature of vegetation growth before and after climate change. The results showed that (1) from 1982 to 2020, Tavg, Tmax, Tmin, and the NDVI in Huang-Huai-Hai Plain showed a significant upward trend. At the same time, the spatial distribution of these indicators shows the distribution characteristics of high in the south and low in the north. (2) The NDVI was positively correlated with Tavg, Tmax, and Tmin, and the correlation with Tmin was most significant. (3) The most suitable Tavg, Tmax, and Tmin intervals for vegetation growth were 20~30 °C, 25~35 °C, and 16~25 °C, respectively. (4) The optimum temperature range of vegetation growth was expanded after climate change, and the change rates of the Tavg and Tmax lower limits reached 24% and 25%, respectively, under the best condition of vegetation growth. (5) After abrupt climate change, the temperature suitable for vegetation growth increased significantly in the northern part of the plain but decreased slightly in the southern part. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Severe bronchiolitis (i.e., bronchiolitis requiring hospitalization) is linked to childhood asthma development. Despite a growing understanding of risk factors for developing post‐bronchiolitis asthma, protective factors remain unclear. In this study, we aimed to investigate whether exposure to residential greenness between birth and bronchiolitis hospitalization is associated with asthma and atopic asthma development by age 6 years. Methods: We analyzed a US severe bronchiolitis cohort from hospitalization to age 6 years, investigating how the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) and chlorophyll index green (CI green), measured in small (100 m) and large (500 m) radiuses around homes, relate to asthma and atopic asthma by age 6 years. We also explored whether maternal antibiotic use, daycare attendance, and respiratory virus type during hospitalization act as effect modifiers. Results: The study cohort included 861 infants, with 239 (28%) developing asthma by age 6 years—152 atopic, 17 nonatopic, and 70 unclassified. Early life residential exposure to high NDVI and CI green levels was associated with lower odds of asthma (ORAdj for NDVI within a 100 m radius, 0.18; 95% CI, 0.05–0.78; and ORAdj for CI green levels within a 100 m radius, 0.53; 95% CI, 0.31–0.90). Associations also were significant for the development of atopic asthma (ORAdj 0.16; 95% CI, 0.03–0.96; and ORAdj 0.46; 95% CI, 0.25–0.92; respectively). Results were similar for the 500 m radius exposures. No effect modification was noted. Conclusion: In a U.S. bronchiolitis cohort, exposure to residential greenness between birth and bronchiolitis hospitalization is linked to lower asthma and atopic asthma risk by age 6 years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rare plant and vertebrate species have been documented to contribute disproportionately to the total morphological structure of species assemblages. These species often possess morphologically extreme traits and occupy the boundaries of morphological space. As rare species are at greater risk of extinction than more widely distributed species, human‐induced disturbances can strongly affect ecosystem functions related to assemblage morphology. Here, we assess to what extent the distributions of ant morphological traits are supported by morphologically extreme species and how they are distributed among habitats in a global biodiversity hotspot, the Brazilian Amazon. We used a morphological database comprising 15 continuous morphological traits and 977 expert‐validated ant species distributed across the Brazilian Amazon. We produced species range estimates using species distribution models or alpha hulls (when few records were available). Next, we conducted a principal components analysis to combine traits into a space with reduced dimensionality (morphospace). Then, we identified morphologically extreme species in this space and quantified their contributions to morphological diversity across different habitat types in the Brazilian Amazon Basin. We identified 114 morphologically extreme ant species across the Amazon ant morphospace. These species also accounted for a large percentage of morphospace filling, exceeding 99% representation in the most disturbed habitats in the Amazon. Our results suggest that a few morphologically extreme species capture most of the variation in ant morphology and, therefore, the spectrum of ecosystem functions performed by ants in the Brazilian Amazon Basin. Further, unlike in many other groups, these extreme morphologies were represented by the set of most common species. These results suggest greater functional redundancy and resilience in Brazilian Amazon ants, but more broadly, they contribute to our understanding of ecological processes that sustain ecosystem functions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article examines the utilization and advancements of constructed wetlands (CWs) in South Asia (SA), focusing on their roles, costs, and efficacy enhancements through pre- and post-treatment units for various pollutants. Notable findings include Phragmites and Canna species as commonly used macrophytes, achieving high removal rates for various pollutants. CWs consistently remove total suspended solids, biochemical oxygen demand, chemical oxygen demand, emerging contaminants, and antimicrobial resistant bacteria at substantial rates. Anaerobic baffled reactors are effective pretreatment devices for high-strength wastewater. Moreover, CWs exhibit lower operational and maintenance costs compared to conventional treatment methods. However, the bibliometric analysis reveals limited regional cooperation in SA. Key challenges identified include the absence of guidelines for media, vegetation, and maintenance. The review underscores the necessity for further research in optimizing CWs' efficiency through land area management, plant selection, and enhanced design and operation and maintenance protocols. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents the implementation of a slope stability method for rainfall-induced shallow landslides in CRITERIA-1D, which is an agro-hydrological model based on Richards' equation for transient infiltration and redistribution processes. CRITERIA-1D can simulate the presence and development of roots and canopies over space and time, the regulation of transpiration activity based on real meteorological data, and the evaporation reduction caused by canopies. The slope can be considered composed of a multi-layered soil, leading to the possibility of simulating the bedrock and of setting an initial water table level. CRITERIA-1D can consider different soil horizons characterized by different hydraulic conductivities and soil water retention curves, thus allowing the simulation of capillarity barriers. The validation of the proposed physically based slope stability model was conducted through the simulation of the collected water content and water potential data of an experimental slope. The monitored slope is located close to Montuè, in the north-eastern sector of Oltrepò Pavese (northern Apennines—Italy). Just close to the monitoring station, a shallow landslide occurred in 2014 at a depth of around 100 cm. The results show the utility of agro-hydrological modeling schemes in modeling the antecedent soil moisture condition and in reducing the overestimation of landslides events detection, which is an issue for early warning systems and slope management related to rainfall-induced shallow landslides. The presented model can be used also to test different bioengineering solutions for slope stabilization, especially when data about rooting systems and plant physiology are known. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vegetation has been found to improve the hydrological performance of landfill cover. However, existing studies ignore the effects of hydrogen sulfide (H2S), which forms the toxic odour generated from municipal solid wastes. Hydrogen sulfide is a potential signalling molecule in regulating plant-stomata aperture, but how the plant–hydrogen sulfide interaction affects the water–gas transport in soil remains unknown. This aim of this study was to investigate the effects of hydrogen sulfide on Bermuda grass growth and its influence on water–gas transport in unsaturated soils. Soil columns, with and without vegetation, were prepared and fumigated with different hydrogen sulfide concentrations. These columns were subjected to controlled drought and rainfall sequentially. The results showed that grass leaves almost wilted without hydrogen sulfide fumigation due to the Pythium diseases caused by the antecedent waterlogged conditions. In contrast, hydrogen sulfide fumigation promoted grass growth because of the fungicidal effects of hydrogen sulfide. In drought, hydrogen sulfide fumigation caused stomata closure, which resulted in a lower matric suction in the vegetated soil than that without hydrogen sulfide fumigation. Accordingly, hydrogen sulfide concentration reduced because of oxidation by metal oxides in soil. Upon subsequent rainfall, more infiltration but lower matric suction was observed in vegetated soils than was found in the bare case, whereas hydrogen sulfide concentration decreased continuously due to gas dissolution in the pore water. Direct application of laboratory findings herein to field cases should be used with caution, because the applied continuous lighting and low evapotranspiration rate of the soil column tests may not be representative of field conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Insects and plants share a close relationship; plants provide feeding opportunities, ecological niches, and shelters for insects, while insects, in turn, facilitate pollination for plants. Management actions might positively or negatively affect insect species richness and/or abundance, in particular, forest practices can significantly influence insect communities. In this study, we investigated the effects on plant and moth communities following the realization of an ecological corridor (composed of 10 clearings) in forest in NW of Italy. Specifically, through plant surveys and moth light traps, we investigated plant and moth communities and their relationship in newly shaped clearings and their surrounding forest. We found that plants responded quickly to clearing formation, presenting differentiated plant communities between xero-thermophile clearings, mesophile clearings and forest. These differences reflected on moth communities as well, allowing to find indicator species for each ecosystem. Structural variables (i.e. openness) and topography (i.e. elevation) were key factors affecting the differentiation of moth communities. On the other hand, plants explained most of the variance in moth communities, so, through plants, we differentiated moth communities into those typical of xero-thermophile clearings, mesophile clearings and forest. In conclusion, forest management significantly affects plant and moth communities. Newly shaped clearings support higher species richness (including specialist species) and abundance than closed canopy forest. To increase species richness and abundance for both plants and moths, we suggest conservation measures that include creating open habitats within forests at medium elevation (650–950 m a.s.l.). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spillways can present a way to control the overflowing of water during flood events and prevent damage from levee breaches. With increasing interest in nature-based solutions, the interaction between flow and vegetation parameters has to be understood. Aeration usually occurs during the overflow of sloped spillways, leading to the bulking of flow, alterations of flow characteristics, and energy dissipation. The influence of the vegetation parameter on aerated flow characteristics has not yet been investigated in greater detail; no systematic investigation of the effect of vegetation parameters has been conducted. This paper aims to systematically analyze the influence of different vegetation heights on air entrainment during the overflow of spillways. Therefore, a spillway model with a slope of 18° (1:3) was equipped with artificial turf of varying turf heights, and supercritical flows were investigated. The aeration was measured using double-tip conductivity probes, giving insights into air concentration profiles, bubble count rates, estimations of energy dissipation, and flow velocities. The results highlighted the significant influence of vegetation height on the aeration process. Higher air concentrations over the flow depth were observed for higher turf heights tested in this study. Also, the energy dissipation and flow velocity reduction increased with higher vegetation heights. Overall, the present study uncovers the effect of vegetated covers, thereby contributing to the fundamentals of aerated flows. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Marsh terraces, constructed as a restoration and protection strategy, consist of a series of earthen berms in open water areas of the coastal wetland landscape and are being implemented across the Louisiana coast. To assess the efficacy of the marsh terraces as a nature-based solution, a small-scale, high-resolution hydrodynamic model was developed based on field sampling of vegetation and physical parameters (water level, waves, sediment, turbidity, and terrace elevation). This study tested common marsh terrace designs (e.g., chevron, linear, box, T-shape, etc.), ultimately selecting a preferred design based on the evaluation of factors such as vegetation, water depth, and sediment type on terrace stability and sediment retention under calm and storm conditions. The model results revealed that the 100 m box and the chevron designs exhibited greatest terrace stability and sediment trapping, particularly when installed perpendicular to prevailing wind and waves. The preferred terrace design was the box design due to its higher modeled resilience to wind and waves from multiple directions. Vegetation presence enhanced terrace resistance to erosion, with variations depending on vegetation type. Higher vegetation biomass, especially during the summer, contributed to the greatest stability of terraces. Greater water depth between terraces led to increased sediment retention, and terraces predominantly composed of organic-rich mud demonstrated greater stability than those with higher proportions of sand. Overall, vegetation had the greatest impact on sediment retention in the terrace field compared to water depth and sediment type. However, the potential habitat for submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV) was more influenced by water depth (i.e., 0.1 m < depth <1 m) than shear stress (<0.5 Pa). Even under storm conditions, shear stress rarely determined potential habitat for SAV, as shear stress remained relatively low within the terrace field. Potential SAV habitat was most abundant in shallow areas and increased where sediment stability was lowest (i.e., no vegetation and sand), primarily due to eroded sediment increasing the shallow area. While this model was developed using field data specific to Louisiana marshes, it can be adapted as a tool for terrace restoration project design and planning in most coastal wetlands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rewilding framework is used to guide the restoration of ecological processes in natural systems, but the framework can also be used in the restoration of social and ecological processes in coupled human and natural systems. We use the case of the large-scale reflooding of the Waza-Logone Floodplain in Cameroon three decades ago as an example of rewilding a coupled human and natural system. Drawing on studies that have been conducted of the Logone Floodplain and Waza National Park over the last five decades, we discuss the reflooding efforts, review the long-term impact of the reflooding, and reflect on the assumptions of the reflooding effort. Our review shows that restoring the hydrological and ecological processes benefitted human populations but was not sufficient for supporting wildlife; and, political dynamics impact ecological processes and must be considered for rewilding to succeed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Central Asia, the ground thermal regime is strongly affected by the interplay between topographic factors and ecosystem properties. In this study, we investigate the governing factors of the ground thermal regime in an area in Central Mongolia, which features discontinuous permafrost and is characterized by grassland and forest ecosystems. Miniature temperature dataloggers were used to measure near-surface temperatures at c. 100 locations throughout the 6 km2 large study area, with the goal to obtain a sample of sites that can represent the variability of different topographic and ecosystem properties. Mean annual near-surface ground temperatures showed a strong variability, with differences of up to 8 K. The coldest sites were all located in forests on north-facing slopes, while the warmest sites are located on steep south-facing slopes with sparse steppe vegetation. Sites in forests show generally colder near-surface temperatures in spring, summer and fall compared to grassland sites, but they are warmer during the winter season. The altitude of the measurement sites did not play a significant role in determining the near-surface temperatures, while especially solar radiation was highly correlated. In addition, we investigated the suitability of different hyperspectral indices calculated from Sentinel-2 as predictors for annual average near-surface ground temperatures. We found that especially indices sensitive to vegetation properties, such as the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), show a strong correlation. The presented observations provide baseline data on the spatiotemporal patterns of the ground thermal regime which can be used to train or validate modelling and remote sensing approaches targeting the impacts of climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vegetation is a major contributor of terrestrial evaporation and influences subsequent precipitation over land. Studies suggest that forests are crucial for moisture recycling, although the specific contribution of different vegetation to precipitation remains unclear. Using a moisture recycling approach, we investigate the contribution of transpiration from trees and non‐tree vegetation to precipitation over Africa. We use precipitation source regions from simulated atmospheric moisture trajectories, constrained by observation‐based evaporation and precipitation products, and fractional vegetation cover data. Our findings show that trees provide a higher flux to precipitation (∼777 mm year−1) than non‐tree vegetation (∼342 mm year−1). However, considering the smaller spatial extent of trees compared to non‐tree vegetation, precipitation in most watersheds effectively depends more on the latter. Overall, non‐tree vegetation appears equally important as trees in terms of volumetric contributions to precipitation, and deserves attention in further research, considering ongoing land use changes that affect the continental water cycle. Plain Language Summary: A large part of rainfall on Earth derives from evaporation from land. This process, referred to as terrestrial moisture recycling, is controlled for a large part by vegetation cover. Different classes of vegetation cover use water differently, but it is unclear how they contribute to moisture recycling (and thus precipitation) over land. In this study, we estimate the contribution of trees and other, non‐tree vegetation to precipitation over the African continent. We use major watersheds, and track back the source regions of rainfall. We find that overall, trees contribute relatively more to precipitation compared to non‐tree vegetation. However, due to the extensive coverage of other vegetation classes (such as grass‐ and shrublands), many regions depend on non‐tree vegetation for rainfall. Ongoing land use and land cover (LULC) changes may disturb terrestrial moisture recycling patterns. The findings of this study emphasize that the impacts of all LULC changes, including non‐tree vegetation, on the water cycle should be considered and further researched. Key Points: We provide a first estimate of the contribution of transpiration from trees and non‐tree vegetation to precipitation over major African watershedsOn average, trees contribute more to continental precipitation (777 mm year−1) compared to non‐tree vegetation (342 mm year−1)Considering the extent of non‐tree vegetation, most watersheds depend mostly on non‐tree transpiration for precipitation throughout the year [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Drylands are susceptible to erosion by wind and water. Thus, the reestablishment of vegetation is a crucial focus of watershed restoration in order to stabilize soils and improve water infiltration. Currently, limited research exists quantifying vegetation responses to rock detention structures (RDS) in the Chihuahuan Desert, and no studies have quantified the effects of RDS paired with seed introduction. Our study area in the Rincon Arroyo Watershed, in southern New Mexico, tested the hypotheses that two types of RDS, micro‐catchments and stone‐lines paired with seeding, support increases in seedling recruitment and vegetation cover compared to untreated controls. This study also tested whether the application of seed to RDS alters plant communities in comparison to controls. One season after seeded RDS were applied, seedling recruitment, cover, and plant community responses were evaluated at treatment and control areas. Seeded stone‐lines showed significantly greater seedling recruitment (2×) and cover (0.3×) than controls (p < 0.05), whereas seeded micro‐catchments showed significantly greater cover (0.3×) than controls (p < 0.05) but did not exhibit significant differences in seedling recruitment compared to controls (p > 0.05). The lack of a significant difference between plant communities at treatment and control areas (p > 0.05) suggests that the addition of seed had little to no effect on plant communities or positive responses in seedling recruitment and cover. These results suggest that stone‐lines and micro‐catchments, alone, can support vegetation establishment in degraded dryland watersheds without the addition of seed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Weiyang Palace, the royal palace of the Western Han Dynasty, is a part of the Silk Roads: the Routes Network of Chang'an-Tianshan Corridor on the World Heritage list. The south palace wall of Weiyang Palace is a well-preserved earthen heritage site within the palace, but it is undergoing continuous deterioration due to the influence of vegetation and external environmental factors. This study pioneers the integration of high-resolution three-dimensional LiDAR scanning with multi-source data analysis, including unprecedented on-site botanical surveys, to explore the subtle effects of different vegetation types on the structural integrity of the south palace wall. Through contour line analysis and facade grid analysis, we extracted the deterioration locations of typical sections of the earthen heritage sites. And we classified the overlying vegetation types on the wall using an object-oriented classification algorithm. Our findings reveal a complex interaction between vegetation and earthen structures: paper mulberry exhibits protective qualities against erosion, while Ziziphus jujuba significantly exacerbates structural vulnerabilities. The methodologies applied in this study for extracting deterioration at earthen heritage sites and integrating multi-source spatial data can serve as a technical application model for monitoring and analyzing the driving forces of earthen heritage sites along the entire Silk Road network, thereby better guiding the conservation of earthen heritage sites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT Aim Location Taxon Methods Results Conclusions This study aims to describe the latitudinal pattern in plant functional groups' (PFGs') biomass and cover in Nunavik to test whether PFG attributes are better Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) predictors than climate.The study spans a 700‐km latitudinal gradient from the lichen woodland to prostrate shrub tundra vegetation zones across Nunavik, Canada.Our analysis focuses on the following PFGs: erect and prostrate shrubs, herbaceous plants, bryophytes, and lichens.Biomass and cover data of the different PFGs were sampled in 40 sites distributed across the latitudinal gradient. NDVI data were obtained through remote sensing, while climatic, permafrost depth, and surficial deposits were derived from various databases. The PFG models were built to explore relationships between average NDVI (2016–2020) at the sampling site and ecological attributes such as PFG biomass or cover but also other variables such as surficial deposits and permafrost depth. A second series of models, the climatic models, were built using only climatic variables such as seasonal temperature and precipitation.The most parsimonious PFG model was built with the biomass data of erect shrubs, herbaceous plants, bryophytes, and lichens and included surficial deposits and permafrost depth (R2 = 0.74). This biomass model performed better than the most parsimonious cover model (cover of erect shrubs and herbaceous, surficial deposits, permafrost depth; R2 = 0.63). However, the most parsimonious climatic model (fall temperature, annual, and winter precipitations) exhibited superior predictive power compared to the ecological ones (R2 = 0.87).PFG models built with PFGs aboveground biomass or cover are good predictors of NDVI of the plant formations sampled along the latitudinal gradient in Nunavik. Despite the intrinsic association between NDVI and vegetation attributes, our study emphasizes the importance of the regional climate in the control of primary productivity in Arctic and subarctic ecosystems. This study provides new insights into the interpretation of NDVI data and enhances our understanding of Arctic vegetation responses under rapid climate change. Furthermore, it underscores the balance between climatic drivers and ecological dynamics in shaping fragile Arctic ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The "Shadegan International Wetland" (SIW) is one of the wetlands internationally recognized in the Ramsar convention. The vegetation of this wetland ecosystem consists of mostly grasses and shrubs that host a large number of fungi including endophytes. In this study, Nigrospora isolates were obtained from healthy plants of this wetland and its surrounding salt marshes and identified based on morphological features and multilocus phylogenetic analyses based on three DNA loci, namely the internal transcribed spacer regions 1 and 2 including the intervening 5.8S nuclear ribosomal DNA (ITS), β-tubulin (tub2), and elongation factor 1-α (tef1-α). Accordingly, the following Nigrospora species were identified: N. lacticolonia, N. oryzae, N. osmanthi, N. pernambucoensis and a novel taxon N. shadeganensis sp. nov., which is described and illustrated. To the best of our knowledge, 10 new hosts for Nigrospora species are here reported, namely Aeluropus lagopoides, Allenrolfea occidentalis, Anthoxanthum monticola, Arthrocnemum macrostachyum, Cressa cretica, Halocnemum strobilaceum, Seidlitzia rosmarinus, Suaeda vermiculata, Tamarix passerinoides, and Typha latifolia. Moreover, the species N. lacticolonia and N. pernambucoensis are new records for the mycobiota of Iran. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Weather extremes such as heavy rainfall and long periods of drought brought about by climate change put a strain on the environment and people. Cities can counter these weather extremes with blue-green infrastructure, usually focusing on plant-based solutions. The ecosystem services of plants offer added value to these systems. Bioretention systems are a central element of rainwater management, and pioneering research into the role of vegetation in bioretention systems has taken place in the USA and Australia. There are comparatively few publications from Europe. A systematic literature search was carried out in Web of Science using the PRISMA model. A search was made for articles that investigated the use of plants in bioretention systems in order to obtain information on practices and their use in the temperate climate of Central Europe. A strength of this review is the compilation of all species used and their reported vitality. A total of 391 taxa were described in the journals. For almost all plant species, their vitality, performance, or function in bioretention systems was only documented once. Only Carex appressa, Juncus effusus, and Panicum virgatum were examined multiple times. Of particular importance are the functional characteristics observed, which determine the survival of the plants and their ecosystem services for this application. An understanding of functional traits can be of particular assistance in selecting the right plants to optimize stormwater management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Hunshandake Sandy Land is one of the largest sandy areas in China and the closest source of sand dust to the Beijing and Tianjing areas. Sand fixation by vegetation is considered the most efficient strategy for sand control and sustainable development, so clarifying the vegetation coverage and plant adaptation characteristics in the Hunshandake Sandy Land is helpful in guiding restoration and improving local sustainability. Here, we investigated the vegetation growth on the mobile sand dunes in the Hunshandake Sandy Land and specified the photosynthesis and stomatal characteristics of the pioneer plants for sand fixation. The vegetation survey showed that the windward slopes of the mobile sand dunes had far lower plant coverage (6.3%) and plant biodiversity (two species m−2) than the leeward ones (41.0% and eight species m−2, respectively). Elymus sibiricus L. and Agriophyllum squarrosum (L.) Moq. were the only two sand-fixing pioneer plants that grew on both the windward and leeward slopes of the mobile sand dunes and had higher plant heights, greater abundance, and more biomass than other plants. Physiological measurements revealed that Elymus sibiricus L. and Agriophyllum squarrosum (L.) Moq. also had higher photosynthetic rates, transpiration rates, and water use efficiency. In addition, the stomata density (151–197 number mm−2), length (18–29 μm), and area index (13–19%) of these two pioneer species were smaller than those of the common grassland species in Inner Mongolia, suggesting that they were better adapted to the dry habitat of the mobile sand dunes. These findings not only help in understanding the adaptive strategies of pioneer plants on mobile sand dunes, but also provide practical guidance for sand dune restoration and the sustainable development of local areas. Pioneer sand-fixing plant species that are well adapted to sand dunes can be used for sowing or aerial seeding in sand fixation during ecosystem restoration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tibetan Plateau, as one of the most carbon intensive regions in China, is crucial in the carbon cycle, and accurately estimating its vegetation carbon density (CVEG) is essential for assessing regional and national carbon balance. However, the spatial distribution of regional CVEG is not available remains highly uncertain due to lack of systematic research, especially for different organs. Here, we investigated the spatial distribution patterns and driving factors of CVEG among different plant organs (leaf, branch, trunk and root) by systematically field grid-sampling 2040 field-plots of plant communities over the Tibetan Plateau from 2019 to 2020. The results showed that the carbon content of plant organs ranged from 255.53 to 515.58 g kg–1, with the highest in branches and the lowest in roots. Among the different plant functional groups, the highest CVEG was found in evergreen coniferous forests, and the lowest in desert grasslands, with an average CVEG of 1603.98 g m–2. CVEG increased spatially from northwest to southeast over the Tibetan Plateau, with MAP being the dominant factor. Furthermore, the total vegetation carbon stock on the Tibetan Plateau was estimated to be 1965.62 Tg for all vegetation types. Based on the comprehensive field survey dataset, the Random Forest model effectively predicted and mapped the spatial distribution of CVEG (including aboveground, belowground, and the total biomass carbon density) over the Tibetan Plateau with notable accuracy (validation R2 values were 71%, 56%, and 64% for CAGB, CBGB, and CVEG, respectively) at a spatial resolution of 1 km × 1 km. Our findings can help improve the accuracy of regional carbon stock estimations and provide parameters for carbon cycle model optimization and remote sensing calibration in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Marine litter (ML) represents an escalating environmental issue, particularly in Latin America, where comprehensive studies are scarce despite critical solid waste management challenges and continuous human modification occurring on the coasts. To contribute to the knowledge of ML in the southeast Pacific, this study examined contamination across 10 beaches on Peru's extensive coast. Overall, ML contamination was categorized as moderate (with an ML concentration of 0.49 ± 0.64 items∙m−2), while significantly differing between summer (dirty with an ML concentration of 0.56 ± 0.66 items∙m−2) and winter (moderate with an ML concentration of 0.47 ± 0.60 items∙m−2). Three beaches were extremely dirty (concentrations of ML exceeded 1.0 items∙m−2). Predominant materials, items, and sources were plastic, cigarette butts (CBs), and mixed packaging. The Peruvian coast faced CB leachate impact (CBPI = 3.5 ± 3.5), reaching severe levels on two beaches, with considerable hazardous litter (HALI = 3.0 ± 2.9). Additionally, a higher degree of human modification was associated with higher ML levels along the coast. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In agricultural landscapes, the removal of semi‐natural habitats (SNH) and the intensive use of pesticides contribute to declines of biodiversity, including crop pollinators such as bees (Hymenoptera: Apoidea). However, effects of pesticide use and landscape characteristics on bees have rarely been studied together. In this study, we investigated how SNH in the surrounding landscape, organic and conventional management, and the reduction of fungicides affect wild bee diversity in 32 vineyards in southwest Germany. We used yellow pan traps to sample bees in a crossed design of management (organic vs. conventional) and fungicide use (reduced in fungus‐resistant grape varieties vs. regular) along a gradient with increasing proportions of SNH in the surrounding landscape. Higher proportions of SNH influenced species composition of bees and increased the abundance and richness of above‐ground‐nesting species. Organic vineyards had a 49% higher abundance of bees compared to conventional vineyards. The reduction of fungicides did not affect bee diversity nor abundance. The absence of a response to fungicide intensity suggests that the benefit of organically managed vineyards to wild bees was through differences in their vegetation management, which is in line with the positive response of bees to SNH in the surrounding landscape. Synthesis and applications: Our study underlines that the local provision of diverse vegetation in vineyards and the landscape‐scale provision of suitable SNH are key factors for wild bee conservation in viticulture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Filtering approaches on Global Ecosystem Dynamics Investigation (GEDI) data differ considerably across existing studies and it is yet unclear which method is the most effective. We conducted an in‐depth analysis of GEDI's vertical accuracy in mapping terrain and canopy heights across three study sites in temperate forests and grasslands in Spain, California, and New Zealand. We started with unfiltered data (2,081,108 footprints) and describe a workflow for data filtering using Level 2A parameters and for geolocation error mitigation. We found that retaining observations with at least one detected mode eliminates noise more effectively than sensitivity. The accuracy of terrain and canopy height observations depended considerably on the number of modes, beam sensitivity, landcover, and terrain slope. In dense forests, a minimum sensitivity of 0.9 was required, while in areas with sparse vegetation, sensitivity of 0.5 sufficed. Sensitivity greater than 0.9 resulted in an overestimation of canopy height in grasslands, especially on steep slopes, where high sensitivity led to the detection of multiple modes. We suggest excluding observations with more than five modes in grasslands. We found that the most effective strategy for filtering low‐quality observations was to combine the quality flag and difference from TanDEM‐X, striking an optimal balance between eliminating poor‐quality data and preserving a maximum number of high‐quality observations. Positional shifts improved the accuracy of GEDI terrain estimates but not of vegetation height estimates. Our findings guide users to an easy way of processing of GEDI footprints, enabling the use of the most accurate data and leading to more reliable applications. Plain Language Summary: The Global Ecosystem Dynamics Investigation (GEDI) collected terrain and canopy observations using laser altimetry. The quality of terrain and canopy observations is influenced by acquisition conditions and land (cover) characteristics. Consequently, a considerable amount of GEDI observations is discarded as noise, and further filtering is necessary to retain only high‐quality observations. Our objective was to assess how environmental and acquisition characteristics influence the accuracy of terrain and canopy height of GEDI observations. Although the main objective of the GEDI mission was to map forests, we also focused on grasslands. GEDI serves not only as an essential source of information on canopy height but also provides accurate terrain observations. Furthermore, it is important to know that GEDI does not overestimate the height of low vegetation as this can result in an overestimation of carbon storage. We distinguished four steps in the GEDI data processing: (a) removal of noise observations, (b) removal of low‐quality data, (c) effect of additional acquisition characteristics, and (d) mitigation of geolocation error. We found that the accuracy of terrain and canopy height observations depended considerably on the number of detected modes, beam sensitivity, landcover, and terrain slope. Key Points: Terrain is crucial for estimates of canopy height, however only 20%–30% of footprints have an absolute error of terrain estimates <3 mThe quality of terrain and canopy height estimates depends on the interplay of number of modes, sensitivity, land cover, and terrain slopeNoise and low‐quality footprints can be successfully removed using number of modes, sensitivity, quality flag and difference from TanDEM‐X [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The degree to which landscape genetics findings can be extrapolated to different areas of a species range is poorly understood. Here, we used a broadly distributed ectothermic lizard (Sceloporus occidentalis, Western Fence lizard) as a model species to evaluate the full role of topography, climate, vegetation, and roads on dispersal and genetic differentiation. We conducted landscape genetics analyses with a total of 119 individuals in five areas within the Sierra Nevada mountain range. Genetic distances calculated from thousands of ddRAD markers were used to optimize landscape resistance surfaces and infer the effects of landscape and topographic features on genetic connectivity. Across study areas, we found a great deal of consistency in the primary environmental gradients impacting genetic connectivity, along with some site‐specific differences, and a range in the proportion of genetic variance explained by environmental factors across study sites. High‐elevation colder areas were consistently found to be barriers to gene flow, as were areas of high ruggedness and slope. High temperature seasonality and high precipitation during the winter wet season also presented a substantial barrier to gene flow in a majority of study areas. The effect of other landscape variables on genetic differentiation was more idiosyncratic and depended on specific attributes at each site. Across study areas, canyon valleys were always implicated as facilitators to dispersal and key features linking populations and maintaining genetic connectivity, though the relative importance varied in different areas. We emphasize that spatial data layers are complex and multidimensional, and careful consideration of spatial data correlation structure and robust analytic frameworks will be critical to our continued understanding of spatial genetics processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The lack of precise data on the environmental requirements of the conspicuous fungus with a northern distribution limit in Slovakia, Pogonoloma macrorhizum, initiated our study. Its identity was verified by sequencing of ITS and 28 S nrDNA regions. The analysis of trophic status by stable-isotope ratio of carbon and nitrogen suggested that the species is probably ectomycorrhizal. For the seventeen sampling sites, environmental data were obtained and information on landscape development and management were retrieved from historical maps and aerial orthophotographs. All these parameters were analysed by multivariate ordination methods. In Slovakia, P. macrorhizum is found in thermophilous to mesophilous stands on acidic soils with a pH ranging from 4.1 to 6.2. These habitats are dominated by Quercus cerris, with non-frequent tree taxa of Carpinus betulus and Quercus petraea agg. The key environmental drivers shaping the habitat of P. macrorhizum were identified as time since deforestation, with the presence of old Q. cerris individuals (former solitary trees of pastures) and soil characteristics. The fungus appears to be a species of transitional habitats historically affected by grazing. These transitions occur between thermophilic and mesophilic sites, including oak forest communities, dry steppic grasslands and forest edges, as well as spontaneously overgrown pastures and forests with a closed canopy. It is regrettable that the Q. cerris stands in Slovakia are under threat, particularly because of felling and the lack of grazing in forests. Furthermore, recent silvicultural practices have resulted in the replacement of oaks (Quercus spp.) by hornbeam (Carpinus betulus) and the formation of closed stands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Space use by small mammals should mirror their immediate needs for food and predator shelters but can also be influenced by seasonal changes in biotic and abiotic factors. Lemmings are keystone species of the tundra food web, but information on their spatial distribution in relation to habitat heterogeneity is still scant, especially at a fine scale. In this study, we used spatially explicit capture–recapture methods to determine how topography, hydrology, vegetation, and soil characteristics influence the fine-scale spatial variations in summer density of brown lemmings (Lemmus trimucronatus). Lemmings were monitored throughout the summer in wet and mesic tundra habitats and in a predator exclusion grid, which was also located in mesic tundra. We found that in wet tundra, lemming densities were higher at sites with a rugged topography dominated by hummocks, but only during snow melt. In both mesic tundra sites, lemming densities were higher in sites with poor drainage and low aspect throughout the summer. We found no clear association between lemming densities and any tested vegetation or soil variables. Overall, hydrology and topography appear to play a dominant role in small-scale space use of brown lemmings with a secondary role for predator avoidance and food plant abundance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A methodology designed to monitor vegetation changes over multiple years in the vicinity of an apiary is presented. This approach relies on the utilization of the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI). The findings of the analysis substantiate the viability of effectively tracking vegetation changes in a cost-efficient manner, thereby facilitating the determination of suitable geographical locations for obtaining protected designation of origin (PDO) status for bee honey. In this study, an apiary located in Malta was specifically examined for the production of Maltese autumn honey, which is harvested during December. The results conclusively showed that the vegetation surrounding the apiary remained highly stable between 2018 and 2022, providing strong evidence in support of the PDO status for the honey under examination. The proposed methodology is expected to greatly assist in the comprehensive evaluation of geographic areas for potential PDO logo. The detailed steps have been outlined, and additional studies utilizing diverse geographical regions and various types of honey are encouraged. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of vegetation as a Nature-based Solution (NbS) for shallow landslide risk reduction is receiving increased attention in the scientific community. Vegetation can contribute to slope stability through both hydrological and mechanical processes. Slope stability models are valuable tools to quantify the performance of vegetation management as a slope stabilizing measure. The aim of this study is to provide a comprehensive overview of how both the mechanical and hydrological effects of vegetation are parametrized in existing slope stability models. To this end, a systematic review of the peer-reviewed literature published between January 2000 and June 2023 is conducted. The review has shown that existing slope stability models that include effects of vegetation, do so with various degrees of complexity with regard to how accurately they attempt to mimic the physical processes present in nature. There is a need for further validation of existing models, especially extended to areas in the global south and in colder regions. Moreover, studies of time dependency in vegetation reinforcement capabilities are lacking, an aspect which is especially important in the light of climate change. This review provides valuable guidance for researchers and practitioners in their choice of appropriate slope stability models for their studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: All plant populations fluctuate in time. Apart from the dynamics imposed by external forces such as climate, these fluctuations can be driven by endogenous processes taking place within the community. In this study, we aimed to identify potential role of soil‐borne microbial communities in driving endogenous fluctuations of plant populations.We combined a unique, 35‐yr long abundance data of 11 common plant species from a species‐rich mountain meadow with development of their soil microbiome (pathogenic fungi, arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and oomycetes) observed during 4 yr of experimental cultivation in monocultures.Plant species which abundance fluctuated highly in the field (particularly legumes) accumulated plant pathogens in their soil mycobiome. We also identified increasing proportion of mycoparasitic fungi under highly fluctuating legume species, which may indicate an adaptation of these species to mitigate the detrimental effects of pathogens.Our study documented that long‐term fluctuations in the abundance of plant species in grassland communities can be explained by the accumulation of plant pathogens in plant–soil microbiome. By contrast, we found little evidence of the role of mutualists in plant population fluctuations. These findings offer new insights for understanding mechanisms driving both long‐term vegetation dynamics and patterns of species coexistence and richness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Objective] The aims of this study are to investigate the changing rates of runoff and sediment reduction capacity for long-term forest and grass vegetation coverage plots, and to provide a scientific basis for vegetation restoration of soil and water conservation in southwest rocky mountain area of China. [Methods] From 2018 to 2021, the data of runoff and sediment yield, vegetation coverage as well as soil surface water content in the five runoff plots. i.e. 15° bare land, 15° grassland, 15° forest land, 30° forest land and 30° grassland, were observed in Tiantai Town, Chishui City, Guizhou Province. The changes of runoff coefficient and sediment concentration were used to reflect the changing rates of runoff and sediment reduction capacity in each plot. [Results] The order of flow and sediment reduction benefits in the five communities was 30° grassland 15° forest > 30° forest 15° grassland bare land. Among them, the vegetation coverage of the 30° grassland community was the highest, at 92.8%, with runoff and soil erosion modulus of 2.43 mm and 6.51 t/(km² a), respectively. The bare land community had the highest runoff, at 153.49 mm, and the highest soil erosion modulus, at 1 214.5 t/(km² a). The runoff coefficient of the 15° grassland community decreased the fastest at 0.292%/a, and its sediment content also decreased the fastest at-14.6 g/(La). There was a significant negative correlation between vegetation coverage and runoff, a significant negative correlation with sediment concentration, and a significant positive correlation with soil surface water content. [Conclusion] High vegetation coverage is beneficial for vegetation restoration, water conservation, and soil erosion control. For the 15° grassland slope with relatively severe soil erosion, the long-term vegetation coverage has a more significant effect on soil and water conservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Zero-plane is an important reference level included in the logarithmic velocity profile. The prediction of the zero-plane displacement remains challenging, especially in open-channel flows with submerged vegetation. In this study, we first review the existing formulas for estimating the zero-plane displacement. Then, we conducted a series of laboratory experiments of open-channel flows with submerged rigid vegetation, by varying flow rate, water depth, vegetation density, and stem diameter. By utilizing particle image velocimetry (PIV) technique, the spatio-temporal averaged (double-averaged) flow velocity and Reynolds shear stress profiles were obtained. The data analysis shows that the zero-plane displacement is almost proportional to the surface layer depth for the shallow flow cases. As the flow depth increases, the zero-plane displacement tends to be constant and increases with decreasing vegetation density. This result substantiates the hypothesis that the zero-plane displacement is related to large-scale eddies. Lastly, a heuristic model is developed to explain possible variations of the large-scale eddies, which yields a formula for predicting the zero-plane displacement for flows subjected to submerged rigid vegetation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Plateau Meteorology is the property of Plateau Meteorology 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.)

As a key region supplementing China's limited croplands, Northwest China has undergone rapid cropland expansion over the past decades to satisfy rising food demand from population growth and socio‐economic development. Although cropland expansion may overconsume local water resources in general, in Northwest China, increased precipitation and enhanced glacier melt have increased the water available for croplands. Counterintuitively, the enhanced evapotranspiration (ET) resulting from this cropland expansion could benefit remote ecologically vulnerable natural vegetation through atmospheric moisture recycling. In this study, we used a moisture tracking model to quantify contributions of croplands and cropland expansion to local precipitation and the consequent precipitation supply to natural vegetation in Northwest China. We found that the croplands contributed 27.69 billion m3/year (2.13%) of regional total precipitation and supplied 17.30 billion m3/year (2.39%) of precipitation over natural vegetation, and the cropland expansion resulted in a net increase of 80.25 million m3/year (1.07% of the total increase) in regional precipitation and 36.23 million m3/year (4.56% of the total increase) in precipitation supply for natural vegetation. Among different types of natural vegetation, grasslands received the most precipitation supply due to its vast area, followed by forests and shrublands. The more arid regions experienced not only faster rates of cropland expansion but also obtained a greater increase in regional precipitation and precipitation supply to natural vegetation. Our study quantifies the ecological impacts of cropland expansion through moisture recycling in Northwest China. This shows the complexities of water competition between agricultural development and ecological conservation in drylands and elsewhere. Plain Language Summary: As an important agricultural region, Northwest China has undergone rapid cropland expansion over the past decades to satisfy rising food demand from population growth. While necessary for feeding the population, this expansion has led to environmental concerns like soil degradation and increased irrigation needs. However, our study introduces a new perspective on this issue. We focused on how the expanded croplands affect atmospheric moisture recycling—a process where water evaporates from the land and returns as rainfall. This cycle is vital for ecosystems, crop production, and water security. The expansion of croplands, especially in dry areas like Northwest China, has intensified this cycle. It increases evapotranspiration, which is then returned as increased rainfall, helping local vegetation. Our findings highlight the complex balance between agricultural expansion and environmental sustainability, showing that while cropland growth poses challenges, it also contributes in some ways to the local hydrological cycle, helping to mitigate some of the environmental impacts in this ecologically fragile region. Key Points: A novel method for quantifying the precipitation contributions from croplands and cropland‐expansionWater resources consumed by croplands can contribute to precipitation over distant natural vegetation through moisture transportInvestigating the complexities of water competition between agricultural development and ecological conservation [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the cooling potential of vegetation in rural landscapes of the Czech Republic to mitigate heat-related issues. Using remote sensing, the Cooling Capacity Index (CCI) is assessed to measure green spaces' ability to lower air temperatures using evapotranspiration and shading. Landsat 8/9 and meteorological data are utilised, with CCI calculated based on vegetation cover, albedo, and evapotranspiration. Our results demonstrate significant variations in cooling capacity across different land use types. Forests exhibited the highest cooling potential, while urban areas, characterised by heat-absorbing materials, displayed the least. We analysed temporal and spatial variations in cooling capacity using various visualisation tools and validated the results against the InVEST software (v3.14.0). This study highlights the effectiveness of remote sensing in quantifying ecosystem functions, particularly the cooling services provided by vegetation. Our findings emphasise the crucial role of vegetation in mitigating urban heat islands and addressing climate change. This research provides valuable insights for developing climate change adaptation strategies in rural landscapes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

North Sinai is a location of ecological significance because of its physiographic changes and environmental gradients. The purpose of this study was to elucidate the recent alterations in the floristic structure and composition of North Sinai brought about by humanity and the current drought revealing new records with a comprehensive investigation of the life form and conservation status of each of the collected species. For three successive years (2022, 2023, and 2024), field trips were conducted seasonally from May to October. Ten localities were selected throughout North Sinai from El-Qantara to Rafah, in addition to El-Hassana and Nakhl areas to represent wild vegetation. This vegetation is characterized by the dominance of four large families: Asteraceae, Brassicaceae, Fabaceae and Poaceae revealing that therophyte is the most prevalent life form among plant species belonging to various families. The vegetation survey of these localities included a list on the life form of species and an evaluation of their conservation status. Five-hundred and twenty-two (522) species were recorded belonging to 307 genera and 66 families estimating that the number of weeds is in constant increase. The recorded species included seven endemic species belonging to families: Apiaceae, Asclepiadaceae, Brassicaceae, Caryophyllaceae and Lamiaceae. These endemic species comprised threatened and endangered species that must be conserved and deeply studied to prevent the risk of extinction including Caralluma sinaica, Ferula sinaica and Spergula fallax. Fifty-two species are new records conducted during this study in the different localities of North Sinai. Comparisons of the floristic composition and structure of North Sinai in the present study with earlier studies were also conducted. Improved knowledge of the indigenous flora can help North Sinai and other comparable desert locations make more informed decisions about conservation policies and sustainable land management practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ecosystems of the fjell fields in the Khibiny Mountains (Kola Peninsula) are investigated, including vegetation, soils, soil algae, and invertebrate fauna. We use EUNIS habitat typification (2013) to differentiate habitats. The most common habitat types include (1) crustose–lichen (Rhizocarpon geographicum) rock on eluvium of base-rich, alkaline, and siliceous rocks (U5111); (2) lichen-, sedge-, and dwarf- and shrub–dominated turfs and cushions on gravelly and rocky slopes (U5112); (3) sedge-, moss-, and lichen–dominated on rubble and stony mountain plateaus and peaks (U5113); (4) biological soil crust on fine-earth and gravelly polygon edges (U5114); and (5) late snow bed moss vegetation (U5115). Soils of the fjell fields are represented by Leptosols. The content of soil organic C is very high (26–32%), despite the thin soil profile, which has no illuvial–eluvial differentiation by the content of SiO2 and R2O3. The total flora includes 176 species of plants and lichens. Soil alga flora is composed of 43 species, where green algae of Chlorophyceae prevails. Soil microarthropods are dominated by Collembola, Oribatida, and Mesostigmata, which are also typical for mountain tundra. The soil microbial activity and the diversity and abundance of soil algae and invertebrates depends on the habitat type and soil moisture, as well as on soil organic matter content and increases on wet substrates or under more complex vegetation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rail infrastructure plays an important role in fulfilling the demand for freight and passenger transportation. Increases in traffic volume, heavier axles and vehicles, higher speeds, and increasing climate extremes all contribute to the constant strain on the infrastructure. Due to their major importance in the transportation of people and freight, they are subject to continuous condition monitoring. This is an essential requirement for the selective planning of maintenance tasks and ultimately for safe and reliable operation. Various measuring systems have been developed for this purpose. These must measure precisely, quickly, and robustly under difficult conditions. Whether installed from mobile or stationary platforms, they have to cope with a wide range of ambient temperatures and lighting conditions, harsh environmental influences, and varying degrees of reflection. Despite these circumstances, railway operators require precise measurement data, high data densities even at high traveling speeds, and a user-friendly presentation of the results. Photogrammetry, laser scanning, and fiber optics are light-based measurement methods that are used in this sector. They are able to record with high precision rail infrastructure such as overhead contact systems, clearance profiles, rail tracks, and much more. This article provides an overview of the established and modern optical sensing methods, as well as the use of artificial intelligence as an evaluation method, and highlights their advantages and disadvantages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Patterns of alpine plant productivity are extremely variable in space and time. Complex topography drives variations in temperature, wind, and solar radiation. Surface and subsurface flow paths route water between landscape patches. Redistribution of snow creates scour zones and deep drifts, which drives variation in water availability and growing season length. Hence, the distribution of snow likely plays a central role in patterns of alpine plant productivity. Given that these processes operate at sub‐1 m to sub‐10 m spatial scales and are dynamic across daily to weekly time scales, historical studies using manual survey techniques have not afforded a comprehensive assessment of the influence of snow distribution on plant productivity. To address this knowledge gap, we used weekly estimates of normalised difference vegetation index (NDVI), snow extent, and peak snow depth, acquired from drone surveys at 25 cm resolution. We derived six snowpack‐related and topographic variables that may influence vegetation productivity and analysed these with respect to the timing and magnitude of peak productivity. Peak NDVI and peak NDVI timing were most highly correlated with maximum snow depth, and snow‐off‐date. We observed up to a ~30% reduction in peak NDVI for areas with deeper and later snow cover, and a ~11‐day delay in the timing of peak NDVI in association with later snow‐off‐date. Our findings leverage a novel approach to quantify the importance of snow distribution in driving alpine vegetation productivity and provide a space for time proxy of potential changes in a warmer, lower snow future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fire events in South America are becoming more extensive and frequent as climate extremes and human pressures increase, and even repeatedly occurring in some areas within decades. However, the relationship between recurring fires and vegetation dynamics remains unclear. Here, we extracted the number of fire occurrences using burned area satellite product and analysed the relationship between recurring fires and vegetation dynamics with remote sensing land use and vegetation index datasets in South America. We show that approximately 1.39 × 106 km2 of burnt area has experienced recurring fires during 2001–2020. More than half of burnt area of recurring fires occurred in savannahs with remaining burnt area in grasslands, forests and croplands. Although forests tended to be less susceptible to recurring fires among all vegetation types, their coverage loss with recurring fires was the greatest. The greater proportion of forest conversion to croplands concurred with more recurring fires. Conversely, the coverage of croplands and grasslands gained the most with recurring fires. In the areas without vegetation conversion, more frequent recurring fires further suppressed canopy greenness and density, even in fire‐adapted savannahs and grasslands. Our results suggest that recurring fires and land use change are generally coincident, reflecting the intense pressure of human activities on natural vegetation in South America. Thus, coordinated efforts on vegetation conservation and sustainable management of human‐induced burning in the region are urgently needed. [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.)

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.)

Green structures, such as green roofs or green façades, are great examples of climate change mitigation. Their impact is mainly focused on roofs in the area of overheating reduction. In this paper, initial measurement results of a green façade experimental test setup are provided. The green façade uses an innovative board from recycled materials with vegetation rooted directly on the board. The tested green façade is divided into three segments. These segments differ from each other in their watering regimes, which are crucial for cooling effectiveness. Watering operates with the assistance of gravity; water flows from the top gutter through the boards. In this paper, these three segments are compared to each other with respect to temperatures on the surface of a regular external thermal insulation composite system façade (ETICS) during two summer days. The green façade showed an impact on the temperature in the ventilated air gap, where the temperature is almost the same as the outdoor air temperature in the morning with direct solar radiation on the façade and lower than the outdoor air temperature in the afternoon. At the peaks, the surface temperatures within the air cavity surface are up to 8 °C lower than those on a new white ETICS coating. This demonstrates a cooling potential, although the surface temperatures are always higher than the outdoor air temperatures during daylight hours. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The seasonal and latitudinal distribution of insolation is considered the main factor controlling the magnitude and timing of interglacial periods. However, despite small differences in insolation forcing, vegetation and hydrology in southern Europe during past interglacials are variable and the gradual change in insolation cannot explain the observed short‐lived forest optimum. Here we focus on vegetation and hydroclimatic changes at orbital‐ and suborbital‐scales in southwestern Europe during two past warm interglacial periods with reduced ice‐sheets, namely Marine Isotope Stages (MIS) 9e and 5e. We provide new pollen and sea surface temperatures records for MIS 9e from IODP Site U1385. This pollen record shows a forest expansion in southern Iberia over a 14 ky interval, bracketed by the millennial‐scale cooling events of Termination IV and MIS 9d. Between 334.5 and 332.5 ka, forest expansion reached a maximum, suggesting increased winter moisture during early MIS 9e. Model‐data comparison for MIS 9e and 5e shows that insolation is the main driver of the orbital‐scale vegetation and precipitation changes in Iberia, atmospheric CO2 forcing playing a secondary role. The high‐frequency component of the MIS 9e and 5e forest timeseries highlights the early interglacial forest and precipitation maxima as prominent suborbital events lasting ∼2 ky. We propose that the primarily insolation‐driven forest and precipitation optima were fostered by the non‐equilibrium conditions generated by the millennial‐scale deglacial variability during the early interglacials. Additionally, the early end of these optima may have been favored by a cooling and drying event that is part of the persistent intra‐interglacial variability. Key Points: MIS 9e pollen and sea surface temperature records from IODP Site U1385 show interglacial climate conditions in southern Europe for 14 kyThe MIS 9e interglacial, like the MIS 5e one, is marked by millennial‐scale intra‐interglacial climate variabilityMillennial‐scale variability likely played a major in defining the short‐lived climate optimum in southern Europe during the MIS 9e and 5e [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A variety of stormwater infrastructure such as constructed wetlands, rain gardens, vegetated drainage channels and retention ponds are primarily used for managing water runoff, but these environments can also foster biodiversity. Despite extensive literature about certain taxa (e.g., amphibians, aquatic macroinvertebrates, etc.) found in these human-made environments, the terrestrial plants and invertebrates present there remain understudied. Here, we compared alpha and beta diversity of plant and terrestrial invertebrate communities and assessed the influence of landscape characteristics on their composition in different types of urban stormwater basins and ponds. Plants and terrestrial invertebrates were identified in the main body (excluding the aquatic section) and on the banks of 54 basins and ponds (dry basins, wet basins with and without a water channel and retention ponds) in Quebec City and Trois-Rivières, in Eastern Canada. Results showed poor and homogenous plant and invertebrate communities in dry basins. Wet basins had the highest plant alpha diversity, with more facultative wetland species than the two other types. Wet basins with and without a water channel had similar plant and invertebrate composition, and wet basins and retention ponds were the most heterogeneous. Retention ponds (with permanent water) had distinct communities with fewer plant species than wet basins. The presence of natural areas around the infrastructure significantly influenced communities within a 2000 m and 500 m radius for plant and invertebrate communities, respectively. Wetland plant species were generally found in infrastructure close to natural areas, whereas tolerant and opportunist species were associated with disturbed environments. Our results suggest that enhancing diversity of the stormwater basins and ponds at the regional and local (microhabitat) scales has the potential to maximize diversity of plants and terrestrial invertebrates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]