Search Results (196)

Over recent years, the intensity of forest fires has escalated, with wildfire-emitted pollutants exerting substantial impacts on the environment, ecosystems, and human well-being. This study developed a robust predictive framework to quantify wildfire-induced PM_2.5 emission factors (EFs) using seven shrub species—Corylus mandshurica, Eleutherococcus senticosus, Philadelphus schrenkii, Sorbaria sorbifolia, Syringa reticulata, Spiraea salicifolia, and Lonicera maackii. These species represent ecological cornerstones of Northeast Asian forests and hold global relevance as widely introduced or invasive taxa in North America and Europe. The novelty of this research lies in the integration of traditional statistical inference with machine learning to resolve the complex coupling between fuel traits and emissions. We conducted 1134 laboratory-controlled burns in the Liangshui National Nature Reserve, evaluating two continuous and three categorical variables. Initial screening via Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) and stepwise linear regression (Step-AIC) identified the primary drivers of emissions and revealed that interspecific differences among the seven shrubs did not significantly affect the EF (p = 0.0635). To ensure statistical rigor, a log-transformation was applied to the EF data to correct for right-skewness and heteroscedasticity inherent in raw observations. Linear Mixed-effects Models (LMMs) and Gradient Boosting Machines (GBMs) were subsequently employed to quantify factor effects and capture potential nonlinearities. The LMM results consistently identified burning type and plant part as the dominant determinants: smoldering combustion and leaf components exerted strong positive effects on PM_2.5 emissions compared to flaming and branch components. Fuel load was positively correlated with emissions, while moisture content showed a significant negative effect. Notably, the model identified a significant negative quadratic effect for moisture content, indicating a non-linear inhibitory trend as moisture increases. While interspecific differences among the seven shrubs did not significantly affect EFs suggesting that physical fuel traits exert a more consistent influence than species-specific genetic backgrounds, complex interactions were captured. These include a negative synergistic effect between leaves and smoldering, and a positive interaction between moisture content and leaves that significantly amplified emissions. This research bridges the gap between physical fuel traits and chemical smoke production, providing a high-resolution tool for refining global biomass burning emission inventories and assisting international forest management in similar temperate biomes. Full article

Forest ecosystems provide essential ecological functions in the context of accelerating climate change. However, evaluating their conservation values and conditions remains challenging due to conceptual and methodological ambiguities. In particular, ecosystem integrity and ecosystem authenticity are often conflated in vegetation-based assessments, despite representing distinct dimensions of ecosystem condition. This study advances vegetation-based assessments by explicitly decoupling ecosystem integrity from ecosystem authenticity, while integrating spatial completeness, vegetation patterns and quality, and successional–disturbance attributes into a unified operational framework for reserve-level diagnosis and comparison. The resulting indices enable managers to distinguish boundary-driven limitations of landscape integrity from internal vegetation conditions that persist in near-natural states, thus enhancing interpretability for conservation planning in the context of climate change. Using standardized forest resource survey data and spatial analysis, we constructed two composite indices: Forest Ecosystem Integrity (FEI) and Forest Ecosystem Authenticity (FEA). These indices were applied to two adjacent cold-temperate forest nature reserves, Hanma and Huzhong, in the Greater Khingan Mountains of northeastern China, as well as to a merged spatial scenario. The results demonstrate consistently high ecosystem authenticity (>90%) across all study areas, indicating strong naturalness and successional maturity. In contrast, ecosystem integrity remains moderate (63–69%), primarily constrained by the low spatial completeness of conservation units. The spatial integration of the two reserves significantly improved ecosystem integrity without compromising authenticity, highlighting the role of boundary configuration in conservation effectiveness. By operationalizing integrity and authenticity as complementary yet distinct dimensions, this study provides a reproducible framework for evaluating forest ecosystem conditions and offers practical insights for the design of protected area networks and adaptive management in cold-temperate forest regions. Full article

The persistent expansion in the intensity and scope of human disturbance has become a key driver of global biodiversity loss, affecting wildlife behavior and population stability across multiple dimensions. As a characteristic symbiotic assemblage in the subalpine forest ecosystems of Sichuan, the giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca), red panda (Ailurus fulgens), and forest musk deer (Moschus berezovskii) exhibit significant research value in their responses to human disturbance. However, existing studies lack systematic analysis of multiple disturbances within the same protected area. This study was conducted in the Sichuan Liziping National Nature Reserve, where infrared camera traps were deployed using a kilometer-grid layout. By integrating spatiotemporal pattern analysis and Generalized Additive Models (GAM), we investigated the characteristics of human disturbance and the response strategies of the three species within their habitats. The results show that: (1) A total of seven types of human disturbance were identified in the reserve, with the top three by frequency being cattle disturbance, goat disturbance, and walking disturbance; (2) Temporally, summer and winter were high-occurrence seasons for disturbance, with peaks around 12:00–14:00, while the giant panda exhibited a bimodal diurnal activity pattern (10:00–12:00, 14:00–16:00), the red panda peaked mainly at 8:00–10:00, and the forest musk deer preferred crepuscular and nocturnal activity—all three species displayed activity rhythms that temporally avoided peak disturbance periods; (3) Spatially, giant pandas were sparsely distributed, red pandas showed aggregated distribution, and forest musk deer exhibited a multi-core distribution, with the core distribution areas of each species spatially segregated from high-disturbance zones; (4) GAM analysis revealed that the red panda responded most significantly to disturbance, the giant panda showed marginal significance, and the forest musk deer showed no significant response. This study systematically elucidates the spatiotemporal differences in responses to multiple human disturbances among three sympatric species within the same landscape, providing a scientific basis for the management of human activities, habitat optimization, and synergistic biodiversity conservation in protected areas. It holds practical significance for promoting harmonious coexistence between human and wildlife. Full article

In the context of the ongoing climate crisis, the health and sustainability of forest ecosystems in peri-urban areas play a crucial role in alleviating the adverse impacts of climate change on urban populations, particularly in cities with limited green spaces. This study explores the biodiversity and ecological values of an old-growth forest in the peri-urban area, Thessaloniki, northern Greece, the Kouri Forest. These types of forest ecosystems, except for their high ecological values, provide a lot of benefits to the city residents and the surrounding areas, and to achieve that they should have appropriate composition, structure and function to be able to provide high-level ecosystem services. The research was based on collecting analytical field data, including field sampling plots, and a series of tree cores for tree age determination and tree growth analysis. Data analysis demonstrates the unique characteristics of this forest, which was found to be an old-growth forest dominated by deciduous oak species, aged over 180 years. The high biodiversity of the forest and the rich composition and the multistorey stand structure, in combination with the long age of the trees, suggests that the forest is an old-growth (ancient) forest, and set the forest as an important biogenetic reserve, despite its small area, proximity to the city of Thessaloniki, and the pressures subjected. Accordingly, special management measures are suggested to aim at the sustainable use of peri-urban natural resources. Full article

The Calakmul Biosphere Reserve, in southeastern Mexico, is a major conservation area known for its tropical forests, emblematic wildlife species, and long history of Maya occupation. Established in 1989 as a federal Natural Protected Area, it was incorporated into UNESCO’s Man and the Biosphere Program in 1993 and designated a mixed World Heritage Site in 2014. Its socioecological trajectory is distinctive: conservation efforts advanced alongside the contemporary rural settlement resulting from agrarian reform and subsequent development and welfare policies. This article examines the persistent imbalance between ecological conservation and socioeconomic development surrounding the Calakmul Biosphere Reserve, focusing on water vulnerability in adjacent communities. The study integrates environmental history with household-level survey data on water access and vulnerability among 200 households in eight communities in the Biosphere Reserve’s transition zone, complemented by interviews with key water-management stakeholders. We document the consolidation of conservation through management plans, advisory councils, payments for ecosystem services, scientific research, and expanding voluntary conservation areas. Yet these advances contrast sharply with everyday socioeconomic realities: 68% of households face prolonged water scarcity, with an average of more than 30 days annually without water. Calakmul’s case highlights structural mismatch between conservation and local human well-being in Natural Protected Areas contexts. Full article

The Ebinur Lake Basin, a key ecological security barrier for windbreak and sand control in northern Xinjiang, is crucial to the ecological safety of western China and the northern sand-prevention belt. Combining the basin’s geographical characteristics, this study comprehensively evaluated ecosystem service functions from four dimensions: water conservation, soil and water conservation, windbreak and sand-fixation, and biodiversity maintenance. Simultaneously, it conducted an ecological sensitivity assessment from four aspects: soil erosion, desertification, land use, and salinization sensitivity. The assessments of the importance of ecosystem service function and ecological sensitivity results were combined to create a tiered zoning plan for the basin. The basin was divided into four first-level zones: the Ebinur Lake Water Area and Wetland Biodiversity Protection Zone, the Desert Vegetation Windbreak and Sand Fixation Ecological Restoration Zone, the Oasis Agricultural Ecological Function Protection Zone, and the Mountain Water Conservation Zone. Six second-level zones were also delineated: the Ebinur Lake Wetland National Nature Reserve, Gobi Vegetation Distribution and Soil Erosion Sensitive Zone, Desert Vegetation Restoration Zone, Jinghe-Bortala Valley Oasis Agricultural Ecological Function Zone, Mountain Water Conservation and Forest-Grass Protection Zone, and Sayram Lake Water Body. This assessment and zoning plan provide support and scientific basis for the basin’s comprehensive ecological management, integrated protection and governance of mountains, rivers, forests, farmlands, lakes, grasslands and deserts, as well as regional ecological development. Full article

The mangrove ecosystems in Muara Angke, Jakarta, serve as a national benchmark for sustainable mangrove management in Indonesia, yet face significant urban pressures threatening their long-term viability. This study evaluates the ecological integrity and governance effectiveness of this critical ecosystem, covering Wildlife Reserve, Nature Park, Protected Forest, and Production Forest areas totaling 327.7 hectares. An exploratory mixed-methods approach was employed over four months (June–September 2025), integrating vegetation diversity assessments through plot sampling, avifauna surveys via point count methods, herpetofauna identification using Visual Encounter Surveys, water quality assessments through systematic literature review, geospatial analysis of mangrove dynamics using Sentinel-2A imagery (2015–2025), and social-governance evaluation using close-ended questionnaires and One Score One Criteria Scoring System. Results revealed moderate to severe water pollution with phosphate and nitrate exceeding standards, moderate vegetation diversity (13 species; Shannon-Wiener H′ = 1.466–1.728), high avifaunal diversity (55 species; H′ = 3.54) confirming significance along the East Asian-Australasian Flyway, and significant sediment accretion (32 hectares) attributed to coastal reclamation. Management evaluation identified critical conservation compliance deficiencies (score 1.43/7). The findings indicate urgent need for integrated interventions including pollution control, ecosystem-based restoration, enhanced monitoring, and cross-sector policy integration to prevent rapid mangrove degradation and ensure sustainability of this ecologically significant urban mangrove ecosystem. Full article

Epiphytic corticolous lichens are vital components of forest ecosystems, yet their species composition and distribution patterns along altitudinal gradients in the Populus tremula forests of Barluk Mountain National Nature Reserve, Xinjiang, China, remain understudied. This study analyzes the diversity and distribution of epiphytic corticolous lichens in these forests along an altitudinal gradient. Field research was conducted at six sites (940–1450 m) from June to July 2023–2024, with samples collected from 576 quadrats on 48 Populus tremula trees. Lichen identification involved morphological, anatomical, and chemical analyses. Data on cover and frequency were analyzed to calculate importance values (IV), diversity indices, and floristic similarity (Sørensen’s index). NMDS and TWINSPAN were used to explore distribution patterns along the altitude gradient. In total, 28 epiphytic lichen species were identified, with diversity indices peaking at 1040 m. Dominant species exhibited significant variations in IV across altitudes (P < 0.05), and NMDS/TWINSPAN revealed distinct community clustering associated with elevation. Sørensen’s index indicated a low similarity (<30%) between the highest and lowest altitude sites. This study provides a baseline for biodiversity conservation and forest management in arid and semi-arid land mountain ecosystems. Full article

Ecosystems provide essential services to local communities, which in turn offer incentives for the preservation of natural resources, as these resources are crucial to the sustainability and evolution of human societies. So, this study examined the demand for ecosystem services among communities surrounding the Luki Biosphere Reserve in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with 361 randomly selected individuals and focus group discussions in 18 villages, complemented by field observations on local resource use (agriculture, charcoal production, wood harvesting, and tree felling). The services provided by the reserve were identified according to citation frequency, perceived usefulness, and level of agreement among respondents. Results indicate that agricultural products (28.5%), charcoal (19.1%), non-timber forest products (17.5%), and firewood (10%) are the most requested. The Chi-square test showed significant associations between dependence on ecosystem services and socio-economic variables such as gender (p = 0.014 < 0.05), education level (p = 0.033 < 0.05), and annual income (p = 0.000 < 0.05), while age was not significant (p = 0.504 > 0.05). Poverty and rapid demographic growth were identified as key drivers of demand and factors contributing to growing pressure on natural resources. The study emphasizes feedback loops between changes in ecosystem service supply and community responses, as well as trade-offs between services and actors. It recommends integrating ecosystem values into agricultural and forestry policies, while raising awareness and educating local communities to promote sustainable resource management. Full article

The increasing dependence of rural communities on forest resources contributes significantly to deforestation and ecosystem degradation in West Africa. The Ouémé Supérieur Classified Forest (OSCF), one of Benin’s largest forest reserves, is under growing anthropogenic pressure. This study assessed the spatial distribution and relationships between key degradation drivers (anthropogenic disturbances)—logging, agriculture, charcoal production, fire, and grazing—in the OSCF. Field inventories were conducted in 300 plots of 500 m² each, organized across 15 transects. Data were analyzed using presence/absence indices, frequency calculations, Friedman tests, simple correspondence analysis, and linear regressions. Results showed that disturbances are unevenly distributed across the forest. Logging and agriculture emerged as the most frequent pressures, with agricultural activities strongly associated with transects near densely populated villages. Regression analysis revealed a relatively strong correlation between distance from edge to the interior of the forest and agricultural area (adjusted R² = 0.61). Logging and fire-related activities are concentrated at the forest edge, while agriculture expanded toward the interior. Logging is present in all plots sampled. Chi-square tests revealed significant associations between agriculture, charcoal production, and fire. These findings highlight the complex and interlinked nature of the anthropogenic disturbances and underscore the need for locally tailored, participatory forest management strategies. Full article

Forest-type national nature reserves and their surrounding areas have experienced a series of drought events, which have influenced forest ecosystem stability. Assuming that drought events do not cause a shift in the ecosystem’s stable state, we quantified the stability of forest ecosystems in China’s national nature reserves and their surrounding areas in response to drought events from 2000 to 2018, using satellite-observed Enhanced Vegetation Index (EVI) and Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI) data. We further examined differences in ecosystem stability across regions and forest types, and identified the impacts of environmental factors using correlation analysis, analysis of variance (ANOVA), and random forest models. The results show that both national nature reserves and their surrounding areas primarily experienced single, moderate-intensity drought events, most of which occurred in spring and summer. Compared with surrounding areas, national nature reserves exhibited higher ecosystem stability, with a mean drought resistance index of 31.45 ± 21.09. The difference in ecosystem stability between reserves and their surrounding areas was most pronounced in deciduous forests, which was attributed to their high hydraulic conductivity and distinctive leaf phenological traits. Additionally, climatic factors were the dominant drivers of both resistance and recovery rate, each contributing more than 30% to the overall explained variance. Our results provide valuable guidance for enhancing drought resilience and promoting the sustainable management of China’s national forest reserves. Full article

Soil nutrient detection in wetlands is critical for rapidly and effectively managing these ecosystems. Our objective was to provide a methodological framework for identifying optimal data processing methods and machine learning model for predicting soil organic carbon (SOC) and total nitrogen (TN) content using Vis–NIR spectroscopy, under the confounding influence of varying soil moisture. Soil samples (474) were collected from the Shaanxi Yellow River Wetland Provincial Nature Reserve with five moisture levels (0, 5, 10, 20, and 30%). Using a Vis–NIR spectroscopy system (ASD FS4 spectrometer), soil organic carbon (SOC) and total nitrogen (TN) were detected within the 350–2500 nm spectral range. Machine learning models were established using the Random Forest model (RF), eXtreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost), and Partial Least Squares Regression (PLSR). The results indicated: (1) spectral reflectance values increased as soil moisture content decreased, with the 0% moisture model being consistently more accurate; (2) models for SOC and TN on first-derivative spectra had higher accuracy; and (3) the RF exhibited higher inversion accuracy and stability (R² = 0.30–0.69). (4) The SHAP analysis confirmed 1865 nm and 1419 nm as the most contributory bands for SOC and TN prediction respectively, validating the RF model’s spectral interpretation capability. Full article

Saproxylic insects of the infraorders Bibionomorpha and Tipulomorpha (Diptera) are ecologically important components of forest ecosystems, associated with dead wood and contributing to nutrient cycling and food webs. Despite their diversity, the influence of climatic variables on saproxylic nematoceran communities remains poorly understood. This study examined the effects of precipitation, air temperature, and relative humidity on the abundance, species richness, and diversity of saproxylic nematoceran flies in three Lithuanian nature reserves from 2016 to 2020. In total, 793 specimens representing 10 families were collected using trunk-emergence traps. Statistical models showed that precipitation was significantly positively associated with species richness, total abundance, and Shannon’s diversity, whereas temperature and humidity were excluded as non-significant predictors. These results highlight precipitation as a key environmental driver shaping saproxylic fly assemblages and suggest potential sensitivity of these communities to reduced moisture availability under future climate change scenarios. Full article

Forests play a crucial role in climate regulation through atmospheric CO₂ sequestration. However, disturbances like wildfires can severely compromise this function. This study assesses the ecological and economic consequences of a 2018 wildfire in The Roaches Nature Reserve, UK, focusing on post-fire carbon dynamics. A mixed woodland dominated by Pinus sylvestris L. and Larix decidua Mill. was evaluated via satellite imagery (remote sensing indices), dendrochronological analysis (wood cores sampling), and soil properties analyses. Remote sensing revealed areas of high fire severity and progressive vegetation decline. Tree-ring data indicated near-total mortality of L. decidua, while P. sylvestris showed greater post-fire resilience. Soil properties (e.g., soil organic carbon, biomass and microbial indices, etc.) assessed at a depth of 0–5 cm showed no significant changes. The analysis of CO₂ sequestration trends revealed a marked decline in burned areas, with post-fire sequestration reduced by approximately 70% in P. sylvestris and nearly 100% in L. decidua, in contrast to the stable patterns observed in the control stands during the same period. To estimate this important ecosystem service, we developed a novel CO₂ Sequestration Loss (CSL) index, which quantified the reduction in forest carbon uptake and underscored the impaired sequestration capacity of burned area. The decrease in CO₂ sequestration also resulted in a loss of regulating ecosystem service value, with burned areas showing a marked reduction compared to pre-fire conditions. Finally, a carbon loss of ~208 Mg ha⁻¹ was estimated in the burnt area compared to the control, mainly due to tree mortality rather than shallow soil carbon stock. Overall, our findings demonstrate that wildfire can substantially compromise the climate mitigation potential of temperate forests, highlighting the urgency of proactive management and restoration strategies. Full article

The study of tropical landscape dynamics is of critical importance, particularly within protected areas, for evaluating ecosystem functioning and the effectiveness of natural conservation efforts. This study aims to identify landscape dynamics within the Dong Nai Biosphere Reserve (including Cat Tien National Park and the Ma Da Forest) using remote sensing (Landsat and others) and geographic information system methods. The analysis is based on changes in the Enhanced Vegetation Index (EVI), land cover transformations, landscape metrics (Class area, Percentage of Landscape and others), and natural landscape fragmentation, as well as a spatio-temporal assessment of anthropogenic impacts on the area. The results revealed structural changes in the landscapes of the Dong Nai Biosphere Reserve between 2000 and 2024. According to Sen’s slope estimates, a generally EVI growth was observed in both the core and buffer zones of the reserve. This trend was evident in forested areas as well as in regions of the buffer zone that were previously occupied by highly productive agricultural land. An analysis of Environmental Systems Research Institute (ESRI) Land Cover and Land Cover Climate Change Initiative (CCI) data confirms the relative stability of land cover in the core zone, while anthropogenic pressure has increased due to the expansion of agricultural lands, mosaic landscapes, and urban development. The calculation of landscape metrics revealed the growing isolation of natural forests and the dominance of artificial plantations, forming transitional zones between natural and anthropogenically modified landscapes. The human disturbance index, calculated for the years 2000 and 2024, shows only a slight change in the average value across the territory. However, the coefficient of variation increased significantly by 2024, indicating a localized rise in anthropogenic pressure within the buffer zone, while a reduction was observed in the core zone. The practical significance of the results obtained lies in the possibility of their use for the management of the Dongnai biosphere Reserve based on a differentiated approach: for the core and the buffer zone. There should be a ban on agriculture and development in the core zone, and restrictions on urbanized areas in the buffer zone. Full article