Search Results (1,347)

Forests are important biodiversity reservoirs and require sustainable management to prevent deforestation and forest degradation. Forest landscape restoration (FLR) has been proposed as a sustainable initiative aimed at restoring ecosystem functions and improving the well-being of surrounding populations. In 2005, the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) initiated a project to protect 200 ha of savanna in Manzonzi landscape, Democratic Republic of Congo, on the outskirts of the Luki Biosphere Reserve. The biodiversity changes related to this ecological restoration project remain unpublished. To address this knowledge gap, floristic inventories of the protected Manzonzi landscape were carried out over a 12-year period and we assessed how changes in the floral composition of this landscape evolved and affected the provision of ecosystem services (ES). We found that protection of the savanna by banning recurring bush fires and fencing off the area promoted the richness and abundance of forest species, such as Xylopia aethiopica (Dunal) A. Rich, Albizia adianthifolia (Schumach.) W. Wight. These forest taxa replaced grassland species, such as Hymenocardia acida Tul. and Maprounea africana Müll. Arg., and served to benefit the local population, who use these forest taxa as food, fuelwood, and medicines. This study revealed that protected savanna improved woody biomass, plant diversity (richness/abundance), and carbon storage, significantly boosting essential ES for communities; yet these positive trends reversed when active monitoring ceased. Protecting savannas improves the environment and benefits communities, but stopping protection efforts can undo these gains, emphasizing the need for ongoing conservation. Full article

Wildfire regimes are undergoing rapid transformation under anthropogenic climate change, with major implications for biodiversity, carbon cycling, and ecosystem resilience. This systematic review synthesizes findings from 42 studies across global, continental, and regional scales to assess emerging patterns in fire frequency, intensity, and seasonality, and to identify climatic, ecological, and anthropogenic drivers shaping these changes. Across biomes, evidence shows increasingly fire-conducive conditions driven by rising temperatures, vapor-pressure deficit, and intensifying drought, with climate model projections indicating amplification of extreme fire weather this century. Boreal ecosystems show heightened fire danger and carbon-cycle vulnerability; Mediterranean and Iberian regions face extended fire seasons and faster spread rates; tropical forests, particularly the Amazon, are shifting toward more flammable states due to drought–fragmentation interactions; and savannas display divergent moisture- and fuel-limited dynamics influenced by climate and land use. These results highlight the emergence of biome-specific fire–climate–fuel feedback that may push certain ecosystems toward alternative stable states. The review underscores the need for improved attribution frameworks, integration of fire–vegetation–carbon feedback into Earth system models, and development of adaptive, regionally tailored fire-management strategies. Full article

Mangrove ecosystems along the Pacific coast of Panama are increasingly exposed to anthropogenic pressures such as urban expansion and deforestation. These habitats provide resources for orchid bees (tribe Euglossini), yet information on their assemblages in mangrove environments remains limited. In this study, we documented the diversity and composition of orchid bee communities in mangrove–forest edges from two coastal areas with contrasting levels of human disturbance: Panama Bay and Chame Bay. Orchid bee sampling was carried out during two independent periods: from April to July 2022 at three sites in Panama Bay, and from December 2022 to January 2023 at one site in Panama Bay and one site in Chame Bay, using McPhail traps baited with eucalyptus oil and distributed across multiple zones within each site. A total of 427 individuals representing 14 species and three genera were recorded. Observed species richness and abundance were lower at the more urbanized mangrove sites, where collections were dominated by a few widespread species, particularly Eulaema nigrita. Multivariate analyses revealed differences in community composition between sites. These patterns suggest associations between anthropogenic context and orchid bee assemblage structure in mangrove edges, although longer-term and multi-method studies are required to evaluate temporal consistency and underlying mechanisms. This study provides baseline information to support future monitoring of orchid bee communities in tropical coastal ecosystems. Full article

Accurate biomass and carbon estimation in tropical plantation forests requires species-specific allometric models. Silver Oak (Grevillea robusta A. Cunn. ex R. Br.), cultivar “AVAONE,” is widely planted in northeastern Thailand, yet locally calibrated equations remain limited. This study developed species- and site-specific allometric models using destructive sampling of eight trees (n = 8) aged 2–9 years from a single plantation in Pak Chong District, Nakhon Ratchasima Province, without independent validation. Each tree was separated into stem, branches, leaves, and roots to determine fresh and dry biomass, and carbon concentrations were measured using a LECO CHN628 analyzer in an ISO/IEC 17025-accredited laboratory. Aboveground biomass increased from 17.49 kg at age 2 to 860.42 kg at age 9, with the most rapid gains occurring between ages 6 and 9. Tree height stabilized at approximately 19–20 m after age 7, while diameter continued to increase. Stems accounted for the largest proportion of dry biomass, followed by branches and roots. Carbon concentrations ranged from 45.561% to 48.704%, close to the IPCC default value of 47%. Power-law models based on D²H showed clear relationships with biomass, with R² values ranging from 0.7365 to 0.9372 for individual components and 0.8409 for aboveground biomass. These locally derived equations provide preliminary, site-specific relationships for estimating biomass and carbon stocks in Silver Oak AVAONE plantations and offer a baseline for future studies with expanded sampling and independent validation. Full article

Sexual systems critically influence woody plant evolution and forest functioning, yet their global patterns and environmental drivers remain understudied. Investigating the environmental correlates of sexual systems in woody plants is essential for developing targeted conservation and restoration strategies for forest ecosystems. We analyzed sexual system composition of 3595 woody species from 30 ForestGEO forest plots spanning tropical, subtropical, and temperate zones in the Northern Hemisphere. Species were classified by sexual system (hermaphroditism, monoecy, and dioecy) and growth form (trees and shrubs). Community-level patterns were assessed across climatic zones, and the relative contributions of climatic, spatial, and topographic factors were quantified using multivariate and network-based analyses. We observed the following: (1) Sexual system composition exhibited clear climatic differentiation: dioecious species predominate in tropical forests, while monoecious species increased in dominance toward temperate regions. (2) Climatic variables, particularly temperature and precipitation, accounted for more variation in sexual system composition than spatial or topographic factors, although their relative influence differed among climatic zones. (3) Distinct life-form-specific patterns were detected: sexual systems of trees were more strongly associated with broad-scale climatic gradients, whereas those of shrubs were more closely linked to spatial structure and local environmental heterogeneity. Together, these results demonstrate that climate is a dominant but life-form-dependent driver of sexual system biogeography in woody plants, improving trait-based understanding of forest biodiversity responses to climate change. Full article

Tropical rainforests play a vital role in maintaining global ecological balance, carbon cycling, and biodiversity conservation, making research on their biomass dynamics scientifically significant. This study integrates multi-source remote sensing data, including canopy height derived from GEDI and ICESat-2 satellite-borne lidar, Landsat imagery, and environmental variables, to estimate forest biomass dynamics in Hainan’s tropical rainforests at a 30 m spatial resolution, involving a correlation analysis of factors influencing spatiotemporal changes in Hainan Tropical Rainforest biomass. The research aims to investigate the spatiotemporal variations in forest biomass and identify key environmental drivers influencing biomass accumulation. Four machine learning algorithms—Backpropagation Neural Network (BP), Convolutional Neural Network (CNN), Random Forest (RF), and Gradient Boosting Decision Tree (GBDT)—were applied to estimate biomass across five forest types from 2003 to 2023. Results indicate the Random Forest model achieved the highest accuracy (R² = 0.82). Forest biomass and carbon stocks in Hainan Tropical Rainforest National Park increased significantly, with total carbon stocks rising from 29.03 million tons of carbon to 42.47 million tons of carbon—a 46.36% increase over 20 years. These findings demonstrate that integrating multimodal remote sensing data with advanced machine learning provides an effective approach for accurately assessing biomass dynamics, supporting forest management and carbon sink evaluations in tropical rainforest ecosystems. Full article

Air pollution is a major but often under-integrated driver of forest dynamics at the global scale. This review combines a bibliometric analysis of 258 peer-reviewed studies with a synthesis of ecological, physiological, and biogeochemical evidence to clarify how multiple air pollutants influence forest structure, function, and regeneration. Research output is dominated by Europe, East Asia, and North America, with ozone, nitrogen deposition, particulate matter, and acidic precipitation receiving the greatest attention. Across forest biomes, air pollution affects growth, wood anatomy, nutrient cycling, photosynthesis, species composition, litter decomposition, and soil chemistry through interacting pathways. Regional patterns reveal strong context dependency, with heightened sensitivity in mountain and boreal forests, pronounced ozone exposure in Mediterranean and peri-urban systems, episodic oxidative stress in tropical forests, and long-term heavy-metal accumulation in industrial regions. Beyond being impacted, forests actively modify atmospheric chemistry through pollutant filtration, aerosol interactions, and deposition processes. The novelty of this review lies in explicitly framing air pollution as a dynamic driver of forest change, with direct implications for afforestation and restoration on degraded lands. Key knowledge gaps remain regarding combined pollution–climate effects, understudied forest biomes, and the scaling of physiological responses to ecosystem and regional levels, which must be addressed to support effective forest management under global change. 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

In northwestern Ecuador, where more than 90% of the original forest cover has been lost, it is unknown how soil chemistry influences bat diversity. This study evaluated bat diversity, non-herbaceous plant community structure, and soil nutrients in 30 plots distributed across crops on two farms separated by 32 km. Soil analyses revealed variations in organic matter and nutrients, identifying calcium, magnesium, zinc and iron as the most influential. A total of 1662 individuals of 24 non-herbaceous plant species and 193 individuals of 16 bat species were recorded, dominated by frugivorous and nectarivorous guilds. Generalized linear mixed models showed significant relationships between bat diversity indices and soil nutrients. These elements improve tree growth, fruiting, and flowering, which increases the quality and availability of food resources for bats. In return, these mammals provide key ecosystem services such as pollination, seed dispersal, and insect control. Our findings highlight that soil chemistry indirectly regulates bat communities by influencing vegetation structure and resource availability. This integrated approach underscores the importance of soil–plant–animal interactions in tropical agricultural landscapes, offering practical guidance. Full article

Cryptocaryeae, as a significant tribe within the Lauraceae family with important economic and ecological value, comprises over 850 species. Its common ancestor dates back to approximately 123 million years ago, in the early Cretaceous, originating in tropical Africa and Asia. Understanding how leaf and fruit functional traits of Cryptocaryeae trees (Lauraceae) respond to environmental fluctuations is crucial for protecting the structure and function of forest ecosystems. In this study, we investigated the influence of environmental factors on leaf and fruit morphological traits in the tropical tribe Cryptocaryeae. Based on an established phylogenetic framework for Cryptocaryeae, we compiled a dataset containing 17,117 morphological observations across 369 species. The analyzed traits included leaf length, leaf width, leaf area, fruit length, fruit diameter, and fruit size. Through analyzing trends of leaves and fruits morphological traits across the latitude and longitude and their relationship with environmental factors, and by quantifying the relative contributions of environmental factors to these traits, we demonstrated that leaf morphology exhibited distinct latitudinal and longitudinal zonation and was sensitive to environmental fluctuations, especially to temperature changes. In contrast, the change of fruit morphological traits was comparatively conservative in their variation, mainly affected by precipitation. These findings suggest that different plant traits may employ different trade-off strategies during environmental adaptation. Highlighting the importance of integrating ecological and evolutionary perspectives on leaf and fruit morphological traits of tropical Cryptocaryeae trees could provide insights into understanding plant environmental adaptation. Full article

Forest landscape restoration (FLR) in tropical Africa seeks to improve the ability of degraded forest to provide ecosystem services (ESs) to local communities. The purpose of this study is to present ESs that are mentioned in studies on FLR and methods that best integrate the different categories of ESs that have been identified in tropical Africa. The study followed the PRISMA 2020 statement for reporting systematic reviews. Qualitative and quantitative data were analyzed using agglomerative clustering and multiple correspondence analysis (MCA). The systematic literature review analyzes modalities of ES integration through various studies on FLR in tropical Africa. In most cases, only three of the four ES categories are mentioned, namely provisioning, regulating and supporting services. Primary production is the ES category most frequently mentioned in tropical Africa. In this region, various methods are used to restore forest landscapes (reforestation, savannah protection, agroforestry). This review shows a strong link between ESs, the ES categories, use values and methods of FLR. Therefore, integration of ESs in FLR can contribute to the understanding of how FLR impacts biodiversity, climate change mitigation. improvement of human well-being, etc. Full article

The northern Brazilian Amazon has ecological transition ecosystems with high diversity and endemism of tree species and few botanical collections. We evaluated the phytosociology between Dense Ombrophilous Forest (Ds) and Forested Campinarana (Ld) within Anauá National Forest in Roraima, Brazil. A total of 14,730 trees with a DBH ≥ 10 cm were inventoried across 30 hectares (ha), distributed among 55 botanical families, 183 genera, 386 species, and 123 undetermined trees. Ten hyperdominant tree families accounted for 69% of the sampled trees and 65% of the stored forest carbon (102.9 ± 5.0 Mg ha⁻¹), like Arecaceae (2555 trees), Fabaceae (1738 trees), and Sapotaceae (1311 trees). Ten hyperdominant species accounted for 32% of the sampled individuals and 32% of the stored forest carbon (46.3 ± 3.8 Mg ha⁻¹), like Euterpe precatoria (1151 trees), Pouteria macrophylla (561 trees) and Inga alba (574 trees). Anauá National Forest has great potential for sustainable multiple-use forest management through forest concessions; however, tree mortality due to natural causes and anthropogenic actions (deforestation, illegal selective logging, and forest fires) was considered high (7%) for tropical forests in the Amazon. Full article

Rising temperatures, extreme precipitation events such as excessive or insufficient rainfall, increasing levels of carbon dioxide, and associated climatic factors will persistently impact crop growth and agricultural production. The warming temperatures have reduced the agricultural crop yields. Rice (Oryza sativa L.) is the major food crop, which is particularly susceptible to the effects of climate change. It is very important to accurately evaluate the impacts of climate change on rice growth and rice yield. In this study, the rice growth during 1981–2018 (baseline period) and 2041–2100 (future period) were separately simulated and compared within the CERES-Rice model (v4.6) using high-quality weather data, soil, and field experimental data at six agro-meteorological stations in Hainan Province. For the climate data of the future period, the SSP1-2.6, SSP3-7.0, and SSP5-8.5 scenarios were applied, with carbon dioxide (CO₂) fertilization effects considered. The adaptation strategies such as adjusting planting dates and switching rice cultivars were also assessed. The simulation results indicated that the early rice yields in the 2050s, 2070s, and 2090s were projected to decrease by 6.2%, 11.8%, and 20.0% when the CO₂ fertilization effect was not considered, compared with the results of the baseline period, respectively, while late rice yields would decline by 9.9%, 23.4%, and 36.3% correspondingly. When accounting for the CO₂ fertilization effect, the yields of early rice and late rice in the 2090s increased 16.9% and 6.2%, respectively. Regarding adaptation measures, adjusting planting dates and switching rice cultivars could increase early rice yields by 22.7% and 43.3%, respectively, while increasing late rice yields by 20.2% and 34.2% correspondingly. This study holds substantial scientific importance for elucidating the mechanistic pathways through which climate change influences rice productivity in tropical agro-ecosystems, and provides a critical foundation for formulating evidence-based adaptation strategies to mitigate climate-related risks in a timely manner. Cultivar substitution and temporal shifts in planting dates constituted two adaptation strategies for attenuating the adverse impacts of anthropogenic climate change on rice. Full article

Constructed wetlands (CWs) are nature-based solutions that integrate ecological processes for water purification, climate regulation, and biodiversity enhancement. However, biodiversity monitoring in CWs has often been underprioritized, limiting its recognition as a functional driver of ecosystem service performance. This study first developed the Biodiversity-based Ecosystem Service Index (BBESI), a hierarchical framework for evaluating biodiversity contributions to regulating services, and then systematically identified representative indicators from the literature to operationalize this framework. Following PRISMA 2020 guidelines, 39 studies spanning tropical, temperate, and arid climatic regions were reviewed across six ecosystem functions: pollutant removal, nutrient retention, biological uptake, carbon storage, greenhouse gas regulation, and microclimate control. Indicators were considered representative when they demonstrated clear functional relevance to CW ecosystem processes and were repeatedly supported across the reviewed studies. These included microbial diversity metrics, nutrient-cycling functional genes, plant–microbe functional complementarity, and vegetation structural attributes. Each indicator was mapped to the Essential Biodiversity Variables (EBV) framework, spanning Genetic Composition, Species Traits, Community Composition, Ecosystem Structure, and Ecosystem Function to provide a standardized basis for biodiversity assessment, using a rule-based assignment that prioritized the biological signal of each indicator rather than its functional category. Although all EBV classes were represented, this pattern reflects the available literature and is influenced by uneven reporting across microbial and plant indicators and across climatic regions, which limits broad generalization of indicator strength. The BBESI offers a transferable framework because its EBV-aligned structure and commonly measured indicators allow application across diverse CW designs and environmental contexts provided that multiple EBV co-signals are present rather than reliance on single-indicator measurements, with flexibility for future integration of various quantitative weighting approaches. Full article

Soil organic carbon (SOC) plays a crucial role in climate change mitigation by regulating atmospheric CO₂ and maintaining ecosystem balance; however, its stability is influenced by land use in anthropized areas such as the tropical Andes. This study developed a dynamic compartmental model based on ordinary differential equations to simulate carbon fluxes among litter, humus, and microbial biomass under four land uses in the Las-Piedras River basin (Popayán, Colombia): riparian forest (RF), ecological restoration (ER), natural-regeneration (NR), and livestock (LS). The model includes two decomposition rate constants: k₁, for the transformation of fresh organic matter, and k₂, for the turnover of humified organic matter. It was calibrated using field data on soil physicochemical and biological properties, as well as carbon inputs and outputs. The results showed clear differences in SOC dynamics among land uses: RF had the highest SOC stocks (148.7 Mg ha⁻¹) and microbial biomass, while LS showed the lowest values and the greatest deviation due to compaction and low residue input. The humus fraction remained the most stable pool (k₂ ≈ 10⁻⁴ month⁻¹), confirming its recalcitrant nature. Overall, the model reproduced SOC behavior accurately (MAE = 0.01–0.30 Mg ha⁻¹) and provides a framework for improving soil carbon management in mountain ecosystems. Full article