Search Results (3,682)

The Tibetan Plateau (TP) is experiencing higher warming rates than elsewhere, which may affect regional vegetation growth. Particularly on the Eastern Tibetan Plateau (ETP), where the topography is diverse and rich in biodiversity, it is necessary to clarify the drivers of climate and topography on vegetation cover. In this research, we selected the Shaluli Mountains (SLLM) in the ETP as the study area, monitored the spatial and temporal dynamics of the regional vegetation cover using remote sensing methods, and quantified the drivers of vegetation change using Geodetector (GD). The results showed a decreasing trend in annual precipitation (PRE) (−2.4054 mm/year) and the Palmer Drought Severity Index (PDSI) (−0.1813/year) in the SLLM. Annual maximum temperature (TMX) on the spatial and temporal scales showed an overall increasing trend, and the regional climate tended to become warmer and drier. Since 2000, fractional vegetation cover (FVC) has shown a fluctuating upward trend, with an average value of 0.6710, and FVC has spatially shown a pattern of “low in the middle and high in the surroundings”. The areas with non-significant increases (p > 0.05) and significant increases (p < 0.05) in FVC accounted for 46.03% and 5.76% of the SLLM. Altitude (q = 0.3517) and TMX (q = 0.3158) were the main drivers of FVC changes. As altitude and TMX increased, FVC showed a trend of increasing and then decreasing. The results of this study help us to clarify the influence of climate and topography on the vegetation ecosystem of the ETP and provide a scientific basis for regional biodiversity conservation and sustainable development. Full article

Wildfire and drought are key drivers of shrubland expansion in southwestern US landscapes. Stand-replacing fires in conifer forests induce shrub-dominated stages, and changing climatic patterns may cause a long-term shift to deciduous shrubland. We assessed change in deciduous fractional shrub cover (DFSC) in the eastern Jemez Mountains from 2019 to 2023 using topographic and Sentinel-2 satellite data and evaluated the impact of spatial scale on model performance. First, we built a 10 m and a 20 m random forest model. The 20 m model outperformed the 10 m model, achieving an R-squared value of 0.82 and an RMSE of 7.85, compared to the 10 m model (0.76 and 9.99, respectively). We projected the 20 m model to the other years of the study using imagery from the respective years, yielding yearly DFSC predictions. DFSC decreased from 2019 to 2022, coinciding with severe drought and a 2022 fire, followed by an increase in 2023, particularly within the 2022 fire footprint. Overall, DFSC trends showed an increase, with elevation being a key variable influencing these trends. This framework revealed vegetation dynamics in a semi-arid system and provided a close look at post-fire regeneration in deciduous resprouting shrubs and could be applied to similar systems. Full article

To investigate the spatiotemporal evolution characteristics and primary driving factors of Gross Primary Productivity (GPP) on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, we employed an enhanced MODIS-PSN model. Utilizing the fifth-generation global climate reanalysis dataset (ECMWF ERA5), we generated GPP remote sensing products by integrating six natural factors. Through correlation analysis and geographical detector modeling, we quantitatively analyzed the spatiotemporal dynamics and key drivers of vegetation GPP across the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau from 2001 to 2022. The results demonstrate that GPP changes across the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau display pronounced spatial heterogeneity. The humid northeastern and southeastern regions exhibit significantly positive change rates, primarily distributed across wetland and forest ecosystems, with a maximum mean annual change rate of 12.40 gC/m²/year. In contrast, the central and southern regions display a decreasing trend, with the minimum change rate reaching −1.61 gC/m²/year, predominantly concentrated in alpine grasslands and desert areas. Vegetation GPP on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau shows significant correlations with temperature, vapor pressure deficit (VPD), evapotranspiration (ET), leaf area index (LAI), precipitation, and radiation. Among the factors analyzed, LAI demonstrates the strongest explanatory power for spatial variations in vegetation GPP across the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. The dominant factors influencing vegetation GPP on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau are LAI, ET, and precipitation. The pairwise interactions between these factors exhibit linear enhancement effects, demonstrating synergistic multifactor interactions. This study systematically analyzed the response mechanisms and variations of vegetation GPP to multiple driving factors across the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau from a spatial heterogeneity perspective. The findings provide both a critical theoretical framework and practical insights for better understanding ecosystem response dynamics and drought conditions on the plateau. Full article

High nighttime temperature (HNT) due to asymmetric diurnal warming threatens wheat productivity. This study evaluated the effect of HNT on wheat phenology, physiology, and yield through field and controlled environment experiments in Central Queensland, Australia. Two wheat genotypes, Faraday and AVT#6, were assessed under three sowing dates—1 May (Early), 15 June (Mid), and 1 August (Late)—within the recommended sowing window for the region. In a parallel growth chamber study, the plants were exposed to two nighttime temperature regimes, of 15 °C (normal) and 20 °C (high), with consistent daytime conditions from booting to maturity. Late sowing resulted in shortened vegetative growth and grain filling periods and increased exposure to HNT during the reproductive phase. This resulted in elevated floret sterility, lower grain weight, and up to 40% yield loss. AVT#6 exhibited greater sensitivity to HNT despite maturing earlier. Leaf gas exchange analysis revealed increased nighttime respiration (Rn) and reduced assimilation (A), resulting in higher Rn/A ratio for late-sown crops. The results from controlled environment chambers resembled trends of the field experiment, producing lower grain yield and biomass under HNT. Cumulative nighttime hours above 20 °C correlated more strongly with yield losses than daytime heat. These findings highlight the need for HNT-tolerant genotypes and optimized sowing schedules under future climate scenarios. Full article

Bare land exposed by glacier retreat provides new opportunities for ecosystem development. Investigating primary vegetation succession in deglaciated regions can provide significant insights for ecological restoration, particularly for future climate change scenarios. Nonetheless, research on this topic in the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau has been exceedingly limited. This study aimed to investigate vegetation succession in the deglaciated area of the Zepu glacier during the Little Ice Age in southeastern Tibet. Quadrat surveys were performed on arboreal communities, and trends in vegetation change were assessed utilizing multi-year (1986–2024) remote sensing data. The findings indicate that vegetation succession in the Zepu glacier deglaciated area typically adheres to a sequence of bare land–shrub–tree, divided into four stages: (1) shrub (species include Larix griffithii Mast., Hippophae rhamnoides subsp. yunnanensis Rousi, Betula utilis D. Don, and Populus pseudoglauca C. Wang & P. Y. Fu); (2) broadleaf forest primarily dominated by Hippophae rhamnoides subsp. yunnanensis Rousi; (3) mixed coniferous–broadleaf forest with Hippophae rhamnoides subsp. yunnanensis Rousi and Populus pseudoglauca C. Wang & P. Y. Fu as the dominant species; and (4) mixed coniferous–broadleaf forest dominated by Picea likiangensis (Franch.) E. Pritz. Soil depth and NDVI both increase with succession. Species diversity is significantly higher in the third stage compared to other successional stages. In addition, soil moisture content is significantly greater in the broadleaf-dominated communities than in the conifer-dominated communities. An analysis of NDVI from 1986 to 2024 reveals an overall positive trend in vegetation recovery in the area, with 93% of the area showing significant vegetation increase. Temperature is the primary controlling factor for this recovery, showing a positive correlation with vegetation cover. The results indicate that Key ecological indicators—including species composition, diversity, NDVI, soil depth, and soil moisture content—exhibit stage-specific patterns, reflecting distinct phases of primary succession. These findings enhance our comprehension of vegetation succession in deglaciated areas and their influencing factors in deglaciated areas, providing theoretical support for vegetation restoration in climate change. Full article

Arid and semi-arid areas serve a critical regulatory function within the global carbon cycle. Understanding the response mechanisms of vegetation productivity to variations in moisture availability represents a fundamental scientific challenge in elucidating terrestrial carbon dynamics. This study systematically disentangled the respective influences of summer surface soil moisture (RSM) and precipitation (PRE) on gross primary productivity (GPP) across arid and semi-arid regions of China from 2000 to 2022. Utilizing GPP datasets alongside correlation analysis, ridge regression, and data binning techniques, the investigation yielded several key findings: (1) Both GPP and RSM exhibited significant upward trends within the study area, whereas precipitation showed no statistically significant trend; notably, GPP demonstrated the highest rate of increase at 0.455 Cg m⁻² a⁻¹. (2) Decoupling analysis indicated a coupled relationship between RSM and PRE; however, their individual effects on GPP were not merely a consequence of this coupling. Controlling for evapotranspiration and root-zone soil moisture interference, the analysis revealed that under conditions of elevated RSM, the average increase in summer–autumn GPP (SA_GPP) was 0.249, significantly surpassing the increase observed under high-PRE conditions (−0.088). Areas dominated by RSM accounted for 62.13% of the total study region. Furthermore, examination of the aridity gradient demonstrated that the predominance of RSM intensified with increasing aridity, reaching its peak influence in extremely arid zones. This research provides a quantitative assessment of the differential impacts of RSM and PRE on vegetation productivity in China’s arid and semi-arid areas, thereby offering a vital theoretical foundation for improving predictions of terrestrial carbon sink dynamics under future climate change scenarios. Full article

The rapid urbanization process has accelerated the degradation of ecosystem services (ESs) in peri-urban rural areas of the Yangtze River Delta (YRD), leading to increasing landscape ecological risks (LERs). Establishing a scientifically grounded landscape ecological risk assessment (LERA) system and corresponding control strategies is therefore imperative. Using rural areas of Jiangning District, Nanjing as a case study, this research proposes an optimized dual-dimensional coupling assessment framework that integrates ecosystem service value (ESV) and ecological risk probability. The spatiotemporal evolution of LER in 2000, 2010, and 2020 and its key driving factors were further studied by using spatial autocorrelation analysis and geodetector methods. The results show the following: (1) From 2000 to 2020, cultivated land remained dominant, but its proportion decreased by 10.87%, while construction land increased by 26.52%, with minimal changes in other land use types. (2) The total ESV increased by CNY 1.67 × 10⁹, with regulating services accounting for over 82%, among which water bodies contributed the most. (3) LER showed an overall increasing trend, with medium- to highest-risk areas expanding by 55.37%, lowest-risk areas increasing by 10.10%, and lower-risk areas decreasing by 65.48%. (4) Key driving factors include landscape vulnerability, vegetation coverage, and ecological land connectivity, with the influence of distance to road becoming increasingly significant. This study reveals the spatiotemporal evolution characteristics of LER in typical peri-urban villages. Based on the LERA results, combined with terrain features and ecological pressure intensity, the study area was divided into three ecological management zones: ecological conservation, ecological restoration, and ecological enhancement. Corresponding zoning strategies were proposed to guide rural ecological governance and support regional sustainable development. Full article

Vegetation dynamics are complexly influenced by multiple factors such as climate, human activities, and topography. In recent years, the frequency, intensity, and diversity of human activities have increased, placing substantial pressure on the growth of vegetation. Arid and semi-arid regions are particularly sensitive to climate change, and climate change and large-scale ecological restoration have led to significant changes in the dynamic of dryland vegetation. However, few studies have explored the nonlinear relationships between these factors and vegetation dynamic. In this study, we integrated trend analysis (using the Mann–Kendall test and Theil–Sen estimation) and machine learning algorithms (XGBoost-SHAP model) based on long time-series remote sensing data from 2001 to 2020 to quantify the nonlinear response patterns and threshold effects of bioclimatic variables, topographic features, soil attributes, and anthropogenic factors on vegetation dynamic. The results revealed the following key findings: (1) The kNDVI in the study area showed an overall significant increasing trend (p < 0.01) during the observation period, of which 26.7% of the area showed a significant increase. (2) The water content index (Bio 23, 19.6%), the change in land use (15.2%), multi-year average precipitation (pre, 15.0%), population density (13.2%), and rainfall seasonality (Bio 15, 10.9%) were the key factors driving the dynamic change of vegetation, with the combined contribution of natural factors amounting to 64.3%. (3) Among the topographic factors, altitude had a more significant effect on vegetation dynamics, with higher altitude regions less likely to experience vegetation greening. Both natural and anthropogenic factors exhibited nonlinear responses and interactive effects, contributing to the observed dynamic trends. This study provides valuable insights into the driving mechanisms behind the condition of vegetation in arid and semi-arid regions of China and, by extension, in other arid regions globally. Full article

The Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau is one of the world’s most prominent biodiversity hotspots. Understanding the spatial patterns of ecological uniqueness in its plant communities is essential for uncovering the mechanisms of community assembly and informing effective conservation strategies. In this study, we analyzed data from 758 plots across 338 sites on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. For each plot, the vegetation type was classified, and all plant species present, along with their respective abundance or coverage, were recorded in the database. To assess overall compositional variation, community β-diversity was quantified, while a plot-level approach was applied to determine the influence of local environmental conditions and community characteristics on ecological uniqueness. We used stepwise multiple regressions, variation partitioning, and structural equation modeling to identify the key drivers of spatial variation in ecological uniqueness. Our results show that (1) local contributions to β-diversity (LCBD) exhibit significant geographic variation—increasing with longitude, decreasing with latitude, and showing a unimodal trend along the elevational gradient; (2) shrubs and trees contribute more to β-diversity than herbaceous species, and LCBD is strongly linked to the proportion of rare species; and (3) community characteristics, including species richness and vegetation coverage, are the main direct drivers of ecological uniqueness, explaining 36.9% of the variance, whereas climate and soil properties exert indirect effects through their interactions. Structural equation modeling further reveals a coordinated influence of soil, climate, and community attributes on LCBD, primarily mediated through soil nutrient availability. These findings provide a theoretical basis for adaptive biodiversity management on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau and underscore the conservation value of regions with high ecological uniqueness. Full article

Climate warming poses significant challenges for the sustainable management of natural water resources, making efficient planning and usage essential. This study evaluates the water requirements, irrigation demand, and rainfall deficits for two key vegetable crops, carrot and white cabbage, under projected climate scenarios RCP 4.5 and RCP 8.5 for the period 2031–2100. The analysis was conducted for Kraków and Rzeszów Counties in southern Poland using projected monthly temperature and precipitation data from the Klimada 2.0 portal. Potential evapotranspiration (ETp) during the growing season (May–October) was estimated using Treder’s empirical model and the crop coefficient method adapted for Polish conditions. The reference period for comparison was 1951–2020. The results reveal a significant upward trend in water demand for both crops, with the highest increases under the RCP 8.5 scenario–seasonal ETp values reaching up to 517 mm for cabbage and 497 mm for carrot. Rainfall deficits are projected to intensify, especially during July and August, with greater shortages in Rzeszów County compared to Kraków County. Irrigation demand varies depending on soil type and drought severity, becoming critical in medium and very dry years. These findings underscore the necessity of adapting irrigation strategies and water resource management to ensure sustainable vegetable production under changing climate conditions. The data provide valuable guidance for farmers, advisors, and policymakers in planning effective irrigation infrastructure and optimizing water-use efficiency in southern Poland. Full article

Background/Objectives: Understanding the impact of dietary habits in terms of obesity, health outcomes, and functional decline is critical in Europe’s growing elderly population. This study analyzed trends in Mediterranean diet (MD) adherence, obesity prevalence, and grip strength among middle-aged and elderly Europeans using data from the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE). Methods: Data from four SHARE waves (2015–2022) across 28 countries were analyzed. Dietary patterns were assessed through food frequency questionnaires classifying participants as MD-adherent or non-adherent where adherent implies daily consumption of fruits and vegetables and occasional (3–6 times/week) intake of eggs, beans, legumes, meat, fish, or poultry (an unvalidated definition of the MD pattern). Handgrip strength, a biomarker of functional capacity, was categorized into low, medium, and high groups. Body mass index (BMI), self-perceived health (SPHUS), chronic disease prevalence, and CASP-12 scores (control, autonomy, self-realization, and pleasure evaluated on the 12-item version) were also evaluated. Statistical analyses included descriptive methods, logistic regressions, and multiple imputations to address missing data. Results: A significant majority (74–77%) consumed fruits and vegetables daily, which is consistent with MD principles; however, the high daily intake of dairy products (>50%) indicates limited adherence to the MD, which advocates for moderate consumption of dairy products. Logistic regression indicated that individuals with two or more chronic diseases were more likely to follow the MD (odds ratio [OR] = 1.21, confidence interval [CI] = 1.11–1.32), as were those individuals who rated their SPHUS as very good/excellent ([OR] = 1.42, [CI] = 1.20–1.69). Medium and high maximal handgrip were also strongly and consistently associated with higher odds of MD adherence (Medium: [OR] = 1.44, [CI] = 1.18–1.74; High: [OR] = 1.27, [CI] = 1.10–1.48). Conclusions: The findings suggest that middle-aged and older adults are more likely to adhere to the MD dietary pattern if they have more than two chronic diseases, are physically active, and have a medium or high handgrip. Although an unvalidated definition of the MD dietary pattern was used, the results highlight the importance of implementing targeted dietary strategies for middle-aged and elderly adults. Full article

Gully erosion refers to the landform formed by soil and water loss through gully development, which is a critical manifestation of soil degradation. However, research on the spatio-temporal variations in erosion gullies at the county scale remains insufficient, particularly regarding changes in gully aggregation and their driving factors. This study utilized high-resolution remote sensing imagery, gully interpretation information, topographic data, meteorological records, vegetation coverage, soil texture, and land use datasets to analyze the spatio-temporal patterns and influencing factors of erosion gully evolution in Bin County, Heilongjiang Province of China, from 2012 to 2022. Kernel density evaluation (KDE) analysis was also employed to explore these dynamics. The results indicate that the gully number in Bin County has significantly increased over the past decade. Gully development involves not only headward erosion of gully heads but also lateral expansion of gully channels. Gully evolution is most pronounced in slope intervals. While gentle slopes and slope intervals host the highest density of gullies, the aspect does not significantly influence gully development. Vegetation coverage exhibits a clear threshold effect of 0.6 in inhibiting erosion gully formation. Additionally, cultivated areas contain the largest number of gullies and experience the most intense changes; gully aggregation in forested and grassland regions shows an upward trend; the central part of the black soil region has witnessed a marked decrease in gully aggregation; and meadow soil areas exhibit relatively stable spatio-temporal variations in gully distribution. These findings provide valuable data and decision-making support for soil erosion control and transformation efforts. Full article

Carbon storage is a critical factor for ensuring the provision of ecosystem services such as biodiversity conservation, particularly in nature reserves. Understanding the spatial and temporal dynamics of carbon storage within China’s nature reserves (NRs) is essential for evaluating their role in ecosystem conservation. Using NDVI values, we assessed vegetation carbon storage in NRs across China from 2000 to 2015. The results revealed a 63.06% increase in carbon storage within NRs over the 15-year period, with forest vegetation and grassland vegetation carbon storage increasing by 60.05% and 86.33%, respectively. Approximately 90% of NRs exhibited positive growth rates, with higher increases observed in northeastern and western China compared to other regions. While the carbon density of forest vegetation in NRs exceeded that of areas outside reserves, grassland vegetation displayed the opposite trend. Overall, vegetation carbon storage in NRs demonstrated a significant upward trajectory over the study period. These findings highlight the importance of nature reserves in safeguarding forest carbon functions; however, their protective effect on grassland vegetation carbon function was less pronounced. Full article

Plant functional traits serve as vital tools for understanding vegetation adaptation mechanisms in changing environments. As the primary organs for nutrient acquisition from soil, fine roots are highly sensitive to environmental variations. However, current research on fine-root adaptation strategies predominantly focuses on tropical, subtropical, and temperate forests, leaving a significant gap in comprehensive knowledge regarding fine-root responses in rocky-desertification habitats. This study investigates the fine roots of Pseudotsuga sinensis across varying degrees of rocky desertification (mild, moderate, severe, and extremely severe). By analyzing fine-root morphological and nutrient traits, we aim to elucidate the trait differences and correlations under different desertification intensities. The results indicate that root dry matter content increases significantly with escalating desertification severity. Fine roots in mild and extremely severe desertification exhibit notably higher root C, K, and Mg concentrations compared to those in moderate and severe desertification, while root Ca concentration shows an inverse trend. Our correlation analyses reveal a highly significant positive relationship between specific root length and specific root area, whereas root dry matter content demonstrates a significant negative correlation with elemental concentrations. The principal component analysis (PCA) further indicates that the trait associations adopted by the forest in mild- and extremely severe-desertification environments are different from those in moderate- and severe-desertification environments. This study did not account for soil nutrient dynamics, microbial diversity, or enzymatic activity—key factors influencing fine-root adaptation. Future research should integrate root traits with soil properties to holistically assess resource strategies in rocky-desertification ecosystems. This study can serve as a theoretical reference for research on root characteristics and adaptation strategies of plants in rocky-desertification habitats. Full article

The Inner Mongolia Plateau (IMP), situated in the arid and semi-arid ecological transition zone of northern China, is particularly vulnerable to both climate change and human activities. Understanding the spatiotemporal vegetation dynamics and their driving forces is essential for regional ecological management. This study employs Sen’s slope estimation, BFAST analysis, residual trend method and Geodetector to analyze the spatial patterns of Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) variability and distinguish between climatic and anthropogenic influences. Key findings include the following: (1) From 1982 to 2022, vegetation cover across the IMP exhibited a significant greening trend. Zonal analysis showed that this spatial heterogeneity was strongly regulated by regional hydrothermal conditions, with varied responses across land cover types and pronounced recovery observed in high-altitude areas. (2) In the western arid regions, vegetation trends were unstable, often marked by interruptions and reversals, contrasting with the sustained greening observed in the eastern zones. (3) Vegetation growth was primarily temperature-driven in the eastern forested areas, precipitation-driven in the central grasslands, and severely limited in the western deserts due to warming-induced drought. (4) Human activities exerted dual effects: significant positive residual trends were observed in the Hetao Plain and southern Horqin Sandy Land, while widespread negative residuals emerged across the southern deserts and central grasslands. (5) Vegetation change was driven by climate and human factors, with recovery mainly due to climate improvement and degradation linked to their combined impact. These findings highlight the interactive mechanisms of climate change and human disturbance in regulating terrestrial vegetation dynamics, offering insights for sustainable development and ecosystem education in climate-sensitive systems. Full article