Topic Editors

Future Ecosystems Lab, Institute of Environment and Ecology, Tsinghua Shenzhen International Graduate School, Tsinghua University, Shenzhen 518055, China
Dr. Jie Li
Institute of Informatics, University of Amsterdam, 1098 XH Amsterdam, The Netherlands

Bioterraformation: Emergent Function from Systemic Eco-Engineering

Abstract submission deadline
30 September 2025
Manuscript submission deadline
30 November 2025
Viewed by
6380

Topic Information

Dear Colleagues,

Engineering desired ecosystem functions via the precise design of biotic and abiotic components is one of the most challenging but essential elements for climate regulation and Earth survivability. The special topic aims to gather research studies that disrupt the current status quo of eco-development and -protection and look into habitat creation (particularly self-emergent habitats) via eco-engineer species, coordinated infrastructures, and hydrologic flows. In particular, the issue targets studies where ecohydrogeomorphology is the key element to engineering ecosystem services based on ecological structures, such as water filtration, sediment regulation, carbon sequestration, and biodiversity enhancement (among others). Specific studies, studies on systemic risk and design, and metanalysis are all welcome.

Dr. Matteo Convertino
Dr. Jie Li
Topic Editors

Keywords

  • biodiversity
  • ecosystems
  • environment
  • ecology
  • monitoring
  • sensing
  • models
  • predictions
  • information
  • networks
  • collective
  • dynamics
  • terraformation
  • self-emergence
  • ecohydrology
  • eco-engineering
  • climate regulation
  • eco-design

Participating Journals

Journal Name Impact Factor CiteScore Launched Year First Decision (median) APC
Entropy
entropy
2.1 4.9 1999 22.4 Days CHF 2600 Submit
Environments
environments
3.5 5.7 2014 25.7 Days CHF 1800 Submit
Land
land
3.2 4.9 2012 17.8 Days CHF 2600 Submit
Remote Sensing
remotesensing
4.2 8.3 2009 24.7 Days CHF 2700 Submit

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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16 pages, 7922 KiB  
Article
Ecosystem Resilience Trends and Its Influencing Factors in China’s Three-River Headwater Region: A Comprehensive Analysis Using CSD Indicators (1982–2023)
by Zishan Wang, Wenli Huang and Xiaobin Guan
Land 2024, 13(8), 1224; https://doi.org/10.3390/land13081224 - 7 Aug 2024
Viewed by 857
Abstract
Ecosystem resilience, the ability of an ecosystem to recover from disturbances, is a critical indicator of environmental health and stability, particularly under the impacts of climate change and anthropogenic pressures. This study focuses on the Three-River Headwater Region (TRHR), a critical ecological area [...] Read more.
Ecosystem resilience, the ability of an ecosystem to recover from disturbances, is a critical indicator of environmental health and stability, particularly under the impacts of climate change and anthropogenic pressures. This study focuses on the Three-River Headwater Region (TRHR), a critical ecological area for East and Southeast Asia, often referred to as the “Water Tower of China”. We used the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) as a proxy for vegetation growth and productivity and calculated Critical Slowing Down (CSD) indicators to assess the spatiotemporal dynamics of grassland ecosystem resilience in the TRHR from 1984 to 2021. Our research revealed a sustained improvement in ecosystem resilience in the TRHR starting in the late 1990s, with a reversal in this trend observed after 2011. Spatially, ecosystem resilience was higher in areas with greater precipitation and higher vegetation productivity. Temporally, changes in grazing intensity were most strongly correlated with resilience dynamics, with explanatory power far exceeding that of NDVI, temperature, and precipitation. Our study underscores the importance of incorporating ecosystem resilience into assessments of ecosystem function changes and the effectiveness of ecological conservation measures, providing valuable insights for similar research in other regions of the world. Full article
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23 pages, 15025 KiB  
Article
Assessment of Ecological Quality and Analysis of Influencing Factors in Coal-Bearing Hilly Areas of Northern China: An Exploration of Human Mining and Natural Topography
by Jiaqi Li and Yi Tian
Land 2024, 13(7), 1067; https://doi.org/10.3390/land13071067 - 16 Jul 2024
Viewed by 653
Abstract
The Changhe Basin is located in the earth–rock mountainous area in southeastern Shanxi, China, and represents a characteristic northern coal-bearing hilly area. The terrain is complex, and the area is rich in coal mines. It plays an indispensable role in maintaining ecological balance [...] Read more.
The Changhe Basin is located in the earth–rock mountainous area in southeastern Shanxi, China, and represents a characteristic northern coal-bearing hilly area. The terrain is complex, and the area is rich in coal mines. It plays an indispensable role in maintaining ecological balance and sustainable development in North China. To investigate the changes in ecological quality in the Changhe Basin, as well as the impact of human mining activities and natural topography on ecological quality, this study constructs the Remote Sensing Ecological Index (RSEI) based on Landsat remote sensing images from 2001, 2008, 2015, and 2022, undertaking an analysis of the spatial–temporal distribution characteristics of the ecological quality and its changing trends over the past 20 years. Additionally, spatial autocorrelation distribution features are revealed using Moran’s I. The exploration extends to examining the relationship between mining activities and the surrounding ecological quality. Subsequently, we study the relationship between Topographic Wetness Index (TWI) and RSEI. The results indicate the following: (1) On the temporal scale, the average proportion of RSEIs categorized as excellent and good from 2001 to 2022 is 46.78%. Types showcasing stable ecological conditions average 52.49%. The level of overall ecological quality of the basin has remained consistently high. On the spatial scale, the western part of the Changhe River, particularly in mountainous areas, exhibits higher ecological quality. Poorer areas concentrate in Chuandi Town in the southwestern part, and are significantly impacted by mining activities. The eastern region manifests areas undergoing either rapid or gradual degradation. (2) The four-phase Moran index results reveal a robust positive correlation in the spatial distribution of ecological quality within the basin. High–High and Low–Low clusters dominate, while High–Low and Low–High distributions are scattered. (3) Mining activities exert a discernible impact on the surrounding ecological quality. As the distance from the buffer zone outside the mining area increases, RSEI gradually decreases. The impact level exhibits an initial increase and subsequent decrease from 2001 to 2022. Full article
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13 pages, 2800 KiB  
Article
Collaborative Monitoring of Plant Biodiversity and Research on Sweet Acorn Oaks within Paths of Knowledge and Sustainability Education
by Antonino Soddu Pirellas, Mauro Ballero, Sebastiano Porcu, Giovanna Serra, Francesco Sanna and Michele Puxeddu
Environments 2024, 11(3), 59; https://doi.org/10.3390/environments11030059 - 20 Mar 2024
Viewed by 1686
Abstract
Numerous studies have shown the multiple benefits of plant biodiversity and the crucial role of residents’ awareness of conservation and land management. Plant biodiversity was investigated in an analytical monitoring report conducted jointly with the local population engaged in livestock activities and young [...] Read more.
Numerous studies have shown the multiple benefits of plant biodiversity and the crucial role of residents’ awareness of conservation and land management. Plant biodiversity was investigated in an analytical monitoring report conducted jointly with the local population engaged in livestock activities and young residents who were shifting toward hospitality and tourism. The study area, covering over 800 km2 in Sardinia, is half forested and attracts interest in its landscape. During our research, genotypes of Quercus ilex L., with sweet acorns rich in polyphenols, as the oldest ecosystem services in these rural communities, were discovered. Collaborative monitoring focused attention on the benefits of plants in different habitats as follows: 53% were known to livestock farmers as food for local breeds of goats and pigs, 15% were official, and 13% were endemic. They had also been used for human nutrition within the Mediterranean diet and attracted interest for their use in landscapes and gardens. This study analyzes numerical data from critical and educational perspectives. These data serve as indicators of ecosystem health for the purpose of sustainable management policies and attest to collaborative monitoring as a tool for analyzing human activities and the necessary balance between profit and biodiversity conservation, given the current challenging climate change conditions. Full article
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20 pages, 12897 KiB  
Article
Soil Organic Carbon Dynamics and Influencing Factors in the Zoige Alpine Wetland from the 1980s to 2020 Based on a Random Forest Model
by Haotian Zhang, Jianheng Wang, Yichen Zhang, Hongyu Qian, Zhiyi Xie, Yufu Hu, Yongjie Huang, Chuan Zhao, Wanli Cheng, Xiaoxuan Feng, Haoran Qi and Siqi Du
Land 2023, 12(10), 1923; https://doi.org/10.3390/land12101923 - 16 Oct 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1843
Abstract
Wetlands provide important ecosystem services, such as water conservation, biodiversity protection, and carbon sequestration. The Zoige alpine wetland is the largest high-altitude swamp in the world and plays a critical role in regional ecological balance and climate change. However, little is known about [...] Read more.
Wetlands provide important ecosystem services, such as water conservation, biodiversity protection, and carbon sequestration. The Zoige alpine wetland is the largest high-altitude swamp in the world and plays a critical role in regional ecological balance and climate change. However, little is known about the fate of its soil organic carbon (SOC) storage. In this study, we estimated the degradation status of the wetland over the past 35 years and used machine learning to investigate the dynamics and driving factors of SOC at different soil depths of the Zoige wetland in 1985, 2000, and 2020. We also simulated the future SOC balance under different scenarios. The results showed that the area of Zoige wetland has degraded by 378.71 km2 in the past 35 years. Increased precipitation and solar radiation offset the adverse effects of global warming, making the soil act as a carbon sink in the past 35 years. The total SOC storage of the wetland soils in 1985, 2000, and 2020 was estimated to be 2.03 Pg, 2.05 Pg, and 2.21 Pg, respectively, with 46.95% of SOC distributed in the subsoil layers. Climate change was the most important driving factor controlling the SOC storage of the Zoige wetland, explaining 51.33% of the SOC changes in the soil. Temperature change was always the most important factor controlling wetland SOC, and precipitation had a greater impact on the topsoil. Under the temperature control targets of 1.5 °C and 2 °C, the SOC pool of the Zoige wetland will decrease by 60.21 Tg C and 69.19 Tg C, respectively. Under scenarios of a 10% and 20% increase in precipitation, the wetland soil will accumulate an additional 46.53 Tg C and 118.89 Tg C, respectively. The study results provide important references for the sustainable management of the Zoige wetland under the background of global climate change. Full article
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