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Forest, Soil, and Plant Ecology in China

Works Count: 41429

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This cluster of papers focuses on web-based global education, sustainability indicators, and the impact of global change on geographical and environmental systems. It explores multicultural perspectives, carbon storage in forest ecosystems, and the use of remote sensing for monitoring climate change. The papers also discuss the dynamics of ecosystem responses to climate change and the potential of web-based education in addressing global challenges.

Keywords

Web-Based Education; Global Change; Sustainability Indicators; Multicultural Perspectives; Carbon Storage; Geographical Patterns; Environmental Systems; Remote Sensing; Climate Change; Ecosystem Dynamics

The Mesozoic Orogenic Movement in Eastern China.

1929-03-01

W. H. Wong

The forests of China with a survey of grassland and desert vegetation

1962-12-01

C Wang

travel in regions little known to most Western botanists . . .this book may be found of value to a wider circle of readers than those specifically engaged in floristic … travel in regions little known to most Western botanists . . .this book may be found of value to a wider circle of readers than those specifically engaged in floristic studies, and . .

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[Dynamics of plant community species diversity in the process of ecological rehabilitation in north Shaanxi loess area].

2009-02-01

Wei Qin , Qingke Zhu , Yuqing Zhang +1 more

Based on the vegetation survey on 18 sampling plots in Wuqi County of Shaanxi Province, and by using the methods of substituting space series for time series and of contrastive … Based on the vegetation survey on 18 sampling plots in Wuqi County of Shaanxi Province, and by using the methods of substituting space series for time series and of contrastive analysis, the dynamics of plant community species diversity in the process of ecological rehabilitation in the County was analyzed from the aspects of succession time, rehabilitation mode, and slope direction. The results showed that in the 25 years natural succession series, the natural restoration community on previous cropland experienced the sequence of Salsola collina, Artemisia scoparia, Lespedeza davurica, Artemisia sacrorum, and Bothriochloa ischcemum, with the dominant species tended to be changed from annual to perennial and from low-class to high-class. The variations of species number, Margalef index, Simpson index, Shannon-Wiener index, and Pielou index in the succession process could all be described by a quadratic function y = at2 + bt + c, suggesting that after the outside pressure removed, the degraded ecosystem in loess area could naturally restore to an advanced and steady state, but the restoration rate would be very slow. With the same site factors and restoration periods, the Margalef index, Shannon-Wiener index and Pielou index of herb layer decreased in the order of naturally restoring on previous cropland (I) > converting cropland to grassland (II) > converting cropland to forestland (III) > afforestation on barren hills (IV), while Simpson index changed in adverse. Comparing with natural restoration, the community types of herb layer in II and III were at the more advanced stage of natural succession series though the species diversity index was lower, indicating that artificial planting would accelerate the succession process. In the same period of rehabilitation, the Margalef index, Shannon-Wiener index and Pielou index of natural restoration community were obviously higher on shady slope than on sunny slope, and the community type was at the more advanced stage of natural succession series, suggesting that the basic ecological rehabilitation condition on sunny slope was worse, and the succession rate was slower.

Combating desertification in China: Past, present and future

2012-10-16

Wang Feng , Xubin Pan , Dongfang Wang +2 more

Recent Trends in Forestry and Conservation of Biodiversity in China

1998-12-01

James Harkness

Despite the transformative effects of millennia of human occupation, China remains a tremendous storehouse of biological diversity. The extremely mountainous terrain has fostered speciation by continuously isolating populations of plants … Despite the transformative effects of millennia of human occupation, China remains a tremendous storehouse of biological diversity. The extremely mountainous terrain has fostered speciation by continuously isolating populations of plants and animals. This topography (combined with the large area of the country that is sub-tropical and tropical) also provided refuge for many taxonomic groups during the major climate change-induced mass extinctions of the Pleistocene era, as well as the more recent Ice Ages. As a result, China is one of the world's major centres of biological diversity (or biodiversity), a term which refers to the variety of ecosystem types, the number of different of species and the genetic variability within a single species. In certain respects, thousands of years of human habitation has actually enhanced this diversity. Rice, soybeans, oranges, tea and many other crops were first domesticated in China, and generation upon generation of careful selection by farmers and pastoralists have made it one the earth's richest centres of crop and domesticated animal germplasm. The country's variety of wild plants and animals is greater than that of either North America or Europe, and equal to one-eighth of all species on earth.

China’s Primary Programs of Terrestrial Ecosystem Restoration: Initiation, Implementation, and Challenges

2009-09-21

Runsheng Yin , Guiping Yin

Characteristics of desertification and its rehabilitation in China

1997-11-01

Yong Zha , Jay Gao

Why Large-Scale Afforestation Efforts in China Have Failed To Solve the Desertification Problem

2008-03-01

Shixiong Cao

ADVERTISEMENT RETURN TO ISSUEPREVVIEWPOINTNEXTWhy Large-Scale Afforestation Efforts in China Have Failed To Solve the Desertification ProblemShixiong CaoCite this: Environ. Sci. Technol. 2008, 42, 6, 1826–1831Publication Date (Web):March 15, 2008Publication History … ADVERTISEMENT RETURN TO ISSUEPREVVIEWPOINTNEXTWhy Large-Scale Afforestation Efforts in China Have Failed To Solve the Desertification ProblemShixiong CaoCite this: Environ. Sci. Technol. 2008, 42, 6, 1826–1831Publication Date (Web):March 15, 2008Publication History Published online15 March 2008Published inissue 1 March 2008https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/es0870597https://doi.org/10.1021/es0870597newsACS Publications. This publication is available under these Terms of Use. Request reuse permissions This publication is free to access through this site. Learn MoreArticle Views9659Altmetric-Citations334LEARN ABOUT THESE METRICSArticle Views are the COUNTER-compliant sum of full text article downloads since November 2008 (both PDF and HTML) across all institutions and individuals. These metrics are regularly updated to reflect usage leading up to the last few days.Citations are the number of other articles citing this article, calculated by Crossref and updated daily. Find more information about Crossref citation counts.The Altmetric Attention Score is a quantitative measure of the attention that a research article has received online. Clicking on the donut icon will load a page at altmetric.com with additional details about the score and the social media presence for the given article. Find more information on the Altmetric Attention Score and how the score is calculated. Share Add toView InAdd Full Text with ReferenceAdd Description ExportRISCitationCitation and abstractCitation and referencesMore Options Share onFacebookTwitterWechatLinked InRedditEmail PDF (4 MB) Get e-Alertsclose Get e-Alerts

Desertification in north China: background, anthropogenic impacts and failures in combating it

2005-07-01

Y. Chen , Haiping Tang

Abstract Desertification in north China is ongoing despite the endeavours to mitigate it over the past 50 years. Overall examination of the context of desertification and defects of desertification‐combating programmes … Abstract Desertification in north China is ongoing despite the endeavours to mitigate it over the past 50 years. Overall examination of the context of desertification and defects of desertification‐combating programmes is a prerequisite for desertification control, which is now attracting general concern in China. The physiographic circumstances of north China, including the dry, continental, mid‐latitude climate, easily erodible soil surface and water shortage, provide the background to desertification. Climatic aridity and the evolution of land use and land management in recent decades have produced great stress on the land. The ineffectiveness of anti‐desertification measures ascribed to inadequate scientific involvement in decision‐making, neglect of the human dimension and the lack of a well‐organized desertification monitoring system are discussed in this paper. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Degradation and restoration of forest ecosystems in China

2004-09-30

Wenhua Li

Slope aspect has effects on productivity and species composition of hilly grassland in the Xilin River Basin, Inner Mongolia, China

2007-09-19

Xiao Ying Gong , Holger Brueck , K.M. Giese +3 more

Isolation of gibberellin metabolic pathway genes from barley and comparative mapping in barley, wheat and rice

2004-05-13

Wolfgang Spielmeyer , Marc H. Ellis , Masumi Robertson +3 more

The effects of fluctuations in weather upon the grasslands of the great plains

1958-05-01

R. T. Coupland

Vegetation and soil carbon storage in China

2004-01-01

Kerang Li , Wang Shaoqiang , Cao Mingkui

Endogenous gibberellins in Arabidopsis thaliana and possible steps blocked in the biosynthetic pathways of the semidwarf ga4 and ga5 mutants.

1990-10-01

Manuel Talón , Maarten Koornneef , J. A. D. Zeevaart

Twenty gibberellins (GAs) have been identified in extracts from shoots of the Landsberg erecta line of Arabidopsis thaliana by full-scan gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and Kovats retention indices. Eight of them … Twenty gibberellins (GAs) have been identified in extracts from shoots of the Landsberg erecta line of Arabidopsis thaliana by full-scan gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and Kovats retention indices. Eight of them are members of the early-13-hydroxylation pathway (GA53, GA44, GA19, GA17, GA20, GA1, GA29, and GA8), six are members of the early-3-hydroxylation pathway (GA37, GA27, GA36, GA13, GA4, and GA34), and the remaining six are members of the non-3,13-hydroxylation pathway (GA12, GA15, GA24, GA25, GA9, and GA51). Seven of these GAs were quantified in the Landsberg erecta line of Arabidopsis and in the semidwarf ga4 and ga5 mutants by gas chromatography-selected ion monitoring (SIM) using internal standards. The relative levels of the remaining 13 GAs were compared by the use of ion intensities only. In comparison with the Landsberg erecta line, the ga4 mutant had reduced levels of the 3-hydroxy- and 3,13-dihydroxy-GAs, and it accumulated the 13-hydroxy-GAs, except GA53, and the non-3,13-hydroxy-GAs, except GA12. The GA4 gene encodes, therefore, a protein with 3 beta-hydroxylation activity. The ga5 mutant had reduced levels of the C19-GAs, which indicates that the product of the GA5 gene catalyzes the elimination of C-20 at the aldehyde level. The ga5 mutant also had increased levels of certain C20-GAs, which indicates existence of an additional control, possibly hydroxylation of C-20. The growth-response data, as well as the accumulation of GA9 in the ga4 mutant, indicate that GA9 is not active in Arabidopsis, but it must be 3 beta-hydroxylated to GA4 to become bioactive. It is concluded that the reduced levels of the 3 beta-hydroxy-GAs, GA1 and GA4, are the cause of the semidwarf growth habit of both mutants.

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Vegetation of China With Reference to Its Geographical Distribution

1983-01-01

Hsioh‐yu Hou

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<i>Guanxi</i>: A Nesting of Groups

2000-02-01

Duran Bell

Soil desiccation occurrence and its impact on forest vegetation in the Loess Plateau of China

2007-06-01

Zhouping Shangguan

Abstract Soil desiccation is a major issue limiting development and sustainability of forest vegetation in the Loess Plateau of China. Better understanding of the mechanisms of soil desiccation in the … Abstract Soil desiccation is a major issue limiting development and sustainability of forest vegetation in the Loess Plateau of China. Better understanding of the mechanisms of soil desiccation in the Loess Plateau can help scientists and forest managers improve vegetation management practices. The arid soil layer is the ecological aftermath of intense soil desiccation due to disturbed plant succession and soil water reduction. The formation and types of arid soil layer in the Loess Plateau were investigated to determine major causes of soil desiccation and its impact on forest vegetation. The negative effects of soil desiccation on the ecological environment and forest vegetation mainly include drying microclimate, degrading soil quality, poor vegetation growth, difficult forest renewal from natural seed banks, making it even more difficult to reforest forest lands and grasslands following plant senescence. Low precipitation, high evaporation, soil and water losses, improper selection of vegetation types, and too high population density of trees are probably the major reasons for the arid soil layer. Proper selection of vegetation types, adjusting tree density and other management practices can reduce the negative effects of the arid soil layer on forest vegetation. Keywords: FOREST VEGETATIONLOESS PLATEAUSOIL DESICCATIONSOIL WATER CONTENT

Condition and Management of Range Land Based on Quantitative Ecology

1949-07-01

E. J. Dyksterhuis

T ODAY there are many different bases for range condition classifications. Stockmen commonly associate the term “range condition” with favorableness of the season. In this sense, good range condition may … T ODAY there are many different bases for range condition classifications. Stockmen commonly associate the term “range condition” with favorableness of the season. In this sense, good range condition may mean simply that an area recently received good rains. However, professional range conservationists have long associated good range condition with something less fleeting than good seasonal growth. In the glossary of technical terms published by the Society of American Foresters (11)) range condition is defined as “The state of health or productivity of both soil and forage of a given range, in terms of what it could or should be under normal climate and best practicable management”. This article describes a system for determining range condition which considers climate, soil, and vegetation both present and potential. It includes a review of researches that provide a scientific foundation for the system, and shows how earlier qualitative applications have been replaced by quantitative ones. An actual example is used to demonstrate practical application of the system to range management.

Forest change of China in recent 300 years

2008-02-01

Fanneng He , Quansheng Ge , Junhu Dai +1 more

CARBON STORAGE AND BUDGET OF MAJOR CHINESE FOREST TYPES

2000-01-01

Zhou Yu , Zhen Yu

The regional characteristics of carbon storage and carbon dioxide fluxes of major Chinese forest ecosystems were studied from the points of internal biological cycle, based on published data regarding forest … The regional characteristics of carbon storage and carbon dioxide fluxes of major Chinese forest ecosystems were studied from the points of internal biological cycle, based on published data regarding forest biomass, productivity, the organic carbon content of soil profile, stand and annual weight of the litter, soil respiration etc. The results are as follows: the average carbon density of Chinese forest ecosystem is 258. 83 t .hm-2, showing a generally increasing trend with increasing latitude; carbon density of the vegetation, soil and litter is 57. 07 t ·hm-2, 193. 55 t .hm-2, and 8. 21 t.hm-2, respectively ; the characteristics of the carbon density of these three fractions (vegetation, soil, lit-ter) were also analyzed ; from the recent areal data provided by the Ministry of Forestry of China in 1989-1993 the total carbon storage of Chinese forests was estimated to be 281. 16 X 108 t, in which the vegetation, soil and litter were 62. 00X 108 t, 210. 23 X 108 t, 8. 92 X 108 t, making up 22. 2%, 74. 6%, 3. 2%, respectively of the total, the carbon storage of deciduous broad-leaved forests, warmer temperate coniferous forests, evergreen / evergreen- deciduous broad-leaved forests, Picea-Abies forests, and Larix forests were the major carbon pool of the forest, making up 87 % of the total; in China the net flux between the forest ecosystem and the atmosphere is 4. 80 X 108 t .a-1, and the forest ecosystem acts as a carbon sink when exchanged with the atmosphere, absorbing 48. 7% of the carbon dioxide from burning of biomass, fossil fuel and human respiration (9. 87 X 108 t .a-1 ). Generally, the carbon dioxide fixing capacity of the deciduous forest is higher than the coniferous forests, decreasing with increasing latitude.

BOUNDARY LINE ON AGRO-PASTURE ZIGZAG ZONE IN NORTH CHINA AND ITS PROBLEMS ON ECO-ENVIRONMENT

2002-01-01

Zhao Ha

North Agro pasture zigzag zone located mainly in south edge on Inner Mongolia plateau and area along the line of Great Wall, the boundaries of east and south part are … North Agro pasture zigzag zone located mainly in south edge on Inner Mongolia plateau and area along the line of Great Wall, the boundaries of east and south part are Lonjing, Anda, Qian'an, Changling, Kangping, Fuxin, Fengning, Huai'an, Hunyuan, Wuzai, Shenmu,Yulin and Huanxian, and that of west and north are Chenbaerhu, Wulanhaote, Linxi, Duolun, Tuoketuo, Etuoke and Yanchi.It involves 9 provinces and 106 counties that total area is 654 564 km 2 and total population is 3135.6×10 4 and average density of population per km 2 is 47.9 and ratio among farmland and woodland and pasture is 1.0∶1.17∶3.67. In recent tens years, There are some ecological problems in the zone inclusing desertification developing rapidly and land resources and its bearing capacity decreasing sharply and eco environment worsening obviously and natural calamity appearing frequently. The causes of formation, expecting for natural harmful factors and artificially strong disturbance, includes yet the history brand of desertification and northern moving of the zigzag zone in recent hundred years and economic geography. Degeneration eco environment control in the zone should pay attention to replace poplar by local tree species progressively and to adopt banding afforestation ways combined with tree and shrub and grass.To establish a artificia1 steppe vegetation with scattered trees and to make its eco barrier affects well.

Journal of Beijing Forestry University (2006)

2006-01-01

Yuxin Zhang

Chinese forest construction was analyzed based on the data of six forest inventories from year 1950 to 2003, and a conclusion was drawn that both the forest area and volume … Chinese forest construction was analyzed based on the data of six forest inventories from year 1950 to 2003, and a conclusion was drawn that both the forest area and volume had been increased greatly after more than 50 years of cultivation, protection and utilization, %ie% forest area increased by 111.74% compared with that of the early stage of our country founding, while forest volume only increased by 17.4%. Also the forest construction varied enormously: the percentages of artificial forest area and volume had been increased gradually, among which the area percentage of artificial forests had been increased from 4.49% in 1964 to 33.77% in 2003; although the area and volume percentages of natural forests had been decreased obviously, the percentage of the natural forest volume still occupied most of the whole forest volume and it was 89.65% in 2003; the ratios of area and volume of coniferous forests had been decreased gradually from that above 70%. Now the ratio of the coniferous to the broadleaved is almost 1∶1, and the construction of dominant trees has changed extremly: most commercial forests that have good quality, such as Korean pine, Mongolian pine, Armand pine, etc, have been almost cut over; forest construction has changed to younger, per unit volume has decreased, and little forest resources can be cut and used; the structure of forest function types has been adjusted greatly, ie economic and protective forests have been increased obviously, while commercial forests have been decreased enormously, and they almost have equal area and volume. The management problems have been brought out and it is showed that forest management is on the initial stage of forest utilization based on multi_resources and multi_function towarding sustainable management. After 1980s, forest resources have begun to be restored and have a good tendency, but the quality of forest resources in 2003 has not reached the level of 1962. So, the important and heavy task is still there to improve forest cultivation and management in order to meet the economic society’s need.

Forest ecosystem services and their valuation in China

2004-01-01

Tongqian Zhao , Zhiyun Ouyang , Hua Zheng +2 more

Forest ecosystem plays a special role in maintaining the structure,function and ecologi-cal process of natural ecosystems. At present,a series of ecological problems are becoming more and more serious because of … Forest ecosystem plays a special role in maintaining the structure,function and ecologi-cal process of natural ecosystems. At present,a series of ecological problems are becoming more and more serious because of forest damage in some regions.The accurate valuation of forest ecosystem services is very important to the reserve and rational development of forest resources in China.Forest ecosystem services are divided into four groups:provisioning services,regulating services,cultural services,and su pporting services in this paper.On the basis of the service mechanism analyses,an index system for the assessment of forest eco system services has been established,which consists of 13 service indexes such as timber and other products,weather regulatio n,C fixation,water storage,erosion control,air quality purifying,nutrients cycle,windbreaks,cultural diversity,recreation and ecot ourism,O2 release,and provisioning of habitat.Then,10 services of China forest have been assessed and evaluated by taking the year of 2000 as the base year.Including timber and other products provision,C fixation,water storage,erosion control,air quality purifying,nutrients cycle,recreation and ecotourism,O2 release,and provisioning of habitat.As a result,the economic values of t hese services are 2 325.14!108,1 626.76!108,2 134.7!108,136.46!108,41.85!108,372.37!108,194.31!108,6732.48!108,and 495.94!108 yuan,respectively.The total value is estimated as 14 060.05!108 yuan with indirect values being 11 540.60!108 y uan,4.6 times that of the direct values.The results show that forest ecosystems provide huge indirect values to human being bes ides the direct value of goods,and that the indirect values are egually important as the direct values.The focuses of forest ecosy stem services and their valuation in the future should be the service mechanism and the coupling and the application of differe nt scales data.

Study on rehabilitating and rebuilding technologies for degenerated alpine meadow in the Changjiang and Yellow river source region

2002-01-01

Dong Quanmin

Situation of alpine meadow degenerated grassland in Changjiang and Yellow river source region was analysed, grassland in this region was divided into four types, including lightly, moderately, heavily and seriously … Situation of alpine meadow degenerated grassland in Changjiang and Yellow river source region was analysed, grassland in this region was divided into four types, including lightly, moderately, heavily and seriously degenerated grassland, and the different measures were applied in research experiments according to differently degenerated stages. Some technologies were used to improving grassland,such as,the lightly and moderately degenerated grassland can be rehabilitated by enclosing, eradicating weeds and fertilizing, and for the heavily degenerated and black soil type degenerated grassland, can be rehabilitated and rebuilt by establishing artificial and semiartificial grassland.

Tethys Retreat and Himalayas-Hengduanshan Mountains Uplift and Their Significance on the Origin and Development of the Sino-Himalayan Elements and Alpine Flora

2002-01-01

Sun Hang

The flora of Himalayas Hengduanshan Mountains started in late Cretaceous and early Paleogene.Paleobotanical data had showed that the flora of Himalayas Hengduanshan Mountains was a part of Tethyan Tertiary Flora … The flora of Himalayas Hengduanshan Mountains started in late Cretaceous and early Paleogene.Paleobotanical data had showed that the flora of Himalayas Hengduanshan Mountains was a part of Tethyan Tertiary Flora or evergreen,laurophyll paleotropical geoflora in that time.After late Paleogene,along with climate of the Mediterranean gradually become aridity,the laurophyll paleotropical geoflora gradually replaced by semiarid or arid flora of the Mediterranean.The Tethyan Tertiary Flora was only conserved and developed in E Asian for monsoon climate bringing ample summer rain up to today.Therefore,most of subtropical evergreen broad leaved forest occurring in Himalayas Hengduanshan Mountains are the descendant of the Tethyan Tertiary Flora.After Neogene,the Himalayas Hengduanshan Mountains uplifted caused the semiarid or arid flora of Mediterranean turning to adapt to alpine environment and gradually differentiated and developed in these regions.Through analysis of the origin of sclerophyllus oaks forest in Himalayas Hengduanshan Mountain and the Euroasian disjunction in some examples: Helleborus,Meconopsis,Acanthochlamys,Notholirion and Coriaria ,as well as the descendants of Tethyan flora,such as Piptanthus,Lamiophlomis,Notochaete,Phyllopnyton ,exsiting in the regions,showed that quite a part of Sino himalayan elements and modern alpine plants of Himalayas Hengduanshan Mountains originated from the semiarid or arid flora of Mediterranean.

Ecological stoichiometry characteristics of ecosystem carbon,nitrogen and phosphorus elements

2008-01-01

Wang Shao

Ecological change on the Tibetan Plateau

2015-11-01

Weikai Bao , Qingzhu Gao , JingSheng WANG +7 more

The Tibetan Plateau is the highest physiographic unit regarding average elevation globally. In recent history, the ecosystem structure and function of the Tibetan Plateau, and population size and composition of … The Tibetan Plateau is the highest physiographic unit regarding average elevation globally. In recent history, the ecosystem structure and function of the Tibetan Plateau, and population size and composition of the dominant species have shown profound changes due to the dual effect of climatic change and human activities. Studies during recent decades on this ecosystem showed that the green-up date of vegetation has advanced resulting in an extended growing period. Generally, the vegetation on the Plateau has improved, but with some local areas becoming degraded. Climatic warming has been a key factor responsible for the positive ecosystem change; however, this effect has been varied, especially the spatiotemporal changes of precipitation, which resulted in large changes of vegetation growth in arid and semi-arid regions. In drought years, the dual effect of climatic change and human activities caused the severe degradation of grasslands, particularly in the western region. However, with the implementation of a constructive project to protect the security of the ecological barrier on the Tibetan Plateau, the degradation of alpine ecosystems has been reduced, and the overexploitation of rare plant resources (e.g., Cordyceps spp., Saussurea spp., Picrorhiza scrophulariiflora ) and poaching of wild animals (e.g., yak, Tibetan antelope, and Tibetan wild ass) have decreased, and their populations are recovering. The uplift of the Tibetan Plateau has affected its climate and environment and those of the adjacent areas. Future studies should consider the impact of global change on the Tibetan Plateau, and monitor the changes in ecosystem structure and function through field investigations and the application of remote sensing technology. Further implementation of large-scale ecological engineering to improve the ability of local residents to respond to global change on the Tibetan Plateau is necessary.

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A PRELIMINARY FLORISTIC STUDY ON THE SEED PLANTS FROM THE REGION OF HENGDUAN MOUNTAIN

1993-01-01

Xi Li

The region of Hengduan mountain is a very natural region in floristic nature. Its seed plants' flora is abundant in species, genera and families, complex in geographical elements, striking in … The region of Hengduan mountain is a very natural region in floristic nature. Its seed plants' flora is abundant in species, genera and families, complex in geographical elements, striking in endemism and vicariance, and basically temperate in nature. According to the degree of abundance in endemic species and some physiographical features, the region can be floristically divided into three subregions: subregion of NW Yunnan and SW Sichuan, subregion of NW Sichuan to SW Gansu and SE Qinghai, as well as subregion of E to SE Xizang. Based on the analysis of its floristic elements, the region is certainly a knot for clarifying the questions about the relationships between the florogenesis and the plate-fectonics, about the origin of the North temperate flora including that of E Asia, N America and Europe.

The State of the World′s Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture

2011-01-01

Zhang ZongWen

The current article is a synthesis of the state of plant genetic resources for food and agriculture in the world,based on the Second Report of the State of the World′s … The current article is a synthesis of the state of plant genetic resources for food and agriculture in the world,based on the Second Report of the State of the World′s Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture.The content covers state of diversity,in situ conservation,ex situ conservation,evaluation and use,national programme and management,regional and international cooperation,access and benefit sharing and the contribution to food security and sustainable agricultural development.It also identified the gaps and put forward the suggestions for strengthening the conservation and development of plant genetic resources for food and agriculture in China.

[Vegetation carbon storage and density of forest ecosystems in China].

2001-02-01

X.K. Wang , Zhiming Feng , Zhiyun Ouyang

To improve the estimation of carbon pool of forest ecosystems is very important in studying their CO2 emission and uptake. The estimation of vegetation carbon pool in China has just … To improve the estimation of carbon pool of forest ecosystems is very important in studying their CO2 emission and uptake. The estimation of vegetation carbon pool in China has just begun. There is a significant difference among estimates from different methods applied. Based on forest inventory recorded by age class, the vegetation carbon storage of forest ecosystems in China was estimated to be 3.26-3.73 Pg, accounting for 0.6-0.7% of the global pool. The carbon densities were difference among forest types and provinces, in range of 6.47-118.14 Mg.hm-2. There is an incremental tendency from southeast to north and west. This trend is negatively related with the change in population density in logarithmic mode, which indicates that the actual forest carbon density is prominently determined by human activities.

Desertification and reclamation in north-central China

1994-01-01

M. A. Fullen

Landscape and Ecosystem Diversity, Dynamics and Management in the Yellow River Source Zone

2016-01-01

Gary Brierley , Xilai Li , Carola Cullum +1 more

Species diversity and distribution pattern of seed plants in China

2001-01-01

Ying Tsün-Shen

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Restoration and Development of the Degraded Loess Plateau, China

2013-08-22

Atsushi Tsunekawa , Guobin Liu , Norikazu Yamanaka +1 more

This book presents state-of-the-art scientific evidence and technological innovations to restore lands on the Loess Plateau of China, known worldwide for its serious land degradation and desertificati This book presents state-of-the-art scientific evidence and technological innovations to restore lands on the Loess Plateau of China, known worldwide for its serious land degradation and desertificati

Relationship of Physiological Plant Functional Traits With Soil Carbon Stock in The Temperate Forest of Garhwal Himalaya

2021-04-25

Amit Kumar , Parmanand Kumar , Hukum Singh +2 more

The composition of species can play an essential role in reducing the atmospheric carbon dioxide.Forest trees are an important part of the functioning of the terrestrial ecosystem, predominantly in the … The composition of species can play an essential role in reducing the atmospheric carbon dioxide.Forest trees are an important part of the functioning of the terrestrial ecosystem, predominantly in the cycling of carbon.However, tree physiology is much less studied than crop physiology for several reasons: a large number of species, difficulty in measuring photosynthesis of tall trees or forest species.This study aims to establish the relationship between physiological plant functional traits (photosynthesis rate, transpiration rate, stomatal conductance, leaf chlorophyll and carotenoid content) with soil carbon stock in Pinus roxburghii forest of Garhwal Himalaya.The present findings revealed that photosynthesis rate, chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b and carotenoid content positively correlated to the soil carbon stock.The different regression models also showed that photosynthesis rate with water-use efficiency, stomatal conductance and carotenoid content is a good predictor of soil carbon stock in Pinus roxburghii forest.Physiological plant functional characteristics are thus crucial for regulating the carbon cycle and ecosystem functioning in Garhwal Himalaya.

A checklist of seed plant of Gaoligongshan National Nature Reserve

2021-01-01

Kunming Institute Of Botany Kunming Institute Of Botany

This dataset is the checklist of seed plants of the Gaoligongshan National Nature Reserve, Yunnan, China, compiled from Chapter 10: A systematic checklist of the seed plants in Gaoligong Mountain" … This dataset is the checklist of seed plants of the Gaoligongshan National Nature Reserve, Yunnan, China, compiled from Chapter 10: A systematic checklist of the seed plants in Gaoligong Mountain" of the book "Gaoligongshan Plant" published by Science Press, China and edited by Li Heng, Guo Huijun and Dao Zhiling. It also includes the information about occurrence of the taxa in other countries.

Diversity of Yintiaoling Nature Reserve, II (Title page)

2025-06-23

Zhi‐Sheng Zhang , Xingyue Liu | Zootaxa

Preface: Diversity of Yintiaoling Nature Reserve, II

2025-06-23

Zhi‐Sheng Zhang | Zootaxa

Plant-litter-soil ecological stoichiometry and stoichiometric homeostasis of tree tissues under three desertified grassland restoration modes in northern China

2025-06-20

Jiyou Yuan , Zhixian Yang , Guoyong Tang +1 more | Journal for Nature Conservation

Impacts of Improved Carbon Density on Carbon Stocks in Typical Dryland Terrestrial Ecosystems in China and the Driving Mechanism Analysis

2025-06-18

Lingling Li , Pingan Jiang , Zhangshuan Hou +3 more | Polish Journal of Environmental Studies

Population Structure, Growth Characteristics, Resource Dynamics, and Management Strategies of Schizopygopsis younghusbandi in Four Tributaries of the Yarlung Zangbo River, Tibet

2025-06-16

Haoxiang Han , Lin Wang , Chi Zhang +2 more | Biology

Aquatic biodiversity of the Yarlung Zangbo River is both unique and fragile, with its ecological environment currently under significant pressure. However, comprehensive studies on the biological characteristics and resource status … Aquatic biodiversity of the Yarlung Zangbo River is both unique and fragile, with its ecological environment currently under significant pressure. However, comprehensive studies on the biological characteristics and resource status of fish in its tributaries remain insufficient. In this study, we analyzed the population structure, growth characteristics, and resource dynamics of 2058 specimens of Schizopygopsis younghusbandi that were collected from four major tributaries in the middle reaches of the Yarlung Zangbo River (Duoxiong Zangbo, Lhasa River, Niyang River, and Nianchu River) between 2023 and 2024. Population parameters were estimated using the Von Bertalanffy growth equation, revealing asymptotic body lengths (L∞) between 387.877 and 414.535 mm and growth coefficients (k) ranging from 0.154 to 0.174. Notably, the k values exhibited a gradual decline in growth rate with increasing altitude. Based on calculations from FiSAT II software, the exploitation rate (E) revealed that the Duoxiong Zangbo population remained within a safe range (E < 0.5), whereas the Nianchu, Lhasa, and Niyang River populations were overexploited (E > 0.5), with their population structures showing signs of under-ageing and miniaturization. To ensure stable population continuity, the minimum catchable body lengths were estimated as 248 mm, 240 mm, 233 mm, and 236 mm for the Duoxiong Zangbo, Nianchu, Lhasa, and Niyang Rivers, respectively, with slight variations among tributaries. These findings suggest that S. younghusbandi populations in the Yarlung Zangbo River tributaries are adversely affected by external pressures and face a decline, necessitating effective conservation and restoration strategies.

Carbon sequestration and environmental impact assessment of jujube cultivation in the Yellow River Jiziwan Basin using life cycle and GIS approaches

2025-06-12

Yang Liu , Feihong Liang , Rui Chang +7 more | Ecological Indicators

Natural Forest Restoration Potential to Mitigate Climate Change in China

2025-06-01

Kai Cheng , Yixuan Zhang , Yu Ren +7 more | Earth s Future

Abstract China has achieved remarkable progress in forest conservation and restoration through extensive management efforts, including afforestation and the protection of natural forests. However, previous studies on forest carbon potential … Abstract China has achieved remarkable progress in forest conservation and restoration through extensive management efforts, including afforestation and the protection of natural forests. However, previous studies on forest carbon potential have primarily foucused on afforestation, while natural forest restoration‐recognized for its superior carbon sequestration potential‐remains underexplored. This study integrates historical restoration trends with future climate scenarios to quantify the spatial patterns and aboveground carbon (AGC) storage potential of natural forest restoration in China, addressing key knowledge gaps. We first examined the relationship between natural forest restoration patterns in China and climatic factors, revealing that the Mean Diurnal Range was the most positively correlated factor influencing restoration, while the Mean Temperature of the Driest Quarter had the most substantial negative impact. Based on future climate scenarios (SSP1‐2.6, SSP2‐4.5, SSP3‐7.0, and SSP5‐8.5), we predicted potential regions for natural forest restoration and estimated their AGC storage potential. Our findings indicated that by 2100, the area of natural forests in China could increase by 26.03 × 10 4 to 29.38 × 10 4 km 2 , with northeastern, southwestern, northern, and southern China showing the highest restoration potential, particularly under the SSP2‐4.5 scenario, which exhibits the greatest extent of restoration. Further analysis reveals that AGC potential increases progressively with restoration efforts, reaching a maximum of 1,618.53 ± 58.36 Tg C by 2100 under the SSP2‐4.5 scenario. Our study highlights substantial opportunities for enhancing carbon sequestration through targeted natural restoration efforts and the integration of balanced economic growth with proactive environmental policies to promote effective natural forest restoration in China.

Divergent responses of vegetation phenology and productivity to climate change in typical river basins across Northern and Southern China

2025-05-30

Nan Wang , Ayong Jiao , Yingjun Xu +3 more | Journal of Plant Ecology

Abstract The Yangtze River Basin (YZRB) and Yellow River Basin (YRB) are the largest river basins in China, representing typical regions in southern and northern China. Understanding the impacts of … Abstract The Yangtze River Basin (YZRB) and Yellow River Basin (YRB) are the largest river basins in China, representing typical regions in southern and northern China. Understanding the impacts of climate and phenology on net primary productivity (NPP) is essential for regional ecological protection, management and carbon neutrality. Based on remote sensing and climate data, this study quantified the temporal trends and spatial variations in vegetation phenology and NPP. Pearson correlation and structural equation modeling were employed to examine the mechanisms through which climate and phenology influence NPP. The results reveal distinct NPP accumulation mechanisms in the YZRB and YRB. In the YZRB, the growing season significantly lengthened (0.60 days yr⁻¹, P &lt; 0.05), resulting in an annual NPP increase of 3.19 gC m⁻² yr⁻¹, primarily driven by spring NPP (52% contribution), with direct effects of temperature (β = 0.71, P &lt; 0.001) and radiation (β = 0.63, P &lt; 0.001) on NPP. In contrast, the YRB exhibited balanced seasonal NPP growth (3.54 gC m⁻² yr⁻¹ for annual NPP), with precipitation regulating NPP through both direct and phenology-mediated indirect pathways (indirect β = 0.27, P &lt; 0.05). These findings emphasize the complexity of the effects of climate and phenology on NPP, underscoring the necessity for region-specific management strategies to optimize productivity under climate change.

Increases in forest carbon stocks of up to 32% by 2100 across the subalpine forests of the Tibetan Plateau

2025-05-28

Ting Li , Qi Wang , Huan Wang +7 more | Ecological Indicators

Forest maturation and its drivers on the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau

2025-05-23

Yuxi Wang , Lin Zhang , Francisco I. Pugnaire +1 more

Spatiotemporal patterns and driving factors for vegetation growth status in the upper reaches of the Yellow River

2025-05-22

Xiaolong Wang , Yongde Gan , Yangwen Jia +5 more

Abstract The impact of climate change on vegetation ecosystems is a prominent focus in global climate change research. The climate change affects vegetation growth and ecosystem stability in the upper … Abstract The impact of climate change on vegetation ecosystems is a prominent focus in global climate change research. The climate change affects vegetation growth and ecosystem stability in the upper reaches of the Yellow River (UYR). However, the spatiotemporal patterns and driving mechanisms of vegetation growth status (VGS) in the region remain poorly understood. Based on the hydrological model PLS, an innovative WEP‐CHC model was developed by integrating regional environmental and vegetation growth characteristics. Furthermore, combined with the PLS‐SEM model and other methods, this study systematically investigated the spatiotemporal patterns and driving mechanisms of VGS in the UYR. The results indicated that: ① VGS exhibited significant spatiotemporal variation trends within the study area. In the study period of 1970–2020, the GPP onset time was significantly advanced ( p < 0.05) while the GPP peak value was significantly increased. Spatial analysis revealed significant spatial complexity in the GPP onset time and peak values across the region. ② Soil freeze‐thaw conditions significantly influenced VGS ( p < 0.05). The complete thawing time of permafrost was closely coincided with the GPP onset time, with a correlation coefficient exceeding 0.84. After controlling soil freeze‐thaw effects using partial correlation analysis, it was found that better initial soil hydrothermal conditions would lead to better VGS; ③ The model constructed with annual hydrothermal conditions (AHC), soil freeze‐thaw period (SFTP), vegetation growth season (VGS), initial soil hydrothermal conditions (ISHC), and annual solar radiation conditions (ASRC), demonstrated good explanatory power for vegetation growth. The R 2 values of PLS‐SEM were above 0.76 in all five subregions. However, their effects on VGS varied significantly across subregions. Overall, AHC and SFTP were the dominant factors in all subregions. Furthermore, the impacts of ISHC and VGC were statistically insignificant, whereas the effects of ASRC exhibited high complexity. This study not only provides new insights into the current state of hydrological‐ecological coupling in the UYR but also offers a new tool for ecological conservation and sustainable water management in other cold regions and similar watersheds worldwide.

Estimation of forest aboveground carbon storage based on GEDI and GF-6 in Jiyuan City, China

2025-05-22

Yang Liu , Yabo Yuan , Jinhua Sun +5 more

Seasonal variability in dry matter dynamics and net primary productivity of grassland ecosystem in Kumaun Himalaya

2025-05-19

Archana Fartyal , Surendra Singh Bargali , Kiran Bargali

The Evolution of Cropland Slope Structure and Its Implications for Fragmentation and Soil Erosion in China

2025-05-17

Guangjie Liu , Yi Xia , Li Bao

Cropland slope structure is a key factor influencing agricultural sustainability and ecological risk, especially in topographically complex regions. This study proposes a novel framework that integrates slope spectrum analysis with … Cropland slope structure is a key factor influencing agricultural sustainability and ecological risk, especially in topographically complex regions. This study proposes a novel framework that integrates slope spectrum analysis with H3 hexagonal grid partitioning to examine the spatiotemporal dynamics of cropland slope across China from 1990 to 2023. Using 30 m CLCD land cover data, we derived key indicators, including the T-value, upper slope limit (ULS), peak area proportion (PaP), slope at maximum area (SMA), and cropland slope change index (CSCI). This grid-based, multi-indicator approach enables the fine-scale detection of slope structure transitions. Results show that the average slope of cropland fluctuated at around 4.12°, peaking at 4.18° in 2003, while the ULS remained stable at 17°, with 95% of cropland below this threshold. Regionally, cropland in southwest and northwest China was concentrated on steeper slopes (ULS > 26°, PaP < 10%), whereas flatter areas in north and south China had cropland mainly below 15°. From 1990 to 2023, upslope expansion was evident in south China (CSCI > 10), while downslope shifts aligned with high-slope cropland in the western regions. Geographically weighted regression revealed significant positive correlations between increasing ULS and CSCI and elevated cropland fragmentation and soil erosion in hilly areas. These findings highlight the ecological risks of cropland expansion into steep terrain. The proposed framework offers a spatially explicit perspective of cropland slope evolution and supports targeted strategies for land management and ecological restoration.

Leaf and Root Traits Show Contrasting Resource Exploitation Strategies, but Converge Along Elevation in the Hengduan Mountain Forests

2025-05-14

Jie Song , Sebastian Seibold , Liang‐Liang Ma +7 more

ABSTRACT Aim The variations of leaf and root traits in communities are associated with above‐ and below‐ground resource exploitation strategies and are used to infer community assembly processes along environmental … ABSTRACT Aim The variations of leaf and root traits in communities are associated with above‐ and below‐ground resource exploitation strategies and are used to infer community assembly processes along environmental gradients. However, little is known about variations in leaf and root traits and their drivers along elevations in mountain forests. Location Yulong Mountain, southeastern Hengduan Mountains, Southwest China. Taxon Seed plants. Methods We measured six leaf traits and seven root traits across 47 woody species and collected environmental variables from forest plots along a 1200 m elevational gradient. We employed linear mixed models to examine how resource exploitation strategies (community‐weighted mean, CWM) and functional diversity (standardised effect size of RaoQ, SES.RaoQ) associated with leaf and root traits varied along elevations. Furthermore, we determined the relative effects of environmental variables on these metrics. Results We observed that the resource exploitation strategy of leaves shifted from an acquisitive to a conservative strategy (higher leaf carbon concentration) with increasing elevation. Conversely, root trait variation exhibited an opposite trend, shifting from a conservative to an acquisitive strategy (higher root branching intensity but lower root diameter and root tissue density) along elevations, potentially influenced by mycorrhizal interactions. We detected functional convergence for leaf and root traits across elevations, with a greater degree of functional convergence at high elevations. Leaf trait convergence was closely linked to soil nitrogen conditions, whereas root trait convergence was associated with soil organic carbon levels. Main Conclusions Our results highlight that the patterns of resource exploitation strategies along elevational gradients are decoupled for leaf and root traits, with distinct environmental factors shaping the convergence of root and leaf traits. We argue that forest communities in mountain ecosystems may modify their resource exploitation strategies and functional diversity through varying combinations of leaf and root traits to improve resilience to future global change.

Assessment of soil and tree carbon concentrations under varying levels of Chinese privet invasion

2025-05-09

Christine Mutiti , Victoria Alden , Mary Evelyn Pritchett

<title>Abstract</title> Invasive plant species are increasingly recognized for their capacity to alter ecosystem structure and function, yet their impact on carbon storage remains underexplored. This study investigates how Chinese privet … <title>Abstract</title> Invasive plant species are increasingly recognized for their capacity to alter ecosystem structure and function, yet their impact on carbon storage remains underexplored. This study investigates how Chinese privet (Ligustrum sinense), a widespread invasive shrub in the southeastern United States, may be influencing above- and belowground carbon in a secondary forest recovering from past agricultural use. We compared soil organic carbon (SOC) across three vegetation types (heavily invaded and uninvaded deciduous forest, and an adjacent loblolly pine stand) and tree biomass carbon at varying amounts of Chinese privet within a historic landscape in central Georgia. SOC was assessed at three depths (0-5, 5-10, and 10-15 cm) while tree carbon was estimated using structural measurements and species-specific allometric equations. Results showed that SOC was lowest in the invaded site, despite having similar soil texture and bulk density to uninvaded sites. The pine stand SOC was significantly lower than the uninvaded site, likely due to differences in litter inputs and disturbance history. Tree density and biomass carbon were significantly lower in privet-invaded areas compared to uninvaded sites. Overall, soil and tree carbon density were over 40% lower in the presence of Chinese privet. These findings suggest that Chinese privet may contribute to long-term reductions in both biomass and soil carbon pools by suppressing native woody regeneration and altering belowground processes. As forests play a critical role in carbon sequestration, understanding the indirect impacts of invasive species on carbon dynamics is vital for informing management and restoration strategies in disturbed landscapes.

[Spatio-temporal Evolution Patterns of Terrestrial Ecosystem Carbon Storage in Jiangsu Province Based on Land Use and Cover Change].

2025-05-08

Ge Shi , Yutong Wang , Jiahang Liu

Land use and cover change in a region is the main cause of carbon storage changes in terrestrial ecosystems. Exploring the carbon storage based on land use/cover types and predicting … Land use and cover change in a region is the main cause of carbon storage changes in terrestrial ecosystems. Exploring the carbon storage based on land use/cover types and predicting the impact of future changes can provide reasonable foundation for a territory development plan under the "dual carbon" goal. Since this century, under the joint influence of human social activities and natural factors, the land use situation in Jiangsu Province has undergone significant changes, and the carbon storage of terrestrial ecosystems has correspondingly undergone obvious changes. This study explores the situation of land use/cover data in Jiangsu Province from 1995 to 2020 based on the coupled FLUS-InVEST model. Additionally, it predicts the spatiotemporal distribution of land use/cover and carbon storage in Jiangsu Province in 2030 under multiple scenarios. The results indicate that： ① The period from 1995 to 2020 was a period of severe carbon storage loss, with a total reduction of 36.69 Tg. ② In 2030, under the economic development scenario and natural development scenario, the carbon storage shows a downward trend. The predicted future carbon storage under the ecological protection scenario increases, and the predicted carbon storage under the ecological protection scenario is the highest, with an increase of 18.57 Tg compared to that in 2020. ③ In 2030, the carbon storage in Jiangsu Province under multiple scenarios have similarities in spatial distribution. High value areas of carbon reserves were clustered in the northern, northeastern, and eastern regions of Jiangsu Province, whereas low value areas were clustered in economically developed areas.

Effect of microbial diversity and their functions on soil nutrient cycling in the rhizosphere zone of Dahongpao mother tree and cutting Dahongpao

2025-05-08

Xiaoli Jia , Hong Lei , Yulin Wang +7 more

Dahongpao mother tree (Camellia sinensis) is nearly 400 years old and is the symbol of Wuyi rock tea. It is unclear whether the structure and function of the rhizosphere soil … Dahongpao mother tree (Camellia sinensis) is nearly 400 years old and is the symbol of Wuyi rock tea. It is unclear whether the structure and function of the rhizosphere soil microbial community of Dahongpao mother tree (MD) and its cutting Dahongpao (PD) change after planting. In this study, macrogenomics was used to analyze the structure and function of rhizosphere soil microbial communities, as well as to explore their relationship with soil nutrient transformations in MD and PD tea trees. The results showed that pH, total nitrogen, total phosphorus, total potassium, available nitrogen, available phosphorus and available potassium were significantly higher in the rhizosphere soil of MD than in PD by 1.22, 3.24, 5.38, 1.10, 1.52, 4.42 and 1.17 times, respectively. Secondly, soil urease, sucrase, protease, cellulase and catalase activities were also significantly higher in MD than in PD by 1.25-, 2.95-, 1.14-, 1.23-, and 1.30-fold. Macrogenomic analysis showed that rhizosphere soil microbial richness and diversity were higher in MD than in PD. There were eight characteristic microorganisms that significantly differed between MD and PD rhizosphere soils, and the results of functional analysis showed that MD rhizosphere soil microorganisms had higher carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus biotransformation capacity, were more conducive to the accumulation and release of nutrients in the soil, and were more conducive to the promotion of tea tree growth. The results of PLS-SEM equation analysis showed that characteristic microorganisms positively regulated soil microbial function (1.00**), enzyme activity (0.84*) and nutrient content (0.82*). It can be seen that the abundance of soil characteristic microorganisms in the rhizospehre soil of MD increased significantly compared with that of PD, prompting a significant enhancement of their corresponding functions, which was more conducive to soil improvement, increased soil enzyme activity, enhanced soil nutrient biotransformation, and then increased soil nutrient accumulation and effectiveness, and promoted the growth of tea trees. This study provides an important theoretical basis for microbial regulation of tea tree cuttings management.

The Peaking Stage of Yuan Sanqu

2025-05-08

Yu Zhao , Rui Zhou , Tian Yuan Tan

[Analysis of Land Carbon Metabolism in Ningbo Based on Ecological Network Utility].

2025-05-08

Li Li , Zhou Xiao-ping , Ying Liang +1 more

This study aims to elucidate the influence mechanism of land use on carbon metabolism and provide a foundation for promoting sustainable land resource utilization and facilitating urban green low-carbon transformation. … This study aims to elucidate the influence mechanism of land use on carbon metabolism and provide a foundation for promoting sustainable land resource utilization and facilitating urban green low-carbon transformation. Taking Ningbo City as the primary research focus, a carbon metabolism analysis framework is formulated, leveraging multi-source data collection. This framework employs ecological network analysis, the standard deviation ellipse method, and push-pull models to trace carbon element flow processes, elucidating the spatiotemporal evolution patterns of carbon metabolism. Consequently, a strategy for mitigating land use-related carbon emissions is proposed. The key findings are as follows： ① Between 2000 and 2020, net carbon emissions （measured in carbon, C） in Ningbo increased from 4.061 2 million tons to 30.193 7 million tons, representing a 6.43-fold increase. ② Vertical net carbon emissions were negative, with all land types except woodland and grassland exhibiting negative carbon metabolism compartments, whereas woodland and grassland had positive carbon metabolism compartments. During the study period, horizontal net carbon emissions in Ningbo were negative, attributed to the conversion of cultivated and forest lands to other construction lands. ③ Predation restriction was the dominant ecological relationship, with an overall ecological function value of 0.86. Compared to that from 2000-2010, the centroid of the 2010-2020 Predation Restriction standard deviation ellipse shifted eastward by 1.47°, whereas the centroid of the Competitive Relationship ellipse rotated westward by 10.46°, accompanied by a decrease in the overall ellipse range. ④ Cultivated land, forest land, and other construction land were the main types of thrust, and other construction land and urban land were the main types of pull. In conclusion, multiple measures need to be taken to reduce the carbon metabolism density of land use while developing carbon sink enhancement strategies for ecological land classification, with the goal of optimizing the land use structure and reducing carbon and increasing sinks in territorial space.

Design of Green Plant Distribution Pattern in Landscape Planning Based on Optimal Grid Scale Estimation Method

2025-05-03

Zuo Minggang

This paper presents an innovative approach for the optimization of greenery distribution patterns in urban landscape planning, leveraging the combined capabilities of Generative Adversarial Networks (GANs) and Residual Neural Networks … This paper presents an innovative approach for the optimization of greenery distribution patterns in urban landscape planning, leveraging the combined capabilities of Generative Adversarial Networks (GANs) and Residual Neural Networks (ResNet). Acknowledging the crucial role of urban greenery in enhancing environmental quality and aesthetic appeal, the methodology begins with the collection of diverse greenery distribution maps through advanced data acquisition techniques, such as satellite imagery, drone photography, and Geographic Information Systems (GIS). At the core of the approach is the utilization of GANs to generate high-resolution images of greenery distribution, establishing a base for detailed simulation and predictive analysis. Following this, the ResNet framework processes these images to facilitate the automatic extraction of essential features for greenery pattern analysis. This dual-approach culminates in the precise estimation of the optimal grid scale for greenery distribution, demonstrating substantial improvements over traditional methods across various performance metrics. The experimental results indicate a significant advancement in the field, particularly in providing detailed insights and accurate predictions for urban landscape planning.

Do water–energy dynamics drive plant species richness patterns on the high alpine Tibetan plateau?

2025-05-01

Prakash Bhattarai , Ole R. Vetaas , Guang Zhao

Abstract Knowledge on the spatial distribution of plant species richness and its associated factors is crucial for addressing several ecological problems. Climate factors have long been used to explain species … Abstract Knowledge on the spatial distribution of plant species richness and its associated factors is crucial for addressing several ecological problems. Climate factors have long been used to explain species richness patterns across space and time. In this study, we investigated how water and energy variables shape species richness patterns on the alpine Tibetan plateau. An empirical study involving 800 plots of size 1 m 2 on 80 different sites was conducted across two transects, covering the arid and semi‐arid alpine region of the western part of the Tibetan plateau to explore plant species composition and richness in relation to climatic factors at a regional scale. We performed detrended correspondence analysis and generalized linear models to explore the effect of energy and water variables on species composition and species richness, respectively. We used a generalized linear mixed model to investigate the interactive effect of energy variables and water variables on species richness. We found that both energy variables and water variables significantly influenced species richness and composition on the alpine Tibetan plateau and supported the water–energy dynamics (WED) hypothesis. Specificall, plant species richness increased with greater liquid water availability. However, it exhibited a unimodal relationship with potential evapotranspiration. Our results also showed that precipitation played a more substantial role in the model than potential evapotranspiration, but their interaction strengthened the model. In conclusion, this study highlights the dominant role of precipitation in explaining species composition and richness patterns on the alpine Tibetan plateau and suggests conducting research on additional environmental factors affecting water availability in this region.

Simulation of the Carbon Cycle’s Spatiotemporal Dynamics in the Hangzhou Forest Ecosystem and How It Responds to Phenology

2025-04-25

Mengchen Hu , Huaqiang Du , Xuejian Li +5 more

The carbon cycle of forest ecosystems is a component of the global terrestrial ecosystem carbon cycle, and the productivity of forest ecosystems is significantly influenced by vegetation phenology. In this … The carbon cycle of forest ecosystems is a component of the global terrestrial ecosystem carbon cycle, and the productivity of forest ecosystems is significantly influenced by vegetation phenology. In this investigation, we simulated the spatiotemporal trends of the carbon cycle in forest ecosystems in Hangzhou between 2001 and 2020 by means of the phenology-driven InTEC model and analyzed the mechanisms of carbon cycle changes in response to phenological changes. The results of this study suggested that the gross primary productivity (GPP), the net primary production (NPP), and the net ecosystem productivity (NEP) have obvious heterogeneity in spatiotemporal distribution, and the tendency of the start of the growing season (SOS) advancement, the end of the growing season (EOS) postponement, and the length of the growing season (LOS) lengthening is significant for a GPP increase with positive effects. Both phenology and climate have direct impacts on carbon cycle changes, while climate change indirectly affects carbon cycle changes through phenology changes.

Changes in Net Primary Productivity (NPP) of vegetation in the northern foot of the Yinshan Mountains and its correlation with major climatic factors

2025-04-23

Quansheng Hai , Zhixin Li , Battsengel Vandansambuu +5 more

The northern foothills of the Yinshan Mountains lie at the intersection of arid and semi-arid regions, where vegetation is predominantly composed of desert steppes. The ecological environment in this area … The northern foothills of the Yinshan Mountains lie at the intersection of arid and semi-arid regions, where vegetation is predominantly composed of desert steppes. The ecological environment in this area is highly fragile, and vegetation dynamics serve as sensitive indicators of regional climate change. This study analyzes changes in vegetation net primary productivity (NPP) and its response to climatic factors from 2001 to 2020, employing Theil-Sen trend analysis and statistical methods to assess spatial and temporal patterns. Additionally, it investigates the relationship between NPP variability and climate variables. The results indicate the following:(1) The 20-year average NPP in the region is 152.3 gC/(m²·a), with interannual variation ranging from 103.9 to 194.7 gC/(m²·a). The spatial trend of NPP generally shows an upward trajectory, with slopes between 1 and 3. (2) There is a strong positive correlation between annual precipitation and annual NPP across 95.62% of the area, while no significant correlation is observed between annual NPP and annual mean temperature. Seasonally, spring temperature shows a significant positive correlation with annual NPP over 28.93% of the area. In contrast, summer temperature exhibits a significant negative correlation with NPP in 20.57% of the region, while autumn temperature shows no notable relationship. Regarding precipitation, spring precipitation has little influence, with only 0.5% of the area showing a significant positive correlation with annual NPP. Summer precipitation, however, displays a strong positive correlation across 95.66% of the region. Autumn precipitation has limited influence, with a significant positive correlation found in just 2.86% of the area.

Soil Conservation and Influencing Factors in Xiangyang City, Hanjiang River Basin

2025-04-17

Xiaojing Liu , X Li , Xiaohuang Liu +4 more

Xiangyang City is the core area of soil erosion in the Han River Basin, with serious problems of soil erosion and a weak soil conservation capacity. The spatiotemporal evolution characteristics … Xiangyang City is the core area of soil erosion in the Han River Basin, with serious problems of soil erosion and a weak soil conservation capacity. The spatiotemporal evolution characteristics and influencing factors of soil conservation in Xiangyang City, Han River Basin, from 2000 to 2020 were analyzed using the InVEST-SDR model and the PLUS contribution methodology. The results show the following: (1) The amount of soil conservation per unit area in Xiangyang in 2000, 2010, and 2020 was 1.84 × 105 t/km2, 1.59 × 105 t/km2, and 1.96 × 105 t/km2. This was concentrated in some areas, such as Baokang County, Nanzhang County, and Gucheng County. The soil conservation in Zaoyang, Xiangzhou, Yicheng, and Laohekou was relatively low, while the soil conservation capacity in the Xiangcheng and Fancheng areas was weakest. (2) The areas with the highest value of soil conservation were mainly concentrated in the forest areas in the southwest and northwest of Xiangyang, where the vegetation coverage is high and the altitude is low. The areas with low soil conservation were mainly concentrated in the eastern central part of Xiangyang, which is mainly farmland, with less vegetation and relatively flat terrain. (3) The amount of soil conservation is mainly influenced by two factors—vegetation coverage and terrain—indicating that vegetation management strategies should be tailored to local conditions. This article differs from previous watershed research areas by exploring the influencing factors of soil conservation in Xiangyang City and deeply analyzing the changes in importance and the spatiotemporal differentiation of ecosystem service functions. This conclusion can provide data support for environmental management and decision-making in the Xiangyang region, helping to achieve the sustainable development of the regional ecological environment and economic society.

Spatiotemporal variation characteristic of soil organic carbon stock in the Huaihe River Eco-economic Belt from 1980 to 2020

2025-04-17

Honghua Zhang , Miaoying An , Yang Xu +7 more

Spatiotemporal Dynamics of Forest Vegetation in Northern China and Their Responses to Climate Change

2025-04-11

Enbo Ma , Zhongke Feng , Panpan Chen +1 more

Forests play a crucial role in the global carbon cycle, climate regulation, and biodiversity conservation, making them essential for understanding ecosystem responses to environmental change. However, the spatiotemporal dynamics of … Forests play a crucial role in the global carbon cycle, climate regulation, and biodiversity conservation, making them essential for understanding ecosystem responses to environmental change. However, the spatiotemporal dynamics of forest vegetation and their responses to climate change have yet to be fully explored. This study assessed the spatiotemporal dynamics and adaptation of forest vegetation from Northern China by extracting changes in forest vegetation and phenological characteristics from 2001 to 2023 with the time-series MODIS Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) data and analyzing the impact of climate variables on these changes. The linear regression analysis method and the four-parameter double logistic model were employed to assess forest vegetation changes and identify forest vegetation phenological phases, respectively. Partial correlation analysis was used to assess the relationship between forest vegetation and climate variables. The results of this study indicate that over the past two decades, the annual mean NDVI of forest vegetation has exhibited a slow increasing trend of approximately 0.002 yr−1, with a spatial distribution pattern that gradually decreases from south to north, showing a significant correlation with latitude. The magnitude of annual mean NDVI changes varies considerably among different forest vegetation types. However, except for evergreen broadleaf forests, the NDVI of all other forest types has shown a significant increasing trend. Additionally, central North China and southeastern Tibet exhibit higher NDVI values in both spring (>0.55) and autumn (>0.65) than other areas, while the NDVI values in Northeast China and North China are higher in summer (>0.8) compared to other areas. The study reveals substantial spatial heterogeneity in the average phenological phases and NDVI values of forest vegetation across different regions, influenced by latitude, altitude, and regional climatic conditions. The spatial distribution patterns of NDVI during the green-up and senescence phases remain relatively consistent, yet significant regional differences exist within the same phenological phase. Partial correlation analysis indicates that forest vegetation in different regions responds distinctly to meteorological factors. These findings contribute to a deeper understanding of the spatiotemporal dynamics of vegetation change and its complex interactions with climate change, offering valuable insights for forest ecosystem management and climate adaptation of forest vegetation.

[Soil Quality Evaluation and Obstacle Diagnosis of Saline-Alkali Cultivated Land in the Hetao Plain].

2025-04-08

Junhua Zhang , Hua-Yu Huang , Qi-Dong Ding +1 more

Soil quality of cultivated land determines food security and the development of farmland ecosystems. In this study, 16 soil physical and chemical properties were used to determine the characteristics of … Soil quality of cultivated land determines food security and the development of farmland ecosystems. In this study, 16 soil physical and chemical properties were used to determine the characteristics of soil degradation index （SDI） and resistance index （SRI） in five typical areas of the Hetao Irrigation District in the middle and upper reaches of the Yellow River. Based on the total data set （TDS） and minimum data set （MDS）, the soil quality index （SQI） was calculated using six methods of membership function and linear （SL） and nonlinear scoring （SNL）. The difference and correlation of SQI values in different methods and the soil quality grade in each study area were discussed, and the soil obstacles in different study areas were clarified. The results showed that： ① The SDI value of EC in Hongsibu was the lowest （-265.84）, and the maximum value was AK in Huinong （60.37）. The SRI of soil TS in Hangjinhouqi was the lowest （0.634 7）, and the SRI of Huinong silt was the highest （0.878 8）. Soil EC, SAR, TS, and ESP were more sensitive to SDI and SRI. On the whole, the soil quality of the five study areas was significantly degraded. The mean values of SRI and SDI of all indicators were significantly correlated. ② MDS included five indicators of soil TN, EC, clay, pH, and AK, which could explain 76.46% of the 16 primary indicators in the whole data set. The average SQI calculated by the six evaluation methods were as follows： SQI（MDS-SL）>SQI（TDS-MF）>SQI（MDS-MF）>SQI（TDS-SL）>SQI（TDS-SNL）>SQI（MDS-SNL）. With SQI（TDS-MF） as the reference value, the SQI of each method was significantly correlated with it, and the correlation coefficient with SQI（TDS-SNL） was the largest. In the scoring methods, the overall performance of SNL was better than that of SL, but its SQI value was small. ③ The soil quality of the whole study area was dominated by medium and low grades （accounting for 54.05% of the total area）； the soil grade of Hongsibu was the lowest （medium and low-grade soil accounted for 85.71%）. High and higher quality soil of Huinong accounted for the largest proportion （70.31%）. At present, the study areas were mainly faced with soil organic matter and nutrient limitation obstacles （especially Hongsibu）. There were also texture obstacles in Huinong, Wuyuan, and Hangjinhouqi and alkali stress in Xidatan. The research results can provide a scientific basis for the evaluation of the degradation degree and soil quality of saline-alkali farmland in the Hetao Plain and the selection of reasonable improvement measures.

Development and Analysis of the Water and Soil Conservation Function Dataset across the Tibetan Plateau (2001–2023)

2025-04-08

Nan Cong

Interspecific Hybridization Barrier Between Paeonia ostii and P. ludlowii

2025-04-03

Yingzi Guo , Yan Zhang , Yanli Wang +3 more

Paeonia ludlowii is a threatened and valuable germplasm in the cultivated tree peony gene pool, with distinctive traits such as tall stature, pure yellow flowers, and scarlet foliage in autumn. … Paeonia ludlowii is a threatened and valuable germplasm in the cultivated tree peony gene pool, with distinctive traits such as tall stature, pure yellow flowers, and scarlet foliage in autumn. However, the crossability barrier limits gene transfer from P. ludlowii to cultivated tree peony. Therefore, our study investigated the reasons for the lack of crossability between P. ludlowii and Paeonia ostii 'Fengdan'. Distant cross pollination (DH) resulted in the formation of many calloses at the ends of the pollen tubes, which grew non-polar, twisted, entangled, and often stopped in the style. Pollen tubes elongated the fastest in self-pollination (CK), and pollen tubes elongated faster and fewer pollen tube abnormalities were observed in stigmas treated with KCl solution before pollination (KH) than in DH. During pollen-pistil interactions, the absence of stigma exudates, high levels of H2O2, O2-, MDA, •OH, ABA, and MeJA, and lower levels of BR and GA3 may negatively affect pollen germination and pollen tube elongation in the pistil of P. ostii 'Fengdan'. Pollen tubes in CK and KH penetrated the ovule into the embryo sac at 24 h after pollination, whereas only a few pollen tubes in DH penetrated the ovule at 36 h after pollination. Pre-embryo abnormalities and the inhibition of free nuclear endosperm division resulted in embryo abortion in most of the fruits of DH and many fruits of KH, which occurred between 10 and 20 days after pollination, whereas embryos in CK developed well. Early embryo abortion and endosperm abortion in most of the fruits of DH and KH led to seed abortion. Seed abortion in KH and DH was mainly due to an insufficient supply of auxins and gibberellins and lower content of soluble protein and soluble sugars. The cross failure between P. ludlowii and P. ostii 'Fengdan' is mostly caused by a pre-fertilization barrier. KH treatment can effectively promote pollen tube growth and facilitate normal development of hybrid embryos. These findings provide new insights into overcoming the interspecific hybridization barrier between cultivated tree peony varieties and wild species.

Carbon storage and sequestration of five planting patterns of Picea crassifolia plantations in Qilian mountains

2025-04-01

Yaoyao Shangguan , Zhao Hu , Zhengzhong Zhang +7 more

Forest plantations play a critical role in mitigating climate change, with their carbon storage and sequestration capacity significantly influenced by planting patterns. This study focuses on Picea crassifolia plantations in … Forest plantations play a critical role in mitigating climate change, with their carbon storage and sequestration capacity significantly influenced by planting patterns. This study focuses on Picea crassifolia plantations in the shallow mountainous region of the Qilian Mountains, aiming to investigate the effects of five planting patterns (pure forests, mixed forests, and uneven-aged forests) on vegetation and soil organic carbon (SOC) dynamics. The research provides a scientific basis for optimizing forest management strategies in arid and semi-arid regions. Fifteen sample plots were established in the Qilian Mountains, Gansu Province, covering five planting patterns: pure forests with 1.5 × 1.5 m (P1.5) and 2 × 2 m (P2) spacing, uneven-aged pure forests (PX), mixed forests of P. crassifolia and Pinus sylvestris var. mongholica (PC), and mixed forests of P. crassifolia , P. sylvestris , and Caragana korshinskii (PPC). Vegetation biomass (tree height, DBH, crown width) and soil samples (0 – 80 cm depth) were collected. Carbon content was determined using the potassium dichromate oxidation method, and carbon stocks were estimated using national biomass models. Statistical analyses (one-way ANOVA) and membership function evaluation were applied to assess carbon sink potential. Results showed that: 1. Planting spacing: The 2 × 2 m pure forest (P2) exhibited higher vegetation-layer carbon storage (10 t·ha −1 ) compared to the 1.5 × 1.5 m pure forest (P1.5, 5 t·ha −1 ). 2. Age heterogeneity: The uneven-aged pure forest (PX) showed the highest vegetation-layer carbon storage (6.61 t·ha −1 ), but its total carbon stock (106.98 t·ha −1 ) was slightly lower than P2 (111.08 t·ha −1 ) due to P2’s superior SOC content in deeper soil layers (13.64 g·kg −1 at 60–80 cm). 3. Pure vs. mixed forests: Pure forests (P2) outperformed mixed forests (PC, PPC) in total carbon storage, driven by soil-layer contributions (&gt;95% of total stocks). The 2 × 2 m pure forest (P2) demonstrated optimal carbon sequestration potential in the Qilian Mountains, with soil carbon dominance highlighting the importance of deep-layer SOC accumulation. While uneven-aged forests (PX) showed strong vegetation carbon storage, long-term carbon sinks require integrated soil management. These findings provide critical insights for arid-region plantation configurations. Future studies should combine remote sensing for dynamic carbon monitoring and explore diversified mixed-species systems to enhance ecosystem stability.

[Stem radial growth of dominant subalpine coniferous species and their responses to moisture variability in Northwest Yunnan, China].

2025-04-01

Y. S. Zhang , Ze‐Xin Fan , Pei‐Li Fu +3 more

The Hengduan Mountains region is sensitive to climate change. Although many dendrochronological studies have been conducted in this region, few researches examined seasonal variations of stem radial growth and their … The Hengduan Mountains region is sensitive to climate change. Although many dendrochronological studies have been conducted in this region, few researches examined seasonal variations of stem radial growth and their responses to environmental factors of subalpine coniferous tree species. We monitored stem radial variations of four dominant coniferous species i.e. Abies georgei, Larix potaninii, Picea brachytyla var. complanata, and Pinus densata, in Shangri-La National Park, using high-resolution dendrometers. We analyzed the diurnal patterns of stem growth and their responses to the variations of atmospheric and soil moisture in 2022 and 2023. The results showed that: 1) stem radial growth of the four tree species mainly occurred at night, with the species that reached peak growth earlier at night, such as A. georgei, showing greater radial growth and more growth hours. 2) Stem radial growths of the four tree species were negatively correlated with vapor pressure deficit (VPD) and soil water content (SWC). 3) Stem radial growths of A. georgei and L. potaninii at higher altitudes were more sensitive to changes in VPD. However, stem radial growths of P. brachytyla var. complanate and P. densata at lower elevations were more influenced by soil water content. By revealing differential responses of subalpine conifer species at a diurnal scale and the main environmental limiting factors, our results would provide new insights into understanding how subalpine coniferous trees respond to climate change in the Hengduan Mountains.

AMF and DSE diversity and colonization characteristics of Salvia miltiorrhiza in different genotypes and growth periods

2025-04-01

Tingting Han , Wanyun Li , Li L +2 more

Coal gangue-based soil-like materials for vegetation restoration in weak ecosystem of China's loess plateau: performance evaluation and environmental risk

2025-04-01

Hongyu Gao , Chao Linghu , Zhenzhen Song

Decomposition dynamics and driving factors of leaf litter and fine roots decomposition in secondary oak forests following different management practices in Northwestern China

2025-03-28

Yang Xin , Zeyu Ou , Ping Xie +7 more