Regional Ecosystem Research Articles

Declining Tradeoff Between Resistance and Resilience of Ecosystems to Drought

AbstractResistance and resilience are widely used to characterize ecosystem drought stability. Tradeoff between resistance and resilience have been reported, but its long‐term trends remain uncertain at global scale. Based on remotely sensed vegetation indices, we assessed the spatiotemporal dynamics of drought resistance and resilience. Result revealed that there was a significant decline in the tradeoff between resistance and resilience, corresponding to a substantial increase in the proportion of areas with high resistance‐high resilience or low resistance‐low resilience. In the South Sahel, South Africa and Central China, the increased precipitation and vegetation coverage contribute to enhanced drought stability constructed by resistance and resilience; while rising temperature, decreased water availability and deforestation lead to declined stability in northeastern North America, South America and the Congo region. Increases in the areas with low resistance‐low resilience resulting from declining tradeoffs warn of increased regional ecosystem vulnerability.

A Case Study of Maritime Hydrogen Energy Development in Jiangsu Province in China

This study aims to develop a systematic review of hydrogen energy storage technologies and maritime applications, intending to present an international perspective on the matter. This study analyses the role of advanced storage methods in enabling renewable energy systems integration in coastal regions, using Jiangsu Province of China as an example. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) was used as the research method. Data was obtained from research studies over the period 2015–2023. The analysis included a total of 96 papers from Web of Science, Scopus, IEEE Xplore, and ScienceDirect databases. Results show that Europe and East Asia led publications at the intersection of hydrogen storage and marine applications over the past decade. One of the main issues associated with maritime hydrogen adoption found in the dissertation is related to the mismatch between technological readiness levels and commercial maturity. Findings indicate promise for fuel cell integration with ships, ports, offshore wind farms, and other coastal transport sectors. However, the realization of the project depends on infrastructure development, policy support, and viable business models tailored to the marine environment. Focused demonstration projects and public-private collaboration can further progress towards robust hydrogen-based energy storage ecosystems in suitable regions like Jiangsu and beyond.

Late Holocene decoupling of lake and vegetation ecosystem in response to centennial-millennial climatic changes in arid Central Asia: A case study from Aibi Lake of western Junggar Basin

Central Asian lakes are crucial for sustaining fragile oasis ecosystems in arid regions. Understanding the response of ecosystems in these lake basins to climate change is essential for predicting future variations in these ecosystems. Aibi Lake is a notable terminal lake in arid Central Asia. In this study, a 95 cm lacustrine sediment core was drilled from Aibi Lake to investigate the response of lacustrine and terrestrial ecosystems in the lake basin to climate change over the past 3200 years. Accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) 14C dating and multi-proxy analyses of diatoms, pollen, grain size, total organic content (TOC), total nitrogen (TN), and total hydrogen (TH) are applied to the sediment core. The grain size and geochemical results show that the lake experienced elevated levels and improved productivity and nutrition during the periods of 708–181 BCE, 0–740 CE, and 1428–1900 CE. The periods align with the Roman Warm Period, Dark Age Cold Period, and Little Ice Age, respectively. For the past 3200 years, benthic diatoms have consistently been the dominant species in the lake. During the climatic transition periods of the Dark Age Cold Period, Medieval Warm Period, and Little Ice Age, there were significant changes in the abundance and survival of certain species of diatoms. Specifically, the halophilic species (Nitzschia dissipata and Nitzschia hungarica), basophilic species (Synedra acus), and the nutrition level-relevant species (Navicula menisculus) experienced notable shifts. These changes ultimately resulted in a noticeable alteration in the structure and function of the diatom community. Over the past 3200 years, the lake ecosystem has undergone three noticeable regime shifts. In contrast, the vegetation in the lake catchment has remained relatively stable, primarily consisting of desert steppe. These results suggest that aquatic ecosystems in arid central Asia are more susceptible and exhibit more rapid responses to climate change compared to terrestrial vegetation.

Effects of imidacloprid on the survival and biomarker responses of Eristalis tenax larvae (Diptera: Syrphidae): a comparative study between indoor and outdoor exposures

Imidacloprid is a widely used pesticide in agriculture. It is being found in aquatic ecosystems in agricultural regions. This study aimed to evaluate its effects on the survival rates, acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and catalase (CAT) responses of larval Eristalis tenax hoverflies. The larvae were exposed for 3, 7 and 14 days to increasing concentrations of imidacloprid (0, 0.1, 0.5 and 2 mg L−1) both indoors at a constant temperature of 20 °C and outdoors under varying environmental conditions. The results revealed that indoors and outdoors, the mortality of E. tenax significantly increased with increasing imidacloprid concentration and duration of exposure. Median lethal concentrations (LC50) varied from 0.03 to 0.17 mg L−1 depending on the duration and conditions of exposure. Indoors, AChE activity decreased in all the treatments for all three exposure durations, whereas outdoors the decrease was observed after the short (3-day) and long (14-day) exposure durations. AChE inhibition ranged from 6% to 62% (indoors) and 12% to 62% (outdoors). Variations in CAT activity were observed for both experimental setups, with a decrease outdoors in larvae exposed to 0.5 mg L−1 for 7 days and a gradual dose-dependent increase indoors for exposure lasting 3 and 7 days. This study sheds light on the potential ecological implications of imidacloprid contamination which may cause the decline of aquatic insect populations and pollination rates, leading to disruptions of the food chain and the overall decline of aquatic and terrestrial ecosystem health.

Oasis agriculture revitalization and carbon sequestration for climate-resilient communities

Revitalizing oasis agriculture, an age-old human endeavor, has historically played a crucial role in sustaining biodiversity and ecosystems in arid regions. Nevertheless, this enduring practice now faces contemporary challenges, including global warming, water scarcity, soil erosion, and negative human activities associated with urbanization. This comprehensive review delves into diverse literature across disciplines, covering topics such as water conservation, biodiversity restoration, agroforestry, and Oasis Holistic Management, with the aim of addressing these challenges. The analysis strongly advocates for the urgent adoption of sustainable practices, including precision irrigation, polyculture, organic farming, agroforestry, and community-based initiatives, to ensure the survival of oasis agriculture and foster long-term environmental and social responsibility. The study underscores the imperative need for the development of “comprehensive, flexible, and forward-looking management strategies” to guide the sustainable revival of oasis farming. By consolidating information from various studies, it lays the groundwork for informed decision-making and policy formulation. As part of revitalizing the oasis agricultural ecosystem and addressing the global climate crisis, we propose a noninvasive tool for assessing carbon sequestration effectiveness based on tree specifications. Recognizing the pivotal role of vegetation in mitigating the ecological impact and facing global crises, we explored parameters influencing plant carbon sequestration, including biomass production, growth rate, longevity, root structure, leaf structure, and average temperature tolerance.

Influence of globalization factors on human development

The article aims to study the impact of globalization on the leading indicators of human development. The essence of «globalization» is clarified, and its content is defined. Sustainable development is crucial for overcoming the consequences of the war and rebuilding Ukraine's regions. It offers a comprehensive approach considering infrastructure, economy, society, and the environment. From an economic point of view, it includes not only economic recovery but also the wise use of resources, ensuring stability and creating new opportunities. To support the population affected by the war, it is essential to consider the social elements of sustainable development. From an environmental perspective, preserving the region's natural resources and ecosystems is necessary. In addition, support and international cooperation are vital to achieving sustainable development in Ukraine. The influence of globalization factors on human development is studied. Various aspects of globalization, such as trade, investment, migration, and technological progress, and their impact on human development indicators, such as income per capita, life expectancy, education level, and access to health care, are analyzed. These elements have been proven to highlight how important it is to adhere to the principles of sustainable development when rebuilding war-affected areas. In the process of Ukraine's recovery, implementing the principles of sustainable development will create a sustainable basis for economic growth and development, improve the population's quality of life, and reduce the risks of recovery. The study is based on data from various sources, including the World Bank, the United Nations, and the International Monetary Fund. It is proved that the successful implementation of the concept of sustainable development in Ukraine requires support and cooperation with other countries. Particular attention should be paid to sustainable development programs directly funded and supported by international organizations and partners, which is an essential element of support for the recovery of war-affected regions of Ukraine and emphasizes the importance of researching the impact of globalization on human development indicators. Keywords: globalization, human development, migration, life expectancy, level of education, health care.

Characteristics of Bacterial Communities under Different Tree Species and Their Response to Soil Physicochemical Properties

This study investigates the structure of soil bacterial communities in the brown mountain soils beneath the deciduous broadleaf forests of Dongling Mountain and their response to soil physicochemical properties. Aiming to provide a scientific basis for soil conservation and sustainable forest development under deciduous broadleaf forests, this research utilized high-throughput sequencing technology to examine the diversity and community structure of bacteria in soil under different tree species, alongside assessing soil physicochemical properties. The results revealed significant differences in nutrient content between the 0–20 cm and 20–40 cm soil layers. Additionally, the N:P in the brown mountain soils of Dongling Mountain was found to be below the national average, indicating potential nitrogen limitation. Dominant bacterial phylum included Actinobacteria, Proteobacteria, and Acidobacteria. The study also found that soil bacterial community structure was similar under different tree species at the same depth but varied significantly with soil depth. Furthermore, redundancy analysis (RDA) showed that the available potassium (AK), total nitrogen (TN), and ammonium nitrogen (NH4+-N) significantly influenced the structural changes in the soil bacterial community. This research highlights the characteristics of soil bacterial community structure beneath deciduous broadleaf forests and its relationship with soil physicochemical properties, offering valuable insights for regional soil ecosystem conservation and forest management.

Wetting-warming climate increases ecosystem carbon use efficiency of Chinese arid and semi-arid ecosystem

Co-limited by environmental constraints, ecosystems in arid and semi-arid regions (ASARs) are extremely sensitive to climate change. A warmer and wetter climate trend has been observed extensively in ASARs of China, but whether and how the changing climate has influenced ecosystem carbon allocation and balance remains largely unclear. To bridge this knowledge gap, we conducted a comprehensive study integrating manipulative experiments, flux observations, and model simulations and our research findings reveal that the changing climate exerts a significant influence on ecosystem carbon use efficiency (CUEe) in ASARs. Specifically, the effect of increased precipitation has outweighed the warming effect, resulting in a widespread rise in CUEe across most parts of ASARs. In regions with alpine vegetation, the stimulated effects of increased temperature and precipitation play a dominant role in shaping the pattern of CUEe changes. However, with intensified warming, its stimulated effect on CUEe gradually diminishes or even reverses in ASARs. These findings can improve our understanding of ecosystem carbon sequestration regarding the response of resource-constrained ecosystems to climate change, thereby guiding ecosystem management.

Spatial and temporal evolution analysis of ecological security pattern in Hubei Province based on ecosystem service supply and demand analysis

Realizing the superior stability of natural resources for regional economic growth depends on the construction of the Ecological Security Pattern (ESP)11the Ecological Security Pattern (ESP).. The ESP of Hubei Province was determined based on the supply and demand of ecosystem services (ESSD)22the supply and demand of ecosystem services (ESSD).. The main conclusions are as follows: (1) The overall supply of ecosystem services in Hubei Province exceeds the demand, and the imbalance between supply and demand in Wuhan, Xiangyang and Jingzhou is the most serious. (2) The largest ecological source area in 2000 was 90,506 km2, followed by 86,946 km2 in 2020. (3) 11 long-term ecological obstacles with a total area of 312.96 km2 were identified, which were mainly composed of large areas of cultivated land and water. (5) The ecological protection and restoration pattern of “two axes, three belts, four districts and five cores (two main and three secondary)” has been constructed in Hubei Province. The results of this study provide reference for the management and protection of regional ecosystem and the overall response to ecological problems in Hubei Province.

Protection pattern and driving mechanism of typical marine ecosystems: a case study of China-ASEAN countries

The protection pattern of typical marine ecosystems is an overall summary of the regional marine ecosystem protection, indicating the protection status of typical marine ecosystems. The coastal waters of China and ASEAN countries have a highly diverse range of ecosystem types, including mangroves, coral reefs, and seagrass beds. The need to protect these ecosystems is urgent, but establishing marine protected areas often involves conflicts with stakeholders highly dependent on these ecosystems. By constructing an analysis model of the protection pattern and driving mechanisms of typical marine ecosystems, with a focus on the China-ASEAN region, this study aimed to analyze the characteristics of typical marine ecosystems protection patterns in China-ASEAN, evaluate the current protection status of these ecosystems, discuss the driving factors, and derive a regression function to clarify the quantitative relationship between the protection pattern and driving factors of typical marine ecosystems in the China-ASEAN region. The results indicate that there are four main driving factors influencing the protection pattern of typical marine ecosystems in China-ASEAN countries. The most significant driving factor is the Natural Geographic and Resource Factor, followed by Urbanization, Industrial Structure, and Population Size and GDP Factor. Among these, the Natural Geographic and Resource Factor and the Industrial Structure Factor have a positive impact, while the others have a negative impact. In the future, it is crucial to fully consider the diversity and distribution of marine ecosystems to promote joint efforts among China-ASEAN countries in protecting marine ecosystems through international cooperation.

Habitat connectivity of threatened ungulate species in a native savanna landscape of northern South America

AbstractThe native savanna ecosystem of the Orinoquia region is the habitat of 50% of the wild ungulate species reported for Colombia. Over the last 20 years, this high species diversity has been strongly threatened by the human transformation of the natural land cover causing connectivity loss of the habitats. The Orinoquia region lacks a biological connectivity analysis with a multi-species approach involving species groups that are representative of the savanna ecosystem such as the ungulates. Understanding the spatial distributions of suitable areas and the main habitats that act as primary habitats for ungulate species in these landscapes is fundamental for the design of conservation strategies. We use an occurrence dataset for lowland tapir (Tapirus terrestris), white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus), and white-lipped peccary (Tayassu pecari) in the development of species’ potential distribution models, binarization process, and morphological spatial pattern analysis. This information was used for the modeling of dispersal corridors connecting the core habitats of the ungulate focal species using the randomized shortest path algorithm and quantifying the weighted global connectivity metrics. Our results suggest an integral corridor with potential least-cost dispersal routes between the native savanna landscape on the middle basins of the savanna rivers and the Meta River. These areas associated with the fluvial dendritic systems are connected, while the core habitats in the eastern part of the savanna landscape are disconnected. We discuss how the application of such knowledge on the spatial ecology of ungulate focal species might improve the management of the metapopulations in the Orinoquia region.

Assessing the responses of ecosystem patterns, structures and functions to drought under climate change in the Yellow River Basin, China

Understanding how ecosystems respond and adapt to drought has become an urgent issue as drought stress intensifies under climate change, yet this topic is not fully understood. Currently, conclusions on the response of ecosystems in different regions to drought disturbance are inconsistent. Based on long MODIS data and observed data, this study systematically explored the relationships between ecosystem patterns, structures and functions and drought, taking a typical climate change-sensitive area and an ecologically fragile area—the Yellow River Basin—as a case study. Drought assessment results revealed that the Yellow River Basin has experienced meteorological and hydrological drought during most of the last two decades, predominantly characterized by medium and slight droughts. The ecosystem patterns and structures changed dramatically as the grassland decreased and the landscape fragmentation index (F) increased with increasing wetness. The annual gross primary productivity (GPP) increased, the water use efficiency (WUE) declined and ecosystem service value (ESV) exhibited a W-shaped increase at the watershed scale, but there were significant regional differences. There were positive correlations between F, GPP, ESV and drought indices, while there was a negative correlation between WUE and drought indices at the watershed scale. Under drought stress, the ecosystem structure in the basin was disrupted, the GPP and ESV decreased, but the WUE increased. Notably, approximately 106 %, 20 %, and 1 % of the maximum reductions in F, GPP, and ESV, respectively, were caused by drought, while the maximum 4 % of WUE increased. Responses of some functions in the wetland and grassland to drought vary from those in other ecosystems. The mechanisms underlying ecosystem responses to drought were further investigated. This study enhances the understanding of these responses and will help stakeholders formulate drought mitigation policies and protect ecosystem health.

Integrating ecosystem service value in the disclosure of landscape ecological risk changes: a case study in Yangtze River Economic Belt, China

Urban expansion and inappropriate land uses have caused a decline in the regional ecosystem services capacity, which is contrary to United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 15 aiming to protect and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems. Landscape ecological risk (LER) visually depicts the disturbances to ecosystem services and environmental shifts resulting from human activities. Consideration of ecosystem services in LER assessment has not been sufficiently researched. Here, we employed ecosystem service values (ESV) to define landscape vulnerability, and adopted an enhanced risk assessment framework, amalgamating landscape patterns and ecosystem processes, to evaluate the spatial-temporal shifts in ESV and LER in the Yangtze River Economic Belt (YREB) from 2000 to 2020. We attempted to analyze the relationship between LER and anthropogenic disturbances. The results showed that over the past 20 years, the general trend revealed a diminishing high-risk area, while medium and low-risk regions expanded. Notably, the urban agglomeration of the YREB experienced a marked surge in risk. Regarding migration direction, the low-risk category has expanded in the east–west direction, while the medium and high-risk categories have shown inward contraction mainly in the north–south direction. The findings highlight the complex changes between ecological processes and LER under anthropogenic disturbances, and can serve as a guide for sustainable risk management and the development of ecological security patterns.

The entrepreneurial university: strategies, processes, and competing goals

AbstractThe configuration of the entrepreneurial university remains poorly understood given the complexity of the university as an organisation with multiple missions and multiple ‘products and services’, delivered by multiple and sometimes competing sub-organisations with different cultures and norms, in response to different outside pressures and demands. The outcomes of the entrepreneurial university reflect the plurality of goals, including research, teaching, knowledge commercialisation, and civic and community empowerment, but they are rarely considered within the same conceptual and empirical framework. Hence, the aim of this paper is to explore how multiple and sometimes competing strategies and associated arrangements, resources and capabilities within the entrepreneurial university affect the delivery of economic and social benefits to the external world across teaching, research, knowledge commercialisation, and civic and community empowerment missions. To achieve this aim, we elaborate the entrepreneurial university ecosystem concept so that we can systematically capture the cross-influences of the entrepreneurial university elements in their entirety rather than focussing on selected ecosystem elements and their effects in relation to one particular university mission. Our analysis is based on a novel institution-level database on university strategies, goals, policies, and support mechanisms, providing annual data for all higher education institutions in the UK over the period 2017–2020, complemented with annual administrative data on staff, finances, graduate outcomes, and infrastructure, as well as contextual data on the wider regional entrepreneurship ecosystem. Using a Seemingly Unrelated Estimation approach, we contribute with novel fundings explicitly identifying synergies and tensions between different elements of the entrepreneurial university ecosystem that affect the delivery of its outcomes.

Universities as catalysts of change in locked-in and vulnerable resource-based regions of the Global South

ABSTRACT This paper explores the contribution of universities to regional development and innovation in locked-in and vulnerable resource-based regions of the Global South. Building on a regional change agency approach, we identify the combination of key factors and context preconditions for universities to successfully fulfil their local engagement role in a particularly challenging environment. To do so, we use a comparative case study of two mining regions in Peru. Our results reveal that the prevalence of a climate of conflict and the lack of an innovation culture in the regional ecosystem are important challenges, while strategic leadership and institutional capacities are central elements for universities to fulfil their role as transformative agents.

Amendments affect the community assembly and co-occurrence network of microorganisms in Cd and Pb tailings of the Eucalyptus camaldulensis rhizosphere

Mining tailings containing large amounts of Pb and Cd cause severe regional ecosystem pollution. Soil microorganisms play a regulatory role in the restoration of degraded ecosystems. The remediation of heavy metal-contaminated tailings with amendments and economically valuable Eucalyptus camaldulensis is a research hotspot due to its cost-effectiveness and sustainability. However, the succession and co-occurrence patterns of these microbial communities in this context remain unclear. Tailing samples of five kinds of Cd and Pb were collected in E. camaldulensis restoration models. Physicochemical properties, the proportions of different Cd and Pb forms, microbial community structure, and the co-occurrence network of rhizosphere tailings during different restoration process (organic bacterial manure, organic manure, inorganic fertilizer, bacterial agent) were considered. Organic and organic bacterial manures significantly increased pH, cation exchange capacity, and the proportion of residual Pb. Still, there was a significant decrease in the proportion of reducible Pb. The changes in microbial communities were related to physicochemical properties and the types of amendments. Organic and organic bacterium manures decreased the relative abundance of oligotrophic groups and increased the relative abundance of syntrophic groups. Inorganic fertilizers and bacterial agents decreased the relative abundance of saprophytic fungi. B. subtilis would play a better role in the environment improved by organic manure, increasing the relative abundance of beneficial microorganism and reducing the relative abundance of pathogenic microorganism. pH, cation exchange capacity, and the proportion of different forms of Pb were the main factors affecting the bacterial and fungi variation. All four amendments transformed the main critical groups of the microbial network structure from acidophilus and pathogenic microorganisms to beneficial microorganisms. Heavy metal-resistant microorganisms, stress-resistant microorganisms, beneficial microorganisms that promote nutrient cycling, and copiotrophic groups have become critical to building stable rhizosphere microbial communities. The topological properties and stability of the rhizosphere co-occurrence network were also enhanced. Adding organic and organic bacterium manures combined with E. camaldulensis to repair Cd and Pb tailings improved (1) pH and cation exchange capacity, (2) reduced the biological toxicity of Pb, (3) enhanced the stability of microbial networks, and (4) improved ecological network relationships. These positive changes are conducive to the restoration of the ecological functions of tailings.

Designing a framework for entrepreneurship education in Chinese higher education: a theoretical exploration and empirical case study

Entrepreneurship education (EE) has rapidly evolved within higher education and has emerged as a pivotal mechanism for cultivating innovative and entrepreneurial talent. In China, while EE has made positive strides, it still faces a series of practical challenges. These issues cannot be effectively addressed solely through the efforts of universities. Based on the triple helix (TH) theory, this study delves into the unified objectives and practical content of EE in Chinese higher education. Through a comprehensive literature review on EE, coupled with educational objectives, planned behavior, and entrepreneurship process theories, this study introduces the 4H objective model of EE. 4H stands for Head (mindset), Hand (skill), Heart (attitude), and Help (support). Additionally, the research extends to a corresponding content model that encompasses entrepreneurial learning, entrepreneurial practice, startup services, and the entrepreneurial climate as tools for achieving the objectives. Based on a single-case approach, this study empirically explores the application of the content model at T-University. Furthermore, this paper elucidates how the university plays a role through the comprehensive development of entrepreneurial learning, practices, services, and climate in nurturing numerous entrepreneurs and facilitating the flourishing of the regional entrepreneurial ecosystem. This paper provides important contributions in its application of TH theory to develop EE within the Chinese context, and it provides clear guidance by elucidating the core objectives and practical content of EE. The proposed conceptual framework serves not only as a guiding tool but also as a crucial conduit for fostering the collaborative development of the EE ecosystem. To enhance the robustness of the framework, this study advocates strengthening empirical research on TH theory through multiple and comparative case studies.

Ecological Implications of Non-Standardized Crude Oil Refining Operation on Blue Carbon Resources in the Niger Delta

This study, through a review of existing literature, investigates the implications of non-standardized refineries on the mangrove ecosystem in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria. The Niger Delta region is home to one of the largest blue carbon sinks and mangrove ecosystems in the world, providing important habitat for a diverse range of species and playing a crucial role in carbon sequestration. However, the presence of non-standardized refineries in the area has raised concerns about the potential environmental impacts on the delicate ecosystem. These refineries often operate without regulations or oversight, leading to pollution of waterways, destruction of habitat for various species, and disruption of the natural food chain. This study examines the specific ways in which these non-standardized refineries are affecting the mangrove ecosystem and explores potential solutions to mitigate their negative effects. Findings from this study show that non-standardized refineries in the region are significant sources of pollution, leading to mangrove destruction. The study revealed the environmental issues, risks, and ecological significance of mangroves in the Niger Delta. The study emphasized the urgent need for better regulation and enforcement to protect these important mangrove habitats from further destruction. Finally, the study concluded that protecting the mangroves of the Niger Delta is essential for the overall health of the region.

A structural model of mutual influence of human capital development and regional academic ecosystems in the context of socio-economic diversity of the Russian Far East

Subject. This article discusses the issues of the Russian Far East research and production capacity development, population migration, and its impact on the economic system's stability. Objectives. The article aims to develop mechanisms for cooperation between government officials, entrepreneurs, and heads of educational centers of the Far Eastern Federal District, and identify the key economic and demographic problems, the solution of which can contribute to the human capital development. Methods. For the study, we used a systems analysis. Conclusions. The article concludes that it is necessary to strengthen the role of regional universities in the training of specialists. The quality of human capital is negatively affected by the imbalance of supply and demand in the labor market, shuttle migration, outflow and population decline. The Russian Far East regions lagging behind the other regions of the country in terms of the number of students is a threat to the unity of Russia's economic space.

Comparison and Evaluation of Five Global Land Cover Products on the Tibetan Plateau

The Tibetan Plateau (TP) region contains maximal alpine grassland ecology at the mid-latitudes. This region is also recognized as an ecologically fragile and sensitive area under the effects of global warming. Regional climate modeling and ecosystem research depend on accurate land cover (LC) information. In order to obtain accurate LC information over the TP, the reliability and precision of five moderate/high-resolution LC products (MCD12Q1, C3S-LC, GlobeLand30, GLC_FCS30, and ESA2020 in 2020) were analyzed and evaluated in this study. The different LC products were compared with each other in terms of areal/spatial consistency and assessed with four reference sample datasets (Geo-Wiki, GLCVSS, GOFC-GOLD, and USGS) using the confusion matrix method for accuracy evaluation over the TP. Based on the paired comparison of these five LC datasets, all five LC products show that grass is the major land cover type on the TP, but the range of grass coverage identified by the different products varies noticeably, from 43.35% to 65.49%. The fully consistent spatial regions account for 43.72% of the entire region of the TP, while, in the transition area between grass and bare soil, there is still a large area of medium-to-low consistency. In addition, a comparison of LC datasets using integrated reference datasets shows that the overall accuracies of MCD12Q1, C3S-LC, GlobeLand30, GLC_FCS30, and ESA2020 are 54.29%, 49.32%, 53.03%, 53.73%, and 60.11%, respectively. The producer accuracy of the five products is highest for grass, while glaciers have the most reliable and accurate characteristics among all LC products for users. These findings provide valuable insights for the selection of rational and appropriate LC datasets for studying land-atmosphere interactions and promoting ecological preservation in the TP.