Effective Ecological Restoration Research Articles

The Soil and Water Conservation Effects of Different Plant Communities and Biological Soil Crust Symbiosis Patterns in the Ecologically Fragile Area of Central Ningxia

Biological soil crusts are complex biological soil layers formed by mosses, lichens, cyanobacteria, and the underlying soil, which together with plants affect rainfall infiltration, surface runoff, soil evaporation, and water movement in the soil. The soil desertification and soil erosion in the ecologically fragile areas of central Ningxia are serious problems, and the ecological environment is extremely fragile. Effective ecological restoration technologies are urgently needed. This study took the grassland in the ecologically fragile area of central Ningxia as the object and investigated the impact of three plant communities and symbiotic patterns of biological soil crusts on soil erosion through field simulated rainfall experiments. The results showed that: (1) At a rainfall intensity of 90 mm h−1, the initial runoff time of each slope was significantly positively correlated with plant community type and biological soil crust coverage, and prolonged with the increase of plant community type and biological soil crust coverage. (2) With the extension of rainfall duration, the cumulative runoff on each slope exhibited an increasing trend. (3) The sediment concentration in runoff on slopes under different plant community and biological soil crust symbiotic patterns was significantly different, with the sediment concentration decreasing as the type of plant community and the coverage of biological soil crusts increased. (4) With the increase in the diversity of plant communities and the coverage of biological crusts, there was a gradual reduction in the volume of accumulated sediment. This study offers scientific management strategies and practical guidance for soil and water conservation efforts in the ecologically vulnerable areas of central Ningxia, highlighting the importance of promoting these symbiotic models within the region.

Soil properties and microbial evolution during cropping system conversion: Insights from a 105-year study in southern China

Understanding the mechanisms by which soil environments and microbial communities evolve in response to long-term changes in cropping systems is essential for the development of effective ecological conservation and restoration strategies. In this study, variations of soil characteristics and the succession of microbial community assemblages and functions were investigated in southern Chinese deciduous forests and adjacent converted tea plantations at different ages (20, 40, 60, and 105 years). The results revealed significant alterations in soil properties and the emergence of distinct diversity patterns and assembly mechanisms for bacterial and fungal communities over the century-long succession period. Bacterial α-diversity exhibited a declining trend throughout succession, while fungal α-diversity experienced a rebound in the later stages. Null model analysis indicated that stochastic processes primarily drove the assembly of the bacterial community in both forests and tea plantations, whereas fungal community assembly gradually shifted from stochastic dominance to deterministic dominance. The strength of interactions between bacterial taxa in tea plantations decreased over time, but the topological properties of fungal networks were restored in tea plantations aged 60 and 105 years. The functional groups of bacteria associated with carbon cycling and saprotrophic fungi significantly increased after tea cultivation, which was closely linked to the proliferation of r-strategists stimulated by sufficient nutrients in tea plantations. It is noteworthy that in addition to typical environmental variables such as nutrients and pH, soil polyphenols in tea plantations also have a profound effect on the composition and assembly processes of bacterial and fungal communities. These findings advance the current understanding of how long-term cropping system changes affect soil microbial community assembly and functionality, and highlight the distinct strategies by which bacteria and fungi respond to cropping system change.

Soil Nutrient Profiles in Three Types of Rocky Fissure Network Habitats of Typical Karst Formations in China: A Maolan World Heritage Perspective

Amid global desertification, this study investigates karst ecosystems; analyzing soil’s physiological and ecological properties within intricate fissure networks supporting plant root growth. This study investigates soil nutrients in three types of rocky fissure network habitats in Maolan, through field surveys and experimental measurements. Significant variability was found across habitats. The quantities of organic carbon, total nitrogen, available nitrogen, available phosphorus, and available potassium were highest in Type I soil, followed by Type III; and were lowest in Type II. Total phosphorus was highest in Type III, intermediate in Type I, and lowest in Type II; while total potassium content was highest in Type III, moderate in Type II, and lowest in Type I. Based on nutrient participation in C, N, P, and K cycles, Type I habitats had the highest levels, Type III had moderate levels, and Type II had the lowest levels; while potassium-related nutrients were highest in Type III. The nutrient ratios C/K, N/K, P/K, and N/P were highest in Type I, moderate in Type II, and lowest in Type III. C/N was highest in Type II, moderate in Type III, and lowest in Type I; while C/P was highest in Type II, moderate in Type I, and lowest in Type III. A comprehensive nutrient evaluation ranked Type I as the best, Type III as moderate, and Type II as the worst. Key factors such as average trace length, areal density, and integration significantly influence soil nutrients by impacting humus and soil storage, and the growth space for plant roots within rocky habitats. Additionally, the orientation of fissures primarily impacts nutrient cycling, while both the angles and lacunarity significantly affect the stoichiometric ratios of nutrients. Rocky habitat networks characterize soil quality. A comparison of existing studies reveals stoichiometric differences between karst and non-karst regions. Effective ecological restoration in karst areas requires targeted strategies that consider the specific attributes of different rocky habitats. This study enhances understanding of soil nutrients in karst forest ecosystems and proposes new approaches for soil’s ecological restoration and combating global desertification.

Spatial distribution of soil pore structure and response characteristics of physical parameters in the subsidence area induced by shallow-buried extra-thick coal seam mining

The development of ground fissures in the subsidence area induced by shallow-buried extra-thick coal seam mining leads to a decrease in soil water-holding capacity and vegetation withering. The investigation of the spatial distribution characteristics of soil pore structure in mining-induced subsidence areas and the elucidation of the response mechanism between soil physical parameters and soil structure are essential prerequisites for achieving effective ecological environment protection and restoration in mining areas. In this study, three-dimensional visualization reconstruction of soil porosity, pore diameter, roundness rate and pore connectivity at different profile depths in subsidence area caused by ultra-thick coal seam mining was conducted by using the soil CT scanning technology. Additionally, a correlation analysis model was established between physical parameters such as soil moisture content, bulk density, and pore structure parameters. The results indicate that: (1) Compared to the non-subsidence area, the number, size, and proportion of soil pores significantly increase in the tension zone, compression zone, and neutral zone, and the pore network and connectivity are extensively interconnected, and the fissure development in the tension zone is most significant, and the soil pores in the subsidence compression zone are concentrated on one side due to the influence of soil deformation. (2) As the depth of the soil profile increases, the level of soil pore development significantly decreases. The large profile depth (40–100 cm) causes a significant decrease in pore development. (3) There is a significant correlation between soil pore structure parameters and soil physical parameters (P ≤ 0.05), a highly significant correlation between soil pore structure parameters and soil moisture content (P ≤ 0.01), and a highly significant correlation between soil texture and soil moisture content (P ≤ 0.01). This research is of great significance for guiding underground production layout and repairing damaged soil.

The effect of ecological restoration on mutualistic services provided by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi depends on site location and host identity

The effect of ecological restoration on mutualistic services provided by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi depends on site location and host identity

Variations of soil infiltration in response to vegetation restoration and its influencing factors on the Loess Plateau

Soil infiltration is essential in the hydrological cycle, fulfilling plant water requirements, particularly in semi-arid regions such as the Loess Plateau. However, comprehensive characterization of soil infiltration responses to different vegetation restoration types remains unclear. Therefore, this study aims to examine the effects of revegetation on soil infiltration by conducting field experiments with nine representative plant species across five vegetation restoration types. Specifically, we focused on how revegetation affects soil and root properties to determine key factors impacting soil infiltration. The results showed that artificial forestland and natural grassland exhibited the most substantial effects on soil properties. Natural grassland exhibited the highest soil aggregate stability and organic matter content. Root length density and root surface area increased after vegetation restoration, most notably in artificial forestland. Root characteristics were positively correlated with aggregate stability, soil organic matter, and porosity. An increase in root surface area significantly enhanced the steady infiltration rate and saturated hydraulic conductivity (P < 0.01). Except for economic forestland, all types of vegetation restoration improved soil infiltration properties, especially notable in Artemisia sacrorum and Platycladus orientalis. The soil infiltration properties in forestland surpassed those in natural grassland, artificial grassland, and shrubland. Random Forest Regression (RFR) suggested that soil particle size, porosity, and aggerate stability were key predictors of soil infiltration properties. Partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) indicated that soil infiltration rates were altered by root-mediated changes in soil porosity. Additionally, soil organic matter exerts an indirect positive effect on infiltration rates by influencing soil aggregate stability. These findings are crucial for evaluating hydrological processes and devising more effective ecological restoration and soil and water conservation strategies in the Loess Plateau.

APPLICATION OF HUMAN STRESS RESPONSE MECHANISM MODEL IN THE EVALUATION OF ECOLOGICAL RESTORATION IN COAL MINES

A mathematical model of the stress response mechanism was constructed based on the process and characteristics of human stress response. In this model, the propagation speed of human stress hormones, the time boundary of the stress response process, and the regulatory equation of stress response are provided. An analogy is made between human stress response and ecological restoration, which have intermediary and diffusion properties between influencing factors and outcomes. Based on the human stress response mechanism model, the weights of various indicators affecting the ecological restoration effect of coal mines were calculated, and a comparison of different restoration schemes was obtained. The evaluation process and results confirm the effectiveness of applying the human stress response mechanism model.

The Effect of Vegetation Ecological Restoration by Integrating Multispectral Remote Sensing and Laser Point Cloud Monitoring Technology.

This research aims to evaluate and monitor the effectiveness of vegetation ecological restoration by integrating Multispectral Remote Sensing (MRS) and laser point cloud (LPC) monitoring technologies. Traditional vegetation restoration monitoring methods often face challenges of inaccurate data and insufficient coverage, and the use of MRS or LPC techniques alone has its limitations. Therefore, to more accurately monitor the vegetation restoration status, this study proposes a new monitoring method that combines the advantages of the large-scale coverage of MRS technology and the high-precision three-dimensional structural data analysis capability of LPC technology. This new method was applied in the Daqing oilfield area of China, aiming to provide effective ecological restoration assessment methods through the precise monitoring and analysis of regional vegetation growth and coverage. The results showed that there was a negative correlation between the vegetation humidity index and vegetation growth in the Daqing oilfield in 2023. The estimated monitoring effect of the research method could reach over 90%, and the coverage area of hydrangea restoration in the monitoring year increased by 7509 km2. The research technology was closer to the actual coverage situation. The simulation image showed that the vegetation coverage in the area has significantly improved after returning farmland to forests. Therefore, the technical methods used can effectively monitor the ecological restoration of vegetation, which has great research significance for both vegetation restoration and monitoring.

Metagenomic Insights into Coal Slag Remediation Effects on Soil and Microbial Health in Qinghai's Muli Coal Mine.

Long-term coal mining in the Muli coal mine area of Qinghai Province has degraded soil quality and reduced microbial diversity, making it imperative to implement effective ecological restoration measures to restore soil quality and enhance ecosystem functions. This study evaluated soil samples under 11 ecological restoration treatments using metagenomic sequencing combined with soil quality analysis to explore the responses of the microbial community structure and function to identify effective restoration measures. This study demonstrated that ecological restoration significantly increased the soil microbial diversity and richness, with the MLII1 (soil samples treated with a chemical weathering agent, attapulgite, and a microbial agent) and MLIII1 (soil samples treated with sheep manure (2.4 kg/m2), granular organic fertilizer (1.2 kg/m2), and the microbial agent) treatment groups performing exceptionally well. Further analysis of the functional networks revealed that although the MLII2 (soil samples treated with the chemical weathering agent and attapulgite) treatment group did not exhibit the highest species diversity, it exhibited the highest functional network complexity. The results of hierarchical clustering analysis showed that the microbial community of the MLII2 treatment group was most similar to that of the natural meadows compared to the other treatment groups. From the perspective of overall ecological restoration, this study concluded that the MLII2 treatment group exhibited the most favorable ecological restoration outcomes. This finding emphasizes the importance of not only enhancing microbial diversity but also prioritizing the restoration of community functions, especially for the recovery of fragile high-altitude ecosystems.

Benefit evaluation of sloping land conversion program in the upper reaches of the Yellow River

This study used forestry statistical data and field survey data from 2000 to 2018 to analyze the ecological restoration effect of the returning farmland to forest project in the upper reaches of the Yellow River, considering four perspectives, namely, project construction goals, ecosystem quality, ecosystem service functions, and ecological restoration driving factors. One-way ANOVA and logit regression analysis methods were used for comparison. The results show that the implementation of the Grain for Green Project has reduced the carrying capacity of rural land, effectively curbed the continuous deterioration of the ecological environment, and protected and benefited the forest ecosystem. (1) Initiatives of the return farmland to forest project have achieved the expected goals, and the forest coverage rate has increased significantly from 5.26 % (in 2000) to 15.63 % (in 2019); the proportion of primary, secondary, and tertiary industries related to forestry has reached a reasonable level, and the economic benefits thereof continue to improve. (2) Indicators such as total forest and grass vegetation coverage, vegetation net primary productivity, and forest and grass health index reflect that the functional quality of the regional forest and grass ecosystem is gradually improving. (3) The ecosystem service function of the project region has improved considerably, and the ecological benefits are significant. (4) In terms of the contribution value of the driving forces for this ecological restoration project, they can be ranked as follows: government investment > reducing land carrying capacity > policy of returning farmland to forest > government management > hydrological factors > meteorological factors. (5) After the implementation of the Grain for Green Project, farmers' income has increased significantly, but the changes in livelihood capital income are not synchronized. As the ecological environment in the Grain for Green project areas gradually improved from deterioration, the natural capital and social capital of farmers' livelihood capital decreased significantly, while the physical capital and financial capital increased significantly, with no significant change in human capital. Farmers' satisfaction with the Grain for Green Project is as follows: natural capital has a significant negative impact, while financial capital and social capital have significant positive impacts, and there are no significant changes in physical capital and human capital. Finally, the consistency test results show that the fit is as high as 95 %, and the accuracy exceeds 90 %. Notably, the implementation of the Grain for Green Project has played a pivotal role in ecological restoration and contributed greatly to ecological benefits. These achievements provide a scientific basis and theoretical support for the country to formulate relevant policies for forestry projects, which holds great significance for the country in addressing the contradiction between economic and social development and ecological protection.

Changes in soil quality during different ecological restoration years in the abandoned coal mine area of southern China

AbstractUnderstanding the effects of abandoned coal mine ecological restoration on soil quality and function is important to protect the regional ecological environment. This study aims to evaluate the ecological restoration effects of soil quality in abandoned coal mine area. Taking Fengcheng County, a typical coal‐rich area in southern China, as a case, this study took 120 soil samples to investigate the influence of restoration years on soil quality by using an integrated soil quality index (SQI). Results indicated that restoration years had significant effects on the saturated hydraulic conductivity (Ks) by affecting the soil bulk density, clay content, and soil water content. Furthermore, clay, soil organic matter, Ks, and pH were selected to assess the effect of ecological restoration years on soil quality. It was found that the ecological restoration 8 years (ER8) site had higher SQI value, indicating ecological restoration years showed a positive correlation with SQI in abandoned coal mine area. Since there was a 4‐year gap between ecological restoration 4 years site and ER8 site, the ecological restoration may be effective between 5 and 8 years. The results of this study are of great significance for improving the effects of ecological restoration and management in abandoned coal mine area.

Evaluation of the stock enhancement effect of Phascolosoma esculenta on macrobenthic communities using diversity and biotic indices in Yueqing Bay, East China Sea

Stock enhancement activities have many benefits but also negative impacts. The macrobenthic diversity index and the M-AMBI index were adopted to assess the effects of stock enhancement of Phascolosoma esculenta on macrobenthic communities and the local ecosystem in Yueqing Bay. The results revealed that the Shannon–Wiener diversity index (H’) and Margalef richness index (d) increased in October 2022 after stock enhancement, indicating a positive ecological restoration effect. The average M-AMBI in the intertidal zone of Yueqing Bay was 0.59, indicating good benthic ecological quality. Excluding seasonal factors, the M-AMBI in the intertidal zone increased after stock enhancement, indicating that stock enhancement by Phascolosoma esculenta had a certain positive effect on the intertidal ecological environment of Yueqing Bay. The increase in the M-AMBI occurred mainly in the low-tide zone, increased slightly in the mid-tide zone, and remained basically unchanged in the high-tide zone. On the one hand, Phascolosoma esculenta can accumulate heavy metals from the environment and release a large amount of organic matter throughout its lifecycle, promoting nutrient cycling, which plays a positive role in the environment. On the other hand, Phascolosoma esculenta is an economic species; however, the planting of mangroves in the low tide zone causes fishers to fish in the mid- and high-tide zones, so the changes in the M-AMBI values in each tidal zone are related mainly to Phascolosoma esculenta and anthropogenic disturbances.

Evolution and driving mechanism of multiple ecosystem services in resource-based region of Northern China

Understanding the spatiotemporal characteristics and comprehensive service capabilities of various ecosystem services is crucial for maintaining regional ecosystem security, and clarifying the driving mechanisms of ecosystem services plays a guarantee for achieving regional sustainable development. Based on the ecological issues of Shanxi Province (SXP) in China, an assessment system covering eight targeted ecosystem services were constructed to quantitatively analyze the spatio-temporal patterns and contribution rates of driving factors. The water conservation, sand fixation, environment purification and habitat quality in the Loess Hills of western SXP have improved, with significant increase in hotspots. The comprehensive service capacity of ecosystem services in the Fenwei Basin (central SXP) has deteriorated, and the coldspots have expanded. The water conservation, carbon storage, habitat quality and recreation culture in the Yanshan-Taihang Mountains (eastern SXP) were enhanced, while product supply, carbon storage and environment purification were deteriorated. Land use is the dominant influencing factor on product supply. Water and soil conservation, sand fixation, and environment purification are dominated by climate factors. Carbon storage, habitat quality and recreation culture are influenced by underlying surface conditions. The current study provided a research paradigm, which will help the government with appropriate management policies to ensure the effectiveness of ecological protection and restoration, and offers insights for facilitating ecological sustainability and economic transformation in resource-based regions worldwide.

Spatiotemporal Dynamics and Drivers of Coastal Wetlands in Tianjin–Hebei over the Past 80 Years

Coastal wetland ecosystems are critical due to their diverse ecological and economic benefits, yet they have been significantly affected by human activities over the past century. Understanding the spatiotemporal changes and underlying factors influencing these ecosystems is crucial for developing effective ecological protection and restoration strategies. This study examines the Tianjin–Hebei coastal wetlands using topographic maps from the 1940s and Landsat satellite imagery from 1975, 2000, and 2020, supplemented by historical literature and field surveys. The aim is to analyze the distribution and classification of coastal wetlands across various temporal intervals. The findings indicate an expansion of the Tianjin–Hebei coastal wetlands from 7301.34 km2 in the 1940s to 8041.73 km2 in 2020. However, natural wetlands have declined by approximately 44.36 km2/year, while constructed wetlands have increased by around 53.61 km2/year. The wetlands have also become increasingly fragmented, with higher numbers of patches and densities. The analysis of driving factors points to human activities—such as urban construction, cultivated land reclamation, sea aquaculture, and land reclamation—as the primary contributors to these changes. Furthermore, the study addresses the ecological and environmental issues stemming from wetland changes and proposes strategies for wetland conservation. This research aims to enhance the understanding among researchers and policymakers of the dynamics and drivers of coastal wetland changes, as well as the major challenges in their protection, and to serve as a foundation for developing evidence-based conservation and restoration strategies.

Integrating local knowledge into public policy instruments for enhancing restoration: A study case from western Mexican tropical dry forest

Local knowledge (LK) is often overlooked in the decision-making process during landscape restoration process. In this study, we focus on the Zicuirán-Infiernillo Biosphere Reserve as a case study. We propose a framework to incorporate LK into public policy instruments for implementing restoration interventions in Mexican protected natural areas (PNAs). Through semi-structured interviews, participant observation, and informal talks, conducted with residents from two communities located in the buffer zone and the border area of the reserve, we gathered valuable insights regarding the following: (1) the inhabitants' LK of the ecology and contributions of tropical dry forest, (2) the socioeconomic and environmental issues identified by these communities in their localities, (3) ecological and socioeconomic actions suggested by the residents to recover the forest or halt its degradation, and (4) the role of institutions and local organizations in restoration and conservation processes. Our findings indicate that residents recognized changes in species distribution and identified native trees that are tolerant to drought. Moreover, they acknowledged the beneficial contributions provided by forests, including climate and water cycle regulation, oxygen supply, and raw materials. Local people also demonstrated their awareness of environmental and socioeconomic issues and proposed activities to reverse vegetation cover loss and halt forest degradation. While reforestation emerged as the primary solution for forest recovery, assisted natural regeneration and natural regeneration were also suggested. Based on our results, we propose a framework that emphasizes a robust knowledge exchange among stakeholders, for facilitating the inclusion of LK in an ecological restoration-based education program. It is crucial for Mexican public policy instruments operating in PNAs to consider local knowledge to enhance the effectiveness of ecological restoration.

Research on Sediment Deposition Characteristics and the Vegetation Restoration of Ecological Riverbanks in the Deep Waterway Regulation Scheme of Yangtze River

In order to explore the sediment deposition characteristic of ecological riverbanks associated with vegetation restoration in the deep waterway regulation scheme of Yangtze River, two kinds of typical ecological riverbanks and a traditional riprap riverbank (TRR) in engineering areas were investigated. The vegetation community characteristics, sediment aggregate compositions, nutrient contents, total organic carbon (TOC), sediment microbial biomass carbon (MBC), sediment microbial biomass nitrogen (MBN), and sediment microbial biomass phosphorus (MBP) were determined. The results indicated that the ecological restoration effect of the lattice gabion ballasted vegetation mat riverbank (LGBVR) was best, followed by the mesh grid riverbank (MGR), and that of the TRR was relatively poor. In different ecological riverbanks, the sediment aggregated compositions were not significantly varied. The sediment contents of NH4+-N, available phosphorus (AP), and TOC in ecological riverbank areas were relatively higher than those of the TRR. In the LGBVR, the sediment contents of MBC were relatively higher than those of the others. The sediment deposition characteristics and ecological restoration effects in the study area should be monitored for a long time.

Analysis of the temporal and spatial changes of ecological environment quality using the optimization remote sensing ecological index in the middle Yellow River Basin, China

Monitoring and assessing spatiotemporal changes and driving factors of ecological environment quality in the middle Yellow River Basin (MYRB) is significant for ecological environment protection, management, and high-quality development. We reconstructed data from 1986‒2023 Landsat series images using the harmonic analysis of time series (HANTS) algorithm on the Google Earth Engine platform to optimize the remote-sensing ecological index (RSEI) calculation process, and analyzed the trends and sustainability of ecological environment quality changes. The HANTS algorithm reduced dispersion and anomalies, filled in missing images, and enhanced the Landsat series image quality. The RSEI accurately reflected the ecological environment quality from 1986‒2023 in the MYRB, reducing the "pseudo-variation" conclusion of multi-year evaluations, and enhancing the stability of regional ecological environment quality assessments. Ecological environment quality in the MYRB generally showed an improving trend from 1986‒2023, with significant improvement covering 71.6% of the area; however, the change in ecological environment quality showed weak sustainability. The results reflected the positive effects of ecological restoration and the negative impact of urban construction. The optimized RSEI effectively reflected the ecological environment quality of the MYRB, improved the long-term RSEI stability, and satisfied the requirements of large-scale and long-term ecological environment quality monitoring.

Spatiotemporal differentiation of water–carbon–light compound use efficiency and its sensitivity to the dominant factor

ABSTRACT Taking the South China karst as an example, this study constructed compound use efficiency (COM) through water, light, and carbon use efficiency (WUE, LUE, and CUE), analysed the divergence characteristics of COM, and clarified the dominant factors of COM variation and their sensitivity. It showed that from 2000 to 2018, WUE, LUE, CUE, and COM showed significant non-linear characteristics, spatially, which were distributed in a “northeast–southwest” pattern. Different factors on COM exhibited significant spatial heterogeneity. The COM first stabilized and then exhibited a fluctuating decrease with rising elevation and slope. The COM increased sharply and then slightly decreased as the temperature and precipitation increased but decreased with enhanced solar radiation and human activity intensity (HAI). HAI had the greatest effect on COM change, and the COM-HAI sensitivity first decreased and then increased; 2006 was the most abrupt year, and this may be related to the time-lagged effect of ecological restoration on vegetation.

Research on the Purification Effect of Aquatic Plants on Polluted Water

Aquatic plants are an effective ecological restoration method for water purification. This article reviews the importance and role of plants in water purification, and explores their research progress in the purification mechanisms of pollutants such as nitrogen and phosphorus, their impact on water ecosystems, and their applications in water pollution prevention and control. The importance and future research directions of aquatic plants in water pollution control were analyzed based on their adaptability and biodiversity. Research has found that aquatic plants have significant purification effects and a wide range of applications in water purification. Future research can continue to delve into the purification mechanisms and ecological effects of aquatic plants, in order to promote the advancement of water technology. The importance of aquatic plants in water purification cannot be ignored and is expected to become an important means of future water environment restoration.

Exploring the restoration stability of abandoned open-pit mines by vegetation resilience indicator based on the LandTrendr algorithm

Open-pit mining causes serious damage to the ground surface and vegetation. Remote sensing technology helps assess and monitor the effectiveness of ecological restoration in abandoned open-pit mines, offering vital information for exploring the ecosystem recovery process. However, previous studies have mostly focused on changes in characteristics and lack quantitative characterization of restoration stability and its dynamics. In this study, we applied the vegetation resilience indicator based on the LandTrendr algorithm, which can combine vegetation disturbance and recovery characteristics for abandoned open-pit mines. Eighteen abandoned open-pit mines around Dongting Lake in China were taken as the research areas. Google Earth Engine and all available Landsat remote sensing images for June-September 1984–2022 were utilized. The effectiveness of mine restoration was determined according to the vegetation resilience indicator and recovery magnitude. The results showed that eighteen abandoned open-pit mines had a range of vegetation resilience between 5.06 and 9.45, indicating that the overall open-pit mines around Dongting Lake were well-restored. The recovery curves of the abandoned open-pit mines had an “inverted S-shape” and “S-shape,” indicating that the overall recovery characteristics of the different types of abandoned open-pit mines before and after the implementation of ecological restoration measures differed. Mine type and restoration measures affect the restoration stability of open-pit mines. The average values of vegetation resilience of the three types of mines were 7.73, 6.91, and 5.79, respectively, indicating that the resilience of the abandoned open-pit mines with serious damage was lower, and at the same time, the restoration was more dependent on the degree of input of artificial restoration. This study provides a reference for the selection of measures and the determination of restoration costs in the future ecological restoration of abandoned open-pit mines.