Tree growth is a critical carbon sink for tropical forests, yet how light and climate jointly shape long-term individual-level growth remains poorly understood. Using 34 years of data from 2881 trees (10 species: six evergreen, four deciduous) in a Costa Rican wet forest, we examined how interannual climate variation and individual light availability influence tree growth in diameter at breast height, height and above-ground biomass across phenological types and size classes. Light availability consistently emerged as the primary growth driver, with deciduous species more responsive than evergreen species; however, light effects diminished with increasing tree size. Higher mean daily maximum temperatures enhanced radial growth in evergreen trees and height growth in deciduous trees, whereas elevated minimum temperatures suppressed radial growth in evergreen trees. Increased wet-season precipitation (WSP) reduced radial growth in both phenological types and height growth in evergreen trees, whereas higher dry-season precipitation decreased radial growth in deciduous trees. Notably, larger trees exhibited weaker positive radial growth responses to maximum temperatures but stronger negative responses to WSP. These findings underscore the dominance of light over climate in regulating tropical tree growth and highlight the necessity of incorporating tree sizes and functional groups into ecological modelling and forest management.

Throughfall increases surface SOC but reduces subsoil MAOC in a subtropical evergreen broadleaf forest

ABSTRACT Forest aboveground biomass (AGB) is a critical indicator of forest ecosystem structure and function. Accurate quantification of forest AGB and projection of its dynamics are essential for sustainable forest management and climate regulation. Subtropical evergreen broadleaf forests (SEBFs) represent a significant forest carbon sink; however, estimates of the carbon parameters in SEBFs are highly uncertain, and projections of the carbon sequestration potential (CSP) remain scarce. This study employed a dynamic global vegetation model (DGVM) capable of simulating and predicting long-term structural changes and successional dynamics in vegetation ecosystems to estimate and project forest AGB and CSP in Hunan Province, China – a typical SEBF region. The model was integrated with a high-resolution remote-sensing-derived canopy height map to enhance the accuracy and spatial detail of the results. The key findings include: (1) The total forest AGB of Hunan Province in 2017 was 1482 Tg, concentrated primarily in the northwestern forested areas; (2) The region’s total forest AGB stock by 2100 reached 3189 Tg, which doubles the 2017 AGB stock, highlighting substantial carbon sink capacity, with evergreen broadleaf species dominating early successional stages and coniferous species prevailing during later succession; (3) Validation against field plot data confirmed robust model initialization performance (Pearson’s r = 0.69, RMSE = 36.37 Mg/ha, Bias = 12.02 Mg/ha). Furthermore, compared with existing regional AGB products and DGVM-based studies, this study provides superior spatial resolution, seamless coverage, and continuous future projections. Correlation analysis revealed that model simulation performance is strongly influenced by environmental variables and forest structure inputs. This research establishes an integrated framework combining multi-source data and methods to achieve high-resolution estimation of forest AGB and CSP, accompanied by multi-scale evaluation and analysis. It underscores the importance of enhancing data quality and assimilating remote sensing observations to improve DGVM reliability for future carbon cycle research and climate mitigation applications.

Habitat suitability and environmental correlates of Haemaphysalis longicornis in the central mountainous region of Shandong, China.

Forest soils play a critical role in regulating heavy metal dynamics; however, the combined influence of seasonal variability and forest type on metal accumulation and ecological risk remains insufficiently understood in subtropical ecosystems. This study investigated the seasonal distribution and ecological risk of six heavy metals (As, Cd, Cr, Hg, Ni, and Pb) across three forest types, monsoon evergreen broadleaf forest (MEBF), pine-broadleaf mixed forest (PBMF), and Pinus massoniana forest (PMF), in Dinghushan, South China. Soil samples were collected during dry and wet seasons and assessed using contamination factor (CF), geoaccumulation index (I_geo), and potential ecological risk index (PERI), complemented by multivariate statistical analyses. Heavy metal concentrations varied significantly among forest types and seasons. MEBF exhibited higher concentrations of most metals, particularly As, Cr, and Hg, likely due to greater organic matter content and enhanced retention capacity typically associated with mature broadleaf forests. In contrast, PMF showed lower overall concentrations but relatively higher Pb and Ni. Several metals displayed elevated concentrations during the wet season, indicating enhanced redistribution under increased soil moisture. Multivariate analyses revealed that Ni and Cr were strongly associated and may reflect lithogenic influences, whereas Hg, As, and Pb showed patterns consistent with possible atmospheric inputs and ecological processes. Arsenic concentrations reached 65.03mg.kg⁻1 in MEBF during the wet season. Overall ecological risk was low to moderate but increased during the wet season. These findings highlight the interactive effects of forest type and seasonal hydrology on heavy metal dynamics in subtropical forest soils.

ABSTRACTPleurozia (Pleuroziaceae, Marchantiophyta) is an evolutionarily and ecologically significant genus of epiphytic liverworts, primarily distributed in tropical and subtropical montane forests. However, the effects of climate change on its distribution remain poorly understood. In this study, we employed the MaxEnt model to predict the potential distribution patterns of Pleurozia in Asia at both the genus and species levels under current and future climate scenarios (SSP1‐2.6 and SSP5‐8.5 for 2050 and 2070). The results revealed that evergreen broadleaf forest cover, temperature variability (annual and diurnal ranges), and altitude were identified as the dominant environmental drivers, indicating that the distribution of Pleurozia is jointly governed by macroclimate and forest‐mediated microclimatic buffering. Under current conditions, suitable habitats for Pleurozia are mainly concentrated in tropical and subtropical Asia, with highly suitable habitats closely associated with montane cloud forests, which provide stable and humid microclimates essential for epiphytic bryophytes. Future projections indicate a slight expansion of the total suitable habitat under all scenarios, with the largest extent under SSP1‐2.6 and range margins generally extending toward higher latitudes. However, centroid displacement at the genus level remains relatively limited, suggesting that Pleurozia may persist in tropical regions by relying on stable forest habitats and microrefugia. At the species level, all centroids shift northward, but responses differ in spatial pattern, habitat area, and migration distance, indicating divergent distribution dynamics under future climate scenarios. These findings suggest that Pleurozia may retain some resilience under mid‐ to late‐century climate change, but the persistence of its suitable habitats will depend strongly on the stability and continuity of evergreen broadleaf and montane cloud forests as vital “forest havens”. This study provides a theoretical basis for understanding the ecological responses of epiphytic bryophytes to climate change and offers valuable insights for biodiversity conservation and sustainable management of tropical and subtropical forest ecosystems.

The Annamite striped rabbit (Nesolagus timminsi) is a forest-dwelling lagomorph endemic to the Annamite Mountains of Vietnam and Laos. Herein, we report the first detailed observations of its burrowing and reproductive behavior from information gathered via camera traps. From May to October 2024, six camera traps were deployed at suspected burrow sites identified through semi-structured interviews and field surveys. The active burrows were recorded at multiple sites within broadleaf wet evergreen forests between 359 m and 775 m asl. The camera traps were active for 864 camera trap nights, recording 1293 videos of the species. The videos showed first observations of the Annamite striped rabbit performing a sequence of burrow opening, closing and concealment, including placing compacted soil and small rocks over the entrance. Furthermore, a single behavioral event lasting 190 min was recorded and interpreted as being suggestive of parturition. Forty-six days after this event, the female was recorded leaving the burrow accompanied by two juveniles. These findings represent the first documentation of such behavior in the species. Our results provide new behavioral information on this little known and endangered animal.

From zonal containment to spot recovery: Multi-platform geostatistical reassessment of radiation risk boundaries in Fukushima (2019-2024).

Macadamia is an evergreen tree grown for its edible kernel in tropical and subtropical regions worldwide. The macadamia nursery industry is faced with graft dieback disease, resulting in the roguing of a large number of grafted plants. These losses are often attributed to Phomopsis graft dieback disease of the clonal root graft (scion) wood. However, the source of scions differs among nurseries, and the identity of the Diaporthe species is unknown. To determine whether the same Diaporthe species is responsible for macadamia graft dieback and whether the primary source of infection is from scion wood, we surveyed five major commercial macadamia nurseries in Australia. From 387 macadamia plants sampled in the nurseries, 86% (n = 337 isolates) of the scions were infected with Diaporthe species compared with 14% (n = 53 isolates) of the rootstock. Based on multigene DNA sequence analyses of internal transcribed spacer, translation elongation factor 1-alpha, β-tubulin, calmodulin, and histone H3, eight Diaporthe species were identified from symptomatic and asymptomatic plants, D. fraxini-angustifoliae was the most dominant species, followed by D. australiana, D. masirevicii, D. litchicola, D. middletonii, D. musigena, D. sojae, and D. arecae. In the in planta pathogenicity assays, D. litchicola was the most aggressive and caused significantly (P < 0.001) larger lesions and more graft dieback than D. australiana, whereas D. middletonii and D. masirevicii produced insignificant lesions and are therefore considered as nonpathogenic to macadamia. Scion wood inoculation with D. litchicola resulted in more significant Phomopsis graft dieback (45%) than rootstock inoculation (25%). Our findings suggest that scion wood is a potential source of infection and cause of Phomopsis graft dieback in macadamia nurseries.

Manglietia pachyphylla, an endangered evergreen tree within the Magnoliaceae family, is renowned for its exceptional ornamental value in landscape horticulture. Despite its classification as a Category II nationally protected plant species in China, the genetic basis of its adaptive traits and conservation priorities remains poorly understood. To address this, we present the first chromosome-scale genome assembly of M. pachyphylla utilizing an integrated approach combining PacBio HiFi long-read and Hi-C chromosome conformation capture sequencing technologies. The assembled genome spans 2.15 Gb (contig N50 = 43.57 Mb), exhibiting a heterozygosity rate of 0.78% and repeat content of 78.64%, predominantly comprising long terminal repeat (LTR) retrotransposons (52.86%). Hi-C scaffolding anchored 99.57% of the assembly to 19 pseudochromosomes, achieving a BUSCO completeness score of 96.4%. Annotation revealed 42,505 putative protein-coding genes, with 84.46% of predicted genes were functionally annotated. Phylogenomic analysis positioned M. pachyphylla and Oyama sieboldii clustered together in a well-supported group. This high-contiguity genome assembly enables future investigations into adaptive evolution, functional genomics, and evidence-based conservation strategies for this endangered species.

Ficus natalensis (Natal fig), an evergreen tree of the family Moraceae, is widely distributed across tropical and temperate regions and cultivated in Egypt. Members of the Moraceae family are traditionally employed as expectorants, hypoglycemic agents, and mild laxatives, with reported neuroprotective, analgesic, anti-inflammatory, and antihypertensive effects. The present study aimed to profile the secondary metabolites of F. natalensis fruit using ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) and test its anti-inflammatory potential. A total of 160 metabolites were annotated in both positive and negative ionization modes, belonging to diverse phytochemical classes such as phenolics (41), flavonoids (21), acids (26), glycosides (11), terpenoids, coumarins (4), iridoids (3), fatty acids/ester (22), sterols (8), sugar derivatives (6), and terpenoids (18). The anti-inflammatory activity of F. natalensis fruit methanolic extract was investigated using nitric acid (NO) inhibition assay, revealing an IC50 of 28.54 ± 1.66µg/mL, compared to resveratrol as a standard anti-inflammatory with an IC50 value of 10.21 ± 0.68µg/mL. Major bioactive constituents, including ellagic acid, gallic acid, betulinic acid, and quercetin derivatives, were identified and may underline the observed anti-inflammatory effect. The current findings highlight F. natalensis fruit as a rich source of bioactive metabolites with potential anti-inflammatory effect.

Mediterranean-type ecosystems occur in five regions worldwide and are characterized by intense summer drought that constrains plant carbon gain and water-use strategies. Along the leaf economics spectrum, herbs typically exhibit higher photosynthetic capacity but lower water-use efficiency than woody species due to greater stomatal (gₛ) and mesophyll conductance (gₘ). However, this expectation may not hold under the particularly arid summer conditions of the central Chilean matorral, where prolonged drought acts as a strong environmental filter on plant water-use strategies. Here, we evaluated photosynthetic capacity, diffusional and biochemical limitations, and intrinsic water-use efficiency (iWUE) in co-occurring herbs, shrubs, and trees. Using combined gas exchange, chlorophyll fluorescence, and carbon isotope composition (δ13C), we quantified gₛ and gₘ, partitioned photosynthetic limitations, and compared traditional iWUE with a mesophyll-integrated metric (iWUEmes). Herbs exhibited the highest area- and mass-based photosynthetic rates, whereas shrubs and trees showed progressively lower values, driven primarily by diffusional rather than biochemical limitations. Classical iWUE (Aₙ/gₛ) did not differ among functional groups, whereas iWUEmes showed a significant overall effect, with trees differing from herbs and shrubs, indicating divergence in carbon-water trade-offs. Evergreen trees, characterized by high leaf mass per area and low gₘ, experienced the strongest diffusional limitation. Overall, our findings demonstrate that mesophyll conductance plays a central role in regulating photosynthetic performance and water-use strategies, refining expectations derived from global trait-based frameworks and improving predictions of plant responses to increasing aridity in Mediterranean-type ecosystems.

Changes in climate are altering plant growth patterns and associated phenological events like the Start of Season (SOS), End of Season (EOS), and Length of the Growing Season (LGS). However, there is limited research quantifying the impact of these changes on key vegetation-atmospheric interaction processes such as the carbon and water cycles. This study uses 914 site years of data across 132 flux tower sites in the FLUXNET2015 dataset to explore the relationships between carbon sequestration, expressed by Gross Primary Productivity (GPP), and multiple phenological variables, including LGS, changes in SOS (ΔSOS), and changes in EOS (ΔEOS). LGS explains 23% of the variability in GPP across all sites. Significant correlations were found in deciduous broadleaf forests (R² = 0.5) and evergreen needleleaf forests (R² = 0.44), while ecosystems such as shrublands, savannas, and wetlands displayed weaker connections. Changes in the SOS also affected GPP, with an earlier SOS increasing the total annual GPP. Deciduous Broadleaf Forests (R² = 0.54), Evergreen Needleleaf Forests (R² = 0.5), Grasslands (R² = 0.47) showed a significant negative association between ΔSOS and ΔGPP, whereas Croplands showed weaker correlations. Conversely, EOS variations had little impact on GPP. Upscaled to global vegetated land area these relationships suggest that each additional day in the growing season could increase carbon uptake by 1.035 Gt C yr- 1, while an earlier SOS by 0.93 Gt C yr- 1 and a one-day delay in EOS by approximately 0.65 Gt C yr- 1. These findings underscore the need to account for seasonal shifts and phenological changes in global carbon models.

Urban trees are widely recognized as effective nature-based solutions for urban heat mitigation, yet current design strategies focus predominantly on optimizing summer cooling, leaving their potential for winter thermal regulation understudied. This oversight raises a question: Do tree configurations optimized for summer cooling remain thermally beneficial in winter? To address this issue, this study conducted a parametric study using ENVI-met to evaluate the seasonal thermal performance of urban trees in subtropical coastal city Hong Kong under extreme summer and winter conditions. Multi-scenario simulations were run, incorporating eight urban canyons characterized by discrete sky view factors (SVF=0.1–0.8) from typical morphological categories in previous research, two street orientations (N-S, E-W), and two tree species (evergreen Ficus microcarpa , deciduous Lagerstroemia speciose ). Results indicate that both evergreen and deciduous trees provided comparable cooling in summer, with mean differences of 0.21 °C in PET and 0.35 °C in UTCI. A consistent peak cooling of up to 8 °C in PET and 5 °C in UTCI was observed at SVF = 0.7 for both species. In winter, evergreen trees improved comfort by wind shielding in deep, low-SVF canyons (up to 1 °C in PET; 6 °C in UTCI), while deciduous trees enhanced comfort through solar access in shallow, high-SVF canyons (over 0.3 °C PET; 1 °C in UTCI). For subtropical coastal context, our findings suggest that tree selection and placement should be seasonally adaptive. This study provides a methodological framework and preliminary insights for climate-adaptive planting strategies in urban canyons from a year-round perspective.

Leaf functional traits and wood density of evergreen and deciduous tree species in a tropical karst forest

Lithocarpus litseifolius leaf extract alleviate hyperuricemia-induced renal injury by regulating uric acid metabolism and inhibiting the AKT/S6K pathway.

Michelia compressa, a member of the Magnoliaceae family, is an evergreen tree of considerable significance in both landscape gardening and industrial production. However, during its introduction to northern subtropical regions in China, this species often suffers from frost damage, which limits its widespread application. The utilization of housekeeping genes is essential when performing gene family analyses under abiotic stress conditions. Additionally, auxin response factor (ARF) transcription factors (TF) play a crucial role in plant responses to abiotic stresses; however, their specific function in cold stress responses within M. compressa has not been systematically investigated. Ten housekeeping genes were selected from transcriptome data for evaluation using quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR). The optimal housekeeping gene identified through screening was used for verification of gene family analysis. Additionally, key genes underwent functional validation. Analysis conducted with GeNorm, NormFinder, and BestKeeper identified 28S as the optimal reference gene for M. compressa under cold stress. Furthermore, an analysis of the ARF gene family using full-length transcriptome data revealed a total of 48 McoARF genes, which clustered into three groups alongside the Arabidopsis thaliana ARFs. Among these, eight selected McoARF genes exhibited significantly elevated expression levels in leaves under cold stress and demonstrated tissue specificity. Functional validation revealed that transgenic plants overexpressing McoARF13 displayed elevated levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), and malondialdehyde (MDA), as well as increased activities of peroxidase (POD) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) in leaves under cold stress. This study represents the inaugural screening of housekeeping genes in M. compressa under cold stress conditions, accompanied by an analysis of the ARF gene family. The functional validation of McoARF13 was successfully conducted, offering valuable insights into the molecular mechanisms that underlie cold stress response in M. compressa.

Prunus L. is a diverse genus of deciduous and evergreen trees and shrubs belonging to the family Rosaceae (subfamily Amygdaloideae), comprising approximately 400-430 species widely distributed across temperate regions. Several species are cultivated globally for ornamental purposes and for commercially important fruits such as plums, almonds, peaches, nectarines, cherries, and apricots. Beyond their economic value, numerous Prunus species have a long history of use in traditional healthcare systems for their ethnomedicinal properties. This review synthesizes current knowledge on the ethnomedicinal applications, phytochemical composition, pharmacological activities, and therapeutic potential of 30 selected Prunus species. An extensive literature survey was conducted across major scientific databases, including PubMed, Scopus, Google Scholar, and SciFinder, as well as published books and proceedings. Chemical and taxonomic data were verified through PubChem and World Flora Online. Phytochemical investigations reveal that Prunus species are rich in phenolic acids, flavonoids, anthocyanins, tannins, terpenoids, and cyanogenic glycosides, which contribute to a broad spectrum of biological activities. Experimental studies report significant anticancer, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic, cardioprotective, neuroprotective, antihyperlipidemic, antibacterial, and diuretic properties. However, comprehensive mechanistic studies and clinical validations remain limited to a few well-studied species, highlighting substantial research gaps. Future research should focus on the isolation and structural characterization of bioactive constituents, elucidation of molecular mechanisms, integration of omics-based approaches, and the conduct of well-designed clinical and toxicological studies. Sustainable utilization and conservation strategies are also essential to preserve genetic diversity. Overall, this review underscores the significant pharmacological promise of Prunus species and provides a framework for advancing their therapeutic applications.

Elaeocarpus sylvestris (Lour.) Poir., an evergreen tree native to East and Southeast Asia, has gained increasing scientific attention owing to its broad pharmacological properties. Traditionally used in East Asian medicine to treat inflammation, fever, and infectious diseases, modern research has revealed diverse bioactivities, including potent antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antiviral, anticancer, antidiabetic, and immunomodulatory effects. This therapeutic potential is primarily attributed to its rich phytochemical composition, particularly polyphenols such as geraniin, 1,2,3,4,6-penta-O-galloyl-β-D-glucose and quercetin. This review particularly focuses on the chemistry of E. sylvestris, summarizing structurally elucidated compounds, including hydrolysable tannins, flavonoids, and triterpenoids, along with recent insights into the structure-activity relationships that underpin these antiviral, antioxidant, and anticancer activities. Recent studies have demonstrated substantial antiviral efficacy of E. sylvestris extracts and isolated compounds against major human pathogens, including herpesviruses, influenza A virus, and SARS-CoV-2, supported by in silico, in vitro, in vivo, and early-phase clinical evaluations. Its cosmeceutical applications, including antioxidant, skin-whitening, and blue-light protective effects, further highlight its multifunctional potential. To our knowledge, this is the first comprehensive review summarizing the phytochemistry, pharmacological activities, therapeutic potential, and cosmeceutical applications of E. sylvestris. Despite these promising findings, challenges remain in elucidating precise molecular mechanisms, pharmacokinetics, and clinical validation. This review identifies current research gaps and future directions necessary to advance E. sylvestris as a scientifically validated natural therapeutic resource.

Abstract Understanding how local climate patterns select for thermal and drought tolerance traits is needed to predict differential responses to climate change across complex ecosystems. Here, we used high‐throughput methods to measure traits that confer heat and drought tolerance across a tropical climatic variability gradient and examined how forest type and leaf habit mediate these traits. We estimated thermotolerance thresholds (Tcrit, T50, T95), drought tolerance traits (water potential at turgor loss point [𝝭 TLP ] and osmotic potential [𝞹 osm ]), and morphological traits (wood density and leaf mass per area [LMA]) for 92 woody plant species across six sites along a tropical dry‐to‐wet gradient in Área de Conservación Guanacaste, Costa Rica. Among evergreen species, T95 weakly declined with elevation, LMA was positively associated with T50 and T95, and greater drought tolerance values were found at lower elevations and with greater wood density. Among deciduous species, no significant associations were found between tolerance traits and elevation or wood density, though LMA was positively associated with T50. T95 was higher on average among seasonal dry and ecotonal forest species compared with wet forest species. Additionally, evergreen species from dry and ecotonal forests exhibited greater drought tolerance than those from wet forests, whereas drought tolerance indices did not differ among deciduous species across forest types. These results point to multiple adaptive pathways for evergreen species and provide evidence that evergreen trees face greater drought‐induced selection pressure. Surprisingly, thermal tolerance traits were largely decoupled with drought tolerance traits, suggesting that coordination among traits that confer tolerance to environmental stressors is not generalizable in tropical forests. Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog.