Biological nitrogen fixation (BNF) is a key process that supplies nitrogen (N) to terrestrial ecosystems, yet its capacity to supply N can be suppressed by global change drivers that increase soil N availability. For example, atmospheric N deposition (N+) can directly raise soil N concentrations, whereas decreases in precipitation (Rain-) may indirectly raise soil N concentrations by constraining plant and microbial N uptake. Biotic interactions, including N inputs or N uptake from plant roots and mycorrhizal fungi, can also interact to mediate N availability and BNF responses under these global change factors, though their interactions on BNF remain poorly understood. Here, we show that in a humid subtropical forest, N+ significantly reduced BNF rates by 43% (P=0.03) and nitrogenase gene (nifH) abundance by 57% (P <0.001), whereas Rain- increased BNF rates by 55% without altering nifH abundance (P=0.03). Notably, the combined N+Rain- treatment neutralized the inhibitory effect of N+, producing BNF rates similar to those under ambient conditions. Structural equation modeling revealed that Rain- indirectly enhanced BNF by increasing soil water-extractable organic carbon (WEOC), whereas N+ directly impaired diazotrophic activity, indicating a novel buffering mechanism that balances opposing effects of these global change drivers. Root and mycorrhizal exclusion treatments showed negligible effects on BNF or nifH abundance, and did not interact with N+ or Rain-, indicating that diazotrophic activity is largely independent of plant root and mycorrhizal inputs. Taken together, our findings highlight the nonlinear outcomes of multi-factor global changes: while N+ can suppress diazotrophic functioning, concomitant declines in precipitation may, paradoxically, sustain BNF via a carbon-mediated facilitation in humid subtropical soils. This apparent buffering capacity, related to WEOC dynamics, highlights how changes in precipitation can mitigate disruptions in N cycling caused by N deposition, with implications for incorporating hydroclimatic-carbon-nitrogen relationships into Earth system models.

The rising atmospheric concentration of carbon dioxide (CO2) is assumed to be a key factor in global climate change, requiring robust and sustainable carbon conversion technologies. While carbonic anhydrase (CA) is a highly efficient enzyme for CO2 sequestration, its industrial application is limited by stability, cost, and scalability challenges. To address these limitations, we developed a CA-mimetic metal-amino acid (Phe-Zn(II)) bionanozyme featuring amyloid-like supramolecular cross-β-sheet architecture that provides high structural stability and recyclability. Gas chromatography (GC) analysis of a continuous flow bubble reactor charged with Phe-Zn(II) bionanozyme exhibits a CO2 conversion efficiency of approximately 18% in an aqueous medium (pH 7.0, 25 °C, ambient pressure), while maintaining remarkable structural integrity as confirmed by postcatalysis PXRD analysis. The amyloid-like supramolecular cross-β-sheet architecture, stabilized by π-π stacking and intermolecular hydrogen bonding, generates a confined catalytic microenvironment that enhances Zn(II) Lewis's acidity and promotes efficient CO2 hydration, which is crucial compared to previous reports. Next, density functional theory (DFT) calculations reveal a three-step catalytic pathway involving hydroxide ion generation, nucleophilic attack, and carbonic acid formation, with a rate-determining barrier of 12.3 kcal/mol, making the reaction feasible at room temperature. We also investigated the impact of different amino acids coordinated with Zn, finding that Phe-Zn(II) shows higher catalytic activity. This is due to the stronger electron-withdrawing effect of the phenyl group, which enhances the Lewis acidity of Zn2+, activates the Zn2+-OH2 bond, and lowers the rate-determining barrier. Taken together, the combination of experimental catalysis, structural robustness, and mechanistic validation highlights Phe-Zn(II) as a promising, cost-effective, and minimalistic catalyst yet efficient carbonic anhydrase mimic for CO2 conversion, paving the way for scalable and sustainable carbon sequestration strategies critical for mitigating climate change.

Alterations in soil pH drive the impact of global change on glomalin-related soil protein: a global meta-analysis.

Earth's ecosystems are increasingly endangered by global changes, impairing their ability to simultaneously deliver multiple functions, a concept known as ecosystem multifunctionality. However, the relative impacts of different global change factors on multifunctionality and how its resistance responds to interacting factors remain unclear. Here, we conducted a meta-analysis using data from 140 studies to assess the worldwide effects of global changes on multifunctionality. Our results demonstrated that biodiversity change exerts the strongest influence on ecosystem multifunctionality among major factors, including species invasion, nutrient enrichment, climate change, chemical pollution, and grazing. In two-factor experiments, the net effects of factor pairs were most frequently additive (55.5%), followed by antagonistic (32.9%) and synergistic (11.6%) effects. Moreover, multifunctionality resistance declined significantly as the number of factors increased. Notably, focusing solely on single compartments (e.g., soil) may underestimate resistance due to trade-offs among functions caused by decoupled responses of plants and soil biota. Furthermore, multifunctionality resistance increased significantly with latitude while decreasing consistently with experimental duration. This demonstrates that subtropical regions are more sensitive to global changes and that resistance is subject to the cumulative erosive effects of prolonged stress exposure. By quantifying the spatiotemporal patterns of multifunctionality resistance under global change, this study advances our understanding of ecosystem stability and provides critical insights into predicting and managing ecosystem responses to future environmental changes.

Effect of experimental seawater acidification on the prooxidant-antioxidant system of the Pacific oyster Magallana gigas (Thunberg, 1793) under normoxic and hypoxic conditions.

Impacts of duration and intensity of artificial light at night on life history, mating, food consumption, and chemical surface profiles of a leaf beetle species

Plant roots are primary drivers of soil organic matter dynamics, mediating belowground carbon (C) inputs, stabilization, and losses. Yet, how global changes such as rising temperatures and altered nitrogen (N) availability interact to affect these dynamics has rarely been tested empirically in the field. Here, we quantify how inputs to soil organic matter from fine-root production, root exudates, and root-associated fungi respond to long-term (16 years) soil warming (+5°C), nitrogen (N) enrichment (+5 g N m-2 year-1), and their combination in a temperate hardwood forest. Warming alone reduced root-derived C inputs by 21% and increased microbial respiration by 46%, resulting in a net soil C loss of 135 g C m-2 year-1. In contrast, N enrichment increased root-derived soil organic carbon (SOC) accumulation by 47% and reduced root respiration by 40%, contributing to a near-neutral soil C balance. When combined, warming × N addition increased root-derived SOC fourfold (from 70 to 281 g C m-2 year-1), fully offsetting warming-induced C losses and maintaining soil C stocks at control levels. Root-derived SOC accumulation was positively related to fine-root production (r2 = 0.42) and to maple:oak exudate ratios (r2 = 0.31), highlighting species-specific control over C stabilization. These findings demonstrate that interacting global change factors can have balancing effects on root C allocation and microbial losses, highlighting soil N availability as a critical control determining whether warming accelerates SOC depletion or stabilizes new root-derived C.

Abstract Multiple global change factors (GCFs) co‐occurring may weaken the positive effects of high biodiversity on ecosystem multifunctionality. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) play a crucial role in determining ecosystem functionality, yet it remains unclear whether high AMF diversity alleviates the negative impact of multiple GCFs on ecosystem multifunctionality. In this study, we conducted a microcosm experiment using Triticum aestivum (wheat) to examine the effects of AMF diversity on ecosystem multifunctionality and individual functions under 0, 1 and 6 GCFs. We found that, under 0 GCF and 1 GCF treatments, ecosystem multifunctionality in the high AMF diversity treatment was significantly higher than that in the low diversity and non‐AMF treatments. However, when 6 GCFs occurred simultaneously, AMF diversity had no impact on ecosystem multifunctionality. Notably, AMF diversity simultaneously promoted plant growth and net photosynthetic rate. High AMF diversity had limited effects on soil functions and did not consistently outperform treatments with lower AMF diversity under multiple GCFs. Despite six GCFs strongly reduced the development of AMF, the high‐diversity AMF still exhibited the highest root colonization and soil hyphal length density. Synthesis. Our results suggested that the simultaneous occurrence of multiple GCFs diminished the benefits of high AMF diversity on ecosystem multifunctionality. However, high AMF diversity consistently improved plant growth under all conditions, possibly due to plants' selective association with mycorrhizal partners. These findings indicate that reducing global change stressors is essential for maintaining ecosystem functioning. Meanwhile, sustaining AMF diversity remains important for supporting plant productivity in the rapidly changing world.

Differential responses of soil micro-food web components to global change factors: A meta-analysis

Woody encroachment threatens African savanna and grassland biodiversity and ecosystem function. Prior studies have focused on the drivers and rates, yet encroacher ecology remains underexplored. We synthesized data across six dominant woody savanna genera (Combretum, Dichrostachys, Prosopis, Senegalia, Terminalia and Vachellia) to test whether encroachers represent a non-random subset of species with life history strategies and functional traits that facilitate establishment and dominancein changing ecosystems. Species were classified as encroachers based on documented ecosystem impacts and compared to non-encroachers across climatic niches, geographic range size and traits linked to survival in disturbance-prone ecosystems, including maximum height, plant habit, spinescence and capacity for nitrogen fixation. We identified 63 encroacher species, which occupied broader temperature (11°C-29°C vs. 17°C-27°C) and precipitation (50-2100 mm vs. 444-2300 mm) niches and larger geographic ranges (600,000 km2 vs. 100,000 km2) than non-encroachers. Encroachers were generally taller and exhibited plasticity in habit at individual and community scales. Our results suggest that encroachment is driven by ecologically versatile woody species with wide environmental tolerances, large ranges and high phenotypic plasticity. These advantageous attributes may enhance responsiveness to global change factors characteristic of African savannas and grasslands, including altered fire and herbivory regimes, along with rising atmospheric CO2. Understanding the ecology of the species driving encroachment could improve early monitoring and management.

Well-aerated upland soils serve as a crucial biological sink for atmospheric methane (CH4), playing a key role in mitigating climate change. However, current understanding of how this CH4 sink responds to global climate change remains limited. To address this, we integrated 1092 observational data points to construct a dataset covering multiple global change factors and used meta-analysis to quantify the response mechanisms of the upland CH4 sink. Results show that warming, reduced precipitation, and elevated carbon dioxide concentrations significantly strengthened the CH4 sink, while increased precipitation and nitrogen addition weakened it. Interactive effects were also observed: low-level nitrogen deposition acted antagonistically with increased precipitation, but synergistically with warming. We subsequently optimized a CH4 oxidation model to explore the global distribution patterns and future trends under different climate scenarios. The current global upland soil CH4 sink is estimated at approximately 37 Tg year-1 and generally shows an increasing temporal trend. Spatially, the sink exhibits heterogeneity: a greater extent of desert areas in the Northern Hemisphere leads to a lower CH4 sink per unit area compared to the Southern Hemisphere. Future spatiotemporal trends of the soil CH4 sink will depend on the climate pathway. Under the Shared Socioeconomic Pathway (SSP) 1-2.6 scenario, the CH4 sink declines over time, whereas under SSP5-8.5, it follows a unimodal trajectory. Variations in the soil CH4 sink also differ across regions. These changes are primarily associated with atmospheric CH4 concentrations under different climate pathways, as well as alterations in soil temperature and moisture resulting from various climate change drivers. These findings underscore the importance of the upland CH4 sink in the global CH4 cycle and significantly advance our understanding of its response mechanisms to climate change.

The presence of multiple global change factors affects most ecosystems. Urban soils face stressors like heat, drought, road salt, nitrogen deposition, surfactants, and microplastics. Given that combined factors of global change have shown unpredictable effects, we here ask which individual factors have particularly negative effects in multifactorial contexts. We explore this through a subtractive design, comparing single-factor treatments (addition) to treatments where a specific factor is removed (subtraction). The results vary from predominantly negative, positive, to mixed effects. However, removing these factors from a multi-factor context generally improves soil properties and biological processes. Resource related factors enhance microbial activity individually but show no such benefit in multi-factor scenarios. Our findings highlight that the combined effects of factors often differ from their individual impacts. In restoration, priority should be given to mitigating factors with the strongest negative influence in multi-stressor contexts, rather than targeting those with significant isolated effects.

Climate change and anthropogenic activities have significantly altered the carbon (C) balance of rivers. However, the current understanding of how riverine C biogeochemistry responds to global climate change remains limited. Here we evaluate the spatiotemporal dynamics of carbon dioxide (CO2) flux and phytoplankton primary productivity (PP) in the main stem and tributaries of the Three Gorges Reservoir Region between 2010 and 2023. We found that the response of the CO2 flux and PP was evident in the extremely rainy months when, on average, the CO2 flux increased by 42.5% and PP decreased by 10.7%. Spatially, we also observed significant CO2 flux and PP differences between the backwater and upstream areas of the tributaries. CO2 flux at the upstream sites was 60-266% higher than at the backwater sites, while PP at the backwater sites was 4-13 times the amount of PP at the upstream sites. Differences in flow velocity and chlorophyll concentrations between the backwater and upstream sites, which primarily originate from the water level regulation operations of the dam, are believed to dominate spatial CO2 flux and PP gradients, respectively. This study reveals the response patterns and feedback mechanisms between riverine C biogeochemistry and global climate change factors in a large dammed river and associated tributaries.

Soil carbon greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions are integral to climate security worldwide. Global change is known to impact soil GHG emissions; yet, the contribution of an increasing number of global change factors (GCFs) to the rates of carbon GHG emissions remains virtually unknown, challenging our capacity to forecast the trajectory of climate change. Here, we synthesize 1803 observations on soil CO2 and CH4 fluxes across 21 types of GCFs spanning a wide range of ecosystems (i.e., forests, grasslands, farmland, wetlands, tundras, and deserts) and found that an increasing number of GCFs will result in significant increases in CO2 and CH4 emissions. The impacts of GCFs on GHG emissions were largely explained by climate, biome types, and GCF-induced changes in soil moisture, providing potential tools for managing global change. Our work provides critical insights, emphasizing that the number of global change stressors needs to be immediately reduced to help minimize the negative impacts of carbon greenhouse gas emissions on climate change.

Methane (CH4) is a major greenhouse gas that contributes substantially to global warming. The release of biogenic CH4 into the atmosphere is a critical factor in global climate change and can be enhanced by increasing temperature. Over the past 50 years, Maritime Antarctica has been among the most rapidly warming regions of the planet. Methane-oxidizing bacteria (MOB) can oxidize a substantial fraction of the CH4 produced by methanogenic archaea before it reaches the atmosphere. However, a major knowledge gap in the global CH4 cycle in the Southern Ocean and Antarctica concerns its biological consumption by MOB, which act as an important biological sink. Although temperature is known to strongly influence CH₄ oxidation rates, its effects on the structure of MOB communities and their associated phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA) profiles in polar environments remain poorly understood. In this study, the effect of temperature on the structure of the active community of aerobic MOB in the sediment of a lake on Fildes Peninsula in Maritime Antarctica was investigated using stable isotope probing of phospholipid fatty acids (PLFA-SIP) and 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing. Differential abundance analysis of microcosms incubated at 5 and 20 °C for 20 and 40 days showed Methylobacter and Crenothrix as the main MOB at both temperatures, while PLFA C16:1ω7c and C16:1ω5c, biomarkers of gammaproteobacterial MOB, increased their concentration. The rise in temperature from 5 to 20 °C decreased the diversity of the MOB community, suggesting certain vulnerability due to lack of redundancy of function. This study provides new insights into the impact of temperature on the structure of MOB and the total bacterial community in a polar lake system.

IntroductionZizania palustris (northern wild-rice, manoomin), is foundational to the cultural heritage of indigenous peoples in the Great Lakes region of North America, provides habitat for diverse fauna, and its regional distribution and abundance have been substantially reduced. Restoration and sustainable stewardship of manoomin is a shared goal of tribes across the region.MethodsOur research objective was to refine our understanding of manoomin’s ecological niche and competitive dynamics in order to improve restoration outcomes through four related studies: Study one (Q1) evaluated differences between lakes with differing seeding successes; study two (Q2), quantified manoomin growth and environmental conditions within mixed aquatic plant communities; study three (Q3) tested experimental manoomin seeding within three dominant aquatic plant types; and study four (Q4) evaluated the indirect effects of shading and invasive plant (Typha × glauca) litter on manoomin.ResultsWe found that the warmer of two lakes sampled had dramatically lower manoomin productivity (Q1); Pontederia cordata was negatively associated with manoomin (Q2); manoomin was more abundant and larger in Nuphar variegata stands (Q3); and litter from T. × glauca and a proxy for floating plant cover reduced germination and early growth (Q4).DiscussionOur findings illustrate that both native and invasive plants can be detrimental to the germination, growth, and productivity of manoomin. T. × glauca and its litter caused particularly strong negative effects, indicating that invasive plant management is necessary for sustainable restoration. Our study points toward areas for future manoomin research and highlights the multifaceted threats of global change factors (e.g., climate change and non-native macrophytes) on plant species of high cultural importance.

Unlike most ectomycorrhizal (EM) fungi, Cenococcum geophilum is a prolific producer of sclerotia, which represent a large and persistent, yet rarely quantified pool of EM fungal biomass and carbon in soils. How biomass of these asexual propagules is impacted by global change factors, such as anthropogenic nitrogen (N) deposition, remains unquantified. This study examined the effects of long-term experimental N fertilization on the standing biomass, abundance, and size of C. geophilum sclerotia in an oak (Quercus spp.) savanna ecosystem at Cedar Creek Ecosystem Science Reserve in Minnesota, USA. Standing sclerotia biomass in the control treatment averaged 192 g m-2 (95% CI = 136-267 g m-2) and declined sharply under N enrichment, by 44% (95% CI = -53-79%) and 66% (95% CI = 39-82%) in the low N (5.4 g N m-2 yr-1) and high N (17 g N m-2 yr-1) treatments, respectively. Sclerotia abundance also declined under both fertilization levels by 58% (95% CI: 8-81%) and 62% (95% CI: 12-84%), while sclerotia diameter was significantly reduced only under high N. Given their high carbon content, melanization, and long persistence, the observed declines in C. geophilum sclerotia (c. 84-127 g m-2) represent substantial losses from belowground carbon (C) pools. These findings indicate that chronic N deposition suppresses the formation of a functionally important and recalcitrant fungal structure, likely impacting soil C storage and mycorrhizal functional diversity.

Building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPVs) represent a pivotal technology for enhancing the utilization of renewable energy in buildings. However, challenges persist, including the lack of integrated design models, limited analytical dimensions, and insufficient consideration of climate change impacts. This study proposes a comprehensive performance assessment framework for BIPV that incorporates global climate change factors. An integrated simulation model is developed using EnergyPlus8.9.0, Optics6, and WINDOW7.7 to evaluate BIPV configurations such as photovoltaic facades, shading systems, and roofs. A multi-criteria evaluation system is established, encompassing global warming potential (GWP), power generation, energy flexibility, and economic cost. Future hourly weather data for the 2050s and 2080s are generated using CCWorldWeatherGen under representative climate scenarios. Monte Carlo simulations are conducted to assess performance across variable combinations, supplemented by sensitivity and uncertainty analyses to identify key influencing factors. Results indicate (1) critical design parameters—including building orientation, wall thermal absorptance, window-to-wall ratios, PV shading angle, glazing optical properties, equipment and lighting power density, and occupancy—significantly affect overall performance. Equipment and lighting densities most influence carbon emissions and flexibility, whereas envelope thermal properties dominate cost impacts. PV shading outperforms other forms in power generation. (2) Under intensified climate change, GWP and life cycle costs increase, while energy flexibility declines, imposing growing pressure on system performance. However, under certain mid-century climate conditions, BIPV power generation potential improves due to altered solar radiation. The study recommends integrating climate-adaptive design strategies with energy systems such as PEDF (photovoltaic, energy storage, direct current, and flexibility), refining policy mechanisms, and advancing BIPV deployment with climate-resilient approaches to support building decarbonization and enhance adaptive capacity.

Abstract Global change and the loss of plant diversity threaten terrestrial ecosystem functionality. Microplastic pollution is considered a novel environmental stressor potentially affecting plant biomass production. However, it is poorly understood whether and how microplastic interacts with other global change factors, such as drought, to affect plant communities and the relationship between plant diversity and biomass production. To unravel the above question and any underlying mechanisms, we conducted a glasshouse experiment. We assembled plant communities along a gradient of plant diversity and then subjected them to four microplastic and drought scenarios in grassland microcosms. Our results showed that the positive effect of plant diversity on biomass production strongly depended on drought, whereas no significant interaction was found with microplastic, either alone or when combined with drought. Nevertheless, microplastic tended to decrease the positive diversity–biomass relationship by suppressing the shoot biomass of grasses and legumes, thereby reducing the positive selection effect. By contrast, drought significantly weakened this positive relationship by strongly reducing the shoot biomass of legumes, thereby inducing a negative complementarity effect and ultimately a negative net diversity effect. Both microplastic and drought decreased community biomass across all plant diversity levels, but microplastic could alleviate the negative effect of drought on community biomass by enhancing the shoot biomass of legumes. Synthesis . Our findings reveal that microplastic and drought influence the positive effects of plant diversity on plant biomass production. Moreover, our study suggests that the mechanisms by which plant diversity affects productivity are differently sensitive to microplastic and drought. We highlight the importance of legumes in protecting and maintaining biodiversity and ecosystem functions in the face of microplastic pollution and drought risks.

The rhizosphere priming effect (RPE), referring to the effects of living plant roots on soil organic matter decomposition, plays an important role in terrestrial carbon and nutrient cycling. However, how global changes may affect RPE remains unclear. By conducting a global meta-analysis of 220 observations from 39 plant species planted in 49 mineral and organic soils, we quantified the effects of multiple global change factors on RPE and explored the regulations of plant, edaphic, and experimental factors on RPE responses. We found that, overall, nitrogen addition, phosphorus addition, elevated CO2, warming, increased precipitation, or nitrogen addition plus elevated CO2 had a neutral effect on RPE, while nitrogen plus phosphorus addition significantly decreased RPE. The responses of RPE and plant biomass were decoupled under all these global change factors. Across studies, the elevated CO2 effect on RPE increased significantly with soil nitrogen availability but decreased with soil clay plus silt content under ambient nitrogen, but these relationships disappeared under elevated nitrogen. Similarly, the warming effect on RPE increased with soil nitrogen availability. Our findings suggest that, when considered from the perspective of individual GCFs, global change may not have a substantial impact on the rhizosphere priming effect.