Ecosystem Characteristics Research Articles

The Manna Effect – a review of factors influencing hair lichen abundance for Canada's endangered Deep-Snow Mountain Caribou (Rangifer arcticus montanus)

Abstract Canada's endangered Deep-Snow Mountain Caribou (DSC) are endemic to mountainous southern inland British Columbia, where they subsist in winter on an almost exclusive diet of epiphytic hair lichens, especially Bryoria fremontii and B. pseudofuscescens (the high-biomass Bryoria spp.) and Alectoria sarmentosa. Importantly, stand-level hair lichen loadings adequate for the dietary needs of DSC rarely occur in forests younger than c. 120–150 years, an unusual form of old-growth dependence hypothetically linked to certain structural features of old forest ecosystems. Not only does this hypothesis accord well with recent insights into hair lichen ecophysiology, it also allows the formulation of a conceptual ‘hyperabundance’ model for the high-biomass Bryoria spp. and lays the foundation for a similar model for A. sarmentosa. In both cases the models point to a massive standing crop of hair lichens in the overstories of old-growth forests; it is this reservoir that, partly by releasing a constant manna-like rain of thallus fragments into the lower canopy, sustains DSC during the winter half year. The outcome is a sustained-yield system resistant to degradation from overbrowsing, yet vulnerable to fragmentation of old-growth forests by industrial forestry, a process of progressive forage reduction that must ultimately place DSC at risk of winter malnutrition. We conclude that stand-level hair lichen hyperabundance is necessarily an attribute of advanced forest age and, at least in the case of Bryoria, cannot be silviculturally induced in stands younger than c. 120–150 years.

Internationalization ecosystems: a systematic literature review in search of a new theoretical framework

Objectives: This study systematically investigates the concept of internationalization ecosystems (INT-E) to evaluate the depth of existing research and assess the feasibility of a new theoretical framework that incorporates an ecosystemic perspective into contemporary International Business (IB) theories. Methodology: Utilizing a systematic literature review (SLR) and thematic analysis, the study examined 67 articles from Science Direct, Scopus, and Web of Science to understand the dynamics, actors, and characteristics of internationalization ecosystems. Relevance / originality: The concept of INT-E is nascent in the IB literature, with a noticeable lack of an ecosystemic approach to studying internationalization. This study validates existing models while identifying conceptual gaps, suggesting new research directions. Main Results: Significant gaps were identified in the IB literature regarding internationalization ecosystems. However, the study supports a previously proposed conceptual framework that integrates business, entrepreneurial, innovation, and platform ecosystems. Theoretical / methodological contributions: This study contributes theoretically by applying an SLR to the emerging concept of internationalization ecosystems, encouraging further research within IB Theory by focusing on INT-E as an independent entity. Management Contributions: Practically, this study lays the groundwork for a future conceptual framework that can help organizations strategically position themselves within the context of internationalization. While the INT-E framework is still developing, these preliminary insights can enhance internationalization strategies across various dimensions.

Parasites disrupt a keystone mutualism that underpins the structure, functioning, and resilience of a coastal ecosystem

AbstractParasites can alter the traits or densities of mutualistic partners, potentially destabilizing mutualistic associations that underpin the structure, functioning, and stability of entire ecosystems. Despite the potentially wide‐ranging consequences of such disruptions, no studies have directly manipulated parasite prevalence and/or intensity in a mutualistic partner, nor quantified the resulting community‐level effects. Here, we investigated the effects of a common trematode parasite (Cercaria opaca) on the strength of a keystone facultative mutualism in western Atlantic salt marshes between the foundational marsh cordgrass, Spartina alterniflora, and the ribbed mussel, Geukensia demissa. Cordgrass increases mussel survivorship and growth through shading, while mussels enhance cordgrass growth by producing nutrient‐rich biodeposits. This mutualistic association also creates conditions that enhance biodiversity and ecosystem functioning, and mediates the ability of foundational plants to resist and recover from extreme drought. We used lab and field assays to show how increasing infection with trematode metacercariae negatively influenced mussel biodeposit production, as well as the strength of mussel shells and byssal attachments. By conducting a field manipulation using experimentally infected mussels, we demonstrated that the mutualistic benefits of mussels to cordgrass growth decreased with increasing trematode infection intensity—a pattern likely generated by reduced mussel biodeposition and enhanced mortality. Additionally, increasing parasite loads in mussels led to predictable decreases in the abundances of benthic invertebrates, as well as in key ecosystem characteristics and process rates (i.e., redox potential and sediment accretion). Finally, a survey of five North Carolina salt marshes demonstrated that infection with C. opaca was most common in mussels in areas experiencing cordgrass die‐off due to drought, and that infection intensity decreased with distance from die‐off areas. Because the mussel–cordgrass mutualism underpins marsh ecosystem resilience to drought‐associated die‐off, our results suggest that parasitism may depress recovery from these disturbances. Although this is the first experimental demonstration of parasites indirectly altering community structure and functioning by undermining an ecologically influential mutualism, this type of relationship could be common in nature, given that parasites frequently infect influential mutualists.

Decoupling the effects of near-surface characteristic change on soil roughness in a dune-meadow cascade ecosystem

As an important indicator of ecological restoration, soil roughness changes exhibit a synergistic evolutionary relationship with near-surface characteristics such as soil and vegetation. However, the main controlling factors for changes in soil roughness in different ecosystems are still unclear. This study was conducted to clarify the changes in soil roughness in different ecosystems and to decouple and quantify the impact of near-surface characteristics on soil roughness in the Horqin Sandy Land (China). Soil roughness was measured using the structure-from-motion (SfM) technique, showing a pattern of farmland (14.08 mm) > semi-mobile dune (12.59 mm) > meadow (6.19 mm) > woodland (5.67 mm). Redundancy analysis (RDA) results showed that the near-surface characteristics of the dune-meadow cascade ecosystem that explained soil roughness, in descending order of importance, were as follows: sand, soil moisture content (MC), silt, plant stem diameter (SD), clay, pH, soil organic matter (SOM), soil shear resistance (SC), litter thickness (LT), water-stable aggregates (WSA), litter density (LD) and bulk density (BD). Specifically, in the semi-mobile dune ecosystem, the order of total effects on soil roughness was as follows: sand (1.311) > pH (0.447) > clay (0.387). In the woodland ecosystem, SC (0.226), pH (|-0.216|), and LD (0.179) were important factors controlling soil roughness. In the farmland ecosystem, MC (0.380), LT (|-0.378|), and SOM (|-0.336|) were the main controlling factors of soil roughness. In the meadow ecosystem, silt (0.574), SOM (|-0.413|), and clay (|-0.380|) significantly influenced soil roughness. Compared to other machine learning models and stepwise regression models, the k-nearest neighbors (KNN) model could predict soil roughness changes more accurately. The findings of this research are of great significance for ecological restoration and sustainable development of the ecologically fragile areas in northern China.

Digital territorial assets: vocational drivers’ representation for Finiq Municipality's challenge of change

This research paper provides a base for the development of an integrated strategy to identify and represent the existing territorial systems and ongoing trends in the municipality of Finiq, located in southern Albania. The study explores the features of the territorial ecosystem, to propose an integrated innovative development process through the digitization of the assets. The analysis moves from three main driver topics - “Landscape”, “Tradition” and “Tourism”, showing that the Municipality of Finiq has an underestimated intrinsic value of attractiveness, characterized by its inland natural areas and rich cultural heritage. Starting from these condi- tions, the innovation of the territorial system through the involvement of the communities of the Municipality of Finiq is one of the main development and enhancement drivers. Based on a holistic approach to setting up and representing land, cultural, environmental, artistic, agro- alimentary, and local gastronomic assets, this research paper aims to propose the improvement of the attractiveness of the Finiq Municipality's, according to advanced international methodological standards, and the resulting territorial and social impact (Rossi, 2022). It is proposed to implement innovation in the gainful process in the Finiq Municipality by the digitalization of assets through the international BIM standard (Bianchini et al., 2021), creat- ing three-dimensional information models at different levels: individual assets, infrastructures, historical sites (Maietti et al., 2021), and relevant buildings. The three-dimensional model can be implemented in a unified data-sharing environment, allowing for the creation of a digital ecosystem (Banfi et al., 2022) through which different stakeholders and communities can cooperate in processes and exchange information. The ecosystem will create a Digital Twin of the assets (Wu et al., 2021) integrated into a territorial map. A digital model through which, the actors involved, with the support of enabling technologies, will be able to add information to the BIM model in real time, creating a cognitive three-dimensional decision-support model (EcoAlbania, 2021) to re-orient the current shrinking, isolation, and identity trends.

Ratio of Stem Wood Volumes in Forest Stands and Dead Wood of the Taiga Spruce Forests in European Russia

The article discusses the formation of the stem wood volumes ratio between the forest stands and the deadwood in an indigenous forest community with a contribution from wood-decaying fungi, using the spruce formations of the European Russia’s taiga zone as an example. For the analysis, 30 spruce ecosystems were taken, 10 in each of the taiga subzones (northern, middle and southern) with different dynamic characteristics — climax, demutational and digressional ecosystems. Using the method of study plots (SP), the silvicultural characteristics of ecosystems and the morphometric indicators of trees were described, and the volumes of stem wood of the forest stands forming phytocenoses and the deadwood decomposed by wood-destroying fungi were calculated. Indicators of the stem wood volumes ratio between the forest stands and the dead wood in spruce plantations of various dynamic phases were calculated, for which phase position scores were calculated. Indicators of the relationship between the volumes of stem wood in forest stands and in dead wood (R2)and linear correlation coefficients (r) for forest stands of different successional positions were determined in Microsoft Excel. The calculations confirmed the presence of a relationship between the stem wood volumes of tree stands and deadwood for the studied spruce forests using a point estimate of the phase position of ecosystems: in both programs (R2 and r) the relationship indicators were characterized as strong to very strong (Chaddock, 1925).

Integrated Assessment of Disturbed Ecosystems Using Remote Sensing Technique

Introduction. Today, there is a need for a shared vision of restoration of disturbed ecosystems, which is defined as “the process of stopping and reversing degradation, leading to improved ecosystem services and restoration of biodiversity.”Problem Statement. The assessment and restoration of disturbed ecosystems has become especially relevant for the Ukrainian society now, as warfare has caused large-scale changes in environment and both short-term and long-term consequences for ecosystems in Ukraine.Purpose. Assessment of ecosystems disturbed as a result of warfare impact by remote sensing.Materials and Methods. Multispectral satellite imagery, ground truth data and ecosystems characteristics of study area have been used. Remotely sensed data processing, geospatial modelling, and mathematical statistics have been applied.Results. A warfare impact on the ecosystems of Ukraine has been overviewed. Possibility of using remote sensing methods have been considered; their advantages and disadvantages have been generalized. A demo example of the described technique for assessing the ecosystem conditions along the E40 highway on the west of Kyiv has been shown with the use of multi-time satellite imagery of very high resolution (0.5 m on the ground) between May 2020 and March 2022. The analysis of the obtained maps allows us to assess short-term changes in land cover: a decrease in the area of water bodies, coniferous and leafy plants, an increase in the open soil area. The ecosystem conditions map of the studied area enables identifying plots of high risk.Conclusions. Integrated remote assessment of the condition of disturbed ecosystems and geospatial analysis of corresponding risks are useful tools for the territory management. Remote sensing techniques are particularly important in the context of largescale warfare. In many cases, only remote sensing techniques can provide information on the condition of ecosystems that areinaccessible or dangerous for ground-based research. Currently, the proposed approach has been elaborated and tested over other territories, different ecosystems and other data sources. Completed and tested integral geo-information technology will be relevant for the post-war recovery of the territory of Ukraine. Further research should be focused on building a pool of quantitative models for probabilistic assessment of the risk of disruption of various ecosystems under diff erent conditions, as well as on obtaining an array of statistical data to increase the reliability of the resulting maps.

Leaf spectrum analysis of three tropical timber species: Diomate (Astronium graveolens), Choibá (Dipteryx oleifera), and Algarrobo (Hymenaea courbaril)

This study analyzed the leaf spectral response of three native timber forest species in the tropical dry forest: Diomate (Astronium graveolens Jacq.), Choibá (Dipteryx oleifera Benth.), and Algarrobo (Hymenaea courbaril L.). The study was conducted at the León Morales Soto Arboretum and Palmetum, at the Universidad Nacional de Colombia in Medellín, Antioquia, Colombia. Spectral data from the leaves were collected in situ using the portable spectroradiometer ASD FieldSpec HandHeld-2, which operates with a spectral resolution of 1 nm (resampled to 10 nm) and covers a spectral range between 325 and 1,075 nm (limited to 400-900 nm). Based on the measurements, the behavior and spectral variability of the species were evaluated. One-factor Analysis of Variance and Mann Whitney-Wilcoxon U-test were implemented in reflectance spectra to select the optimal narrow bands for species discrimination. The classification capacity of the selected narrow bands was assessed using the K-nearest neighbors’ algorithm. It was found that A. graveolens and H. courbaril exhibited spectral signatures typical of healthy vegetation, while D. oleifera showed spectral changes during the early stages of senescence. Regarding spectral separability, 23 narrow bands in the visible region and near-infrared region were identified as optimal for distinguishing the plant species. The supervised classification algorithm applied to these 23 narrow bands achieved an overall accuracy of 95.8%. In conclusion, these findings provide valuable insights into the spectral response of important tropical species and contribute to their conservation efforts by enhancing understanding of their unique spectral characteristics in diverse and heterogeneous ecosystems like tropical forests.

Insect community structure in young and productive coffee farms under leucaena shade of Jember Regency, East Java, Indonesia

The developmental phase of Robusta coffee plantations with agroforestry systems exhibits varying ecosystem characteristics (biotic and abiotic), therebyinfluencing the dynamics of insect community composition within them. One of the major coffee-producing centers in East Java is Jember Regency, where coffeecultivation commonly employs agroforestry systems with various shade trees. Understanding the abundance of insect species in agroforestry coffee plantations is important for determining insect pest control measures. This research aims to study the insect community structure in young coffee and productive coffee farms. Insect sampling was conducted in young coffee farms and productive coffee farms at the Kaliwining Experimental Station, Indonesian Coffee and Cocoa Research Institute (ICCRI), by using road sampling methods with insect nets and pitfall traps. Both types of plantations utilize Leucaena sp. var L2 as shade trees, forming agroforestry coffee plantation systems. Data analysis was performed by calculating the Shannon-Wiener diversity index (H’) to assess insectdiversity and the independent sample t-test to determine differences in insect abundance based on functional roles between the two farms. The results indicatethat the composition and abundance of insects in productive coffee farms are higher than in young coffee farms, resulting in a higher insect diversity index valuefor productive coffee farms (categorized as high), while young coffee farms fall into the moderate category. Furthermore, based on their functional roles, productive coffee farms positively influence the abundance of herbivorous, predatory, parasitoid, and detritivorous insects.

Advances in spatial multi-omics in tumors.

Single-cell techniques have convincingly demonstrated that tumor tissue usually contains multiple genetically defined cell subclones with different gene mutation sets as well as various transcriptional profiles, but the spatial heterogeneity of the microenvironment and the macrobiological characteristics of the tumor ecosystem have not been described. For the past few years, spatial multi-omics technologies have revealed the cellular interactions, microenvironment, and even systemic tumor-host interactions in the tumor ecosystem at the spatial level, which can not only improve classical therapies such as surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy but also promote the development of emerging targeted therapies in immunotherapy. Here, we review some emerging spatial omics techniques in cancer research and therapeutic applications and propose prospects for their future development.

Mechanisms of ammonium detoxification in submerged macrophytes under shade conditions

Excessive ammonium disrupts the biological and physical characteristics of aquatic freshwater ecosystems, causing nutrient imbalances and toxicity. Different macrophytes exhibit varying tolerance levels to ammonium stress, influenced by species-specific adaptations. However, eutrophic water bodies not only have high nutrient loads but also exhibit low light transparency, necessitating an understanding of how submerged macrophytes cope with both high ammonium concentrations and low light conditions. In this study, we explored the tolerance of submerged macrophytes under these challenging conditions by testing various ammonium concentrations and light intensities. Our findings reveal that Myriophyllum spicatum demonstrates high ammonium tolerance under both optimal and low light intensities. Specifically, under optimal light, the primary ammonium assimilation pathway is catalyzed by NADH-GDH (Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide-dependent Glutamate Dehydrogenase), with its activity increasing 4-fold at 50 mg L−1 [NH4+-N] compared to the control. Conversely, under low light intensity, the GS (Glutamine Synthetase)-catalyzed pathway becomes predominant, with GS activity rising 3-fold at 50 mg L−1 [NH4+-N] compared to the control. These results provide new insights into the adaptive mechanisms of M. spicatum, highlighting its flexible strategies for ammonium assimilation and its potential application in water restoration efforts. This study offers valuable information on the enzymatic pathways involved in ammonium detoxification, which is essential for developing effective strategies to manage and restore eutrophic aquatic systems.

The Interaction between Climate Change and Biodiversity Can Be Assessed from a Material Cycle Perspective

This study focused on understanding biodiversity variability in response to climate change as an environmental stressor from a carbon cycle perspective. As the frequency and magnitude of environmental stresses are expected to increase due to rising carbon concentrations, these changes may affect the variability in biodiversity. However, several studies have argued that conventional methods for biodiversity assessment, primarily based on arithmetic indices utilized in national policies, are inadequate for accurately assessing these interactions among species, abiotic changes, and material cycling. Here, we indicate that environmental stressors that occur at various scales and domains, from macroscopic to microscopic, and their effects on ecosystems are multi-dimensional. Furthermore, environmental stresses not only affect organisms inhabiting these ecosystems but these organisms, in return, influence the carbon cycle through life history changes resulting from these stresses. The results of our review suggest that these processes are sequentially interconnected, forming self-reinforcing feedback loops. Ultimately, an integrated approach is necessary to understand biodiversity variability in complex and open ecosystems. This approach should be capable of comprehending changes in the overall flow by considering ecosystem characteristics.

How restoration engineering measures can enhance the ecological value of intertidal flats

Restoration engineering measures, such as managed realignments or building groins, modify the environmental characteristics of coastal intertidal ecosystems. Creating physical modifications that are beneficial to an intertidal system's ecology necessitates an in‐depth understanding of the relationships between the abiotic and biotic components of a given intertidal habitat. In this study, we evaluate how hydrodynamics and sediment characteristics drive the development of the benthic macrofauna community during the first 5 years following engineering measures to enhance benthic macrofauna diversity at three locations. The creation of low‐energy habitats through groins (Knuitershoek and Baalhoek) and a managed realignment dike breach (Perkpolder) led to the accumulation of fine sediments in all three impact sites. Biomass of benthic macrofauna quickly increased between 2016 and 2020, with successional processes being more important in Perkpolder, where the habitat was started completely from scratch due to a managed realignment, than at Knuitershoek or Baalhoek, where habitat conditions were improved by adding groins. In addition, the density of benthos‐eating birds, especially oystercatchers, increased at some of the modified sites. While a low‐energy habitat may harbor more diverse assemblages of benthic macrofauna than a highly dynamic one, the extremely high silt content, which is typical for low‐energy habitats, may slow benthic community development. The observed increase of biomass at our impact sites highlights the value of the interventions, while the delays in the response of the benthic macrofauna community emphasizes the need for extensive monitoring both in time and space and the identification of underlying abiotic–biotic mechanisms.

The Six Qualities of Great Urban Places framework: combining theory and practice to decode the components of places that deliver for people and planet

ABSTRACT The Six Qualities of Great Urban Places is a practice-based framework for designing cities and neighbourhoods that deliver for people and planet. Our approach is grounded in practical experience and a literature review, which aimed to identify the key factors that contribute to thriving ecological, economic, and social systems. We also drew inspiration from established design frameworks, such as the Government Architect of NSW’s ‘Better Placed’ design policy, The Scottish Government’s ‘Place Standard Tool’, and the ‘City Resilience Framework’ by the Resilient Cities Network. Moreover, we incorporated insights from Hassell’s experience in urban design and landscape architecture. From our research and practice, we identified six common characteristics of well-functioning places and ecosystems: 1) Beautifully Original, 2) Conveniently Compact, 3) Richly Diverse, 4) Openly Networked, 5) Playfully Dynamic, and 6) Naturally Regenerative. We discovered that what distinguishes these qualities from other design frameworks we have analysed is their dual manifestation in both the physical design of spaces and their social and economic fabric. In this article, we present these qualities and share reflections from our practical application of the framework. Our aim is to contribute to the ongoing dialogue about how to foster healthy urban environments.

Highlighting immune features of the tumor ecosystem and prognostic value of Tfh and Th17 cell infiltration in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma by single-cell RNA-seq

BackgroundHead and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) typically present with a complex anatomical distribution, often accompanied by insidious symptoms. This combination contributes to its high incidence and poor prognosis. It is now understood that the immune features of cellular components within the tumor ecosystem and their complex interactions are critical factors influencing both tumor progression and the effective immune response.MethodsWe obtained single-cell RNA sequencing data of 26,496 cells from three tumor tissues and five normal tissues and performed subsequent analyses. Immunohistochemical staining on tumor sections was used to validate the presence of malignant cells. Additionally, we included bulk RNA sequencing data from 502 HNSCC patients. Kaplan–Meier analysis and the log-rank test were employed to assess predictors of patient outcomes.ResultsWe identified three epithelial subclusters exhibiting immune-related features. These subclusters promoted the infiltration of T cells, dendritic cells, and monocytes into the tumor microenvironment. Additionally, cancer-associated fibroblasts displayed tumor-promoting and angiogenesis characteristics, contrasting with the predominant antigen-presenting and inflammatory roles observed in fibroblasts from normal tissues. Furthermore, tumor endothelial subsets exhibited a double-sided effect, promoting tumor progression and enhancing the effectiveness of immune response. Finally, follicular helper T cells and T helper 17 cells were found to be significantly correlated with improved outcomes in HNSCC patients. These CD4+ T cell subpopulations could promote the anti-tumor immune response by recruiting and activating B and T cells.ConclusionOur findings provide deeper insights into the immune features of the tumor ecosystem and reveal the prognostic significance of follicular helper T cells and T helper 17 cells. These findings may pave the way for the development of therapeutic approaches.

Hierarchy of environmental impacts in hydroelectric projects established in mountain ecosystems

In Bolivia, hydroelectric projects are gaining relevance as a source of renewable energy, which is why there is little record of specific experiences on the implementation of hydroelectric projects in mountain areas that include an analysis of the environment within the framework of sustainability energetic. The present study takes a hydroelectric reservoir project established in a mountain ecosystem as a unit of analysis to demonstrate that a hierarchy of environmental impacts responds more precisely to the environmental dimension, according to its technical and ecosystem characteristics. The development of the work starts with the analysis of the information recorded in the Environmental Impact Assessment Study - EEIA and based on this information, a procedure is carried out to rank the environmental impacts with the use of matrix, qualitative and quantitative methods, in addition to the use of specialized software. Finally, it is concluded that there are no standard evaluations, and it is affirmed that the EIA of any hydro-energy project, whether established or not, in a mountain ecosystem, is a complex and unique problem. Therefore, a hierarchical ranking of environmental impacts in an initial and particular way to the project site area contributes in a real and effective way to an environmental sustainability of the intervened ecosystem, within the framework of Sustainable Energy Development.

Assessing benthic macroinvertebrate communities’ spatial heterogeneity in Mediterranean transitional waters through eDNA metabarcoding

Transitional waters are important habitats both for biodiversity and ecological functions, providing valuable natural resources and relevant ecosystem services. However, they are highly susceptible to climate changes and anthropogenic pressures responsible for biodiversity losses and require specific biomonitoring programs. Benthic macroinvertebrates are suitable as ecological indicators of transitional waters, being affected by biological, chemical, and physical conditions of the ecosystems about their life cycles and space-use behaviour. The advent of high-throughput sequencing technologies has allowed biodiversity investigations, at the molecular level, in multiple ecosystems and for different ecological guilds. Benthic macroinvertebrate communities’ composition has been investigated, at the molecular level, mainly through DNA extracted from sediments in marine and riverine ecosystems. In this work, benthic macroinvertebrate communities are explored through eDNA metabarcoding from water samples in a Mediterranean transitional water ecosystem. This research highlighted the validity of eDNA metabarcoding as an efficient tool for the assessment of benthic macroinvertebrate community structure in transitional waters, unveiling the spatial heterogeneity of benthic macroinvertebrate communities correlated to the measured environmental gradients. The results suggest that peculiar features of transitional water ecosystems, such as shallow waters and limited currents, facilitate the assessment of benthic macroinvertebrate communities through environmental DNA analysis from surface water samples, opening for more rapid and accurate monitoring programs for these valuable ecosystems.

Optimization of multiple ecological infrastructures across the land–sea interface for coordination management: A case study around Laizhou Bay in China

Ecological infrastructure (EI), providing ecosystem services across the land-sea interface, has been proposed as a key element in sustainable terrestrial-marine ecosystem coordinated governance. Terrestrial and marine ecosystems should be regarded as an integrated unit for guaranteeing coastal ecological security. However, the existing EI construction framework focused on terrestrial ecosystems, and few studies consider the composite characteristics of the terrestrial-marine ecosystem in coastal areas. In the case study of Laizhou Bay, China, this study proposes an optimization method for multiple ecological infrastructures (MEIs) across the land-sea interface. The method is oriented towards achieving trans-regional scale cohesion, enhancing terrestrial-riverine-marine linkages, providing adequate pathways for marine ecological protection, and promoting coordinated conservation of terrestrial and marine ecosystems. The results showed that: (1) The new optimization framework synthetically considering the terrestrial multi-scale EI networks cohesion, hydrological corridors, and marine conservation network is available. (2) The preliminary ecological sources (PESs) are mainly distributed in the eastern mountainous areas, the estuary of the Yellow River, and six marine protected areas. The spatial imbalance of EI resulted in four marine protected areas in the southwest of the Bohai Sea insufficiently connected between sea-to-sea ecological sources. (3) The integrated MEIs includes four newly added ecological sources (two each for land and sea), eight trans-regional ecological corridors, 17 hydrological corridors, and 11 marine ecological corridors. Through optimization, the MEIs avoid fragmentation across multi-scale terrestrial regions, promote river-based connectivity between land and sea, and increase pathways for marine ecological protection, thereby ensuring effective circulation of regional ecological materials. (4) MEIs-conserved priority areas include 12.4 km2 ecological pinch points and 6.39 km2 marine biological protective points. Focusing on these conserved priority areas provides spatial references for the implementation planning of MEIs. Compared with traditional respective ecosystem networks, the MEIs across land-sea interface optimization approach is feasible for terrestrial-marine ecosystem coordinated management.

Controls of Cross‐Shore Planktonic Ecosystem Structure in an Idealized Eastern Boundary Upwelling System

AbstractEastern boundary upwelling systems (EBUSs) are among the most productive regions in the ocean because deep, nutrient‐rich waters are brought up to the surface. Previous studies have identified winds, mesoscale eddies and offshore nutrient distributions as key influences on the net primary production in EBUSs. However uncertainties remain regarding their roles in setting cross‐shore primary productivity and ecosystem diversity. Here, we use a quasi‐two‐dimensional (2D) model that combines ocean circulation with a spectrum of planktonic sizes to investigate the impact of winds, eddies, and offshore nutrient distributions in shaping EBUS ecosystems. A key finding is that variations in the strength of the wind stress and the nutrient concentration in the upwelled waters control the distribution and characteristics of the planktonic ecosystem. Specifically, a strengthening of the wind stress maximum, driving upwelling, increases the average planktonic size in the coastal upwelling zone, whereas the planktonic ecosystem is relatively insensitive to variations in the wind stress curl. Likewise, a deepening nutricline shifts the location of phytoplankton blooms shore‐ward, shoals the deep chlorophyll maximum offshore, and supports larger phytoplankton across the entire domain. Additionally, increased eddy stirring of nutrients suppresses coastal primary productivity via “eddy quenching,” whereas increased eddy restratification has relatively little impact on the coastal nutrient supply. These findings identify the wind stress maximum, isopycnal eddy diffusion, and nutricline depth as particularly influential on the coastal ecosystem, suggesting that variations in these quantities could help explain the observed differences between EBUSs, and influence the responses of EBUS ecosystems to climate shifts.

Shaping Baltimore’s urban forests: past insights for present-day ecology

ContextLand use history of urban forests impacts present-day soil structure, vegetation, and ecosystem function, yet is rarely documented in a way accessible to planners and land managers.ObjectivesTo (1) summarize historical land cover of present-day forest patches in Baltimore, MD, USA across land ownership categories and (2) determine whether social-ecological characteristics vary by historical land cover trajectory.MethodsUsing land cover classification derived from 1927 and 1953 aerial imagery, we summarized present-day forest cover by three land cover sequence classes: (1) Persistent forest that has remained forested since 1927, (2) Successional forest previously cleared for non-forest vegetation (including agriculture) that has since reforested, or (3) Converted forest that has regrown on previously developed areas. We then assessed present-day ownership and average canopy height of forest patches by land cover sequence class.ResultsMore than half of Baltimore City’s forest has persisted since at least 1927, 72% since 1953. About 30% has succeeded from non-forest vegetation during the past century, while 15% has reverted from previous development. A large proportion of forest converted from previous development is currently privately owned, whereas persistent and successional forest are more likely municipally-owned. Successional forest occurred on larger average parcels with the fewest number of distinct property owners per patch. Average tree canopy height was significantly greater in patches of persistent forest (mean = 18.1 m) compared to canopy height in successional and converted forest patches (16.6 m and 16.9 m, respectively).ConclusionsHistorical context is often absent from urban landscape ecology but provides information that can inform management approaches and conservation priorities with limited resources for sustaining urban natural resources. Using historical landscape analysis, urban forest patches could be further prioritized for protection by their age class and associated ecosystem characteristics.