Cornus officinalis is an important Chinese medicinal herb with high economic value. Carposina coreana Kim (Lepidoptera: Carposinidae) is a severe fruit-boring pest that inflicts devastating damage on C. officinalis. There is an urgent need to develop attractants to monitor and control this pest. Using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and gas chromatography-electroantennogram detection (GC-EAD), we identified (Z)-7-eicosen-11-one and (Z)-7-tricosene as the female-produced sex pheromone components of C. coreana to attract its conspecific males. Field experiments showed that rubber septa dispenser baited with a blend of 1000 μg (Z)-7-eicosen-11-one and 500 μg (Z)-7-tricosene is the optimal lure formulation for attracting the male moths. Further experiments revealed that the most efficient traps are green Delta sticky traps, hung at 1.5-2.0 m aboveground from tree branches and ≈15-20 m from the forest edge. Finally, we validated the trap effectiveness in a 2-month monitoring survey conducted in three major C. officinalis production regions, and the identity of the captured insects was confirmed by DNA barcoding. We identified the sex pheromone components of C. coreana, which provide technical support for the monitoring and control of this pest. Our findings establish a foundation for developing sustainable pest management strategies to improve C. officinalis production. © 2026 Society of Chemical Industry.

A global meta-analysis of forest edge effects on arthropod abundance and richness

BackgroundMosquitoes are key arbovirus vectors and understanding their blood-feeding habits is crucial to elucidate potential pathogen transmission dynamics. Forest edge habitats, where natural and human-modified environments intersect, can enhance interactions among humans, wildlife, and mosquitoes, potentially enabling viral spillover and spillback. Characterizing these interactions is essential for assessing public health risks associated with diseases and guiding targeted vector management strategies. MethodsFemale mosquitoes were collected across forest edge habitats in the Adolpho Ducke forest reserve, Manaus, Brazil, using hand nets, between May 2021 and June 2022. Specimens were morphologically identified, and observable blood-engorged females were selected for blood meal analysis. DNA was extracted, and the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) gene was amplified and sequenced using next-generation sequencing (NGS). ResultsA total of 141 engorged mosquitoes were selected for blood-feeding analysis, from which COI sequences were successfully obtained in 111 (78.7%) specimens. Psorophora amazonica was the predominant species (82.9%), followed by Ps. albigenu (6.3%), Haemagogus janthinomys (4.5%), and Culex coronator (1.8%). Other species, including Aedes albopictus, Hg. baresi, Ps. albipes, Ps. circumflava, and Sabethes batesi, were each represented by a single individual (0.9%). Human DNA was identified in most blood meals (88.3%), while non-human DNA included ungulates (6.3%), rodents (1.8%), non-human primates (1.8%), birds (0.9%) and carnivores (0.9%). The distribution of sampling sites showed that anthropophilic and zoophilic interactions occurred simultaneously in the same landscapes, reflecting the overlap of wild and anthropogenic habitats.ConclusionsAnthropophilic mosquitoes inhabiting the edges of Amazonian forests exhibited opportunistic blood-feeding behavior, predominantly taking blood from humans but occasionally feeding on a broad diversity of non-human vertebrate hosts. This pattern is likely driven by the spatial contiguity between wild and urban/agricultural environments, which facilitates vector-mediated contact among multiple vertebrate species. These findings highlight the epidemiological relevance of forest edge habitats and reinforce the need for continuous entomological surveillance and targeted vector control strategies to mitigate the risk of arbovirus spillover and spillback.

ABSTRACTThe expansion of seasonal agriculture has contributed to forest habitat loss and declines in avian populations dependent on these ecosystems. This study investigates how habitat structure and seasonal variation influence bird species richness, abundance, and community composition in the Tara Gedam Monastery church forest, a sacred grove. The forest was stratified into edge, intermediate, and interior zones based on distance from the edge and vegetation structure. Data were collected during the wet (August–October 2019) and dry (December 2019–February 2020) seasons using 200 point counts across 20 sample blocks. Tree density and diameter at breast height (DBH) were measured within 20 m × 20 m quadrats. Bird community structure was assessed using Shannon diversity, evenness, and equitability indices, alongside Chao‐1 and ACE estimators. A total of 94 species and 2375 individual birds were recorded, with an overall Shannon Diversity Index of 4.009, indicating high species diversity. While bird abundance was 61% higher in the wet season, species richness and diversity remained remarkably stable between seasons, reflecting the forest's role as a perennial refuge. Multivariate analysis revealed that avian community structure is shaped by complex interactions among habitat class, distance from edge, tree density, and tree DBH (Roy's largest root = 1.731, p = 0.009). Contrary to classic edge effect predictions, both species richness and abundance were significantly higher at the forest edge, highlighting the ecological importance of ecotone habitats. Foraging guild analysis revealed a community dominated by insectivores (25 species) and omnivores (38 species), with near‐equal representation of arboreal (39 species) and ground‐foraging (41 species) strata, underscoring the importance of vertical habitat heterogeneity. These findings emphasize that the conservation value of sacred groves extends beyond species richness to encompass functional diversity and community resilience. Preserving structural complexity, particularly at forest edges, is critical for sustaining avian biodiversity in fragmented agricultural landscapes.

ABSTRACTRoadkill poses a significant threat to species conservation. However, there is scarce information on roadkill of wild animals. Therefore, to address these research gaps, this study aimed to assess roadkill status of vertebrates, including their conservation status and possible drivers such as seasons, structure of road and habitat types, using direct observation methods over four seasons (autumn, winter, summer and spring) in 2024–2025 on two national highways: part of East–West Highway (H01) and Madan Ashrit Highway (H05). The status of road‐killed vertebrates was evaluated by using relative frequency and encounter rate. The seasonal difference among the reported road‐killed vertebrates were visualized using venn diagram. The generalized linear model was used to show the relationship between total number of roadkill cases of vertebrates with different variables such as seasons, habitat types and condition of road. Similarly, this study also mapped the roadkill hotspots based on data using the Inverse Weighted Distance (IDW) algorithms. A total of 618 cases involving 36 species of wild vertebrates were reported on two highways, comparatively higher in H01. Among the reported species, 36.1% were mammals following 27.78% Aves, 25% reptiles and 11.1% amphibians. This study also recorded two globally Near Threatened (NT), four nationally Vulnerable (VU), and two nationally Near Threatened (NT) roadkill vertebrates. Roadkill risk is closely associated with habitat types. The road sections that cross between forests, forest edges, and residential areas comparatively have higher roadkill cases than croplands. River crossings are critical risk zones for wildlife vehicle encounters. Major roadkill hotspots on both national highways were identified, and recommendations were made for implementing speed limits and constructing underpasses and overpasses during road renovations.

Lantana camara L. is a highly adaptable shrub renowned for its ecological resilience and invasive nature, particularly in semi-arid regions. While its crude extracts are known to possess antimicrobial properties, the specific bioactive molecules responsible remain under-characterised. This study aimed to systematically identify the antibacterial compounds from L. camara leaves collected from the environmental stressor conditions of the Todgarh-Aravalli Forest margin in Rajasthan, India. Extraction efficiency was optimised by comparing hot methanolic Soxhlet extraction with cold poly-solvent maceration. The cold extract demonstrated superior bulk yield and broad-spectrum antibacterial efficacy against four multi-drug resistant (MDR) strains (Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Staphylococcus aureus), indicating the presence of thermolabile defensive metabolites. Subsequent liquid-liquid partitioning revealed that the antibacterial activity was overwhelmingly concentrated in the non-polar n-hexane fraction. Direct TLC-bioautography of this fraction against P. aeruginosa successfully isolated a highly active bio-zone spanning an Rf of 0.63-0.78. Chemical profiling of this bioactive eluate via GC-MS/MS putatively identified ten distinct compounds, predominantly branched-chain alkanes (24.6% peak area), alongside the fatty acid amide oleamide, which has documented membrane-interacting potential and the diterpenoid thunbergol. These findings confirm that the robust antibacterial defense mechanism of L. camara relies primarily on lipophilic secondary metabolites, highlighting its potential as a valuable botanical resource for novel therapeutics against antibiotic-resistant pathogens.

Tropical forests are biodiversity reservoirs but are increasingly fragmented by human activity, creating forest edges that alter microclimates and ecological dynamics. Understanding of edge effects is largely based on vegetation studies but still lacks faunal characterization. Here, passive acoustic monitoring was conducted in New Caledonian forests to monitor faunal communities and to examine whether and how the distance from the forest edge structures the soundscape. Recordings were collected at 30 sites located 10 to 300 meters from the edge, and 59 ecoacoustic indices were calculated. Representational similarity analysis with explainable feature-perturbation methods was used to assess relationships between acoustic patterns and edge distance. A low but significant relationship between distance to the edge and acoustic structure was observed at night between 22:00 and 04:00. Six key indices were identified as most influential. Based on these indices, nighttime soundscapes clustered into two groups: near-edge sites (from 10 to 40 m) and interior sites (from 100 to 300 m) were identified. This threshold aligns with previously observed vegetation edge effects fading around 100 meters. Overall, the findings indicate that forest soundscapes can reflect edge effects on faunal activity and highlight the value of explainable, data-driven approaches in ecoacoustic research and biodiversity conservation.

ABSTRACTUnderstanding amphibian microhabitat selection in coastal landscapes offers insight into patterns of local ecological adaptation in coastal island populations. This study examined whether coastal pools can sustain populations of the Japanese Treefrog, Dryophytes japonicus, a species whose coastal breeding ecology remains poorly understood. Additionally, we tested the prediction that salinity strongly influences breeding site use. We combined a meta‐analysis of 95 published studies with single‐time‐point field surveys of 810 tadpoles from 84 coastal pools across five topographically varied sites on Jeju Island, Republic of Korea. Using random forest and partial dependence analyses, we assessed eight environmental factors shaping tadpole occurrence. Across all studies reviewed, publication patterns showed no thematic or temporal bias across decades. However, more than 70% of studies focused on agricultural habitats, while fewer than 5% examined natural coastal pools, revealing a major knowledge gap. Empirical field data integrated with statistical modeling showed that, although salinity was the focal predictor of our study, distance to the coastline emerged as the strongest determinant of tadpole occurrence, with greater occurrence in pools positioned farther inland. The species consistently bred in shallow, low‐salinity pools located away from both the forest edge and the immediate shoreline, revealing clear spatial filtering within the coastal landscape. Dissolved oxygen also contributed to tadpole occurrence, particularly in coastal pools, underscoring the importance of well‐oxygenated water for successful breeding. Together, these results provide ecological insight into how D. japonicus persists in coastal landscapes under multiple environmental constraints.

The Eastern Himalayan region (EHR) has biodiverse ecosystems contributing to various ecosystem services for the indigenous populations where climate change has impacted the ecosystems. The present study aims to evaluate the climatic safety margins of the four major forest types of Nagaland, an EHR state. The difference between long-term temperature and precipitation values and the median of their respective percentile was considered as safety margin. The 98th percentile of maximum temperature and the 2nd percentile of precipitation for the selected period were calculated on Google Earth Engine and Rstudio. Future climate change scenario (SSP 5-8.5) was applied to evaluate the future safety margins of the forest types. Mixed moist deciduous, pine, wet hill, and wet temperate forests have temperature safety margins ranging from 4.5-11.7℃, 4.5-13.0℃, 4.5-12.2℃, and 4.5-12.6℃, respectively; and for precipitation, from 144.22-2643.61mm, 151.63-2643.61mm, 5.40-2665.90mm, 16.92-2619.82mm, respectively. The highest percentage of forest area for all four forest types was noted in 6.7-8.7℃ temperature safety margin and 1335-2000mm for precipitation safety margin. The minor variability of estimated safety margins likely reflect the physiological adaptation strategies adopted by the respective forests. The forest types did not exceed their temperature safety margins under SSP 5-8.5, whereas pine, wet hill, and wet temperate forests exhibit areas that surpass their precipitation safety margins. The study establishes a critical baseline for understanding future climatic limits and provides valuable insights in formulating effective strategies for forest adaptation and resilience in EHR.

ABSTRACT This study investigated forest edge areas adjacent to a residential road in a hilly area of Nagano prefecture, Japan, to examine the impact of Cervus nippon (hereafter referred to as “deer”) movements on physical erosion and changes in infiltration capacity of forest soils. The survey area included the edges of cypress and larch forests bordering a residential road west of the Mochizuki ranch in Mochizuki-machi, Saku city, Nagano prefecture. Soil erosion was assessed by measuring the height and direction of exposed roots at multiple points. Analysis of root system exposure height (Rh) revealed higher values in the larch forest than in the Japanese cypress forest. Furthermore, the polar coordinate distribution of exposed roots indicated predominant exposure in the steepest slope direction, with some deviations, suggesting that slope angle influences deer movement patterns. Comparisons of cumulative infiltration capacity showed lower values in the cypress forest compared to the larch forest. Soil with clear deer hoof prints exhibited lower infiltration capacity in both areas. The unsaturated hydraulic conductivity (K) for disturbed soil along the deer migration route was approximately half that for undegraded soil, and in soil with clear deer hoof prints, it decreased to about 10% that for undegraded soil.

Non-crop habitats are integral components of winter wheat agroecosystems, providing food resources and refuges that may support early-spring recovery of predatory natural enemies and contribute to early-season biological control potential. During 2024-2025, we used sticky traps to monitor four typical non-crop habitats (woodland, grassland, village, and uncultivated land) adjacent to wheat fields, quantifying early-season abundance dynamics of predatory natural enemies across habitat types and survey dates. Our results show that early-season abundance dynamics varied significantly among habitat types. Eupeodes corollae was most abundant in woodland, averaging 10.36-fold higher than in village. Chrysoperla sinica was most abundant in grassland, averaging 7.72-fold higher than in uncultivated land. Village provided important early-season refuges for coccinellids: Propylaea japonica abundance was on average 4.14-fold higher than in uncultivated land, and Harmonia axyridis abundance was on average 5.32-fold higher. Conserving and properly managing village-edge vegetation, grasslands, and woodland edges surrounding farmland may promote the early-spring recovery of predatory natural enemies in wheat agroecosystems. These findings suggest potential for strengthened early-season aphid management through enhanced availability of predatory natural enemies and reduced reliance on chemical pesticides, although aphid populations were not monitored and possible spillover into wheat fields was inferred indirectly from spatial and temporal abundance patterns. © 2026 Society of Chemical Industry.

Edge effects on evapotranspiration from tropical forest fragments

Habitat loss is one of the greatest threats to extant primates, with effects that are immediate and time delayed. Identifying how habitat loss affects wildlife, particularly vulnerable populations, is important to understand the mechanisms that can lead to population decline. Golden monkeys are a subspecies of guenon with two extant populations: one larger (> 4000) on the Virunga Massif, and the other smaller (~200) in Gishwati Forest. Once connected, deforestation over five decades separated the forests of Volcanoes National Park (VNP) (on the Virunga Massif) and Gishwati Forest and decreased the total forest cover by 25 and 90 percent, respectively. It is likely that the golden monkey populations also decreased during that time. We examined how location (VNP vs Gishwati) and human contact (low vs. high) affected infection using records of parasites identified morphologically from feces. We assessed the effect of population or human contact (via crop foraging or distance to forest edge) and used a mixed model to explore if there was an interaction effect between population and human contact (i.e., distance to forest edge). Both populations had the same richness. Overall, the VNP monkeys had A higher prevalence of infection and higher rates of multiple infection and groups that foraged for crops or were near the forest edge had a higher prevalence of Capillaria infection. These results suggest that population density, forest edge permeability, and human presence outside the forest increase infection risk in golden monkeys. Further, they provide initial insights into parasite-based health risks for this endangered primate.

BackgroundAcross Amazonian deforestation frontiers, phlebotomine sand flies transmit Leishmania spp., the causative agents of American cutaneous leishmaniasis (ACL). Landscape modification can alter vector ecology and transmission risk, yet the relative roles of forest cover, landscape configuration, and deforestation timeline remain poorly understood. We evaluated how landscape composition and configuration, assessed across multiple spatial scales, and deforestation timeline influence sand fly abundance and Leishmania infection in Cruzeiro do Sul, Acre, Brazil.MethodsSand flies were collected at 20 study sites during two cross-sectional surveys conducted in 2022 and 2024. Landscape metrics, including forest cover and edge density, were quantified within circular buffers of 3, 5, and 7 km2 around each site. Deforestation timeline, defined as time since initial forest loss, was used as a proxy for the duration of human occupation. Associations with sand fly abundance and Leishmania infection were assessed using Bayesian regression models, applying negative binomial models for abundance and binomial models for infection probability. Infection was detected using quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and confirmed by Sanger sequencing.ResultsForest cover and edge density, across all spatial scales, were not associated with sand fly abundance or Leishmania infection. In contrast, longer deforestation timelines were consistently associated with higher sand fly abundance, driven largely by increased captures of the sand fly species Nyssomyia antunesi. No landscape variable showed a clear association with infection occurrence.ConclusionsSand fly abundance in this Amazonian frontier was associated with the duration of human occupation rather than with current forest structure. These findings suggest that vector populations can persist in human-modified landscapes and highlight the importance of incorporating deforestation timeline into ACL surveillance and risk assessment.Graphical Supplementary InformationThe online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13071-026-07409-x.

Abstract Gray Fox (Urocyon cinereoargenteus) in Indiana and several other Midwest states have been experiencing a potential population decline and range contraction in recent years. Developing a species distribution model for Gray Fox in Indiana is necessary for identifying target areas for management efforts. For species with cryptic behaviors, such as Gray Fox, advancements in modeling, e.g., maximum entropy modeling (MaxEnt) have allowed for presence-only data to be used effectively to develop species distribution models. Physically surveying a large area for the presence of a cryptic species is difficult, but using community-based observation data (e.g., Archer’s Index, harvest data) can allow for creation of a discriminatory species distribution model. Our objective was to use multiple sources of community-based observation data to create a species distribution model of Gray Fox in Indiana using a maximum entropy approach. We developed 12 a priori models containing ecologically relevant covariates (e.g., distance to land-cover type, landscape-patch metrics) and trained (n = 71 observations) and tested (n = 57) each model using community-based observation data that were confirmed by experts. Our best-performing models predicted the highest probabilities of presence of Gray Fox in the northern and southern extents of the state, and relatively low probabilities of presence in the central, agriculture-dominated epicenter of the state. The highest probabilities of presence were associated with greater amounts of forest (mixed and evergreen), urban-forest, and forest-scrub edge. These areas may be the most suitable habitat for Gray Fox due to increased amounts of potential cover and reduced competition from other mesocarnivores. Our results support the importance of maintaining contiguous forest patches or a forest-urban-scrub landscape matrix for Gray Fox populations in Indiana and other midwestern states. Given the dominance of privately owned land in the Midwest, collaboration between managers and landowners is critical for making informed habitat-management decisions for Gray Fox.

Characterizing Turbulence at a Forest Edge: Comparing Sub-Filter Scale Turbulence Models in Simulations of Flow over a Canopy

Abstract Understanding genetic responses to forest dynamics is essential for predicting the long‐term viability of understory plant populations and for developing effective conservation strategies. We investigated genetic extinction debt and colonization credit in broad‐leaved enchanter's nightshade ( Circaea lutetiana ), a clonal forest understory species, across its European range. Using pooled genotype‐by‐sequencing data from 40 forest edge and core populations, we examined to what extent population size, latitude, and historical changes in forest configuration may predict genetic diversity. Historical forest configuration profoundly shaped present‐day genetic diversity. Long‐established forest edge populations exhibited significantly reduced allelic richness (−9%) compared with core populations, indicating the partial payoff of a genetic extinction debt. In contrast, populations from recently established forest edges maintained allelic richness similar to core populations, suggesting delayed population genetic responses to land‐use changes. Finally, populations established in areas that were afforested during the past 250 years exhibited lower allelic richness (−10%) than historical forest core populations, indicating a delay in genetic recovery and thus a potential genetic colonization credit. Our results highlight that C. lutetiana populations are not at equilibrium with the current forest configuration, underscoring the role of lagged genetic responses across very long periods. Population size, and to a lesser extent connectivity, further mediated genetic diversity, with smaller, isolated populations being particularly vulnerable to genetic erosion. Given the limited research on delayed evolution in forest understory species, our results improve understanding of extinction risk dynamics and underscore the need for history‐informed restoration efforts.

The future of tropical forests depends on their ability to resist and recover from multiple disturbances. Here, we evaluated how edge effects, experimental fires, extreme droughts, and blowdowns reshaped forest structure, composition, and functional traits over two decades in the Amazon-Cerrado transition. Initially, forests resisted low-intensity fires, but subsequent high-intensity fires during severe droughts sharply increased susceptibility to further disturbances. Along forest edges bordering agriculture, these compound disturbances drove losses of tree species richness, declines in Amazonian forest-specialist species, and shifts toward generalists with broad distributions, indicating increased compositional homogenization (i.e., reduced taxonomic diversity and dominance of generalist species). Once fires ceased, recovery trajectories diverged: Interior forests rapidly regained woody species richness and composition, whereas edge forests recovered more slowly. During postfire recovery, embolism-resistant species (lower P50 values) became more common, yet communities exhibited lower hydraulic safety margins (increased vulnerability to drought). At the same time, generalist species remained abundant, forest-specialist declined, and only a single woody species typical of savanna was established. Although grasses initially colonized fire-altered edges-especially light-demanding exotic Andropogon gayanus-they declined once fires stopped, leaving only small patches of shade-tolerant C3 species. Consequently, we find little evidence that fire-degraded forests transition toward persistent savanna, although recurrent fires or future climatic changes could drive long-lasting degradation or human-derived savannas. Together, these results show that even highly degraded, grass-invaded forests can recover in the absence of new disturbances, but the communities that reassemble remain vulnerable to renewed fire, drought, or windthrow.

The Atlantic Forest is a highly diverse biome that is under constant pressure due to human action, resulting in habitat fragmentation and intensifying edge effects, affecting biodiversity. The aim was to study the edge effect and influence of biotic and abiotic parameters on Calliphoridae and Mesembrinellidae communities in Três Picos State Park. Two traps baited using beef liver were placed at each site (n = 5) across 1000 m from the edge toward the interior of the forest, with vegetal characterization at each point. Collections occurred between June 2021 and May 2023, encompassing each season twice. The dipterans were identified taxonomically using a stereoscope microscope with the aid of taxonomic keys, totaling 5476 specimens. Dipteran abundance and species composition were primarily influenced by seasonal variation, while the distance from the forest edge or vegetation structure showed no effect. Abundance peaked during warmer periods, and temperature showed a positive effect on overall dipteran abundance. No species showed a strong association with specific seasons or distance along the edge-interior gradient. These results indicate that, in a relatively continuous and well-preserved forest remnant, edge effects do not lead to significant species loss, and climatic seasonality shapes patterns of dominance and abundance. Our findings highlight the ecological stability of the studied conservation unit and support the use of Calliphoridae and Mesembrinellidae as effective bioindicators. Understanding how dipteran assemblages respond to seasonal and edge-related gradients contributes to the development of cost-effective biomonitoring tools for tropical forest conservation.

Abstract. The formation of organo-mineral associations in the pedosphere are key processes in the global carbon cycle, the mineralization of organic matter, and the release of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. In this context, the C-sequestration capacity of the reactive fraction of the mineral matrix of post-agrogenic soils was assessed. These soils represent a demutation series of the restorative succession of forest ecosystems: agricultural lands → ruderal stage → meadow stage → shrub stage → sparse woodland of naturally afforested areas of the Ukrainian Carpathians. The calculation of the carbon sequestration potential was performed with consideration of the content of mineral particles sized 0–50 µm, taking into account the characteristics of the particle-size (granulometric) distribution of the studied soils, as well as the conceptual approach applied in this study to divide the organic fraction of soil into a dispersed fraction (>50 µm) and a mineral-associated fraction (<50 µm). It was established that the carbon content in the mineral-associated fraction was 18.8 ± 3.7 g C/kg in the soil under forest, 15.0 ± 0.8 g C/kg at the forest edge, 19.8 ± 0.5 g C/kg in meadow soil, and 14.3 ± 1.2 g C/kg in arable soil. The mineral matrix of soils under meadows and on forest edges is the most C-saturated, while soils under forest and arable land display lower levels of C-saturation. The carbon content in stable aluminum-organic compounds is the highest in forest soil and the lowest in meadow soil. The highest C-sequestration potential of the 0–20 cm layer is characteristic of forest soil – 23.7 t/ha, lower in arable land – 17.0 t/ha, and the lowest in meadow soil – 2.5 t/ha. The C-sequestration capacity of soils in post-agrogenic ecosystems of the Ukrainian Carpathians decreases during the process of silvatization of arable lands due to the accumulation of organic carbon compounds in soils under meadows and forest edges, resulting from the gradual formation of a turf horizon on former arable soils, the decomposition of root residues, and the migration of water-soluble organic matter through the transformation of broad-leaved and coniferous litter. In the soils of post-agrogenic ecosystems, there is an increase in the labile component of organic matter, which at later stages of sylvatization serves as a pool for the formation of stable mineral-associated complexes. That is, at the first stages of natural afforestation (sylvatization), the process of short-term C-sequestration in the form of dispersed (particulate) organic matter prevails, and at the later stages, it occurs as deposition into mineral-associated organic matter. Assessing the potential for carbon binding in the soil provides an opportunity to predict and manage carbon sinks on former arable lands, particularly through the preservation of naturally regenerated forests (spontaneous forests).