Forest Types Research Articles

Evaluating the feasibility of using plant‐specific metabarcoding to assess forest types from soil eDNA

AbstractQuestionsAn essential aspect of variation in natural systems is that species respond to complex environmental gradients. Recognizing plant composition gradients associated with abiotic factors (ecoclines) can be foundational for defining habitat types, which, in turn, helps map natural variation. Typically, ecoclinal structures are assessed through visual evaluation of above‐ground vegetation and analysis of covarying abiotic factors. However, the correlation between ecological structures detected by soil eDNA plant assessments and those identified by visual assessment remains largely unexplored.LocationHvaler archipelago, southern Norway.MethodsPlant diversity assessments were conducted using metabarcoding of the trnL (UUA) intron p6 loop and ITS2 from 31 soil samples collected across six forest types. These forest types span gradients related to drought risk and calcium richness.ResultsThe barcode amplicons identified 70 plant taxa, primarily vascular plants (67), with most assigned to the species level (59), representing common forest taxa across the sites. Comparisons between soil eDNA compositions and theoretical forest‐type compositions showed a low to medium correspondence (26% to 76%) between the two. Ordinations of soil eDNA compositions revealed two axes without clear ecological interpretation and correlated poorly with the calcium–richness gradient previously identified by visual assessments.ConclusionsOverall, our results emphasize the necessity for comprehensive sequence reference libraries to conduct thorough plant biodiversity assessments. They also highlight the potential of soil eDNA to assess plant composition, which can aid in ecosystem mapping.

Diversity of ecological functions of the insect families found in Citalahab Area of Mount Halimun Salak National Park (TNGHS)

The Citalahab area of ​​Mount Halimun Salak National Park (TNGHS) contains a diversity of insects with different ecological roles. In each type of habitat there was a composition of insect ecological roles. The study aimed to determine the diversity of ecological roles of insects in forest and plantation vegetation types in the Citalahab Area of ​​the Mount Halimun Salak National Park (TNGHS). This research uses the Simple Random Sampling method using pitfall traps in randomly determined plots measuring 20 x 20 meters (5 pit fall traps) in forests and plantations, with a total of 2 plots. There were 8 orders, 36 families with ecological roles such as: disease vectors, saprophages, pollinators, pests, predators, parasitoids, fungus eaters and decomposers. Insect families that act as parasitoids and disease vectors were only found in forest vegetation types. The richness of resources found in a habitat influences the diversity of the ecological roles of the insects found in it.

Divergent seed dispersal outcomes: Interactions between seed, disperser, and forest traits.

Animals disperse seeds in various ways that affect seed deposition sites and seed survival, ultimately shaping plant species distribution, community composition, and ecosystem structure. Some animal species can disperse seeds through multiple pathways (e.g., defecation, regurgitation, epizoochory), each likely producing distinct seed dispersal outcomes. We studied how seed traits (size and toughness) interact with disperser species to influence seed dispersal pathway and how this ultimately shapes the proportion of seeds deposited in various habitat types. We focused on three frugivorous species of duikers (African forest antelopes) in the Dja Faunal Reserve, a tropical rainforest in southern Cameroon. Duikers can both defecate and regurgitate seeds, the latter predominantly occurring during rumination at their bedding sites (or "nests"). We located duiker nests and dungs along 18 linear 1-km-transects to assess: (1) how seed traits affect the likelihood of dispersal via defecation versus regurgitation, (2) if defecated versus regurgitated seeds are deposited at different rates in different forest types (assessed by indigenous Baka), microhabitats, and forest structural attributes (measured by drone lidar), and (3) if these differ between three duiker species that vary in size and diel activity patterns. We found that duikers predominantly defecated small seeds (<3 mm length) and regurgitated larger and tougher seeds (>10 mm length), the latter including 25 different plant species. The three duiker species varied in their nesting habits, with nocturnal bay duikers (Cephalophus dorsalis) nesting in dense understory vegetation at proportions 3-4 times higher than Peter's and yellow-backed duikers (Cephalophus callipygus and Cephalophus silvicultor). As a result, bay duikers deposited larger regurgitated seeds at a higher rate in habitats with denser understory where lianas and palms predominate and near fallen trees. This directed regurgitation seed deposition likely plays an important and unique role in forest succession and structure. This study highlights the importance of ungulate seed dispersal by regurgitation, a vastly understudied process that could impact many ecosystems given the prevalence of ruminating ungulates worldwide.

The disruption of birds' double mutualistic interactions in novel ecosystems.

Non-native trees disrupt ecological processes vital to native plant communities. We studied how forests dominated by Acacia dealbata and Eucalyptus globulus affect the role of birds as dual pollinators and seed dispersers in a region heavily impacted by these two non-native species. We compared bird-plant interactions in the native and in the two non-native forest types. We constructed a multilayer regional network for each forest type and evaluated differences in network dissimilarity between networks. We also calculated the bird's importance in connecting processes and variables associated with module diversity. To determine how the networks react to changes in species richness, we did a simulation of species richness gradient and link percentage for each forest type. The number of birds acting both as pollinators and seed dispersers was higher in native than in non-native forests. However, birds in non-native forests still play a crucial role in maintaining the ecological services provided to native plant communities. However, the eucalyptus network exhibited a concerning simplification, forcing bird species to fully exploit the few remaining resources, leaving little room for structural adjustments and limiting the ecosystem's ability to withstand further species loss. These findings highlight how non-native trees may trigger cascading effects across trophic levels.

Do leaf traits shape herbivory in tropical montane rainforests? A multispecies approach

AbstractThe co‐evolutionary arms race between herbivores and plants forces plants to evolve protection strategies that reduce the palatability of the plant modules attacked by the herbivores. These characteristics of traits have consequences for both the survival of plant individuals and the composition of plant communities. Thus, correlating traits of for instance leaves with herbivory is an important step toward understanding the dynamics of plant populations and communities. Traits can either be measured using conventional lab methods or recently developed spectral sensing techniques. We examined whether leaf traits of trees are related to herbivory in a multispecies approach. Furthermore, we explored whether leaf traits characterized by spectral sensing provide similar relations to herbivory as lab‐based leaf traits. We established nine 1‐ha square plots evenly distributed over three different forest types in Ecuadorian tropical montane rainforests where we estimated herbivory as the leaf area loss (in square centimeters) of 20 (±5) leaves sampled from the canopies of 380 tree individuals belonging to 51 tree species (7 ± 1 individuals/species) using lab‐ and spectral‐sensing‐based methods. For each methodological approach, we ran 100 linear mixed‐effects models with all respective leaf traits as predictor and herbivory as response variables for data subsets containing one randomly selected tree individual of each species to estimate the range of the regression coefficients for each trait. Automated stepwise backward selections determined the frequency of each trait having an important influence on herbivory. We found no clear relations between leaf traits and herbivory for neither lab‐ nor spectral‐sensing‐based traits. A nested variance component analysis demonstrated that the observed variability was mainly due to the variation in trait concentrations between tree individuals of a species. Our results suggest that snapshot data lead to a mismatch between herbivory and the concentrations of traits during the peak of herbivory. Another explanation could be that environmental conditions or processes along the food web are more important in structuring herbivory than leaf traits.

Elevational and Seasonal Patterns of Plant-Hummingbird Interactions in a High Tropical Mountain.

Tropical mountain ecosystems harbor diverse biological communities, making them valuable models for exploring the factors that shape ecological interactions along environmental gradients. We investigated the spatial and temporal drivers of plant-hummingbird interaction networks across three forest types (pine-oak, fir, and subalpine) along a tropical high mountain gradient in western Mexico (2400 to 3700 m.a.s.l.). We measured species abundance, diversity, morphology, and interaction frequencies. Plant diversity metrics significantly declined in the highest elevation subalpine forest, whereas hummingbird diversity remained consistent across elevations. Interaction networks were similarly nested across elevations, but they were more specialized in the subalpine forest, where lower plant species richness and higher floral abundance led to greater resource partitioning among hummingbirds. Plant-hummingbird networks were larger and less specialized during the dry season, driven by greater species diversity and abundance. Species turnover explained network variation along the elevational gradient, while interaction rewiring and the arrival of migratory hummingbirds explained changes between seasons. Phenological overlap was the most important driver of the observed variation in interaction frequencies across elevations and seasons. Flower abundance had a minor influence on interaction frequencies at low- and mid-elevation networks, and hummingbird abundance was significant for dry- and rainy-season networks. Morphological matching was significant in the low-elevation forest and in the dry season. Plant phylogenetic relatedness had negligible effects on interaction patterns, but hummingbird phylogeny influenced feeding preferences in high-elevation and rainy-season networks. Our findings highlight the role of species turnover, interaction rewiring, and phenological overlap in structuring plant-hummingbird networks, with specific effects of abundance, morphology, and phylogeny varying with elevation and season. High-elevation ecosystems play a crucial role as reservoirs of floral resources for both resident and migratory hummingbirds during resource-scarce periods, emphasizing their importance in maintaining biodiversity in tropical mountain gradients.

Forest structure explains spatial heterogeneity of decadal carbon dynamics in a cool-temperate forest

Abstract Accurate evaluation of forest biomass distribution and its long-term change over wide areas is required for effective forest carbon management and prediction of landscape-scale forest dynamics. We evaluated a landscape-scale (225 km2) decadal forest carbon budget at a 1 ha spatial resolution in a cool-temperate forest, by repeating airborne laser observations 10 years apart and partitioning net forest biomass change (FBC) into growth and mortality. Using &gt;10 000 samples, we revealed that naturally regenerated forests have large spatial heterogeneity in net biomass change, and 3/4 of the photosynthetically acquired carbon stock moved to necromass even without anthropogenic disturbances. Actual carbon residence time as living tree biomass was estimated by dividing biomass by growth or mortality rates. The residence time was 107 and 106 years, respectively with large spatial variation among stands (48 and 42 years, respectively, as the difference between 25 and 75 percentile), although studied forest stands have small variation in the forest functional type in a landscape-scale. The best predictors of subsequent decadal biomass changes were two forest structural factors, mean canopy height and canopy height variation in addition to one environmental factor, elevation. Considering the long lifetime of trees, these structural factors may be an indicator of forest soundness rather than a cause of forest growth or mortality. However, in any cases, these structural factors can be powerful predictors of subsequent FBC.

Spatial distribution and risk assessment of mercury in soils over the Tibetan Plateau

The Tibetan Plateau is one of the highest and most pristine plateaus in the world, and its ecological environment has a significant impact on global climate and the distribution of water resources. Mercury (Hg), as a toxic metal pollutant, can have a severe impact on the health of living organisms and the ecosystem due to its presence in the environment. This study collected 336 soil samples from 28 sites across four typical surface vegetation landscapes (meadow, grassland, desert, and forest) on the Tibetan Plateau to measure soil THg (Total Hg) concentrations. The research aimed to explore the factors influencing soil THg levels, analyze pollution and environmental risks of THg in the surface soil, and evaluate the associated health risks to the local population. The results indicate that the mean soil THg concentration (31.84 ± 32.58 ng·g−1) of this study is compared to the background value of THg in Tibetan Plateau soils (37.0 ng·g−1), but there are significant differences in THg concentration among soils with different surface vegetation landscapes. The mean THg concentration in soils of forest vegetation types (74.42 ± 41.19 ng·g−1) is approximately twice the background value of Tibetan Plateau soils. In the forested regions of the southeastern, eastern, and southern Tibetan Plateau, soil concentrations of total mercury are relatively high, whereas in the desert areas of the northern, northwestern, and northeastern Tibetan Plateau, the concentrations are lower. Organic matter (soil organic carbon) being an important factor influencing the soil THg. Based on existing surface soil THg data from this and previous research in Tibetan Plateau (n = 477), 34.2 % of the samples show Hg pollution and potential ecological risks. However, the health risks of soil Hg to both adults and children are not significant.

Reference vegetation for restoration? Three vegetation maps compared across 76 nature reserves in Uganda and Kenya

AbstractForest and landscape restoration are increasingly popular nature‐based solutions to mitigate climate change and safeguard biodiversity. Restoration planning and monitoring implies that a reference ecosystem has been defined to which the restored site can be compared, but how to best select such reference? We tested three different potential natural vegetation (PNV) maps of the same areas in Kenya and Uganda for their utility as ecological references with independent data that were not used when those maps were made. These independent datasets included presence observations of woody species from 76 sites in forest reserves in Kenya and Uganda, and classification of surveyed species into a system that included “forest‐only” and “nonforest‐only” ecological types. Our tests show that (1) the three vegetation maps largely agree on the environmental envelopes/ranges within which forests occur. (2) There are large differences in how well the maps predict the presence of forest‐only species. (3) Two maps, based on empirical observations (V4A and White), predict forest types well, whereas the third, based on climate envelopes only (NS), performs poorly. (4) A large area in Uganda is potentially in one of two alternative stable states. We conclude that it is possible to evaluate the utility of PNV maps at a more detailed scale than the level of biome and ecoregion. This indicates that it is possible to map PNV at scales required for reference for restoration and management of forest vegetation. We recommend that empirically based maps of potential natural vegetation are used in restoration planning (biome and PNV maps based on climate envelopes alone may be unreliable tools) as a baseline model for predicting the distribution of reference ecosystems under current and future conditions. It could conveniently be done by deconstructing the existing biome maps, supported by rapid botanical surveys.

Timber and carbon sequestration potential of Chinese forests under different forest management scenarios

Developing forestry action plans with the goal of carbon neutrality is a critical task to identify carbon sink potential and balance the pathways of China's forests. Current research that predicts forest biomass carbon stock and sink potential has shortcomings, such as an incomplete assessment of China's forest carbon sink range, assumptions based on unchanged forest area in the base year and insufficient consideration of natural and human disturbance factors. This study utilised the national forest inventory (NFI) data to construct a model of forest growth and consumption using a machine learning algorithm (i.e. random forest), identified suitable areas for future forest expansion by integrating multi-source data, and set up three future forest management scenarios: business as usual (BAU), enhanced policy scenario (EPS) and maximum potential scenario (MPS). In addition, changes in the area, volume stock and biomass carbon stock in China's forests between 2020 and 2060 were predicted under three forestry activities (i.e. existing forest, afforested/reforested (AR) forest and forest conversion) and three climate scenarios (i.e. SSP126, SSP370 and SSP585) based on the 9th NFI (2014–2018). According to China's relevant planning goals and suitable forest space, the area of AR forests is predicted to be 55.55 × 106 hm2 by 2060, and the forest coverage rate is predicted to increase from 23% in 2018 to 28% by 2060. Biomass carbon sequestration (BCS) between 2020 and 2060 in AR forests is predicted to be 36.00 TgC per year. By 2060, the average BCS is predicted to be approximately 140.00–287.56 TgC per year in China's forests, which is mainly owing to arbor forest management. Under the BAU and EPS scenarios, BCS in China's forests is expected to decline from 2020 to 2060. However, under the MPS, BCS in China's forests is projected to increase and be maintained at 322 TgC per year or above by 2060, with wood production reaching 4.71 × 108 m3 per year. China's forests are predicted to experience an increase in biomass carbon stock in the future and play a role as a carbon sink. By taking measures to achieve the maximum growth potential of all forest types, China's forests will achieve a win‒win situation between carbon sinks and timber production.

Phylogenetic structure and turnover between lowland and montane subtropical forests indicate differential community assembly processes, affected by successional stage and spatial gradients

Secondary forests represent an increasing proportion of global forest cover and offer a range of ecosystem services that are integral to environmental policy targets. Highly disturbed landscapes with temporal records of forest plant community composition offer key insights into the processes that shape plant communities as forests undergo secondary succession. We investigated patterns of plant community phylogenetic structure and phylogenetic beta diversity. Mean pairwise distance (MPD) and Mean Nearest Taxon Distance (MNTD) metrics were determined between co-occurring species within plant communities, in addition to phylogenetic beta diversity metrics relative to null models of random phylogenetic assembly. MPD and MNTD were compared between elevational and successional classes and modelled as products of intercommunity distance (metres) and forest community age (years). Phylogenetic nonmetric multidimensional scaling explored phylogenetic community structure between lowland and montane forest type in Hong Kong. We found that plant communities in secondary forests in Hong Kong exhibited patterns of increased basal phylogenetic clustering with increasing community elevation, while phylogenetic turnover was influenced by spatial and successional factors in lowland and montane forest. Our findings indicate differential community assembly in lowland compared to montane forest type in Hong Kong, as well as evidence for barriers to plant dispersal in secondary forest communities due to patterns of spatial phylogenetic clustering. Plant communities in montane forests were found to be phylogenetically distinct from lowland forest plant communities. Patterns of spatial phylogenetic clustering may suggest significant dispersal or post-dispersal processes causing the clustering of related species at fine spatial scales, while phylogenetic turnover with increasing successional age may indicate compositional changes during the process of passive forest regeneration. Collectively, these results emphasize the need to investigate active pathways for rewilding dispersal limited late successional forest tree species in Hong Kong.

Planted Forests Greened 7% Slower Than Natural Forests in Southern China Over the Past Forty Years

AbstractForests have seen a strong greening trend worldwide, and previous studies have attributed this mainly to land‐use conversions such as afforestation. However, for the greening of existing forests, the role of human interventions is unclear. Here we paired neighboring natural and planted forests in Southern China to minimize the differences between the forest types and analyzed the vegetation index EVI2 from Landsat over 1987 to 2021. The EVI2 trends observed in natural forests can be seen as mainly responses to large‐scale environmental changes, whereas the difference between the forest types represents the impact caused by human interventions. We found that though the mean EVI2 of planted forests was comparable to that of natural forests, the greening trends were overall 7.0% lower in planted forests. Our results suggest that human interventions associated with planted forests did not accelerate their greening, indicating the necessity for refined policies to enhance future forest greening.

Forest evapotranspiration trends and their driving factors under climate change

Forest evapotranspiration (ET) is expected to increase under global warming. However, the relative contribution of the major drivers (such as leaf area index (LAI), climate forcing, atmospheric CO2, etc.) to long-term ET trends in forest is unclear. In addition, the effects of ET changes induced by driving factors and ET changes induced by forest area changes on total forest ET are still remain to be determined. We aim to explore long-term ET trends in global forest and assess the relative contributions of their influencing factors by a remote sensing-based carbon–water coupling model, the second edition of the Penman-Monteith-Leuning (PML-V2). The results showed that: 1) the ET of global forest increased slightly (11.30 ± 4.23 mm year−1 decade-1, p < 0.05), with the greatest increase observed in evergreen broadleaf forest (20.89 ± 6.96 mm year−1 decade-1, p < 0.01). 2) Simulation experiment indicated that upward global forest ET trend was mainly dominated by climate forcing change (56.71 %), increased LAI (5.07 %), albedo and emissivity change (−0.77 %) and increased CO2 (−37.45 %). Only mixed forest exhibited a decrease in ET trend, which was caused by CO2 concentration counteracted the increase trend of ET induced by climate forcing change and LAI increase, resulting in a decrease trend of ET. Different from broadleaf forests and MF, the increase of LAI in needleleaf forests caused a negative contribution of ET. 3) In the overall increasing trend of global forest ET, the driving factors played a dominant role (53.09 %) and the forest area played a secondary role (46.91 %). Our findings highlight the divergent responses of various forest types under climate change, which is beneficial to forest management and sustainable development.

Historical pyrodiversity in Douglas-fir forests of the southern Cascades of Oregon, USA

Our understanding of forest dynamics and successional pathways in coastal Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii var menziesii) forests with relatively frequent mixed-severity fires is limited by a lack of annually precise dendroecological reconstructions that combine records of historical fires and tree establishment. The processes by which old-forest heterogeneity developed under historical fire regimes with recurrent low- and moderate-severity fires has not been well studied at fine temporal scales and across spatial scales. We developed crossdated multi-century records of fire and tree establishment histories in old forests (170 – 550 years) at 34 plots distributed across six sites. Study sites include warm-dry to cool-moist Douglas-fir forest types found in the southern west Cascades of Oregon, USA. Spatial variability in historical fire frequency and fire effects resulted in tremendous diversity in forest developmental histories, age structure, and forest conditions. Most historical fire intervals were very frequent (<10 years) to frequent (<25 years) in dry Douglas-fir forests. Exceptionally high fire frequency and an abrupt decrease in fire frequency after European colonization in dry Douglas-fir forests adds to growing evidence and recognition of Indigenous fire stewardship in montane Douglas-fir forests. In moist forests where Douglas-fir is seral to western hemlock, fire intervals were frequent to moderately frequent (<50 years), but intervals varied substantially over time. Relatively young moist forests burned frequently while mature moist forests had long fire intervals (50–160 years). Nearly all tree establishment cohorts were preceded by either stand-replacing (28 %) or non-stand-replacing fires (64 %). However, tree cohorts only provided evidence of 16 % of historical fire events that we reconstructed from cambial fire scars. This study demonstrates that frequent fire can be an important driver of forest development and in some contexts shapes the structure of coastal old-growth Douglas-fir forests, which are often characterized as developing from endogenous disturbances during long fire-free periods. The high level of pyrodiversity we observed was associated with variation in and interactions of micro-climate, topography, fuels, and Indigenous fire stewardship. We recommend rigorous dendroecological reconstructions across the coastal Douglas-fir region to refine our understanding of the geography of fire-mediated forest developmental dynamics in this important forest type, to inform forest management, conservation, and ecocultural restoration.

Volume, increment, and aboveground biomass data series and biomass conversion and expansion factors for the main forest types of EU Member States

Key messageThis collection reports the standing stock volume, increment, aboveground biomass, and biomass conversion and expansion factors attributed to 222 forest types and 48 different management types, representative of 25 EU Member States. DOI: https://zenodo.org/records/11387301.

Driving Factors of Forest Typological Diversity in the Moscow Region

The identification of the main factors influencing forest diversity, including both direct and indirect effects, as well as the compatibility of different-level approaches, is a key topic in community ecology and biogeography. The aim of the current study is to assess the contributions of natural and anthropogenic factors to forest diversity in the Moscow region (Russia). This study is based on a quantitative analysis of the linkage between forest diversity and biotopic local factors (LFs) at a lower spatial level, using geobotanical relevés, and external factors (EFs) at an upper spatial level, based on global environmental databases. The classification of 1040 field relevés (including forest-forming tree species, moisture conditions, and soil nutrients) resulted in the identification of eight forest types. A nonmetric multidimensional scaling algorithm, ANOVA post hoc test, hierarchical clustering, and multiple regression analysis were used in data processing. LFs are calculated based on complete species lists using Ellenberg ecological scales. According to a Duncan’s test, LFs provided significant differences between the eight forest types (p &lt; 0.05). At the upper spatial level, the linkage between forest diversity and EFs was most pronounced for climatic factors, soil properties, and topography, including annual mean temperature, soil carbon, clay particle content, and DEM (elevation and slope). The contribution of anthropogenic factors was significantly smaller compared to the natural EFs in the study region.

Validation and Error Minimization of Global Ecosystem Dynamics Investigation (GEDI) Relative Height Metrics in the Amazon

Global Ecosystem Dynamics Investigation (GEDI) is a relatively new technology for global forest research, acquiring LiDAR measurements of vertical vegetation structure across Earth’s tropical, sub-tropical, and temperate forests. Previous GEDI validation efforts have largely focused on top of canopy accuracy, and findings vary by geographic region and forest type. Despite this, many applications utilize measurements of vertical vegetation distribution from the lower canopy, with a wide diversity of uses for GEDI data appearing in the literature. Given the variability in data requirements across research applications and ecosystems, and the regional variability in GEDI data quality, it is imperative to understand GEDI error to draw strong inferences. Here, we quantify the accuracy of GEDI relative height metrics through canopy layers for the Brazilian Amazon. To assess the accuracy of on-orbit GEDI L2A relative height metrics, we utilize the GEDI waveform simulator to compare detailed airborne laser scanning (ALS) data from the Sustainable Landscapes Brazil project to GEDI data collected by the International Space Station. We also assess the impacts of data filtering based on biophysical and GEDI sensor conditions and geolocation correction on GEDI error metrics (RMSE, MAE, and Bias) through canopy levels. GEDI data accuracy attenuates through the lower percentiles in the relative height (RH) curve. While top of canopy (RH98) measurements have relatively high accuracy (R2 = 0.76, RMSE = 5.33 m), the accuracy of data decreases lower in the canopy (RH50: R2 = 0.54, RMSE = 5.59 m). While simulated geolocation correction yielded marginal improvements, this decrease in accuracy remained constant despite all error reduction measures. Some error rates for the Amazon are double those reported in studies from other regions. These findings have broad implications for the application of GEDI data, especially in studies where forest understory measurements are particularly challenging to acquire (e.g., dense tropical forests) and where understory accuracy is highly important.

Diversity of Birch and Alder Forests in the Kostanay Region of Kazakhstan

This study delves into the phytocenotic structure and biodiversity of forest ecosystems dominated by species of the family Betulaceae (Betula pendula, Betula pubescens, and Alnus glutinosa) in the Kostanay region of Kazakhstan. The research is a significant step toward understanding the influence of environmental factors, particularly hydrological regimes and soil conditions, on the formation and functioning of these forest communities. Field studies were conducted across multiple plots, where detailed geobotanical descriptions and analyses of species diversity were performed. The results underscore the significant species diversity, with 146 vascular plant species identified across various forest types, and are of great importance. Birch forests exhibit higher species diversity than alder forests, with the highest diversity observed in plots with favourable moisture conditions. The study concludes that the hydrological regime is critical in shaping these forest ecosystems’ phytocenotic structure and productivity. These conclusions underline the importance of biodiversity conservation and sustainable forest management in the region, making the implications of this research significant and far reaching.

Dynamic Monitoring and Analysis of Ecological Environment Quality in Arid and Semi-Arid Areas Based on a Modified Remote Sensing Ecological Index (MRSEI): A Case Study of the Qilian Mountain National Nature Reserve

The ecosystems within the Qilian Mountain National Nature Reserve (QMNNR) and its surrounding areas have been significantly affected by changes in climate and land use, which have, in turn, constrained the region’s socio-economic development. This study investigates the regional characteristics and application requirements of the ecological environment in the arid and semi-arid zones of the reserve. In view of the saturated characteristics of NDVI in the reserve and the high-altitude saline-alkali environmental conditions, this study proposed a Modified Remote Sensing Ecology Index (MRSEI) by introducing the kernel NDVI and comprehensive salinity index (CSI). This approach enhances the applicability of the remote sensing ecological index. The temporal and spatial dynamics of ecological and environmental quality within the QMNNR from 2000 to 2022 were quantitatively assessed using the MRSEI. The effect of land use on ecological quality was quantified by analyzing the MRSEI contribution rate. The findings in this paper indicate that (1) in arid and semi-arid regions, the MRSEI provides a more precise representation of surface ecological environmental quality compared to the remote sensing ecological index (RSEI). The high correlation (R2 = 0.908) and significant difference between MRSEI and RSEI demonstrate that MRSEI enhances the accuracy of evaluating ecological environmental quality. The impact of land use on ecological quality was quantitatively assessed by analyzing the contribution rate of the MRSEI. (2) The ecological quality of the QMNNR exhibited an upward trend from 2000 to 2022, with an increase rate of 1.3 × 10−3 y−1. The area characterized by improved ecological and environmental quality constitutes approximately 53.68% of the total area. Conversely, the ecological quality of the degraded areas accounts for roughly 28.77%. (3) Among the various land use types, the improvement in ecological environmental quality within the reserve is primarily attributed to the expansion of forest and grassland areas, along with a reduction in unused land. Forest and grassland types account for over 90% of the total area classified with “good” and “excellent” ecological grades, whereas unused land types represent more than 44% of the total area classified with “poor” ecological grades. Overall, this study provides a valuable framework for analyzing ecological and environmental changes in arid and semi-arid regions.

Transformation of dry dipterocarp to dry evergreen forests alters food webs of web-building spiders and their prey

Anthropogenic habitat modification is a major contributor to global change. While the modification of natural habitats to agroecosystems attracts most of the attention, little is known about the conversion of one natural ecosystem to another. Dry dipterocarp forest is the key dry forest type across Southeast Asia. Moderate fire disturbance is essential for its regeneration, but humans often prevent fire in these forests. Consequently, dry dipterocarps can change to dry evergreen forests through succession. The consequences of this conversion on food webs are unknown. Using the network approach, we compared the food webs of web-building spiders and their prey in the understory between dry dipterocarp (open canopy, uniform understory) and dry evergreen forests (closed canopy, heterogeneous understory) in north-eastern Thailand. Overall, we collected 560 individual web-building spiders belonging to 37 genera. Further, we collected 1139 prey items from spider webs belonging to 16 arthropod orders. The composition of captured prey and the network structure differed between the forest types. Specifically, the web-building spiders were more specialized and their niches overlapped less in dry dipterocarps than in dry evergreens. The differences in food-web structure were driven mostly by trophic groups turnover rather than interaction rewiring. Implications for insect conservation: The transformation of dry dipterocarp to dry evergreen forests from the prevention of fire disturbance may lead to an altered ecological function of web-building spiders in forest understories. As trophic links and their strength are rewired, habitat modification may also lead to changes in nutrient and energy flow in forest understories.