Important Ecosystem Services Research Articles

Coupled Phylogenetic and Functional Enrichment in the Tomato Rhizosphere Microbiome

Plant–microbe interactions occur mainly in the rhizosphere, a hot spot of microbial activity and diversity, and the outcome of these interactions can significantly affect plant productivity. A better understanding of the rhizosphere microbiome is, therefore, required to develop successful knowledge-based microbiome modification strategies that help improve plant productivity. Here, we investigated the community assembly process of the tomato rhizosphere microbiome and its potential composition–function relationships through the lens of a conceptual framework based on the phylogenetically constrained assembly of microbial communities. In this study, we grew tomato plantlets on different soil types with high replication and assessed community composition using high-throughput sequencing of the 16S rRNA bacterial marker gene and community function based on the predicted minimal metagenome of the microbial ecosystem. We also conducted additional computer simulations to examine the relationship between phylogenetic clustering and community function. We observed a systematic enrichment in the rhizosphere in terms of phylogeny and predicted functional content and were able to delimit the phylogenetic signal in the ecosystem owing to the presence of 12 functionally coherent phylogenetic core groups in all samples. These groups, which accounted for a large fraction of the total community, belonged to the Alpha, Beta, and Gammaproteobacteria, Actinobacteria, and Bacilli classes and presented exclusive functions related to important ecosystem services. Furthermore, our analyses indicated that these groups accounted for a large proportion of the ecosystem's predicted minimal metagenome. Overall, our study suggests that community assembly followed coupled phylo-functional selection, a phenomenon that likely occurs in other rhizosphere microbiomes. This knowledge not only advances our understanding of how community composition–phylogeny–function relationships drive the assembly process of the rhizosphere microbiome but also will help guide the design of synthetic rhizosphere microbiomes for both research and commercial purposes. [Formula: see text] Copyright © 2025 The Author(s). This is an open access article distributed under the CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 International license .

Holocene climate and human impacts on vegetation dynamics in the Swiss Alps highlight biodiversity conservation challenges

The record of Lake Seewli (2027 m a.s.l.) in the Northern Alps covers 11,000 years of vegetation dynamics. Pioneer vegetation characterized Seewli at the beginning of the Holocene, followed by the expansion of treeline conditions at 9200 cal. BP during the Holocene Thermal Maximum (HTM), when Pinus cembra occurred locally. Abies alba established at the site from ca. 8400 cal. BP onward, forming open stone pine-silver fir forests that are very rare today. The forest composition changed significantly with Picea abies expanding around 6900 cal. BP, favored by increasing fire activity and a decline in fire-sensitive Abies alba and Pinus cembra . Densest forest and therefore highest timberline elevation was reconstructed during ca. 6300–5200 cal. BP. We observe anthropogenic impact from ca. 6100 cal. BP onward. Subsequently, intensifying land use replaced climate as the primary driver of vegetation dynamics during the Late-Holocene. Agricultural production and pastoralism increased during the Bronze and Iron Age. This trend was interrupted during the Late Roman/Migration Period when land abandonment led to rapid forest expansion. Land-use intensity peaked during the Middle Ages before declining during the past two centuries. Our study suggests a rapid afforestation of highly diverse meadows and an upward shift of treeline under future climate change and socioeconomically-driven land abandonment. Conversely, low-intensity agropastoralism has the potential to mitigate climate-driven upward shifts of mountain forests and can therefore maintain high levels of biodiversity and ensure important ecosystem services.

Cattle Disperse Seeds and Aquatic Plants in Neotropical Wetlands

ABSTRACTDispersal by waterbirds and wild mammals is known to be important for maintaining biodiversity among wetlands. Cattle are known to be important seed dispersers in terrestrial habitats; however, the role of cattle in plant dispersal among wetlands is poorly known. We analyzed the potential for the dispersal of aquatic plants (seeds, diaspores and whole plants) by cattle (Bos taurus) through endozoochory in Neotropical wetlands. Ten fresh fecal samples per site (total 30 samples) were collected in three farms of the Pampa region, southern Brazil, between September and November of 2023. A total of 982 propagules and whole plants from 37 wetland plant taxa, belonging to 14 angiosperm and two fern families, were reported. Ten of these taxa are aquatic, seven terrestrial, and 19 grow both in water and on land. Viability was confirmed for seeds from 10 angiosperm families and for 26% of all seeds tested. Our results suggest cattle provide an important ecosystem service for wetland biodiversity in grassland areas through seed dispersal.

How Can Plants Used for Ornamental Purposes Contribute to Urban Biodiversity?

Sustainability urgently needs to be achieved in urban green infrastructure. Maintaining and restoring biodiversity are critical for developing an urban ecosystem more resilient to abiotic and biotic stresses. The biodiversity of urban green spaces is vital as it reduces the risks associated with climate change (diseases and pests), improves the resilience of the urban ecosystem, and enhances citizens’ well-being. Urban green areas can provide important ecosystem services necessary for achieving prosperity, urban well-being, and the One Health paradigm at various scales. Urban green areas can serve as corridors and stepping stones between the rural environments surrounding cities, increasing their connections and reducing the risk of ecological traps. The conservation and restoration of biodiversity are strategies to increase ecosystem services. In this context, this review aims to analyze the possible contribution of ornamental plants to urban biodiversity, investigating the available knowledge and the gaps that need to be filled. Plants chosen for their esthetic functions are often allogamous species, characterized by showy flowers that attract fauna for pollination, thus helping insects and other fauna survive. If not invasive, these plants can actively contribute to biodiversity in the urban environment and to human well-being. Choosing suitable species and methods that favor plant communities and sustainable maintenance practices improves biodiversity and the ecosystem services that ornamental plants provide.

Changing environmental conditions impact the phenotypic plasticity of Carex acuta and Glyceria maxima, two common wet grassland species.

Maintenance of species coexistence is an important and on-going subject of plant ecology. Here, we aimed to determine how Carex acuta and Glyceria maxima, two common, co-occurring plant species in European wet grasslands, respond to changing environmental conditions and what these changes portend for coexistence of these two species. Such studies are important for predicting and modelling the effects of management and climate change on wet grassland plant species composition and for maintaining the ability of wet grasslands to provide their important ecosystem services including carbon sequestration and water purification. Based on past studies, we hypothesized that both species would be affected by hydrologic changes but that these effects would be modified by nutrient conditions with fertilization having a more positive impact on G. maxima. We established a mesocosm to distinguish the effect of hydrology and nutrients on the biomass allocation patterns of these two species to determine how environmental conditions may impact the life history traits of these two species, which would influence their ability to co-exist. Plants were grown in pots from late May to early September 2019 and subjected to two nutrient and three water level treatments. Half of the plants were harvested in July while the other half were harvested in early September and their biomass allocation patterns calculated. Univariable and multivariable analyses were conducted to determine the effects of the environmental treatments on the measured parameters. In addition, we determined the phenotypic plasticity of the two species and whether these showed allometric relationships to plant size. C. acuta was affected more by hydrologic changes, growing better in dry and saturated conditions, while fertilization had a more positive effect on G. maxima. Both species were stressed when flooded, but C. acuta more so than G. maxima. Contrary to our predictions, C. acuta produced more ramets and was taller than G. maxima. Both species showed plastic responses to changing nutrient and water conditions, but only some were related to plant size. Our results indicate that C. acuta and G. maxima are more likely to co-exist in oligo- to mesotrophic wet grasslands with fluctuating water levels.

Effects of European green crabs (Carcinus maenas) on transplanted Eelgrass (Zostera marina): potential protective measures

The global decline of seagrass causes concern regarding the loss of important ecosystem services, such as increased marine biodiversity. Consequently, restoration projects have gained popularity among scientists and local communities. However, for restoration to be successful, certain challenges must be considered and mitigated. One of the known threats against transplanted eelgrass (Zostera marina) is the European green crab (Carcinus maenas), due to grazing and uprooting of transplanted shoots and seeds. While several studies have shown the damaging effects of green crabs in areas where it is invasive, less is known about their impact on eelgrass within its native range in Europe. Here, we investigated four potential protective measures for eelgrass transplants against the European green crab: cages, biodegradable establishment structure elements (BESE elements), stone anchors, and mussel banks. The efficiency of each protective measure was observed over 11 days in indoor aquariums, in which meristem cuts and shoot uprooting were measured variables. The most efficient protective measure was the cage treatment, with an eelgrass survival of 90% after 11 days, compared to the unprotected control treatment which showed a survival of only 37%. Mussel banks and BESE elements led to 60% and 57% survival after 11 days, respectively. Additionally, an investigation into the feeding behavior of the green crab revealed that seeds were the preferred part of the eelgrass plant, with 48% being consumed after 6 days. While our laboratory experiments were small in scale, results highlight the potential for protective measures to mitigate disturbances from biological entities in eelgrass restoration, thereby enhancing the success rate of eelgrass transplantation attempts.

Urgent transition, urgent extraction? Global decarbonization, national governance, and local impacts in the Indonesian nickel industry

Abstract The shift to low-carbon societies will require large amounts of energy transition materials for batteries to support intermittent renewable energy generation. While this energy transition is still at an early phase, the risks of negative social and environmental impacts associated with the extraction of these materials are becoming increasingly apparent. The challenges associated with resource extraction are well documented. However, there are significant gaps in knowledge about how the energy transition reconfigures natural resource governance and how this shapes impacts from resource extraction. This knowledge is critical for understanding the full impact of transition policies, and for identifying opportunities for, and barriers, to more sustainable and just extractive practices. We contribute to addressing this gap by exploring how Indonesian nickel governance has been reconfigured and centralized in the context of early energy transition efforts, and examining the social and environmental impacts this is having in Sulawesi, Indonesia, one of the largest nickel production areas in the world. Drawing on 88 interviews and six focus group discussions with key stakeholders, we show that while this centralization has enabled a 14-fold increase in extraction rates over a 10 year period, it has also resulted in a series of well-known negative social and environmental impacts that degrade important ecosystem services and threaten health, livelihoods, and ways of life. Importantly, these impacts are exacerbated by the rapidly shrinking political space for local participation caused by the centralization of nickel governance, highlighting the tension between urgency in up-scaling extraction of energy transition materials and undertaking a just low-carbon transition. Reflecting and addressing this tension will be essential to designing policies that can achieve just outcomes while successfully addressing the current nature and climate crisis.

Air-water CO2 exchange in transformed saltmarshes for different uses and under various management models.

Air-water CO2 exchange in transformed saltmarshes for different uses and under various management models.

Dietary diversification of an insect predator along an urban-rural gradient

Dietary diversification of an insect predator along an urban-rural gradient

Fish models to explore epigenetic determinants of hypoxia-tolerance.

Fish models to explore epigenetic determinants of hypoxia-tolerance.

Seasonal variation in the composition and antioxidant potential of Codium tomentosum and Ulva lacinulata produced in a land-based integrated multi-trophic aquaculture system

Abstract In the context of the blue bioeconomy, macroalgae have gained widespread recognition in Europe as a renewable raw material with a wide range of uses, while also providing important ecosystem services. To reach its full potential, the macroalgae industry must diversify the species exploited. The green macroalgae Ulva lacinulata and Codium tomentosum are among several species currently cultivated at ALGAplus’ land-based integrated multi-trophic aquaculture (IMTA) system inserted in Ria de Aveiro, Portugal. This study aims to evaluate seasonal changes in the composition and antioxidant potential of the two cultivated species to assess their value as sea vegetables. To achieve this, samples of U. lacinulata and C. tomentosum were collected during different seasons and analyzed. The nutritional and mineral composition showed some marked differences across species and seasons. Ulva lacinulata contained more protein and dietary fiber, while C. tomentosum had a higher lipid content, particularly in polyunsaturated fatty acids. Codium tomentosum contained more minerals than U. lacinulata, except for magnesium and iron. Ulva lacinulata was richer in chlorophylls, carotenoids, and total phenols. Additionally, U. lacinulata displayed a higher antioxidant potential against ABTS+• and O2 •-. The levels of heavy metals, namely, lead, cadmium, and mercury were below the limit defined for dietary supplements by EU regulations. Moreover, the levels of inorganic arsenic were below the limit recommended for edible macroalgae sold in France. According to current knowledge, recommendations and regulations, both species appear to have good potential as sea vegetables.

Archaeal genomes linked to industrial wastewater and associated freshwater in South Africa.

Archaea provide important ecosystem services including the degradation of contaminants. Here, we present archaeal genomes from understudied South African wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) and associated rivers receiving industrial effluents. Functional analysis revealed key genes implicated in heavy metal degradation, offering a valuable resource for mechanistic studies on archaeal metabolism.

Controls on longitudinal patterns of riparian vegetation along ephemeral streams in the Southwestern United States

ABSTRACT Riparian vegetation provides important habitat, biogeochemical cycling, and other ecosystem services in desert environments. There is currently a lack of research on desert riparian communities, especially those that occur along ephemeral streams. This article investigates the spatial distribution of riparian vegetation along stream networks in New Mexico and Arizona. Using remote sensing, we identified clusters of riparian vegetation along six stream networks from ephemeral headwaters to intermittent or perennial mainstem rivers. We conducted random forests and conditional inference tree classification to examine which environmental variables determine vegetation cluster size along ephemeral and intermittent/perennial streams. We found that riparian vegetation along ephemeral streams responds to different environmental conditions than vegetation along entire stream networks. Climate variables are the primary control on riparian vegetation. Hydrogeomorphic variables exert strong controls over the longitudinal vegetation structure along all study streams, but less so for ephemeral streams. These findings highlight the importance of climate in determining the longitudinal structure of desert riparian communities and demonstrate the need for further research on the riparian vegetation of ephemeral streams in deserts.

Spatio-temporal patterns and potential trade-offs in the promotion of aphid and seed predation in agroforestry systems

Agricultural intensification and simplification compromise biodiversity and can destabilize populations of important ecosystem service providers. By promoting invertebrate and vertebrate predators that deliver important ecosystem services such as pest and weed control, agroforestry systems may reconcile ecological benefits and agriculture productivity, making them a promising land-use system for the transition towards sustainable agriculture. However, the spatio-temporal regulation of ecosystem services and potential disservices provided by predators in agroforestry systems remains poorly studied. We compared aphid, weed seed, and crop seed predation in the crop rows between temperate alley cropping systems and open croplands without trees. In addition, we analyzed the extent to which effects of tree rows extended into the crop rows at two different time periods in spring. Aphid predation was higher at sampling locations close to the tree rows. Seed predation was spatially more variable but showed, similar to aphid predation, particularly low rates in open croplands. The distance-dependence of aphid and crop seed predation changed in magnitude across sampling periods, while weed seed predation was more temporally constant. Moreover, crop seeds were consumed nearly twice as much as weed seeds, indicating varying food preferences among invertebrate and vertebrate seed predators and a potential trade-off between ecosystem services and disservices. Our results suggest that alley cropping agroforestry benefits pest and weed control. However, differences in spatio-temporal patterns of aphid and seed predation indicate varying dependencies of different predator groups on the tree rows, while high crop seed predation suggests a concurrent promotion of a disservice. Our study emphasizes that understanding the spatial and temporal patterns of predation-related ecosystem services and disservices is needed to develop management practices promoting natural pest control and reducing the amount of plant protection products used in agriculture. Therefore, knowing how and when to support beneficial organisms and at the same time control pests is key for the development of sustainable agricultural systems.

Global scale high-resolution habitat suitability modeling of avifauna providing pollination service (sunbirds, Nectariniidae)

Avian species provide important ecosystem services such as nutrient cycling, seed dispersal, meat provision, pest control, scavenging, and pollination. Currently, the populations of avian pollinators are declining due to climate change and human impact, and it is crucial to identify species-rich areas for their conservation. Sunbirds (Nectariniidae) are important vertebrate pollinators with a wide distribution that include Africa, Asia and Australasia. Here, we assembled distribution records of sunbird species and applied a maximum entropy approach to model sunbird habitat suitability in the world. We also quantified sunbirds composition similarity among the terrestrial biomes. We found that sunbird habitat suitability reached a peak in Southeast Asia, and in western and central parts of the African continent. Sunbird richness was highest in the Tropical and Subtropical Moist Broadleaf Forests biome. Solar Radiation Index (SRI), precipitation of the warmest quarter, and human footprint index were the most important predictors of sunbirds global habitat suitability. Geographic regions identified to have the highest suitability and richness for sunbirds have high priority for conservation of this unique group of avian pollinators and the ecological services they provide.

Monitoring Wise Use of Wetlands During Land Conversion for the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands: A Case Study of the Contiguous United States of America (USA)

Wetlands provide the world with important ecosystem services (ES) including carbon (C) storage. The Ramsar Convention (RC) is the only global treaty on wetlands outside of the United Nations (UN) with 172 contracting parties across the world as of 2025. The goals of the convention are to promote the wise use and conservation of wetlands, designation of suitable wetlands as wetlands of international importance, and international cooperation. The problem is that there is no consensus for standard global analysis, which is needed to ensure wetlands conservation. The novelty of this study is the use of methodology that combines satellite-based land cover change analysis with high-resolution spatial databases to help understand the change in wetlands area over time and identify potential hotspots for C loss. Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from wetland conversions represent “transboundary” damages. Therefore, C loss from wetlands conversions can be expressed through the “realized” social cost of C (SC-CO2) which is a conservative estimate of the damages caused by carbon dioxide (CO2) release. A case study of the contiguous United States of America (USA) using raster analysis within ArcGIS Pro showed key findings that almost 53% of the wetlands area was lost between 1780 and 1980, starting with 894,880.7 km2 in 1780 and falling to 422,388.2 km2 in 1980. This net loss generated damages including midpoint total soil C loss (6.7 × 1013 kg of C) with associated midpoint “realized” social costs of C (SC-CO2) value of $11.4T (where T = trillion = 1012, $ = United States dollars, USD). Recent analysis of the contiguous USA (2001–2021) revealed wetlands area losses and damages in all states. The newly demonstrated method for rapid monitoring of wetlands changes over time can be integrated into systems for worldwide monitoring to support the RC wise use concept.

Urban Green Spaces and Collective Housing: Spatial Patterns and Ecosystem Services for Sustainable Residential Development

The current state of knowledge in landscape architecture of urban green spaces in Slovakia significantly falls behind advancements in urban planning and architecture. This gap underscores the growing need for well-planned, designed, and integrated green spaces in creating sustainable and livable urban environments. Urban green spaces serve as an essential component of residential areas. They provide important ecosystem services and significant environmental benefits, such as reducing the urban heat island effect, enhancing air quality, promoting biodiversity, and managing stormwater. These natural processes are vital in mitigating the impacts of climate change and improving the resilience of urban areas. Through a review of the green space and housing estate relationship, this article emphasizes the need for integrated green spaces strategies in the planning and designing of housing estates. By analyzing the mutual relationship between green spaces and housing estates, the article highlights how green spaces enhance the physical environment and play a crucial role in the social and economic attributes of residential areas and the well-being of urban residents.

Economic assessment of deferred grazing pasture system for rangeland restoration in steppe areas: A quantitative analysis

Over the past three decades, substantial efforts have been made to implement public programs aimed at developing pastoral areas in Algeria. This study seeks to investigate the impacts of rangeland restoration projects, specifically deferred grazing, in the steppe regions. To achieve this objective, a comprehensive financial evaluation of pasture management techniques was conducted in the steppe. The study focused on identifying the most important ecosystem goods and services provided by deferred grazing project and the main beneficiaries compared with free-range grazing through observations in the areas concerned. Also, a detailed analysis of the cost structure for the deferred grazing technique, and four key criteria: Net Present Value NPV, Internal Rate of Return IRR, Invested Capital Recovery ICR, Profitability Ratio PR, and the productivity threshold for which breeders have an interest in using deferred grazing areas. Through scenario simulations, the financial profitability of these restoration projects was assessed by formulating various hypotheses. Additionally, the study evaluated the benefits of taking action to combat steppe land degradation. The results of the analysis yielded valuable insights into the economic implications of the restoration projects. Furthermore, this study draws important policy implications for the Algerian pastoral economy.

Cluster analysis of long-term phytoplankton data from the Northern Adriatic reveals environmental influences and disruptions in seasonal patterns

The Northern Adriatic is a dynamic and the most productive part of the Adriatic Sea. The phytoplankton of the Northern Adriatic is, as many studies in this area showed, under heavy influence of freshwater inputs and anthropogenic pressures. Cluster analysis of a more than 20 year phytoplankton data set across steep spatio-temporal, ecological gradients on a longitudinal transect across the northern Adriatic, allowed us to identify significant and reoccurring phytoplankton species assemblages. Those phytoplankton clusters show stable seasonality and relation to environmental conditions and are presumed to be cornerstones of important ecosystem services provided by phytoplankton. Our results demonstrate that the stable seasonality of important phytoplankton clusters is disrupted, leading to a destabilisation of seasonal patterns in the biodiversity of primary producers. During the last 20 years, clusters characterised by dominating species were replaced by clusters characterised by the coexistence of several species. Overall the frequency of dense blooms of single species appears to decline. Multivariate analysis showed that possible reasons might lie in oligotrophication and increased salinity dynamics. Our results suggest the importance and applicability of cluster analysis in taxon based biodiversity long term data sets to elucidate functional biodiversity changes.

Differential effects of warming on carbon budget, photosynthetic yield and biochemical composition of cold-temperate and Arctic isolates of Laminaria digitata (Phaeophyceae).

Differential effects of warming on carbon budget, photosynthetic yield and biochemical composition of cold-temperate and Arctic isolates of Laminaria digitata (Phaeophyceae).