Effects Of Land Use Change Research Articles

Assessing the effects of climate and land-use change on flood recurrence in Kokcha River, Afghanistan

ABSTRACT This study critically assesses the combined effects of climate and land-use change on flood recurrence in the Kokcha River, Afghanistan, spanning the period from 2010 to 2021 and projecting forward to 2088–2099. Through the application of a bias-corrected model, we achieved high accuracy in temperature and precipitation simulations, with notable NSE values of 0.9 and 0.69, and R2 values of 0.92 and 0.78, respectively. Future streamflow simulations under different scenarios highlight climate change as the major driver influencing flood recurrence in the Kokcha River, contributing to 101.1% of the total variation, while land-use change has a minimal contribution of −1.1%. Our analysis of precipitation, average temperature, and streamflow data reveals significant patterns and changes, with future projections indicating a gradual decline in precipitation levels, mean temperature, and streamflow. Flood frequency analysis for return periods of 10, 50, 100, 200, and 500 years, considering different scenarios, underscores the likelihood of floods of varying magnitudes. Notably, the highest streamflow spikes under both scenarios highlight the impact of futuristic air temperature and precipitation on flood recurrence. The study advocates prioritizing climate change adaptation and resilient land-use strategies to ensure sustainable water resource management, emphasizing the mitigation of potential flood risks.

Explorando la influencia de oscilaciones climáticas en acuíferos: Revisión de estudios observacionales

Groundwater is critical for society’s adaptation to climate variability and change but simultaneously, is threatened by them. This paper reviews the linkages between climate oscillations and groundwater, focusing on studies reported in the Scopus database that use wavelet analysis. A total of 27 records published since 2009, covering North America, Europe, and Asia, have been analysed. El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO), the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO), Arctic Oscillation, and the Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO) show important effects on groundwater levels in North America. In Europe, NAO is the most dominant, while in Asia, distinct climate indices impact groundwater levels at different periodicities. The hydrogeological features of the aquifers condition the magnitude of the response of groundwater to the climate signal and there is conflicting evidence concerning the effects of land-use change and human activities on detecting climate signals in aquifers. Further research must focus on understanding the effect of human activities in the climate signal perception in aquifers, unravelling the physical mechanisms underlying the propagation of climate signals through aquifers, developing predictive models to support water management decisions, and finding alternative methods to assess this influence in regions with limited observational data. The interaction between the atmosphere and groundwater is of critical relevance for the achievement of water security and this review contributes to synthesizing our current understanding of this relationship.

Tracking Land-use Trajectory and Other Potential Drivers to Uncover the Dynamics of Carbon Stocks of Terrestrial Ecosystem in the Songnen Plain

Land-use change is an important factor affecting terrestrial carbon balance, and it is crucial to explore the response of terrestrial carbon stocks to land-use change, especially in the Songnen Plain, which faces a fierce conflict between the rapid growth of production activities and ecosystem degradation. In this study, we measured soil organic carbon and vegetation biocarbon stocks in the Songnen Plain based on IPCC-recommended methodologies, and explored the characteristics of carbon stock changes in land-use trajectories, land-use drivers, and specific land-use change scenarios (cropland cultivation, returning cropland to forests, the expansion of land for construction, deforestation, greening, and land degradation). The results showed that soil organic carbon stock in the Songnen Plain decreased by 1.63 × 105 t, and vegetation biocarbon stock increased by 2.10 × 107 t from 2005 to 2020. Human factors and natural factors jointly contributed to the land-use change, but the extent of the role of human factors was greater than that of natural factors. The increase in land-use trajectory led to the decrease in soil organic carbon stock and the increase in vegetation biocarbon stock. There was no difference in the effects of human-induced and natural-induced land-use changes on vegetation biocarbon stocks, but the effects on soil organic carbon stocks were diametrically opposite, increasing by 43.27 t/km2 and decreasing by 182.02 t/km2, respectively. The reclamation of arable land, returning cropland to forests, and greening led to a net increase in terrestrial carbon stocks (+813,291.84 t), whereas land degradation, deforestation, and land-use expansion led to a decrease in terrestrial carbon stocks (−460,710.2 t). The results of this study can provide a reference for the adjustment of land-use structure and the increase in terrestrial carbon stock in the Songnen Plain.

Simulating the land use change effects on non-point source pollution in the Duliujian River Basin.

The uncertainty in the generation and formation of non-point source pollution makes it challenging to monitor and control this type of pollution. The SWAT model is frequently used to simulate non-point source pollution in watersheds and is mainly applied to natural watersheds that are less affected by human activities. This study focuses on the Duliujian River Basin (Xiqing section), which is characterized by a dense population and rapid urbanization. Based on the calibrated SWAT model, this study analyzed the effects of land use change on non-point source pollution both temporally and spatially. It was found that nitrogen and phosphorus non-point source pollution load losses were closely related to land use type, with agricultural land and high-density urban land (including rural settlements) being the main contributors to riverine nitrogen and phosphorus pollution. This indicates the necessity of analyzing the impact of land use changes on non-point source pollution loads by identifying critical source areas and altering the land use types that contribute heavily to pollution in these areas. The simulation results of land use type changes in these critical source areas showed that the reduction effect on non-point source pollution load is in the order of forest land > grassland > low-density residential area. To effectively curb surface source pollution in the study area, strategies such as modifying urban land use types, increasing vegetation cover and ground infiltration rate, and strictly controlling the discharge of domestic waste and sewage from urban areas can be implemented.

Land-use effects on leaf-litter breakdown in streams in a tropical lowland catchment

The expansion of oil palm and cattle grazing in the tropics continues to alter numerous ecosystem functions. The generated land-use change is potentially impacting stream leaf-litter breakdown, a fundamental process for freshwater ecosystems. To assess the effect of land-use change, we studied breakdown rates of forest (Pachira aquatica, Pouroma aspera, Sloanea ampla, and Hippocratea volubilis) and oil palm (Elaeis guineensis) leaves after a 26-day immersion in streams surrounded by rainforests, grazing lands, or oil palm plantations with and without riparian buffers. In addition, we assessed breakdown drivers by deploying litter bags (248) of two mesh sizes (15 mm and 0.5 mm) allowing or restricting macroinvertebrates’ access (134 coarse-mesh bags and 114 fine-mesh bags). Forest leaf breakdown by microbes (fine-mesh) was lower by 55% in the plantations compared to forests; while microbial oil palm-leaf breakdown was lower by 32% in the unbuffered plantations compared to forests (p < 0.05). Total litter breakdown was lower (p > 0.05) in the plantations but not when these preserved riparian buffers. Litter breakdown was driven primarily by microbes in all land uses except in the buffered plantations, possibly due to increased shredder biomass. These results suggest that oil palm agriculture may decrease microbial stream leaf-litter breakdown, especially in streams with no riparian buffers.

Impact of Landuse Change on The Inundations in The Ciberes Watershed

Whenever the rainy season approaches, the Ciberes River always inundates a number of regions. This research was conducted to determine the effect of land use change on the inundation in the Ciberes Watershed, given the aforementioned context. Using land cover change data from 2000 to 2023, a hydrological and hydrodynamic analysis of the Ciberes Watershed is conducted to determine the impact of landuse change. This investigation employs HEC-HMS for hydrological modeling and HEC-RAS for 1D and 2D hydrodynamic modeling. The simulation results demonstrate that the change in CN value is directly proportional to the flood discharge, and the flood discharge is directly proportional to the height of the flood inundation. Based on these findings, it can be concluded that the river’s cross section can accommodate flood discharges with a return period of 50 years, except in coastal areas. whereas the floods that occurred in 2018 and 2022 have a 10-year return period. It can be concluded that the topographical condition of the river in the downstream segment, which has a higher elevation than the surrounding land and flat soil conditions, is the primary cause of inundation in the Ciberes Watershed.

Consequences of Land Use Changes on Native Forest and Agricultural Areas in Central-Southern Chile during the Last Fifty Years

Chile’s central-south region has experienced significant land use changes in the past fifty years, affecting native forests, agriculture, and urbanization. This article examines these changes and assesses their impact on native forest cover and agricultural land. Agricultural data for Chile (1980–2020) were obtained from public Chilean institutions (INE and ODEPA). Data on land use changes in central and south Chile (1975–2018), analysed from satellite images, were obtained from indexed papers. Urban area expansion in Chile between 1993 and 2020 was examined using publicly available data from MINVIU, Chile. Additionally, photovoltaic park data was sourced from SEA, Chile. Field crop coverage, primarily in central and southern Chile, decreased from 1,080,000 ha in 1980 to 667,000 ha in 2020, with notable decreases observed in cereal and legume crops. Conversely, the coverage of export-oriented orchards and vineyards increased from 194,947 ha to 492,587 ha. Forest plantations expanded significantly, ranging from 18% per decade in northern central Chile to 246% in the Maule and Biobío regions. This was accompanied by a 12.7–27.0% reduction per 10 years in native forest. Urban areas have experienced significant growth of 91% in the last 27 years, concentrated in the Mediterranean climate region. Solar photovoltaic parks have begun to increasingly replace thorn scrub (Espinal) and agricultural land, mirroring transformations seen in other Mediterranean nations like Spain and Portugal.

Land conversion to agriculture induces taxonomic homogenization of soil microbial communities globally

Agriculture contributes to a decline in local species diversity and to above- and below-ground biotic homogenization. Here, we conduct a continental survey using 1185 soil samples and compare microbial communities from natural ecosystems (forest, grassland, and wetland) with converted agricultural land. We combine our continental survey results with a global meta-analysis of available sequencing data that cover more than 2400 samples across six continents. Our combined results demonstrate that land conversion to agricultural land results in taxonomic and functional homogenization of soil bacteria, mainly driven by the increase in the geographic ranges of taxa in croplands. We find that 20% of phylotypes are decreased and 23% are increased by land conversion, with croplands enriched in Chloroflexi, Gemmatimonadota, Planctomycetota, Myxcoccota and Latescibacterota. Although there is no significant difference in functional composition between natural ecosystems and agricultural land, functional genes involved in nitrogen fixation, phosphorus mineralization and transportation are depleted in cropland. Our results provide a global insight into the consequences of land-use change on soil microbial taxonomic and functional diversity.

Evaluating the impacts of climate change and land-use change on future droughts in northeast Thailand

The impacts of climate change (CC) on droughts are well documented, but the effects of land-use change (LUC) are poorly understood. This study compares the projected individual and combined impacts of these stressors on future droughts (2021–2050), with respect to baseline (1981–2010) in one of the major tributaries of the Mekong River. LUC impacts on hydrological droughts are minimal compared to CC, with the latter expected to shorten the recurrence interval of a 20-year return period event to every 14 years. Both CC and LUC have significant impacts on agricultural droughts with heightened sensitivity. ‘Once in a Decade’ agricultural droughts will be 40% (35%) longer and 88% (87%) more severe under the CC (LUC) scenario. Under both stressors, the events occurring every 20 years will be twice as frequent. Results highlight the intensification of future droughts and the urgency for actions to mitigate/adapt to climate change and manage land use. Future policy shall holistically address agricultural water management, sustainable land use management, and crop management to cope with future droughts. We recommend developing resilient agricultural practices, enhanced water resource management strategies, and incorporating drought risk into land-use planning to mitigate the compounded impacts of CC and LUC.

Modeling the effect of land use change to design a suitable low impact development (LID) system to control surface water pollutants

Growth in urbanization has led to increased impervious surfaces, exacerbating flood risks and water quality degradation. This study investigated the impact of land use change and Low-Impact Development (LID) systems on urban runoff quality and quantity in the second region of Tehran. Pioneering an innovative approach, the integration of the Land Change Modeler (LCM) with the Stormwater Management Model (SWMM) signifies a paradigm shift in urban water management. Combined with other hydrological models, this new approach provides a comprehensive method for assessing the future effectiveness of LID practices. The Event Mean Concentration Method (EMC) was used in this study to measure Total Suspended Solids (TSS), Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD), Total Phosphorus (TP), and Zinc (Zn) in urban runoff from five land uses. Results pinpointed transportation land uses as the primary source of pollutants. Using LCM, the study forecasted a surge in urban runoff pollutants by 2030, particularly in the Northwest area of the region due to anticipated land use shifts towards commercial and residential land uses. Model results showed an 11 % increase in TSS over a decade, highlighting the importance of land use change in runoff quality. The study used three types of LIDs to reduce contaminants in dense urban areas. Assessing the impact of LID scenarios on runoff pollutants using SWMM revealed that the bio-retention cell had the best performance, reducing TSS by 20.92 %, and the vegetative swale had the worst performance, reducing TSS by 8.43 %. The study also concluded that combining LIDs would be more effective than using them separately. The results of this study suggest that LID systems can be an effective way to reduce urban runoff pollutants and improve water quality in the second region of Tehran. However, more research is needed to optimize the design and placement of LID systems in different urban areas.

Effects of Land Use Change on Avian Diversity in the Semi-Arid Area of Longxi Loess Plateau

Biodiversity is under threat due to human-induced changes in land use. While various aspects of biodiversity are increasingly studied in response to these changes, there is limited understanding of their effects on the structure and composition of bird communities in dryland regions. We examined the impacts of land use change on birds in the semi-arid area of the Longxi Loess Plateau by considering taxonomic diversity, functional diversity, and phylogenetic diversity. We analyzed both the α- and β-diversity of avian communities across different dimensions of diversity and calculated functional and phylogenetic structures using the net relatedness index. Our findings revealed that species richness was highest in farmland and abandoned farmland, while artificial mixed forests exhibited the highest number of unique species. Functional and phylogenetic α-diversity was greater in farmland and abandoned farmland when compared to the other four land use types. Moreover, the taxonomic diversity in artificial mixed forests, artificial Caragana korshinskii forests, and artificial Platycladus orientalis forests surpassed that in typical grasslands, but no differences were observed in functional and phylogenetic diversity. Regarding β-diversity, turnover patterns dominated multidimensional dissimilarity, with taxonomic turnover and total dissimilarity lower than their functional counterparts but higher than phylogenetic counterparts. Based on the present findings, we emphasize the long-term cessation of ongoing silvicultural initiatives to safeguard bird diversity in the semi-arid region of the Longxi Loess Plateau. This is crucial for narrowly distributed species such as Alectoris magna, as they face heightened vulnerability to losses.

Assessment of Selected Physical and Chemical Soil Properties and Organic Carbon Stock, Under Different Land-Uses in Melka Gura Subwatershed of North Shewa Zone, Oromia, Ethiopia

A study conducted in Melka Gura Subwatershed to assess soil properties across three types of land uses plantation forest, grazing land, and cultivated land from 2022 to 2023 found that all land uses had loam soil, except for the plantation forest, which had sandy loam. The mean soil BD in the study area ranged from 1.06 to 1.39 g/cm3. Conversely, plantation forest soil and grazing land had the highest mean AWC (194.8 mm/m) at 0–20 cm depth. The highest mean values of sand, silt, TP, pH, AP, exchangeable basic cations, CEC, SOC, TN, and SOC stock (68.62-ton ha-1) were registered in the soil of plantation forest land. The highest mean values of BD (1.39 g/cm3), clay content (19%), Ex. A, and Ex. Al were recorded in the soil of cultivated land. The average values of clay, BD, FC, PWP, pH, PBS, and exchangeable bases all indicated an increasing trend from the surface toward the subsurface. The highest mean value of SOCS (68.62 tons’ ha-1) was discovered in plantation forest land and the lowest in cultivated land. The differences in soil management practices could be the major reasons for variations in soil properties across land-use types. Further studies are needed on the effects of land-use change on fertility-related soil properties in relation to integrated soil and water conservation practices to reduce further land degradation.

Land use changes and edaphic properties control contents and isotopic compositions of soil organic carbon and nitrogen in wetlands

Land use change in wetlands leads to significant losses of soil organic matter (SOM). Stable carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) isotopes offer insights into changes in C3/C4 vegetation, SOM sources, and decomposition processes. Yet, predicting the spatial–temporal dynamics of SOM contents and isotopes under land use changes remains challenging. This study delves into the effects of land use changes on soil organic carbon (SOC), total nitrogen (TN), δ13C and δ15N values, and soil physico-chemical properties and lignin phenols. Our results highlight the significance of soil water content (SWC) in determining the outcomes of land use changes. The conversion of wetland to cropland, forestland and construction land, led to notable reductions in SOC contents (8.71–56.33 %), and TN contents (7.87–37.12 %). Wetland conversion resulted in an enrichment of 13C and 15N abundance, with wetlands exhibiting the lowest δ13C (−25.57 to –22.89 ‰) and δ15N (2.66 to 6.67 ‰) values. A significant correlation occurred between δ13C and δ15N values in wetlands, but underwent considerable changes after wetland conversion. Key parameters, including bulk density (BD), C:N, the acid-to-aldehyde of vanillyl ((Ad/Al)v), lignin content (Λ8), and total phosphorus (TP), were identified as influencing factors for both SOC and TN contents. When evaluating δ13C values, the most influential factors included silt, C:N, SOC, sand, and BD. These indicate the importance of soil chemical group (from 41 % to 21 %) in elucidating δ13C values declined, while lignin group’s (from 9 % to 28 %) importance increased from topsoil to subsoil. The acid-to-aldehyde of syringyl ((Ad/Al)s), Λ8, C:N, BD and the cinnamyl-to-vanillyl ratio (C/V) were identified as the primary factors influencing δ15N values, with chemical group accounting for 36 % and lignin group for 48 % in topsoil, while physical group dominated 42 % in subsoil. Our findings underscore the shifts in SOM sources and distinct mechanisms of degradation/preservation of SOM following land use changes.

Hydrological consequences of land use changes on a dammed urban basin

Hydrological consequences of land use changes on a dammed urban basin

Climate variability and river flow changes in Wundanyi sub-catchment of Taita hills, Kenya

&lt;p&gt;Wundanyi sub-catchment of Taita hills is experiencing a high rate of deforestation due to the conversion of all its original forestland to agriculture and settlement during the last century. The landscape dynamics coupled with rainfall fluctuations in these critical ecosystems may significantly affect water resource distribution and food security in Taita Taveta County and its environs. This study aimed to establish the trends of selected hydroclimatic variables in Wundanyi sub-catchment from 1970 to 2030 and their specific and combined effects on surface runoff and streamflow in the same period. The analysis was based on statistical trend analysis and dynamic landscape modelling using both historical and primary hydroclimatic data from Wundanyi and Voi weather stations. Results show highly variable mean seasonal and annual values of temperature, rainfall, runoff and discharge in both Wundanyi and Voi weather stations. Increasing mean temperatures and rainfall were observed during the long dry season (JJAS), while decreasing seasonal discharges were observed during both the JJAS dry season and the OND short rainy season. These anomalies were pronounced in 1980–1981, 1986–1987 and 1992–1993, probably due to both global and local environmental changes affecting Taita Hills in general and Wundanyi sub-catchment in particular. The predicted effects of rainfall fluctuation were supported by declining surface runoff of 1.3% during JJAS, and an increase of 0.8% during the OND, with similar effects on river discharges. The combined effects of climate variability and Land use and cover changes (LUCC) on surface runoff were estimated to an increase of 200 mm during JJAS and 370 mm during OND, and while river discharges increased by 2.37 m&lt;sup&gt;3&lt;/sup&gt;/s and 1.93 m&lt;sup&gt;3&lt;/sup&gt;/s during JJAS and OND, respectively. Consequently, natural forest covers have significant control effects on surface runoff and can boost river discharges amid diverse agricultural cropping practices. Hence, crop diversification, agroforestry, and soil and water conservation structures are recommended to maintain effective control of LUCC on hydrological processes going on in Wundanyi sub-catchment.&lt;/p&gt;

How Land Use Transitions Contribute to the Soil Organic Carbon Accumulation from 1990 to 2020

Soil organic carbon stock (SOCS) changes caused by land use changes are still unclear, and understanding this response is essential for many environmental policies and land management practices. In this study, we investigated the temporal–spatial and vertical distribution characteristics of the SOCS in the Western Sichuan Plateau (WSP) using the sparrow search algorithm–random forest regression (SSA-RFR) models with excellent model applicability and accuracy. The temporal–spatial variations in the SOCS were modeled using 1080 soil samples and a set of nine environmental covariates. We analyzed the effect of land use changes on the SOCS in the WSP. The total SOCS increased by 18.03 Tg C from 1990 to 2020. The results of this study confirmed a significant increase in the SOCS in the study area since 2010. There was a 27.88 Tg C increase in the SOCS in 2020 compared to the total SOCS in 2010. We found that the spatial distribution of the SOCS increased from southeast to northwest, and the vertical distribution of the SOCS in the study area decreased with increasing soil depth. Forests and grasslands are the main sources of SOCS the total SOCS in the forest and grassland accounted for 37.53 and 59.39% of the total soil organic carbon (SOC) pool in 2020, respectively. The expansion of the wetlands, forest, and grassland areas could increase the SOCS in the study area. A timely and accurate understanding of the dynamics of SOC is crucial for developing effective land management strategies to enhance carbon sequestration and mitigate land degradation.

Spatial–Temporal Pattern Analysis and Development Forecasting of Carbon Stock Based on Land Use Change Simulation: A Case Study of the Xiamen–Zhangzhou–Quanzhou Urban Agglomeration, China

The spatial–temporal distribution and evolution characteristics of carbon stock under the influence of land use changes are crucial to the scientific management of environmental resources and the optimization of land spatial layout. Taking the Xiamen–Zhangzhou–Quanzhou urban agglomeration in the southeastern coastal region of China as an example, based on seven land use types from 1990 to 2020, including cultivated land, woodland, and construction land, we quantitatively investigate the spatial–temporal patterns of carbon stock development and the spatial correlation of carbon stock distribution. Additionally, two scenarios for the development of urban and ecological priorities in 2060 are established to investigate the effects of land use changes on carbon stock. The results indicate that (1) the research area has formed a land use spatial pattern centered around urban construction in the eastern bay area, with the western forest area and coastal forest belt serving as ecological barriers. Carbon stock is influenced by land use type, and the distribution of total carbon stock exhibits a spatial aggregation phenomenon characterized by “low in the southeast, high in the north, and medium in the center”. (2) Distance of trunk and secondary roads, elevation, slope, watershed borders, population size, and gross domestic product (GDP) factors are the main drivers of the growth of land use types. The primary causes of the reduction in carbon stock are the widespread conversion of cultivated land, woodland, and grassland into construction land, as well as water and unused land. (3) In 2060, there will be a decrease of 41,712,443.35 Mg in the urban priority development scenario compared to 2020, and a decrease of 29,577,580.48 Mg in the ecological priority development scenario. The estimated carbon stock under the two scenarios varies by 12,134,862.88 Mg. The average carbon storage of Zhangpu County, Quangang County, and Jimei County is expected to rise by one level under the ecological protection scenario, indicating that the vast forest area can become a potential area to maintain carbon stock. It is crucial to encourage the coordinated development of peri-urban agroforestry and ecological barriers, as well as to establish a harmonious spatial pattern of land use and carbon stock at the scale of urban agglomerations.

Multi-Sensor Satellite Images for Detecting the Effects of Land-Use Changes on the Archaeological Area of Giza Necropolis, Egypt

The World Heritage Committee has been meeting to discuss the arrangements of existing World Heritage Sites, and, on 22–26 October, the area from Giza to the Dahshur was included in the list of World Heritage Sites. According to the Egyptian Antiquities Authority (EAA), the groundwater levels at the Pyramids Plateau are too shallow, which threatens the ancient Sphinx and Pyramids in Giza, Egypt. In addition, many geophysical studies have been carried out in the archaeological area of Giza, which prove that the area is facing the risk of a high level of groundwater, specifically threatening the Sphinx. Recent developments in Earth observation have helped in the field of land monitoring such as land use changes, risk observation, and the creation of models for protecting cultural heritage sites. This study aimed to examine the impact of land use changes on on the archaeological sites of the Giza Necropolis area by integrating various data sources including optical satellite imagery and SRTM data during the period of 1965–2019. A historical database of Corona 1965 and Landsat 2009 data was investigated along with the new acquisitions of Sentinel-2 2016 and Sentinel-1 2016 and 2019. In addition, the radar Sentinel-1 SLC data were collected and analyzed for calculating the land subsidence value in the area of interest through two periods between 6–30 July 2016 and 30 July–15 December 2016. Various methods were implemented, including cluster outliers, the Moran index, and spatial autocorrelation to examine the changes in urban masses. Additionally, the relationship between groundwater leakage and land subsidence in the region was investigated. The analysis was carried out using Envi5.3, ArcMap10.6.1, and SNAP6.0 software to extract spatial data from the raw data. The results from our investigation highlighted rapid changes in urban areas between 1965 and 2019. The data obtained and analyzed from optical and radar satellite imagery showed that changes in land use can cause changes in the topographic situation by decreasing the level of groundwater, which adversely affects Egyptian monumental pyramids and the Sphinx. Land use analysis showed that the urban area represented 7.63% of the total area of the study area in 1965, however it reached 32.72% in 2009, approximately half of the total area in 2016, and in 2019, the urban mass area increased to nearly two-thirds of the total area. The annual growth rate between 1965 and 2019 was estimated by nearly 0.642 km2/year. These land-use changes possibly affected the land subsidence value (−0.0138 m), causing the rising groundwater level close to the Sphinx. Using the information obtained from our RS- and GIS-based analysis, mitigation strategies have also been identified to support archaeological area preservation.

Disturbance intensity shapes the soil micro-food web compositions and energy fluxes during seven-year land use changes

Soil micro-food webs play an important role in ecosystem functions through energy flow; they are strongly influenced by land use types. Previous studies have typically utilized the space-for-time substitution or single-time sampling method to reflect the land-use change effects by comparing differences among existing land-use types. These methods would increase random error. Research on how synchronized land-use change (starting at the same time and place) influences soil ecological processes and functions is urgently needed. Based on a controlled field experiment and seven years of observations, this study explored the effects of land-use change from natural shrubland to cropland (maize), forage land (tall-grass forage), and economic forest land (walnut plantation) on the community structure and energy dynamics of the soil micro-food webs. Cropland simplified the complexity of the soil food webs compared to the other three land-uses. Forage grassland maintained the highest biomasses of soil total microbes, fungi, and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi. In addition, economic forest land improved the flow uniformity of the micro-food web by increasing energy transfer from resources to bacterivores, fungivores, and herbivores while decreasing herbivore energy flow to omnivores-predators. Omnivore abundance and nematode diversity were important predictors of total energy flux and flow uniformity of the soil micro-food webs, respectively. In addition, omnivores maintained the complexity of soil micro-food webs by promoting interactions among trophic groups through top-down control. Soil organisms are sensitive to the response of agricultural management and planting time, and it may take several years or more to reach a dynamic equilibrium. Different types and levels of ecosystem disturbance (e.g., tillage and no-tillage, fertilizer rates, aboveground biomass removal intensity) may be the major drivers of soil community during land use change. Our findings highlight the importance of conservation agriculture in maintaining soil food web structure and energy flow for future sustainable land uses, and that promoting omnivore abundance is essential for food web complexity and stability.

Small-scale land-use change effects on breeding success in a desert-living social bird

Abstract Human villages in deserts can provide resources in an otherwise stark environment, potentially buffering against extreme environmental conditions. It is thus expected that breeding within these villages would result in higher fitness. However, choosing to raise offspring in these resource-rich environments may have unintended negative consequences. Here, we studied the breeding success of a cooperative breeding bird nesting in habitats with different levels of human disturbance—the Arabian babbler (Argya squamiceps), in the Negev desert of Israel. We recorded 42 breeding attempts from 15 groups between March and July 2022. We examined overall breeding success, brood size, and causes of nest failure. When nestlings were 6 days old, we also calculated daily change in body mass and adult provisioning rate. We found that despite higher resource abundance in villages, proximity to villages did not affect provisioning rate, and nestlings gained less mass at higher temperatures for all nests. Currently, there is no evidence that human villages are providing oases of resources for nesting babblers. Further, various conservation interventions (e.g., encouraging residents to keep cats indoors) could improve babblers’ overall fitness. Ultimately, we highlight how, for some desert specialists, additional resources provided by humans may not do enough to counter potential negative effects.