Land Use Types Research Articles

Identifying the regional spatial management of ecosystem services from a supply and demand perspective: A case study of Danjiangkou reservoir area, China

The supply–demand, spatial matching, trade-offs, and synergies of ecosystem services (ESs) are important foundations for sustainable environmental management. The Danjiangkou Reservoir area (DJKR) is an important water source for the South-to-North Water Diversion Middle Route Project in China. Spatiotemporal dynamics of supply and demand for eight ESs between 2000 and 2020 were studied using the food–energy method, InVEST model, recreation opportunity spectrum, supply–demand matching relationship, and geographically weighted regression. From 2000 to 2020, supply and demand of the eight ESs displayed clear spatiotemporal variability; geographic detector analysis showed that land-use types were strong determinants of supply, with the interactions between each factor stronger than those between single factors. Demand for ESs was limited by natural–social factors. The supply–demand ratios of each indicator varied spatially (at regional, county, and sub-watershed scales) and temporally. Similarly, trade-off synergistic relationships also changed at all three spatial scales. Spatial control areas (levels I–IV) were delineated, and corresponding management programs were proposed. The results of this study strengthen our understanding of the spatiotemporal variation and driving factors in ES supply–demand, and provide technical and theoretical support for spatial management policies for ESs in the DJKR.

Unveiling the influential factors for customized bus service reopening from naturalistic observations in Shanghai

This work attempts to understand how a customized bus (CB) operator decides to open or close a CB line. We look into the changes in the operation status of CB lines (i.e. reopening and closure) from one of the largest CB operators in Shanghai, China, with a 22-month consecutive observation ranging from January 2019 to October 2020. As all CB services were totally suspended at the beginning of 2020 due to the COVID-19 travel restriction and then gradually recovered in March 2020, we utilize this study period as a naturalistic observation experiment to investigate the changes in the operation status of each CB line before and after the travel restriction. Using the operation status at each month as the binary alternatives, the mixed logit models and the tree-based models with explainable machine learning techniques are respectively adopted to explore the factors that influence the decision-making process. The findings from both types of models are in general consistent. The results show that the characteristics of each CB line including the ridership, the length of the line, the closeness to charging stations, and the overlap of CB lines significantly impact the decisions. In addition, the land-use types around the CB stops and the market competition from alternative travel modes also play a key role in making the decisions.

Statistical Modeling of Spatially Stratified Heterogeneous Data

Spatial statistics is an important methodology for geospatial data analysis. It has evolved to handle spatially autocorrelated data and spatially (locally) heterogeneous data, which aim to capture the first and second laws of geography, respectively. Examples of spatially stratified heterogeneity (SSH) include climatic zones and land-use types. Methods for such data are relatively underdeveloped compared to the first two properties. The presence of SSH is evidence that nature is lawful and structured rather than purely random. This induces another “layer” of causality underlying variations observed in geographical data. In this article, we go beyond traditional cluster-based approaches and propose a unified approach for SSH in which we provide an equation for SSH, display how SSH is a source of bias in spatial sampling and confounding in spatial modeling, detect nonlinear stochastic causality inherited in SSH distribution, quantify general interaction identified by overlaying two SSH distributions, perform spatial prediction based on SSH, develop a new measure for spatial goodness of fit, and enhance global modeling by integrating them with an SSH q statistic. The research advances statistical theory and methods for dealing with SSH data, thereby offering a new toolbox for spatial data analysis.

Identifying sources and transformations of nitrate in different occurrence environments of carbonate rocks using a coupled isotopic approach (δ15N, δ18O, 87Sr/86Sr) in karst groundwater system, North China

Karst water as the vital water supply source is an increasingly serious problem suffering from NO3− pollution. Identifying sources and transformations is the key to effectively controlling diffuse NO3− pollution. In this study, 25 karst groundwater samples were collected from the Xujiagou karst groundwater system in June 2023, and chemical variables and stable isotopes (δ15N, δ18O, 87Sr/86Sr) were determined in different occurrence environments of carbonate rocks (exposed, covered, and buried carbonate rock areas). The results showed that the karst groundwater is dominated by nitrification. Human activities have affected the water quality of karst groundwater. The nitrate concentration ranged from 5.69 to 124.22 mg/L, and 4 % exceeds the quality indexes of class III water in China's standard for groundwater quality (20 mg/L as NO3−-N). NH4+ in fertilizer, manure and septic waste, and soil N were the main sources of nitrate pollution in the karst groundwater system. The distribution of NO3− sources is closely related to land-use types. Soil N (72.2 %) became the dominant nitrate source in the exposed area due to the small amount of urban land and the large distribution of forest and grassland. There were more cultivated land and large agricultural activities in the covered area, NH4+ in fertilizer (59.1 %) contributes the most to NO3− sources. The buried area dominated by urban land, the influence of human activities (densely population and agricultural production activities) caused the highest concentration and coefficient of variation of nitrate in this area, and manure and septic waste (64.2 %) were the most to NO3− sources. This study can provide an important scientific basis for the protection of karst groundwater, and provide theoretical support for the treatment of karst groundwater pollution sources in the “monoclinic paraclinal” strata in northern China.

A CORRELATION ANALYSIS OF LAND SURFACE TEMPERATURE AND EVAPOTRANSPIRATION IN AN URBAN SETTING

Abstract. Urbanisation is found to increase the Land Surface Temperature (LST), which results in the formation of Urban Heat Islands (UHI). This effect is a result of the natural land cover being replaced with impermeable surfaces like buildings, roads, and pavements, which absorb and hold onto heat more. As a result, metropolitan regions frequently experience substantially hotter temperatures than their nearby rural counterparts, especially during heat waves. This arises partly due to reduction in Actual Evapotranspiration (AET). AET and LST have a close relationship. AET rates are greatly influenced by the amount of vegetation and their transpiration capacity, which in turn can have an influence on LST in urban regions. The type of Land Use and Land Cover (LULC) has a significant impact on how LST affects the interchange of energy between the earth's surface and the atmosphere. Vegetation AET has a huge potential to reduce both temperatures. The temperature of a water body is lower than that of the nearby urban. The objective of this research is to determine the variation in AET and LST with regards to varying types of land cover by finding correlation between them. The spatio-temporal analysis is done for the summer and winter season of 2020. The correlation is studied between LST and AET for each land cover class and for both seasons for 2020 and results are plotted. The green areas and lakes of the city showed a higher AET and lower LST, whereas the built environment behaved in just the opposite manner. It can be inferred that it is essential to comprehend the local context to effectively determine the relationship between LST and AET in a particular scenario.

Temporal and Spatial Changes of Hydrographic Connectivity with the Development of Agriculture, Industry, and Urban Areas: A Case Study of the Yellow River Basin in Henan Province during the Last Two Decades

Hydrographic connectivity stands as a crucial indicator for analyzing the structural dynamics within river and lake systems. Nevertheless, the impact of changes in hydrographic connectivity, including structural and functional connectivity within extensive river basins, on the progression of agriculture, industry, and habitation remain scarcely explored. To bridge this gap, Henan province in China, traversed by the Yellow River, was selected as a case study. The extraction of water information was facilitated by employing a remote sensing-based Modified Normalized Difference Water Index (MNDWI), while Set Pair Analysis was utilized to construct a hydrographic connectivity evaluation system for the study area spanning the preceding two decades (2000–2020). The results revealed that for structural connectivity, agricultural land covers over 50% and prevails as the primary land-use type; reservoir and lake areas initially increased before subsequently decreasing. Human activities have exerted a profound influence on these changes. Meanwhile, the structural form of the water system has gradually improved, exhibiting an increasing complexity of river networks and a stabilizing connectivity configuration. As for functional connectivity, the natural function remains well-preserved, while the social function demonstrates a positive correlation with the expansion of industrial activities, eventually achieving an excellent level from a moderate level. Overall, agriculture dominated the water usage structure, with residential water consumption steadily increasing, thereby positively impacting hydrographic connectivity in the studied area.

Urban noise exposure assessment based on principal component analysis of points of interest

Accurate qualitative and quantitative information on the characteristics of traffic noise exposure in densely populated urban areas is an important prerequisite for reasonable traffic noise control. The primary objective of this study is the development and application of a traffic noise exposure evaluation method based on points of interest (POIs). First, an automatic query arithmetic is used to acquire geospatial information, POIs data, building and network information from the webmap. Second, the attribute matrix of preprocessed POIs for the population is constructed. And the population distribution is obtained by principal component analysis (PCA) of POIs and Gaussian decomposition of demographic data. Then, the modified traffic noise line-source model is applied to calculate the noise distribution considering attenuation among buildings based on measured traffic flow parameters. Finally, with the help of the proposed noise evaluation indicators, and considering the noise function requirements (NFRs, which can be divided into four classes according to different area land-use types), traffic noise evaluation is realized. The proposed method is applied to a typical region with four NFR classes. It is concluded that the characteristics of traffic noise exposure are affected by traffic conditions, buildings, NFR classes and population distribution. And the crowds exposed to noise present aggregation effects, which are usually centered around specific buildings. In addition, POI types which people actives related suffer more serious noise exposure, and exposure is overestimated at low requirement regions without considering crowd distribution of the setting scenario.

Landscape Ecological Risk Assessment and Spatial Pattern Evolution Analysis of the Central Yunnan Urban Agglomeration from 1995 to 2020 Based on Land Use/Cover Change

The central Yunnan urban agglomeration represents a typical urban cluster in the southwestern region of China. The swift urbanization and land use changes in this region pose a severe threat to the ecosystem. A thorough assessment of the landscape ecological risk in the central Yunnan urban agglomeration holds paramount importance for devising effective risk management strategies and sustainable, high-quality development plans. This study utilizes long-term land-use raster data for six time periods (1995, 2000, 2005, 2010, 2015, and 2020) in the Central Yunnan urban agglomeration. Using GIS technology, a landscape risk index model is constructed, and a comprehensive assessment of landscape ecological risks in the Central Yunnan urban agglomeration is conducted using the 5 km × 5 km grid analysis method and Kriging interpolation. The results indicate that, between 1995 and 2020, the Central Yunnan urban agglomeration was dominated by forest land, grassland, and cultivated land as the primary land-use types. Forest land covered over 48% of the total area, while grassland and cultivated land accounted for more than 26% and 18%, respectively. Notably, construction land underwent a significant increase, mainly due to conversions from cultivated land, forest land, and grassland. Over a span of 25 years, the study area has experienced a continual rise in landscape ecological risk. The landscape ecological risk was mainly characterized by medium, higher, and high ecological risk. Grassland predominated in areas with medium levels of ecological risk, while cultivated land and construction land were predominant in regions with higher and high levels of ecological risk. Spatially, regions with lower ecological risk were primarily distributed in the Chuxiong Yi Autonomous Prefecture, whereas areas with higher and high levels of ecological risk were concentrated in Qujing City and Kunming City. The spatial aggregation patterns of landscape ecological risk in the Central Yunnan urban agglomeration featured “high–high” (H–H) and “low–low” (L–L) clusters, both displaying an initial increase followed by a decrease. The primary factors contributing to the rise in the landscape ecological risk index were identified as urban expansion, population growth, ecological fragmentation, and vegetation destruction. The study’s outcomes can offer valuable insights for optimizing land resources and promoting sustainable development in the Central Yunnan urban agglomeration.

Effect of soil management practice on soil phosphorus dynamics: A meta‐analysis

AbstractSoil phosphorus (P) is pivotal for crop health and growth. We collated a dataset spanning 65 studies from 19 countries to quantify the effects of both natural and anthropogenic factors on P dynamics (dataset provided). Our meta‐analysis encompassed five variables: the type of fertilizer (chemical or organic fertilizer), tillage practices (tillage or no‐till), land use (cultivated or forest), soil texture (either loam soil or sandy loam soil) and soil depth (surface or subsurface). The interplay between soil management strategies, especially those encompassing fertilizer application and tillage, and soil phosphorus dynamics is well established. Our quantitative data suggests the use of organic fertilizers relates to a significant 82% increase in soil Olsen‐P content. Additionally, while the no‐till method has resulted in only a slight 1.6% increase in Total‐P, it has brought about a remarkable 60% increase in organic phosphorus, especially NaHCO3‐Po, in contrast to conventionally tilled soils. Further, we found that the concentrations of Total‐P and Olsen‐P in surface loam soils is elevated, being 24.8% and 1023.6% higher, respectively, compared with subsurface loam soils. In sandy loam soils, these values are 35.3% and 872.2% higher, respectively. These meta‐analysis data highlight how soil management practices can cause variation in P species in soil. They not only underscore potential strategies for refined phosphorus use in diverse farming contexts but also pave the way for further research focusing on agricultural P management.

Response of soil moisture and vegetation growth to precipitation under different land uses in the Northern Loess Plateau, China

The land-use change affects soil hydrological processes in semi-arid areas. Investigating the impact of precipitation change on soil moisture in different land use types (LUTs) is conducive to water resource management and ecological restoration. The volumetric water content (VWC) at 0–300 cm soil profile, meteorology data, and vegetation aboveground biomass were continuously observed from 2018 to 2022 in five terraced and three sloped LUTs. The results showed that soil moisture was affected by precipitation, vegetation, antecedent soil water, soil properties, and artificial management measures. There were significant differences in soil moisture among these land use types (P < 0.05), with the priority order of multi-year profile average VWC at 0–300 cm depth was farmland in the slope (FAS) (0.22 ± 0.01 cm3 cm−3) > bare land in the terrace (BAT) and farmland in the terrace (FAT) (0.19 ± 0.01 cm3 cm−3) > abandoned land in the slope (ABS) (0.18 ± 0.02 cm3 cm−3) > abandoned land in the terrace (ABT) (0.13 ± 0.02 cm3 cm−3) > forage land in the slope (FOS) (0.12 ± 0.02 cm3 cm−3) > forage land in the terrace (FOT) and shrubland in the terrace (SHT) (0.10 ± 0.01 cm3 cm−3). Except for BAT, soil water storage (SWS) in other LUTs decreased in 0–300 cm soil profile from 2018 to 2022. There were no or slight soil desiccations in FAS, BAT, ABS, and FAT, moderate soil desiccation in ABT, and serious soil desiccation in FOS, FOT, and SHT. The VWC, SWS, and soil desiccation index (SDI) of all LUTs were positively correlated with precipitation, especially at 0–100 cm depth. Precipitation threshold response to soil desiccation alleviation was determined to be 98–116 mm month−1. Moreover, aboveground biomass of FOT, ABT, and SHT exhibited a significant correlation with both soil moisture and precipitation (P < 0.05). Therefore, forage lands and shrublands have adverse effects on the mitigation of deep soil desiccation with decreasing rainfall. This study recommended farmland in the terrace and abandoned land in the slope for soil and water conservation and sustainable ecological restoration.

Impact of typical land use type on the stability and content of carbon and nitrogen of soil aggregates in western Hubei

AbstractIn order to investigate the characteristics of soil structural stability and the factors influencing it under typical land use types in the karst region of western Hubei, soil samples were collected from five land use types (natural mixed forest [NF], cypress forest [CF], stone dike terrace [ST], stone dike forest [SF], and abandoned land [AL]) in Xialaoxi to analyze the particle size distribution of aggregates, structural stability, and the distribution characteristics of carbon, nitrogen, and extracellular enzyme contents. The results showed that the aggregates of NF, CF, SF, and AL were dominated by &gt;2‐mm aggregates, while ST showed mostly 2–0.25‐mm aggregates. The mean weight diameter (EMWD) and the geometric mean diameter (EGMD) of mechanical aggregates showed a trend of CF &gt; NF &gt; SF &gt; AL &gt; ST, whereas the erodibility factor K showed an opposite trend. The total organic carbon (TOC), labile organic carbon (LOC), and total nitrogen (TN) contents of aggregates of each particle size were significantly higher in NF and CF than in ST and AL under the five land types. The content of available nitrogen (AN) was highest in NF and ST. The content of carbon and nitrogen and extracellular hydrolases (β‐glucosidase [BG], cellulose disaccharide hydrolase [CBH], β‐N‐acetyl‐aminoglucosidase [NAG], and leucine aminopeptidase [LAP]) in soil aggregates were mainly concentrated in &lt;0.25–0.053‐mm aggregates. The variation in carbon and nitrogen abundance of each particle size agglomerate mainly originated from the LAP content of that particle size agglomerate and showed significant correlation. The partial least squares path models (PLS‐PM) showed that the main influences on the stability of soil aggregates in small watersheds were land use types, soil physical properties, carbon and nitrogen abundance, and extracellular enzyme activity. In conclusion, the structural stability of soil aggregates in Xialaoxi watershed is the result of the interaction between human disturbance and soil nutrient self‐cycling. In general, NF and CF have better soil aggregate stability and are conducive to soil carbon and nitrogen accumulation, whereas for later development and management of SF, ST, and AL sample plots, scientific cultivation means should be adopted, and attention should be paid to long‐term carbon and nitrogen accumulation and conservation.

Abstract B089: Understanding the relationship between neighborhood disorder, racial segregation, and ovarian cancer survival in African American women

Abstract Black women have a 10% lower 5-year survival of epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) than White women, despite having a 25% lower incidence of OC than White women. Evidence suggests that these health disparities can be partially explained by neighborhood social and environmental factors such as disorder. We used Google Street View (GSV) imagery to estimate a measure of neighborhood disorder (ND) at the block group level within the largest multi-state cohort study of Black women diagnosed with EOC (AACES) between 2010 and 2015. 592 AACES participants were enrolled and geocoded residing in 544 unique block groups. We used the online Computer Assisted Neighborhood Visual Assessment System (CANVAS), to conduct virtual audits at 5 street address locations in each block group. These audits included questions related to the presence of different types of land use, the quality of the built structures, and the presence of other markers of ND. Factor analysis identified 5 distinct neighborhood factors: developmental intensity, development age, neighborhood disorder, land use, and green/blue space. An ND score was calculated for each block group audited based on the ND factor, which included the condition of residential units and yards, and assigned to the residents of that block group. Initial analyses indicated that this score did not impact EOC survival. We conducted Weibull AFT survival analyses with frailty to assess the impact of racial segregation on the relationship between ND and EOC survival. An Isolation Index was calculated to quantify the segregation of non-Hispanic Blacks compared to other racial groups. Increased racial isolation was associated with decreased survival (HR: 1.234, 95%CI: 1.03-1.60), after adjustment. Additionally, to understand the impact of the social aspects of disadvantage compared to the built aspects of our disorder score, we examined ADI as a predictor of EOC survival. Increasing ADI was associated with marginally decreased survival (HR: 1.002, 95%CI: 1.00-1.01), after adjustment. The lack of association between our disorder score and EOC survival and the presence of an association between the measures of racial isolation and ADI and EOC survival could indicate that it is the social aspects of an environment, not the built factors, that are driving EOC survival. Future research should explore the impacts of racial segregation and individual-level perceived racism on EOC survival. Citation Format: Christopher Pierson, Steve J. Mooney, Andrew B. Lawson, Joellen M. Schildkraut, Edward S. Peters. Understanding the relationship between neighborhood disorder, racial segregation, and ovarian cancer survival in African American women [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 16th AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2023 Sep 29-Oct 2;Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2023;32(12 Suppl):Abstract nr B089.

Mangrove Management Model Towards Net Zero Emissions in Sinjai Regency, South Sulawesi Province.

Mangrove ecosystem plays a very vital role in mitigating climate change, through carbon CO2 absorption. Mangroves have high potential as carbon sequestration. Sinjai Regency is one of the pilot project locations for district/city involvement in the Regional Low Carbon Development Plan in South Sulawesi Province, so that the policy continues to be implemented in various regions. Sinjai Regency has a Mangrove Area which is the result of rehabilitation, but there are indications of changes in land cover that are used conventionally and not integrated, causing a reduction in the area of mangrove land cover. This study aims to analyze the behavior of the model using three policy scenarios with the concept of environmental sustainability in terms of the contribution of mangrove forest utilization to emission absorption. The method used to see changes in land use from year to year is the spatial analysis method, then the data is analyzed using a dynamic system. This research was conducted from January to June 2022 in Sinjai Regency, South Sulawesi Province. The results of the analysis reveal that there are several types of land use that have decreased in area and some have increased in area from year to year. The simulation results show that the proportion of emissions is inversely proportional to changes in mangrove area. The recommended policy is to maintain a minimum land area in the Mangrove Area which is a Protected and Conservation Area and carry out mangrove rehabilitation. The policy structure in the mangrove sector is divided into three parts, scenarios under baseline, fair and ambitious conditions. The mangrove sector in baseline conditions can achieve net zero emissions in 2041, while fair conditions are achieved in 2027 and ambitious conditions are achieved in 2024.

Status of Native Tree Diversity in Relation to Land-Use in the Merhabete District, Ethiopia

Abstract Most studies undertaken on native fodder and fruit species have focused on planting preferences and socioeconomic importance. The focus has been less on diversity aspects. This study aimed to make a comparative investigation on the status of native fodder and fruit tree /shrub diversity and their management in three land types in Merhabete district, North Shewa Zone, Ethiopia. A total of 127 households were randomly selected for interviews on management practices and threats to the targeted species. Furthermore, 90 sampling plots representing three land use types were used for vegetation data collection. Altogether, a total of 34 tree /shrub species were recorded from three land use types in the study area. Out of the 34 tree/shrub species identified, 31 (91.2 %) species were native fodder and fruit tree/shrub species, and the remaining 3 (8.8 %) were exotic tree/shrub species. The mean tree/shrubdiversity, species richness, and species density were significantly higher in the remnant natural forest than in homegarden and parkland (p≤0.05). Likewise, the highest tree basal area was recorded in remnant natural forest, followed by homegarden and parklands. The common management practices for native fodder and fruit species were pollarding, thinning, pruning, lopping, and fencing. Based on the findings, it is concluded that species diversities and stem numbers were lower in parkland than in other land-use types. Therefore, it is recommended that planting native fodder and fruit tree/shrub species on parkland is essential to enhance the conservation and domestication process of the targeted species.

Root-associated microbial community and diversity in napiergrass across radiocesium-contaminated lands after the Fukushima-Daiichi nuclear disaster in Japan

The microbiome derived from soil associated with plant roots help in plant growth and stress resistance. It exhibits potential benefits for soil remediation and restoration of radioactive-cesium (137Cs)-contaminated soils. However, there is still limited information about the community and diversity of root-associated microbiome in 137Cs-contaminated soil after the Fukushima-Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant (FDNPP) disaster. To address this, a comparative analysis of communities and diversity of root-associated microbiomes was conducted in two field types after the FDNPP disaster. In 2013, we investigated the community and diversity of indigenous root-associated microbiome of napiergrass (Pennisetum purpureum) grown in both grassland and paddy fields of 137Cs-contaminated land-use type within a 30-km radius around the FDNPP. Results showed that the root-associated bacterial communities in napiergrass belonged to 32 phyla, 75 classes, 174 orders, 284 families, and 521 genera, whereas the root-associated fungal communities belonged to 5 phyla, 11 classes, 31 orders, 59 families, and 64 genera. The most frequently observed phylum in both grassland and paddy field was Proteobacteria (47.4% and 55.9%, respectively), followed by Actinobacteriota (23.8% and 27.9%, respectively) and Bacteroidota (10.1% and 11.3%, respectively). The dominant fungal phylum observed in both grassland and paddy field was Basidiomycota (75.9% and 94.2%, respectively), followed by Ascomycota (24.0% and 5.8%, respectively). Land-use type significantly affected the bacterial and fungal communities that colonize the roots of napiergrass. Several 137Cs-tolerant bacterial and fungal taxa were also identified, which may be potentially applied for the phytoremediation of 137Cs-contaminated areas around FDNPP. These findings contribute to a better understanding of the distribution of microbial communities in 137Cs-contaminated lands and their long-term ecosystem benefits for phytoremediation efforts.

Evaluating Urban Green and Gray Space Interaction: A Spatiotemporal Land-Use Monitoring and Land Degradation Susceptibility Modeling over Balurghat City, India

Most Indian cities restrict access to green spaces due to the fast growth of urban gray spaces. The dynamic convergences of these two spaces could enhance city-level land degradation. This issue is rarely studied in Indian cities, however. This study seeks to examine the interactive nature of urban green (V) and gray (U) spaces and to model land degradation susceptibility (LDS) in Balurghat City, India. Decade-wise remote sensing data are analyzed to understand city statutory level transformation, alteration of different land-use types, and city grid-level U–V interaction scenarios. Identified LDS parameters such as soil organic carbon content (SOCC), land productivity dynamics (LPD), vegetation dynamics (Vdynamics), and urban developed land dynamics (Udynamics) are modeled using the analytical hierarchy process method. The structural equation model evaluates the current model fitting. Results show a steady increase in U concentration conversion per grid (by reducing V) from 2000 to 2020, suggesting the dynamic situation of U and V in the city. The model-fitting statistics show that the SOCC strongly influences LDS, followed by Vdynamics, Udynamics, and LPD. The significance of this study remains in its methodological framework, identified city-level LDS drivers, and approaches to evaluate urban V and U in a spatiotemporal frame.

Changes in Soil Microbial Biomass and Activity under Different Land-Use Types in Bartın, Northwestern Türkiye

Changes in Soil Microbial Biomass and Activity under Different Land-Use Types in Bartın, Northwestern Türkiye

Mechanism of polyethylene and biodegradable microplastic aging effects on soil organic carbon fractions in different land-use types

Microplastics (MPs) are widely present in terrestrial ecosystems, but knowledge about the aging characteristics of MPs in different land-use types and their impact on soil organic carbon fractions is still limited. Polyethylene (PE) and biodegradable MPs (Poly propylene carbonate and Polybutylene adipate terephthalate synthetic material (PPC + PBAT, Bio)), at 0 %, 0.03 %, and 0.3 % (w/w) dosages, were added to grassland, farmland, and facility soils for eight-week incubation. The aging degree of MPs was explored by quantifying the carbonyl index (CI). Soil organic C fractions such as SOC, particulate organic carbon (POC), mineral-associated organic carbon (MAOC), and microbial-derived C were analyzed. MPs underwent rapid aging after incubation, and the CI value for 0.03 % PE-MPs increased from 0.05 to 0.27 (farmland) and 0.26 (facility) (p < 0.05). The aging degree of 0.03 % and 0.3 % Bio-MPs was most significant in grassland, with CI decreasing by 46.6 % and 69.0 %, respectively. The CI of MPs were negatively correlated with their dosage. The 0.03 % and 0.3 % PE-MPs decreased soil organic carbon (SOC) content by 7.4 % and 8.2 % in grassland, and 3.0 % and 6.0 % in the facility (p < 0.05). POC content of farmland and facility soil was negatively correlated with PE-MPs' CI (p < 0.05). The 0.03 % PE and Bio-MPs decreased fungal necromass C (FNC) by 0.40 and 0.05 g kg−1 in grassland and 0.48 and 0.21 g kg−1 in farmland. Besides, the dosage of MPs regulated FNC content through soil pH, nutrients, and extracellular enzyme activity, either directly or indirectly, ultimately affecting the soil C pool. Therefore, this study demonstrates that MPs strongly affect SOC dynamics by influencing soil microbial enzyme activity and fungal necromass.

Potential Impact of Urban Land Use on Microplastic Atmospheric Deposition: A Case Study in Pristina City, Kosovo

Microplastics (MPs) pervade various ecosystems, including urban landscapes. The aim of this study was to determine whether the presence of MPs in atmospheric deposition samples is related to land use. For this purpose, atmospheric deposition was collected from 15 to 25 March 2021 at seven research sites in the city of Pristina (Kosovo). Each research site was characterized by different land use. Collected atmospheric deposition samples were analyzed in the laboratory, and then the filtered samples were assessed using a light microscope. The type and size of microplastics in the samples were defined and statistically analyzed. The highest number of total MPs was noted on the highway, while the lowest one was near to the park. A positive relationship was observed between the number of total MPs and the proportion of areas classified as “roads and associated areas” in the land use of the analyzed research sites. Furthermore, a negative relationship was found between the number of total MPs and the proportion of areas classified as “green urban areas”. Based on our preliminary research, it can be observed that the type of land use may have a key role in MPs’ atmospheric deposition.

Research on the Spatio-Temporal Changes of Vegetation and Its Driving Forces in Shaanxi Province in the Past 20 Years

(1) Background: Vegetation is an important component of ecosystems. Investigating the spatio-temporal dynamic changes in vegetation in various Shaanxi Province regions is crucial for the preservation of the local ecological environment and sustainable development. (2) Methods: In this study, the KNDVI vegetation index over the 20-year period from 2003 to 2022 was calculated using MODIS satellite image data that was received from Google Earth Engine (GEE). Sen and MK trend analysis as well as partial correlation analysis were then utilized to examine the patterns in vegetation change in various Shaanxi Province regions. This paper selected meteorological factors, such as potential evapotranspiration (PET), precipitation (PRE), and temperature (TMP); human activity factors, such as land-use type and population density; and terrain factors, such as surface elevation, slope direction, and slope gradient, as the influencing factors for vegetation changes in the research area in order to analyze the driving forces of vegetation spatio-temporal changes. These factors were analyzed using a geo-detector. (3) Results: The vegetation in the research area presented a growth trend from 2003 to 2022, and the area of vegetation improvement was 189,756 km2, accounting for 92.15% of the total area. Among them, the area of significantly improved regions was 174,262 km2, accounting for 84.63% of the total area, and the area of slightly improved regions was 15,495 square kilometers, accounting for 7.52% of the total area. (4) Conclusions: The strengthening of bivariate factors and nonlinear enhancement were the main interaction types affecting vegetation changes. The combination of interaction factors affecting vegetation change in Shaanxi Province includes PRE ∩ PET as well as TMP ∩ PET. Therefore, climate conditions were the main driving force of KNDVI vegetation changes in Shaanxi Province. The data supported by this research are crucial for maintaining the region’s natural ecosystem.