Optimizing anthropogenic management practices can effectively enhance the vegetation carbon sequestration in China.

Peak greening at moderate shrinking intensity across Chinese counties.

The Mesoproterozoic atmosphere had more CO2 and less O2 than at present. While the upper ocean was oxygenated, the deeper ocean was euxinic or ferruginous. Primary production was performed by Chlorobia, Cyanobacteria, Proteobacteria, and Archaeplastida. Cyanobacteria and Archaeplastida presumably performed oxygenic photosynthesis above the chemocline, while photosynthesis below the chemocline involved anoxygenic photolithotrophic oxidation of S2- or Fe2+ by Proteobacteria and S2- by Chlorobia and Cyanobacteria. Photolithotrophic growth of extant Proteobacteria with Rubisco, and Chlorobia with the reverse tricarboxylic acid cycle, involves diffusive CO2 entry; this likely also occurred under high Mesoproterozoic CO2. By contrast, Cyanobacteria may already have possessed CO2-concentrating mechanisms comparable to extant lineages. Here, we evaluate how differences in primary carboxylation pathways and inorganic carbon acquisition among these groups influence stable carbon isotope fractionation and assess how isotopic signatures in modern representatives inform interpretations of Mesoproterozoic carbon isotope records. Although culture-based fractionation patterns broadly overlap with Mesoproterozoic sedimentary δ13C values, these records are strongly biased towards continental margin settings, and direct evidence for open-ocean planktonic primary producers is lacking. The evidence reviewed highlights that physiological constraints on carbon acquisition and metabolism provide a framework for interpreting Mesoproterozoic carbon isotope signals with implications for primary production and the biological pump.

Impact of greening and enhanced cloudiness on aerosol-radiation interaction and its effects on net primary productivity over northwest India

Central Asian vegetation is more sensitive to soil moisture drought than to heat and meteorological drought.

Long-term trajectories of the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) provide insights into ecosystem changes associated with vegetation productivity and land degradation. However, their interpretation may depend on land-use history. Here, we analyzed NDVI trajectories from Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) data (2000-2022) across two contrasting regions in the Brazilian Cerrado: an established agricultural region and an expanding frontier. We evaluated whether NDVI trends differ between regions as a function of land-use dynamics and environmental/climatic conditions. NDVI trajectories were derived using Trends.Earth and correlated with MODIS Gross Primary Production (GPP). Common and region-specific trend drivers were analyzed using binary logistic regression and Wald-type Z tests. Results revealed a remote-sensing paradox. Despite pronounced differences between regions, the primary common driver of NDVI decline was the native savanna conversion to croplands and pastures. Paradoxically, the established agricultural region, where most clearing predated satellite observations, was the most stable, showing the smallest pixel proportion of NDVI decrease (7%) and the highest proportion of increase (52%). In contrast, the agricultural frontier, where native vegetation dominates and clearing largely coincided with satellite observations, showed greater NDVI decline (16%) and smaller increases (37%). Positive NDVI-GPP relationships were weaker in the established region. Region-specific drivers included precipitation, soil sand content, and fire frequency. Longer agricultural use duration contributed to NDVI increases, likely reflecting management practices that mask underlying degradation. Our findings indicate that NDVI-based assessments of land degradation in the Cerrado must consider early land-use history and agricultural management relative to the period of satellite observations.

Asymmetric recovery of Euro-Mediterranean croplands driven by co-occurring climate forcings.

Crossing from shallow inshore to deep continental shelf habitats: Benthic-pelagic coupling and trophic position of the Lane snapper, Lutjanus synagris, in a tropical seascape.

Effects of CaCl2 on the lipid properties of rapidly salted separated egg yolk and lipidomic analysis.

Experimental measurements of the kinetics of the CH + N2O reaction are reported for the first time for the temperature range of 32(3) - 110(4) K using the recently commissioned highly instrumented low temperature reaction chamber (HILTRAC). Furthermore, we report the characterization of a new Laval nozzle to achieve uniform supersonic flow (USF) temperatures of 73(3), 86(4), and 110(4) K with an argon buffer gas. CH radicals generated from photolysis of CHBr3 at 248 nm were detected by laser-induced fluorescence using the CH B2Σ- ← X 2Π (1,0) Q2(1) transition near 364 nm, measuring the pseudo-first-order rate coefficients in the presence of N2O. From these experiments, the reaction rate coefficient at 32(3) K was measured to be 1.7(1) × 10-10 cm3 molecule-1 s-1 and is at least a factor of 2 greater than the previously measured value at room temperature. The reaction rate coefficient was found to exhibit a positive temperature-dependence below 50 K, while exhibiting a negative temperature-dependence at higher temperatures. We also report the reaction potential energy surface for this reaction, performing ab initio calculations at the CCSD(T)/aug-cc-pV(Q+d)Z//M06-2X-D3/aug-cc-pV(Q+d)Z level of theory. From this, we identified reaction pathways leading to exothermic product channels for NO + HCN, NO + HNC, N2 + HCO, and N2 + H + CO, suggesting that NO + HCN are the primary reaction products due to the barrierless nature of this reaction pathway. Finally, a modified Arrhenius fit to all experimental data (32-1300 K) yields k(T) = (9.3(4) × 10-11) × (T/300)-1.03(6) exp(-52(5)/T) cm3 molecule-1 s-1, which can be incorporated into astrochemical models to better understand the nitrogen-based chemistry of the interstellar medium.

Reductions of dry atmospheric inorganic nitrogen deposition and carbon uptake in the Yellow Sea of the Northwestern Pacific Ocean for the COVID-19 period.

Diatoms are major contributors to marine primary production and global CO2 fixation, with the centric diatom Thalassiosira pseudonana a powerful model for understanding biogeochemical processes including carbon fixation and silicification. Whilst there are molecular tools available for fluorescent protein (FP) tagging and CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing in T. pseudonana, these require the delivery of multiple vectors or have limited versatility. Additionally, scarless endogenous tagging, that results in a fluorescent protein fusion expressed from its native genomic location, has yet to be developed. Here we describe a versatile modular Golden Gate-based toolkit for T. pseudonana that through the delivery of a single-episome via bacterial conjugation enables: [1] FP tagging, [2] dual FP tagging, [3] CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing, [4] simultaneous FP tagging with gene editing, and [5] scarless endogenous FP tagging. We further expand the available parts for T. pseudonana by validating three additional FPs and two untested promoter/terminator pairs. We demonstrate the versatility of our system by knocking out Diatom Pyrenoid Component 1 (DPC1), whilst simultaneously GFP tagging the Rubisco small subunit (rbcS); and by endogenously GFP tagging the bestrophin-like protein BST2. Whilst DPC1 knock-out does not result in a major pyrenoid structural defect due to unperturbed rbcS-GFP localization to the pyrenoid, we confirm that BST2 localizes to the pyrenoid and exhibits increased fluorescence under low CO2 - supporting a role in diatom carbon fixation. Our developed genetic tools provide a robust framework for exploring cellular processes in diatoms, accelerating routine studies and enabling systematic, quantitative and large-scale studies.

Diagnosing soybean yield gaps under water-limited conditions using a reference gross primary productivity approach

Bonellia viridis is a benthic echiurid commonly associated with Mediterranean rocky substrates, yet its distribution patterns and environmental drivers remain poorly understood. This study investigates its spatial patterns along the Ligurian coast (NW Mediterranean Sea) using standardised video ROV surveys conducted over the last decade (2015-2025) at multiple sites between 20 and 100 m depth, characterised by coralligenous and rocky reefs under diverse environmental conditions. Results revealed significant spatial variability, with average abundance increasing from east to west and a clear preference for depths less than 50 m. Multivariate analyses highlighted the key roles of substrate slope, bottom type and biocoverage in shaping the echiurid distribution patterns, while sediment cover showed no significant effect. A multiple linear regression confirmed that most environmental variables significantly contributed to species abundance. At the broad spatial scale, species abundance was negatively correlated with rainfall regime and positively correlated with the Population Equivalent (PE) of the coastal towns facing the sites where transects were conducted. This suggests that B. viridis may benefit from increased nutrient availability associated with urban runoff, untreated sewage, and harbour operations—common features along the highly urbanised western Ligurian coast. Seasonal comparisons indicated higher abundances in spring and autumn, likely driven by an enrichment in organic matter associated with increased primary production. These findings provide new insights into the ecological requirements of B. viridis and suggest its potential role as a bioindicator species for monitoring benthic habitat conditions in Mediterranean coastal ecosystems. • Bonellia viridis distribution was assessed in the Ligurian Sea by ROV surveys. • Hard bottom features shape B. viridis distribution in coralligenous habitats. • Echiurans may decline with rainfall-driven inorganic sediment increase. • B . viridis may benefit from from nutrients increased by urbanization and runoff. • Seasonal shifts in abundance suggest link with food availability and biological cycle.

Application of double spike multi-collector mass spectrometry to determination of iron isotopic composition in different iron phases in sea ice.

Year-round long-term monitoring programs are essential for assessing ecosystem functioning and change. In the Arctic, however, continuous multi-year sampling covering all seasons remains scarce. Using monthly observations from the Greenland Ecosystem Monitoring program (2005-2021) in Nuup Kangerlua (SW Greenland), collected with triplicate 0-100m net hauls and concurrent environmental profiling, we characterized seasonal and multiannual abundance patterns of major gelatinous zooplankton (GZP) groups (Ctenophora, Appendicularia, Cnidaria, and Chaetognatha) and assessed their responses to temperature and salinity, as well as food availability (i.e., chlorophyll a, biomass of small copepods, small Calanus spp. (CI-CIII), large Calanus spp. (CIV-CVI) and copepod nauplii abundance), the latter being drivers rarely included in long-term studies. All GZP groups showed strong seasonal variability in abundances, with peak abundances in summer. Hereby, copepod availability showed correlations with GZP abundance that were equal to or stronger than those of temperature. Chlorophyll a correlated weakly with GZP abundance directly, but remained a central driving factor of prey availability and therefore still indirectly influenced carnivorous GZP dynamics. Salinity showed mostly negative associations. Indicator species analyses identified Oikopleura spp., Parasagitta spp., Aglantha digitale, and undetermined Hydromedusae as characteristic of warm, food-rich summer conditions. Additionally, undetermined Chaetognatha were an indicator taxon for the entire productive season. These findings demonstrate that resolving Arctic change requires year-round observations that integrate trophic context, as food availability can rival or exceed physical drivers in structuring GZP communities, as demonstrated here with copepods and primary production.

Leaf Area Index (LAI) is a fundamental parameter linking vegetation structure with surface energy and carbon exchange in Earth system models. However, the underestimation of LAI caused by snow cover remains a persistent limitation of existing satellite products. Here, we develop a global snow-free LAI dataset covering the years 1985-2020 at 500 m resolution. The method compiles over 2700 leaf lifespan records from the TRY plant trait database, spanning observations for numerous plant species, and aggregates them into plant functional type (PFT)-specific values. It then identifies snow-affected regions using MODIS data and applies a leaf-lifespan-based correction to PFT-specific LAI values. The physiologically constrained snow-free LAI effectively corrects the underestimation of LAI in snow-affected regions. Simulations with the Common Land Model indicate that snow-free LAI improves albedo simulations over snow-covered regions by better representing vegetation masking effects and reducing positive albedo bias. Additionally, the snow-free LAI increases net radiation and gross primary productivity, and reduces snow depth. This snow-free LAI dataset provides a reliable input for modeling vegetation-snow interactions in Earth system models, supporting more accurate simulations of surface energy, water and carbon dynamics.

Tire-derived antioxidants in terrestrial ecosystems: Occurrence, mechanistic toxicity, and sustainable mitigation strategies.

Integrated life cycle assessment for quantifying the carbon impact of rare earth elements mining.

Plant biomass allocation is dynamically shaped by drought and nitrogen (N) availability, yet how aridity modulates N effects and whether this interplay is conserved across major photosynthetic pathways (C3 vs C4) remain mechanistically unresolved. Using a global dataset of 2747 root-to-shoot ratio (RSR) observations from 631 herbaceous species, we applied a multi-model framework (Random Forest, linear mixed-effects models, and Bayesian structural equation modeling) to investigate: how aridity modulates the effect of soil N on the root-to-shoot ratio (RSR); and whether this modulatory effect differs between C3 and C4 plants. Increasing aridity promoted a convergent rise in RSR in both C3 and C4 grasses. However, soil N directly increased RSR in C3 plants, but it enhanced net primary productivity in C4 plants, which indirectly reduced RSR. This decoupling between drought-response mechanisms and N-acquisition strategies reveals that while the two functional types followed a shared hydraulic rule, they adhere to distinct N economies. Our results reveal that increased soil N availability will trigger divergent carbon storage responses in C3 and C4 grasslands, potentially exacerbating this functional divergence as atmospheric N deposition continues to rise.