Ecological Reconstruction Research Articles

中国南海北部不同岛屿植被与土壤的耦合协调发展度

PDF HTML阅读 XML下载 导出引用 引用提醒 中国南海北部不同岛屿植被与土壤的耦合协调发展度 DOI: 10.5846/stxb202103020565 作者: 作者单位: 作者简介: 通讯作者: 中图分类号: 基金项目: 中国科学院战略性先导科技专项(XDA13010302); 国家自然科学基金项目(31770495,31870712,31971487) Coupling coordinative degree of vegetation and soil in different islands in the north of South Sea, China Author: Affiliation: Fund Project: 摘要 | 图/表 | 访问统计 | 参考文献 | 相似文献 | 引证文献 | 资源附件 | 文章评论 摘要:植被和土壤是陆地生态系统两个重要的组成部分,二者相互影响相互促进,探明两者的耦合协调关系是生态恢复与重建的顺利实施的关键。基于中国南海北部大庙墩岛、涠洲岛、大汉三墩岛、甘蔗岛和蜈支洲岛等个海岛的典型植被群落植被土壤的全面调查和取样分析,建立10个植被因子和14个土壤因子的2级层次指标体系,采用层析分析法确定各因子的权重,构建5个海岛植被土壤耦合度和耦合协调度模型。结果表明,不同岛屿的植被土壤耦合度和耦合协调度模型并不完全对应,植被与土壤的综合指数在不同岛屿中也不完全一致,甘蔗岛的植被效应和大汉三墩岛的土壤效应最佳。中国南海北部5个岛屿的植被土壤耦合协调状况较好,均处于初、中级协调发展状态,且除甘蔗岛外处于植被土壤同步型。总的来说,由于岛屿远离内陆,人类干扰相对较小,在植被土壤长期的演替过程中,中国南海北部岛屿植被土壤耦合协调较好,在其恢复与生态重建时要注重提高植物多样性、抚育水平和土壤管理水平。 Abstract:Vegetation and soil are two important components of the terrestrial ecosystems. There is to some extent an interaction between vegetation and soil systems and they influence each other. Therefore, exploring the coupling coordinative relationship between vegetation and soil could be the key to successful implementation of ecological restoration and reconstruction in the terrestrial ecosystems. The islands of the South Sea in China are located on the edge of the world's largest tropical-subtropical shelf, which are an inalienable part of China's territory. Due to clear boundaries and isolation from the land, islands are faced with problems such as strong habitat heterogeneity, lack of plant germplasm resources and fresh water, large evaporation, and so on. They are special and independent ecosystems which are more vulnerable to extreme climates or natural disasters such as typhoons, and become easily degraded but difficultly to be restored. This paper is based on the comprehensive investigation and systematic determination between vegetation and soil systems in the typical vegetation communities on five islands in the northern South Sea, China, i.e., Damiaodun Island, Weizhou Island, Dahan Sandun Island, Ganzhe Island, and Wuzhizhou Island. The two-level index system combined with 10 vegetation factors and 14 vegetation factors were established to determine the weight of each factor by the analytic hierarchy process, and then to build coupling models and coupling coordination models of vegetation and soil systems in the five islands. The results showed that the vegetation-soil coupling models and coupling coordination models in different islands were not completely corresponding. In addition, the comprehensive indexes of vegetation and soil were not completely consistent in each island. The vegetation effect of Ganzhe Island and the soil effect of Dahansandun Island were the best, respectively. The coupling coordinative status of vegetation and soil was good in the five islands in the northern of South Sea, China, which were in a state of primary or intermediate coordinated development. All the islands were in the synchronization type of vegetation and soil except Ganzhe Island. In general, due to islands far from land with relative small human interference, during the long-term succession of vegetation and soil, the coupling coordination between vegetation and soil systems in the northern islands of the South Sea of China was in a good status. Therefore, special attention should be paid to improve plant diversity, tending level, and soil management level during the process of vegetation restoration and ecological reconstruction in the northern islands of the South Sea of China. 参考文献 相似文献 引证文献

Research on the reconstruction of northeast local cultural ecology by New Media

The emergence of new media makes the northeast local culture ecological reconstruction, this paper through the background of northeast local culture development, the analysis of new media on the significance of northeast local culture ecological reconstruction and motivation, explore new media of northeast local culture ecological reconstruction path, and promote the efficient spread of northeast local culture. Rural construction is an important content of socialist modernization construction, and local culture is also the key point of rural construction is also the difficulty, but also the soul. In recent years, with the large increase in the number of rural Internet users in northeast China, a large number of rural Internet users are not only the audience of new media, but also the communicators of new media. They use new media (TikTok, Kuaishou, Toutiao and other network platforms) to release the latest life trends around them. The rural local culture communicators using new media show content including rural food, local products and rural production and living such as local culture, shows the new era of the new look of the new rural construction in our country, become an important part of the new era of rural network culture, but also the reconstruction of local cultural ecological in northeast China. Therefore, studying new media is of great significance to the reconstruction of rural cultural ecology in northeast China.

СОЦИАЛЬНО-ДИАГНОСТИЧЕСКОЕ ИССЛЕДОВАНИЕ ПРОБЛЕМЫ ФОРМИРОВАНИЯ ИСТОРИКО-КУЛЬТУРНЫХ ЛАНДШАФТОВ (НА ПРИМЕРЕ ГОРОДА СУЗДАЛЬ)

Today, in the field of urban planning, the problem of preserving the recreational potential of natural territories, in particular the territories of historical and cultural landscapes, and the creation of urban public spaces in symbiosis with the natural environment in these territories is becoming increasingly important. In the theory and practice of urban planning, there is no scientifically based approach to the restoration and ecological reconstruction of the territory of historical and cultural landscapes from the standpoint of their sustainable development, as a result of which the territory of protected meadows in Suzdal has been in an environmentally unfavorable state for a long time with signs of degradation of landscape components. The purpose of the planned ecological reconstruction of urban landscapes in the city of Suzdal is to ensure a dynamic balance between the natural and urbanized environment. One of the ways to achieve such a balance, as well as to preserve the environment and improve the well-being of the local population, can be the development of eco-tourism as a tool to solve the problem of congestion in the central part of the historical settlement due to the seasonal influx of tourists. In order to reduce the anthropogenic load on the historical environment of the city, improve the welfare of the population, get acquainted with the local culture and the natural environment, it is important to separate tourist flows in different directions in green spaces along the river along organized ecological trails. During the socio-diagnostic research of the territory of historical and cultural landscapes, the dynamics of the transformation of the territory of landscapes were established and an assessment of the ecological state of the reserched territory was carried out, revealing, at the same time, the possibility of their restoration. The conducted sociological survey determined the attitude of residents and tourists of the city of Suzdal to this problem as an interested social group of the population.

Evaluation of Biological Characteristics of Soil as Indicator for Sustainable Rehabilitation of a Post-Bauxite-Mining Land

This paper presents a study of the microbial abundance in post-bauxite-mining land soil from Zece Hotare, Bihor county, Romania. The soil samples were collected from 12 soil variants, in the year 2020, after 15 years of long-term restoration. Some chemical parameters and bacterial numbers of six groups of microorganisms were determined in the restored mining land, and these characteristics were compared with those of the soil from a beech forest situated in an adjacent area unaffected by bauxite exploitation. On the basis of the total number of microorganisms belonging to each group studied, the bacterial potential of the soil quality was assessed, calculating the bacterial soil quality index (BSQI), while the Shannon diversity index and the Jaccard distance were applied to show the level of bacterial diversity. The characteristics of the studied chemical and microbiological parameters determined in the beech adjacent area were very similar to those observed in the high-level plateau, low-level plateau, and Black locust areas, indicating similar soil conditions; therefore, the ecological reconstruction 15 years ago, had a very favorable impact on restoration in some affected areas.

Exploring the multidimensional relationships between educational situation perception, teacher support, online learning engagement, and academic self-efficacy in technology-based language learning.

The study explored the multidimensional relationships between educational situation perception, teacher support, online learning engagement and academic self-efficacy in technology-based language learning in a sample of Chinese undergraduate students, and meanwhile examined the mediating effects of academic self-efficacy and teacher support. A total of 392 (126 male and 266 female) Chinese university students reported on their perceived educational situation, teacher support, online learning engagement, and academic self-efficacy. Results showed that educational situation perception was significantly and positively associated with teacher support, online learning engagement and academic self-efficacy; teacher support and academic self-efficacy was positively correlated with online learning engagement. More importantly, academic self-efficacy as well as teacher support mediated the relationship between educational situation perception and online learning engagement. These findings extended previous research by considering both the external factors (i.e., educational situation; teacher support) and the internal factors (i.e., academic self-efficacy) of influencing students' online learning engagement in technology-based language learning, thereby contributing to enhancing our understanding of the joint drive of the inherent and extrinsic power mechanisms. This study highlighted the following aspects: (1) strengthening the consideration of the key elements of the educational situation; (2) clarifying the pivotal position of intelligent technology in educational situations; and (3) emphasizing the reconstruction of intelligence teaching ecology driven by learning activities. Besides, this study indicated the significance of elevating teachers' awareness, willingness and capacity of the substantial supports in enhancing students' online learning engagement and would inform that the future research on the connotation and ways of teacher support should be responding to technology-based learning environments.

Bat dynamics modelling as a tool for conservation management in subterranean environments.

Bat species inhabit subterranean environments (e.g., caves and mines) in small areas with specific microclimatic conditions, during various periods of their life cycle. Bats can be negatively influenced by microclimatic changes within their roosts if optimal habitat patches become unavailable. Therefore, proper management solutions must be applied for the conservation of vulnerable bat populations, especially in show caves. We have pursued an ensemble species distribution modelling approach in subterranean environments to identify sensible patches for bats. Using multi-annual temperature monitoring and bat distribution surveys performed within ten caves and mines, including show caves, we modelled relevant habitat patches for five bat species. The temperature-based variables generated from this approach proved to be effective when processed via species distribution models, which generated optimal validation results, even for bats that were heavily clustered in colonies. Management measures are proposed for each show cave to help in long-time conservation of hibernation and maternity colonies. These measures include creating suitable microclimatic patches within the caves by ecological reconstruction measures, tourist management practices in relation to bats, and show cave fitting recommendations. This approach has never been performed at this scale due to the complex geostatistical challenges involving subterranean environment mapping and can be further used as best practice guidelines for future conservation projects.

Functional Characterization of Heat Shock Factor (CrHsf) Families Provide Comprehensive Insight into the Adaptive Mechanisms of Canavalia rosea (Sw.) DC. to Tropical Coral Islands.

Heat shock transcription factors (Hsfs) are key regulators in plant heat stress response, and therefore, they play vital roles in signal transduction pathways in response to environmental stresses, as well as in plant growth and development. Canavalia rosea (Sw.) DC. is an extremophile halophyte with good adaptability to high temperature and salt-drought tolerance, and it can be used as a pioneer species for ecological reconstruction on tropical coral islands. To date, very little is known regarding the functions of Hsfs in the adaptation mechanisms of plant species with specialized habitats, especially in tropical leguminous halophytes. In this study, a genome-wide analysis was performed to identify all the Hsfs in C. rosea based on whole-genome sequencing information. The chromosomal location, protein domain or motif organization, and phylogenetic relationships of 28 CrHsfs were analyzed. Promoter analyses indicated that the expression levels of different CrHsfs were precisely regulated. The expression patterns also revealed clear transcriptional changes among different C. rosea tissues, indicating that the regulation of CrHsf expression varied among organs in a developmental or tissue-specific manner. Furthermore, the expression levels of most CrHsfs in response to environmental conditions or abiotic stresses also implied a possible positive regulatory role of this gene family under abiotic stresses, and suggested roles in adaptation to specialized habitats such as tropical coral islands. In addition, some CrHsfAs were cloned and their possible roles in abiotic stress tolerance were functionally characterized using a yeast expression system. The CrHsfAs significantly enhanced yeast survival under thermal and oxidative stress challenges. Our results contribute to a better understanding of the plant Hsf gene family and provide a basis for further study of CrHsf functions in environmental thermotolerance. Our results also provide valuable information on the evolutionary relationships among CrHsf genes and the functional characteristics of the gene family. These findings are beneficial for further research on the natural ecological adaptability of C. rosea to tropical environments.

Consideration regarding the aquatic ecosystems developed in the open pit lakes from Oltenia mining region

Formation of so-called open-pit lakes has become an increasingly common practice in Romania (more precisely in the Oltenia Mining Basin, where the lignite deposit contained in Dacian and Romanian formations was and is extracted through open-pits). The flooding process of the remaining gaps is in general a natural one, as water comes from underground sources (phreatic and pressurized aquifers) and from precipitations (including runoff waters from the surrounding terrains). This practice is considered to be a type of ecological reconstruction of former exploitation areas and has been applied worldwide for quite a time (in Germany, Poland, Czech Republic, Spain, USA, Australia, etc.). The present paper aims to present some ecological aspects regarding these lakes, and, as case study, we chose the lake formed in the remaining gap of Urdari open-pit (within the Rovinari Mining Basin). However, the authors consider that given the multitude of similar conditions (bioclimate, geology, topography, etc.) in which they form, the preliminary conclusions of this study can be extrapolated for other lakes in the area (existing, such South Peșteana and Moi, or planned, such as Roșia and North Peșteana). This study presents data on the existing biotope and biocenoses (restricted to species identification), without going into specific details about populations, ecosystem production, energy and matter flows within it, as these investigations demand a longer period of time and more resources and are foreseen for a future development stage of this study.

Halving gypsum dose by Penicillium oxalicum on alkaline neutralization and microbial community reconstruction in bauxite residue

Bauxite residue is a high-alkaline solid waste generated during alumina production, which greatly limits the growth of soil microorganisms and plants. Here, we developed a novel integrated approach to stabilize alkalinity and reduce the dose of Ca-contained solid waste by inoculation with alkali-tolerant and acid-producing microorganisms. The integrated application of Penicillium oxalicum (P. oxalicum) and gypsum maintained pH at about 9.0 and reduced the dose of gypsum to 2% compared to 4% (w/w) gypsum. Alkaline mineral transformation and organic components conversion in the solid and liquid phases of residues by XRD, XPS, SEM-EDS, FT-IR, and spectroscopic technology demonstrated that P. oxalicum could alleviate extreme saline-alkaline environment by the secreting of carboxylic acids (e.g., oxalic acid) and continuously neutralizing the alkalinity. The ternary plots obtained by high-throughput sequencing revealed that the excessive exogenous ameliorants enhanced the metabolic burden of microorganisms and changed the community assembly processes. Inoculation with P. oxalicum enriched microbial taxa, including Pseudomonas, Alkalibacterium, P. oxalicum, and Epicoccum nigrum, which may also drive a greater response of opportunistic taxa throughout the biomes during amelioration. Overall, the results of the study provided an eco-friendly strategy for alkaline regulation and secondary risk control by the integrated application of functional microorganisms and solid wastes prior to ecological rehabilitation. This work will enhance the understanding of de-alkalization in bauxite residue and demonstrate the application potential of functional microorganisms in ecological reconstruction at disposal areas.

Identifying the Relationship between Livelihoods and Land Ecosystem Services Using a Coupled Model: A Case Study in the “One River and Two Tributaries” Region of Tibet

In fragile and impoverished areas, identifying the interrelationship between livelihoods and ecosystem services can help protect the ecological environment and improve human well-being. This study selected the “One River and Two Tributaries” region (ORTTR) in Tibet with a fragile, sensitive ecological environment as the study area. With the years 2000, 2005, 2010, 2015, and 2020 as the research time points, a coupled evaluation model of residents’ livelihood and land ecosystem services was constructed to study the relationship between the two. Results showed that from 2000 to 2020, the coupling degree and coupling coordination degree between the two continued to increase because of the improvement in residents’ livelihood and ecosystem services. The level of coupling coordination gradually changed from a reluctant coordination stage to a moderate coordination stage. The coupling coordination degree showed more revealing results than the coupling degree in time scale. The relative development type between the two was mainly of the type lagging residents’ livelihood. By considering the physical geography and socio-economic characteristics and the relative development types, the counties and districts in the ORTTR are divided into ecological conservation areas, ecological restoration areas, and ecological reconstruction areas. The coupled model can evaluate the relationship between livelihoods and ecosystem services from a systematic integration perspective and provide scientific support for the improvement of regional human well-being.

Evaluation of Cd and Pb concentrations in soil-mulberry-silkworm system of a tailings pond, China

ABSTRACT The ecological reconstruction and safe utilisation of a large number of tailings ponds are very important. In this study, the accumulation and transportation of cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb) in the soil-mulberry-silkworm system was evaluated through the mulberry planting and silkworm rearing at a tailings pond in Huayuan County, China. The results revealed that both the bioconcentration factors (BCFs) of mulberry for Cd and Pb were less than 1. The highest translocation factors (TFs) for both Cd and Pb were appeared in the stage from silkworm to excrement, followed by mulberry stem to leaf. The peak concentrations of Cd and Pb in the silkworm excrement were 2.33 mg kg−1 and 6.46 mg kg−1, respectively. Though the Cd and Pb contents in the cocoon shell from Yangjiazhai fitted the Technical Specifications of Ecological Textiles (GB/T 18885–2009, China), the ratio of cocoon shell was reduced by 17.06% under the stress of heavy metals. Developing the sericulture industry could be a reasonable way to utilise the tailings pond.

Reconstruction of New Media Art Ecology Based on Intelligent Technology Environment

With the rapid development of modern multimedia technology and Internet technology, the traditional media in people’s daily life, including newspapers, magazines, radio, and television, are far less timely and extensive than the new media that use the Internet to spread, such as today’s headlines, microblog, TikTok, and NetEase News. In the process of its own development, Internet new media has gradually derived new media art, which is different from traditional art forms, with the mixture of sound, light, and electricity as the form of expression and the Internet as the media. The wide spread of new media art depends very much on the development of the Internet. In the early stage, the audience of new media is not wide, such as Tianya Forum and Sina blog. It is only for information exchange and communication with people who use the computer Internet. At the same time, the content shared is limited to words and pictures. When the computer Internet began to popularize and the mobile network terminal began to develop, new media art immediately sprouted. Starting from instant messaging, Tencent QQ integrates the strengths of all kinds of new media and promotes the further development of new media art. Standing at the juncture of 2022, after more than ten years of continuous innovation and development, the expression terminal has come from the computer to the mobile phone we use every day. The media has quickly entered the 5 g network from 2G and 3G networks, and the communication path and time have been quite flexible. In addition, AI (artificial intelligence) and other intelligent technologies have begun to enter people’s daily life. The combination of intelligent technology and new media art has brought new media art into another period of transformation and sublimation. This paper will discuss that in the current environment where intelligent technology has begun to be popularized in people’s daily life, new media art achieves the result of ecological reconstruction by innovating and deepening its own characteristics in combination with intelligent technology.

The Evolution of Ecological Space in an Urban Agglomeration Based on a Suitability Evaluation and Cellular Automata Simulation

Changing and reconstructing the ecological space of urban agglomerations is inevitable for ecological conservation and a scientific problem that needs urgent attention from geography, ecology, and urban and rural planning. Using ArcGIS and other software for data processing, this study established a spatial attribute database, constructed a land use conversion matrix of the Changsha-Zhuzhou-Xiangtan (CZX) urban agglomeration’s ecological space, and quantitatively analyzed the main changes in ecological land. Using a trained cellular automata model with predicted land use in 2035 as the threshold value, the simulation research was presented by creating two simulation scenarios for the spatial distribution of land use by 2035 in the “Green Heart” area of the CZX urban agglomeration. The simulation results were compared, and the constraining role of land use suitability evaluation on ecological space evolution was analyzed. This study found that the total area of ecological space in the Green Heart area saw a rapid reduction, and it predicted that, by 2035, the total area of the CZX Green Heart area will have decreased. Comparing the two simulation scenarios proved the hypothesis that zoning ecological space reconstruction based on a land suitability evaluation can effectively protect ecological space and ensure ecological network functions are harnessed.

Study of Chemical Pollutants and Ecological Reconstruction Methods in the Tismana I Quarry, Rovinari Basin, Romania

The phytoremediation of polluted land in Romania is based on research on biodiversity, environmental protection, and the sustainable use of natural or man-made resources, carried out by universities and research institutes for over 30 years, synchronized with those at the European and global level. The aim of this paper is to establish the categories of pollutants with potential environmental, economic, and social impacts associated with mining in order to choose the optimal method of ecological reconstruction. In this regard, the Tismana quarry was mapped, the surface of the analysis plot was set at 50 m × 50 m, and the sampling depth was 0–20 cm; from each plot, two samples were collected. Out of a total of 121 analysis plots, ten susceptible plots were identified, from which 20 samples were collected and analyzed. The samples were analyzed by the UV-VIS spectrophotometer method—MLUV1720 and UV spectrometry—with a SHIMADZU UV 160U spectrophotometer; they indicated in only three analysis plots a pollution with phenols, Ni, Zn, Ni and HAP, the concentrations of which exceeded only the normal values, which does not affect the eaves threshold and intervention for the type of land use. Being point pollution, the phytoremediation of these soils can be achieved in a short time. The paper aims to present the situation of chemical pollutants in the Tismana quarry area, and to offer different ecological rehabilitation solutions depending on their presence.

Identification of Coupling Relationship between Ecosystem Services and Urbanization for Supporting Ecological Management: A Case Study on Areas along the Yellow River of Henan Province

Urbanization has an important effect on ecosystem services (ESs) and identifying the relationship between urbanization and ESs can provide a decision-making reference for regional ecological protection and management. Taking the areas along the Yellow River of Henan Province (AYRHP) as a research area, a coupling system of ESs and urbanization is established in this study to reveal the coupling relationship between the two. ESs are estimated by using Carnegie–Ames–Stanford approach, revision universal soil loss equation, and Integrated Valuation of Ecosystem Services and Trade-offs (InVEST) models. The urbanization level is evaluated from three dimensions, namely, population, economy, and land. The coupling coordination relationship between various ESs and urbanization in AYRHP is quantified from 2000 to 2018 on the county scale based on the coupling coordination degree (CCD) model. The lead–lag relationship between ESs and urbanization is identified by using the relative development degree model, and ecological management zoning is conducted. Results show that in the study period, net primary production (NPP), soil conservation, and food production are increased, whereas water yield is decreased. In the study period, population, economy, and land urbanization level are increasing, and the comprehensive urbanization level is increased by 51.63%. The total CCD between NPP, food production, and water yield and comprehensive urbanization is basic or moderate coordination, whereas that between soil conservation and comprehensive urbanization is moderate maladjustment. In the research period, the coupling coordination between NPP and food production and comprehensive urbanization is increasing; that between water yield and comprehensive urbanization is fluctuated; and that between soil conservation and comprehensive urbanization is decreasing. The result of the research into the relative development degree in 2018 showed that food production, water yield, and soil conservation lag behind the urbanization level in most regions and counties along the Yellow River of Henan Province. On the basis of the lead–lag relationship between different ESs and urbanization level, the AYRHP are divided into ecological reconstruction area, ecological and agricultural improvement area, and ecological conservation area. CCD and relative development degree models can be used to evaluate the coordination relationship between ESs and urbanization, which provides scientific support for regional ES management.

Local differences in paleohydrology have stronger influence on plant biomarkers than regional climate change across two Paleogene Laramide Basins, Wyoming, USA

Plant biomarkers in the geologic record are commonly used to reconstruct paleovegetation and paleoclimate. Yet the representativeness of these biomarker-based reconstructions is not entirely straightforward because both local and regional climatic influences are convolved in the recovered biomarker composition. Furthermore, geomorphic processes including sedimentation, deposition, burial rates, and surface and groundwater levels can also influence biomarker preservation and taphonomy. The combination of leaf compression fossils with the biomarker record provides a robust framework in which ecological reconstructions can be made. Herein we present a case study examining the biomarker responses to a major regional climatic signal, the Paleocene Eocene Thermal Maximum (PETM), from local effects in two basins with different paleohydrology: the Hanna Basin (HB) and Bighorn Basin (BHB), in Wyoming (USA). Data collected include (1) leaf wax n-alkanes and plant-derived non-steroidal di- and triterpenoids, (2) pristane/phytane vs. terrestrial to aquatic ratio (Pr/Ph:TAR), plant material source proxy (Paq), hopanes, and bacteria which provide constraints on organic matter sourcing, redox conditions, and bacterial inputs, and (3) carbon (δ13Cn-alk) and hydrogen (δ2Hn-alk) isotopic compositions of plant wax n-alkanes. We find the two basins differed significantly in weight % total organic carbon (TOC), alkane and terpenoid concentrations, and δ13Cn-alk and δ2Hn-alk values. We examined the effects of δ13Catm on δ13Cn-alk values by assuming comparable regional climate in the two basins. Differences in paleohydrology and paleovegetation were assessed using the above proxies and previously published paleobotanical data. Local paleohydrologic conditions, an abiotic factor, likely drove variability in plant biomarker preservation and paleovegetation structure. Notably, an abundance of water in the HB during the PETM created a conifer refugium while drying within the BHB caused a local extirpation. This study highlights the importance of considering the influence of local environment, specifically paleohydrology, on the local fossil record and the need to compare multiple sites to disentangle regional climate effects on terrestrial plant communities. Distinguishing local from regional differences is imperative if we are to understand how ecosystems respond to future climate change.

Changes in understory vegetation during the reclamation of saline-alkali soil by drip irrigation for shelterbelt establishment in the Hetao Irrigation Area of China

A two-year experimental field study was conducted to monitor the changes in understory vegetation during reclamation of saline-alkali land by ridge cultivation with drip irrigation for the establishment of ecological shelterbelts in the Hetao Irrigation Area in northern China. The experiment carried out in 2019 and 2020, included four drip irrigation treatments, designated 0 (control, no irrigation, no trees), 1 (1 year of drip irrigation plus trees), 2 (2 years of drip irrigation plus trees), and 3 (3 years of drip irrigation plus trees). Treatments 1, 2, and 3 resulted in decreases in soil salinity (relative to the control) of 75.76%, 85.98%, and 85.58%, respectively, over a depth of 0–40 cm, and 51.65%, 81.85%, and 70.80%, respectively, over a depth of 0–120 cm. The pH of the saturated soil paste extract (pHe) of the 0–40 cm and 0–120 cm soil layer decreased from 9.68 and 9.54 in the first year to 9.07 and 8.44 in the third year, in response to drip irrigation. The coverage, plant species and plant density of understory vegetation (following natural germination of seeds from the seed bank under the shelterbelt trees) was increased significantly from treatment 0 to 3, with values of 5.7%, 2 and 15 plants/m2 (treatment 0), respectively, to 94.4%, 20 and 416 plants/m2, (treatment 3), respectively. The biomass of the understory vegetation increased dramatically (after treatment 1), then decreased slightly more (after treatment 2), until the maximum value occurred after treatment 3. The dominant species of the vegetation gradually changed from the halophytic annual herb Suaeda glauca to the halophytic perennial grass Leymus chinensis. The research showed that, when the electrical conductivity of the saturated soil paste extract (ECe) exceeded 4.5 dS/m, there was sparse vegetation; At lower salinity (2.6 < ECe < 4.5 dS/m) and higher pH (8.9 < pHe < 9.2), the species diversity gradually increased but without a clearly dominant species; At ECe < 2.8 dS/m, and pHe < 8.6, the dominance of plants of the Poaceae and Asteraceae families became apparent with L. chinensis developing into the dominant plant species in this area. This study contributes to our understanding of revegetation of saline alkali soils vegetation construction by salt regulation using drip irrigation and can inform ecological reconstruction in saline alkali regions in the future.

Ecological Restoration and Carbon Sequestration Regulation of Mining Areas-A Case Study of Huangshi City.

As an important carbon sink indicator, the vegetation net primary productivity (NPP) is key and helpful for understanding regional carbon sequestration and storage of mining areas. Systematic analysis of NPP of the ecological reconstruction process in mining areas can effectively contribute to local governments and related departments for making ecological decisions under the “double carbon goals” (“peak of carbon release” and “carbon neutrality”) and help to promote regional sustainable development. In this study, we used the CASA model to systematically assess the temporal and spatial evolution characteristics of NPP of Huangshi City from 1990 to 2018. Meanwhile, various scenarios were set up to study the effects of climate factors, landscape pattern evolution, and ecological restoration on regional carbon storage. Our results documented that (1) NPP of the study area an increasing trend from 1990–2018 shows and exhibits significant spatial heterogeneity; (2) the significant increase of NPP was mainly in the restored mining areas, indicating that the ecological restoration of mining areas can effectively improve the regional carbon sequestration capacity; (3) from 1990 to 2018, climate change released 0.136 TgC, while landscape pattern change contributed to carbon storage with 0.266 TgC; and (4) the restoration and reconstruction of vegetation in the mining areas is an important way to achieve carbon neutrality of Huangshi City in the future, and the changes of NPP varied among different ecological restoration modes.

Spatial and Vertical Benthic Foraminifera Diversity in the Oxygen Minimum Zone of Mejillones Bay, Northern Chile

Mejillones Bay is located in northern Chile (23°S) and is influenced by an Oxygen Minimum Zone (OMZ), with oxygen levels below 0.5 ml l–1. This area presents particular ecological characteristics, such as circulation of currents, hotspot, high productivity and industrial activity. This extreme ecosystem generates the need to understand their dynamics and changes across time and space, as well as to identify the main differences with other OMZs. For this reason, we studied the benthic foraminifera to use them as environmental and oxygenation proxies. For this purpose, two sediment cores (ZA and Z1A) were collected, obtaining 14 samples of the first 8 cm (vertical distribution), and 18 samples with a mini boxcore (spatial distribution). When analyzing the foraminifera community, some similarities were found in environmental characteristics of other OMZs, such as the predominance of Bolivina seminuda, Bolivina costata, Epistominella exigua, Fursenkoina sp., and Nonioella stella (species typical of hypoxic conditions). In addition, a high abundance of angular-asymmetric morphologies was observed, indicating eutrophied silty substrates and low current circulation. However, the Mejillones Bay recorded a particular spatial and vertical dynamics respect to others OMZs, due to presence of other species of Bolivinids not reported for this area before, and a high abundance of Buliminella elegantissima, which is not recorded in most of OMZs. Foraminifera with rounded-symmetric morphologies were present and dominant in deeper layers, reflecting a turbulent and high-energy environment. On the basis of depth and conditions of microxia or dysoxia, no significative pattern of spatial and vertical distribution was observed. The latter can be explained by local factors such as cyclonic and anticyclonic whirlpools, wastewater from industrial activity and natural disaster such a Tsunami occurred in 1877. These factors contributed to the mixture of the benthic foraminifera and prevented the formation of spatial and vertical patterns. Finally, an intensification of hypoxia was identified, indicating microxia (0,01 ml l–1) in the superficial layers (0–3 cm from years 1996 to 2012), while the deeper layers (4–8 cm from years 1985 to 1877) presented foraminiferal species that indicated dysoxia conditions (0,07 ml l–1). The latter differs from other OMZs, which show greater oxygenation in the most superficial layers and microxia in deeper layers. This study represents the first ecological reconstruction using benthic foraminifera proxies for the Mejillones Bay, which results indicate an OMZ with ecological and environmental features that differ from other OMZs.

Spatio-Temporal Variation of Vegetation Ecological Quality and Its Response to Climate Change in Rocky Desertification Areas in Southwest China during 2000–2020

Vegetation restoration is the primary task of ecological reconstruction and rocky desertification control in Karst areas. With vegetation net primary productivity and coverage as two key indicators, a vegetation ecological quality evaluation model was built based on meteorological and remote sensing data. Spatiotemporal variation of vegetation ecological quality index and its response to climate change in rocky desertification areas in Southwest China during 2000–2020 were also analyzed by using the difference method and linear trend method. The results showed that: (1) Vegetation ecological quality in rocky desertification areas in Southwest China showed a fluctuating upward trend during 2000–2020. In 2020, the vegetation ecological quality index reached 69.7, which was 19.9% and 9.3% higher than the averaged values for 2000 and 2000–2019, respectively, ranking the fourth highest since 2000. (2) Vegetation ecological quality of the rocky desertification areas in Yunnan, Guangxi and Guizhou provinces have been improved by 89.2%, 99.2% and 98.5%, respectively, from 2000 to 2020, with their vegetation ecological quality index values increasing by 0.5–0.75 per year in southeast Yunnan, most areas in Guizhou and northwest Guangxi. (3) Precipitation was an important meteorological factor affecting the vegetation ecological quality in rocky desertification areas. The vegetation ecological quality index in the northwest and central Yunnan rocky desertification areas has been rising slowly, but with localized declines at a yearly rate of nearly 0.25 caused by climatic warming and drying.