Restoration Efforts Research Articles

Building Biodiversity Digital Twins

A digital twin is a replica of a system, process, or object realized as a digital version. Digital twins are widespread in engineering and aim to can help many kinds of organizations simulate real situations and their outcomes, ultimately allowing them to make better decisions. Digital twins combine cutting-edge modelling approaches with powers of supercomputers with data streams. These data resources, coming through the research infrastructures, depend on data standardization, efficient data models and workflows, and on FAIRness (Findability, Accessibility, Interoperability, Reusability) of these elements. Digital twin concepts have been applied to biodiversity data since 2022, most notably through the Biodiversity Digital Twin project. The outcomes of dynamic modeling based on the biodiversity data (which availability changes in volumes and quality) against the globally available changing environmental and human impact data are expected to form the basis for management of natural resources and aims to support biodiversity recovery. The BioDT consortium brings together a dynamic team of experts in biodiversity data and standards, high performance computing, and FAIR data to realize the first set of biodiversity Digital Twin prototypes. Biodiversity evidence generated, standardized and shared from collections, systematic and long term surveys, eDNA and metabaroding, citizen science and other communities representing a range of biodiversity evidence types, can to be applied in the dynamic and interactive modelling solutions, known as digital tiwins. The Biodiversity Digital Twin project (and the twin approach in general) offers advanced simulation and prediction models to tackle global biodiversity challenges. This project is designed to address biodiversity dynamics through a set of use cases, providing insights and tools for conservation and restoration efforts. The BioDT project has revealed similarities and differences of applying Biodiversity Information Standards (TDWG) thinking and principles of data standardization to the communities with different levels of familiarity with standards and FAIR principles. The presentation at SPNCH-TDWG 2024 covered the process of building biodiversity digital twins by the second project year and exposed the work along the gradient of data intensity, of data FAIRness, and of complience to the international data standards. The details of ten BioDT project stories are covered in the special issue of the Pensoft RIO journal on BioDT project (Afsar et al. 2024, Chala et al. 2024, Frøslev et al. 2024, Ingenloff et al. 2024, Groeneveld et al. 2024, Khan et al. 2024, Mikryukov et al. 2024, Ovaskainen et al. 2024, Rolph et al. 2024, Taubert et al. 2024).

Quantifying the Contributions of Vegetation Dynamics and Climate Factors to the Enhancement of Vegetation Productivity in Northern China (2001–2020)

Vegetation dynamics are critical to the terrestrial carbon and water cycle, with China recognized as one of the largest contributors to global greening due to significant variations in forest coverage. However, distinguishing the effects of vegetation changes from those of climate factors on vegetation productivity remains challenging. This study conducted a comprehensive analysis of vegetation productivity in Northwest China over the past two decades, focusing on the spatiotemporal patterns and drivers of gross primary production (GPP) within ecological restoration areas. Using trend analysis and ridge regression models, we assessed the relative contributions of climate factors and vegetation coverage changes to GPP dynamics. The results revealed a significant increase in both the GPP and vegetation coverage in Northern China from 2001 to 2020, with GPP rising by 6.7 g C m−2 yr−1 and forest coverage increasing by 0.08% per year. A strong positive correlation (r = 0.9) was observed between vegetation coverage changes and GPP. The increase in GPP was driven by both climate factors and changes in forest coverage, with climate factors contributing 61.0% and vegetation coverage changes contributing 39.0%. Among the climate factors, radiation, temperature, and precipitation contributed 15.4%, 6.4%, and 39.2%, respectively. The study highlights the critical role of ecological restoration efforts, particular in regions like the Less Plateau and Inner Mongolian Plateau, in enhancing vegetation productivity. These findings provide valuable insights for addressing desertification and inform strategies for ecological restoration and sustainable development in Northern China.

Effects of Restoration Strategies on Soil Health after Lycium chinense Removal in the Qaidam Basin

Ecological restoration of arid land plays a pivotal role in maintaining ecological sustainability and enhancing the resilience of local communities. As an ecologically significant arid land, the Qinghai Qaidam Basin has been severely impacted by human activities such as the widespread planting of Lycium chinense, leading to considerable degradation of vegetation and soil carbon and nutrients. Currently, this vital area is undergoing extensive ecological restoration through the employment of a variety of strategies, but the impact remains inadequately understood. This study seeks to compare the effects of different restoration strategies in the Qinghai Qaidam Basin, focusing on soil properties across five scenarios: a controlled desert area, natural restoration after the removal of L. chinense, continued planting of L. chinense, restoration through the planting of Haloxylon ammodendron, and mixed reseeding after four years of restoration. Our findings indicate that mixed reseeding significantly improved soil water storage to 4.26%, especially in the deep soil layer. The planting of H. ammodendron strategy efficiently reduced soil pH in such an alkaline environment. Soil nutrients, including total nitrogen (TN), total phosphorus (TP), and total potassium (TK), were predominantly concentrated in the top soil layer, with reduced concentrations observed in the medium and deep soil layers. Although soil organic matter remained relatively stable across all restoration strategies, its content was notably lower in the deeper layers. Overall, mixed reseeding proved to be the most efficient strategy for enhancing soil water retention and nutrient levels. In contrast, despite achieving high vegetative coverage to 62.6%, planting of L. chinense was less ecologically beneficial due to its extensive irrigation requirements and adverse effects on soil structure. These findings suggest that restoring degraded areas to an ideal ecological state cannot be achieved within a few years, underscoring the importance of sustained restoration efforts. This study offers valuable insights and practical guidance for the ecological restoration of arid lands, contributing to the development of sustainable land management practices in similar regions.

Prescribed burning alters soil microbial community structure by changing soil physicochemical properties in temperate forests of northern China

Prescribed burning is commonly used to maintain forest ecosystem functions and reduce the risk of future wildfires. Although many studies have investigated the response of microbial community to wildfires in forest ecosystems, the effects of prescribed burnings on soil microbial community structure are less studied. It is also unclear that how post-fire soil physiochemical properties changes affected soil microbial communities. Here, we studied the impacts of prescribed burning on soil microbiome in three typical temperate forests of northern China by collecting soil physicochemical and high-throughput sequencing for 16S rRNA and 18S rRNA was applied to analyze the diversity and community composition of soil microbes (bacteria and fungi). Compared with pre-fire condition, prescribed burning significantly decreased Chao1 index and altered soil bacterial communities (P < 0.05), whereas it had no significant effect on fungal diversity and community structure of the (P > 0.05). Planctomycetes and Actinobacteria made the greatest contributions to the bacterial community dissimilarity between the pre-fire and post-fire conditions. The main variables influencing the post-fire soil microbial community structure are soil pH, available phosphorus, total nitrogen, and the ratio of soil total carbon to soil total nitrogen, which could account for 73.5% of the variation in the microbial community structure in these stands. Our findings demonstrated a great discrepancy in the responses of bacteria and fungi to prescribed burning. Prescribed burning altered the soil microbial structure by modifying the physicochemical properties. Our results pointed that it is essential to evaluate the impact of prescribed burnings on forest ecosystem functions. These findings provide an important baseline for assessing post-fire microbial recovery in the region and offer critical guidance for restoration efforts.

Enhancing highland ecosystems in East Hararge, Ethiopia: evaluating intervention strategies for species diversity, soil organic carbon stock, and carbon sequestration

Forest loss and soil degradation pose significant challenges globally, particularly in developing nations like Ethiopia. Various intervention strategies have been implemented to rehabilitate degraded ecosystems. However, research gaps exist in understanding the most effective approaches, particularly in highland ecosystems. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of different intervention strategies on species diversity and carbon stock in the West Hararghe zone, specifically at the Doba district Hades site. The data was collected from 5 February 2022 to 10 December 2022. The study area was characterized by systematic plots and transects to assess vegetation diversity and soil properties across four intervention categories: (physical; only soil and water conservation structures were used, enclosure; only animal and human interaction was restricted, biological; only different tree species were planted, biophysical; both soil water conservation and tree planting were used). Soil samples were collected at different depths, and biomass estimation was conducted using established formulas. Statistical analyses, including one-way ANOVA and post-hoc tests, were performed to test the level of significance. Biophysical interventions exhibited the highest species diversity index (SDI) (4.65 ± 1.21), followed by enclosure interventions (1.68 ± 0.58), while physical interventions recorded the lowest SDI (0.63 ± 0.18). Enclosure interventions led to the highest soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks at 40.13 t C ha−1, followed by biophysical interventions at 39.26 t C ha−1. Physical interventions resulted in the lowest SOC stocks at 23.9 t C ha−1, underscoring their potential for carbon sequestration. Biophysical interventions, which include both above-ground and below-ground biomass, showed significant carbon stock accumulation, totaling 173.8 t C ha−1 (39.26 t C ha−1 from SOC and 114.6 t C ha−1 from biomass), highlighting their effectiveness in enhancing ecosystem resilience. Other studies support these findings, underscoring the importance of context-specific approaches and long-term monitoring for sustainable land management. Enclosure and biophysical interventions emerge as promising strategies for enhancing species diversity and soil health, as well as promoting carbon sequestration in highland ecosystems. These findings emphasize the need for informed decision-making and community involvement in ecosystem restoration efforts to achieve meaningful and lasting impacts.

Balancing conservation and development for achieving land degradation neutrality

The loss of biodiversity has risen dramatically in the face of a global emergency and worsened by human activities which involves habitat destruction, pollution, and climate change. Biodiversity is essential for sustainable development, supporting ecosystem services crucial for agriculture, forestry and climate regulation. These services are threatened by biodiversity loss, which also has an impact on world cultural heritage, economic stability and human well-being. Moreover, a decline in biodiversity exacerbates the effects of climate change, undermining ecosystem resilience and making food poverty worse. Achieving Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN), a global goal to stop and reverse land degradation through sustainable land management techniques, depends on effective biodiversity protection. LDN projects aim to balance restoration efforts against deterioration in order to preserve or improve land-based natural capital. This chapter highlights the biophysical and socioeconomic factors driving land degradation, including unsustainable agricultural practices, urbanization and climate change impacts. It underscores the importance of integrated approaches that consider ecological, social and economic dimensions in achieving LDN. Principles such as respecting human rights, promoting good governance, and engaging stakeholders are critical for successful LDN implementation. This chapter emphasizes the need for global cooperation and policy reforms to mitigate biodiversity loss, combat land degradation and ensure sustainable land use practices for future generations.

Assessing the ecological functioning and biodiversity of remnant native flat oyster (Ostrea angasi) reefs in temperate southeast Australia

Oyster reefs are critically endangered coastal habitats which provide valuable ecosystems services. Despite their importance, there remains a significant knowledge gap in our understanding of how oyster and sediment characteristics influence the ecological functioning and biodiversity of remnant Australian flat oyster (Ostrea angasi) reefs. To inform restoration efforts, we assessed relationships between community respiration rates (CR), inorganic nitrogen fluxes, filtration rates, biodiversity, and oyster morphometrics as well as sediment conditions for three remanent flat oyster reefs (Oyster Cove, Ralphs Bay, and Quarantine Bay) in southeast Tasmania. Additionally, we explored relationships between net denitrification, and flat oyster morphometrics and sediment conditions at one of the sites (Ralphs Bay) in southeast Tasmania. We observed positive relationships between CR, inorganic nitrogen fluxes, filtration rates, and live flat oyster biomass, as well as between the richness and biomass of associated taxa and total flat oyster biomass (both tissue and shell including dead shell), across all three locations. We also found an increase in net denitrification associated with live oyster biomass at one of the oyster reefs (Ralphs Bay). The CR, inorganic nitrogen fluxes, filtration rates, diversity of taxa and biomass of bivalves and flat oyster biomass was higher at Ralphs Bay, which has the most intact reef, compared to the other two locations. In contrast to other studies, the organic and silt content of the sediment showed limited influence on CR, inorganic nitrogen fluxes, filtration rates and net denitrification. CR, and inorganic nitrogen fluxes in these flat oyster reefs were like other restored and natural oyster reefs globally, but net denitrification, filtration rate and taxonomic richness exceeded those previously observed globally. These results highlight the important role of oyster biomass in enhancing water quality and biodiversity. Burgeoning flat oyster reef restoration initiatives should prioritise the enhancement of both live oyster populations and dead shells to recover their associated ecological functions and biological diversity.

Study on the Constraint Effect of Vegetation on Ecosystem Services in the Yellow River Basin

Ecosystem services (ESs) serve as the foundation for sustaining human life and development, with vegetation status playing a crucial role in influencing the supply of these services. This study focuses on the Yellow River Basin (YRB), where we quantitatively examined the main ESs indicators from 2010 to 2020. We explored the trends in fractional vegetation cover (FVC) and ESs, as well as the constraint relationship between FVC and total ecosystem services (TES). The findings are as follows. (1) From 2010 to 2020, FVC, landscape aesthetics (LA), soil conservation (SC), food production (FP), and TES in the YRB demonstrated an upward trend, whereas water yield (WY) exhibited a downward trend. (2) A constraint relationship exists between FVC and LA, SC, WY, and TES, with the constraint line taking on a hump-like shape. (3) The threshold value of the constraint line between FVC and LA, SC, WY, and TES are approximately 80%. Below this value, FVC does not impose a constraint effect on LA, SC, WY, and TES, but above 80%, a strong constraint effect emerges, leading to a reduction in LA, SC, WY, and TES. These results offer a valuable data reference for guiding future vegetation restoration and ecological engineering efforts in the region.

Trends in planted native tree biomass established in a tropical Andes city water basins

Studying tree growth processes helps us evaluate the success of restoration efforts in recovering ecosystem processes such as carbon accumulation. Here, we study aboveground biomass dynamics in four common‐endemic tree species from the tropical Andes (Quercus humboldtii, Retrophyllum rospigliosii, Citharexylum subflavescens, and Croton magdalenensis), established in the main water supply basins of Medellín, Colombia. We use measurements from 19 permanent plots from five censuses between 2010 and 2023 to develop biomass equations as a function of t for each species (B = f[t]) by combining tree growth models of diameter (D) as a function of time (t) and pre‐existing allometric equations of biomass (B) developed in the same site as a function of D and wood density (ρ). We found that, because of initially higher growth rates characteristic of species belonging to the fast‐growing end of the fast‐slow growth economic spectrum, C. magdalenensis and C. subflavescens were the species with higher biomass accumulation at 13 years (142 and 132 kg, respectively). However, the potential of the slow‐growing species (Q. humboldtii and R. rospigliosii) for carbon sequestration initiatives in the long term was highlighted. To our knowledge, this is the first study in the region examining the dynamics of aboveground biomass in Andean restoration programs. It combines growth models and allometric equations, which can be useful for measuring the success of the implementation of ecological restoration programs and evaluating the need to apply adaptive management strategies.

Caatinga Microbiome Initiative: disentangling the soil microbiome across areas under desertification and restoration in the Brazilian drylands

The Caatinga biome in Brazil is renowned for its rich aboveground biodiversity. However, approximately 19% of this biome has experienced desertification, severely affecting the soil microbiome. Monitoring these microbial communities is essential to understanding the impacts of desertification and the potential outcomes of restoration efforts. The Caatinga Microbiome Initiative aims to assess the soil microbiome in areas undergoing desertification and those under restoration in the Brazilian drylands. This initiative seeks to explore the core microbial communities and their functions, including overlooked groups such as protists, nematodes, and viruses across native, desertified, and restored areas. We believe that two approaches should be used simultaneously in the study of microbiomes in areas undergoing desertification. First, the use of the soil microbiome as a bioindicator of soil quality in both desertified and restored lands. Second, the manipulation of the microbiome to facilitate soil restoration. By understanding soil microbiome responses to desertification and restoration, we can develop targeted restoration strategies to enhance biodiversity and promote functional recovery in desertified areas.

Land cover and burn severity dynamics of the Ogan Komering Ilir peatlands from 2015 to 2023 using sar and optical datasets

Land cover changes and wildfires have had an increasing impact on the Ogan Komering Ilir Peatland ecosystems in South Sumatra, Indonesia. This study aims to understand the peatland land cover and burn severity dynamics from 2015 to 2023. The random forest method was applied to classify land cover, while the differenced Normalized Burn Ratio (dNBR) was used for mapping fire severity. We combined various satellite data to classify land cover, consisting of Landsat-8, Sentinel-1, and Sentinel-2. Landsat-8 or Sentinel-2 images were also used for the dNBR calculation. We revealed complex climate, human, and restoration interactions in land cover and burn severity fluctuations over 273,799 hectares of the study area from 2015 to 2023. The 2015 El Niño-induced drought led to 21,754 fire hotspots and 2.01% of the area in high-severity burns. In 2016, it reduced tree cover by 10.18% and increased bare/sparse vegetation by 6.11%. The 2019 El Niño event led to 7,893 fire hotspots, lessening unburned areas and worsening burns. Due to the extreme effects of the 2015 drought, restoration efforts between 2016 and 2020 significantly decreased fire hotspots in 2016. Tree cover stabilized, reaching 48.46% by 2020, whereas unburned areas rose to 69.46% in 2018, showing good recovery and lower fire severity. In 2021-2023, fire hotspots were modest relative to El Niño years but increased in 2023. After 2020, tree cover decreased, but other land cover classes fluctuated. Therefore, continual monitoring and adaptive management are critical for reducing negative consequences and increasing ecosystem resilience.

Historical insights, current challenges: tracking marine biodiversity in an urban harbor ecosystem in the face of climate change

The Boston Harbor Islands is the only coastal drumlin archipelago in the USA, featuring a distinctive and uncommon geological intertidal habitat known as mixed coarse substrate, which supports a range of coastal species and ecological processes. Recently designated as one of America’s 11 most endangered historic places due to climate change impacts, coastal adaptation and restoration efforts are crucial to their preservation. Such efforts can benefit from historic and current knowledge of endemic and emergent biodiversity. To investigate broad trends in coastal biodiversity, we compiled an inventory of marine coastal macroalgae, macroinvertebrates, fish, mammals, and shorebirds observed in the harbor since 1861. Records span 159 years, consisting of 451 unique taxa from 19 phyla. Analysis of average taxonomic distinctness (AvTD) revealed increases in diversity towards the end of the twentieth and early twenty-first century, likely associated with improved water quality (dissolved oxygen; AvTD > 85, p = 0.01) due to harbor restoration in the 1980s. Macroinvertebrates comprised 50% of the records, making this the most diverse taxonomic group in the time series. A significant increase of non-indigenous species, primarily macroinvertebrates and macroalgae, was observed over the last 20 years near human infrastructure and across multiple islands, a consequence of global change and characteristic of most urban harbors. The mixed coarse intertidal habitat, which makes up > 70% of Boston Harbor’s inner islands and supports high macroinvertebrate and macroalgal diversity (47% of species records), is not routinely monitored; our findings serve as a foundational resource for climate adaptation projects and decision-making.

Active restoration after three decades: Seed addition increases native dominance compared to landscape‐scale secondary succession

Abstract Active restoration often aims to accelerate ecosystem recovery. However, active restoration may not be worthwhile if its effects are overwhelmed by changes that occur passively. Moreover, it can be challenging to separate the effects of passive processes, such as dispersal and natural succession, from active restoration efforts. We assess the 24‐year impact of actively restoring a Minnesota old‐field grassland via seed addition of native tallgrass prairie species. We compared the abundance of four functional plant groups in actively restored plots against abundances in three reference classes: (1) unrestored plots undergoing passive recovery within the same old field, (2) passively recovering plots in two nearby old fields of similar age and (3) a chronosequence of 21 old fields within the same landscape. Active restoration led to a higher abundance of native grasses and forbs in the 36 m2 treatment plots. Seed addition was more effective if the original vegetation was first removed using herbicide, burning and tilling. However, long‐term conclusions about the efficacy of active restoration varied widely depending on the choice of reference class. In our small‐scale restoration experiment, native abundance was similarly high in both the actively restored and reference plots after 24 years, suggesting either (1) passive recovery or (2) local dispersal of native species from nearby treatment plots (i.e. cross‐contamination). In contrast, a comparison with two nearby reference fields suggested active restoration resulted in much higher native abundance relative to passive recovery. A smaller, positive effect was detected when we compared actively restored plots to the chronosequence of old fields. In the chronosequence, many passively recovering old fields had transitioned to native grass dominance naturally, although active restoration appeared to increase native forb abundance. Synthesis and applications: Our findings highlight the importance of using scale‐appropriate references for assessing the efficacy and need for active restoration. Comparing actively restored plots with the surrounding landscape, we found that active restoration and passive recovery led to similar plant communities after 24 years. Because local dispersal from actively restored sites can nearby references, caution should be exercised when evaluating long‐term restoration projects using only small‐scale experiments.

Forest Restoration Thinning Has Minimal Impacts on Surface Soil Carbon in a Second-Growth Temperate Rainforest

Forest restoration thinning may accelerate the development of structural complexity toward old-growth conditions faster than a natural forest, yet associated changes in forest carbon (C) are poorly understood. Old-growth forests are characterized by high levels of sequestered C in aboveground biomass and soil C pools, yet active management has well-recognized negative impacts on stored C. Effects of forest restoration thinning on forest C can be determined using longitudinal measurements and modeling based on stand conditions and tree growth. At Ellsworth Creek Preserve in Southwest Washington, forest restoration efforts in a second-growth temperate rainforest have been monitored using permanent plots since 2007. Here, we compare repeat measurements from 2020, modeled forest C, and measurements of O-horizon C pools from 2022 to determine C impacts of silvicultural treatments for old-growth restoration. We found good general agreement between empirical measurements and models of forest C using the Forest Vegetation Simulator (FVS). However, treatment alone was not a strong indicator for C conditions; rather, forest age and age–treatment interactions better predicted soil C responses to restoration treatments. These data may indicate that “light” forest restoration thinning can accelerate old-growth development with minimal effects on soil carbon—a win-win conservation strategy for old-growth forests and the climate.

Stand characteristics regulate forest water use efficiency in the Three-North Shelterbelt Forest Program region of China

Abstract The Three-North Shelter Forest Program (TNSFP) of China, one of the largest forestry ecological projects, serves as a nature-based solution to addressing ecological, social, and economic challenges and issues. This program, mainly situated in arid and semi-arid regions, critically focuses on improving water use efficiency (WUE) - maximizing carbon sequestration per unit of water consumed - as a key strategy for optimizing water resource utilization and ensuring the long-term success of vegetation restoration efforts. However, the regulatory mechanisms of forest WUE in this region remain unclear. Here, we adopted an interpretative machine-learning method to investigate the influence of main environmental elements, topographical conditions, and stand characteristics on forest WUE in the TNSFP region from 2001 to 2022 based on remote sensing products, ground monitoring data, and forest inventory data. Our study identified soil moisture (SM) as the primary factor influencing forest WUE across the TNSFP region, with higher SM levels generally leading to improved WUE in forests. However, stand characteristics strongly mediated their relationship. Specifically, forest WUE initially increases against forest density before peaking at about 1000 trees hm–2 for needle-leaved forests and 800 trees hm–2 for broad-leaved forests, respectively, then gradually declining due to water competition. When SM is relatively adequate, moderate thinning could significantly enhance forest WUE. Furthermore, implementing management strategies to improve WUE is crucial as needle-leaved forests mature. This study emphasizes the significant impacts of stand characteristics on forest WUE in the TNSFP region, offering essential insights for optimizing water resource management in managed forests across arid and semi-arid regions.

Coastal Storm-Induced Sinkholes: Insights from Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Monitoring

In recent decades, the scientific community has increasingly focused on extreme events linked to climate change, which are leading to more intense and frequent natural disasters. The Mediterranean can be considered a hotspot where the effects of these changes are expected to be more intense compared to other regions of the planet. Italy is not exempt; in fact, with its extensive shoreline, it is particularly vulnerable, especially to high sea levels and coastal erosions. In this framework, from late October to early November 2023, six storm surges occurred in the Gulf of Trieste (NE Italy). These events, characterized by winds from 190°N to 220°N and the significant wave height, which reached up to 1.81 m nearshore—an uncommon meteorological condition in the northern Adriatic Sea—caused the occurrence of eight coastal sinkholes and substantial damages to man-made structures. Thanks to Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) and their derived products (high-resolution orthomosaics, Digital Elevation Models—DEMs, and point clouds), it was possible to study these features over time, enabling long-term coastal dynamics monitoring, which can be crucial for timely and effective response and restoration efforts.

Identification of conservation and restoration materials for iron relics through ultraviolet-induced visible luminescence imaging and pyrolysis-gas chromatography/mass spectrometry

Understanding the previous protection and restoration efforts and the current state of cultural relics is essential before compiling a conservation and restoration plan. The lack of detailed archival records for some early conservation operations, the identification of restoration materials necessitates the use of scientific analytical methods. In this study, the composition and spatial distribution of historical restoration materials on five iron relics were investigated through pyrolysis-gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (Py-GC/MS) and ultraviolet-induced visible luminescence imaging (UVL). The relics studied were iron weight 20791, iron adze head 2335, and iron axe 2334 from the Gansu Provincial Museum, iron sword D0008 from the Zhaotong Municipal Museum, and iron sword 450 from the National Museum of China. All five relics had undergone restoration without accompanying archival records. UVL revealed the distribution of various conservation materials. Notably, two distinct layers of the conservation material were observed on iron axe 2334. Differences in the fluorescence color and intensity of iron sword 450 provided information regarding the sampling strategy. The samples were collected under ultraviolet light emitting diode illumination to ensure representativeness and minimize damage to the relics. Through Py-GC/MS, the coating materials for iron weight 20791 and iron adze head 2335 were identified as boiled tung oil mixed with rosin resin. Iron axis 2334 had a two-layer coating: a base layer of boiled tung oil and a top layer of shellac. The coating material for iron sword D0008 was determined to be paraffin wax. The protective layer of iron sword 450 included multiple materials, including shellac, polystyrene, and bisphenol-A-type epoxy resin. This study confirms that UVL combined with Py-GC/MS serves as an effective technique for analyzing historical restoration materials. UVL guided the selection of representative samples for Py-GC/MS, reducing the time and amount of sampling required and minimizing further damage to the relics. This research provides valuable data for the restoration archives of five iron artifacts, offering a scientific basis for conservators to evaluate conservation methods, devise future conservation strategies, and exclude ineffective conservation materials.

Monitoring the rewilding of the Brazilian Atlantic Forest on tree and mammal diversity: From a biodiversity hotspot to a biodiversity hopespot

The implementation of rewilding initiatives is crucial for biodiversity recovery, particularly in biodiversity hotspots such as the Brazilian Atlantic Forest. Long-term monitoring of rewilding initiatives is critical for assessing progress and informing management choices. This study assesses the efficiency of different reforestation practices for biodiversity recovery, including passive restoration, active reforestation with different native seedlings, and plantations of exotic species. We applied an ecosystem approach to estimate the tree and mammal diversity, collected through forest plots and camera traps. We selected differently managed areas and included the oldest forest patches as reference points for the assessment of biodiversity; a naturally disturbed montane forest in the area was included as a control category for the disturbance analysis. Moreover, we investigated the influence of ecological variables, such as biodiversity, aboveground biomass, and altitude, on rewilding processes. Our results suggest that Eucalyptus plantations, a simplified ecosystem made up of monocultures of exotic species, support lower biodiversity. On the contrary, active reforestation with different native species resulted in an ecological status comparable to naturally regrown secondary forests. We show that active reforestation can reduce the time required for rewilding. We also found a positive correlation between tree and mammal species richness. These results underscore the importance and potential of responsible restoration efforts in recovering local biodiversity, contributing to the vision of a future where the Brazilian Atlantic Forest can be acknowledged not only as a biodiversity hotspot but also as a “hopespot.”

The ecology of giant kelp colonization and its implications for kelp forest restoration.

The success and cost-effectiveness of kelp forest restoration hinges on understanding the colonization ecology of kelps, particularly with respect to dispersal potential, recruitment success, and subsequent establishment. To gain needed insight into these processes we examined spatial patterns and temporal trajectories of the colonization of a large artificial reef by the giant kelp Macrocystis pyrifera. The 151 ha artificial reef complex was constructed in three phases over 21 years, enabling dispersal, recruitment, and subsequent establishment to be examined for a wide range of environmental conditions, dispersal distances, and source population sizes. Natural colonization of all phases of the artificial reef by giant kelp was rapid (within 1 year) and extended across the entire 7-km-long reef complex. Colonization density declined with distance from the nearest source population, but only during the first phase when the distance from the nearest source population was ≤3.5 km. Despite this decline, recruitment on artificial reef modules farthest from the source population was sufficient to produce dense stands of kelp within a couple of years. Experimental outplanting of the artificial reef with laboratory-reared kelp embryos was largely successful but proved unnecessary, as the standing biomass of kelp resulting from natural recruitment exceeded that observed on nearby natural reefs within 2-3 years of artificial reef construction for all three phases. Such high potential for natural colonization following disturbance has important implications for kelp forest restoration efforts that employ costly and logistically difficult methods to mimic this process by active seeding and transplanting.

Predicting Characteristic Length Scales of Barrier Island Segmentation in Microtidal Environments

AbstractSegmented barrier islands can be found in regions with small tidal ranges. In contrast to tidally dominated barriers, where inlet dynamics are thought to control island length scales, the controls on barrier island length scales in wave‐dominated environments have not been quantified. These microtidal barriers typically have a curved shoreline, suggesting the influence of wave‐driven alongshore sediment transport. Microtidal barriers are also typically hydrodynamically isolated from one another, as weak tidal flows limit interactions between adjoining barriers. To better understand the controls on and scales of barrier segmentation in the relative absence of tides, here we develop a theoretical framework to estimate the alongshore length scales at which a barrier will either breach or heal following a disturbance in the barrier morphology. The non‐dimensional framework compares the timescales of overwash (advective) and alongshore sediment transport (diffusive) processes along barrier island chains. We then apply this framework to modern barrier islands in the microtidal Gulf of Mexico using wave hindcast data and the lengths, widths, heights, and lagoon depths measured from remotely sensed geospatial data and topobathymetric data. We find that most of these barriers are currently longer than their critical length scale, often as a result of coastal restoration efforts. Our critical length scale analysis suggests that most of the Gulf of Mexico barriers are vulnerable to segmentation despite coastal restoration efforts intended to protect fisheries and the mainland coasts.