Vegetation Diversity Research Articles

An operational IoT-based slope stability forecast using a digital twin

The paper investigates the combined use of real-time hydrological monitoring, publicly available meteorological data and hydrological and geotechnical numerical modelling, to develop data-driven models to forecast the stability of a slope. This study showcases a first attempt to integrate these critical aspects into a fully automatic Internet of Thing (IoT)-based local landslide early warning system (Lo-LEWS).The paper uses a validated hydrological numerical model, back-calculated over real monitored conditions, to evaluate the slope stability. The factor of safety (FoS) was computed coupling the commercial package GeoStudio, using transient SEEP/W and Slope. The analyses were conducted for 5 different 1-year datasets encompassing both historical (2019–2020, 2021–2022, 2022–2023) and future projections (2064–2065, 2095–2096) of meteorological variables. Daily variation of hydrological and meteorological variables, along with vegetation indicators were used as inputs to train data-driven models, using polynomial regression (PR) and Random Forest (RF), to forecast daily FoS values. The trained models proved to be effective and were employed to forecast slope stability for the rolling three days. To accurately forecast the FoS, it was essential to incorporate forecasted hydrological, meteorological and vegetation variables into the analysis. The hydrological variables used as inputs for the data-driven models are forecasted using an open-source Python package for the analysis of hydrogeological time series, called Pastas (Collenteur et al., 2019). This model uses historical and forecasted meteorological and vegetation conditions to, specifically, replicate and forecast the time series of volumetric water content (VWC) and pore water pressure (PWP). The forecasted hydrological variables from Pastas, the forecasted meteorological variables as well as Leaf Area Index (LAI) are used as inputs for the trained data-driven models to forecast the FoS values.Finally, a web-based platform (WBP) has been created that automatically runs once a day and perform the following actions: 1) fetches measured and forecasted data using APIs, 2) runs rolling three days forecast based on collected hydrological, meteorological and vegetation variables, and 3) sends the forecasted values back to the Norwegian Geotechnical Institute (NGI) data platform, NGI Live, making them available for real-time visualization in online dashboards. If FoS, VWC or PWP threshold values are exceeded, text messages and emails are sent to the system managers, enabling them to take appropriate actions. The successful implementation of this framework is the result of a collaborative effort across diverse expertise areas, including geotechnics, hydrology, meteorology, instrumentation, and informatics.

The Effects of Livestock Grazing on Species Diversity and Functional Indicators of Vegetation in Two Watersheds with Different Climates

The Effects of Livestock Grazing on Species Diversity and Functional Indicators of Vegetation in Two Watersheds with Different Climates

Scale-dependence in elk habitat selection for a reintroduced population in Wisconsin, USA.

Habitat selection is a critical aspect of a species' ecology, requiring complex decision-making that is both hierarchical and scale-dependent, since factors that influence selection may be nested or unequal across scales. Elk (Cervus canadensis) ranged widely across diverse ecoregions in North America prior to European settlement and subsequent eastern extirpation. Most habitat selection studies have occurred within their contemporary western range, even after eastern reintroductions began. As habitat selection can vary by geographic location, available cover, season, and diel period, it is important to understand how a non-migratory, reintroduced population in northern Wisconsin, USA, is limited by the lack of variation in topography, elevation, and vegetation. We tested scale-dependent habitat selection on 79 adult elk from 2017 to 2020 using resource selection functions across temporal (i.e., seasonal) and spatial scales (i.e., landscape and home range). We found that selection varied both spatially and temporally, and elk selected areas with the greatest potential to influence fitness at larger scales, meaning elk selected areas closer to escape cover and further from "risky" features (e.g., annual wolf territory centers, county roads, and highways). We found stronger avoidance of annual wolf territory centers during spring, suggesting elk were selecting safer habitats during calving season. Elk selected habitats with less canopy cover across both spatial scales and all seasons, suggesting that elk selected areas with better access to forage as early seral stage stands have greater forage biomass than closed-canopy forests and direct solar radiation to provide warmth in the cooler seasons. This study provides insight into the complexity of hierarchical decision-making, such as how risky habitat features and land cover type influence habitat selection differently across seasons and spatial scales, influencing the decision-making of elk. Scale-dependent behavior is crucial to understand within specific geographic regions, as these decisions scale up to influence population dynamics.

Bacterial and fungal keystone taxa play different roles in maintaining community resistance and driving soil organic carbon dynamics in response to Solidago Canadensis invasion

The invasion of alien plants has significant implications for vegetation structure and diversity, which could lead to changes in the carbon (C) input from vegetation and change the transformation and decomposition processes of C, thereby altering the dynamics of soil organic carbon (SOC) within ecosystems. Whether alien plant invasion increases the SOC stock and changes SOC fractions consistently within regional scales, and the underlying mechanisms driving these SOC dynamics remain poorly understood. This study investigated SOC dynamics by comparing the plots that suffered invasion and non-invasion of Solidago Canadensis across five ecological function areas in Anhui Province, China, considering climate, edaphic factors, vegetation, and soil microbes. The results demonstrated that the impact of S. Canadensis invasion on SOC storage was not consistent at each site in the 0–20 cm soil layer, as indicated by the range of SOC content (5.94–12.45 g kg−1) observed at non-invaded plots. Stable SOC exhibited similar response patterns with SOC to plant invasion, whereas labile SOC did not. In addition, bacterial and fungal communities were shifted in structure at each site by plant invasion. Bacterial communities exhibited greater resistance to S. Canadensis invasion than did fungal communities, as evidenced by three aspects of the resistance indices—community resistance, phylogenetic conservation, and network complexity. The mechanisms driving SOC dynamics under S. Canadensis invasion were explored using structural equation models. This revealed that fungal keystone taxa responsible for community resistance controlled stable SOC fractions. In contrast, bacterial keystone taxa had the opposite effect on labile and stable SOC. Climatic and edaphic factors were also involved in the labile and stable SOC dynamics. Overall, this study provides novel insights into the dynamics of SOC under S. Canadensis invasion on a regional scale.

Richness, Endemism and Seasonality of Horseflies (Diptera: Tabanidae) in Forests of the Equatorial Pacific Region of Ecuador.

The Equatorial Pacific Region (EPR) in Ecuador is characterized by high rates of vegetation diversity, and rapid loss of vegetation cover due to anthropogenic pressures. In this study, general ecological aspects of the Tabanidae family, including richness, endemism, and seasonality, were evaluated. Analyses reveal that approximately 42% of the species recorded for Ecuador are present in the EPR, and out of the 84 species cataloged in the EPR, 6 are endemic, representing an endemism of 7.14%. Furthermore, it was established that tabanid populations in a coastal dry forest significantly increased their population density during the dry season, while decreasing during the wet season.

Effects of diverse vegetation assemblages on the thermal behavior of extensive vegetated roofs

Extensive vegetated roofs (EVRs) offer effective nature-based solutions to cities, mitigating thermal extremes induced by urbanization and climate change. A field experiment monitored EVR's thermal regulation in summer and winter. Two sites with contrasting microclimatic conditions in Córdoba city, Argentina, were compared: city center (Core of the urban heat island, UHI) and city periphery (Fringe of the UHI). Diverse plant assemblages constituted five treatments to evaluate plant and thermal performance. A Random Forest model analyzed the contributions of various factors to thermal benefits. All treatments showed > 60% plant survival rates, and four treatments achieved > 90% coverage. In winter, the assemblages, including succulents, herbs, and graminoids, offer effective thermal regulation. In summer, thermal performance differed between the two sites. At the Fringe, the native flora (herbaceous and graminoids) + herbaceous + succulents, and succulents + graminoids furnished outstanding thermal regulation. Conversely, at the Core, succulents outperformed. The coverage was the dominant variable for predicting thermal performance, followed by season and location. The findings provide the basis for designing EVRs to optimize thermal benefits.

Wild Bee Conservation in Viticulture: Effects of Semi-Natural Habitats, Organic Management, and Fungicide Reduction.

In agricultural landscapes, the removal of semi-natural habitats (SNH) and the intensive use of pesticides contribute to declines of biodiversity, including crop pollinators such as bees (Hymenoptera: Apoidea). However, effects of pesticide use and landscape characteristics on bees have rarely been studied together. In this study, we investigated how SNH in the surrounding landscape, organic and conventional management, and the reduction of fungicides affect wild bee diversity in 32 vineyards in southwest Germany. We used yellow pan traps to sample bees in a crossed design of management (organic vs. conventional) and fungicide use (reduced in fungus-resistant grape varieties vs. regular) along a gradient with increasing proportions of SNH in the surrounding landscape. Higher proportions of SNH influenced species composition of bees and increased the abundance and richness of above-ground-nesting species. Organic vineyards had a 49% higher abundance of bees compared to conventional vineyards. The reduction of fungicides did not affect bee diversity nor abundance. The absence of a response to fungicide intensity suggests that the benefit of organically managed vineyards to wild bees was through differences in their vegetation management, which is in line with the positive response of bees to SNH in the surrounding landscape. Synthesis and applications: Our study underlines that the local provision of diverse vegetation in vineyards and the landscape-scale provision of suitable SNH are key factors for wild bee conservation in viticulture.

Impact of invasive alien plants on the resident floral diversity in Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve, Nepal.

Invasive alien plant species (IAPS) pose a serious threat to overall plant biodiversity across the globe. Nepal's national parks and protected areas are not devoid of the impact of IAPS. Unfortunately, there is a substantial gap in knowledge regarding the extent and impact of invasion in protected areas of Nepal. This study assessed the impact of invasive alien plant species on the resident plant species of the Koshi Tapu wildlife reserve. After a preliminary field observation, we selected five major IAPS in the area, Mesosphaerum suaveolens, Chromolaena odorata, Ipomoea carnea, Lantana camara, and Mikania micrantha for this study. Ten pairs of adjacent plots sized 4 m × 4 m were surveyed for each invasive species, comprising diverse vegetation types. Each pair consisted of one "invaded plot" where the invasive species was dominant with cover greater than 50%, and another "uninvaded plot" laid out in an adjacent area with similar site conditions but without the invasive species. We calculated the Sørensen Index of Similarity for each paired plot. Wilcoxon rank-sum test was employed to compare ecological parameters between invaded and uninvaded plots for various plant species. Similarly, the difference in impact between each of the five invasive species was assessed using the Kruskal-Wallis test. Species richness varied significantly between invaded and uninvaded plots for C. odorata and I. carnea. The most significant impact on species composition of invaded communities (39.6%) was observed for C. odorata. The cover of the other dominant species varied significantly between invaded and uninvaded plots for all five species studied. The Kruskal-Wallis test showed no significant difference in the impact caused by the five studied invasive species on Species richness, Shannon-Wiener diversity index, species evenness, and height of dominant species. However, a significant difference was observed between the impacts of five studied invasive species and the cover of other dominant species. The crown cover of dominant species decreased much more in the invaded plots of L. camara and M. micrantha than in other species. Specialized management efforts are required to control highly invasive species, such as C. odorata and I. carnea, alongside proactive measures to prevent further spread in ecologically sensitive areas.

Phytodiversity of Species Used to Prepare "Tchonron" Sauce, A Cultural Dish of The Senoufo People, Northern Côte d’Ivoire

The Sénoufo, a people from the north of Côte d'Ivoire, are renowned for their consumption of leafy vegetables, particularly in the little-known ‘TCHONRON’ sauce. The aim of this study is to draw up a list of the leafy vegetables used in the preparation of this dish, in order to enhance their value and contribute to the sustainable management of these plant genetic resources. To this end, an ethnobotanical survey was carried out among 640 Senufo indigenous people, using a questionnaire. A total of 40 leafy vegetable species belonging to 28 genera and 20 families were identified. In fact, the most represented families are Solanaceae, Amaranthaceae and Asteraceae. The majority of these species are herbs (58%). Of these species, 25% are introduced (exotic); they are used as substitutes for wild leafy vegetables by the population in times of scarcity. On the other hand, introduced species contribute to the diversity of leafy vegetables used in the preparation of “TCHONRON” sauce. In addition, the leafy vegetables used to prepare this local product are dominated by Guinean-Congolese and Sudanese-Zambezian (GC-SZ) species, representing 55% of all species inventoried. This study reveals that the leafy vegetables used to prepare the “TCHONRON” sauce are diversified, and that the consumption of this sauce, a product of the Senoufo region, is not only cultural, but also contributes to the prevention of several diseases.

Herbivore regulation of savanna vegetation: Structural complexity, diversity, and the complexity–diversity relationship

AbstractLarge mammalian herbivores exert strong top‐down control on plants, which in turn influence most ecological processes. Accordingly, the decline, displacement, or extinction of wild large herbivores in African savannas is expected to alter the physical structure of vegetation, the diversity of plant communities, and downstream ecosystem functions. However, herbivore impacts on vegetation comprise both direct and indirect effects and often depend on herbivore body size and plant type. Understanding how herbivores affect savanna vegetation requires disaggregating the effects of different herbivores and the responses of different plants, as well as accounting for both the structural complexity and composition of plant assemblages. We combined high‐resolution Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) with field measurements from size‐selective herbivore exclosures in Kenya to determine how herbivores affect the diversity and physical structure of vegetation, how these impacts vary with body size and plant type, and whether there are predictable associations between plant diversity and structural complexity. Herbivores generally reduced the diversity and abundance of both overstory and understory plants, though the magnitude of these impacts varied substantially as a function of body size and plant type: only megaherbivores (elephants and giraffes) affected tree cover, whereas medium‐ and small‐bodied herbivores had stronger effects on herbaceous diversity and abundance. We also found evidence that herbivores altered the strength and direction of interactions between trees and herbaceous plants, with signatures of facilitation in the presence of herbivores and of competition in their absence. While megaherbivores uniquely affected tree structure, medium‐ and small‐bodied species had stronger (and complementary) effects on metrics of herbaceous vegetation structure. Plant structural responses to herbivore exclusion were species‐specific: of five dominant tree species, just three exhibited significant individual morphological variation across exclosure treatments, and the size class of herbivores responsible for these effects varied across species. Irrespective of exclosure treatment, more species‐rich plant communities were more structurally complex. We conclude that the diversity and architecture of savanna vegetation depend on consumptive and nonconsumptive plant–herbivore interactions; the roles of herbivore diversity, body size, and plant traits in mediating those interactions; and a positive feedback between plant diversity and structural complexity.

Well-Being and Sustainable Utilization of Forest Environment with Diverse Vegetation Distributions

Forest landscape space is the basic unit of forest landscape resources. Healthy forest landscape resources can not only improve the sustainable cycle of forest ecological service function, but also have a positive impact on human health and well-being. Evidence supports the view that the forest environment is beneficial to people’s health, and further discussion of the dose response between environmental attributes and physical and mental recovery has been widely carried out by scholars. As an important component of environmental attributes, it is necessary to clarify the relationship between vegetation distribution and users’ health in order to better plan, design, and utilize forest environmental resources. This study mainly used the virtual immersive forest environment video in VR, and used the difference test in SPSS 23.0 to clarify whether the distribution of vegetation in the forest environment will affect the physiological and psychological recovery effect of users. The main results are as follows: (1) Experiencing the forest environment can promote users’ physiological and psychological health, and its recovery effect is significantly better than the indoor environment (p < 0.05). (2) The distribution of vegetation in the forest environment will affect users’ physiological and psychological recovery effect. Among them, in the cluster and randomly distributed forest environments, the relaxation and concentration of users can be improved mainly by alleviating their negative emotions. In the evenly distributed forest environment, users mainly achieve the purpose of relaxation by improving their vitality and positive emotions. These results show that the distribution of vegetation is one of the factors for the restoration of forest environment. In the future design and management of the forest environment, the health and well-being of users can be effectively enhanced by getting involved with the vegetation distribution in the site, aiming to provide a scientific basis for the promotion of the rehabilitation function of forest landscape space and its sustainable utilization, thus promoting the sustainable development of forest resources and improving people’s quality of life.

The Role of Climate Change and Human Intervention in Shaping Vegetation Patterns in the Fen River Basin of China: Implications of the Grain for Green Program

The Fen River Basin (FRB), an ecologically fragile region in China, exemplifies the intricate interplay between vegetation dynamics and both climatic and human-driven factors. This study leverages a 40-year (1982–2022) dataset, utilizing the kernel-based normalized difference vegetation index (kNDVI) alongside key climatic variables—rainfall (PRE), temperature (TMP), and solar radiation (SRAD)—to investigate vegetation variations and their drivers in the FRB, particularly in relation to the Grain for Green Program (GGP). Our analysis highlights significant greening across the FRB, with the kNDVI slope increasing by 0.0028 yr−1 and green-covered areas expanding by 92.8% over the study period. The GGP facilitated the greening process, resulting in a notable increase in the kNDVI slope from 0.0005 yr−1 to 0.0052 yr−1 and a marked expansion in the area of significant greening from 24.6% to 95.8%. Regional climate shifts, characterized by increased warming, heightened humidity, and a slight rise in SRAD, have further driven vegetation growth, contributing 75%, 58.7%, and 23.6% to vegetation dynamics, respectively. Notably, the GGP has amplified vegetation’s sensitivity to climatic variables, with areas significantly impacted by multiple climate factors expanding from 4.8% to 37.5%. Specially, PRE is the primary climatic influence, impacting 71.3% of the pertinent regions, followed by TMP (60.1%) and SRAD (30%). The integrated effects of climatic and anthropogenic factors, accounting for 47.8% and 52.2% of kNDVI variations, respectively, collectively influence 96% of the region’s vegetation dynamics. These findings underscore the critical role of climate change and human interventions in shaping vegetation patterns and provide a robust foundation for refining ecological conservation strategies, particularly in the context of global warming and land-use policies.

Grazing intensity by sheep affects spatial diversity in botanical composition of Inner Mongolian grassland

Overgrazing by sheep causes degradation of grasslands in the Inner Mongolian steppe, yet our understanding of its impact on grassland plant communities is limited by lack of observations at high spatial resolution. Employing a nested experimental design in a long-term grazing experiment provides insights into effects of increasing sheep grazing intensity on community composition, diversity, and spatial patterns in the grassland vegetation. Effects of observed changes in the plant community are discussed based on monthly weight gain of sheep during grazing. The design of the long-term experiment included four triplicated grazing intensities applied during an 8-year period. At the end of that period, we evaluated vegetation coverage, categorized plant species by functional groups, and analyzed the data using a mixed linear model. Moreover, spatial autocorrelation methods were employed to investigate spatial patterns, visualized via a kriging model. We found that the plant community composition differed among grazing treatments, with high grazing intensity showing higher plant species richness and stronger clustering of plants at our fine scale of observation. These fine-grained spatial scale observations are usually not recorded in larger spatial scale analyses of grassland responses to overgrazing. While the grazing intensities used in our study did not influence individual sheep weight gain, total sheep weight gain per hectare increased with an increase in grazing intensity. Our study shows that in a sheep grazing intensity experiment in Inner Mongolia grasslands total sheep weight gain may increase at the expense of fine-scale species composition and spatial dynamics of the grassland vegetation. These insights may be used for determining trade-offs of sheep meat production with original composition and structure of grassland plant communities. Effects on other ecosystem properties and functions, such as on belowground biodiversity, remain to be assessed.

Sea Vegetables: An Alternative Food Source: A Review

Seaweeds or sea vegetables are the non-traditional vegetables largely produced and consumed by China, Japan, Korea, Indonesia, Philippines, Malaysia, Vietnam and other island countries. They are rich in essential nutrients, including minerals, vitamins, amino acids etc. making them a valuable addition to a balanced diet. Moreover, they have low caloric content and are free from cholesterol, essential for weight management and heart-healthy diets. Additionally, sea vegetables contain unique bioactive compounds such as polysaccharides, polyphenols and omega-3 fatty acids, which have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer properties. Globally the demand for seaweed as vegetables along with its several value-added products are increasing day by day. The cultivation of seaweed is cost effective as it does not require seeds, fertilizers, pesticides, no freshwater and arable land. Sea vegetables can serve as bio filters by absorbing excess nutrients from aquatic ecosystems, thus promoting environmental sustainability in coastal aquatic system. To combat hunger, achieve food security and protect the environment, it is crucial to create public awareness on the health benefits and nutritional value of sea vegetables. More in-depth research and developments are required to commercialize, explore the diversity of sea vegetables, develop innovative culinary applications and establishment of quality and safety standards. The present review works highlights a comprehensive overview of seaweed diversity, nutritional composition, health benefits, diverse uses, cultivation methods and potential for developing processed products for food and agricultural industry.

A preliminary recording of insects on the island of Farwa Northwest of Libya

The study aimed to present the first record of insect families in Farwa Island. Farwa Island is the largest and most important island in Libya; located in Northern west part of Libya in the Mediterranean, its insect fauna is poorly studied. Short time intensive collection of insect samples was conducted in four areas (mouth of the valley, bay of containers, center of the Island, and Ras-Attalgha) in February, March and April 2021. Different methods were used for insect collection, sorting, preservation and later identification to the lowest taxonomic level and verification. 9 orders, 31 families, 40 genera and 58 insect species were collected in the study; the center of the Island had the highest numerical density and diversity of insect fauna due to its diverse vegetation compared to other areas. Diverse suitable habitats and absent insect control measures provided suitable environmental conditions for insects breeding, feeding and hiding from enemies. This study constitutes the first comprehensive survey of insect fauna on Farwa Island and adds significant value to the ongoing assessment of insect diversity in Libya. A long-term study has to be conducted to investigate detailed information about the abundance and diversity of insects and other arthropods on Farwa Island.

Response of Fuel Characteristics, Potential Fire Behavior, and Understory Vegetation Diversity to Thinning in Platycladus orientalis Forest in Beijing, China

Objective: Active fuel management operations, such as thinning, can minimize extreme wildfire conditions while preserving ecosystem services, including maintaining understory vegetation diversity. However, the appropriate thinning intensity for balancing the above two objectives has not been sufficiently studied. Methods: This study was conducted to assess the impact of various thinning intensities (light thinning, LT, 15%; moderate thinning, MT, 35%; heavy thinning, HT, 50%; and control treatment, CK) on fuel characteristics, potential fire behavior, and understory vegetation biodiversity in Platycladus orientalis forest in Beijing using a combination of field measurements and fire behavior simulations (BehavePlus 6.0.0). Results: A significant reduction in surface and canopy fuel loads with increasing thinning intensity, notably reducing CBD to below 0.1 kg/m3 under moderate thinning, effectively prevented the occurrence of active crown fires, even under extreme weather conditions. Additionally, moderate thinning enhanced understory species diversity, yielding the highest species diversity index compared to other treatments. Conclusions: These findings suggest that moderate thinning (35%) offers an optimal balance, substantially reducing the occurrence of active crown fires while promoting biodiversity. Therefore, it is recommended to carry out moderate thinning in the study area. Forest managers can leverage this information to devise technical strategies that simultaneously meet fire prevention objectives and enhance understory vegetation species diversity in areas suitable for thinning-only treatments.

Diversity, structure, and composition of melliferous and non-melliferous vegetation surrounding meliponaries of the Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico

Background: Although the loss of Melipona beecheii colonies in meliponaries suggests insufficient availability of melliferous blooming plants, there is limited knowledge about the diversity and conditions of the surrounding vegetation. Question: What is the diversity, structure, and composition of the melliferous and non-melliferous vegetation surrounding meliponaries, and how does it affect the availability of food sources for bees? Study site and dates: The vegetation surrounding nine meliponaries, three in each political state of the Yucatán Peninsula encompassing the main vegetation types, was studied in 2022 and 2023. Methods: Four 150-meter-long transects with the point-centered quadrants method were traced in each meliponary to estimate plant species composition, the availability of melliferous and blooming plants (IVI), diversity parameters (Hill-numbers), tree density, and diameter per strata. Results: 312 taxa, 250 genera, and 73 plant families were recorded. In five meliponaries, blooming melliferous plants accounted for less than 9 % of the IVI, with one meliponary having no blooming species. The highest diversity was found in a meliponary surrounded by semi-evergreen forest. The high stratum had a mean tree height of 5.5 (SD ± 2.9) meters and 3,390 (SD ± 2,702) trees/hectare across vegetation types. The tree diameter was lowest in meliponaries located in the semi-deciduous forest. Conclusions: The meliponaries are surrounded by young secondary vegetation with high density of small trees and predominance of the low stratum. We found a similar vegetation diversity among meliponaries and scarce blooming melliferous plants. Human activity seems to impact plant diversity and food availability for M. beecheii.

Palynological Evidences of Early Eocene Vegetation and Climate From Kutch Basin, Western India

The Early Eocene was a period of very rich and diversified vegetation reflecting climatic conditions which facilitated the diversification of angiosperms. During this time, swamp forests formed, new palm taxa emerged, diversification occurred, and multistoried rain forests blanketed the entire subcontinent [1]. The palynological study from Naredi Cliff section from Kutch basin, of similar age shows the presence of angiosperms, pteridophytes and dinocysts. The dominanace of elements belonging to Arecaceae family (Spinizonocolpites, Neocouperipollis and Proxapertites) along with the dinocysts, indicates marine influence while the sediments were being deposited.

Upwind Moisture Controls on Interannual Variations of Precipitation and Vegetation in China's Drylands

AbstractDryland precipitation depends on upwind and local moisture sources via moisture recycling. How upwind moisture variations affect interannual variations of downwind precipitation and vegetation in China's drylands remains unclear. We used high‐resolution moisture tracking data sets and found terrestrial moisture (93%) was the dominant moisture source for China's drylands, especially from drylands themselves (46%). In most dryland grids, we observed strong correlations between precipitation and upwind moisture sources from 2003 to 2022 (median r = 0.55), with a more significant effect in drier areas. These demonstrated the upwind moisture control on interannual variations of dryland precipitation, in which internal moisture from drylands exceeds the influence of external terrestrial sources. The upwind moisture variations, especially the recycled moisture of drylands, propagate to influence downwind vegetation greenness in precipitation‐sensitive dryland areas. Our findings revealed that upwind moisture variations induced by climate or land‐cover changes have important implications for water and food security in China's drylands.

Using of high spatial resolution images to evaluate the thematic accuracy of land use and occupation maps with the Kappa index

The objective from this article evaluates the thematic quality of automatic mappings with supervised classification for land use and land cover, using high spatial resolution satellite images as "ground truth". This consider the advancement of remote sensing technologies has enabled the acquisition of satellite images with various spatial resolutions, which are essential for thematic mapping and automatic classifiers in the context of land use and land cover mapping. In fact, the wide availability of high, medium, and low spatial resolution satellite images has significantly optimized the time and resources required by using more accurate classifiers during data processing. The image used for verification of this paper was GeoEye, with a spatial resolution of 0.5m, dated October 2023. The images submitted to the automatic classifier were Sentinel-2A with a spatial resolution of 10m and Planet with a spatial resolution of 5m, both from the same satellite pass period (October 2023) over the study area, aiming to avoid seasonal and phenological variations in vegetation, as well as changes in the environment due to anthropogenic intervention. The classification method adopted was Maximum Likelihood (MAXVER). The classification accuracy was rigorously evaluated to ensure the reliability of the results using the Kappa index, assessing the agreement between the observed and expected classifications. Based on the methods presented, the set of mapped classes in this study showed good accuracy for the Planet image and very good accuracy for the Sentinel image.