Ecological Engineering最新文献

{"title":"Damage mechanisms of small-to-medium-scale mines on ecological networks at watershed scale and systematic nature-based mine restoration pathways","authors":"Wenjuan Jin ,&nbsp;Zhenxing Bian ,&nbsp;Zhongyi Wei ,&nbsp;Zhichao Dong","doi":"10.1016/j.ecoleng.2025.107638","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ecoleng.2025.107638","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The major challenge of mine ecological restoration that adheres to the systems concept is how to achieve holism and systematics. From an ecological security pattern perspective, understanding how small-to-medium-scale mines (SMMs) impact the ecological network at the watershed scale is critical for prioritizing restoration efforts and specific restoration pathways, which is conducive to achieving holistic protection, systematic restoration, and comprehensive management. Choosing a typical SMMs clustered watershed in northwestern Liaoning Province, this study employed morphological spatial pattern analysis (MSPA) to construct the ecological network. By analyzing the dynamic evolution of the ecological network from 1989 to 2022 and combining it with the mine development characteristics, the damage mechanisms of SMMs to the ecosystem structure were identified. Using graph theory and Conefor software, restoration priority areas and corresponding restoration pathways were identified through an evaluation of the ecological connectivity importance of mines. Results indicated significant declines in ecological sources and corridors from 1989 to 2022, with decreasing α, β, γ indices reflecting weakened connectivity and stability of the ecological network. Single small-scale mines without clusters directly destroy only a portion of ecological sources at the periphery of the mining center (usually 2–4 times the size of the mine). Large-scale clustered SMMs indirectly cause the disappearance of ecological sources and corridors connecting those sources altogether through their impact on landscape patterns. Systematic restoration of SMMs should follow nature-based solutions (NbS), which can be used to comprehensively determine restoration pathways based on the ecological status and damage mechanisms of each mine, including natural regeneration, assisted regeneration, and guided artificial reconstruction. Especially for large-scale clustered SMMs, all mines should be planned and restored uniformly to integrate with the surrounding natural ecosystems and enhance the stability of the ecological network. This systematic approach we propose is more holistic and systematic than individual reclamation projects and is an effective practice for NbS.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11490,"journal":{"name":"Ecological Engineering","volume":"216 ","pages":"Article 107638"},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2025-04-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143799592","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Trifolium subterraneum as a potential nurse plant for restoring soil and Mediterranean grasslands after quarry exploitation in Lebanon","authors":"Houssam Shaiban ,&nbsp;Thierry Dutoit ,&nbsp;Elise Buisson ,&nbsp;Tania De Almeida ,&nbsp;Carla Khater","doi":"10.1016/j.ecoleng.2025.107632","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ecoleng.2025.107632","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Destruction of Mediterranean herbaceous communities resulting from quarry exploitation exacerbates the need for their ecological restoration. By facilitating the growth and development of other plant species, nurse plants can be used to speed up regeneration processes. Nevertheless, differences in soil properties and co-existing species may change plant interactions from facilitation to competition. This study evaluated interactions of a potential nurse species, <em>Trifolium subterraneum</em> L., in a 2-years ex situ mesocosm experiment. During the first year, soils collected from a former quarry and a nearby dry-grassland were planted in pots with <em>T. subterraneum</em> alone or with four individuals of four target species (<em>Aegilops triuncialis</em> L., <em>Echinops viscosus</em> L., <em>Eryngium creticum</em> Lam., <em>Hyoscyamus aureus</em> L.) characteristics of Mediterranean grasslands. In the second year, the same experiment was repeated following the incorporation of dried <em>T. subterraneum</em> biomass into the soil. Soil analyses were done before initiating the experiment from both reference and degraded soil, after the first and the second growing season. Index of Relative Interaction Intensity (RII) was calculated for several plant traits enabling the measuring of the plants' competitive ability. Our results show that, before starting the experiment, soils collected from both the reference and degraded sites were significantly different (e.g. CEC, pH, P₂O₅, MgO, N, C, Clay). These differences were still notable throughout the first growing season. Nevertheless, after the second growing season and whendried. <em>T. subterraneum</em> biomass was incorporated into the soil, a significant increase in soil fertility (e.g. N, C, C:N, P₂O₅) was measured. For plants, during the first growing season, RII figures amidst competition dominating interactions. Facilitation was apparent only between the biomass of <em>T. subterraneum</em> pure seed mix in both degraded and reference soil. During the second growing season, <em>T. subterraneum</em> also performed better alone, especially on degraded soils. Nevertheless, because of its facilitative effects on biomass and surface cover when cultivated as a pure stand, <em>T. subterraneum</em> can be recommended as a nurse species for re-establishing soil fertility of degraded quarries as a first step of ecological restoration.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11490,"journal":{"name":"Ecological Engineering","volume":"216 ","pages":"Article 107632"},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2025-04-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143785901","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Characterization of soil properties and crop physiological changes in reclaimed mining areas with different reclamation years","authors":"Shuaimeng Zhu ,&nbsp;Huihao Liu ,&nbsp;Shouchen Ma ,&nbsp;Saisai Liu ,&nbsp;Zhenhao Gao ,&nbsp;Yanwei Yan","doi":"10.1016/j.ecoleng.2025.107635","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ecoleng.2025.107635","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study was conducted in the coal mining subsidence reclamation area of Mengcun, City, Henan Province, China, using corn as the test crop. Four treatments were established: 1, 4, and 7 years of reclamation, and normal cultivated land (denoted as 1a, 4a, 7a, and ck). Soil properties and crop physiological growth were monitored at 0-20 cm、20-40 cm and 40-60 cm soil depths to analyze how soil characteristics and crop growth changed with increasing reclamation years, providing insights for accelerating the ecological restoration of reclaimed soils. The results showed that: 1) Soil quality improved with increasing reclamation years. The surface soil organic matter (SOM) and total nitrogen (TN) contents of maize were significantly higher in 4a and 7a than in 1a. Soil pH decreased significantly with reclamation years. Both SOM and TN contents decreased with soil depth. 2) Physiological indicators, including chlorophyll content (SPAD) and photosynthetic characteristics of maize, increased with reclamation years. The net photosynthetic rate (Pn) of maize during the growing season was 18.89 % to 38.97 % higher in 4a and 29.90 % to 65.89 % higher in 7a compared to 1a. 3) During the jointing, tasseling, filling, and maturity stages, soil CO₂ emission fluxes in 4a and 7a increased compared to 1a, by 12.50 % to 27.08 % and 22.86 % to 56.25 %, respectively. The difference between 7a and 1a was significant. 4) Yield indicators, including 100-kernel weight and dry matter weight, improved continuously with increasing reclamation years. Maize biomass in 7a increased by 61.25 % compared to 1a and was not significantly different from the neighboring normal cultivated land (ck).</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11490,"journal":{"name":"Ecological Engineering","volume":"216 ","pages":"Article 107635"},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2025-04-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143783456","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Adopting cost-effective restoration portfolios for multi-objective ecosystem service optimization: A case study from Northern Shaanxi, China","authors":"Ting Li ,&nbsp;Jing Huang ,&nbsp;Liyang Ma ,&nbsp;Shuhua Zhang ,&nbsp;Yanjiao Ren ,&nbsp;Yadong Yang","doi":"10.1016/j.ecoleng.2025.107622","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ecoleng.2025.107622","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The impact of vegetation restoration on ecosystem services (ESs) is a critical focus in the study of water-soil process for dryland areas. However, limited funding poses practical challenges in configuring restoration measures for achieving multi-objective optimization of water-soil resources. This study selected Northern Shaanxi, a pilot area of the Grain to Green Program (GTGP) in China, as a case study area and conducted field surveys on vegetation restoration and protection activities. On this basis, four scenarios with different weights or budgets were developed to optimize three water-soil ESs: baseflow regulation, phosphorus retention, and soil conservation. Using the Resource Investment Optimization System model (RIOS) model, which integrates watershed water-soil process and investment information, we simulated spatial portfolios of restoration activity and assessed their performance on the three ESs in future. The results indicated that forest tending and disaster prevention were critical for optimizing the three ESs, with the budgets of these two activities exceeding 70 % in all four scenarios. When the budget was increased, Ecological scenario 2 offered a more cost-effective approach to enhance ESs that simultaneously mitigate trade-offs among the three ESs. Under this scenario, the trade-offs between baseflow regulation and phosphorus retention, baseflow regulation and soil conservation, and phosphorus retention and soil conservation would decrease by 12.12 %, 31.43 %, and 15.38 %, respectively. However, current restoration measures alone are inadequate to meet future ecological or policy requirements for ES enhancements. By 2035, the area of phosphorus retention is expected to decline by a range of 14.84 % to 32.54 % under the four scenarios, with these areas of decline all located in the ‘blank zone’ of restoration activities. And none of the four scenarios could ensure the stability of soil conservation in aeolian-loess transitional areas. This study highlights the urgent need for implementing conservation agriculture practices and diversified restoration measures to ensure the long-term effectiveness of improving water-soil ESs.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11490,"journal":{"name":"Ecological Engineering","volume":"216 ","pages":"Article 107622"},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2025-04-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143769101","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Optimizing salt marsh restoration with context-dependent emergent trait mimicry and donor material selection","authors":"Clea N. van de Ven ,&nbsp;Ralph J.M. Temmink ,&nbsp;Valérie C. Reijers ,&nbsp;Jannes Heusinkveld ,&nbsp;Pol Martinez-Garcia ,&nbsp;Tjisse van der Heide","doi":"10.1016/j.ecoleng.2025.107611","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ecoleng.2025.107611","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Ecosystem restoration is increasingly promoted as a tool to halt and reverse ongoing losses of coastal ecosystems and the services they provide. Recent work highlights that, in ecosystems shaped by habitat-forming species, restoration yields can be enhanced by temporarily mimicking key emergent traits. These traits are not expressed by individuals, but emerge when organisms aggregate to locally suppress environmental stress and are often vital for species' establishment and persistence. However, it remains unclear to what extent emergent-trait mimicry is context dependent and how donor material selection affects restoration success. Here, we experimentally studied the potential context dependency of trait mimicry and the effect of using donor source populations from contrasting environments in a three-year salt marsh restoration experiment. At two sites with contrasting hydrodynamic conditions – one relatively sheltered and the other exposed – we cross-transplanted plants from both sites into bare soil and 3D-printed biodegradable structures as trait-mimics, mimicking either sparse or dense vegetation patches. After three years, transplants from the sheltered site had two-fold higher survival and four-times more shoots compared to transplants from the exposed site. Furthermore, we found that in sheltered conditions, structures increased survival compared to control treatments, and plants in dense trait mimics grew the highest number of shoots. By contrast, most transplants in exposed conditions were lost after year one regardless of origin and treatment. We conclude that the donor source is a vital determinant for transplant establishment, and that emergent trait mimicry is context dependent for salt marshes, emphasizing the need for trait-mimics tailored to local conditions to increase restoration success.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11490,"journal":{"name":"Ecological Engineering","volume":"216 ","pages":"Article 107611"},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2025-04-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143761205","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Mechanisms and benefits of segmented eco-geotechnical measures for debris flow mitigation","authors":"Songtang He ,&nbsp;Wenle Chen ,&nbsp;Xiaoqing Chen ,&nbsp;Daojie Wang ,&nbsp;Yong Li ,&nbsp;Zengli Pei ,&nbsp;Peng Zhao ,&nbsp;Yuchao Qi","doi":"10.1016/j.ecoleng.2025.107621","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ecoleng.2025.107621","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Eco-geotechnical measures are increasingly recognized as holistic approaches to disaster mitigation. While the mechanisms underlying disaster mitigation for individual measures (ecological or geotechnical) are relatively well understood, the synergistic benefits and optimal layout of combined models remain unclear. This study proposes an eco-geotechnical model that integrates a segmented vegetation arrangement with comb-toothed dams for debris flow interception. Through field investigations and flume experiment, we delineated the optimal row and stem spacing of segmented vegetation. Additionally, we examined various combination models comprising vegetation filter strips and comb-toothed dams to elucidate their respective benefits and underlying mechanisms in debris flow interception. Results show that optimal interception occurs with tree filter strips at a stem spacing of 6 cm and row spacing of 8 cm and with shrub filter strips at a stem spacing of 3 cm and a row spacing of 4 cm. Moreover, equations were developed for flow velocity reduction and sediment interception, incorporating vegetation layout parameters (e.g., plant spacing, row spacing, number of rows), vegetation morphological parameters (e.g., diameter), and gully bed slope and roughness. Our comparative analysis underscores the superiority of the shrub-grass (dam) model in intercepting dilute debris flows, while the tree-shrub (dam) model excels in mitigating viscous debris flows by achieving notable reductions in flow rate, flow velocity, and sediment interception. Importantly, these findings provide a quantitative basis for optimizing vegetation layouts, advancing nature-based solutions and technologies for comprehensive disaster prevention and mitigation.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11490,"journal":{"name":"Ecological Engineering","volume":"216 ","pages":"Article 107621"},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2025-04-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143761135","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Geochemical stability of As-rich residues from a 20-year-old passive field biofilter used for neutral mine drainage treatment","authors":"Hsan Youssef Mehdaoui ,&nbsp;Marouen Jouini ,&nbsp;Josianne Lefebvre ,&nbsp;Carmen Mihaela Neculita ,&nbsp;Thomas Pabst ,&nbsp;Mostafa Benzaazoua","doi":"10.1016/j.ecoleng.2025.107618","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ecoleng.2025.107618","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Arsenic-rich contaminated neutral mine drainage (As-CND) is a major environmental problem frequently faced during gold and silver mining of As-bearing ores. Passive treatment systems, particularly passive biofilters, have proven to be a promising technique for As-CND treatment. However, these systems generate significant quantities of residues at the end of their operational lifespan with variable geochemical stabilities and environmental impacts that involve several parameters (e.g., water quality, treatment mechanism, leaching test, and regulatory criteria). This study evaluated the environmental behaviour of residues from a 20-year-old biofilter installed for the treatment of As-CND at the rehabilitated Wood-Cadillac mine site in northwest Quebec, Canada. Thirty samples of post-treatment residues were collected from five different locations within the system, including two within the inlets, the outlet, and at various depths (0–30 cm, 30–60 cm, and 60–90 cm). Physicochemical and mineralogical characterizations were undertaken to understand the As removal mechanisms in the biofilter. The potential mobility of metals was assessed via static leaching tests including TCLP, SPLP, and FLT_m. The results showed that the residues were characterized by high metal contents (up to 2.3 g/kg of As, 41.1 g/kg of Fe, and 19.5 g/kg of Al), mainly concentrated in the upper layers of the biofilter. Metals were precipitated in the form of oxyhydroxides in the upper and mid layers and as secondary sulfides at the bottom. Arsenic was predominantly removed through sorption onto Fe and Al oxyhydroxides in the upper layers; in contrast, reducing conditions at the bottom layers facilitated the precipitation of amorphous As sulfides (FeAsS and AsS). None of the TCLP and SPLP release results exceeded USEPA guidelines, and the residues could therefore be classified as non-hazardous with no potential risk of groundwater contamination from leachates. However, 66 % of TCLP and 20 % of SPLP concentrations exceeded D019 guidelines for As (0.2 mg/L). Additionally, FLT_m results indicated a high leaching potential for As (&gt;1 mg/L). Consequently, these residues should not be dried or crushed during ultimate disposal. These findings will contribute to improving the management strategy for As-rich residues.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11490,"journal":{"name":"Ecological Engineering","volume":"216 ","pages":"Article 107618"},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2025-04-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143747753","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Vertical greening for public buildings retrofitting and urban carbon neutrality: A nature-based solution and design practice in China","authors":"Yiheng Liu ,&nbsp;Menglong Zhang ,&nbsp;Yin Zhang","doi":"10.1016/j.ecoleng.2025.107617","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ecoleng.2025.107617","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>In the context of massive urbanization and growing public demand for sustainable development, the new concept of eco-city regeneration has been arsing increasing attention in developing countries like. However, unlike new constructions, due to the existing buildings and spaces limitations, traditional greening design methods are often not feasible to meet the old renovation requirements for eco-city regeneration and low carbon urbanization. Therefore, this paper proposes an innovative vertical greening design solution to renovate old public buildings. As a typical illustrative example, a public market in Chengdu, China, was retrofitted with a full vertical green curtain wall, to find a natural based solution to current problems such as outdated facilities, poor ventilation and facade fading according to the field investigation and site survey. In this design roadshow, regional analysis, practical renovation strategy and carbon emission evaluation are conducted, with local wood and green plants selected as alternative ecological materials for eco-renewal. Preliminary design results show that by increasing the original 20 % green coverage ratio to 47 %, such low-rise public buildings can be revitalized and coexist harmoniously with the surrounding environment. Life cycle carbon indicators show that after the renovation of low-carbon old public buildings, the carbon emissions can be significantly reduced by about 19.7 tCO₂. Among them, building material production, construction and demolition stages are the main sources of building carbon emissions. This study provides new perspectives for modern green design concepts and management of traditional old buildings renovation, and offers novel application prototype reference for eco city regeneration in developing world.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11490,"journal":{"name":"Ecological Engineering","volume":"216 ","pages":"Article 107617"},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2025-04-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143747754","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Quantifying the impacts of intercropping practices on above- and belowground biodiversity in China's orchards: A meta-analysis","authors":"Yulin Zhu ,&nbsp;Zhu Gao ,&nbsp;Xiaoling Wang ,&nbsp;Shanxing Gong ,&nbsp;Yupeng Lu ,&nbsp;Dongliang Yao ,&nbsp;Fan Yang","doi":"10.1016/j.ecoleng.2025.107619","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ecoleng.2025.107619","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Intercropping systems improve crop productivity through enhanced biodiversity and ecosystem functioning; however, we lack an understanding of how intercropping influences biodiversity across multiple trophic levels. This research focuses on the effects of intercropping in orchards, a practice where different crops are grown together, compared to traditional monoculture systems. The aim is to understand how intercropping influences biodiversity in both aboveground and belowground ecosystems across China. Utilizing a meta-analysis approach, the study evaluates data from 567 observations across 50 studies in China. It assesses the impacts of intercropping on various groups, including pests, predators, and parasitoids aboveground, and bacteria, fungi, and soil fauna belowground. The study also considers the role of different orchard management practices, such as types of intercropping and pesticide use. Findings show that intercropping substantially boosts biodiversity. Belowground biodiversity benefits more (abundance increased by 39 %, richness by 20 %). Specifically, aboveground predators and parasitoids see a 67 % and 29 % increase in abundance, respectively, while richness of predators increased by 11 %. Belowground fungi increased by 30 % in abundance and bacteria increased by 3 % in Shannon diversity, while soil fauna abundance and richness increased by 76 % and 29 %, respectively. Notably, the combination of fruit with grass or flowers and minimizing pesticide application proved most beneficial. Overall, our finding provides robust evidence for the positive crop diversification-biodiversity relationships in orchards across China, emphasizing that intercropping is a promising way to conserve natural enemies, soil microbial and soil fauna diversity and may contribute to biocontrol, soil improvements and crop yields.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11490,"journal":{"name":"Ecological Engineering","volume":"216 ","pages":"Article 107619"},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2025-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143737998","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Acidifying surface water and water level management promote Sphagnum health for peatland restoration and paludiculture","authors":"Adam H.W. Koks ,&nbsp;Sannimari A. Käärmelahti ,&nbsp;Ralph J.M. Temmink ,&nbsp;Alfons J.P. Smolders ,&nbsp;Bas P. van de Riet ,&nbsp;Leon P.M. Lamers ,&nbsp;Roy C.J.H. Peters ,&nbsp;Christian Fritz ,&nbsp;Gijs van Dijk","doi":"10.1016/j.ecoleng.2025.107579","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ecoleng.2025.107579","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div><em>Sphagnum</em>-dominated peatlands play a vital role in carbon storage worldwide. However, large areas are strongly degraded due to land-use change. Success of <em>Sphagnum</em> introduction for bog restoration or paludiculture in former agricultural areas largely depends on local surface water for irrigation and to obtain stable water levels, especially during drought events. However, this water is often unsuitable for <em>Sphagnum</em>, especially in a drained and intensively-used landscape due to high bicarbonate concentrations, known to be toxic to <em>Sphagnum</em>. As such, removing bicarbonate from surface water through artificial acidification using hydrochloric acid (HCl) and/or water level management to mitigate bicarbonate toxicity may be an effective method to initiate a vital <em>Sphagnum</em> cover, but this has not yet been experimentally demonstrated.</div><div>We therefore performed a five-week laboratory experiment in which <em>Sphagnum palustre</em> was exposed to surface water from two drained peat landscapes with high bicarbonate concentrations, which differed in ion- and nutrient concentrations, and one artificial rainwater control. We applied the following treatments: acidified (pH 4.0) or non-acidified water, and moss capitula were placed either above or below the water surface.</div><div>Our experiment revealed that <em>Sphagnum</em> survived in all emergent treatments regardless of the ion concentration. <em>Sphagnum</em> submerged in non-acidified water became chlorotic and had lower capitulum potassium levels, but accumulated calcium and magnesium. <em>Sphagnum</em> remained vital when submerged in acidified conditions and had higher capitulum potassium levels.</div><div>This study highlights that acidification of bicarbonate-rich surface water mitigates bicarbonate toxicity even when surface water is high in ion concentrations. We further show that emergent capitula in bicarbonate-rich water does not lead to chlorosis after five weeks. This suggests artificial acidification of surface water or application of bicarbonate-rich irrigation water with emergent capitula are measures to overcome drought periods in <em>Sphagnum</em> restoration or paludiculture projects when acidic surface water is unavailable.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11490,"journal":{"name":"Ecological Engineering","volume":"216 ","pages":"Article 107579"},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2025-03-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143725462","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}