Land Degradation & Development最新文献

{"title":"Impacts of Di(2-Ethylhexyl) Terephthalate on Multigenerational Fitness of Caenorhabditis elegans via Lipid Metabolism and Neural Regulation","authors":"Lei Wang, Jing Zhang, Evgenios Agathokleous, Shijin Ma, Zhenyang Yu","doi":"10.1002/ldr.5674","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/ldr.5674","url":null,"abstract":"Di(2-ethylhexyl) terephthalate (DEHTP) is a substitutive plasticizer with wide occurrence in environmental and human samples and therefore its toxicity is urging concerns. Presently, its effects on the fitness of <i>Caenorhabditis elegans</i> (i.e., reproduction, lifespan, and behavior) were explored with a consecutive exposure over four generations (F1–F4). At mg/L and μg/L levels, DEHTP stimulated reproduction in F1 and F3 (e.g., 35% and 28% higher than the control at 8.0 mg/L) while inhibiting it in F2 and F4 (e.g., 22% and 18% less than the control at 8.0 mg/L), representing oscillation over generations. Meanwhile, DEHTP inhibited lifespan in F1 and F3 while stimulating it in F2 and F4, showing trade-off relationships with reproductive influences. Regarding behavior, DEHTP inhibited satiety quiescence duration, body bending, and head swing, while stimulating reverse and omega turns. In mechanism exploration, DEHTP disturbed lipid metabolites and lipid metabolism enzymes. Moreover, the effects on reproduction showed positive correlations with those on fatty acid synthase (FAS) and acyl-CoA (FA-CoA). DEHTP also disturbed neural regulations including neural transmitters and the expressions of related genes. Out of expectation, the effects on neural regulations were positively correlated with those on lipid metabolism, but not with locomotion behavior. Hierarchical clustering analysis (HCA) showed that serotonin was more connected with neural regulations than other indicators in F1 and F3, while it was more connected with behavior than others in F2 and F4. The HCA results also supported the oscillatory changes in effects of DEHTP over generations.","PeriodicalId":203,"journal":{"name":"Land Degradation & Development","volume":"168 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2025-06-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144211364","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Efficiency of Vegetative Filter Strips in Mitigating Soil Erosion and Surface Runoff","authors":"Tomáš Laburda, David Zumr, Jan Devátý, Saunak Sinha Ray, Petr Koudelka, Josef Krása, Tomáš Dostál, John Steven Schwartz","doi":"10.1002/ldr.5671","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/ldr.5671","url":null,"abstract":"Vegetative filter strips (VFS) are widely used in agriculture to reduce soil erosion and sediment transport during heavy rainfall events. This study assessed their effectiveness in controlling surface runoff and sediment transport under controlled field conditions. Experiments were conducted on plots of varying lengths (4 and 8 m), slopes (5° and 10°), and vegetation cover (grass, bare soil, and mixed). A suspension of micronized sand and water (40 g·L<jats:sup>−1</jats:sup>) was applied at a flow rate of 0.5 L·s<jats:sup>−1</jats:sup> to simulate surface runoff. The results confirmed that vegetation cover significantly reduced runoff (up to 91%) and sediment transport (up to 98%). The plot length played a dominant role in sediment and runoff reduction, while the slope had minimal effect within the tested range. Runoff and sediment transport were significantly higher on bare soil plots, providing evidence of the importance of vegetation in erosion control. A key methodological contribution of this study was the differentiation of VFS efficiency based on calculation methods. Two efficiency metrics were applied: (1) RE (the ratio of inflow to outflow), and (2) RE2 (comparison with a bare soil plot). While sediment reduction differed only slightly (4.7%) between the methods, runoff reduction varied more significantly (19.9%), highlighting the impact of the calculation method. Additionally, VFS preferentially trapped coarser sediment, allowing finer particles to pass through and resulting in a reduction of the median grain size (D<jats:sub>50</jats:sub>) from 33 to 6 μm in the transported material. This study underscores the effectiveness of VFS in mitigating sediment transport, highlighting the importance of vegetation cover and filter strip length. It further emphasizes that VFS performance can be optimized through methodological consistency, even when only a minimal land area is allocated for implementation.","PeriodicalId":203,"journal":{"name":"Land Degradation & Development","volume":"9 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2025-06-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144201595","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"What Is the Effect of Long‐Term Revegetation on Soil Stoichiometry? Case Study Based on In Situ Long‐Term Monitoring on the Loess Plateau, China","authors":"Yile Pei, Shihao Gong, Xinyu Zhang, Zeyu Zhang, Hanyun Zhang, Tonggang Zha","doi":"10.1002/ldr.5665","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/ldr.5665","url":null,"abstract":"Soil nutrient stoichiometry is fundamental to ecosystem functioning. However, it remains unclear how long‐term vegetation restoration affects its dynamics. This study utilized long‐term monitoring to compare soil carbon (C), nitrogen (N), and phosphorus (P) stoichiometric characteristics with cropland as a control, across four stand types: cropland (CK), natural secondary forest (NSF), <jats:styled-content style=\"fixed-case\"><jats:italic>Robinia pseudoacacia</jats:italic></jats:styled-content> and <jats:styled-content style=\"fixed-case\"><jats:italic>Pinus tabuliformis</jats:italic></jats:styled-content> mixed forest (RPF), <jats:styled-content style=\"fixed-case\"><jats:italic>R. pseudoacacia</jats:italic></jats:styled-content> plantation (RF), and <jats:styled-content style=\"fixed-case\"><jats:italic>P. tabuliformis</jats:italic></jats:styled-content> plantation (PTF). Specific focus was given to soil organic carbon (SOC), total nitrogen (TN), and total phosphorus (TP), as well as their C:N, C:P, and N:P ratios. During 30 years of vegetation restoration, SOC and TN increased by 11.65% and 7.46%, while TP decreased significantly by 11.74%. Furthermore, SOC and TN increased significantly with natural restoration forest (NSF) and stabilized by the 25th year. Under artificial restoration (PF, RF, RPF), SOC and TN initially decreased but recovered to their initial values after approximately 13–15 years, and stabilized by the 25th year. Finally, the C:N ratio did not change significantly, while the C:P and N:P ratios varied temporally with early fluctuations (0–10 year period), significant increases in the mid‐term (10–20 year period), and stabilization in the late stage (20–30 year period). Climate indirectly influenced SOC, TN, and TP through vegetation factors. SOC and TN were directly affected by both soil and vegetation factors, while TP was primarily influenced by vegetation factors. Over the 30‐year period, as vegetation biomass gradually accumulated, the nutrient dynamics shifted from being soil‐mediated to vegetation‐mediated. Long‐term vegetation restoration primarily enhances soil nutrient dynamics through biological pathways, with trees and herbaceous plants playing key roles in nutrient dynamics and stoichiometric optimization. NSF is more effective than artificial restoration in enhancing soil nutrient accumulation and optimizing stoichiometric ratios. These results offer valuable guidance for developing effective restoration strategies in the Loess Plateau.","PeriodicalId":203,"journal":{"name":"Land Degradation & Development","volume":"110 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2025-06-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144201649","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Plant Functional Traits Mediate the Effects of Flooding on Biomass Allocation in Invasive Plant Communities","authors":"Jie Zheng, Songlin Zhang, Dongdong Ding, Yuanyuan Wu, Jie Gao, Changxiao Li","doi":"10.1002/ldr.5648","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/ldr.5648","url":null,"abstract":"Understanding biomass allocation strategies in invasive plants is crucial for developing effective management approaches. However, the mechanisms by which plant functional traits and soil properties influence biomass allocation in invaded communities, particularly in invasion‐prone riparian zones, remain poorly understood. Here, we collected data on functional traits, biomass, and soil factors from invasive (IP) and non‐invasive (NP) plant communities under similar site conditions in the riparian zone of the Three Gorges Reservoir in China during 2021. We examined the roles of plant community traits and soil factors in shaping biomass allocation and evaluated the applicability of the optimal and isometric allocation theories. Results showed that biomass trade‐off values for both IP and NP were greater than zero and increased with elevation, indicating that riparian plants allocate more biomass to aboveground portions to combat flooding, consistent with the optimal allocation theory. Biomass allocation in NP was primarily influenced by soil physicochemical properties (e.g., bulk density and pH), whereas in IP, it was mainly determined by dominant functional traits, such as community‐weighted mean height (CWM_H). The structural equation model explained 78% and 62% of the variation in biomass trade‐off for NP and IP, respectively. Furthermore, it demonstrated that functional traits (e.g., CWM_H) mediated flooding's effects on biomass allocation in invaded communities. These findings underscore distinct allocation strategies between invaded and non‐invaded communities and highlight the importance of trait‐based mechanisms in driving invasive plant success. This study emphasizes the need to consider dominant trait dynamics when managing invasions in flood‐affected riparian systems.","PeriodicalId":203,"journal":{"name":"Land Degradation & Development","volume":"133 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2025-05-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144153352","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Intercropping and Green Manure Return Mitigate Arsenic Contamination in Rice via Induced Shifts in Soil Enzymatic Activities and Microbial Communities","authors":"Farhan Nabi, Juxia He, Rakhwe Kama, Sumbal Sajid, Muslim Qadir, Cai Huabo, Chongjian Ma, Huashou Li","doi":"10.1002/ldr.5670","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/ldr.5670","url":null,"abstract":"Arsenic (As)‐accumulating plants are used in monoculture or intercropping to remediate contaminated soils, but their As‐rich biomass poses environmental risks. Using this biomass as green manure is a promising strategy to improve soil health, crop yield, and microbial diversity. However, its effects on stress tolerance and As accumulation in brown rice remain poorly understood. This study investigates the impact of five green manures derived from monoculture or intercropping of As‐accumulating plants on brown rice physiology and soil microbial communities in As‐contaminated soil under crop rotations. The application of green manure significantly increased brown rice yield (25.42–39.53 g/plant) and alleviated physiological stress. Activities of oxidative stress‐related enzymes (catalase, superoxide dismutase, and peroxidase) were reduced by 38.70%, 40.13%, and 37.30%, respectively, along with a 48.46% decrease in malondialdehyde content. Green manure also improved soil physicochemical properties, including pH, cation exchange capacity (CEC), and soil organic matter (SOM), while reducing available soil As concentration. These improvements were accompanied by enhanced soil enzyme activities (β‐glucosidase, protease, urease, and acid phosphatase) and distinct shifts in microbial community composition. Notably, the relative abundances of <jats:italic>Proteobacteria</jats:italic> and <jats:italic>Chloroflexi</jats:italic> decreased, while <jats:italic>Nitrospira, Sphingomonas, Acidibacter, Rokubacteriales, Pedomicrobium, Nocardioides, Saccharimonas, Terrimonas, Haliangium</jats:italic>, and <jats:italic>Flavobacterium</jats:italic> increased. These taxa exhibited strong negative correlations with soil As concentrations and positive associations with pH, CEC, SOM, and soil enzyme activities. Green manure from postphytoremediation biomass improved brown rice stress resilience, yield, soil quality, and beneficial microbial populations. This approach offers a sustainable way to reduce As risks and boost productivity in crop rotation systems.","PeriodicalId":203,"journal":{"name":"Land Degradation & Development","volume":"14 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2025-05-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144145646","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Ephedra sinica Influences the Grazing Activities of Mixed Grazing Cattle and Sheep in Desert Steppe","authors":"Zhenhao Zhang, Xiaowei Gou, Yuping Rong, Yi Hu, Zhengyi Zhang, Peiru Ao, Yunxiang Cheng","doi":"10.1002/ldr.5668","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/ldr.5668","url":null,"abstract":"The grazing activities of ungulates are closely related to their own energy expenditure and the pasture status, but few studies have considered the mechanism under mixed grazing in desert steppe. Here, we statistically analyzed the spatio‐temporal distribution pattern of ungulates' grazing activities by equipping GPS collars with triaxial acceleration sensors on mixed grazing cattle and sheep. Then, based on the spatial distribution and seasonal changes of pasture vegetation, a structural equation model of ungulates' grazing characteristics and energy expenditure was established, and the response model of mixed grazing cattle and sheep to grassland resources in desert steppe was discussed. The results showed that the cattle's daily grazing ODBA, grazing time and range increased over time, while the sheep's decreased. Both cattle and sheep showed spatial and temporal differences in daily grazing activity on pasture, and the differences between plots (spatial) tended to be more significant than the differences between months (temporal). The grazing activities of cattle and sheep on mixed pasture in desert steppe were influenced by vegetation cover (NDVI) as well as by the composition of the vegetation species, especially the distribution of poisonous forages (<jats:styled-content style=\"fixed-case\"><jats:italic>Ephedra sinica</jats:italic></jats:styled-content>). This study provides a new idea for the mixed grazing of ungulates and the sustainable utilization of grassland resources in desert steppe, and suggests that human management should be used to intervene in the distribution of poisonous forages on pastures.","PeriodicalId":203,"journal":{"name":"Land Degradation & Development","volume":"132 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2025-05-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144145645","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Effects of Vegetation and Slope Gradient on Rainfall‐Induced Erosion of Reconstructed Iron Tailings Slopes: An Experimental Study","authors":"Yabo Zhao, Shumei Sui, Long Hai","doi":"10.1002/ldr.5663","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/ldr.5663","url":null,"abstract":"The loose structure and steep slope of iron tailings severely limit vegetation restoration under heavy rainfall erosion. To mitigate soil and water loss from iron tailings, this study reconstructed iron tailings to create a substrate suitable for plant growth. The effects of vegetation at different growth stages and slope gradients on runoff erosion on reconstructed soil slopes were investigated, providing scientific support for optimizing slope stability and vegetation‐based ecological restoration techniques. Continuous monitoring of runoff initiation time, volume, and sediment yield enables quantitative analysis of the effects of these factors on rainfall infiltration and slope erosion. The results revealed that bare soil slopes presented average infiltration rates of 0.916, 0.891, and 0.857 mm/min, which stabilized within 9 to 12 min, with rates decreasing as the slope gradient increased. In contrast, vegetation significantly enhances infiltration; for example, on a 15° slope, the average infiltration rates for vegetated slopes at 30, 60, and 90 days were 0.923, 0.936, and 0.943 mm/min, stabilizing at 15, 24, and 27 min, respectively. Furthermore, vegetation cover effectively reduces runoff rates, with the cumulative runoff volume decreasing by 13%, 40%, and 53.2% at 30, 60, and 90 days, respectively. Vegetation also substantially suppresses soil erosion, with sediment yield reductions ranging from 12.5% to 76.56%, 11.77% to 77.57%, and 11.97% to 78.66% across various slopes. After 60 days of growth, significant improvements in runoff and erosion control were observed, providing crucial insights for soil stabilization and the advancement of vegetation‐based slope protection technologies.","PeriodicalId":203,"journal":{"name":"Land Degradation & Development","volume":"139 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2025-05-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144136695","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Biochar as a Long‐Term Strategy for Rehabilitating Degraded Soils: Multi‐Omics Analysis of Soil–Metabolite–Microbe Interactions in Continuous Soybean Cultivation","authors":"Di Wu, Weiming Zhang, Wen Sun, Yuxue Zhang, Wenqi Gu, Yuanyuan Sun, Zifan Liu, Wenjia Wang, Wenfu Chen","doi":"10.1002/ldr.5664","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/ldr.5664","url":null,"abstract":"Biochar shows significant promise as a soil amendment for enhancing soil fertility and crop yield, but its long‐term influence on soil–metabolite–microbe interactions in continuous soybean systems remains underexplored. In this decade‐long field study, we investigated the effects of different biochar doses (CA: biochar, 12 t·ha<jats:sup>−1</jats:sup>; CB: biochar, 24 t·ha<jats:sup>−1</jats:sup>) compared to conventional fertilization (CF) on soil properties, microbial communities, and rhizosphere metabolites. The results showed that biochar demonstrated dose‐dependent improvements in soil properties, including enhanced porosity, pH, organic carbon content, nutrient availability, and enzyme activities, while reducing bulk density. Notably, biochar application restructured microbial communities, with CB treatment enriching beneficial microorganisms (<jats:italic>MND1</jats:italic>, <jats:italic>Ellin6067</jats:italic>, <jats:italic>Vicinamibacteraceae</jats:italic>, and <jats:italic>Conocybe</jats:italic>) while suppressing potential pathogens (<jats:italic>Ceratobasidium</jats:italic> and <jats:italic>Cyathus</jats:italic>). Simultaneously, biochar induced significant modulation of the rhizosphere metabolome, particularly affecting monoterpenoid biosynthesis pathways and plant defense mechanisms, with altered metabolites strongly corresponding to improved soil properties. Multi‐omics network analysis revealed a cascading effect where biochar‐amended soil properties enhanced beneficial metabolites (e.g., (−)‐3‐dehydromangostinic acid and tert‐butyl hydroquinone) while suppressing D‐panthotenate, 4‐Pyridoxate, and (−)‐alpha‐Pinene, resulting in the beneficial microorganism communities (<jats:italic>Conocybe</jats:italic> and <jats:italic>Vicinamibacteraceae</jats:italic>) increasing and pathogen (<jats:italic>Cyathus</jats:italic>) decreasing. Our findings provide novel insights into biochar's long‐term impacts on soil ecological environments and present an innovative strategy for the sustainable restoration of degraded soils under continuous soybean cultivation.","PeriodicalId":203,"journal":{"name":"Land Degradation & Development","volume":"3 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2025-05-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144136698","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Shrub Afforestation Increases Microbial‐Derived Carbon in Arid Regions","authors":"Mengfei Cong, Zhihao Zhang, Guangxing Zhao, Xinping Dong, Weiqi Wang, Zhaobin Mu, Akash Tariq, Corina Graciano, Jordi Sardans, Josep Peñuelas, Fanjiang Zeng","doi":"10.1002/ldr.5662","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/ldr.5662","url":null,"abstract":"Soil organic carbon (SOC) primarily originates from microbial and plant‐derived carbon (C). Afforestation activities significantly influence the retention of these C sources. However, in arid regions where SOC is particularly sensitive to external disturbance, the impact of afforestation on microbial‐ and plant‐derived C, and their relative contributions to SOC, remains poorly understood. To address this knowledge gap, we investigated the relative contributions of microbial‐ and plant‐derived C to SOC in three soil layers (0–20 cm, 20–60 cm, and 60–100 cm) by analyzing amino sugars and lignin phenol content. This analysis was conducted following the afforestation of <jats:styled-content style=\"fixed-case\"><jats:italic>Tamarix ramosissima</jats:italic></jats:styled-content> at 3, 7, and 10 years in barren lands located within a desert–oasis ecotone on the southern edge of the Taklimakan Desert. Our results indicate that afforestation increased levels of SOC, nutrients (including ammonium nitrogen, nitrate nitrogen, and available phosphorus), and both microbial‐ and plant‐derived C across all soil layers. Specifically, microbial‐derived C content increased by 2.15–2.32 times, while plant‐derived C content increased by 41.06%–5.59 times. This resulted in a 28.26%–1.4 times increase in microbial‐derived C contribution to SOC. However, it reduced the relative contribution of plant‐derived C to SOC in the 0–60 cm soil layer by 7.6%–76.38%. Notably, the opposite pattern emerged in deeper soil layers (60–100 cm), where afforestation increased the plant‐derived C contribution to SOC by 2.23–4.31 times. Soil nutrients were identified as the primary factor influencing plant‐derived C accumulation. The alleviation of microbial nitrogen limitation (indicated by an increased vector angle) contributed to the accumulation of microbial‐derived C. These findings suggest that <jats:styled-content style=\"fixed-case\"><jats:italic>T. ramosissima</jats:italic></jats:styled-content> afforestation enhances SOC sequestration, primarily through the accumulation of microbial‐derived C. This underscores the importance of microbial‐derived C to SOC dynamics in arid regions following afforestation.","PeriodicalId":203,"journal":{"name":"Land Degradation & Development","volume":"11 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2025-05-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144136699","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Unveiling the Spatiotemporal Evolution and Driving Mechanisms of Ecosystem Carbon Sink in Rapidly Urbanizing Areas: A Case Study of the Yangtze River Delta Region","authors":"Menglin Yu, Tao Zhou, Jialin Yi, Guanqiao Ding, Jie Guo","doi":"10.1002/ldr.5660","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/ldr.5660","url":null,"abstract":"Ecosystem carbon sinks are vital for mitigating global climate change. In the past two decades, the Yangtze River Delta (YRD) region has undergone rapid urbanization, with its carbon sink function undergoing significant changes. Understanding the spatial evolution patterns and formation mechanisms of ecosystem carbon sinks is critically important. Existing studies often examine single factors, lacking a comprehensive assessment of how natural and socioeconomic drivers interact through multiple pathways to influence carbon sink dynamics in rapidly urbanizing regions. This study quantifies the ecosystem carbon sink in the YRD from 2000 to 2020 using the Carnegie–Ames–Stanford Approach (CASA) and a soil respiration model, and examines its spatiotemporal evolution and driving mechanisms using Global Moran's <i>I</i>, hotspot analysis, Mann–Kendall trend analysis, and structural equation modeling (SEM). The results reveal three key findings: (1) The total carbon sink increased from 69.91 million tons (Mt) to 103.75 Mt, with high-value areas concentrated in mountainous regions characterized by favorable climatic conditions and dense vegetation, and low-value areas located in the east, primarily due to reduced ecological resource area and fragmented ecological structures from built-up land expansion; (2) Carbon sink functions improved across 68.45% of the region, particularly where vegetation matured, but declined in 15.67% of the region, mainly concentrated in regions of urban expansion; (3) SEM indicates that the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) and forest land proportion (PF) enhance carbon sink functions, while the proportion of built-up land (PBL), driven by population and economic growth, is the primary negative factor. This study underscores the importance of preserving ecosystem integrity and managing urban expansion to sustain carbon sink functions, offering scientific insights into balancing ecological conservation and development in urbanizing regions worldwide.","PeriodicalId":203,"journal":{"name":"Land Degradation & Development","volume":"15 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2025-05-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144122807","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}