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{"title":"Recovery of aboveground biomass and plant species richness with the decline in N deposition depends on pH and SOM effects on P and N availability","authors":"Annemieke Kooijman ,&nbsp;Erik Noordijk ,&nbsp;Mark van Til","doi":"10.1016/j.catena.2026.109868","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.catena.2026.109868","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The response to declining atmospheric N deposition between 1992 and 2021 was studied in ungrazed coastal dune grasslands representative for NW Europe, in a synthesis of 11 separate studies. With the decline from 25 to 15 kg N ha⁻¹ year⁻¹, average aboveground biomass decreased from 450 to 150 g m⁻², while plant species richness increased from 7 to 14, albeit only in tallgrass vegetation. Apart from N deposition, soil and landscape factors such as pH and SOM were important drivers. Low biomass levels could be reached at high pH and/or low SOM, but not at low pH and high SOM. The vegetation was N-limited at low SOM, and higher aboveground biomass with high SOM could be explained by higher N mineralization. Decrease in biomass with pH was associated with shifts in P-availability and plant strategies for nutrient uptake. At high pH, insoluble calcium phosphate was the major source of P, which favours arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) plants. Plant species richness increased, but aboveground biomass decreased, probably due to high costs to the fungal partner. However, even at high pH, the vegetation was not P-limited, which may explain its sensitivity to high N deposition. At low pH, organic and sorbed P predominated, which favour nonmycorrhizal plants. Aboveground biomass increased at low pH with higher P availability and higher plant N use efficiency. This study provides strong evidence that lower N deposition indeed helps recovery of vegetation, but also stresses the importance of pH and SOM as key controls for nature management.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":9801,"journal":{"name":"Catena","volume":"265 ","pages":"Article 109868"},"PeriodicalIF":5.7,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146170587","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Bioturbation and bio-geomorphic control of pedogenesis along a catena in the Atlantic Forest of southeastern Brazil","authors":"Geraldo José Diogo Filho,&nbsp;José Pereira de Queiroz Neto","doi":"10.1016/j.catena.2026.109905","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.catena.2026.109905","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study investigated soil processes along a <em>catena</em> under primary Atlantic Forest in southeastern Brazil. The role of biota in soil formation remains largely unaddressed at this region, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This study innovatively investigates biological influences on pedogenesis along a representative <em>catena</em>. Three profiles were sampled at the crest, middle slope, and lower slope, where soils and litter were morphologically described, physically and chemically analyzed, and classified. Melanization in organomineral horizons was quantified using the Profile Darkening Index. The effects of root and earthworm bioturbation were characterized to evaluate biotic–abiotic interactions in soil formation. Bulk density varied from 0.53 g cm⁻³ (crest A horizon) to 1.72 g cm⁻³ (lower slope E horizon), while total carbon ranged from 123.5 g kg⁻¹ (crest Oa) to 2.9 g kg⁻¹ (lower slope E). Earthworm casts contained up to 77.1 g kg⁻¹C and enhanced nutrient contents (Ca²⁺: 0.7 cmol kg⁻¹; Mg²⁺: 0.5 cmol kg⁻¹). The combination of landform, water surplus, carbon input, and gneissic crystalline substrate creates a geochemical setting with strong leaching and acidity, where shallow soils develop. Organisms such as plants and earthworms play key roles in <em>catena</em> dynamics by enhancing infiltration, reducing erosion, and preserving organic matter, thereby directly influencing soil processes along the <em>catena</em>. Our findings demonstrate that organisms significantly affect pedogenetic processes across the hillslope. Integrating biotic–abiotic interactions is essential for interpreting tropical soil evolution and for guiding conservation strategies in Atlantic Forest environments under high denudation pressure.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":9801,"journal":{"name":"Catena","volume":"265 ","pages":"Article 109905"},"PeriodicalIF":5.7,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146170576","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Wheel traffic may increase surface stratification of soil organic carbon in older apple plantations","authors":"Siyu Wang ,&nbsp;Wei Hu ,&nbsp;Heather Jenkins ,&nbsp;Dougal Stalker ,&nbsp;Craig Tregurtha ,&nbsp;Rogerio Cichota ,&nbsp;Henry Wai Chau ,&nbsp;Jim Moir ,&nbsp;Karin Müller ,&nbsp;Brendon Malcolm","doi":"10.1016/j.catena.2026.109887","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.catena.2026.109887","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Soil organic carbon (SOC) is key to maintaining soil health and supporting ecosystem services. However, the impacts of wheel traffic-induced compaction on SOC stocks in perennial horticultural systems, particularly across contrasting soil types, plantation ages, and deep soil profiles, remain unclear. This study was conducted in two commercial apple orchards in New Zealand with contrasting plantation ages: Canterbury (3, 12, and 40 years) and Tasman (12, 17, and 28 years). At each site, soil cores were collected from 0 to 90 cm across tree rows, wheel tracks, and inter-track areas. Stocks of SOC and hot water extractable carbon (HWEC) were calculated using an equivalent soil mass approach to account for compaction-related differences in soil mass. We then quantified position-related differences in SOC and HWEC and tested whether these effects were modified by plantation age (sampling position × plantation age interactions). In the 0–30 cm depth, across all plantation ages, wheel-track areas had the highest SOC and HWEC stocks, with SOC stocks increasing by 3–20% higher than in other positions and HWEC stocks 7–41% higher. The compaction effect was more pronounced in older plantations (e.g., ≥17 years). However, when considering the deeper (0–90 cm) soil profile, compaction effects were generally insignificant. This study highlights that wheel traffic-induced compaction is associated with surface enrichment of SOC and HWEC, particularly in older plantations (e.g., ≥17 years). Additionally, SOC and HWEC stocks may initially increase with plantation age and then decrease, reaching a peak at a certain plantation age (12 and 28 years for SOC in Canterbury and Tasman, respectively, and 12 years for HWEC at both sites). For future research, the accuracy of SOC stock estimations could be improved by explicitly accounting for spatial variability across soil depths and sampling positions, and by considering how this variability changes with management practices and plantation age.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":9801,"journal":{"name":"Catena","volume":"265 ","pages":"Article 109887"},"PeriodicalIF":5.7,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146170575","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Environmental gradients mediate divergent patterns of microbial nutrient use efficiency and metabolic limitation in arid desert ecosystems","authors":"Xiaotong Li ,&nbsp;Yudong Chen ,&nbsp;Jinlong Wang ,&nbsp;Yulin Shu ,&nbsp;Guang Yang ,&nbsp;Guanghui Lv","doi":"10.1016/j.catena.2026.109913","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.catena.2026.109913","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Abstract</div><div>Transition zones between riparian and desert ecosystems are critical sentinels of environmental change, yet how microbial metabolic plasticity and resource use trade-offs respond to these steep environmental gradients remains poorly understood. This study investigated the transition zone along the Aqikesu River in the Ebinur Lake Wetland National Nature Reserve (ELWNNR), Xinjiang. By analyzing soil extracellular enzyme activities and stoichiometric characteristics across three habitats—mesic riparian (MR), arid desert (AD), and desert erosion (DE) areas, we explored the adaptive strategies of microbial metabolic limitation patterns and potential nutrient use efficiency, along with their driving mechanisms. Results revealed significant divergence in microbial nutrient limitations along the environmental gradient: the MR exhibited higher activities of carbon-acquisition enzymes and nitrogen-acquisition enzymes, while vector analysis indicated a relatively stronger carbon limitation in this area. The DE showed elevated phosphorus-acquisition enzyme activity with alleviated nitrogen limitation. Enzyme stoichiometric vector analysis demonstrated that nitrogen limitation dominated across the entire region, but carbon limitation was more pronounced in the MR area, while nitrogen limitation was mitigated in the DE area. Microbial carbon use efficiency (CUE) increased with increasing distance from the riverbank, whereas nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) declined. The random forest (RF) analysis identified litter nutrients, soil physicochemical properties, and the relative abundance of Acidobacteriota as the primary predictors of metabolic shifts. Partial least squares path modeling (PLS-PM) further elucidated the hierarchical regulatory pathways, revealing that abiotic constraints indirectly modulated CUE and NUE by driving shifts in microbial biomass and community diversity. These findings indicate that microbial nutrient use strategies are coregulated by environmental stressors and biological attributes, reflecting a distinct metabolic trade-off along the riparian-to-desert gradient. This study demonstrates the transition from growth-dominance to survival-dominance strategies in desert microbes and provides a theoretical basis for understanding the vulnerability and resilience of desert ecosystems under global desertification.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":9801,"journal":{"name":"Catena","volume":"265 ","pages":"Article 109913"},"PeriodicalIF":5.7,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146170574","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Distribution of soil functional genes and enzymes jointly determined by slope positions and latitude in Mollisols belt","authors":"Haijun Zhang ,&nbsp;Shaoliang Zhang ,&nbsp;Weitao Xu ,&nbsp;Sihua Yan ,&nbsp;Xiaoguang Niu ,&nbsp;Pengke Yan ,&nbsp;Muhammad Aurangzeib ,&nbsp;Ziliang Xiao ,&nbsp;Mingming Guo ,&nbsp;Jielin Liu ,&nbsp;Jinzhong Xu","doi":"10.1016/j.catena.2026.109838","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.catena.2026.109838","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The spatial heterogeneity of microbial functional genes (FGs) and the enzymes is highly correlated with nutrient cycling in soils. However, it is debated how latitude and topography influence the spatial distribution of microbial function at large scale, especially lacks reports about their interactions. To elucidate their interactive and individual effects, this study collected soil samples from the top, middle and bottom slope positions in seven locations with intervals of 80 km along the Mollisols belt in Northeast China (42°47′N-48°9′N). Shotgun sequencing and micro assay were used to characterize soil FGs and enzyme, respectively. Results indicated that (1) when slope positions were neglected, the abundance of most carbon (C) degradation FGs (starch, lignin) decreased linearly with latitude, while enzyme increased linearly. When the slope positions were considered, the variation of them with latitude was greater in middle slope than other slope positions. Phosphorus (P) FGs and enzyme activity increase linearly with latitude, and greater variation in bottom slope. Nitrogen (N) fixation FGs abundance increases firstly and then decreases with latitude in bottom slope, while increases linearly in other slope positions; (2) when latitude and slope positions were considered together, their interaction significantly influenced the distribution of C, N, and P genes and enzyme; (3) the <em>β</em> diversity of FGs exhibited a unimodal pattern with latitude due to specific climate and soil heterogeneity, which differed from previous knowledge; (4) breaking previous insights, the correlation coefficient between FGs and corresponding enzyme showed quadratic function with latitude caused by microbial functional redundancy and environmental constraints, with significant positive only at 43.8°-47.7°. Our study highlights the interaction of slope position and latitude determined soil microbial function, and recommends sampling based on slope positions as the minimum unit. This may also enhance the accuracy of microbial function studies and C and N cycle models in Mollisols.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":9801,"journal":{"name":"Catena","volume":"265 ","pages":"Article 109838"},"PeriodicalIF":5.7,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146076238","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Fluvial-aeolian interactions in northeastern South America: Implications for provenance and paleoenvironmental interpretations","authors":"Daniel Rodrigues de Lira ,&nbsp;Antonio Carlos de Barros Corrêa ,&nbsp;Drielly Naamma Fonsêca ,&nbsp;José Danilo da Conceição Santos ,&nbsp;Bruno de Azevedo Cavalcanti Tavares ,&nbsp;Keyla Manuela Alencar da Silva Alves","doi":"10.1016/j.catena.2026.109857","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.catena.2026.109857","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study examines surface coverings in the sub-middle sector of the São Francisco River, situated in the semi-arid core of northeastern Brazil, to reconstruct environmental changes from the Last Glacial Maximum through the Holocene. A morphostratigraphic approach integrated sedimentological, geochemical, and Optically Stimulated Luminescence (OSL) analyses of colluvial, fluvial, fluvio-aeolian, and aeolian deposits. Geochemical results indicate predominantly felsic sediment sources and high degrees of chemical weathering, reflecting palaeoclimatic conditions wetter than at present, punctuated by periods of renewed severe semi-aridity. OSL ages spanning ∼20 ka to the Late Holocene reveal sedimentation pulses synchronous with major global climate events—including Heinrich stadials, the Bølling–Allerød, the Younger Dryas, and the Holocene Climatic Optimum—followed by progressive drying from the onset of the Late Holocene, with a return to aeolian deposition. Alternation between erosional and aggradational phases suggests strong regulation of the São Francisco's hydro-sedimentary regime by large-scale climatic teleconnections, with implications for understanding the resilience and vulnerability of semi-arid environments under future climate-change scenarios. The findings underscore the importance of Quaternary deposits as palaeoenvironmental archives and contribute to addressing key knowledge gaps on the geomorphological and palaeoclimatic dynamics of northeastern Brazil.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":9801,"journal":{"name":"Catena","volume":"265 ","pages":"Article 109857"},"PeriodicalIF":5.7,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146076240","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Characterization of nutrient release from volcanic rocks in soils from the southern Main Ethiopian Rift","authors":"David Buriánek ,&nbsp;Emi Hažmuková ,&nbsp;Jana Janderková ,&nbsp;Petra Pacherová ,&nbsp;Ilja Knésl ,&nbsp;Kryštof Verner","doi":"10.1016/j.catena.2026.109830","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.catena.2026.109830","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The Ethiopian Rift, with its rugged topography and varied lithology, substantially influences soil physicochemical properties. Nutrient distribution within these landscapes is primarily influenced by rock geochemistry and weathering intensity, though their interactions remain debatable. Consequently, we investigated soil chemical and mineral composition across various volcanic substrates at different altitudes in the Ethiopian Highlands. At elevations up to 1800 m above sea level, kaolinite mineral dominates saprolite, reflecting advanced weathering. A-horizons in this region exhibit low pH levels (KCl/CaCl₂: 3.7 to 6.3) and medium to high cation exchange capacity (CEC: 11 to 51 cmolc.kg⁻¹). A positive correlation between Organic Carbon (Cox: 1.7 to 4.6 wt%) and CEC highlights the role of organic matter in nutrient retention in the A-horizon. By contrast, rift floor soils—modified by Holocene to Pleistocene pyroclastic deposits—show mixed mineralogy of kaolinite, smectites, chlorites, volcanic glass (pumice), feldspars, quartz, and iron hydroxides. Their A-horizons have pH values of 4.0–7.1 (KCl/CaCl₂), with medium to low levels of Cox (0.3–2.8 wt%), and CEC ranging from 14 to 58 cmolc.kg⁻¹. The CEC is positively correlated with clay mineral content, particularly smectite. Here, nutrient availability is closely related to clay mineral content, especially smectite, and the progressive weathering of volcanic glass. These findings indicate contrasting controls on soil fertility: in Highlands, organic matter strongly regulates nutrient availability, whereas in rift floor soils, mineralogy and volcanic glass weathering are the dominant drivers. Together, they highlight the dual importance of organic processes and parent material alteration in shaping soil development across the Main Ethiopian Rift.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":9801,"journal":{"name":"Catena","volume":"265 ","pages":"Article 109830"},"PeriodicalIF":5.7,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146076244","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Mapping land degradation in the Massili River Basin, Burkina Faso: a spatio-temporal analysis of contributing factors","authors":"Victorine Koala ,&nbsp;Samuel Olalekan Olajuyigbe ,&nbsp;Blaise Ouedraogo ,&nbsp;Kelvin C. Kamei ,&nbsp;Kouamé Donald Kouman","doi":"10.1016/j.catena.2026.109873","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.catena.2026.109873","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Land degradation reduces soil fertility and alters ecosystem structure, leading to reduced productivity. This study analysed the spatial and temporal trends of factors driving land degradation in the Massili River Basin, Burkina Faso from 1992 to 2022. An integrated approach was applied by combining climatic (precipitation, temperature, aridity index), ecological (Normalised Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), Rain Use Efficiency (RUE)), and anthropogenic (Human Influence Index) indicators, using Landsat imagery, meteorological records, demographic and vector data. Results showed a significant increase in rainfall and slight cooling, which together have shifted the basin from predominantly semi-arid to semi-humid conditions. Despite the changes in climatic trends, vegetation recovery was uneven, with NDVI revealing persistent declines in the southern basin alongside localized greening in central and northern areas, while RUE decreased in several zones, due to the influence of non-climatic pressures. Land use and land cover analyses revealed marked expansions of farmland and settlements, with fluctuating savanna cover and riparian forest regeneration. The integrated land degradation map showed that 86.1% of the basin remained unaffected, while 9% was moderately degraded and 4.9% was severely degraded. Most hotspots were concentrated in the southern and southeastern zones under high human pressure. These findings demonstrate that although climate variability shapes vegetation dynamics, anthropogenic activities are the primary drivers of degradation. The study provided empirical evidence to guide restoration initiatives, support targeted interventions, and inform regional sustainable land management strategies aligned with SDG 15.3.1.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":9801,"journal":{"name":"Catena","volume":"265 ","pages":"Article 109873"},"PeriodicalIF":5.7,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146076295","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The great decline of suspended sediment load in the Po River (Italy) over the last 100 years","authors":"Andrea Brenna ,&nbsp;Simone Bizzi ,&nbsp;Nicola Surian","doi":"10.1016/j.catena.2026.109864","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.catena.2026.109864","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study investigates how a sequence of human impacts has profoundly altered suspended sediment yields in the Po River, the largest fluvial system in Italy, over the last 100 years. By integrating long-term data on suspended sediment transport with a detailed analysis of anthropogenic drivers—including land-use changes, in-channel mining, damming and river training works—we reconstruct the spatiotemporal trajectory of sediment dynamics across the river system. Results reveal a marked reduction in suspended sediment yields, occurring asynchronously along the Po River: declines of about −48% first emerged in the middle course during the 1920s–1940s, primarily due to dam construction in the western catchment, and later, with comparable intensity, in the lower course (1950s–1980s), largely driven by river training interventions, sediment deposition within the active channel, and sediment retention in flood detention basins along the Apennine tributaries. Considering the entire investigated time window (1924–2019), the river exhibits a substantial long-term reduction in annual suspended sediment yields, exceeding −72% at the catchment closure. These reductions in fine sediment transport have contributed to trigger substantial geomorphological transformations affecting the delta region. The findings underscore the complexity of interpreting sediment dynamics under overlapping anthropogenic pressures and highlight the need for integrated management strategies aimed at restoring sediment fluxes and connectivity. In particular, the partial reactivation of sediment deposits accumulated within anthropogenically induced traps along the main stem could represent a promising, though complex, strategy to mitigate sediment deficits and support more sustainable management of the delta.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":9801,"journal":{"name":"Catena","volume":"265 ","pages":"Article 109864"},"PeriodicalIF":5.7,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146076299","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Dynamic vegetation responses to climate change and human activities in the eastern North China region over the past 3,500 years: Pollen record from the Caofeidian Wetland","authors":"Shiyao Chai ,&nbsp;Ying Wang ,&nbsp;Rongrong Wang ,&nbsp;Hongyu Song ,&nbsp;Ran Zhang ,&nbsp;Xiangyue Kong ,&nbsp;Yunfei Yang ,&nbsp;Yawen Ge ,&nbsp;Bing Li ,&nbsp;Yuecong Li","doi":"10.1016/j.catena.2026.109881","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.catena.2026.109881","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Climate change and human activities during the late Holocene have jointly affected significant changes in ecosystems and regional landscapes; however, the relative importance of their roles may vary significantly over time. The REVEALS model provides a robust framework for quantitatively reconstructing the relative abundances of dominant regional vegetation. Using the Caofeidian Wetland pollen record, we combined REVEALS and Rate of Change (RoC) analysis to infer vegetation dynamics and applied the WA-PLS model to reconstruct past precipitation quantitatively. Our results indicate that the Caofeidian vegetation type has remained broadly stable over the past 3500 years, with <em>Quercus</em>-dominated deciduous broadleaved forest and herbaceous communities dominated by Poaceae and <em>Chenopodium</em>. Forest cover reached its maximum during 3500–3200 cal yr BP, after which there were two abrupt vegetation change events: at ∼2.5 ka BP and ∼220 cal yr BP. The ∼2.5 ka BP event is characterized by the lowest arboreal relative abundance (12.8%) and a shift from a forest to grassland. This vegetation change was likely driven by prolonged drought and a precipitation reduction of &gt;30%. Concurrently, the significant increase in the relative abundance of <em>Chenopodium</em> was likely induced by a decline in relative sea level. In contrast, the ∼220 cal yr BP event is marked by increased arboreal relative abundance and fern spores percentage, coupled with decreases in the relative abundances of Poaceae and <em>Chenopodium</em> and vegetation pollen concentration, and was mainly associated with intensified human activities. This study provides new evidence documenting the responses of East Asian coastal wetland ecosystems to climate change and human activities, and it serves as a reference for predicting changes in vegetation ecosystems under future climate scenarios.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":9801,"journal":{"name":"Catena","volume":"265 ","pages":"Article 109881"},"PeriodicalIF":5.7,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146170571","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}