Ecological resilience is an important foundation for conducting regional ecological management. A watershed is a basic unit to conduct ecological management, and in a watershed, the nature-economy-society is a complex composite system. However, what are the links between human activities, management behavior, and the natural environment on a watershed scale? How is the resilience of complex natural-economic-social ecosystems measured? Moreover, in previous studies, little attention was on the watershed scale. Therefore, this study selected the Erhai watershed in China as the study area, constructed an integrated evaluation method of a water-scale complex natural-economic-social system, analyzed the coupling coordination degree of each subsystem, and simulated the changes of ecosystem resilience in the Erhai watershed under different policy scenarios using OWA. The results show that: The resilience of the Erhai Basin from 2005 to 2020 is continuously strong, with the average value increasing from 0.23 to 0.42, but the inter-regional differences increase, and the basin faces the problem of uncoordinated regional development. Fiscal revenues have an important impact on environmental governance behavior, and high fiscal revenues lead to high ecological protection and governance inputs, thus increasing resilience. In the scenario simulation, the ”conservation-first type” has the highest resilience, attaches importance to infrastructure and environmental protection, increases investment in social security and health, and relies on tourism development.

The construction of ski runs with artificial snowmaking in mountain areas changes natural water circulation and leads to activation of erosion and accumulation processes. To recognise this relationship, we selected a small catchment in the Gubałowskie Foothills, the Inner Carpathians, where 17% of the area is covered by the ski runs. The main purpose of our study was to: (i) present morphology and morphometrics of channels that drain and do not drain ski runs; (ii) recognise differences in statistical relationships between channel morphometrics in both types of channels; and (iii) estimate morphometric changes due to erosion and accumulation processes in selected channels. To identify these changes, we conducted geomorphological mapping of step pool channels, statistical analyses, DEM (Digital Elevation Model), and DOD (DEM of Difference) analyses (based on point clouds from 2016 and 2023). In order to identify the effect of ski run construction on channel morphology, we divided channels into two groups: 1) stream channels that do not drain ski runs, and 2) stream channels that drain ski runs. Results showed that the routing of drainage from the ski runs to the channels leads to a significant intensification of erosion in the channels with the maximum deepening, up to 2.6 m. It also changes the dominant geomorphological processes in the channels. Fluvial processes are beginning to dominate slope processes. The described changes occurred already 8 years after the opening of the ski station and reveal the scale of land degradation connected to artificial snowmaking in ski resorts.

not-yet-known not-yet-known not-yet-known unknown Understanding soil nitrogen (N) processes and their response to climate change across diverse land-use types is crucial for bolstering the ecosystem functionality and stability, and also vital for refining land management strategies, especially as oasis expansion and land development practices become more frequent and widespread in dryland regions. We conducted a field soil sample collection and laboratory incubation experiment to examine the response of soil nitrogen mineralization to temperature and moisture across four land-use types in a typical dryland area of northwestern China. The mean values of soil net nitrification, ammonification, and mineralization rates across all treatments were 1.27 (0.43–3.01), –0.24 (–0.60–0.58), and 1.03 (–0.10–2.88 ) mg N kg -1 day -1, respectively. Notably, an increase in temperature and moisture substantially enhanced soil net nitrification rates by 3.7–104.2% and 26.0–72.0%, respectively. Conversely, the net ammonification rate declined, ranging from 30.0 to 94.4% with temperature changes and 10.7 to 137.5% with moisture variations. Among the land-use types examined, Poplar shelterbelt forests exhibited the highest soil N mineralization rate, followed by reclaimed farmlands, Gobi desert grasslands, and artificial sand-fixing shrubs. Notably, land-use changes significantly modulated the sensitivity of soil N mineralization rate to temperature and moisture. Specifically, its responses to temperature and moisture were strong in poplar shelterbelt forests and reclaimed farmlands but weak in Gobi desert grasslands and artificial sand-fixing shrubs. This study underscores the pivotal role of substrate quantity in determining the response of soil N mineralization rates to temperature and moisture fluctuations. Therefore, we posit that resilient ecosystems that respond positively to environmental perturbations, particularly variations in temperature and moisture, are more likely to enhance productivity by modulating soil N available. In contrast vulnerable ecosystems that consistently maintain a low soil N levels, regardless of environmental fluctuations, may face constraints in their development and improvement potential.

Organic soils, particularly peatlands, are important carbon sinks. In Europe, almost half of its area has been drained and is primarily used for agriculture as grasslands. In Poland, 86% of the drained peatland area causes problems with high carbon dioxide emissions due to organic matter oxidation. The aim of the study was to analyze changes in organic soils between 1975 and 2017 using data from 476 reference soil profiles. The results showed a significant decrease in organic soils (≥12% SOC) from 62% to 35%, and an increase in organo-mineral (6.0-12.0% SOC) and non-humose mineral soils (≤1.75% SOC) by a similar percentage. The depth of SOC rich layers also decreased significantly, with deep soils (>100 cm) dropping from 20% to 5% and shallow soils (21-50 cm) increasing from 24% to 58%. The average SOC stock loss was almost 273 Mg C·ha -1 (from 500.42 Mg C·ha -1 to 228.04 Mg C·ha -1), with the median being four times lower. A decrease in SOC stock was observed in 64% of sites, while an increase was seen in 36%. The most significant decrease in SOC stock, by 64.67% compared to 1975, occurred in organic soils (from 762.19 Mg C·ha -1 to 269.26 Mg C·ha -1). There was an increase in SOC stock in organo-mineral, humose, and non-humose mineral soils, although it was not statistically significant. Moreover, the results indicated that continuous grassland use on organic soils does not offset carbon losses from organic matter oxidation due to drainage.

not-yet-known not-yet-known not-yet-known unknown The brush straw checkerboard barrier offers a novel approach to sand control and features 60% higher design efficiency and a longer lifespan of 6 years compared to the traditional artificial straw checkerboard barrier. The wind tunnel test and field observation confirmed that the brush straw checkerboard barrier has high sand fixation efficiency. But how do these two sand barriers perform in terms of restoring soil function? How does the effectiveness of restoring soil function change as the service life of the straw checkerboard barrier increases? These questions still need to be clarified further. This study, conducted in Zhongwei, Ningxia, China, examined plots with brush straw checkerboard barrier, artificial straw checkerboard barrier, and bare sand. The results show that the brush straw checkerboard barrier is superior in improving soil moisture, organic matter, total nitrogen and electrical conductivity compared to the artificial straw checkerboard barrier. In addition, the brush straw checkerboard barrier has a positive impact on microbial diversity and community composition. Increasing sand fixation year through the brush straw checkerboard barrier correlates with improved soil properties and microbial indexes, suggesting that it has the potential for widespread application in desertification mitigation.

Vegetation restoration can stimulate changes in soil properties and root traits, which then cause change in rill erosion process (indicated by rill erodibility ( Kr) as well as critical shear stress ( τc)). The present work chose eight typical herbaceous plants, commonly appeared at diverse vegetation succession period on the Chinese Loess Plateau, for discovering how soil properties and root traits affected rill erosion. In total, we collected 240 undisturbed soil samples for flow scouring within the hydraulic flume in the presence of six shear stresses (range, 5.94-18.58 Pa). According to our findings, Kr and τc were 0.015-0.411 s m -1 and 0.050-6.059 pa among eight typical species. Cultivated species have high Kr and low τc, the Kr was 4.70 to 24.28 times greater than other species, and τc was 89.23% to 98.30% less than other species. In addition, plants that had the tap root system had a 4.80-fold increased Kr value compared with those that had the fibrous root system, and τc was 49.78% less than those with fibrous root system. The Kr and τc were affected by root-soil complex, with interaction effects of root and soil being 54.2% and 50.4%, respectively. The Kr decreased with bulk density, soil cohesion, soil organic matter and soil aggregate as power functions, and decreased with root surface area density and root length density being exponential functions. The τc increased with specific root length and bulk density as power functions. Of those above-mentioned soil properties and root traits, Kr was dominantly affected by cohesion and root surface area density, and τc was affected by bulk density and specific root length. Kr was simulated through soil cohesion ( Coh) and root surface area density ( RSAD), and τc were simulated by soil bulk density ( BD) and specific root length ( SRL) as power functions. Our constructed model achieved satisfactory performance.

Due to the combined effects of human activities and climate change, freshwater wetlands, especially in agricultural watersheds, face severe degradation threats. Therefore, it is necessary to explore in depth the changes in plant communities within these wetlands. This study investigates changes in wetland plant communities within these watersheds and assesses the feasibility of the Breaks for Additive Season and Trend (BFAST) method for detecting abrupt shifts in vegetation over long time series. Using long-term Landsat imagery (1984-2016), annual maximum NDVI values were calculated for the Naolihe Basin Nature Reserve in Northeast China. The BFAST algorithm was then applied to detect NDVI changes in wetland plant communities, with results validated through field surveys. The results revealed four distinct NDVI change trends: no significant change, high-to-low shift, low-to-high shift, and continuous decline. NDVI deviations ranged from -0.85 to 0.94, with 1 to 5 abrupt changes mainly occurring between 1993 and 2006. The study confirms BFAST’s effectiveness in detecting changes in wetland plant communities and, combined with field data, proposes a conceptual model to explain the degradation processes in freshwater wetlands. The model reveals the degradation process of different vegetation types under the influence of water competition and other factors, which contributes to a more accurate understanding of vegetation change in freshwater wetlands and provides strong support for its sustainable conservation and management.

：Soil ciliates, crucial components of grassland ecosystems, serve as sensitive bioindicators of soil health and disturbance. This study investigates ciliate communities across four grassland use types on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau (QTP): seasonal and continuous grazing in natural grasslands (SGG and CGG), artificial perennial Elymus nutans Griseb. grasslands (PEG), and artificial annual Avena grasslands (AAG). Using live observation techniques, we identified 114 ciliate species from 10 classes and 21 orders, with Haptorida and Sporadotrichia emerging as dominant groups. Our findings reveal that grazing grasslands harbor greater endemic ciliate species richness compared to AAG. SGG and CGG exhibited significantly higher ciliate diversity (Shannon, Simpson, and Margalef indices) than other use types, while PEG and SGG supported higher ciliate abundances. Low Jaccard similarity indices between grassland types indicate distinct ciliate communities, reflecting management-induced environmental heterogeneity. Redundancy analysis identified above-ground biomass and soil pH as primary drivers of ciliate community structure. Notably, seasonal grazing (SGG) promoted the highest ciliate diversity, suggesting its potential as a sustainable management practice for maintaining soil health on the QTP. This research provides crucial insights into the relationship between land management and soil microbial diversity in high-altitude grasslands. Our findings support the implementation of moderate grazing practices to enhance soil quality and ecosystem resilience on the QTP, with implications for sustainable management of similar ecosystems worldwide.

The perceived impact of soil microplastics on soil aggregation is primarily attributed to their potential toxicity toward soil microorganisms. However, only a limited number of studies have undertaken comprehensive controlled experiments involving sterilized soils to substantiate this notion. The present study embarked on soil incubation experiments encompassing both non-sterilized soils and soils subjected to oven-heating sterilization to investigate the ramifications of polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP) microplastics, characterized by mesh sizes of 30, 150, and 1000, on both the water-stability and mechanical stability of soil aggregates. The presence of microplastics decreased aggregation stability in Tianjin soils (on average -48.89% and -81.61% for 0.5-1 and 1-2 mm aggregates, respectively). The impact of microplastics was notably more evident in the non-sterilized soils. Microplastics also demonstrated the capacity to modify aggregate properties such as surface roughness. This study indicates the pivotal role played by interactions between soil microplastics and microorganisms on soil aggregation, but microplastics hold the potential to influence soil aggregation through non-biogenic pathways.

Agricultural sustainability assessments have gained high importance during the last decades. Different tools have been developed for these assessments such as the Sustainability assessment methodology oriented to soil-associated agricultural experiments (SMAES). SMAES quantifies the current sustainability of the different treatments evaluated in experiments associated with the soil. However, efforts aimed to maintain or increase the crop systems sustainability must be planned and measured in the short, medium, and long-term. In this work, some parameters are added to SMAES to estimate the future sustainability. The first parameter is the construction of climate scenarios (RCP 4.5 and 8.5, model CCSM4, periods 2050-2100) to establish the conditions of change in the future. Second, crop yield is modelled with DSSAT (Decision Support System for Agrotechnology Transfer) using the aforementioned climate scenarios. Third, yield modelling results and SMAES sustainability indexes (IS) from climate scenarios are integrated. As a case of study, the current sustainability (IS-A) of five potato fertilization split treatments were initially estimated: Commercial control (Control), Fertilization recommended by Agrosavia (As), Monthly split fertilization recommended by Agrosavia (AsSplit), AsSplit decreasing the amount of fertilizer by 25% (AsSp25), and AsSplit decreasing the amount of fertilizer by 50% (AsSp50). AsSp50 generated the highest current and future sustainability with IS-A = 0.90, IS-45, and IS-85 = 0.88. Results suggest that integrated fertilization management practices generate a higher potato crop sustainability in the Colombian high Andean, both today and the future.

The achira crop (Canna edulis) is a symbol of the ancestral productive potential of the department of Huila. According to the Regional Information System (SIR) of the Governor’s Office of Huila, the area planted with annual achira in the department in 2020 will be 82.3 hectares and the local demand for starch (400 tons/year) will be imported from other departments (Cundinamarca and Nariño). Apart from its economic potential, its importance in ecosystem services is added, since its management is organic, limited to cultural work, making this crop valuable in mitigating the effects of the decline in pollinator populations, especially wild bees, due to the problems caused by the rapid growth of coffee monoculture and other conventionally managed crops, making it crucial to better understand the relationship between biodiversity and agricultural production, and to develop sustainable management strategies that promote the conservation of pollinators and biodiversity in general. The objective was to characterize the diversity of floral visitors associated with the Achira (Canna edulis KER) crop in different thermal soils in the department of Huila, characterizing the study area, identifying native bees and visitors in the crop through field visits to three farms located in the municipalities of Garzón and San Agustín, concluding that altitudinal or thermal soil variations may affect the distribution of native bee species and other visitors, reducing their abundance. In order to determine the direct relationship between altitude and diversity, it is suggested to make new efforts in this aspect, since factors such as the management of neighboring agroecosystems and proximity to forest remnants intervene. Organic crops of high cultural value, such as (Canna edulis), represent an alternative of safe conditions to stimulate the visit of wild bees and other insects that can be considered of high economic value due to their biological importance in agroecosystems.

Synergy between pollinators and flower strips is an emerging strategy that favors agricultural sustainability and biodiversity conservation. Bees and other pollinators, together with flower strips, are crucial components that can be exploited to improve pollination and biological pest control in crops. However, few publications review the topic, especially in Colombia. Therefore, to Know and understand this intersection will enable the development of more appropriate management tools to maximize ecological and agricultural benefits. We compiled studies based on a bibliometric and systematic analysis using the Web of Science database (WoS) of either approach that looked for an association pollinators/flower strips. The records obtained were analyzed using graph theory and tools such as VOSviwer and Tree of Science divided into three categories: classical, structural and recent. 155 studies were identified the main author was Tscharntke Teja, important authors such as Klein, Alexandra and Potts, Simon have an H-index of 74 and 80 respectively. In addition, the countries with the highest production in this area are Germany in first place, England in second and the United States in third, allowing to conclude that the integration of pollinators and floral strips has awakened a growing interest among international communities, although it is still considered an emerging field within scientific research. The research outcomes provide valuable insights for future research trends and agricultural policies focused on biodiversity conservation and mitigation the effects of climate change. The findings suggest that flower strips in enhancing ecosystem services, underlining their role in increasing biodiversity and the resilience of agroecosystems.

Water-use efficiency (WUE) and the stoichiometry of plant-soil carbon (C), nitrogen (N), and phosphorus (P) are key indicators of plant growth, while stand quality is an important index for evaluating afforestation. Yet it remains unclear how WUE and stoichiometric characteristics respond to changes in stand quality in desert ecosystems. To that end, we studied the community characteristics of sand-fixing Caragana korshinskii stands differing in age (planted 10, 30, 50, and 70 years ago) in Mu Us Sandy Land, China, and measured their leaf water use efficiency (WUE) and leaf-soil C:N:P stoichiometry. The relations among the stand quality index, leaf WUE, and plant-soil stoichiometry were analyzed. After 70 years, WUE was at its lowest level, but only significantly lower than that of a 10-year-old C. korshinskii stand. Afforestation years had differential effects on C, N, and P nutrients and their stoichiometric characteristics in leaves and soil. For soil, its total P barely increased. Irrespective of stand age, the N:P ratio of leaves was > 16, which suggests P is the main factor limiting the development of C. korshinskii plantations. Notably, WUE decreased significantly as the stand quality index increased while soil stoichiometry responded more strongly than plant stoichiometry. These results can guide investigations into the role of C. korshinskii stands in plant and soil recovery effects, providing a scientific basis to evaluate the rational use of C. korshinskii sand-fixing forest in afforestation.

Soil erosion-induced solute loss contributes to non-point source pollution (NPS). The extent and depth of soil solute involvement in runoff exchange processes are determined by soil disturbed depth ( Ds), encompassing runoff depth ( Dr), and effective mixing depth ( De). This study aimed to investigate the impacts of Ds on soil erosion and solute loss. The varying Dr (0.04 ~ 0.59 cm) and De (0.08 ~ 10.35 cm) were generated through rainfall (60, 90, and 120 mm h −1) and overland flow (0, 1, and 2 L min −1). Dr and De were quantified by the KMnO 4 and Br tracing methods, respectively. Additionally, runoff coefficient ( Rc), sediment concentration ( Cs), sediment yield rate ( Sy), Br concentration in runoff ( CBr), Dr, and De were determined at 2 or 3-minute intervals. Significant differences were observed in runoff initiation time ( Tr) (15 ~ 187 s), Rc (0.49 ~ 0.99), Sy (4.04 ~ 242.89 g m 2 min -1), Cs (2.88 ~ 48.66 g L -1), and CBr (0.70 ~15 601.26 mg L -1) across different Ds (F>3, P<0.01). A power function relationship was observed between Tr, Rc, and Ds ( R2adj> 0.89). Sy, Cs, and CBr demonstrated increasing trends with rising Ds, though the magnitude of these increases varied across different Ds ( R2adj> 0.55). Furthermore, a notable linear correlation was identified between cumulative runoff generation, sediment yield, Br loss, and mean Dr, De ( R2adj> 0.75). Collectively, Ds accounted for 64.9% and 46.2% of the variation in soil erosion and Br loss, respectively. These results would facilitate an improvement of NPS models.

Dear editor, I would like to cancel the pre printing service for the paper submitted to "Land Degradation&Development", as there are still many points in the paper that need to be revised based on the reviewer's comments. The paper title "Spatial heterogeneity characteristics and driving mechanisms of abandoned farmland at different scales and regions in China".  thank you! 

Sediment connectivity reflects potential linkages between sediment sources and sink areas and identifies priority regions for implementing sediment control measures. However, the impact of soil and water conservation measures on catchment topography and geomorphological development, as well as their potential effects on sediment connectivity, are not yet fully understood. This study aims to quantify the spatial variations in sediment connectivity induced by the combined effects of terraces and check dams in a representative small catchment on the Loess Plateau. We used the landscape evolution model (LAPSUS) to simulate the spatial distribution of erosion and deposition within the watershed and to determine the spatial coupling patterns between erosion and connectivity. The results indicate that: (i) Soil and water conservation measures effectively reduced sediment connectivity within the catchment, with terraces, check dams, and their combined effect contributing to a 19.55%, 4.82%, and 31.99% reduction in sediment connectivity, respectively. (ii) Soil and water conservation measures altered the erosion-deposition spatial distribution patterns within the catchment. Terraces reduced the area of soil erosion on slopes by 33.44%, while check dams increased the area of sediment deposition in channels by 90%. (iii) Low erosion-high connectivity and high erosion-high connectivity zones were key areas for soil erosion and sediment loss within the catchment, located on steep slopes and highly erodible channels. The research findings contribute to the development of more effective soil and water conservation programmable for erosive small catchments in the Loess Plateau, enhancing the sustainability of catchment management.

Strong earthquakes often trigger large-scale secondary geological disasters, causing significant damage to local ecosystems. Among these, landslides represent one of the most severe types of disasters, leading to substantial vegetation loss. Consequently, post-disaster vegetation recovery (Vegetation Productive Capability, VPC) has received widespread attention. While some studies have assessed post-disaster vegetation recovery, they often lack predictions for landslides VPC and fail to fully explore the intricate nonlinear relationships between landslide vegetation recovery and environmental factors. To address these gaps, this study comprehensively evaluates post-disaster vegetation recovery and subsequently conducts modeling analyses on the evaluation results using data-driven techniques. Specifically, we employ Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) Net Primary Productivity (NPP) data and a Generalized Additive Model (GAM) to assess and predict VPC for 25,945 landslides triggered by the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake. Experimental results demonstrate the GAM model’s effectiveness in predicting vegetation recovery in landslides, achieving a good fit (AUC=0.798). Random cross-validation (mean AUC=0.797) and spatial hold-out cross-validation (mean AUC=0.752) further validate its efficacy. Moreover, This study also explores complex nonlinear relationships between recovery and environmental factors, revealing significant impacts of population density, slope, temperature, precipitation, and residual vegetation. However, the impacts of terrain factors, specifically profile and plan curvature, show considerable uncertainty. This study marks a significant step towards developing robust methodologies for landslides VPC prediction, paving the way for enhanced post-disaster ecological restoration strategies.

Climate change and biodiversity loss are severe and intertwined global threats. Land-based efforts to address both require an understanding of the spatial relationships between carbon storage and biodiversity. Here, we present a systematic review and meta-analysis of the strength of these spatial relationships across the literature. We synthesize the estimated spatial correlations and infer how different factors (spatial scale, metrics, biome, human pressure) impact these strengths using linear mixed-effect models. Our results show that spatial scale is a significant factor, and the combination of metrics used to express carbon storage and biodiversity plays a more important role. While relationships are moderately positive across all conditions, the strength of the relationships decreases significantly from global to local scales. We find large variations in the strength for different metrics, across different biomes, and in the presence or absence of human pressure. We find a stronger relationship in natural rather than human-dominated landscapes for temperate forests, grasslands and deserts, but the opposite for tropical and subtropical forests. Ecosystem-level biodiversity proxies (habitat quality) show strong relationships to the total carbon pool, while taxonomic metrics (species richness) show a weaker relationship. The largest negative relationship is between total carbon and flora & fauna species richness. Our results suggest different synergies for different dimensions of carbon storage and biodiversity and shed light on where further effort is needed.