Pub Date : 2025-12-13DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoleng.2025.107878
W. Gregory Hood
Species recovery and coastal resilience programs are spending hundreds of millions of dollars on coastal habitat restoration, particularly for tidal marshes. Tidal channels are central to tidal marsh function, and fortunately quantitative design guidance is available for how many and what size tidal channels are appropriate for a marsh restoration footprint. But guidance on where those channels should be located within the restoration footprint and how the channel networks should be structured is more limited. Inappropriately locating new tidal channels could result in restoration failure, if the channels are not sustainable (i.e., fill with sediment) in their chosen locations. Using natural tidal landforms as a template for restoration design can help minimize the risk of channel design failure. Excavating 2nd- or higher-order channels will require making decisions on where channel tributaries should be located. To address this design issue, I examined three distinct tidal marsh systems (the Skagit Delta in Washington State, USA; Ochlockonee Bay in Florida; and Tubul-Raqui in Chile) for patterns in tidal tributary channel locations. The results indicate that tributary channels are randomly encountered along the mainstem channel for large channels, but for small channels they are disproportionately located on the concave banks of meander bends, and they are generally larger in these locations. Design of tidal channel networks that mimics natural landforms should accelerate restoration site maturation and development of maximal hydraulic and ecological function.
{"title":"Association of tidal channel tributaries with mainstem meander bends: Landform patterns to inform tidal marsh restoration design","authors":"W. Gregory Hood","doi":"10.1016/j.ecoleng.2025.107878","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ecoleng.2025.107878","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Species recovery and coastal resilience programs are spending hundreds of millions of dollars on coastal habitat restoration, particularly for tidal marshes. Tidal channels are central to tidal marsh function, and fortunately quantitative design guidance is available for how many and what size tidal channels are appropriate for a marsh restoration footprint. But guidance on where those channels should be located within the restoration footprint and how the channel networks should be structured is more limited. Inappropriately locating new tidal channels could result in restoration failure, if the channels are not sustainable (i.e., fill with sediment) in their chosen locations. Using natural tidal landforms as a template for restoration design can help minimize the risk of channel design failure. Excavating 2nd- or higher-order channels will require making decisions on where channel tributaries should be located. To address this design issue, I examined three distinct tidal marsh systems (the Skagit Delta in Washington State, USA; Ochlockonee Bay in Florida; and Tubul-Raqui in Chile) for patterns in tidal tributary channel locations. The results indicate that tributary channels are randomly encountered along the mainstem channel for large channels, but for small channels they are disproportionately located on the concave banks of meander bends, and they are generally larger in these locations. Design of tidal channel networks that mimics natural landforms should accelerate restoration site maturation and development of maximal hydraulic and ecological function.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11490,"journal":{"name":"Ecological Engineering","volume":"224 ","pages":"Article 107878"},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2025-12-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145734593","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}
Pub Date : 2025-12-11DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoleng.2025.107865
Miroslav Zeidler , Jan Šipoš , Jan Černohorský , Marek Banaš
Alpine and subalpine ecosystems in Central Europe represent refugia for cold-adapted and endemic species that have been significantly affected by climate change and atmospheric nitrogen deposition in recent decades. The abandonment of traditional agricultural practices has led to homogenization of plant communities and biodiversity decline. This study evaluates the ecological impacts of two short-term management interventions – repeated mowing and turf stripping - on alpine grassland communities affected by warming and nitrogen enrichment.
The research was conducted in a Central European mountain range on 30 plots divided into three groups: mowing (10 plots), turf stripping (10 plots), and control plots (10 plots). Mowing was conducted annually from 2018 to 2022, while turf stripping was performed once in 2018. Vegetation species composition was assessed in 2017, 2019, 2021, and 2023. Soil and biomass were analysed, alpha and beta diversity were measured, and community assembly mechanisms were studied using null-model approaches.
Turf stripping significantly decreased alpha diversity while markedly increasing beta diversity. In contrast, five years of annual mowing had no significant effect on species richness or beta diversity. The analysis revealed that stochastic community assembly processes dominated in turf stripping plots, while deterministic processes prevailed in mowing plots. The thickness of the humus layer emerged as a key factor influencing species richness.
The study demonstrated that neither extensive mowing nor one-time turf stripping represents an ideal strategy for rapidly restoring environmental conditions and increasing alpha diversity in long-term unmanaged alpine grasslands. Annual mowing over five years was insufficient in both intensity and duration, while turf stripping substantially altered community structure but recovery was limited to a small number of common plant species.
{"title":"Stochastic assembly and increased beta-diversity driven by turf stripping in alpine grasslands","authors":"Miroslav Zeidler , Jan Šipoš , Jan Černohorský , Marek Banaš","doi":"10.1016/j.ecoleng.2025.107865","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ecoleng.2025.107865","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Alpine and subalpine ecosystems in Central Europe represent refugia for cold-adapted and endemic species that have been significantly affected by climate change and atmospheric nitrogen deposition in recent decades. The abandonment of traditional agricultural practices has led to homogenization of plant communities and biodiversity decline. This study evaluates the ecological impacts of two short-term management interventions – repeated mowing and turf stripping - on alpine grassland communities affected by warming and nitrogen enrichment.</div><div>The research was conducted in a Central European mountain range on 30 plots divided into three groups: mowing (10 plots), turf stripping (10 plots), and control plots (10 plots). Mowing was conducted annually from 2018 to 2022, while turf stripping was performed once in 2018. Vegetation species composition was assessed in 2017, 2019, 2021, and 2023. Soil and biomass were analysed, alpha and beta diversity were measured, and community assembly mechanisms were studied using null-model approaches.</div><div>Turf stripping significantly decreased alpha diversity while markedly increasing beta diversity. In contrast, five years of annual mowing had no significant effect on species richness or beta diversity. The analysis revealed that stochastic community assembly processes dominated in turf stripping plots, while deterministic processes prevailed in mowing plots. The thickness of the humus layer emerged as a key factor influencing species richness.</div><div>The study demonstrated that neither extensive mowing nor one-time turf stripping represents an ideal strategy for rapidly restoring environmental conditions and increasing alpha diversity in long-term unmanaged alpine grasslands. Annual mowing over five years was insufficient in both intensity and duration, while turf stripping substantially altered community structure but recovery was limited to a small number of common plant species.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11490,"journal":{"name":"Ecological Engineering","volume":"224 ","pages":"Article 107865"},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2025-12-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145734607","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}
Pub Date : 2025-12-09DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoleng.2025.107867
Zihan Zhu , Yuan Zeng , Jian Ye , Yangyang Lu , Changran Sun , Guohua Fang
Riparian zones, critical transitional zones between terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, perform indispensable ecological functions in supporting and regulating ecosystem services. However, against the backdrop of ongoing urbanisation, rising demand and limited supply have led to increasingly pronounced mismatches, posing challenges to regional sustainable development. Considering the Jiangsu section of the Yangtze River as a representative area, an analytical framework was developed in this study to assess ecosystem service supply–demand relationships and the level of urbanisation across five spatial scales. Furthermore, the study reveals supply–demand matching patterns and the intensity of multi-scale responses of riparian ecosystem services to urbanisation, identifies key spatial scales, and provides targeted recommendations to balance ecological protection and socio-economic development. The findings of this study revealed the following: (1) significant spatial heterogeneity, with severe deficits in carbon sequestration and food provisioning, forming upstream-surplus/downstream-deficit and peripheral-surplus/central-deficit patterns; (2) a clear scale effect in supply–demand mismatch, showing a ‘decrease–then–increase’ trend in spatial aggregation, primarily driven by urban expansion and land use change; (3) a strong negative correlation between urbanisation and the supply–demand ratio, which intensifies with spatial scale, with HL- and LH-type zones at 10,000 m and district levels showing the strongest responses—critical scales for coordinated development; (4) A three-tier spatial governance model—comprising 10,000 m grids, district boundaries, and 100 m fine-resolution units—is recommended to optimise riparian ecological planning through scale-specific governance strategies.
{"title":"Riparian ecosystem service supply–demand matching and its multi-scale responses to urbanisation","authors":"Zihan Zhu , Yuan Zeng , Jian Ye , Yangyang Lu , Changran Sun , Guohua Fang","doi":"10.1016/j.ecoleng.2025.107867","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ecoleng.2025.107867","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Riparian zones, critical transitional zones between terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, perform indispensable ecological functions in supporting and regulating ecosystem services. However, against the backdrop of ongoing urbanisation, rising demand and limited supply have led to increasingly pronounced mismatches, posing challenges to regional sustainable development. Considering the Jiangsu section of the Yangtze River as a representative area, an analytical framework was developed in this study to assess ecosystem service supply–demand relationships and the level of urbanisation across five spatial scales. Furthermore, the study reveals supply–demand matching patterns and the intensity of multi-scale responses of riparian ecosystem services to urbanisation, identifies key spatial scales, and provides targeted recommendations to balance ecological protection and socio-economic development. The findings of this study revealed the following: (1) significant spatial heterogeneity, with severe deficits in carbon sequestration and food provisioning, forming upstream-surplus/downstream-deficit and peripheral-surplus/central-deficit patterns; (2) a clear scale effect in supply–demand mismatch, showing a ‘decrease–then–increase’ trend in spatial aggregation, primarily driven by urban expansion and land use change; (3) a strong negative correlation between urbanisation and the supply–demand ratio, which intensifies with spatial scale, with HL- and LH-type zones at 10,000 m and district levels showing the strongest responses—critical scales for coordinated development; (4) A three-tier spatial governance model—comprising 10,000 m grids, district boundaries, and 100 m fine-resolution units—is recommended to optimise riparian ecological planning through scale-specific governance strategies.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11490,"journal":{"name":"Ecological Engineering","volume":"224 ","pages":"Article 107867"},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2025-12-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145734635","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}
Pub Date : 2025-12-09DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoleng.2025.107877
Zhiwei Gao , Meiqing Jia , Chaowei Han , Jinfeng Mi , Jing Huang , Guogang Zhang , Guodong Han
Generally, how ecological restoration projects affect soil in desert steppe open-pit mining areas is not comprehensively evaluated. This study focused on an open-pit coal mine on the Loess Plateau, Inner Mongolia, China, examining soil physicochemical properties and nematode community composition under three treatments: phytoremediation, natural restoration, and a native vegetation treatment. High-throughput sequencing yielded a total of 141,318 soil nematode DNA sequences belonging to 16 genera. Our analysis suggests that the genera Aphelenchoides, Paratylenchus, Tripylina, Oxydirus, Cervidellus, Nothacrobeles, and Acrobeles may be key indicators of nematode communities in ecosystems that have been damaged by open-pit coal mines, as suggested by LEfSe multi-level discriminant analysis. Redundancy analysis indicated that pH, electrical conductivity, organic matter content, total carbon, total nitrogen, nitrate, and ammonium nitrogen may have been key limiting factors in the soil restoration process. Under the phytoremediation treatment, soil physicochemical properties, diversity, community composition, the relative abundances of different trophic groups, and ecological indices were significantly improved relative to natural restoration. Phytoremediation is very likely to offer greater potential for future recovery than natural restoration. This study helps to deepen the understanding of the restoration mechanism of desert steppe mining areas.
{"title":"Can phytoremediation effectively restore damaged ecosystems in desert steppe open coal mines? An evaluation based on soil nematodes","authors":"Zhiwei Gao , Meiqing Jia , Chaowei Han , Jinfeng Mi , Jing Huang , Guogang Zhang , Guodong Han","doi":"10.1016/j.ecoleng.2025.107877","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ecoleng.2025.107877","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Generally, how ecological restoration projects affect soil in desert steppe open-pit mining areas is not comprehensively evaluated. This study focused on an open-pit coal mine on the Loess Plateau, Inner Mongolia, China, examining soil physicochemical properties and nematode community composition under three treatments: phytoremediation, natural restoration, and a native vegetation treatment. High-throughput sequencing yielded a total of 141,318 soil nematode DNA sequences belonging to 16 genera. Our analysis suggests that the genera <em>Aphelenchoides</em>, <em>Paratylenchus</em>, <em>Tripylina</em>, <em>Oxydirus</em>, <em>Cervidellus</em>, <em>Nothacrobeles</em>, and <em>Acrobeles</em> may be key indicators of nematode communities in ecosystems that have been damaged by open-pit coal mines, as suggested by LEfSe multi-level discriminant analysis. Redundancy analysis indicated that pH, electrical conductivity, organic matter content, total carbon, total nitrogen, nitrate, and ammonium nitrogen may have been key limiting factors in the soil restoration process. Under the phytoremediation treatment, soil physicochemical properties, diversity, community composition, the relative abundances of different trophic groups, and ecological indices were significantly improved relative to natural restoration. Phytoremediation is very likely to offer greater potential for future recovery than natural restoration. This study helps to deepen the understanding of the restoration mechanism of desert steppe mining areas.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11490,"journal":{"name":"Ecological Engineering","volume":"224 ","pages":"Article 107877"},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2025-12-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145734594","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}
Pub Date : 2025-12-05DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoleng.2025.107866
Aaron J. Porter , Christoper M. Ruck , Spencer J. Tassone
Regulatory mandates to improve water quality and stream health have driven substantial investment in stream restoration. Most projects aim to improve channel-floodplain connectivity, reduce sediment erosion, and enhance habitat for aquatic organisms, yet few include adequate pre- and post-restoration monitoring to assess outcomes. Since 2007, Fairfax County, Virginia, and the U.S. Geological Survey have partnered to monitor and evaluate water-quality conditions in Flatlick Branch. In 2018, a 1.72-km reach of stream above the monitoring station was restored using a Natural Channel Design approach. This study applied the Stream Functions Pyramid (SFP) framework to evaluate restoration tradeoffs. Post-restoration, watershed hydrology remained largely unchanged, but channel modifications increased flow capacity, reduced velocity, and further disconnected the channel from the floodplain. Nutrient and sediment reductions exceeded expected amounts, but the removal of over 20 % of riparian tree canopy increased physicochemical variability and the frequency and magnitude of water temperature heatwaves. Post-restoration, state standards for low dissolved oxygen and elevated pH were exceeded 2.5 and 7.5 times more often, respectively. Gross primary production and ecosystem respiration increased and organic matter sources supporting metabolism shifted from allochthonous to autochthonous. Trends in several benthic macroinvertebrate metrics, which were improving prior to construction, have since plateaued or declined, and the fish assemblage shifted from a native minnow dominated community to non-native, warmwater tolerant taxa. This study highlights the need for comprehensive assessments of stream restoration and benefits of using the SFP to understand the consequences and possible tradeoffs of different ecosystem management decisions.
{"title":"Environmental tradeoffs of urban stream restoration in Fairfax County, Virginia","authors":"Aaron J. Porter , Christoper M. Ruck , Spencer J. Tassone","doi":"10.1016/j.ecoleng.2025.107866","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ecoleng.2025.107866","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Regulatory mandates to improve water quality and stream health have driven substantial investment in stream restoration. Most projects aim to improve channel-floodplain connectivity, reduce sediment erosion, and enhance habitat for aquatic organisms, yet few include adequate pre- and post-restoration monitoring to assess outcomes. Since 2007, Fairfax County, Virginia, and the U.S. Geological Survey have partnered to monitor and evaluate water-quality conditions in Flatlick Branch. In 2018, a 1.72-km reach of stream above the monitoring station was restored using a Natural Channel Design approach. This study applied the Stream Functions Pyramid (SFP) framework to evaluate restoration tradeoffs. Post-restoration, watershed hydrology remained largely unchanged, but channel modifications increased flow capacity, reduced velocity, and further disconnected the channel from the floodplain. Nutrient and sediment reductions exceeded expected amounts, but the removal of over 20 % of riparian tree canopy increased physicochemical variability and the frequency and magnitude of water temperature heatwaves. Post-restoration, state standards for low dissolved oxygen and elevated pH were exceeded 2.5 and 7.5 times more often, respectively. Gross primary production and ecosystem respiration increased and organic matter sources supporting metabolism shifted from allochthonous to autochthonous. Trends in several benthic macroinvertebrate metrics, which were improving prior to construction, have since plateaued or declined, and the fish assemblage shifted from a native minnow dominated community to non-native, warmwater tolerant taxa. This study highlights the need for comprehensive assessments of stream restoration and benefits of using the SFP to understand the consequences and possible tradeoffs of different ecosystem management decisions.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11490,"journal":{"name":"Ecological Engineering","volume":"224 ","pages":"Article 107866"},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2025-12-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145683618","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}
Pub Date : 2025-12-05DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoleng.2025.107868
Meina He , Yunqiang Wang , Yali Zhao , Li Wang , Ziliang Zhang , Yi Song , Pingping Zhang , Zimin Li
Precipitation extremes and ecological restoration projects significantly influenced hydrological processes by mitigating or aggravating groundwater depletion within the Earth's critical zone. However, scientific evidence remains limited due to the strong dependence of deep recharge on both unsaturated zone thickness and precipitation event magnitude. Here, we analyzed seven-year field datasets encompassing precipitation, soil water content (SWC), surface water (reservoir water), and groundwater from an ecological restoration catchment on the Chinese Loess Plateau. Precipitation extremes triggered deep hydraulic connectivity between the unsaturated and saturated zones mainly through preferential flow pathways, as evidenced by depleted of δ18O, increased of SWC profiles, and rising water table. Temporal-spatial patterns of SWC (0–4000 cm profile) revealed preferential flow pathways on a sunny slope with recharge efficiency regulated by precipitation patterns and topography. In the gully, water tables showed a positive correlation with precipitation amount, duration, and initial SWC. These hydrological drivers induced significant differences in water table changes among precipitation years. In contrast, the slope (0–500 cm profile) maintained persistent water deficits with limited recharge response, despite precipitation inputs (except for a 167.7-mm event). Furthermore, precipitation variability coupled with plant root uptake altered the vertical soil water gradient, with the 200–300 cm layer functioning as a hydraulic buffer. However, prolonged drought triggered an accelerated water table recession at 60.8 mm/year, while creating carry-over soil water deficits that extended beyond dry years, sustaining 15.4 mm/year depletion even in the following normal year. When considering the saturated zone contribution, total recharge rates demonstrated the positive hydrological feedback of ecological restoration projects to annual precipitation, accounting for 45 % of precipitation (327.8 mm/year) during a wet year. Therefore, it can be inferred that event- and annual-scale precipitation extremes enhance groundwater recharge at the ecological restoration catchment. These findings provide critical scientific support for maintaining groundwater sustainability in such systems.
{"title":"Event- and annual-scale precipitation extremes enhance groundwater recharge at the ecological restoration catchment of hilly and gully region","authors":"Meina He , Yunqiang Wang , Yali Zhao , Li Wang , Ziliang Zhang , Yi Song , Pingping Zhang , Zimin Li","doi":"10.1016/j.ecoleng.2025.107868","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ecoleng.2025.107868","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Precipitation extremes and ecological restoration projects significantly influenced hydrological processes by mitigating or aggravating groundwater depletion within the Earth's critical zone. However, scientific evidence remains limited due to the strong dependence of deep recharge on both unsaturated zone thickness and precipitation event magnitude. Here, we analyzed seven-year field datasets encompassing precipitation, soil water content (SWC), surface water (reservoir water), and groundwater from an ecological restoration catchment on the Chinese Loess Plateau. Precipitation extremes triggered deep hydraulic connectivity between the unsaturated and saturated zones mainly through preferential flow pathways, as evidenced by depleted of δ<sup>18</sup>O, increased of SWC profiles, and rising water table. Temporal-spatial patterns of SWC (0–4000 cm profile) revealed preferential flow pathways on a sunny slope with recharge efficiency regulated by precipitation patterns and topography. In the gully, water tables showed a positive correlation with precipitation amount, duration, and initial SWC. These hydrological drivers induced significant differences in water table changes among precipitation years. In contrast, the slope (0–500 cm profile) maintained persistent water deficits with limited recharge response, despite precipitation inputs (except for a 167.7-mm event). Furthermore, precipitation variability coupled with plant root uptake altered the vertical soil water gradient, with the 200–300 cm layer functioning as a hydraulic buffer. However, prolonged drought triggered an accelerated water table recession at 60.8 mm/year, while creating carry-over soil water deficits that extended beyond dry years, sustaining 15.4 mm/year depletion even in the following normal year. When considering the saturated zone contribution, total recharge rates demonstrated the positive hydrological feedback of ecological restoration projects to annual precipitation, accounting for 45 % of precipitation (327.8 mm/year) during a wet year. Therefore, it can be inferred that event- and annual-scale precipitation extremes enhance groundwater recharge at the ecological restoration catchment. These findings provide critical scientific support for maintaining groundwater sustainability in such systems.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11490,"journal":{"name":"Ecological Engineering","volume":"224 ","pages":"Article 107868"},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2025-12-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145683607","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}
Pub Date : 2025-12-05DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoleng.2025.107864
Yuhan Huang , Jun Ren , Yuan Yuan , Rongrong Ma , Wei Zhou , Yingui Cao
The rapid development of industrialization and urbanization exerts a significant influence on the balance between the supply and demand of ecological products (EPs), while the enhancement of human well-being faces severe challenges. In this study, Qinghai Province, situated on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, was divided into five ecological plates: the Three-River-Source, Qaidam Basin, Qilian Mountains, Pan-Gonghe Basin, and Hehuang Valley. Based on exploratory spatial data analysis, we first assessed the supply and demand of EPs from 2000 to 2020, encompassing food production (FP), water conservation (WC), carbon sequestration (CS), soil retention (SR), and outdoor recreation (OR). Then, we constructed the ecological products supply-demand index (EPSDI) and analyzed its spatiotemporal matching and agglomeration characteristics. Finally, we revealed the spatiotemporal evolutionary differences in EPs supply and demand across different ecological plates. The results indicated that (1) Both the supply and demand of EPs showed an upward trend, with their spatial distribution exhibiting a pattern of being higher in the east and lower in the west. High-value areas of EPs were primarily distributed in the Hehuang Valley—where farmland is abundant, populations are dense, and urban development is concentrated—and in the Three-River-Source, Pan-Gonghe Basin, and Qilian Mountains—where water resources are plentiful and vegetation coverage is high. In contrast, low-value areas were mainly found in the Qaidam Basin, which features a vast area, sparse population, and predominantly arid desert landscapes. (2) The supply-demand indices for FP, WC, and OR displayed upward trends, whereas those for CS and SR showed downward trends. Areas where FP and WC supply exceeded demand tended to contract, while areas experiencing shortages of CS and OR expanded, with most of these shortage areas located in Hehuang Valley. (3) FP, WC, and SR were primarily characterized by a spatial matching pattern of “low supply and low demand”, while CS and OR were dominated by a spatial mismatch pattern of “high supply and low demand”. (4) The spatial agglomeration of EPSDI gradually intensified. With the exception of OR, whose supply-demand index was mainly characterized by low-low agglomeration, all other indices were primarily dominated by high-high agglomeration. This study offers insights for ecological protection and environmental management on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.
{"title":"Quantifying supply and demand relationships of ecological products provides insights for environmental management","authors":"Yuhan Huang , Jun Ren , Yuan Yuan , Rongrong Ma , Wei Zhou , Yingui Cao","doi":"10.1016/j.ecoleng.2025.107864","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ecoleng.2025.107864","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The rapid development of industrialization and urbanization exerts a significant influence on the balance between the supply and demand of ecological products (EPs), while the enhancement of human well-being faces severe challenges. In this study, Qinghai Province, situated on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, was divided into five ecological plates: the Three-River-Source, Qaidam Basin, Qilian Mountains, Pan-Gonghe Basin, and Hehuang Valley. Based on exploratory spatial data analysis, we first assessed the supply and demand of EPs from 2000 to 2020, encompassing food production (FP), water conservation (WC), carbon sequestration (CS), soil retention (SR), and outdoor recreation (OR). Then, we constructed the ecological products supply-demand index (EPSDI) and analyzed its spatiotemporal matching and agglomeration characteristics. Finally, we revealed the spatiotemporal evolutionary differences in EPs supply and demand across different ecological plates. The results indicated that (1) Both the supply and demand of EPs showed an upward trend, with their spatial distribution exhibiting a pattern of being higher in the east and lower in the west. High-value areas of EPs were primarily distributed in the Hehuang Valley—where farmland is abundant, populations are dense, and urban development is concentrated—and in the Three-River-Source, Pan-Gonghe Basin, and Qilian Mountains—where water resources are plentiful and vegetation coverage is high. In contrast, low-value areas were mainly found in the Qaidam Basin, which features a vast area, sparse population, and predominantly arid desert landscapes. (2) The supply-demand indices for FP, WC, and OR displayed upward trends, whereas those for CS and SR showed downward trends. Areas where FP and WC supply exceeded demand tended to contract, while areas experiencing shortages of CS and OR expanded, with most of these shortage areas located in Hehuang Valley. (3) FP, WC, and SR were primarily characterized by a spatial matching pattern of “low supply and low demand”, while CS and OR were dominated by a spatial mismatch pattern of “high supply and low demand”. (4) The spatial agglomeration of EPSDI gradually intensified. With the exception of OR, whose supply-demand index was mainly characterized by low-low agglomeration, all other indices were primarily dominated by high-high agglomeration. This study offers insights for ecological protection and environmental management on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11490,"journal":{"name":"Ecological Engineering","volume":"224 ","pages":"Article 107864"},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2025-12-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145683608","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}
Pub Date : 2025-12-03DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoleng.2025.107863
Jiyeon Jang , Byungwoong Choi , Sung-Uk Choi
Global climate change has led to recurring severe floods and droughts. Severe floods can alter the extent of river morphology, which is crucial to the river ecosystem. Morphological changes in rivers have been largely overlooked in conventional assessments of fish habitats. This study presents physical habitat simulations to investigate the impact of morphological change after a flood on fish habitats in a regulated river, using a hydro-morphodynamic model. The study reach is a 12.8 km long gravel-bed reach in the Geum-gang River, Korea. It consists of a series of bends, located downstream of the Yongdam Dam. For the physical habitat simulations, the most dominant and endemic fish species was selected as the target fish. The HEC-RAS 1D model and habitat suitability curves were used for hydro-morphodynamic and habitat simulations, respectively. The hydro-morphodynamic simulation provides information on changes in river morphology and substrate, as well as flow depth and velocity. The physical habitat simulation reveals that the quality of physical habitats for the target fish deteriorates after the flood due to increased water depth, which is associated with erosion along the study reach. This study demonstrates the potential of hydro-morphodynamic simulation for designing a sediment replenishment scheme to restore fish habitat downstream of dams.
{"title":"Impact of morphological change of a regulated gravel-bed river on downstream fish habitat following a flood","authors":"Jiyeon Jang , Byungwoong Choi , Sung-Uk Choi","doi":"10.1016/j.ecoleng.2025.107863","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ecoleng.2025.107863","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Global climate change has led to recurring severe floods and droughts. Severe floods can alter the extent of river morphology, which is crucial to the river ecosystem. Morphological changes in rivers have been largely overlooked in conventional assessments of fish habitats. This study presents physical habitat simulations to investigate the impact of morphological change after a flood on fish habitats in a regulated river, using a hydro-morphodynamic model. The study reach is a 12.8 km long gravel-bed reach in the Geum-gang River, Korea. It consists of a series of bends, located downstream of the Yongdam Dam. For the physical habitat simulations, the most dominant and endemic fish species was selected as the target fish. The HEC-RAS 1D model and habitat suitability curves were used for hydro-morphodynamic and habitat simulations, respectively. The hydro-morphodynamic simulation provides information on changes in river morphology and substrate, as well as flow depth and velocity. The physical habitat simulation reveals that the quality of physical habitats for the target fish deteriorates after the flood due to increased water depth, which is associated with erosion along the study reach. This study demonstrates the potential of hydro-morphodynamic simulation for designing a sediment replenishment scheme to restore fish habitat downstream of dams.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11490,"journal":{"name":"Ecological Engineering","volume":"224 ","pages":"Article 107863"},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2025-12-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145659055","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}
Pub Date : 2025-12-01DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoleng.2025.107791
Siyuan Cao , Ying Yuan , Wensong Zhang , Miao Zhang , Aihong Zhou , Ningbo Han , Miren Rong
This study addresses the complexity and regional challenges of eco-geo-environmental assessment and remediation in arid limestone mining areas by proposing an innovative modular model that integrates the three-scale analytic hierarchy process, fuzzy mathematics, variable weight theory, literature review, and expert consultation. The model achieves precise classification of mining eco-geo-environmental quality through dynamic weight adjustment and multi-level fuzzy comprehensive evaluation, and designs corresponding remediation strategies based on assessment results. We have innovatively established a multi-level evaluation system comprising three primary indicators (mining ecological environment, geological environment, and disaster environment) and 21 sub-indicators, effectively resolving the adaptability limitations of traditional fixed-weight models. By determining initial weights through three-scale analytic hierarchy process and dynamically adjusting them using variable weight theory, the model significantly enhances evaluation accuracy and flexibility. The model's effectiveness was validated through a case study of the Tianjingshan open-pit limestone mining area in Zhongwei City, Ningxia. Results demonstrate high consistency between model assessments and field investigations, and the proposed integrated remediation strategy (“geological hazard elimination + soil reconstruction + vegetation restoration + artificial maintenance”) achieved a vegetation survival rate exceeding 96 %, representing approximately 20 % improvement over traditional soil replacement methods (simple topsoil covering). Through its modular design and hierarchical remediation approach, this model provides a replicable technical pathway for ecological restoration in arid limestone mines and other mining types, demonstrating significant scientific value and practical applicability.
{"title":"Assessment and remediation model of eco-geo-environmental conditions in arid limestone mining areas","authors":"Siyuan Cao , Ying Yuan , Wensong Zhang , Miao Zhang , Aihong Zhou , Ningbo Han , Miren Rong","doi":"10.1016/j.ecoleng.2025.107791","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ecoleng.2025.107791","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study addresses the complexity and regional challenges of eco-geo-environmental assessment and remediation in arid limestone mining areas by proposing an innovative modular model that integrates the three-scale analytic hierarchy process, fuzzy mathematics, variable weight theory, literature review, and expert consultation. The model achieves precise classification of mining eco-geo-environmental quality through dynamic weight adjustment and multi-level fuzzy comprehensive evaluation, and designs corresponding remediation strategies based on assessment results. We have innovatively established a multi-level evaluation system comprising three primary indicators (mining ecological environment, geological environment, and disaster environment) and 21 sub-indicators, effectively resolving the adaptability limitations of traditional fixed-weight models. By determining initial weights through three-scale analytic hierarchy process and dynamically adjusting them using variable weight theory, the model significantly enhances evaluation accuracy and flexibility. The model's effectiveness was validated through a case study of the Tianjingshan open-pit limestone mining area in Zhongwei City, Ningxia. Results demonstrate high consistency between model assessments and field investigations, and the proposed integrated remediation strategy (“geological hazard elimination + soil reconstruction + vegetation restoration + artificial maintenance”) achieved a vegetation survival rate exceeding 96 %, representing approximately 20 % improvement over traditional soil replacement methods (simple topsoil covering). Through its modular design and hierarchical remediation approach, this model provides a replicable technical pathway for ecological restoration in arid limestone mines and other mining types, demonstrating significant scientific value and practical applicability.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11490,"journal":{"name":"Ecological Engineering","volume":"223 ","pages":"Article 107791"},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145681389","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}
Pub Date : 2025-11-27DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoleng.2025.107860
Huanyu Chen , Sunan He , Ziyan Xue , Xiao Zhang , Kai Yu , Kai Wang , Angyan Ren , Jianjun Han , Xiaohui Zhao , Xiaomei Zhu , Chong Liu , Lizhou Hong , Jincheng Xing
Saline land holds significant potential for carbon sequestration and serves as a crucial reserve of arable land to address global climate change and food security. However, the impact of reclaiming saline land by using Tamarix chinensis (T. chinensis) and Suaeda salsa (S. salsa) as pioneer plants on soil structure and soil organic carbon (SOC) storage remains unclear. To clarify the effects of these two halophytes on the physicochemical properties, aggregation structure, and SOC storage of saline land, this study conducted a field experiment on plots of T. chinensis and S. salsa land that had been cultivated for five years along the coast of the Yellow Sea, with saline bare land as the control. Compared to bare land, T. chinensis was found to decrease the soil bulk density by 0.19, 0.27, and 0.1 g cm−3 in the 0–10, 10–20, and 20–40 cm soil depths, respectively. Furthermore, both T. chinensis and S. salsa also increased soil porosity by 18.95 % and 28.63 % in the 0–10 cm soil depth, and by 14.54 % and 23.66 % in the 10–20 cm soil depth, respectively. Both halophytes also significantly enhanced saturated hydraulic conductivity in the 0–20 cm depth. A significant negative correlation was observed between saturated hydraulic conductivity and total soil salt content, this correlation likely facilitated salt leaching, which in turn reduced soil sodium absorption ratio (SAR). Compared to bare land, T. chinensis and S. salsa significantly reduced the soil SAR by 217.01, 122.44, and 83.35 mmol L−1, and 114.90, 68.63, and 25.39 mmol L−1, in the 0–10, 10–20 and 20–40 cm soil depths, respectively. They also significantly increased macroaggregates percentage (> 0.25 mm), with T. chinensis exerting the most pronounced effects. Most SOC storage was concentrated in the 0–10 and 10–20 cm soil depths, and T. chinensis induced the greatest increase-2.44 and 1.97 times higher than that of bare land in these two depths, respectively. Structural equation modeling (SEM) analysis revealed that halophytes primarily promote SOC storage in saline land by increasing the soil carbon-to‑nitrogen (C/N) ratio and the proportion of macroaggregates. This study provides a theoretical basis for the improvement engineering of saline land using T. chinensis and S. salsa as pioneer plants.
{"title":"Halophytes reclamation soil through improving soil structures, decreasing salinity and enhancing SOC storage in coastal saline land","authors":"Huanyu Chen , Sunan He , Ziyan Xue , Xiao Zhang , Kai Yu , Kai Wang , Angyan Ren , Jianjun Han , Xiaohui Zhao , Xiaomei Zhu , Chong Liu , Lizhou Hong , Jincheng Xing","doi":"10.1016/j.ecoleng.2025.107860","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ecoleng.2025.107860","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Saline land holds significant potential for carbon sequestration and serves as a crucial reserve of arable land to address global climate change and food security. However, the impact of reclaiming saline land by using <em>Tamarix chinensis</em> (<em>T. chinensis</em>) and <em>Suaeda salsa</em> (<em>S. salsa</em>) as pioneer plants on soil structure and soil organic carbon (SOC) storage remains unclear. To clarify the effects of these two halophytes on the physicochemical properties, aggregation structure, and SOC storage of saline land, this study conducted a field experiment on plots of <em>T. chinensis</em> and <em>S. salsa</em> land that had been cultivated for five years along the coast of the Yellow Sea, with saline bare land as the control. Compared to bare land, <em>T. chinensis</em> was found to decrease the soil bulk density by 0.19, 0.27, and 0.1 g cm<sup>−3</sup> in the 0–10, 10–20, and 20–40 cm soil depths, respectively. Furthermore, both <em>T. chinensis</em> and <em>S. salsa</em> also increased soil porosity by 18.95 % and 28.63 % in the 0–10 cm soil depth, and by 14.54 % and 23.66 % in the 10–20 cm soil depth, respectively. Both halophytes also significantly enhanced saturated hydraulic conductivity in the 0–20 cm depth. A significant negative correlation was observed between saturated hydraulic conductivity and total soil salt content, this correlation likely facilitated salt leaching, which in turn reduced soil sodium absorption ratio (SAR). Compared to bare land, <em>T. chinensis</em> and <em>S. salsa</em> significantly reduced the soil SAR by 217.01, 122.44, and 83.35 mmol L<sup>−1</sup>, and 114.90, 68.63, and 25.39 mmol L<sup>−1</sup>, in the 0–10, 10–20 and 20–40 cm soil depths, respectively. They also significantly increased macroaggregates percentage (> 0.25 mm), with <em>T. chinensis</em> exerting the most pronounced effects. Most SOC storage was concentrated in the 0–10 and 10–20 cm soil depths, and <em>T. chinensis</em> induced the greatest increase-2.44 and 1.97 times higher than that of bare land in these two depths, respectively. Structural equation modeling (SEM) analysis revealed that halophytes primarily promote SOC storage in saline land by increasing the soil carbon-to‑nitrogen (C/N) ratio and the proportion of macroaggregates. This study provides a theoretical basis for the improvement engineering of saline land using <em>T. chinensis</em> and <em>S. salsa</em> as pioneer plants.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11490,"journal":{"name":"Ecological Engineering","volume":"223 ","pages":"Article 107860"},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2025-11-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145614572","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}
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