Pub Date : 2025-02-01DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoleng.2024.107489
A. Lindenberger , H.P. Rauch , K. Kasak , M. Stelzhammer , M. von der Thannen
Beyond flood protection to prevent severe damage, the restored floodplain grassland in Austria provides ecosystem services in terms of carbon balance. Net ecosystem exchange (NEE), gross primary productivity (GPP), and ecosystem respiration (Reco) were quantified by the eddy covariance (EC) method before, during and after a severe flooding event. Our results show that the carbon balance is heavily influenced by water level in the study site. The diurnal variations influenced by various degree from the flood are analysed, showing the average daily GPP of the floodplain grassland in Marchegg dropping from 1.048 g C m−2 day−1 before the flood, down to 0.470 g C m−2 day−1 during the flood. The study demonstrates that the restored floodplain grassland in Marchegg functions as a robust CO2 sink with a cumulative NEE of 38.8 g carbon per m2 over the three-month study period, despite temporary disruptions caused by flooding events. The findings emphasise the considerable potential of floodplain grassland restoration for carbon storage and climate change mitigation, with the new data from the EC station offering valuable insights for future restoration projects. Finally, this supports the adoption of the new EU Nature Restoration Law and the need for restoring wetlands, floodplains and rivers to secure water availability and biodiversity in these unique ecosystems. NBS and more specifically as Soil and Water Bioengineering (SWBE) are methods with ecological advantages and a huge potential for sustainable recreation of near-natural ecosystems. It is of crucial importance to prove these beneficial effects, and to quantify them transparently in terms of quality assurance and use of resources in a sustainable and eco-friendly way.
{"title":"Impact of various flood conditions on the CO2 ecosystem exchange as a component of floodplain grassland restoration","authors":"A. Lindenberger , H.P. Rauch , K. Kasak , M. Stelzhammer , M. von der Thannen","doi":"10.1016/j.ecoleng.2024.107489","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ecoleng.2024.107489","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Beyond flood protection to prevent severe damage, the restored floodplain grassland in Austria provides ecosystem services in terms of carbon balance. Net ecosystem exchange (NEE), gross primary productivity (GPP), and ecosystem respiration (R<sub>eco</sub>) were quantified by the eddy covariance (EC) method before, during and after a severe flooding event. Our results show that the carbon balance is heavily influenced by water level in the study site. The diurnal variations influenced by various degree from the flood are analysed, showing the average daily GPP of the floodplain grassland in Marchegg dropping from 1.048 g C m<sup>−2</sup> day<sup>−1</sup> before the flood, down to 0.470 g C m<sup>−2</sup> day<sup>−1</sup> during the flood. The study demonstrates that the restored floodplain grassland in Marchegg functions as a robust CO2 sink with a cumulative NEE of 38.8 g carbon per m2 over the three-month study period, despite temporary disruptions caused by flooding events. The findings emphasise the considerable potential of floodplain grassland restoration for carbon storage and climate change mitigation, with the new data from the EC station offering valuable insights for future restoration projects. Finally, this supports the adoption of the new EU Nature Restoration Law and the need for restoring wetlands, floodplains and rivers to secure water availability and biodiversity in these unique ecosystems. NBS and more specifically as Soil and Water Bioengineering (SWBE) are methods with ecological advantages and a huge potential for sustainable recreation of near-natural ecosystems. It is of crucial importance to prove these beneficial effects, and to quantify them transparently in terms of quality assurance and use of resources in a sustainable and eco-friendly way.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11490,"journal":{"name":"Ecological Engineering","volume":"212 ","pages":"Article 107489"},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2025-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143164672","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-02-01DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoleng.2024.107475
Gintarė Sujetovienė, Giedrius Dabašinskas
The purpose of the study is to assess spatial and temporal changes in the economic values of ecosystem services provided by Lithuanian peatlands and to assess the benefits of restoring drained peatlands in comparison to the costs. Lithuania has lost about 75 % of its peatlands, most of which are drained fens (74 %), and most of which remain intact were raised peatlands (65 %). Forestry and agriculture were the main drivers of peatland loss. The examined ecosystem services provided by undrained peatlands, compared to drained ones, were mainly related to climate and water flow regulation, waste management, biodiversity, and recreation. Based on this selection of ecosystem services (ES), the value of intact peat ecosystem services is $1336 million per year. Undrained peatlands, occupying less than half the area of drained peatlands, provide twice as many benefits in terms of ES as drained ecosystems. If these drained peatlands were restored by 2050, they would account for $4006 million per year. A cost-benefit analysis has shown that the benefits outweigh the costs, making restoration efforts economically justifiable. More effective management measures could achieve a balance between the use of these ecosystems and the benefits they provide to human well-being.
{"title":"The impact of restoration of Lithuanian peatlands on the economic value of certain ecosystem services","authors":"Gintarė Sujetovienė, Giedrius Dabašinskas","doi":"10.1016/j.ecoleng.2024.107475","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ecoleng.2024.107475","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The purpose of the study is to assess spatial and temporal changes in the economic values of ecosystem services provided by Lithuanian peatlands and to assess the benefits of restoring drained peatlands in comparison to the costs. Lithuania has lost about 75 % of its peatlands, most of which are drained fens (74 %), and most of which remain intact were raised peatlands (65 %). Forestry and agriculture were the main drivers of peatland loss. The examined ecosystem services provided by undrained peatlands, compared to drained ones, were mainly related to climate and water flow regulation, waste management, biodiversity, and recreation. Based on this selection of ecosystem services (ES), the value of intact peat ecosystem services is $1336 million per year. Undrained peatlands, occupying less than half the area of drained peatlands, provide twice as many benefits in terms of ES as drained ecosystems. If these drained peatlands were restored by 2050, they would account for $4006 million per year. A cost-benefit analysis has shown that the benefits outweigh the costs, making restoration efforts economically justifiable. More effective management measures could achieve a balance between the use of these ecosystems and the benefits they provide to human well-being.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11490,"journal":{"name":"Ecological Engineering","volume":"212 ","pages":"Article 107475"},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2025-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143165117","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 : 2025-02-01DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoleng.2024.107506
Yuanjie Deng , Xiaohan Yan , Mengyang Hou , Shunbo Yao
Globally, ecological restoration programs (ERPs) have emerged as vital tools for mitigating ecosystem degradation and preserving ecosystem services. Accurately assessing their effectiveness is essential to determining the success of these initiatives. However, the limitations inherent in traditional evaluation methods introduce uncertainty into these assessments. This study aims to reassess the ecological effectiveness of such programs through a counterfactual approach using quasi-natural experimental methods, thereby ensuring more accurate results and exploring potential impact pathways. We constructed a counterfactual scenario and employed a Difference-in-Differences (DID) model to evaluate the ecological benefits and mechanisms of China's National Key Ecological Functional Areas (NKEFAs). Additionally, we utilized a series of robustness tests for our findings. The results indicate: (1) NKEFAs have successfully restored ecological environments and produced positive ecological effects, although variations exist across different ecological function types and geographical regions. (2) Our analysis of transmission mechanisms suggests that optimization of national land use, upgrading of industrial structures, and labor force migration are critical pathways through which NKEFAs achieve ecological effectiveness. (3) Extended analysis reveals that NKEFAs not only have ecological spillover effects but also contribute to economic growth. Given that most global ERPs can implement counterfactual scenarios, the methodology used here offers a general framework that supports the achievement of the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
{"title":"Reassessing the ecological effectiveness of ecological restoration programs: Evidence from a quasi-natural experiment in China","authors":"Yuanjie Deng , Xiaohan Yan , Mengyang Hou , Shunbo Yao","doi":"10.1016/j.ecoleng.2024.107506","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ecoleng.2024.107506","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Globally, ecological restoration programs (ERPs) have emerged as vital tools for mitigating ecosystem degradation and preserving ecosystem services. Accurately assessing their effectiveness is essential to determining the success of these initiatives. However, the limitations inherent in traditional evaluation methods introduce uncertainty into these assessments. This study aims to reassess the ecological effectiveness of such programs through a counterfactual approach using quasi-natural experimental methods, thereby ensuring more accurate results and exploring potential impact pathways. We constructed a counterfactual scenario and employed a Difference-in-Differences (DID) model to evaluate the ecological benefits and mechanisms of China's National Key Ecological Functional Areas (NKEFAs). Additionally, we utilized a series of robustness tests for our findings. The results indicate: (1) NKEFAs have successfully restored ecological environments and produced positive ecological effects, although variations exist across different ecological function types and geographical regions. (2) Our analysis of transmission mechanisms suggests that optimization of national land use, upgrading of industrial structures, and labor force migration are critical pathways through which NKEFAs achieve ecological effectiveness. (3) Extended analysis reveals that NKEFAs not only have ecological spillover effects but also contribute to economic growth. Given that most global ERPs can implement counterfactual scenarios, the methodology used here offers a general framework that supports the achievement of the UN Sustainable Development Goals.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11490,"journal":{"name":"Ecological Engineering","volume":"212 ","pages":"Article 107506"},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2025-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143165125","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 : 2025-02-01DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoleng.2025.107528
Xueke Tian , Yu Huang , Wenmin Hu , Guo Li , Can Li , Ruihan Yang , Chen Fu , Weiqun Lei
The Poplar Ecological Retreat Project (PERP) serves as a crucial ecological restoration measure for international wetland conservation. Assessing the impact of PERP on the Net Primary Productivity (NPP) of wetlands is essential in elucidating the mechanisms behind anthropogenic environmental effects and evaluating the ecological benefits derived from resource utilization. The PERP implemented in Dongting Lake wetland represents an exemplary ecological project aimed at restoring lake wetland habitats. In this study, we employed the Carnegie-Ames-Stanford approach (CASA) model and remote sensing techniques to investigate the spatiotemporal evolution of NPP and its driving factors pre- and post-PERP implementation. Our findings revealed that: (1) PERP significantly altered the composition structure of wetland cover in Dongting Lake, primarily due to reed and mudflat conversions, resulting in a substantial increase in Poplar-retreat area to 13,895.3 ha; (2) Implementation of PERP led to a significant decline in NPP within poplar plantation areas, with regional NPP experiencing a decrease by 63.91 %. It was predominantly driven by shifts in NPP within reed beaches, forest beaches, and moss marshlands; (3) The analysis on driving contributions to NPP changes demonstrated that landscape pattern elements (41.47 %) > climate elements (30.29 %) > vegetation cover element (8.31 %), while marginal effects on NPP indicated that increased rainfall, evapotranspiration, patch diversity, and aggregation weakened its marginal effect whereas elevated temperature strengthened it instead. The study provided an important reference for revealing the carbon sink mechanism of the human-land coupling of wetland landscapes.
{"title":"Evaluation of the impact of ecological poplar retreat on the net primary productivity of Lake Wetland","authors":"Xueke Tian , Yu Huang , Wenmin Hu , Guo Li , Can Li , Ruihan Yang , Chen Fu , Weiqun Lei","doi":"10.1016/j.ecoleng.2025.107528","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ecoleng.2025.107528","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The Poplar Ecological Retreat Project (PERP) serves as a crucial ecological restoration measure for international wetland conservation. Assessing the impact of PERP on the Net Primary Productivity (NPP) of wetlands is essential in elucidating the mechanisms behind anthropogenic environmental effects and evaluating the ecological benefits derived from resource utilization. The PERP implemented in Dongting Lake wetland represents an exemplary ecological project aimed at restoring lake wetland habitats. In this study, we employed the Carnegie-Ames-Stanford approach (CASA) model and remote sensing techniques to investigate the spatiotemporal evolution of NPP and its driving factors pre- and post-PERP implementation. Our findings revealed that: (1) PERP significantly altered the composition structure of wetland cover in Dongting Lake, primarily due to reed and mudflat conversions, resulting in a substantial increase in Poplar-retreat area to 13,895.3 ha; (2) Implementation of PERP led to a significant decline in NPP within poplar plantation areas, with regional NPP experiencing a decrease by 63.91 %. It was predominantly driven by shifts in NPP within reed beaches, forest beaches, and moss marshlands; (3) The analysis on driving contributions to NPP changes demonstrated that landscape pattern elements (41.47 %) > climate elements (30.29 %) > vegetation cover element (8.31 %), while marginal effects on NPP indicated that increased rainfall, evapotranspiration, patch diversity, and aggregation weakened its marginal effect whereas elevated temperature strengthened it instead. The study provided an important reference for revealing the carbon sink mechanism of the human-land coupling of wetland landscapes.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11490,"journal":{"name":"Ecological Engineering","volume":"212 ","pages":"Article 107528"},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2025-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143165790","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 : 2025-02-01DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoleng.2025.107527
Yuliang Yuan , Ran Li , Jingjie Feng , Hang Wan , Honghui Lin , Xiaolong Cheng
The Fish Habitat Comprehensive Suitability (FHCS) indicator plays a pivotal role in evaluating fish spawning and egg hatching behavior. Assessments of fish spawning and egg hatching suitability have traditionally relied on deterministic outcomes from single- or multi-factor hydrological designs. However, considering the uncertainty of riverine environments, the FHCS and its components, including the fish spawning weighted suitability area (WUA) and the potential number of eggs hatching (Negg), should be viewed as random variables that follow specific probability distributions. To address this, an FHCS assessment method combining a mechanism model with a Bayesian network (BN) model was developed to evaluate the FHCS of four major Chinese carps (FMCCs) in the Xunjiang River, China. The mechanism model provided foundational data essential for constructing the BN. The BN model was then employed to determine the values of key factors, such as Weighted Usable Area (WUA) and egg viability (Negg), which were subsequently used to calculate the FHCS of the study area. The results of the study were obtained using the mean of the 94 % confidence intervals of the BN model parameters. The results showed that the suitable spawning period for FMCCs at the Dongta spawning ground was 68 days in 2022, compared to just 7 days in 2023. The suitable hatching period for eggs was 65 days in 2022 and only 7 days in 2023. The FHCS assessment for the study area revealed that the period of fish habitat suitability was 57 days in 2022. However, due to the brief duration of favorable flow conditions in 2023, there were no overlapping time intervals suitable for both spawning and hatching. This underscores the critical role of comprehensive suitability assessments for fish spawning and egg hatching, offering more precise and scientifically grounded tools for fish conservation.
{"title":"Comprehensive suitability assessment of fish habitat by integrating mechanism model and bayesian network model","authors":"Yuliang Yuan , Ran Li , Jingjie Feng , Hang Wan , Honghui Lin , Xiaolong Cheng","doi":"10.1016/j.ecoleng.2025.107527","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ecoleng.2025.107527","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The Fish Habitat Comprehensive Suitability (FHCS) indicator plays a pivotal role in evaluating fish spawning and egg hatching behavior. Assessments of fish spawning and egg hatching suitability have traditionally relied on deterministic outcomes from single- or multi-factor hydrological designs. However, considering the uncertainty of riverine environments, the FHCS and its components, including the fish spawning weighted suitability area (WUA) and the potential number of eggs hatching (Negg), should be viewed as random variables that follow specific probability distributions. To address this, an FHCS assessment method combining a mechanism model with a Bayesian network (BN) model was developed to evaluate the FHCS of four major Chinese carps (FMCCs) in the Xunjiang River, China. The mechanism model provided foundational data essential for constructing the BN. The BN model was then employed to determine the values of key factors, such as Weighted Usable Area (WUA) and egg viability (Negg), which were subsequently used to calculate the FHCS of the study area. The results of the study were obtained using the mean of the 94 % confidence intervals of the BN model parameters. The results showed that the suitable spawning period for FMCCs at the Dongta spawning ground was 68 days in 2022, compared to just 7 days in 2023. The suitable hatching period for eggs was 65 days in 2022 and only 7 days in 2023. The FHCS assessment for the study area revealed that the period of fish habitat suitability was 57 days in 2022. However, due to the brief duration of favorable flow conditions in 2023, there were no overlapping time intervals suitable for both spawning and hatching. This underscores the critical role of comprehensive suitability assessments for fish spawning and egg hatching, offering more precise and scientifically grounded tools for fish conservation.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11490,"journal":{"name":"Ecological Engineering","volume":"212 ","pages":"Article 107527"},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2025-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143165811","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 : 2025-02-01DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoleng.2025.107515
Yingjun Yu, Jianbo Chang
Over the past 60 years, fish passage facilities have been extensively constructed in China. To evaluate their construction and operational status, we developed a comprehensive database of 211 facilities, including 172 completed and 39 incomplete as of 2023, and conducted a literature review encompassing operational records for 18 facilities. Firstly, the results reveal three distinct phases in the development of fish passage facilities in China (1960–1980, 1981–2004, and 2005–2023), supported by quantitative evidence. The dataset clearly illustrates the construction status of these facilities across the country. Secondly, vertical slot type fishways emerged as the most prevalent type, accounting for 48.1 % of the 201 facilities with known types, while newer facility types, such as fish lifts and nature-like bypass channels, began construction only after 2010. The geographical distribution of facilities is notably uneven, with the Yangtze River Basin hosting the highest concentration. Thirdly, compared to the construction data, operational records for facilities in China remain scarce. Among the 18 projects reviewed, operational records from 9 facilities indicate that only some primary target species utilized the facilities, whereas numerous non-target species were successfully observed. This highlights the significant ecological role of fish passage facilities in promoting fish connectivity and biodiversity. Finally, there is a clear and growing demand for the continued construction of fish passage facilities in China. To enhance their effectiveness, it is recommended to establish a standardized evaluation system during their operational phase and to prioritize the downstream migratory needs of fish, as information on this aspect remains insufficient.
{"title":"Preliminary analysis of the construction and operation status of fish passage facility in China","authors":"Yingjun Yu, Jianbo Chang","doi":"10.1016/j.ecoleng.2025.107515","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ecoleng.2025.107515","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Over the past 60 years, fish passage facilities have been extensively constructed in China. To evaluate their construction and operational status, we developed a comprehensive database of 211 facilities, including 172 completed and 39 incomplete as of 2023, and conducted a literature review encompassing operational records for 18 facilities. Firstly, the results reveal three distinct phases in the development of fish passage facilities in China (1960–1980, 1981–2004, and 2005–2023), supported by quantitative evidence. The dataset clearly illustrates the construction status of these facilities across the country. Secondly, vertical slot type fishways emerged as the most prevalent type, accounting for 48.1 % of the 201 facilities with known types, while newer facility types, such as fish lifts and nature-like bypass channels, began construction only after 2010. The geographical distribution of facilities is notably uneven, with the Yangtze River Basin hosting the highest concentration. Thirdly, compared to the construction data, operational records for facilities in China remain scarce. Among the 18 projects reviewed, operational records from 9 facilities indicate that only some primary target species utilized the facilities, whereas numerous non-target species were successfully observed. This highlights the significant ecological role of fish passage facilities in promoting fish connectivity and biodiversity. Finally, there is a clear and growing demand for the continued construction of fish passage facilities in China. To enhance their effectiveness, it is recommended to establish a standardized evaluation system during their operational phase and to prioritize the downstream migratory needs of fish, as information on this aspect remains insufficient.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11490,"journal":{"name":"Ecological Engineering","volume":"212 ","pages":"Article 107515"},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2025-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143165788","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 : 2025-02-01DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoleng.2025.107534
Haihong Qiu , Yingchen Bai , Hairong Han , Jiaying Zhang , Xiaoqin Cheng
Systematically reveals the relationship between supply and demand of ecosystem services (ESs) and the spatial identification of driving thresholds. It is of great significance for the revelation of ecosystem service patterns, problem identification and optimal management. In this study, the evolution law and driving mechanism of ecosystem service supply and demand characteristics in the Loess Plateau from 2010 to 2020 were explored, based on the InVEST model and correlation analysis. The driving threshold spatial application geoprobe model for ecosystem supply and demand balance was identified. The results show that: (1) The findings indicated that between 2010 and 2020, there was a rising pattern in the supply and demand for carbon storage (CS), habitat quality (HQ), and soil conservation (SC). Yet the availability of water yield (WY) diminished as their demand escalated. There was a clear spatial mismatch between supply and demand for HQ and WY. (2) All ESs supply correlations were synergistic. While ESs demand correlations were dominated by carbon-soil and water-soil imbalances. There was a notable interplay between the supply and demand at SC and HQ, alongside a notable compromise between CS and WY. This suggested an imbalance in carbon and water. (3) Climatic and topographic factors were predominantly located in the southeast and northwest for ESs suitability thresholds. SC and HQ demonstrated a balanced relationship between supply and demand within a vegetation factor threshold of 0.69–0.82. Among the socio-economic drivers, WY was mainly distributed in economically developed regions. This study provides some scientific support and insights for regional sustainable development and management.
{"title":"Ecosystem service supply and demand relationship and spatial identification of driving threshold in Loess Plateau of China","authors":"Haihong Qiu , Yingchen Bai , Hairong Han , Jiaying Zhang , Xiaoqin Cheng","doi":"10.1016/j.ecoleng.2025.107534","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ecoleng.2025.107534","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Systematically reveals the relationship between supply and demand of ecosystem services (ESs) and the spatial identification of driving thresholds. It is of great significance for the revelation of ecosystem service patterns, problem identification and optimal management. In this study, the evolution law and driving mechanism of ecosystem service supply and demand characteristics in the Loess Plateau from 2010 to 2020 were explored, based on the InVEST model and correlation analysis. The driving threshold spatial application geoprobe model for ecosystem supply and demand balance was identified. The results show that: (1) The findings indicated that between 2010 and 2020, there was a rising pattern in the supply and demand for carbon storage (CS), habitat quality (HQ), and soil conservation (SC). Yet the availability of water yield (WY) diminished as their demand escalated. There was a clear spatial mismatch between supply and demand for HQ and WY. (2) All ESs supply correlations were synergistic. While ESs demand correlations were dominated by carbon-soil and water-soil imbalances. There was a notable interplay between the supply and demand at SC and HQ, alongside a notable compromise between CS and WY. This suggested an imbalance in carbon and water. (3) Climatic and topographic factors were predominantly located in the southeast and northwest for ESs suitability thresholds. SC and HQ demonstrated a balanced relationship between supply and demand within a vegetation factor threshold of 0.69–0.82. Among the socio-economic drivers, WY was mainly distributed in economically developed regions. This study provides some scientific support and insights for regional sustainable development and management.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11490,"journal":{"name":"Ecological Engineering","volume":"212 ","pages":"Article 107534"},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2025-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143166359","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 : 2025-02-01DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoleng.2024.107511
Keith R. Edwards , Eva Kaštovská , Jiří Bárta , Tomáš Picek , Hana Šantrůčková
Wet grasslands are highly productive wetland ecosystems that provide many important ecosystem services, including nutrient removal for water purification, carbon (C) sequestration, local climate regulation, water retention, and flood attenuation. Like other ecosystems, wet grasslands are affected by multiple biotic and abiotic factors, the interactions of which may affect their functionality. We conducted a fully factorial mesocosm experiment to disentangle the importance of soil type (mineral or organic), water (high vs low) and nutrient level (NPK fertilized or unfertilized) effects on plant and soil parameters and how these affect ecosystem respiration (RECO) and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. In the fifth year of the experiment, we measured plant biomass and production, soil biological and chemical parameters, and GHG fluxes four times during the year, once before the start of the growing season and then in the beginning, peak and end of the growing season. We found that plant, soil and GHG parameters showed distinct seasonality and were influenced by all tested factors, both singly and interactively, affecting many aspects of wet grassland ecosystems by acting through several plant-soil feedbacks. Soil type, both primarily and in several interactions with water and nutrient levels, controlled soil properties, microbial biomass, and bacterial and fungal abundances. Plant presence, the productivity of which was stimulated by nutrient addition, together with some plant-soil feedbacks, were the main drivers of RECO and GHG emissions (relevant only for CH4 because N2O was not emitted in any sampling occasion). As a result, CO2 and CH4 emissions were 12 and 3 times greater, respectively, in vegetated compared to un-vegetated samples. In addition, water level and nutrient addition interactions influenced gas emissions, with CO2 emissions being greater in low water, fertilized conditions, while CH4 emissions increased under high water, unfertilized conditions. When correcting for the greater global warming potential (GWP) of CH4, it still accounted for only a maximum of 18 % of the GHG fluxes. We showed that multiple environmental factors interact to impact wet grassland functions. Managers should focus their activities on managing the factors that most allow for wet grasslands to maintain their structure and functions to future disturbances.
{"title":"Multiple environmental factors interact to affect wet grassland ecosystem functions","authors":"Keith R. Edwards , Eva Kaštovská , Jiří Bárta , Tomáš Picek , Hana Šantrůčková","doi":"10.1016/j.ecoleng.2024.107511","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ecoleng.2024.107511","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Wet grasslands are highly productive wetland ecosystems that provide many important ecosystem services, including nutrient removal for water purification, carbon (C) sequestration, local climate regulation, water retention, and flood attenuation. Like other ecosystems, wet grasslands are affected by multiple biotic and abiotic factors, the interactions of which may affect their functionality. We conducted a fully factorial mesocosm experiment to disentangle the importance of soil type (mineral or organic), water (high vs low) and nutrient level (NPK fertilized or unfertilized) effects on plant and soil parameters and how these affect ecosystem respiration (R<sub>ECO</sub>) and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. In the fifth year of the experiment, we measured plant biomass and production, soil biological and chemical parameters, and GHG fluxes four times during the year, once before the start of the growing season and then in the beginning, peak and end of the growing season. We found that plant, soil and GHG parameters showed distinct seasonality and were influenced by all tested factors, both singly and interactively, affecting many aspects of wet grassland ecosystems by acting through several plant-soil feedbacks. Soil type, both primarily and in several interactions with water and nutrient levels, controlled soil properties, microbial biomass, and bacterial and fungal abundances. Plant presence, the productivity of which was stimulated by nutrient addition, together with some plant-soil feedbacks, were the main drivers of R<sub>ECO</sub> and GHG emissions (relevant only for CH<sub>4</sub> because N<sub>2</sub>O was not emitted in any sampling occasion). As a result, CO<sub>2</sub> and CH<sub>4</sub> emissions were 12 and 3 times greater, respectively, in vegetated compared to un-vegetated samples. In addition, water level and nutrient addition interactions influenced gas emissions, with CO<sub>2</sub> emissions being greater in low water, fertilized conditions, while CH<sub>4</sub> emissions increased under high water, unfertilized conditions. When correcting for the greater global warming potential (GWP) of CH<sub>4,</sub> it still accounted for only a maximum of 18 % of the GHG fluxes. We showed that multiple environmental factors interact to impact wet grassland functions. Managers should focus their activities on managing the factors that most allow for wet grasslands to maintain their structure and functions to future disturbances.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11490,"journal":{"name":"Ecological Engineering","volume":"212 ","pages":"Article 107511"},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2025-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143166361","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 : 2025-02-01DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoleng.2025.107516
Joachim Pander, Janette Otterbein, Christoffer Nagel, Juergen Geist
The return of beavers to the strongly structurally altered Central European stream systems results in a variety of conflicts, potentials and opportunities. Among monetary compensation issues for landowners, target species conflicts with fish conservation remain unresolved. This work investigated the impact of beaver structures of the Eurasian beaver (Castor fiber L.) on the fish community of a Bavarian stream system to quantify potential ecosystem services provided by the ecosystem engineering activities of beaver. In addition to beaver structures, artificial structures, constructed from bank clearcuttings, were introduced for comparison. Electrofishing and abiotic measurements were carried out to quantify the effects of the morphological and functional beaver structures on the fish community. In addition, structural characteristics, such as building material and volume, were characterized. Individual fish densities and species diversity were significantly higher in the beaver structures compared to both the reference reaches and the artificial structures. Species such as European chub (Squalius cephalus L.), common dace (Leuciscus leuciscus L.), European spirlin (Alburnoides bipunctatus Bloch 1782), and common nase (Chondrostoma nasus L.) benefited most from the beaver structures, particularly smaller size classes <15 cm. Artificial structures had a lower number of species and individuals. They not only differed from the beaver structures in their general fish communities, but particularly in the presence of target species of conservation and fish sizes. In addition to the already well-documented effects of beaver dams, our findings contribute important knowledge to the ecosystem engineering capabilities of the Eurasian beaver. Since the beneficial fish habitat effects of the beaver structures was mostly related to construction material, positioning, total and pore volume as well as flow velocity, these identified properties can also be used to guide future efforts of nature-based structural enrichment of stream habitats.
{"title":"Nature-based fish habitat enrichment of non-damming beaver structures positively affects fish species richness and density","authors":"Joachim Pander, Janette Otterbein, Christoffer Nagel, Juergen Geist","doi":"10.1016/j.ecoleng.2025.107516","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ecoleng.2025.107516","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The return of beavers to the strongly structurally altered Central European stream systems results in a variety of conflicts, potentials and opportunities. Among monetary compensation issues for landowners, target species conflicts with fish conservation remain unresolved. This work investigated the impact of beaver structures of the Eurasian beaver (<em>Castor fiber</em> L.) on the fish community of a Bavarian stream system to quantify potential ecosystem services provided by the ecosystem engineering activities of beaver. In addition to beaver structures, artificial structures, constructed from bank clearcuttings, were introduced for comparison. Electrofishing and abiotic measurements were carried out to quantify the effects of the morphological and functional beaver structures on the fish community. In addition, structural characteristics, such as building material and volume, were characterized. Individual fish densities and species diversity were significantly higher in the beaver structures compared to both the reference reaches and the artificial structures. Species such as European chub (<em>Squalius cephalus</em> L.), common dace (<em>Leuciscus leuciscus</em> L.), European spirlin (<em>Alburnoides bipunctatus</em> Bloch 1782), and common nase (<em>Chondrostoma nasus</em> L.) benefited most from the beaver structures, particularly smaller size classes <15 cm. Artificial structures had a lower number of species and individuals. They not only differed from the beaver structures in their general fish communities, but particularly in the presence of target species of conservation and fish sizes. In addition to the already well-documented effects of beaver dams, our findings contribute important knowledge to the ecosystem engineering capabilities of the Eurasian beaver. Since the beneficial fish habitat effects of the beaver structures was mostly related to construction material, positioning, total and pore volume as well as flow velocity, these identified properties can also be used to guide future efforts of nature-based structural enrichment of stream habitats.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11490,"journal":{"name":"Ecological Engineering","volume":"212 ","pages":"Article 107516"},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2025-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143166362","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-02-01DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoleng.2025.107524
Víctor M. Fernández-Cabanás , Gina Patricia Suárez-Cáceres , Rafael Fernández-Cañero , Sabina Rossini-Oliva , Luis Pérez-Urrestarazu
Vertical greening systems are becoming popular nature-based solutions for including vegetation in the built environment. However, one of the main concerns regards to their water requirements. The use of greywater for their irrigation can be a solution. While several studies have proven that using living walls as a biofilter can improve the quality of the greywater applied for their irrigation, the effects on the vegetation of continuous irrigation with greywater are still unknown. The main objective of this work is the assessment of the vegetation performance using different plant species in indoor living walls exclusively irrigated with greywater. For that, three species (Philodendron hederaceum, Spathiphyllum wallisii and Nephrolepis exaltata) planted on felt-based living wall modules were tested for 30 weeks. Information regarding the main water quality parameters (pH, electrical conductivity (EC), concentration of major cation and anions, chemical oxygen demand (COD) and biological oxygen demand for an incubation period of 5 days (BOD5) were obtained and the development of the vegetation was monitored. The three species adapted well to the continuous irrigation with greywater, though S. wallisii showed a slight decrease in green cover at the end of the study. As the greywater was recirculated, EC increased with time, but no clear effects on growth and appearance were observed in the plants. This suggests the need of periodically replacing the greywater used for irrigation or including irrigation events with freshwater.
{"title":"Performance of a felt based living wall with greywater irrigation using different indoor ornamental species","authors":"Víctor M. Fernández-Cabanás , Gina Patricia Suárez-Cáceres , Rafael Fernández-Cañero , Sabina Rossini-Oliva , Luis Pérez-Urrestarazu","doi":"10.1016/j.ecoleng.2025.107524","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ecoleng.2025.107524","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Vertical greening systems are becoming popular nature-based solutions for including vegetation in the built environment. However, one of the main concerns regards to their water requirements. The use of greywater for their irrigation can be a solution. While several studies have proven that using living walls as a biofilter can improve the quality of the greywater applied for their irrigation, the effects on the vegetation of continuous irrigation with greywater are still unknown. The main objective of this work is the assessment of the vegetation performance using different plant species in indoor living walls exclusively irrigated with greywater. For that, three species (<em>Philodendron hederaceum</em>, <em>Spathiphyllum wallisii</em> and <em>Nephrolepis exaltata</em>) planted on felt-based living wall modules were tested for 30 weeks. Information regarding the main water quality parameters (pH, electrical conductivity (EC), concentration of major cation and anions, chemical oxygen demand (COD) and biological oxygen demand for an incubation period of 5 days (BOD<sub>5</sub>) were obtained and the development of the vegetation was monitored. The three species adapted well to the continuous irrigation with greywater, though <em>S. wallisii</em> showed a slight decrease in green cover at the end of the study. As the greywater was recirculated, EC increased with time, but no clear effects on growth and appearance were observed in the plants. This suggests the need of periodically replacing the greywater used for irrigation or including irrigation events with freshwater.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11490,"journal":{"name":"Ecological Engineering","volume":"212 ","pages":"Article 107524"},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2025-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143164666","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}