Rangeland Ecology & Management最新文献

{"title":"Tradeoffs and Challenges in the Development of Prototype Seed Enhancement Technologies for Sagebrush","authors":"Magdalena Eshleman ,&nbsp;Olga Kildisheva ,&nbsp;Hannah Demler ,&nbsp;Michaela Owens ,&nbsp;Corinna Riginos","doi":"10.1016/j.rama.2025.12.009","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.rama.2025.12.009","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Restoration of dryland plants from seed often fails or has very low success. Seed enhancement technologies (SETs), such as seed coatings with growth-enhancing amendments, offer potential means to increase early seedling survival and establishment success. Here, we tested the potential for four prototype film-coating SETs and two externally applied nutrient amendments to improve establishment success for Wyoming big sagebrush (<em>Artemisia tridentata</em> spp. <em>wyomingensis</em> Nutt.). These were tested in the laboratory and at a mine reclamation site in both fresh reclamation (year of) and postreclamation (1 yr after) sites. Film coatings did not inhibit emergence, an improvement from previous trials involving pellets or thicker coating prototypes. However, they also did not improve seedling growth or survival. One externally applied nutrient amendment strongly reduced seedling emergence but enhanced seedling size and field survival, whereas the other had no substantial effects. We conclude that film coatings on these very small seeds did not supply enough amendment to have any effect, whereas higher rates of amendments appear to bring tradeoffs between emergence inhibition and later growth enhancement. Although we tested a limited number of SETs in this study, these results highlight the challenges of using SETs for small-seeded species like sagebrush. We suggest that bet hedging by seeding at different stages of reclamation or multiple years in a row may improve overall outcomes.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49634,"journal":{"name":"Rangeland Ecology & Management","volume":"105 ","pages":"Pages 37-44"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2026-01-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146079623","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"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}

{"title":"Spatio-Temporal Assessment of Vegetation Response to Climatic Variability Using NDVI and VCI in the Forested Landscape","authors":"Chandramohan Karuppiah ,&nbsp;Elayapillai Periyasami ,&nbsp;Sivaraman Mayan Ayyanar ,&nbsp;Mohammad Suhail Meer ,&nbsp;Khadeijah Yahya Faqeih ,&nbsp;Somayah Moshrif Alamri ,&nbsp;Eman Rafi Alamery","doi":"10.1016/j.rama.2025.12.007","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.rama.2025.12.007","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study analyzes the spatiotemporal dynamics of vegetation in the forested landscapes of Dindigul and Madurai, Tamil Nadu, India, from 2001 to 2020 using satellite-derived Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), Vegetation Condition Index (VCI), and key meteorological parameters. Results reveal that NDVI has a strong positive correlation with relative humidity (<em>r</em> = 0.68, <em>P</em> &lt; 0.01), surface pressure (<em>r</em> = 0.52, <em>P</em> &lt; 0.05), and precipitation (<em>r</em> = 0.60, <em>P</em> &lt; 0.05), indicating that moisture availability is a major driver of vegetation health. In contrast, elevated temperature and high radiation were linked to reduced NDVI, suggesting vegetation stress under warming conditions. VCI analysis for 2005, 2010, 2015, and 2020 revealed minimal drought-affected areas, indicating strong ecological resilience across the study period. However, a gradual decline in NDVI between 2005 and 2015 reflects growing climate-induced stress on vegetation. The findings underscore the influence of climatic variability on vegetation dynamics and highlight the potential of NDVI and VCI as effective tools for long-term ecosystem monitoring and sustainable forest management.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49634,"journal":{"name":"Rangeland Ecology & Management","volume":"105 ","pages":"Pages 25-36"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2026-01-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146039212","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"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}

{"title":"A Machine-Learning-Driven Multisensor Approach for Assessing Urban Land Transformation and Ecoclimatic Variability","authors":"Liang Yan ,&nbsp;Xulong Duan ,&nbsp;Khadeijah Yahya Faqeih ,&nbsp;Somayah Moshrif Alamri ,&nbsp;Eman Rafi Alamery ,&nbsp;Muhammad Azeem Liaquat ,&nbsp;Rana Muhammad Zulqarnain ,&nbsp;Qaiser Abbas","doi":"10.1016/j.rama.2025.12.002","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.rama.2025.12.002","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Rapid urbanization in China has led to significant environmental transformations, necessitating comprehensive monitoring of land use dynamics and their ecological consequences. This study examines the spatiotemporal patterns of urbanization and environmental change in Hangzhou City, Zhejiang Province, China, from 2020 to 2024 using multitemporal remote sensing data. We employed Landsat-8 and Sentinel-2 imagery to analyze land use and land cover changes, vegetation dynamics through the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), water body variations using the Normalized Difference Water Index (NDWI), land surface temperature (LST) patterns, and atmospheric pollutant concentrations including carbon monoxide (CO), nitrogen dioxide (NO₂), and sulfur dioxide (SO₂). Results reveal a persistent expansion of built-up areas, particularly concentrated in the eastern and northeastern urban core, increasing from 2020 to 2024. Concurrently, rangeland and vegetation cover showed spatial reorganization, with declining NDVI values in urbanizing zones and elevated LST in built-up regions. Atmospheric pollutant analysis demonstrated spatial variations, with CO concentrations ranging from 0.0336 to 0.0485, NO₂ from 7.09 × 10⁻⁵ to 2.07 × 10⁻⁴, and SO₂ from −5.42 × 10⁻⁵ to 3.68 × 10⁻⁴ across the study period. NDWI analysis indicated stable water body distribution with localized fluctuations, while LST exhibited an increasing trend from 13.28–28.35°C (2020) to 16.50–30.33°C (2024), highlighting urban heat island intensification. These findings underscore the environmental challenges associated with rapid urban development and provide critical insights for sustainable urban planning and environmental management in major Chinese cities.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49634,"journal":{"name":"Rangeland Ecology & Management","volume":"105 ","pages":"Pages 15-24"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2026-01-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145981855","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"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}

{"title":"Erratum to “Monitoring and Prediction of Land use and Land cover using Remote Sensing and CA-ANN” [Rangeland Ecology & Management, volume 102, September 2025, pages 160-171]","authors":"Frank Juma Ong’ondo ,&nbsp;Shrinidhi Ambinakudige ,&nbsp;Philista Adhiambo Malaki ,&nbsp;Hafez Ahmad ,&nbsp;Qingmin Meng ,&nbsp;Domnic Kiprono Chesire ,&nbsp;Kuria Anthony ,&nbsp;Yahia Said","doi":"10.1016/j.rama.2025.12.004","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.rama.2025.12.004","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":49634,"journal":{"name":"Rangeland Ecology & Management","volume":"105 ","pages":"Page 1"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2026-01-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145957765","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"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}

{"title":"Assessing the Impact of Vegetation and Terrain on Land Use Changes Using Multisensor Data","authors":"Mingxia Liang ,&nbsp;Qingzhao Wang ,&nbsp;Ping Lei ,&nbsp;Muhammad Haseeb ,&nbsp;Zainab Tahir ,&nbsp;Syed Amer Mahmood ,&nbsp;Hania Arif ,&nbsp;Salma Hameed ,&nbsp;Mohammad Suhail Meer ,&nbsp;Khadeijah Yahya Faqeih ,&nbsp;Somayah Moshrif Alamri ,&nbsp;Eman Rafi Alamery","doi":"10.1016/j.rama.2025.12.006","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.rama.2025.12.006","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Land use and land cover (LULC) changes have significantly altered landscapes worldwide, particularly in rapidly urbanizing regions. With a rise in industrialization and economic development, China has seen great changes in LULC that also affect the environment. This article uses remote sensing and Geographical Information Systems (GIS) to investigate LULC shifts between the years 2003 and 2023 in the Suzhou–Wuxi–Changzhou metropolitan area. Using Landsat satellites, the images were classified, and further accurate assessments were completed through ground truthing. The findings show that in urban regions, there was an increase of 31% from 4 315.66 km² in 2003 to 5 689.18 km² in 2023. Other than that, the amount of cropland decreased by 10% from 9 758.64 to 8 716.74 km². This study also indicates that there was an 18% reduction in forest cover, which worsened the effect of urban heat islands (UHIs), while water bodies were steady. The study discusses the urbanization of the region and its significance in modifying LULC changes and its consequences toward ecological and hydrologic imbalances, added by the UHI phenomenon. The findings emphasize the necessity for sustainable land use planning, improved green space conservation, and integrated policy measures to mitigate adverse environmental impacts.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49634,"journal":{"name":"Rangeland Ecology & Management","volume":"105 ","pages":"Pages 2-14"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2026-01-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145981856","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"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}

{"title":"Multisensor Visual Image Design Based on Machine Learning to Evaluate Urban Land Transformation and Ecological Environment Variation","authors":"Pei Wang ,&nbsp;XiaoPeng Niu ,&nbsp;Yue Shen ,&nbsp;Anum Liaqut ,&nbsp;Khadeijah Yahya Faqeih ,&nbsp;Somayah Moshrif Alamri ,&nbsp;Eman Rafi Alamery ,&nbsp;Hammad Mehmood ,&nbsp;Rao Bilal Karim ,&nbsp;Muhammad Azeem Liaquat ,&nbsp;Rana Muhammad Zulqarnain ,&nbsp;Qaiser Abbas","doi":"10.1016/j.rama.2025.12.005","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.rama.2025.12.005","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The accurate detection and monitoring of seasonal lake dynamics and rangeland variations in high-altitude regions present significant challenges, particularly during snow-covered periods. This study introduces an integrated multisensor approach combining Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) and optical remote sensing and visual image design for monitoring seasonal changes in Saif ul Malook Lake and surrounding rangelands, Pakistan. We leveraged Google Earth Engine’s cloud computing capabilities to process and analyze Sentinel-1 SAR and Landsat imagery, implementing Random Forest classification (achieving 92% accuracy during melt season) for land use/land cover mapping, including rangeland delineation using visual image design. The methodology incorporated multiple water indices (Automated Water Extraction Index, Modified Normalized Difference Water Index, and Normalized Difference Water Index) and topographic parameters derived from digital elevation models. Additionally, visual image design was applied to improve the clarity of multisensor observations, enabling more intuitive detection of seasonal transitions in lake and rangeland conditions. This enhancement supported better interpretation and strengthened the overall monitoring framework. During the melt season (October–November), optical indices successfully detected the lake extent (2.8 km²) with high accuracy (&gt;95%). However, their performance significantly decreased during snow-covered periods (January–February), with accuracy dropping to approximately 60%. SAR-based detection maintained consistent performance across seasons, successfully identifying lake extent even under snow cover. Land use classification revealed significant seasonal variations, with vegetation cover and rangeland areas decreasing from 45% to 15% during snow-covered periods, while snow/ice coverage expanded to 65% of the study area. The integration of Topographic Wetness Index and stream flow analysis provided crucial context for understanding the lake’s hydrological connectivity and its impact on adjacent rangeland ecosystems. This study demonstrates the effectiveness of combining SAR and optical remote sensing and visual image design for year-round lake and rangeland monitoring, particularly in challenging high-altitude environments. The findings highlight the importance of multisensor approaches and machine learning techniques for accurate lake detection and rangeland assessment under varying seasonal conditions, contributing to improved understanding of high-altitude lake dynamics and rangeland responses to environmental change.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49634,"journal":{"name":"Rangeland Ecology & Management","volume":"104 ","pages":"Pages 72-83"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145927435","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"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}

{"title":"Spatiotemporal Dynamics of Urbanization, Rangeland, and Environmental Indicators Using Remote Sensing and Google Earth Engine","authors":"Yunhai Hu,&nbsp;Qin Guo","doi":"10.1016/j.rama.2025.12.003","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.rama.2025.12.003","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Rangeland ecosystems in rapidly urbanizing regions face unprecedented pressures from land use transitions, climate variability, and anthropogenic activities. This study examines the spatiotemporal dynamics of rangeland change in Hangzhou, China, using multitemporal satellite data and the Google Earth Engine (GEE) platform from 2016 to 2023. The research integrates Land Use Land Cover (LULC) classification, vegetation indices (NDVI, EVI), water availability indicators (NDWI), Land Surface Temperature (LST), and atmospheric pollutants (CO, NO₂, SO₂) to understand rangeland transformations in the context of urban expansion. Results reveal a remarkable expansion of rangeland from 52.7 km² (4%) in 2016 to 90.5 km² (7%) in 2023, representing a 71.7% increase over the study period. This expansion occurred simultaneously with a significant decline in cropland area from 464.2 km² (36%) to 346.8 km² (27%) and an increase in built area from 477.5 km² (37%) to 649.1 km² (51%). Spatial analysis indicates that rangeland gains predominantly occurred in areas previously used for agriculture, suggesting patterns of land abandonment or conversion. Environmental indicator analysis shows complex relationships between rangeland dynamics and atmospheric conditions, with CO concentrations remaining relatively stable (0.0334–0.0391), while NO₂ and SO₂ exhibited spatial heterogeneity across the study area. The integration of remote sensing data with the GEE platform proved effective for monitoring rangeland changes at the landscape scale, providing critical insights for sustainable land management and ecosystem conservation in rapidly changing urban-rural interfaces.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49634,"journal":{"name":"Rangeland Ecology & Management","volume":"104 ","pages":"Pages 84-97"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145927437","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"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}

{"title":"Improving Germination and Salinity Tolerance in Snail Medic (Medicago scutellata L.) Through Hydrogen Peroxide (H2O2) Seed Priming","authors":"Saeed Sharafi ,&nbsp;Mohammad Reza Ahmadi","doi":"10.1016/j.rama.2025.11.007","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.rama.2025.11.007","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Salinity is a major environmental constraint that limits agricultural productivity, particularly in arid and semi-arid regions. This study investigated the effects of hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) seed priming on germination and early seedling growth of snail medic (<em>Medicago scutellata</em> L.) under salinity stress. A factorial germination experiment was conducted using H₂O₂ concentrations of 0, 20, 40, 60, 80, and 100 μM across salinity levels of 0, −3, −6, −9, and −12 MPa. Salinity stress significantly affected key ecological traits, including weight of mobilized seed reserve (WMSR), seed reserve depletion percentage (SRDP), seedling growth rate (SLGR), seed reserve utilization efficiency (SRUE), root length (RL), shoot length (SL), and the activities of antioxidant enzymes catalase (CAT), peroxidase (PER), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and ascorbate peroxidase (APX). The highest RL values were observed at 20 and 40 μM H₂O₂, measuring 5.75 and 5.31 mm, respectively. Maximum WMSR (0.145 mg seed-1) and SLGR (0.023 mg d-1) were recorded at 40 μM H₂O₂, representing increases of 2.07% and 15.6% compared with the control. Interaction effects indicated that H₂O₂ concentrations up to 80 μM alleviated the negative impacts of salinity on seedling growth, whereas increasing salinity from −9 to −12 MPa caused more complex responses in ecological traits and enzyme activities. A strong positive correlation was observed between WMSR and SLGR, with a one-unit increase in WMSR leading to a 7.53% increase in SLGR (R = 0.87**). The highest WMSR (0.174 mg seed-1) occurred at 20 μM H₂O₂ under −3 MPa salinity. Overall, H₂O₂ seed priming improved seedling growth and stress tolerance, highlighting its potential for enhancing the establishment of forage species in saline environments.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49634,"journal":{"name":"Rangeland Ecology & Management","volume":"104 ","pages":"Pages 98-109"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145927434","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"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}

{"title":"Novel Insights Into Grazing and Browsing Capacity Related to Rangeland Condition in an Understudied Area of Central Mozambique, Inhambane Province","authors":"Francois Deacon ,&nbsp;Wesley John Black","doi":"10.1016/j.rama.2025.11.006","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.rama.2025.11.006","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>In Mozambique, 81% of the land is rangelands. Effective management requires understanding their agricultural potential, but deviations from ecological principles have led to environmental degradation. This study investigates the grazing and browsing capacity of rangelands in central Mozambique Province, characterized by Miombo woodland. This study seeks to thoroughly understand rangeland conditions by evaluating their potential to support grazing and browsing ruminants. The ideal is to balance ecological integrity with economic viability, ensuring the long-term health and productivity of the region’s diverse ecosystems. The research reveals that browsing capacity peaks during the wet season, with a maximum of 49.4 hectares per Browser Unit (ha/BU) at 1.5 m height, and declines in the dry season, reaching critically low values of 119.8 ha/BU in August. Grazing capacity is estimated at 11.3 hectares per Large Stock Unit (ha/LSU). These findings highlight the ecological dynamics and potential agricultural productivity of the region. Observed variations in grazing and browsing capacities are crucial for guiding sustainable agricultural practices and conservation efforts. By providing a foundation for determining appropriate stocking densities, the research supports the prevention of overgrazing and the maintenance of ecological balance. The implications for the rangeland profession include enhanced understanding of rangeland ecology, contributing to biodiversity conservation and agricultural support in Mozambique.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49634,"journal":{"name":"Rangeland Ecology & Management","volume":"104 ","pages":"Pages 67-71"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145927432","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"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}

{"title":"Editorial Board/Journal Info","authors":"","doi":"10.1016/S1550-7424(26)00003-5","DOIUrl":"10.1016/S1550-7424(26)00003-5","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":49634,"journal":{"name":"Rangeland Ecology & Management","volume":"104 ","pages":"Page IFC"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146078282","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"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}