Environmental Research: Ecology - IOPscience

Environmental Research: Ecology - IOPscience
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2752-664X
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Environmental Research: Ecology
tackles major challenges at the crossroads of multiscale ecology, biodiversity, and conservation. We unite all research communities working to provide solutions to ecosystems resilience, vulnerability and adaption.
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The following article is
Open access
Baseline maps of U.S. mature and old-growth forests for conservation and management
Jamis M Bruening
et al
2026
Environ. Res.: Ecology
015010
View article
, Baseline maps of U.S. mature and old-growth forests for conservation and management
PDF
, Baseline maps of U.S. mature and old-growth forests for conservation and management
Mature and old-growth (MOG) forests hold significant ecological and societal value in the United States. In 2022, a presidential executive order directed the U.S. Forest Service to conduct a MOG forest inventory, and regional definitions were developed using the Forest Inventory and Analysis (FIA) system. However, the sparse forest inventory network limited estimates to coarse area-level summaries, and efforts to include specific MOG forest management practices in National Forest management plans were abandoned. National-scale MOG forest mapping at high spatial resolution is essential for balancing and harmonizing MOG conservation, stewardship and management directives, and several recent studies have produced such maps. These approaches either apply alternative definitions, interpolate MOG information without incorporating empirical data at prediction locations, or define MOG characteristics from remote sensing products rather than inventory data. Thus, an enhanced MOG forest inventory that leverages both the national FIA MOG classifications and empirical remote sensing data for predictions remains a pressing need. Here, we developed a spatial Bayesian modeling framework that uses remotely sensed predictor variables to operationalize the FIA plot-level MOG definitions into spatially continuous, fine-scale inference across the conterminous U.S. Our models produce posterior distributions of MOG class presence at 1 ha resolution, enabling probability surfaces and aggregated estimates with transparent uncertainty at policy and ecologically relevant scales. Cross-validation revealed minimal bias nationally but moderate over-prediction in some strata. We estimate that, on all lands, 154.83 million ha contain mature forest and 25.17 million ha contain old-growth—respectively 43.74% and 8.57% of forest area. Our work advances spatial modeling techniques for integrating inventory plot and remote sensing data to characterize complex, context-dependent forest attributes consistently across large geographic extents. This study produces publicly available, spatially continuous MOG information based on the national definitions, providing a foundational resource to inform MOG forest management and conservation.
The following article is
Open access
Social and environmental outcomes of urban street tree bed stewardship
Kelly Baldwin Heid
et al
2024
Environ. Res.: Ecology
035005
View article
, Social and environmental outcomes of urban street tree bed stewardship
PDF
, Social and environmental outcomes of urban street tree bed stewardship
As projections of exponential urbanization persist, promoting the health of urban populations is one of the most urgent and challenging issues of the 21st century. By taking a planetary health approach and considering the reciprocal relationship between human health and the health of ecosystems, the integration of nature-based solutions into cities can address multiple urban challenges at once. Citizen stewardship of street trees and street tree beds is one such nature-based solution that challenges rapid urbanization while offering a healthier and greener future. Not only does citizen stewardship of street trees play a significant role in tree longevity, but our research suggests that the process of stewardship itself also positively impacts the health and wellbeing of stewards themselves. In this study, we sought to assess the motivations of street tree citizen stewards and the perceived social, environmental, and health effects of stewarding street tree beds in Freiburg, Germany. Based on a questionnaire-based survey and semi-structured interviews with tree stewards, we found that the most common motivations of citizen stewards were modeling positive environmental behavior as well as a desire to help the environment and one’s community. The perceived outcomes included a strong sense of place, a meaningful connection to nature, and the belief that stewarding a street tree bed is good for one’s mental health as well as the environment. Participants also considered street tree beds to be their personal gardens, suggesting that street tree beds may serve as restorative spaces that strengthen public health and social capital while sustaining urban greening. This case study supports and expands the scientific discourse of urban gardening while suggesting that citizen stewardship of street trees and tree beds offers myriad co-benefits for urban ecosystems and public health.
The following article is
Open access
Mapping global threats to seagrass meadows reveals opportunities for conservation
Benjamin L H Jones
et al
2025
Environ. Res.: Ecology
025005
View article
, Mapping global threats to seagrass meadows reveals opportunities for conservation
PDF
, Mapping global threats to seagrass meadows reveals opportunities for conservation
Numerous global maps chart humanities impact on multiple levels of biodiversity, revealing a multitude of pressures across a variety of ecological systems. While useful for identifying the global scale policy changes needed to conserve the world’s biodiversity, they often lack resolution at the scale needed for local management and conservation. While we can broadly speculate the key large-scale drivers that have influenced seagrass populations over the last century, no global map exists that reveals the range and scale of human pressures on seagrass meadows. Using a citizen science database (
) that comprises of more than 8000 georeferenced points, we use a subset of these map the prevalence of multiple, locally observed anthropogenic threats to seagrass meadows. We find that 50% of human-impacted sites were within areas with designated protection, reflecting 4.4% of the world’s marine protected areas and other effective area-based conservation measures where anthropogenic activities place seagrass at risk. Using vulnerability scores for each human impact, we identify high-risk sites in Columbia, Fiji, Indonesia, Mexico, Mozambique, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, and Tanzania, where multiple pressures likely place seagrass meadows on a trajectory of decline. In doing so, we build on a growing body of research highlighting the vulnerability of coastal ecosystems to human impacts, and at the same time, highlight the role of citizen science in identifying and mapping these threats at the resolution needed for management.
The following article is
Open access
Climate change and infrastructure development drive ice-rich permafrost thaw in Point Lay (Kali), Alaska
Benjamin M Jones
et al
2025
Environ. Res.: Ecology
035003
View article
, Climate change and infrastructure development drive ice-rich permafrost thaw in Point Lay (Kali), Alaska
PDF
, Climate change and infrastructure development drive ice-rich permafrost thaw in Point Lay (Kali), Alaska
Permafrost thaw and thermokarst development pose urgent challenges to Arctic communities, threatening infrastructure and essential services. This study examines the reciprocal impacts of permafrost degradation and infrastructure in Point Lay (Kali), Alaska, drawing on field data from ∼60 boreholes, measured and modeled ground temperature records, remote sensing analysis, and community interviews. Field campaigns from 2022–2024 reveal widespread thermokarst development and ground subsidence driven by the thaw of ice-rich permafrost. Borehole analysis confirms excess-ice contents averaging ∼40%, with syngenetic ice wedges extending over 12 m deep. Measured and modeled ground temperature data indicate a warming trend, with increasing mean annual ground temperatures and active layer thickness (ALT). Since 1949, modeled ALTs have generally deepened, with a marked shift toward consistently thicker ALTs in the 21st century. Remote sensing shows ice wedge thermokarst expanded from <5% in 1949 to >60% in developed areas by 2019, with thaw rates increasing tenfold between 1974 and 2019. In contrast, adjacent, undisturbed tundra exhibited more consistent thermokarst expansion (∼0.2% yr
−1
), underscoring the amplifying role of infrastructure, surface disturbance, and climate change. Community interviews reveal the lived consequences of permafrost degradation, including structural damage to homes, failing utilities, and growing dependence on alternative water and wastewater strategies. Engineering recommendations include deeper pile foundations, targeted ice wedge stabilization, aboveground utilities, enhanced snow management strategies, and improved drainage to mitigate ongoing infrastructure issues. As climate change accelerates permafrost thaw across the Arctic, this study highlights the need for integrated, community-driven adaptation strategies that blend geocryological research, engineering solutions, and local and Indigenous knowledge.
The following article is
Open access
Enhancing soil carbon in solar farms through active land management: a systematic review of the available evidence
Fabio Carvalho
et al
2024
Environ. Res.: Ecology
042001
View article
, Enhancing soil carbon in solar farms through active land management: a systematic review of the available evidence
PDF
, Enhancing soil carbon in solar farms through active land management: a systematic review of the available evidence
Ground-mounted solar farms are becoming common features of agricultural landscapes worldwide in the move to meet internationally agreed Net Zero targets. In addition to offering low-carbon energy, solar farms in temperate environments can be purposely managed as grasslands that enhance soil carbon uptake to maximise their climate benefits and improve soil health. However, there is little evidence to date on the ecosystem effects of land use change for solar farms, including their impact on soil carbon storage and sequestration potential through land management practices. We review the latest evidence on the associations between grassland management options commonly adopted by solar farms in temperate regions (plant diversity manipulation, mowing, grazing, and nutrient addition) and soil carbon to identify appropriate land management practices that can enhance soil carbon within solar farms managed as grasslands. Soil carbon response to land management intervention is highly variable and context-dependent, but those most likely to enhance soil carbon accrual include organic nutrient addition (e.g. cattle slurry), low-to-moderate intensity sheep grazing, and the planting of legume and plant indicator species. Plant removal and long-term (years to decades) mineral fertilisation are the most likely to result in soil carbon loss over time. These results can inform policy and industry best practice to increase ecosystem service provision within solar farms and help them deliver net environmental benefits beyond low-carbon energy. Regular monitoring and data collection (preferably using standardised methods) will be needed to ensure soil carbon gains from land management practices, especially given the microclimatic and management conditions found within solar farms.
The following article is
Open access
Plant species richness responses to microtopography across a vernal pool complex revealed by UAV-LiDAR
Jacob R Nesslage
et al
2026
Environ. Res.: Ecology
015008
View article
, Plant species richness responses to microtopography across a vernal pool complex revealed by UAV-LiDAR
PDF
, Plant species richness responses to microtopography across a vernal pool complex revealed by UAV-LiDAR
Plant species richness patterns across vernal pool complexes are regulated by dynamic hydrologic processes, yet these controls remain difficult to quantify across space in ways that inform monitoring and conservation. In this study, we test whether microtopographic features can serve as proxies for hydrologic processes that shape plant species richness patterns. We evaluate this hypothesis by modeling relationships between unmanned aerial vehicle light detection and ranging (UAV-LiDAR)-derived microtopographic features and vascular, forb, and graminoid plant species richness across a vernal pool complex in central California, USA. We obtained plant assemblage data from surveys of 224 vernal pools in 2018 and 2019 and collected UAV-LiDAR data over the study area in 2020. We derived 11 features from UAV-LiDAR data and applied a recursive feature elimination procedure to optimize richness estimates. Poisson generalized linear models and a bootstrap cross-validation approach were used to construct species richness models for each plant functional type. Microtopographic features related to hydrologic connectivity, soil moisture gradients, and hydroperiod described substantial variation in vascular plant species richness patterns (median training
= 0.35, median validation
= 0.28) and were accurate to within 2–3 species per pool, consistent with similar ecological remote sensing efforts in tall prairie, salt meadow, and other grassland ecosystems. Forb richness, which disproportionately contribute to vascular plant richness, was highest in low-lying, hydrologically connected, and topographically uniform areas characteristic of vernal pools. Conversely, graminoid richness was higher at elevated, low-slope positions, such as mound tops across the mound–swale topography of the study area. These contrasting responses support the hypothesis that microtopography shapes hydrological niches favoring water-tolerant forbs in frequently inundated areas and graminoids in comparatively drier areas. Importantly, quantifying the link between microtopography and plant richness responses provides an ecologically grounded basis for managers to guide vernal pool conservation and restoration using microtopographic datasets.
The following article is
Open access
Detecting unvegetated permafrost-thaw features in Arctic tundra using imaging spectroscopy
F Tenorio
et al
2026
Environ. Res.: Ecology
015007
View article
, Detecting unvegetated permafrost-thaw features in Arctic tundra using imaging spectroscopy
PDF
, Detecting unvegetated permafrost-thaw features in Arctic tundra using imaging spectroscopy
Freeze-thaw cycles, hydrology, soil mixing, and permafrost degradation shape landscape patterns in permafrost regions, forming unvegetated or sparsely vegetated landforms with varied topography. These features, which we refer to as unvegetated thermokarst polygons, result from permafrost thaw and may play a critical role in Arctic greenhouse gas (GHG) dynamics by unlocking vast amounts of carbon stored in permafrost regions. However, their spatial extent remains uncertain due to their variable size (∼0.5–15 m) and the challenges of detecting them in heterogeneous landscapes such as polygonal tundra. This study assesses the extent of unvegetated thermokarst polygons near Utqiaġvik, Alaska, using imaging spectroscopy and lidar data with a 1 m spatial resolution from the National Ecological Observing Network airborne observation platform on the joint-basis of a linear spectral mixture analysis and lidar-based relief. Based on a confusion matrix evaluating threshold models of our analysis against field-based results, the model that performed with the greatest
1 score (0.63), with balanced precision (0.71) and recall (0.57), estimated a 9.55% cover of unvegetated thermokarst polygons, or 380 000 m
total area of unvegetated thermokarst polygons within the study extent. Ground truth data from 52 sites revealed that the spectral mixture model correctly mapped ∼81% of unvegetated thermokarst polygons. Our results highlight the challenges and potential of detecting unvegetated thermokarst polygons in complex Arctic landscapes with high-resolution remote sensing. Although these features currently cover a small area in the study site, their relevance may grow with increased landscape changes and GHG dynamics under warm conditions. Moreover, their extent could be greater in areas with more active permafrost degradation, emphasizing the need for detection methods to monitor these critical landforms.
The following article is
Open access
Science-policy interface for marine plastic pollution: how can visualisations contribute to decision-support?
Christina Carrozzo Hellevik and Jakob Bonnevie Cyvin 2026
Environ. Res.: Ecology
015009
View article
, Science-policy interface for marine plastic pollution: how can visualisations contribute to decision-support?
PDF
, Science-policy interface for marine plastic pollution: how can visualisations contribute to decision-support?
Plastic pollution is detrimental to nature and human health both at local and global levels. Through this study, we explore the perceptions of the marine plastic problem and solutions by stakeholders in Ålesund, Norway in a focus group setting. We used three visualisation-based interventions aiming to improve the overview of the problem, uncertainty communication and empathy. Firstly, decision-support tools (DSTs) with visually intuitive statistics of the most frequently found litter types were used by the participants in their discussion. Secondly, a visual citizen science exercise enabled them to experience scientific uncertainty first-hand. And thirdly, images of fish gills with plastic fibres were shown as an illustration of the local effects of marine plastic on wildlife. We sorted the proposed solutions per leverage point categories according to intent, design, feedback and parameters, and found an overwhelming majority under parameters, i.e. the shallowest leverage point category. There was little change in the leverage point categories throughout the focus group. We also explored the participants’ interpretation of scientific information and specifically risk and uncertainty. We found the uncertainty communication intervention to be a powerful trigger for a sense of urgency and a better understanding of scientific uncertainty. On the other hand, the results from the empathy intervention were challenging to interpret as several factors played into the dynamic of the conversations. Some participants expressed sadness, others highlighted the inadequacy of current regulations, and others still attempted to diffuse the tension. Based on our findings, we question the use of analytical DSTs alone, and define a research agenda on how visualisations can help high quality action-driven decisions through uncertainty communication and empathy to stimulate the sense of urgency needed. We provide some thoughts on how we, as scientists, can better reach decision-makers to build mutual trust and encourage wise, empathetic policy development grounded in scientific evidence.
The following article is
Open access
Assessing canopy height measurements from ICESat-2 and GEDI orbiting LiDAR across six different biomes with G-LiHT LiDAR
Qiuyan Yu
et al
2024
Environ. Res.: Ecology
025001
View article
, Assessing canopy height measurements from ICESat-2 and GEDI orbiting LiDAR across six different biomes with G-LiHT LiDAR
PDF
, Assessing canopy height measurements from ICESat-2 and GEDI orbiting LiDAR across six different biomes with G-LiHT LiDAR
The height of woody plants is a defining characteristic of forest and shrubland ecosystems because height responds to climate, soil and disturbance history. Orbiting LiDAR instruments, Ice, Cloud and land Elevation Satellite-2 (ICESat-2) and Global Ecosystem Dynamics Investigation LiDAR (GEDI), can provide near-global datasets of plant height at plot-level resolution. We evaluate canopy height measurements from ICESat-2 and GEDI with high resolution airborne LiDAR in six study sites in different biomes from dryland shrub to tall forests, with mean canopy height across sites of 0.5–40 m. ICESat-2 and GEDI provide reliable estimates for the relative height with RMSE and mean absolute error (MAE) of 7.49 and 4.64 m (all measurements ICESat-2) and 6.52 and 4.08 m (all measurements GEDI) for 98th percentile relative heights. Both datasets slightly overestimate the height of short shrubs (1–2 m at 5 m reference height), underestimate that of tall trees (by 6–7 m at 40 m reference height) and are highly biased (>3 m) for reference height <5 m, perhaps because of the difficulty of distinguishing canopy from ground signals. Both ICESat-2 and GEDI height estimates were only weakly sensitive to canopy cover and terrain slope (
< 0.06) and had lower error for night compared to day samples (ICESat-2 RMSE night: 5.57 m, day: 6.82 m; GEDI RMSE night: 5.94 m, day: 7.03 m). For GEDI, the day versus night differences varied with differences in mean sample heights for the day and night samples and had little effect on bias. Accuracy of ICESat-2 and GEDI canopy heights varies among biomes, and the highest MAE was observed in the tallest, densest forest (GEDI: 7.85 m; ICESat-2: 7.84 m (night) and 12.83 m (day)). Improvements in canopy height estimation would come from better discrimination of canopy photons from background noise for ICESat-2 and improvements in the algorithm for decomposing ground and canopy returns for GEDI. Both would benefit from methods to distinguish outlier samples.
The following article is
Open access
High-resolution canopy fuel maps based on GEDI: a foundation for wildfire modeling in Germany
Johannes Heisig
et al
2025
Environ. Res.: Ecology
015003
View article
, High-resolution canopy fuel maps based on GEDI: a foundation for wildfire modeling in Germany
PDF
, High-resolution canopy fuel maps based on GEDI: a foundation for wildfire modeling in Germany
Forest fuels are essential for wildfire behavior modeling and risk assessments but difficult to quantify accurately. An increase in fire frequency in recent years, particularly in regions traditionally not prone to fire, such as central Europe, has increased demands for large-scale remote sensing fuel information. This study develops a methodology for mapping canopy fuels over large areas (Germany) at high spatial resolution, exclusively relying on open remote sensing data. We propose a two-step approach where we first use measurements from NASA’s Global Ecosystem Dynamics Investigation (GEDI) instrument to estimate canopy fuel variables at the footprint level, before predicting high-resolution raster maps. Instead of using field measurements, we generate (GEDI-) footprint-level estimates for canopy (Base) height (CH, CBH), cover (CC), bulk density (CBD), and fuel load (CFL) by segmenting airborne Light Detection and Ranging point clouds and processing tree-level metrics with allometric crown biomass models. To predict footprint-level canopy fuels we fit and tune Random Forest models, which are cross-validated using
-fold nearest neighbor distance matching. Predictions at >1.6 M GEDI footprints and biophysical raster covariates are combined with a universal Kriging method to produce countrywide maps at 20 m resolution. Agreement (
RMSE
) with validation data (from the same population) was strong for footprint-level predictions and moderate for map predictions. A validation with estimates based on National Forest Inventory data revealed low to modest agreement. Better accuracy was achieved for variables related to height (CH, CBH) rather than to cover or biomass (CBD, CFL). Error analysis pointed towards a mixture of biases in model predictions and validation data, as well as underestimation of model prediction standard errors. Contributing factors may be simplification through allometric equations and spatial and temporal mismatch of data inputs. The proposed workflow has the potential to support regions where wildfire is an emerging issue, and fuel and field information is scarce or unavailable.
The following article is
Open access
Initial condition uncertainty exerts a large and persistent influence on model simulations of ecosystem carbon dynamics in California
Paul C Selmants
et al
2026
Environ. Res.: Ecology
025001
View article
, Initial condition uncertainty exerts a large and persistent influence on model simulations of ecosystem carbon dynamics in California
PDF
, Initial condition uncertainty exerts a large and persistent influence on model simulations of ecosystem carbon dynamics in California
Uncertainties in terrestrial ecosystem models limit their predictive power. Efforts to reduce projection error have rarely focused on constraining uncertainty in the initial state of the ecosystem, however, despite evidence that matching model initial conditions to real-world observations reduces overall model bias. Here we use an integrated land change and carbon gain-loss model to evaluate the influence of initial condition uncertainty on simulations of California wildland ecosystems during the years 1985–2020. We generated 36 initial conditions scenarios by varying the source data used to initialize state variables and then ran simulations based on each of these scenarios under a constant set of historical conditions. We found that discrepancies in initial forest extent and initial forest age among scenarios generated wide uncertainty ranges in model estimates of terrestrial ecosystem carbon stocks and flux rates at the outset of the simulation period, but differences in initial forest composition had no impact. Over time, forest age became more homogeneous across model scenarios leading to exponential rates of decline in the uncertainty ranges of live biomass and dead wood carbon but little to no impact on uncertainties in litter and soil organic carbon. Uncertainties in individual carbon flux rates were consistent with uncertainties in their source pools. In contrast, model estimates of ecosystem carbon balance demonstrated a shift in system behavior not apparent in trends for individual carbon stocks and fluxes. Specifically, estimates of ecosystem carbon balance converged across scenarios for the first 20 years of the simulation period but then began to diverge at an accelerating rate, possibly due to weakened resilience to the increased frequency and severity of climate-driven disturbances. Our results demonstrate that uncertainty in the initial state of the system can have large and persistent impacts on the predictability of ecosystem carbon dynamics, and that ongoing shifts in external forcing by climate and climate-driven disturbances can exacerbate these impacts.
The following article is
Open access
Baseline maps of U.S. mature and old-growth forests for conservation and management
Jamis M Bruening
et al
2026
Environ. Res.: Ecology
015010
View article
, Baseline maps of U.S. mature and old-growth forests for conservation and management
PDF
, Baseline maps of U.S. mature and old-growth forests for conservation and management
Mature and old-growth (MOG) forests hold significant ecological and societal value in the United States. In 2022, a presidential executive order directed the U.S. Forest Service to conduct a MOG forest inventory, and regional definitions were developed using the Forest Inventory and Analysis (FIA) system. However, the sparse forest inventory network limited estimates to coarse area-level summaries, and efforts to include specific MOG forest management practices in National Forest management plans were abandoned. National-scale MOG forest mapping at high spatial resolution is essential for balancing and harmonizing MOG conservation, stewardship and management directives, and several recent studies have produced such maps. These approaches either apply alternative definitions, interpolate MOG information without incorporating empirical data at prediction locations, or define MOG characteristics from remote sensing products rather than inventory data. Thus, an enhanced MOG forest inventory that leverages both the national FIA MOG classifications and empirical remote sensing data for predictions remains a pressing need. Here, we developed a spatial Bayesian modeling framework that uses remotely sensed predictor variables to operationalize the FIA plot-level MOG definitions into spatially continuous, fine-scale inference across the conterminous U.S. Our models produce posterior distributions of MOG class presence at 1 ha resolution, enabling probability surfaces and aggregated estimates with transparent uncertainty at policy and ecologically relevant scales. Cross-validation revealed minimal bias nationally but moderate over-prediction in some strata. We estimate that, on all lands, 154.83 million ha contain mature forest and 25.17 million ha contain old-growth—respectively 43.74% and 8.57% of forest area. Our work advances spatial modeling techniques for integrating inventory plot and remote sensing data to characterize complex, context-dependent forest attributes consistently across large geographic extents. This study produces publicly available, spatially continuous MOG information based on the national definitions, providing a foundational resource to inform MOG forest management and conservation.
The following article is
Open access
Science-policy interface for marine plastic pollution: how can visualisations contribute to decision-support?
Christina Carrozzo Hellevik and Jakob Bonnevie Cyvin 2026
Environ. Res.: Ecology
015009
View article
, Science-policy interface for marine plastic pollution: how can visualisations contribute to decision-support?
PDF
, Science-policy interface for marine plastic pollution: how can visualisations contribute to decision-support?
Plastic pollution is detrimental to nature and human health both at local and global levels. Through this study, we explore the perceptions of the marine plastic problem and solutions by stakeholders in Ålesund, Norway in a focus group setting. We used three visualisation-based interventions aiming to improve the overview of the problem, uncertainty communication and empathy. Firstly, decision-support tools (DSTs) with visually intuitive statistics of the most frequently found litter types were used by the participants in their discussion. Secondly, a visual citizen science exercise enabled them to experience scientific uncertainty first-hand. And thirdly, images of fish gills with plastic fibres were shown as an illustration of the local effects of marine plastic on wildlife. We sorted the proposed solutions per leverage point categories according to intent, design, feedback and parameters, and found an overwhelming majority under parameters, i.e. the shallowest leverage point category. There was little change in the leverage point categories throughout the focus group. We also explored the participants’ interpretation of scientific information and specifically risk and uncertainty. We found the uncertainty communication intervention to be a powerful trigger for a sense of urgency and a better understanding of scientific uncertainty. On the other hand, the results from the empathy intervention were challenging to interpret as several factors played into the dynamic of the conversations. Some participants expressed sadness, others highlighted the inadequacy of current regulations, and others still attempted to diffuse the tension. Based on our findings, we question the use of analytical DSTs alone, and define a research agenda on how visualisations can help high quality action-driven decisions through uncertainty communication and empathy to stimulate the sense of urgency needed. We provide some thoughts on how we, as scientists, can better reach decision-makers to build mutual trust and encourage wise, empathetic policy development grounded in scientific evidence.
The following article is
Open access
Plant species richness responses to microtopography across a vernal pool complex revealed by UAV-LiDAR
Jacob R Nesslage
et al
2026
Environ. Res.: Ecology
015008
View article
, Plant species richness responses to microtopography across a vernal pool complex revealed by UAV-LiDAR
PDF
, Plant species richness responses to microtopography across a vernal pool complex revealed by UAV-LiDAR
Plant species richness patterns across vernal pool complexes are regulated by dynamic hydrologic processes, yet these controls remain difficult to quantify across space in ways that inform monitoring and conservation. In this study, we test whether microtopographic features can serve as proxies for hydrologic processes that shape plant species richness patterns. We evaluate this hypothesis by modeling relationships between unmanned aerial vehicle light detection and ranging (UAV-LiDAR)-derived microtopographic features and vascular, forb, and graminoid plant species richness across a vernal pool complex in central California, USA. We obtained plant assemblage data from surveys of 224 vernal pools in 2018 and 2019 and collected UAV-LiDAR data over the study area in 2020. We derived 11 features from UAV-LiDAR data and applied a recursive feature elimination procedure to optimize richness estimates. Poisson generalized linear models and a bootstrap cross-validation approach were used to construct species richness models for each plant functional type. Microtopographic features related to hydrologic connectivity, soil moisture gradients, and hydroperiod described substantial variation in vascular plant species richness patterns (median training
= 0.35, median validation
= 0.28) and were accurate to within 2–3 species per pool, consistent with similar ecological remote sensing efforts in tall prairie, salt meadow, and other grassland ecosystems. Forb richness, which disproportionately contribute to vascular plant richness, was highest in low-lying, hydrologically connected, and topographically uniform areas characteristic of vernal pools. Conversely, graminoid richness was higher at elevated, low-slope positions, such as mound tops across the mound–swale topography of the study area. These contrasting responses support the hypothesis that microtopography shapes hydrological niches favoring water-tolerant forbs in frequently inundated areas and graminoids in comparatively drier areas. Importantly, quantifying the link between microtopography and plant richness responses provides an ecologically grounded basis for managers to guide vernal pool conservation and restoration using microtopographic datasets.
The following article is
Open access
Detecting unvegetated permafrost-thaw features in Arctic tundra using imaging spectroscopy
F Tenorio
et al
2026
Environ. Res.: Ecology
015007
View article
, Detecting unvegetated permafrost-thaw features in Arctic tundra using imaging spectroscopy
PDF
, Detecting unvegetated permafrost-thaw features in Arctic tundra using imaging spectroscopy
Freeze-thaw cycles, hydrology, soil mixing, and permafrost degradation shape landscape patterns in permafrost regions, forming unvegetated or sparsely vegetated landforms with varied topography. These features, which we refer to as unvegetated thermokarst polygons, result from permafrost thaw and may play a critical role in Arctic greenhouse gas (GHG) dynamics by unlocking vast amounts of carbon stored in permafrost regions. However, their spatial extent remains uncertain due to their variable size (∼0.5–15 m) and the challenges of detecting them in heterogeneous landscapes such as polygonal tundra. This study assesses the extent of unvegetated thermokarst polygons near Utqiaġvik, Alaska, using imaging spectroscopy and lidar data with a 1 m spatial resolution from the National Ecological Observing Network airborne observation platform on the joint-basis of a linear spectral mixture analysis and lidar-based relief. Based on a confusion matrix evaluating threshold models of our analysis against field-based results, the model that performed with the greatest
1 score (0.63), with balanced precision (0.71) and recall (0.57), estimated a 9.55% cover of unvegetated thermokarst polygons, or 380 000 m
total area of unvegetated thermokarst polygons within the study extent. Ground truth data from 52 sites revealed that the spectral mixture model correctly mapped ∼81% of unvegetated thermokarst polygons. Our results highlight the challenges and potential of detecting unvegetated thermokarst polygons in complex Arctic landscapes with high-resolution remote sensing. Although these features currently cover a small area in the study site, their relevance may grow with increased landscape changes and GHG dynamics under warm conditions. Moreover, their extent could be greater in areas with more active permafrost degradation, emphasizing the need for detection methods to monitor these critical landforms.
The following article is
Open access
Enhancing soil carbon in solar farms through active land management: a systematic review of the available evidence
Fabio Carvalho
et al
2024
Environ. Res.: Ecology
042001
View article
, Enhancing soil carbon in solar farms through active land management: a systematic review of the available evidence
PDF
, Enhancing soil carbon in solar farms through active land management: a systematic review of the available evidence
Ground-mounted solar farms are becoming common features of agricultural landscapes worldwide in the move to meet internationally agreed Net Zero targets. In addition to offering low-carbon energy, solar farms in temperate environments can be purposely managed as grasslands that enhance soil carbon uptake to maximise their climate benefits and improve soil health. However, there is little evidence to date on the ecosystem effects of land use change for solar farms, including their impact on soil carbon storage and sequestration potential through land management practices. We review the latest evidence on the associations between grassland management options commonly adopted by solar farms in temperate regions (plant diversity manipulation, mowing, grazing, and nutrient addition) and soil carbon to identify appropriate land management practices that can enhance soil carbon within solar farms managed as grasslands. Soil carbon response to land management intervention is highly variable and context-dependent, but those most likely to enhance soil carbon accrual include organic nutrient addition (e.g. cattle slurry), low-to-moderate intensity sheep grazing, and the planting of legume and plant indicator species. Plant removal and long-term (years to decades) mineral fertilisation are the most likely to result in soil carbon loss over time. These results can inform policy and industry best practice to increase ecosystem service provision within solar farms and help them deliver net environmental benefits beyond low-carbon energy. Regular monitoring and data collection (preferably using standardised methods) will be needed to ensure soil carbon gains from land management practices, especially given the microclimatic and management conditions found within solar farms.
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Open access
Photochemical reactions and the self-depuration of sunlit freshwaters
Davide Vione 2023
Environ. Res.: Ecology
012001
View article
, Photochemical reactions and the self-depuration of sunlit freshwaters
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, Photochemical reactions and the self-depuration of sunlit freshwaters
Reactions induced by sunlight (direct photolysis and indirect photochemistry) are important ecosystem services that aid freshwater bodies in removing contaminants, although they may also exacerbate pollution in some cases. Without photoinduced reactions, pollution problems would be considerably worse overall. The photochemical reaction rates depend on seasonality, depth, water chemistry (which also significantly affects the reaction pathways), and pollutant photoreactivity. Photochemical reactions are also deeply impacted by less studied factors, including hydrology, water dynamics, and precipitation regimes, which are key to understanding the main impacts of climate change on surface-water photochemistry. Climate change is expected in many cases to both exacerbate freshwater pollution, and enhance photochemical decontamination. Therefore, photochemical knowledge will be essential to understand the future evolution of freshwater environments.
The following article is
Open access
Vegetation heterogeneity reflects soil thermal state and surface soil displacement in a thawing permafrost landscape
Farley et al
View accepted manuscript
, Vegetation heterogeneity reflects soil thermal state and surface soil displacement in a thawing permafrost landscape
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, Vegetation heterogeneity reflects soil thermal state and surface soil displacement in a thawing permafrost landscape
Thawing permafrost has the potential to dramatically alter the physical and ecological structure of northern landscapes. Warming of the Arctic and subsequent degradation of permafrost have created a need to assess the stability and movement of soils on hillslopes and the potential impacts on ecosystem structure. In this work, we explore the relationships among vegetation heterogeneity, soil temperature, and soil surface displacements observed from 2019 - 2022 in a watershed in the discontinuous permafrost region on the Seward Peninsula of Alaska. Vegetation heterogeneity was measured as the standard deviation (SD) of the normalized vegetation difference index (NDVI) from 3 m PlanetScope satellite imagery around each soil temperature and active layer thickness observation. Locations of observations were clustered into three soil thermal groups, warm, intermediate, and cold, based on soil temperature and active layer thickness. Average annual horizontal surface displacements were significantly lower for soils within the warm thermal group (median = 0.033 m yr-1) compared to soils within the cold thermal group (median = 0.090 m yr-1, p = < 0.001). Conversely, vegetation heterogeneity was significantly higher in the warm (median = 0.014 SD NDVI; p = 0.002) and intermediate (median = 0.015 SD NDVI; p = 0.002) groups compared with the cold thermal group (median = 0.012 SD NDVI), suggesting a warming-induced shift in vegetation community complexity. Because of the observed associations of ground surface displacement rates and vegetation heterogeneity with soil thermal state, we hypothesize that warming soil conditions induce changes in the rates and patterns of hillslope erosion due to an increase in surface movement as near-surface permafrost thaws, followed by a decrease as the permafrost table deepens and excess ice content diminishes. The transition to warm soils promotes surface ecosystem transformation, shifting the dominant vegetation at the site, given the warming climatic conditions of the region. We integrated our observations of soil temperature, vegetation heterogeneity, and soil surface displacements into a conceptual model that describes the co-evolution of hillslopes and vegetation in warming permafrost environments, which is currently unrepresented in earth system models.
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Open access
Nature based solutions in cities of the global South—The ‘where, who and how’ of implementation
Arvind Lakshmisha
et al
2024
Environ. Res.: Ecology
025005
View article
, Nature based solutions in cities of the global South—The ‘where, who and how’ of implementation
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, Nature based solutions in cities of the global South—The ‘where, who and how’ of implementation
Nature-based solutions have gained popularity as an approach to reduce the impacts of climate and environmental change, providing multi-fold and multi-sectoral benefits especially in cities. Yet there has been growing concern about their utility for cities of the Global South, a concern fuelled by the paucity of studies, including scientific peer reviewed and gray literature. In this paper, we contribute to this knowledge gap, based on an analysis of 120 case studies of NBS in Global South cities, documented in two databases (Urban Natural Atlas and Oppla). These cases fall largely under categories of blue and green infrastructure, with a few cases also focusing on grey infrastructure (in buildings or campuses). While most cases are in Asia, several have also been documented in Africa and Central/South America. Two-third of documented NBS cases are aligned towards either national, or lower-level (regional and local) policies indicating the importance of policy mechanisms for driving their implementation. Institutional arrangements are usually non-government, government or collaborative arrangements, with the goal of climate resilience, biodiversity support and ecosystem restoration—along with social goals of creating public spaces. However, when private players take on the mandate for NBS, they focus primarily on grey infrastructure (in buildings and campuses), primarily meant for private or employee benefits, and not for the public. In cases where public engagement is a stated priority, we find tokenistic approaches deployed, primarily seeking engagement through information dissemination and consultation predominate. Despite the stated importance for participation and engagement, only a few cases focused on empowerment and co-creation of NBS with local communities. We suggest that there is a greater need for documentation regarding the modes of participation especially on roles and levels of actors involved, to enrich our understanding of the impact of NBS on values of justice and equity in the cities of the global South.
The following article is
Open access
Assessing canopy height measurements from ICESat-2 and GEDI orbiting LiDAR across six different biomes with G-LiHT LiDAR
Qiuyan Yu
et al
2024
Environ. Res.: Ecology
025001
View article
, Assessing canopy height measurements from ICESat-2 and GEDI orbiting LiDAR across six different biomes with G-LiHT LiDAR
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, Assessing canopy height measurements from ICESat-2 and GEDI orbiting LiDAR across six different biomes with G-LiHT LiDAR
The height of woody plants is a defining characteristic of forest and shrubland ecosystems because height responds to climate, soil and disturbance history. Orbiting LiDAR instruments, Ice, Cloud and land Elevation Satellite-2 (ICESat-2) and Global Ecosystem Dynamics Investigation LiDAR (GEDI), can provide near-global datasets of plant height at plot-level resolution. We evaluate canopy height measurements from ICESat-2 and GEDI with high resolution airborne LiDAR in six study sites in different biomes from dryland shrub to tall forests, with mean canopy height across sites of 0.5–40 m. ICESat-2 and GEDI provide reliable estimates for the relative height with RMSE and mean absolute error (MAE) of 7.49 and 4.64 m (all measurements ICESat-2) and 6.52 and 4.08 m (all measurements GEDI) for 98th percentile relative heights. Both datasets slightly overestimate the height of short shrubs (1–2 m at 5 m reference height), underestimate that of tall trees (by 6–7 m at 40 m reference height) and are highly biased (>3 m) for reference height <5 m, perhaps because of the difficulty of distinguishing canopy from ground signals. Both ICESat-2 and GEDI height estimates were only weakly sensitive to canopy cover and terrain slope (
< 0.06) and had lower error for night compared to day samples (ICESat-2 RMSE night: 5.57 m, day: 6.82 m; GEDI RMSE night: 5.94 m, day: 7.03 m). For GEDI, the day versus night differences varied with differences in mean sample heights for the day and night samples and had little effect on bias. Accuracy of ICESat-2 and GEDI canopy heights varies among biomes, and the highest MAE was observed in the tallest, densest forest (GEDI: 7.85 m; ICESat-2: 7.84 m (night) and 12.83 m (day)). Improvements in canopy height estimation would come from better discrimination of canopy photons from background noise for ICESat-2 and improvements in the algorithm for decomposing ground and canopy returns for GEDI. Both would benefit from methods to distinguish outlier samples.
The following article is
Open access
Large-scale variation in phytoplankton community composition of >1000 lakes across the USA
Jolanda M H Verspagen
et al
2022
Environ. Res.: Ecology
015001
View article
, Large-scale variation in phytoplankton community composition of >1000 lakes across the USA
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, Large-scale variation in phytoplankton community composition of >1000 lakes across the USA
Although environmental impacts on the biodiversity and species composition of lakes have been studied in great detail at local and regional scales, unraveling the big picture of how lake communities respond to environmental variation across large spatial scales has received less attention. We performed a comprehensive analysis to assess how the phytoplankton community composition varies among >1000 lakes across the conterminous United States of America. Our results show that lake-to-lake similarity in species composition was low even at the local scale, and slightly decreased with geographical distance. Analysis of the compositional data by Dirichlet regression revealed that the geographical variation in phytoplankton community composition was best explained by total phosphorus (TP), water temperature, pH, and lake size. High TP concentrations were associated with high relative abundances of cyanobacteria and euglenophytes at the expense of other phytoplankton groups. High lake temperatures stimulated cyanobacteria, dinoflagellates, desmids and euglenophytes, whereas cryptophytes, golden algae and diatoms were relatively more abundant in colder lakes. Low lake pH correlated with high dissolved CO
concentrations, which may explain why it benefitted phytoplankton groups with inefficient carbon concentrating mechanisms such as golden algae and euglenophytes. Conversely, the relative abundance of cyanobacteria showed a pronounced increase with lake pH. Large lakes showed higher relative abundances of cyanobacteria and diatoms, whereas small lakes showed higher relative abundances of chlorophytes, desmids and euglenophytes. Biodiversity increased with lake temperature, but decreased at high TP concentrations and pH. The key environmental variables identified by our study (high phosphorus loads, warm temperature, low pH) are associated with anthropogenic pressures such as eutrophication, global warming and rising atmospheric CO
concentration. Hence, our results provide a comprehensive illustration of the major impact of these anthropogenic pressures on the biodiversity and taxonomic composition of lake phytoplankton communities.
The following article is
Open access
Does renewable energy consumption reduce energy ecological footprint: evidence from China
Yu Nan
et al
2023
Environ. Res.: Ecology
015003
View article
, Does renewable energy consumption reduce energy ecological footprint: evidence from China
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, Does renewable energy consumption reduce energy ecological footprint: evidence from China
The modern economic growth paradigm relies heavily on natural endowments. Renewable energy as a permanent energy source has the potential to reduce the ecological footprint (EF). We adopt the Vector Autoregressive model to examine the impact of renewable energy consumption on the energy EF and use the quantile regression method to test the heterogeneity and asymmetry between energy EF and photovoltaic, wind energy, and biomass energy. The results show that renewable energy has a long-term negative impact on the EF, and for every 1% increase in renewable energy consumption, the energy EF will decrease by 2.91%. The contribution of renewable energy consumption to reducing the EF is 1.34% on average. There is no two-way Granger causality between renewable energy consumption and energy EF. The reduction effect of wind energy consumption on the energy EF varies the most, followed by biomass energy and photovoltaic. In addition, under different energy EF distribution conditions, the impact of photovoltaic or wind energy or biomass energy consumption on the energy EF is different.
The following article is
Open access
Arboreal camera trapping reveals diel-vertical migrations in arboreal wildlife of the Peruvian Amazon rainforest
Arata Honda
et al
2025
Environ. Res.: Ecology
025003
View article
, Arboreal camera trapping reveals diel-vertical migrations in arboreal wildlife of the Peruvian Amazon rainforest
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, Arboreal camera trapping reveals diel-vertical migrations in arboreal wildlife of the Peruvian Amazon rainforest
Tropical forests harbor much of Earth’s biodiversity, with the ground to emergent canopy forming dynamic three-dimensional habitats. Arboreal and semi-arboreal species navigate the vertically heterogeneous environment, in temperature, light, predation risk, and resource availability, responding to further diel, lunar, and seasonal changes. While diel vertical migrations are well studied in aquatic systems, similar patterns in arboreal mammals and birds remain unclear. The roles of unique species vertical shifts in time in structuring tropical forest assemblages, the interaction of vertical stratification and temporal niche partitioning, is poorly understood. We investigate diel vertical behaviors in 31 species of arboreal mammals and birds in the Madre de Dios region of Peru using ground and canopy camera trapping surveys. We assess diel-vertical overlaps among sympatric species and examine relationships between dietary traits and vertical preference and selectivity. Our results reveal many unique patterns of vertical shifts, with many Primates and couple of Cracids descending from crepuscular canopy activity to lower strata at midday, while
Tamandua tetradactyla
descends from sunrise to sunset and
Choloepus hoffmanni
from before to after midnight.
Lagothrix lagothricha
and
Pithecia spp.
displayed peaks in upper canopy activity at midday, possibly due to ecological release from other primates. We find high diel-vertical overlap between sympatric species pairs, suggesting niche partitioning may involve finer-scale spatial and temporal adjustments rather than strict vertical segregation. We also find patterns of lunar cycle-related shifts in vertical activity for
Tamandua tertradactyla, Choloepus hoffmanii
and
Aotus nigriceps
. Diet-related patterns in mammals indicate carnivores favor lower heights, frugivores prefer higher strata, and invertivores are more vertically variable. These findings challenge static views of vertical stratification, emphasizing the need for a framework integrating temporal and spatial variability in the vertical environment and its many biotic agents. Better understanding these vertical dynamics may be valuable for predicting arboreal species and community responses in their warming, fragmenting and increasingly peri-urban habitats.
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Open access
Mapping global threats to seagrass meadows reveals opportunities for conservation
Benjamin L H Jones
et al
2025
Environ. Res.: Ecology
025005
View article
, Mapping global threats to seagrass meadows reveals opportunities for conservation
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, Mapping global threats to seagrass meadows reveals opportunities for conservation
Numerous global maps chart humanities impact on multiple levels of biodiversity, revealing a multitude of pressures across a variety of ecological systems. While useful for identifying the global scale policy changes needed to conserve the world’s biodiversity, they often lack resolution at the scale needed for local management and conservation. While we can broadly speculate the key large-scale drivers that have influenced seagrass populations over the last century, no global map exists that reveals the range and scale of human pressures on seagrass meadows. Using a citizen science database (
) that comprises of more than 8000 georeferenced points, we use a subset of these map the prevalence of multiple, locally observed anthropogenic threats to seagrass meadows. We find that 50% of human-impacted sites were within areas with designated protection, reflecting 4.4% of the world’s marine protected areas and other effective area-based conservation measures where anthropogenic activities place seagrass at risk. Using vulnerability scores for each human impact, we identify high-risk sites in Columbia, Fiji, Indonesia, Mexico, Mozambique, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, and Tanzania, where multiple pressures likely place seagrass meadows on a trajectory of decline. In doing so, we build on a growing body of research highlighting the vulnerability of coastal ecosystems to human impacts, and at the same time, highlight the role of citizen science in identifying and mapping these threats at the resolution needed for management.
The following article is
Open access
Assessing the impact of afforestation as a natural climate solution in the Canadian boreal
Francois du Toit
et al
2024
Environ. Res.: Ecology
035004
View article
, Assessing the impact of afforestation as a natural climate solution in the Canadian boreal
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, Assessing the impact of afforestation as a natural climate solution in the Canadian boreal
Natural climate solutions (NCSs) are conservation, restoration, and improved land management actions that have potential to provide climate mitigation across different land cover types. NCS related to forests offer a significant portion of cost-effective NCS mitigation required to limit warming to below 2 °C. Afforestation—planting trees in areas where forests can occur but does not currently exist has been proposed as a viable NCS. Here, we examine how long-term, medium resolution satellite datasets and physiological growth models can be used to inform potential carbon accumulation from forest afforestation. We leverage free and open Landsat-derived datasets to examine potential increases in aboveground biomass (AGB) and tons of CO
equivalent (CO
e) that afforestation may provide by 2050 in the Canadian boreal. We utilized contemporary Landsat-scale definitions of land cover, forest age, and species datasets to identify opportunities for new forest growth in areas previously unforested across study sites. These datasets, along with terrain and climate, were used as inputs for the 3-PG physiological growth model, which converts solar radiation into net primary productivity on a monthly time-step, and was parameterized for key natural species to simulate forest growth and carbon accumulation under three different future climate scenarios. We compared these new fine-scale, climate-adapted estimates with previous findings. The amount of CO
e sequestered per hectare per year increased with increasing CO
emissions (4.0%–12.4% more carbon). Using a reference area, the fertilized simulation sequestered 24.38 Tg CO
e yr
−1
in 2050 compared to 24.9 Tg CO
e yr
−1
proposed in other research under the warmest scenario. The use of physiological models linked to satellite data to support NCS calculations, particularly for unforested areas, is a new application. The results highlight the potential for 3-PG to be used to estimate AGB and provide valuable information for the performance of NCS under a changing climate.
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Open access
Global forests are influenced by the legacies of past inter-annual temperature variability
Winslow D Hansen
et al
2022
Environ. Res.: Ecology
011001
View article
, Global forests are influenced by the legacies of past inter-annual temperature variability
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, Global forests are influenced by the legacies of past inter-annual temperature variability
Inter-annual climate variability (hereafter climate variability) is increasing in many forested regions due to climate change. This variability could have larger near-term impacts on forests than decadal shifts in mean climate, but how forests will respond remains poorly resolved, particularly at broad scales. Individual trees, and even forest communities, often have traits and ecological strategies—the legacies of exposure to past variable conditions—that confer tolerance to subsequent climate variability. However, whether local legacies also shape global forest responses is unknown. Our objective was to assess how past and current climate variability influences global forest productivity. We hypothesized that forests exposed to large climate variability in the past would better tolerate current climate variability than forests for which past climate was relatively stable. We used historical (1950–1969) and contemporary (2000–2019) temperature, precipitation, and vapor pressure deficit (VPD) and the remotely sensed enhanced vegetation index (EVI) to quantify how historical and contemporary climate variability relate to patterns of contemporary forest productivity. Consistent with our hypothesis, forests exposed to large temperature variability in the past were more tolerant of contemporary temperature variability than forests where past temperatures were less variable. Forests were 19-fold times less sensitive to contemporary temperature variability where historical inter-annual temperature variability was 0.66 °C (two standard deviations) greater than the global average historical temperature variability. We also found that larger increases in temperature variability between the two study periods often eroded the tolerance conferred by the legacy effects of historical temperature variability. However, the hypothesis was not supported in the case of precipitation and VPD variability, potentially due to physiological tradeoffs inherent in how trees cope with dry conditions. We conclude that the sensitivity of forest productivity to imminent increases in temperature variability may be partially predictable based on the legacies of past conditions.
The following article is
Open access
Enhancing soil carbon in solar farms through active land management: a systematic review of the available evidence
Fabio Carvalho
et al
2024
Environ. Res.: Ecology
042001
View article
, Enhancing soil carbon in solar farms through active land management: a systematic review of the available evidence
PDF
, Enhancing soil carbon in solar farms through active land management: a systematic review of the available evidence
Ground-mounted solar farms are becoming common features of agricultural landscapes worldwide in the move to meet internationally agreed Net Zero targets. In addition to offering low-carbon energy, solar farms in temperate environments can be purposely managed as grasslands that enhance soil carbon uptake to maximise their climate benefits and improve soil health. However, there is little evidence to date on the ecosystem effects of land use change for solar farms, including their impact on soil carbon storage and sequestration potential through land management practices. We review the latest evidence on the associations between grassland management options commonly adopted by solar farms in temperate regions (plant diversity manipulation, mowing, grazing, and nutrient addition) and soil carbon to identify appropriate land management practices that can enhance soil carbon within solar farms managed as grasslands. Soil carbon response to land management intervention is highly variable and context-dependent, but those most likely to enhance soil carbon accrual include organic nutrient addition (e.g. cattle slurry), low-to-moderate intensity sheep grazing, and the planting of legume and plant indicator species. Plant removal and long-term (years to decades) mineral fertilisation are the most likely to result in soil carbon loss over time. These results can inform policy and industry best practice to increase ecosystem service provision within solar farms and help them deliver net environmental benefits beyond low-carbon energy. Regular monitoring and data collection (preferably using standardised methods) will be needed to ensure soil carbon gains from land management practices, especially given the microclimatic and management conditions found within solar farms.
The following article is
Open access
Social and environmental outcomes of urban street tree bed stewardship
Kelly Baldwin Heid
et al
2024
Environ. Res.: Ecology
035005
View article
, Social and environmental outcomes of urban street tree bed stewardship
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, Social and environmental outcomes of urban street tree bed stewardship
As projections of exponential urbanization persist, promoting the health of urban populations is one of the most urgent and challenging issues of the 21st century. By taking a planetary health approach and considering the reciprocal relationship between human health and the health of ecosystems, the integration of nature-based solutions into cities can address multiple urban challenges at once. Citizen stewardship of street trees and street tree beds is one such nature-based solution that challenges rapid urbanization while offering a healthier and greener future. Not only does citizen stewardship of street trees play a significant role in tree longevity, but our research suggests that the process of stewardship itself also positively impacts the health and wellbeing of stewards themselves. In this study, we sought to assess the motivations of street tree citizen stewards and the perceived social, environmental, and health effects of stewarding street tree beds in Freiburg, Germany. Based on a questionnaire-based survey and semi-structured interviews with tree stewards, we found that the most common motivations of citizen stewards were modeling positive environmental behavior as well as a desire to help the environment and one’s community. The perceived outcomes included a strong sense of place, a meaningful connection to nature, and the belief that stewarding a street tree bed is good for one’s mental health as well as the environment. Participants also considered street tree beds to be their personal gardens, suggesting that street tree beds may serve as restorative spaces that strengthen public health and social capital while sustaining urban greening. This case study supports and expands the scientific discourse of urban gardening while suggesting that citizen stewardship of street trees and tree beds offers myriad co-benefits for urban ecosystems and public health.
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Journal information
2022-present
Environmental Research: Ecology
doi: 10.1088/issn.2752-664X
Online ISSN: 2752-664X