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Background: In Italy, malaria was endemic until the 1970s, when it was declared eradicated by WHO. Nowadays, with the persistence of competent mosquito populations, the effect of climate change, and increased possibility of importing malaria parasites from endemic counties due to growing migration, a malaria resurgence in Italy has become more likely. Hence, enhancing the understanding of the current distribution of the Anopheles maculipennis complex and the factors that influence the presence of this malaria vector is crucial, especially in Northern Italy, characterised by a high density of both human population and livestock. Methods: To assess the presence and abundance of malaria vectors, a 4-year field survey in the plain areas of Lombardy and Emilia-Romagna region in Italy was conducted. Every sampling point was characterised in space by the land use in a 500-m radius and in time considering meteorological data collected in the short and long time periods before sampling. We combined the results of a linear regression model with a random forest analysis to understand the relative importance of the investigated niche dimensions in determining Anopheles mosquito presence and abundance. Results: The estimated normalised variable importance indicates that rice fields were the most important land use class explaining the presence of Anopheles, followed by transitional woodlands and shrubland. Farm buildings were the third variable in terms of importance, likely because of the presence of animal shelters, followed by urbanised land. The two most important meteorological variables influencing the abundance of Anopheles in our study area were mean temperature in the 24 h before the sampling date and the sum of degree-days with temperature between 18 °C and 30 °C in the 14 days before the sampling date. Conclusions: The results obtained in this study could be helpful in predicting the risk of autochthonous malaria transmission, based on local information on land cover classes that might facilitate the presence of malaria vectors and presence of short- and medium-term meteorological conditions favourable to mosquito development and activity. The results can support the design of vector control measures through environmental management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study endeavors to produce a comprehensive land cover map for Morocco, addressing the absence of such a detailed map in the country. Our research encompasses ecological and climatic aspects specific to Morocco, while the methods used can be adapted to various regions and countries, considering their unique climatic conditions and land cover types. A combination of MODIS and Landsat datasets was employed to create a 5 km resolution Land Use and Land Cover (LULC) map for the entire nation. The process involved the aggregation and advanced processing of these datasets using surface processes algorithms. The resulting LULC map is the first of its kind for Morocco, shedding light on land cover distribution nationwide. It shows that approximately 13.5% of the country is covered by forests, predominantly in the Atlas and Rif mountains, Rabat–Sale, and the southern regions. Grasslands occupy over 16% of the study area, mainly in the north-east and west. Urban areas, including major cities like Casablanca, Rabat, and Marrakech, span nearly 3400 km². Moreover, large areas of shrublands and bare lands are evident across the country, while agricultural lands account for almost 20% of the national territory, mainly in the interior plains and north-western Atlantic coast. This study forms a crucial basis for ecological and climatic research in Morocco and serves as a valuable reference for various disciplines such as agriculture, natural resource management, and climate modeling. The mapping of biophysical parameters for each land cover class is a key feature of our research, and these parameters will be instrumental in a subsequent study examining the impact of urban development on surface climate in Morocco. Overall, our study underscores the importance of understanding biophysical parameters in addressing environmental and societal challenges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Population growth and environmental shifts have elevated the pressure on land use and cover (LULC), necessitating vital management and adaptive strategies to preserve the balance between ecosystem services and human well-being in watersheds. It's pivotal to understand the implications of human-induced shifts from natural to human-dominated surroundings This study utilized Google Earth Engine (GEE) to analyze 31 years of LULC changes in Letaba watershed. Using GEE's random forest, LULC classes were mapped with 93% to 99% accuracy across four timeframes (1990, 2000, 2010, and 2021). Trends revealed declining water bodies (-4%), bare surfaces (-2%), natural forest (-3%), and grassland (-3%), while shrublands, plantations, and built-up areas increased at annual rates of 41%, 24%, and 47% respectively. This transformation reflects population-driven shifts, necessitating adaptive strategies. Given the importance of plantations for income, embracing climate-smart agriculture could ensure long-term food and environmental security, thus addressing the evolving dynamics in Letaba watershed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• DOM molecular compositions in multi-interface runoffs were quantified by FT-ICR MS. • Soil-epikarst structures controlled the DOM quantity and molecular compositions. • High microbially-derived carbon was detected in epikarst flow. • Flow rate and discharge effected DOM quantity and quality during runoff process. • Soil thicknesses affected runoff DOM dynamics by impacting hydrological processes. Understanding the chemical composition, origin, and molecular structure of dissolved organic matter (DOM) in multi-interface runoff is essential for comprehending the fate of laterally transported DOM in complex soil-epikarst systems of karst hillslopes. Limited information, however, is available for the optical properties and molecular compositions of the transported OM in multiple runoff components on the karst hillslope in relation to land-uses and soil thicknesses. In this study, we conducted a study to observe the changes in the quantity and quality of DOM in multiple interface flow (surface, subsurface, and epikarst) during natural rainfall events in 2022 in karst hillslopes that are covered by different land uses (cropland and shrubland) and soil thicknesses (with mean depths of 66.0 cm for deeper soil and 35.4 cm for shallower soil) in the karst region of southwest China. chemcial compositions of runoff DOM were determined by optical analysis and microbial compositions in runoff were inferred with high-throughput sequencing. The results showed that the soil-epikarst structure was controlling the runoff DOM quantity and quality during rainfall events. A decrease in the aromaticity, humification, unsaturation, and oxidation degree and an increase in carbohydrate, aminosugars, protein, and lipid compounds were found from surface to epikarst flow, indicating that plant-and soil-derived carbon decreased, while the microbially-derived carbon increased. The results were further comfirmed by the higher bacterial richness and diversity, along with fungal diversity in the epikarst flow compared to other runoff components. The bio-labile protein materials (C2) were the most important component of runoff DOM output in karst hillslopes. In surface and subsurface flow, rainfall amount, runoff rate, and discharge significantly affected the DOM concentration and quality during rainfalls, indicating that the dynamics of DOM in runoff from karst hillslopes were predominantly influenced by hydrological processes. Furthermore, the runoff DOM quality in cropland was dominated by lower unsaturation and oxidation degrees and higher protein component, compared to those in shrubland. The compositions of DOM in runoff from hillslope plots with thicker soils were primarily characterized by microbially-derived materials. Our findings were conducive to understanding the mechanism governing the migration of DOM quality and quantity in discharge during multi-interface hydrological processes on karst hillslopes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Spatiotemporal DSL variation and associated forcings were explored at a semi-humid catchment. • Land use type was the dominant control on DSL variation at a catchment scale. • DSL response to meteorological factors differed between the semiarid and semi-humid catchments. • The mixed "forest/shrubland + grass" plantation type is recommended for the semi-humid catchment. The formation of dried soil layers (DSLs) is a broad consequence of climate change (i.e., through temperature increases and/or precipitation decreases) and poor land management practices, where these layers exist has severe negative effects (i.e., retardation of vegetation, negative water cycle balance) on the sustainability of restored ecosystems and health of agriculture. Because of the effort and time required, only sporadic in situ measurements on spatial and temporal DSL variation have been reported, particularly at a catchment scale. However, this information is essential for understanding mechanisms associated with evolutionary DSL processes as well as developing effective land management techniques. Accordingly, this study monitored soil water content to a 5 m depth over a 5-year period in a semi-humid catchment on the Loess Plateau while also investigating temporal DSL dynamics and dominant controls. In the semi-humid catchment, DSLs occurred at 90.7 % of all sampling sites. Spatially and temporally averaged DSL formation depth (DSLFD), DSL thickness (DSLT), and DSL soil water content (DSL-SWC) within the 0–5 m profile were 170 cm, 262 cm, and 9.52 %, respectively. Forest and shrubland DSL regimes were drier than those of grassland. These three DSL indices exhibited significant correlation with temperature variables, while only DSLFD variables significantly correlated to precipitation. Land use type was the predominant control of DSL variation at a catchment scale. A spatial DSLT variation comparison under different land use treatment positions determined the feasibility of planting grass at an upslope position and mixed forest/shrubland + grass at mid-slope and downslope positions in the semi-humid catchment, which provides a good case study for afforestation practices at a catchment scale. Findings from this study are intended to aid in catchment soil and water conservation, soil drought mitigation, and sustainable vegetation management practices on the Loess Plateau as well as other water-limited regions worldwide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

When the grassland ecosystem is under investigation, soil quality indexes (SQIs) are constructed to evaluate soil quality substantially, especially in desert grasslands and other ecologically fragile areas. This research used the total dataset (TDS), minimum dataset (MDS), approaches dealing with selecting better indexes, and scoring methods utilizing linear and nonlinear expressions to assess the typical desert grasslands in Yanchi County, Ningxia, China. The utilization of four different lands such as forestland (FL), shrubland (SL), natural restoration grassland (GL), and abandoned farmland (AL) in the study area were researched. Physical, chemical, and biological indicators, a total number of twenty, were measured. Principal component analysis and norm values were used to select indicators based on the MDS. The results suggested that nine soil indicators, namely, soil water content (WC), total soil porosity (TP), percentage of soil sand (sand), percentage of soil clay (clay); soil organic carbon (SOC), total nitrogen (TN), available nitrogen (AN), urease activity (UA), and catalase activity (CA) were selected for the MDS. The distribution of the SQI in the types of land use was similar concerning the two evaluation methods. The nonlinear scoring method utilizing the MDS was found the most proper to compute the SQI since the maximum F statistics, coefficient of variation (CV), and correlation results are obtained. The SQI outcomes that were ranked concerning the types of land use were found to be shrubland (SL) > natural restoration grassland (GL) > abandoned farmland (AL) > forestland (FL). In the four types of soil, shrub afforestation can be used as a beneficial ecological measure to restore the soil quality of typical desert grasslands in the research area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Resilience—the capacity of an ecosystem to recover from disturbance—is a popular concept but quantitative empirical studies are still uncommon. This lack of empirical evidence is especially true for semi‐arid ecosystems in the face of the combined and often confounding impacts of land use and climate changes.We designed a methodology to disentangle vegetation responses to land‐use exclusion and weather variability, and piloted it at the southern extreme of the Gran Chaco forest, the most extensive seasonally dry forest in South America. We established 16 pairs of neighbouring fenced and unfenced plots in four ecosystem types resulting from different long‐term land‐use regimes under the same climate and on highly similar soil parental material. From lower to higher land‐use intensity, related with logging and livestock grazing and trampling, these types were: primary forest (no land use in the last 50 years), secondary forest, closed species‐rich shrubland and open shrubland. In each plot we monitored plant species composition during the first 5 years following land‐use exclusion, and evaluated the resilience as the rate of change of vegetation towards the primary forest, considered as the reference ecosystem.We found that during the first 5 years of exclusion and despite the high rainfall, only grass cover in the secondary forest showed positive resilience (recovery towards the reference ecosystem). The rest of the variables in the other ecosystem types showed either no significant change (null resilience) or even transitioned away from the reference state (negative resilience).Synthesis. The lack of detectable recovery after 5 years of exclusion suggests that (a) long‐term land use, even at lower intensities, has affected the sources of resilience of this ecosystem; (b) rainy periods do not necessarily speed up recovery as suggested in the literature; and (c) study designs should incorporate the variation of the reference ecosystem in order to differentiate the effect of land use from other factors in a context of climate change. Although still confined to the early post‐disturbance stages, our findings suggest that recovery of these systems may be slower and more complicated than predicted in the literature on the basis of space‐for‐time substitutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Land use and land cover change (LULCC) impacts local and regional climates through various biogeophysical processes. Accurate representation of land surface parameters in land surface models (LSMs) is essential to accurately predict these LULCC-induced climate signals. In this work, we test the applicability of the default Noah, Noah-MP, and Community Land Model (CLM) LSMs in the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model over Sub-Saharan Africa. We find that the default WRF LSMs do not accurately represent surface albedo, leaf area index, and surface roughness in this region due to various flawed assumptions, including the treatment of the MODIS woody savanna land use and land cover (LULC) category as closed shrubland. Consequently, we developed a WRF CLM version with more accurate African land surface parameters (CLM-AF), designed such that it can be used to evaluate the influence of LULCC. We evaluate meteorological performance for the default LSMs and CLM-AF against observational datasets, gridded products, and satellite estimates. Further, we conduct LULCC experiments with each LSM to determine if differences in land surface parameters impact the LULCC-induced climate responses. Despite clear deficiencies in surface parameters, all LSMs reasonably capture the spatial pattern and magnitude of near-surface temperature and precipitation. However, in the LULCC experiments, inaccuracies in the default LSMs result in illogical localized temperature and precipitation changes. Differences in thermal changes between Noah-MP and CLM-AF indicate that the temperature impacts from LULCC are dependent on the sensitivity of evapotranspiration to LULCC in Sub-Saharan Africa. Errors in land surface parameters indicate that the default WRF LSMs considered are not suitable for LULCC experiments in tropical or Southern Hemisphere regions and that proficient meteorological model performance can mask these issues. We find CLM-AF to be suitable for use in Sub-Saharan Africa LULCC studies, but more work is needed by the WRF community to improve its applicability to other tropical and Southern Hemisphere climates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Changes in land use type can lead to variations in soil water characteristics. The objective of this study was to identify the responses of soil water holding capacity (SWHC) and soil water availability (SWA) to land use type (grassland, shrubland and forestland). The soil water characteristic curve describes the relationship between gravimetric water content and soil suction. We measured the soil water characteristic parameters representing SWHC and SWA, which we derived from soil water characteristic curves, in the 0–50 cm soil layer at sites representing three land use types in the Ziwuling forest region, located in the central part of the Loess Plateau, China. Our results showed that the SWHC was higher at the woodland site than the grassland and shrubland, and there was no significant difference between the latter two sites, the trend of SWA was similar to the SWHC. From grassland to woodland, the soil physical properties in the 0–50 cm soil layer partially improved, BD was significantly higher at the grassland site than at the shrubland and woodland sites, the clay and silt contents decreased significantly from grassland to shrubland to woodland and sand content showed the opposite pattern, the soil porosity was higher in the shrubland and woodland than that in the grassland, the soil physical properties across the 0–50 cm soil layer improved. Soil texture, porosity and bulk density were the key factors affecting SWHC and SWA. The results of this study provide insight into the effects of vegetation restoration on local hydrological resources and can inform soil water management and land use planning on the Chinese Loess Plateau. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Land-use types, seasons, slope position significantly affected SOC and SWC. • Revegetation increased SWS consumption and SOC accumulation. • There was a positive linear relationship between SOC and SWC. • Planting grass and shrubs is recommended in the semi-arid hilly and gully regions. Understanding the response of soil organic carbon (SOC) and moisture to different land-use types, slope positions, seasonal variations, and their interactions has great significance for land use and management. However, the coupling effects of SOC and soil moisture in typical hilly and gully regions are still elusive. Therefore, in this study, five different land-use types, including cropland, abandoned land, grassland, shrubland, and forestland were selected in a typical Chinese loess hilly-gully region, and soil samples were collected from 0 to 200 cm profiles at the upper, middle, and lower slope positions in four seasons. The results demonstrated that the distributions of SOC and soil moisture were jointly significantly affected by land-use types, seasons, and slope positions (P < 0.01). Average SOC content was found to be highest in the shrubland, followed by grassland, abandoned land, forestland, and cropland. SOC storage at the lower slope position was 10.97% higher than that at the upper slope position. SOC storage in winter was 45.47% higher than that in summer. SOC storages of abandoned land, grassland, shrubland, and forestland were 17.38%, 33.08%, 52.52% and 1.26% more than that of cropland, respectively. Soil moisture fluctuated greatly in 0–100 cm layers and was stable beneath the 100 cm layers, which was highest in autumn, and lowest in summer. Whereas, under different land-use types, the soil moisture of cropland was the highest, especially significantly higher than all revegetated treatments in the 60–200 cm soil layers. Compared with cropland, soil water storage at other land-use types was averagely 36.45 % lower in the entire 200 cm soil profile. SOC was positively correlated with soil moisture under different factors. Thus, we recommend planting shrub and grass in watersheds with serious soil erosion in the semi-arid hilly and gully region, because they can sequestrate more SOC and retain more soil water. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The combined records of two 20th-century observers (Martin Bourgoin and Julian Ford) of Night Parrots Pezoporus occidentalis at permanent springs on the Ethel River amount to more published records of this elusive bird over a longer timespan (1912–1964) than anywhere else in Western Australia. Likely Night Parrot habitats persisting in the Ethel River area in 2019–2020 include extensive areas of mature Limestone Spinifex Triodia wiseana with other native perennial grasses, hard spinifex on sandplains, patchy perennial tussock grasses on minor floodplains and chenopod shrublands including perennial saltbush. We evaluate these habitats for their past uses and likely continuing changes that might have affected Night Parrots. With a mine under construction upstream in the sub-catchment headwaters and indications that the species is not extinct in the district, there is an urgent need to raise awareness of a uniquely important area and to survey the area for the species. Monitoring and coordinating protective measures across intersecting land uses is likely to improve the future of rare permanent springs and sensitive habitats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Land use and land cover change (LULCC) impacts local and regional climates through various biogeophysical processes. Accurate representation of land surface parameters in land surface models (LSMs) is essential to accurately predict these LULCC-induced climate signals. In this work, we test the applicability of the default Noah, Noah-MP, and CLM LSMs in the Weather Research and Forecasting Model (WRF) over Sub-Saharan Africa. We find that the default WRF LSMs do not accurately represent surface albedo, leaf area index, and surface roughness in this region due to various flawed assumptions, including the treatment of the MODIS woody savanna LULC category as closed shrubland. Consequently, we developed a WRF CLM version with more accurate African land surface parameters (CLM-AF), designed such that it can be used to evaluate the influence of LULCC. We evaluate meteorological performance for the default LSMs and CLM-AF against observational datasets, gridded products, and satellite estimates. Further, we conduct LULCC experiments with each LSM to determine if differences in land surface parameters impact the LULCC-induced climate signals. Despite clear deficiencies in surface parameters, all LSMs reasonably capture the spatial pattern and magnitude of near surface temperature and precipitation. However in the LULCC experiments, inaccuracies in the default LSMs result in illogical localized temperature and precipitation climate signals. Differences in thermal climate signals between Noah-MP and CLM-AF indicate that the temperature impacts from LULCC are dependent on the sensitivity of evapotranspiration to LULCC in Sub-Saharan Africa. Errors in land surface parameters indicate that the default WRF LSMs considered are not suitable for LULCC experiments in tropical or Southern Hemisphere regions, and that proficient meteorological model performance can mask these issues. We find CLM-AF to be suitable for use in Sub-Saharan Africa LULCC studies, but more work is needed by the WRF community to improve its applicability to other tropical and Southern Hemisphere climates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A comprehensive understanding of the relationship between land cover, climate change and disturbance dynamics is needed to inform scenarios of vegetation change on the African continent. Although significant advances have been made, large uncertainties exist in projections of future biodiversity and ecosystem change for the world's largest tropical landmass. To better illustrate the effects of climate–disturbance–ecosystem interactions on continental‐scale vegetation change, we apply a novel statistical multivariate envelope approach to subfossil pollen data and climate model outputs (TraCE‐21ka). We target paleoenvironmental records across continental Africa, from the African Humid Period (AHP: ca 14 700–5500 yr BP) – an interval of spatially and temporally variable hydroclimatic conditions – until recent times, to improve our understanding of overarching vegetation trends and to compare changes between forest and grassy biomes (savanna and grassland). Our results suggest that although climate variability was the dominant driver of change, forest and grassy biomes responded asymmetrically: 1) the climatic envelope of grassy biomes expanded, or persisted in increasingly diverse climatic conditions, during the second half of the AHP whilst that of forest did not; 2) forest retreat occurred much more slowly during the mid to late Holocene compared to the early AHP forest expansion; and 3) as forest and grassy biomes diverged during the second half of the AHP, their ecological relationship (envelope overlap) fundamentally changed. Based on these asymmetries and associated changes in human land use, we propose and discuss three hypotheses about the influence of anthropogenic disturbance on continental‐scale vegetation change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Land use-induced land cover change (LUCC) is an important anthropogenic driving force of global change that has influenced, and is still influencing, many aspects of regional and global environments. Accurate historical global land use/cover datasets are essential for a better understanding of the impacts of LUCC on global change. However, there are not only evident inconsistencies in current historical global land use/cover datasets, but inaccuracies in the data in these global dataset revealed by historical record-based reconstructed regional data throughout the world. A focus in historical LUCC and global change research relates to how the accuracy of historical global land cover datasets can be improved. A methodology for assessing the credibility of existing historical global land cover datasets that addresses temporal as well as spatial changes in the amount and distribution of land cover is therefore needed. Theoretically, the credibility of a global land cover dataset could be assessed by comparing similarities or differences in the data according to actual land cover data (the "true value"). However, it is extremely difficult to obtain historical evidence for assessing the credibility of historical global land cover datasets, which cannot be verified through field sampling like contemporary global land cover datasets. We proposed a methodological framework for assessing the credibility of global land cover datasets. Considering the types and characteristics of the available evidence used for assessments, we outlined four methodological approaches: (1) accuracy assessment based on regional quantitative reconstructed land cover data, (2) rationality assessment based on regional historical facts, (3) rationality assessment based on expertise, and (4) likelihood assessment based on the consistency of multiple datasets. These methods were illustrated through five case studies of credibility assessments of historical cropland cover data. This framework can also be applied in assessments of other land cover types, such as forest and grassland. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previously, applications of intensity analysis (IA) on land use and land cover change (LULCC) studies have focused on deviations from uniform intensity (UI) and failed to quantify the reasons behind these deviations. This study presents the application of IA with hypothetical errors that could explain non-uniform LULCC in the context of IA at four-time points. LULCC in the Ashi watershed was examined using Landsat images from 1990, 2000, 2010 and 2014 showing the classes: Urban, water, agriculture, close canopy, open canopy and other vegetation. Matrices were created to statistically examine LULCC using IA. The results reveal that the seeming LULCC intensities are not uniform with respect to the interval, category and transition levels of IA. Error analysis indicates that, hypothetical errors in 13%, 19% and 11.2% of the 2000, 2010 and 2014 maps respectively could account for all differences between the observed gain intensities and the UI; while errors in 12%, 21%, and 11% of the 1990, 2000 and 2010 maps respectively could account for all differences between the observed loss intensities and the UI. A hypothetical error in 0.6% and 1.6% of the 1990 map; 1.5% and 4% of the 2000 map; 1.2% and 2.1% of the 2010 map could explain divergences from uniform transitions given URB gain and AGR gain during 1990–2000, 2000–2010 and 2010–2014 respectively. Evidence for a specific deviation from the relevant hypothesized UI is either strong or weak depending on the size of these errors. We recommend that users of IA concept consider assessing their map errors, since limited ground information on past time point data exist. These errors will indicate strength of evidence for deviations and reveals patterns that increase researcher's insight on LULCC processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The critically endangered and iconic plains-wanderer (Pedionomus torquatus) is phylogenetically distinct and endemic to south eastern Australia, and is a high conservation priority. Furthermore, it relies on critically-endangered native grasslands for its survival, which vary temporally in structure and hence do not always provide suitable habitat. To manage the remaining native grasslands appropriately, it is essential to understand the temporal and spatial dynamics of plains-wanderer habitat preferences. We monitored plains-wanderers and habitat measurements for nine years to link habitat preferences to specific elements of grassland structure. We also observed habitat selection by plains-wanderers at two spatial scales – sites (paddocks) and at microsites (immediate vicinity of the birds). The plains-wanderer population declined rapidly after a dramatic increase in native grass cover in 2011, and recovery of the population since then has been slow. In 2015/16, plains-wanderers were generally encountered at microsites with higher bare ground and cryptogam cover. However, at the site scale, paddocks with plains-wanderers had similar cover of native grass and bare ground than those without plains-wanderers. The results suggest that observation of highly-localised habitat components alone may mask aspects of the habitat selection occurring at larger spatial scales. Plains-wanderers may require areas of denser perennial grass for nesting and shelter, as well as access to the open areas where they are commonly encountered. We discuss how private land used for commercial grazing may be crucial to plains-wanderer conservation. The results also prompt consideration of how we measure and interpret habitat selection for grassland birds globally. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present study, the effect of land use land cover information on the simulation of seasonal planetary boundary layer (PBL) flow‐field variables over the Singapore region is analysed using the Advanced Research Weather Research and Forecasting (ARW) mesoscale model. The results achieved are compared using the standard ARW Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (ARW‐MODIS) global land cover data and a regional land cover map produced at the Centre for Remote Imaging, Sensing and Processing (ARW‐CRISP), Singapore. The high‐resolution simulations are conducted with triple‐nested domains (horizontal grid spacing 27, 9 and 3 km) and 51 unequally spaced vertical sigma levels. The evolution of PBL variables and rainfall are modelled for four seasons (northeast monsoon season, first inter‐monsoon period, southwest monsoon season and second inter‐monsoon period). For the purpose of numerical simulations, 30 days in each season were considered and the model‐simulated variables were validated with in situ available meteorological observations and rainfall at four stations over Singapore. The simulation results highlight the broad variation of the low‐level flow‐field in different seasons. The ARW mesoscale model simulated diurnal trends in surface meteorological variables and rainfall are in better agreement with observations by using the ARW‐CRISP regional land cover map compared to ARW‐MODIS global land cover data. Stronger winds are found during monsoon seasons compared with inter‐monsoon periods. Overall, the results of the present study indicate that regional level air quality monitoring and prediction capabilities around Singapore can be improved by using up‐to‐date land cover products designed to take into account regional land cover characteristics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Wetland loss and degradation threaten biodiversity to an extent greater than most ecosystems. Science‐supported responses require understanding of interacting effects of land use and climate change on wetland biodiversity. Location: Alberta, Canada. Methods: We evaluated how current climate, climate change (as a ghost of the past), land use and wetland water quality relate to aquatic macroinvertebrates and birds. Results: Climatic relationships and climate–land use interactions were observed on chironomid abundance, but not macroinvertebrate taxa richness (MTR) or odonate abundance, which responded to land use and water chemistry. Chironomid abundance was positively associated with cropland and negatively associated with total precipitation. Higher cropland cover and dissolved organic carbon synergistically interacted with total precipitation to affect chironomids. MTR was negatively related to salinity, yet greater area of non‐woody riparian vegetation attenuated salinity effects on MTR. Odonate abundance was negatively related to total phosphorus. Higher grassland cover also increased the negative relationship of total phosphorous to odonate abundance. Climatic relationships and climate–land use interactions were observed on bird species richness (BSR) and abundance of several bird functional groups. Higher BSR and abundances of several bird groups were positively related to average rainfall and greater warming temperatures over time. Area of non‐crop cover and wetlands was positively associated with most bird groups and BSR. Warming temperatures over time ameliorated the negative relationship of higher cropland or less shrubland on aerial insectivores and other bird groups. Main conclusions: Climate patterns and climate change are as important as land use pressures with stronger impacts on birds. Climate change was more influential than current climate and provided novel empirical evidence that progressively warmer, wetter conditions is benefiting some bird groups, including aerial insectivores, a group of conservation concern. Riparian vegetation ameliorated the negative impacts of climate and water quality gradients on MTR and could mitigate global change impacts in agricultural systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

After the year 2010, a century of rapid decline in Philippine forest cover was reversed due to a deliberate National Greening Program (NGP). Drivers that can sustain or counter this increase can be better investigated through the help of land change models. However, such models are not yet in mainstream use for planning in the Philippines. Hence, this study used two models – FOREST-SAGE and GEOMOD – to simulate forest conditions based on anthropogenic drivers and to evaluate model applicability in the Philippines. The performance of each model was assessed using the root-mean-square error (RMSE), mean absolute error (MAE), Kappa, national average tree cover percentage, and common deforestation hotspots with reference datasets. Validation with Climate Change Initiative Land Cover dataset (CCI-LC) yielded similar results between the models: 2015 tree cover maps with RMSE of 22–25% tree cover, MAE of 10–12% tree cover, and moderate agreement with reference map based on Kappa (0.4–0.6); and 2010–2015 change maps with RMSE of 8–9% tree cover, MAE of 1–2% tree cover, and agreement due to chance based on Kappa (0.01–0.03). Validation with MODerate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer-Vegetation Continuous Field (MODIS-VCF) maps yielded similar MAE results (10% tree cover) between the models. Validating FOREST-SAGE end-time and change maps with MODIS-VCF yielded better RMSE results than GEOMOD (RMSE of 13% tree cover for FOREST-SAGE; 22% tree cover for GEOMOD). However, GEOMOD tree cover maps yielded better Kappa than FOREST-SAGE (0.60 for GEOMOD; 0.01 for FOREST-SAGE). Results suggest that FOREST-SAGE is more applicable in the Philippines for provincial extent studies that aim to quantitively track forest cover change, while GEOMOD is more applicable for national extent studies that use categorical data. Results also suggest that input parameter settings must be improved to simulate spatial distribution of forest cover. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We conducted a quantitative assessment of forage biomass in Harshin district to determine its annual productive potential, carrying capacity, and stocking rates. The dominant Land Use and Land Cover include woodland (35.5%), shrubs (28.3%), grassland (10.6%), and bare land (25.5%). The region has browse‐rich shrubland that is edible to dromedary and goats, as well as massive grassland plains for sheep and cattle. The interannual rainfall variation is 16.5% which implies that the rangeland is a subsistence equilibrium system. The range of forage production is between 105 and 2,310 kg/ha, whereas the average productivity of the district is 742.6 kg/ha. The result indicates that the average carrying capacity of the district is 0.3 TLU ha−1 year−1 (4.9 ha TLU−1 year−1) while the existing stocking rate is 5.4 TLU ha−1 year−1 (0.18 ha TLU−1 year−1). This implies that the grazing intensity in the district is much higher than its carrying capacity (recommended rate), which has seen overstocking or grazing pressure excesses of 5.1 TLU/ha (7.2 cattle/ha). Thus, it clearly signals the risk of overgrazing in the district. If this trend continues, the grazing will not be sustainable and there will be shortage of forage as well as expansion of land degradation (due to overgrazing) in the near future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A microgravity investigation on bedrock topography was conducted at Maluri park reference level in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The study aim to mapping the near-surface structure and soil and land cover distribution for geography and geophysics surveys. Two types of crosssection modeling of the residual anomaly generated the MaluriBouguer Anomaly model for site-1 and site-2 at Maluri Park. The 2D microgravity models produced the contour map, displaying the characterization due to density contrast in rock types while mapping the subsurface geological structure at different depths. Moreover, a synthetic model was initiated with the assumption of lateral distance on the left and right sides taken at 50 m and a depth of 60 m. The results of modeling confirmed that the soil and rock type composition on both models site tests are topsoil (1.1 to 1.92 g/cm³), soil (1.8 g/cm³), clay (1.63 g/cm³), gravel (1.7 g/cm³), sand (2.0 g/cm³), shale (2.4 g/cm³), sandstone (2.76 g/cm³), and limestone (2.9 g/cm³). The 2D gravity modeling using two model site tests obtained a correspondence with the observed microgravity data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Land cover information at national or regional scale is essential for science, monitoring, reporting, and policy making. CORINE Land Cover (CLC) is the most consistent land cover map for the entire European territory, with four repetitions during the period 1985–2012. The long-term consistency of CLC maps is the most appreciated strength and it should be guaranteed. Beyond some common general guidelines, the mapping approaches used in individual countries differ and change over time, leading to inconsistencies that should be known and reported. Through a series of metrics over the Spanish CLC most recent layers (CLC2006 and CLC2012) and comparisons with eight other countries CLC statistics, we demonstrate that the methodological changes recently implemented have introduced some discrepancies with previous CLC versions. The most affected classes in Spain were transitional woodland-shrub, complex cultivation patterns, artificial, grasslands, and forests. Users should be aware of the important implications these discrepancies may have in land use and land cover change studies, trend analysis, and reports. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the Greater Cape Floristic Region (GCFR) of South Africa, afrotemperate forest islands persist within a broader landscape of Mediterranean-type fynbos shrubland. The co-existence of these contrasting vegetation types in the same climate space suggests interactions between broad-scale climatic parameters and localised variables (notably local disturbance regimes and catchment hydrology). In this study, palaeoecological data from a fynbos-forest boundary were used to assess the effects of interactions between changes in climate, fire and land use on vegetation dynamics and biome resilience at millennial timescales. Fossil pollen, spores and charcoal were extracted from radiocarbon-dated sediment cores to provide proxies for vegetation, hydrology, large herbivore abundance and fire. Constrained hierarchical clustering (CONISS) was applied to the fossil data to identify distinct vegetation assemblages in the palaeoecological record, and to further elucidate ecosystem trajectories through time. Regional palaeoenvironmental data are also referred to in inferring local and regional environmental changes. We expected to find shifts between fynbos and forest alternate stable states associated with changes in fire and rainfall. More specifically, we anticipated fynbos expansion during drier periods and/or those with more fire, and forest expansion during wetter and/or less fire prone periods. However, the fossil pollen data reveal remarkable stability of the fynbos-forest ecotone over the past 3000 years, despite significant changes in climate, fire and land-use. We found resilience of fynbos was enhanced through internal dynamics, namely, a shift from grassy, fire-prone fynbos in warmer, less seasonal time periods with less summer drought stress, to proteoid fynbos with less frequent fire during times of greater summer drought stress. The emergent properties of the respective fynbos types offset physiological advantages to forest species afforded by changes in the fire-free interval and abundant abiotic resource supply, inhibiting invasion of the former biome by the latter. We suggest these mechanisms require further investigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The relationship between landscape pattern and drought/flood intensity was studied. • The key landscape metrics were identified by correlation analysis and RDA at seven grid sizes. • Landscape pattern affecting drought/flood intensity vary across land use types and patterns. • Suitable landscape pattern was suggested for alleviating drought/flood intensity. Although land use has proved to have substantial impacts on extreme weather, it is still unknown whether its mosaic or configuration, i.e., landscape pattern, has such effects. Inner Mongolia in northern China (latitudes 40–48° N), a flat plateau with almost uniform altitude (1 km a.s.l.), has diverse landscape patterns formed by various land uses. It is a desirable area to explore the above issues. The landscape pattern of Inner Mongolia in 2000, 2005, 2010 and 2015 was analyzed by GIS techniques, and drought and flood intensity data were collected in the same years. Correlations between landscape pattern and drought/flood events were examined at grain extents of 200, 600, 1000, 1500, 2000, 2500 and 3000 m. Overall, patch metrics of woodland and waters significantly negatively related with drought intensity, those of cropland mostly positively related with flood, grassland metrics positively related with flood and negatively with drought, bareland demonstrated a non-significant relation. Urban metrics were mainly positively related with both disasters. Based on these findings, a landscape pattern contains woodland patches with less patch number, complex shape, and moderate core area, grasslands with moderate core area, complex shape and even spatial distribution, croplands with high patch number and core area with simple patch shape, companying with the large number of shrub and water patches, is suggested as the most suitable landscape pattern for reducing the possibility of drought/flood intensity in arid and semiarid regions in the world. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Increased drought frequency and intensity and agricultural intensification have been key stressors to ecological systems over the past century. Biological proxies (e.g., pollen, tree rings) have been used to track this environmental change; however, linking these changes to the ecology of organisms remains challenging. Here, we link historical drought records to conditions of high water-stress in grassland habitats through the stable isotope analysis of California vole museum specimens (Microtus californicus). Using museum collections spanning 118-years (1891–2009), isotope values of dated hair tissues were associated with statewide drought metrics on the Palmer Drought Severity Index. We observed a positive correlation between δ15N and δ18O values and drought severity. The range in δ15N values (~ 18‰) is greater than what would be expected as a result of dietary shifts across the landscape (~ 3‰), and is likely attributed to the combined effects of physiological responses of M. californicus and isotopic shifts in plant resources with increased water-stress. Geospatial patterns in δ34S values of hair tissues reflect higher baseline isotope values in coastal habitats. However, comparably high δ34S values in the southern-most inland localities suggest sulfur fertilization of croplands and subsequent transfer to surrounding grassland habitats in 34S enriched forms. A broad δ13C range (− 28.7 to − 14.3‰) further suggests the consumption of C3 and C4 plant-based dietary proteins. As shown here, stable isotope analysis of museum collections can provide a climate and land use record based on the physiological performance and ecology of a study species in a region affected intensely by anthropogenic activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Changes in climate and land use are modifying biodiversity worldwide. Yet it remains unclear how both drivers interact to structure communities and determine patterns in taxonomic, phylogenetic and functional diversity at local scales. We focused on bird diversity and asked: how do precipitation and forest cover gradients interactively structure these elements of avian diversity? Location: Guanacaste, North‐western Costa Rica. Methods: We quantified changes in the abundance and composition of bird communities along independent gradients of regional precipitation, local forest cover and landscape forest cover that serve as proxies for climate drying and habitat conversion. We conducted point counts at 150 sites and statistically accounted for imperfect detection to test how environmental variation shaped community‐wide diversity metrics. Results: We found that the three dimensions of diversity diverged in their responses to environmental gradients. Specifically, species richness increased linearly with precipitation, reached maximum values with intermediate tree cover at local scales and peaked at high levels of landscape tree cover. While phylogenetic diversity did not vary strongly across any gradient, functional diversity increased monotonically with both local and landscape‐level tree cover. Maximum values of functional diversity only occurred in large patches of forest where the tree cover was >75% at both local and landscape scales. Contrary to our expectations, we did not detect significant interactions between precipitation and tree cover gradients on any metric of local bird diversity. Main conclusions: Our findings suggest that taxonomic diversity was more sensitive to environmental gradients than functional and phylogenetic diversity. The lack of synergies between precipitation and forest cover gradients on alpha diversity, at least in this system, simplifies the prospects of predicting future biodiversity change at local scales as our results suggest that climate change and land use act independently of one another. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Land surface area estimation can provide basic information for accurately estimating vegetation carbon storage under complex terrain. This study selected China, a country dominated by mountains, as an example, and calculated terrestrial vegetation carbon storage (VCS) for 2000 and 2015 using land surface area and traditional ellipsoid area. The land surface area is estimated by a triangular network on the high precision digital elevation model. The results showed that: 1) The VCS estimated by the surface area measurement in 2000 and 2015 were 0.676 and 0.692 Pg C (1 Pg = 1015 g) higher than the VCS calculated using the ellipsoid area, respectively. 2) As the elevation increases, the differences between VCS estimated by surface area measurement and ellipsoid area measurement are expanding. Specially, a clear gap was present starting from an elevation of 500 m, with the relative error exceeds 8.99%. 3) The total amount of carbon emitted due to land use change reached 0.114 Pg C. The conversions of forestland and grassland to other land use type are the main reasons of the loss of vegetation carbon storage, resulting in a total amount of biomass carbon storage decreased by 0.942 and 0.111 Pg C, respectively. This study was a preliminary exploration of incorporating land surface area as a factor in resource estimation, which can help more accurately understand the status of resources and the environment in the region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model is used to quantify the effects of land use and cover change (LUCC) on the near-surface wind speed (SWS). The simulated results show that the SWS based on land use cover data for the 2010s (LUC10) is lower than that based on land use cover data for the 1980s (LUC80) by a difference of 0.17 m s−1; the LUCC effects also result in a decrease of 9.0% of the probability of strong wind. The LUCC effects induce significant alteration of the roughness length, causing changes in the drag coefficient and friction velocity, and thereby decrease SWS. A 0.1 m increase in roughness length could cause a 0.003 increase in drag coefficient and a 0.015 m s−1 increase in friction velocity. The contributions of LUCC to the SWS changes vary among different regions. The increase of SWS in Northeastern China is caused by the changes from deciduous broadleaf to deciduous needleleaf forests, mixed forests and croplands, and these changes decrease the surface roughness length, drag coefficient and friction velocity. The significant decrease of SWS over the middle reaches of the Yangtze River is induced by the changes from closed shrubland and cropland/natural vegetation mosaic to evergreen broadleaf and deciduous broadleaf forest. The slowdown of SWS over the Shandong Peninsula, the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei region, the Yangtze River Delta, and the Pearl River Delta can be attributed to the extension of urban and built-up areas and the decrease of croplands and the cropland/natural vegetation mosaic. The slowdown in SWS caused by LUCC is also revealed by the friction wind model (FWM); however, the FWM presented more significant effects of LUCC on decrease in SWS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We aimed to assess haemosporidian prevalence and parasitaemia in the American Kestrel (Falco sparverius) in relation to land use (i.e. small villages < 1000 inhabitants, agricultural areas, scrubland) and season (spring–summer vs. fall–winter), and to evaluate the correlation between parasitaemia and kestrel body mass in the southern Chihuahuan Desert, Central Mexico. The entire sample comprised 59 American Kestrels captured during 2015 and 2016, of which 35 were male and 24 female. We recorded one haemosporidian morphospecies, Haemoproteus tinnunculi, and one novel haemosporidian lineage (FALSPA01). The sample prevalence was 32.2% (95% confidence interval 20–42%, n = 19 parasitized individuals). Prevalence did not differ between seasons (Fisher's exact test P = 0.78), but was higher in villages, intermediate in agricultural areas, and lower in moderately degraded scrubland. Kestrel body mass decreased as parasitaemia increased. Our results suggest that, among infected individuals, only kestrels in better condition are able to maintain parasitaemia at a low level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simulation modelling is a useful method for the explanation and prediction of land use and land cover changes, which are fundamentally interconnected with broader social and natural elements. Significant land cover changes, predominantly land abandonment, occurred in peripheral rural areas across Central and Eastern Europe after the collapse of socialism. One such area is Požega-Slavonia County in Croatia, for which we modelled land cover changes from 1985 to 2027. The prevailing change from 1985 to 2013 was secondary succession. The simulation model of future land cover changes was based on cellular automata and artificial neural networks, and was implemented in the MOLUSCE plugin for QGIS. Validation of the test models showed that they more successfully predicted the quantity (rather than the location) of the changes, and the post-simulation combination of individual results slightly improved their agreement with reference data. The final model predicted that forests would cover over 60% of the whole area by 2027 if the current negative demographic and economic trends continue into the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • GlobeLand30 maps show gross land change from 2000 to 2010 on 9.8% of Asia. • Difference Components reveal gross change is 4.4 times larger than net change. • Grass has largest loss; Barren has largest gain; Shrub has most intense changes. • Artificial's gain targets Cultivated; Cultivated's gain targets Artificial. • Researchers need error assessment concerning temporal change for GlobeLand30. Abstract This article uses the GlobeLand30 maps of land cover to characterize the difference between years 2000 and 2010 in Asia. Methods of Intensity Analysis and Difference Components dissect the transition matrix for nine categories: Barren, Grass, Cultivated, Forest, Shrub, Water, Artificial, Wetland and Ice. Results show that Barren, Grass, Cultivated, and Forest each account for more than 21% of Asia at both 2000 and 2010, while transitions among those four categories account for more than half of the temporal difference. Nearly ten percent of Asia shows overall temporal difference, which is the sum of three components: quantity, exchange and shift. Quantity accounts for less than a quarter of the temporal difference, while exchange accounts for three quarters of the temporal difference. The largest quantity components at the category level are a net gain of Barren and net losses of Grass and Shrub. Shrub demonstrates the most intensive loss and gain relative to a category's size. The largest and most intensive transitions to Barren are from Grass and Shrub. The largest and most intensive transition to Artificial is from Cultivated. Error information is not available for GlobeLand30 concerning 2000 or temporal change, but a confusion matrix is available for the global extent at 2010. This article applies methods to interpret the difference between two time points when a confusion matrix is available for only the latter time point. If the 2010 global confusion matrix reflects errors in Asia, then such errors could help to explain some of the gross gain of Barren and the counter-intuitive loss of Artificial. If the GlobeLand30 data indicate true change, then gross change in Asia is 4.4 times larger than net change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract The impact of land use/land cover and climate change on the hydrology are global issues affecting the whole catchment of the river basin. The main objective of this study was to investigate runoff response to land use/land cover change in Aynalem catchment, located in Tigray regional state, northern Ethiopia. The study analyzed the historical land cover changes from 1995 to 2015 that have taken place in the catchment and its effect on the runoff of the catchment. The land cover changes within the catchment were examined through classification of satellite images with integrated use of ERDAS Imagine (Version 9.2) and ArcGIS software. Land cover change analysis between the periods of 1995 and 2015 has shown that the urban area has increased from 1.39% to 7.50%, Cropland from 54.03% to 65.69% and Water bodies from 0.14% to 0.42%, while Planted Forest area has decreased from 3.61% to 2.92%, Grassland 2.22%–1.90% and Open Shrub lands from 38.61% to 21.53%. Further, Water and Energy Transfer between Soil, Plants, and Atmosphere (WetSpa) model was used to investigate the runoff response to a land cover change on the study area. The model was calibrated (1994–1998) and validated (1999–2001) against the observed daily stream flow data. WetSpa model parameters sensitivity analysis result shown that the groundwater recession coefficient (Kg), Initial active groundwater storage (Go) and Surface runoff exponent (K_run) are the most sensitive parameters affecting the hydrology of the catchment. The WetSpa model application in Aynalem catchment performances very good in reproducing the hydrological process of the catchment with coefficient of determination (R2), Nash and Sutcliff efficiency (NSE) values of 0.82 and 0.90 for calibration, 0.78 and 0.88 for validation, respectively. The WetSpa model application with land useland cover maps of 1995, 2003 and 2015 shows annual runoff increased by 21.1% from the year of 1995–2003 and 23.5% from 2003 to 2015 and also, 44.6% from 1995 to 2015. The increment in runoff is likely to have been caused by the change of the land use/land cover from shrubs and grass lands to urban and cultivated lands. Highlights • Built-up area and cropland increased on the expense of planted forest and grassland. • WetSpa model performed well and can be used for runoff estimation in the catchment. • Annual surface runoff increased in response to land use/landcover changes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Land use and land cover change (LUCC) is not only a vital form of global change, but through biogeophysical and biogeochemical mechanisms, it also has a strong impact on the global and regional climate and environment change. The existing historical LUCC datasets still have many uncertainties that cause errors in climate and environment simulations. Reconstruction of historical LUCC on the regional scale is essential for improving the precision of global and national LUCC. In this study, we combined existing datasets with historical statistics and survey data to reconstruct cropland change in North China Plain Area over the past 300 years. Following systematic steps, a range of original methods from data sources and methods comparison, data re-calibration, time slices selection, data supplement, to cropland area fraction calculation were used. The cropland area at the county level was allocated into grid cells of 10 km × 10 km so as to achieve a high spatial resolution and precision. The results show that the cropland area change in North China Plain Area can be classified into two main stages: steady increase before 1954 and rapid decrease after 1954. The spatial distribution of cropland change over the past 300 years corresponded to the patterns of the total cropland change in North China Plain Area. From the late 17th century to the 1980s, the cropland area fraction in the plains increased and the cropland expanded to the hilly and coastal areas gradually. After that, the cropland area fraction in the plains decreased, especially in the southeastern of North China Plain Area. The total cropland area in North China Plain Area of our study is close to the results of most previous studies but the maps generated based on our dataset present local difference of cropland distribution more clearly than a recent important global dataset HYDE3.2. Our dataset of cropland area at 10 km × 10 km grid scale can also be used directly in climate and environment simulations to improve the data precision in North China Plain Area. Highlights • The cropland dataset at 10 km × 10 km grid scale in North China Plain Area was produced. • The cropland increased steadily before 1954 and decreased rapidly after 1954. • The change in the number of counties with high cropland area fraction corresponds to the change in the total cropland area. • Our total cropland area data are close to most of the results of other studies. • Regarding the spatial distribution of cropland, our study shows local difference more clearly than HYDE3.2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Net primary production (NPP) supplies matter, energy, and services to facilitate the sustainable development of human society and ecosystem. The response mechanism of NPP to land use and climate changes is essential for food security and biodiversity conservation but lacks a comprehensive understanding, especially in arid and semi‐arid regions. To this end, taking the middle‐reaches of the Heihe River Basin (MHRB) as an example, we uncovered the NPP responses to land use and climate changes by integrating multisource data (e.g., MOD17A3 NPP, land use, temperature, and precipitation) and multiple methods. The results showed that (a) land use intensity (LUI) increased, and climate warming and wetting promoted NPP. From 2000 to 2014, the LUI, temperature, and precipitation of MHRB increased by 1.46, 0.58°C, and 15.76 mm, respectively, resulting in an increase of 14.62 gC/m2 in annual average NPP. (b) The conversion of low‐yield cropland to forest and grassland increased NPP. Although the widespread conversion of unused land and grassland to cropland boosted both LUI and NPP, it was not conducive to ecosystem sustainability and stability due to huge water consumption and human‐appropriated NPP. Urban sprawl occupied cropland, forest, and grassland and reduced NPP. (c) Increase in temperature and precipitation generally improved NPP. The temperature decreasing <1.2°C also promoted the NPP of hardy vegetation due to the simultaneous precipitation increase. However, warming‐induced water stress compromised the NPP in arid sparse grassland and deserts. Cropland had greater NPP and NPP increase than natural vegetation due to the irrigation, fertilizers, and other artificial inputs it received. The decrease in both temperature and precipitation generally reduced NPP, but the NPP in the well‐protection or less‐disturbance areas still increased slightly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Land cover change (LCC) is an important part of global change study and sustainable development research. Accurately describing the process of land surface change at the national scale is a necessary step in the study of the relationship between man and nature. The analysis of land cover change of Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), a hot developing country of concern to the international community, will be a key point to lay a foundation for the sustainable utilization of land resources and ecological environment protection in Northeast Asia and cross-boundary region of China. In this study, Landsat TM/OLI images of DPRK in 1990 and 2015 were used to extract the information of land cover by using object-based images analysis (OBIA) and some statistical data were used to analyze the driving forces of land use change in DPRK. The results showed that forestland (-4976.1 km2) and cropland (+4821.5 km2) were the most obviously changed land cover of DPRK in the 25 years. Wetland decreased by 212.2 km2, while built-up land increased by 82.8 km2. Among various land cover changes of DPRK, the expansion of cropland converted mainly from montane forest (94.6%) were essential and fast. The conversion between forestland and cropland significantly occured in sloping fields with relatively high elevations (100-1000 m) and intermediate slope gradients (8°-35°). In the meantime, the changed area of wetland and built-up land were mainly found at lower elevation (0-100 m and 0-200 m) areas which were nearly flat (0-8° ). North Hwanghae, with a change rate of 17.3%, was the most obviously changed district, followed by South Pyongan. Land cover change of Ryanggang was least apparent with a change rate of 2.2%. DPRK has been suffering from the economic downturn and worsening natural environment since the 1990s, and its land cover changes were influenced mostly by human factors such as the growth of population, the deterioration of economic environment and the regulation of national macropolicy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A land use/land cover map is an important input for different applications. However, the accuracy of land cover maps remains a great uncertainty and mapping accuracy assessment is not well-documented. The objective of this paper is to examine the relationship between overall accuracy and the number of classification classes by conducting a literature review of land cover/land use studies. The results revealed a weak negative correlation between the map's accuracy and the number of classes. The paper suggests a decrease of 0.77% map's overall accuracy with respect to the increase of 1 land cover class. The average overall accuracy produced by 05 sensor types does not show the big difference. In addition, high spatial resolution sensor such as Airborne might not be always advantageous for producing high overall accuracy map since its accuracy depends on several factors including the number of land cover classes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rural depopulation, abandonment of traditional land uses and decrease of extensive stockfarming is accelerating shrub encroachment in mountain areas. In NW Spain, gorse ( Ulex gallii Planch.) is expanding, developing dense shrublands that accumulate high fuel-loads, ignite easily and persist during long periods as alternate stable states. Under this scenario, traditional bush-to-bush farming fires are being replaced by high fuel-load burnings performed by specialised teams to reduce fuels and promote mosaic landscapes. This research analyses the effects on soil function and nitrogen (N)-cycling of these new generation of prescribed fires practiced under similar conditions to traditional fires (winter time, moist soils), but differing in the biomass and the continuity of the surface burnt. The results showed significant changes in N-cycle parameters, such as increases in inorganic N and dissolved organic nitrogen (DON), but declines in N microbial biomass and urease activity. At the ecosystem level, potential N losses were high because the pulse of water-soluble forms, DON and nitrate, following fire overlaps with periods of low biological N retention by microorganisms and plants. Although most effects were similar to those observed in traditional burnings done in the same region, the primary concern is the high potential for DON losses following prescribed burning in highly gorse-encroached areas. In N-limited ecosystems, a crucial issue is to attain an equilibrium between frequent burnings, which may prevent an optimal recovery of the soil function, and uneven burnings, which burn high amounts of accumulated fuel and increase the risk of removing large quantities of dissolved N from the ecosystem in a unique fire event. Overall, the use of different techniques combined with fire are needed to promote and consolidate desired changes in dense gorse lands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ecosystemic fragmentation developed in the area of study that integrates part of the Sumapaz moorland is correlated with anthropic factors. Therefore, the main objective of this study was to identify the degree of human intervention through the analysis of land use and determine the highly impactful activities in order to propose sustainable tourism routes as an option for economic development of the inhabitants and thus contribute to the mitigation of environmental degradation. The process was carried out using remote sensors, field visits and interaction with the community. The identification of activities highly transformative and impacting were obtained and evidenced in the map of classification of vegetative covers and the result was contrasted with the official map of the Agustín Codazzi Geographical Institute of the year 1999 for verification. Despite of the time difference of correlation, this is the basis for the validation. As a result, the final map was generated with at least eight initial points for the creation of runners that could contribute to the environmental preservation and diversification of the peasant economy in this area with high environmental value. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Land use changes are often considered to be the main factors influencing soil infiltration. But the difference of soil infiltration capacity for different land use type is less clear. In this paper, we conduct a meta-analysis of all 42 papers that could be found associated with the effects of land use changes on soil infiltration capacity. The results showed that soil initial and steady infiltration rates increased after land use changes from grassland to forest (+41.35%, /), shrubland to forest (+42.73%, /) and cropland to agroforestry (+70.28%, +84.17%). Soil infiltration rates declined after land use changes from grassland to cropland (/, −45.23%), shrubland to cropland (−64.24%, /) and forest to cropland (−53.58%, −42.15%). It was evident that soil infiltration rates were negatively related to soil bulk density and initial moisture and positively related to soil total porosity and organic matter content. In sum, establishing agroforestry ecosystem was beneficial to improve soil infiltration capacity compare to cropland and plantation, which has important implications for developing sustainable agriculture and forest from the viewpoint of soil and water conservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The importance of competition in low productive habitats is still debated. Studies which simultaneously evaluate preemption of resources and consequences for population dynamics are needed for a comprehensive view of competitive outcomes. We cultivated two emblematic species of European heathlands (Calluna vulgaris and Molinia caerulea) in a nursery for 2 years at two fertility levels, reproducing the productivity gradient found in phosphorus (P)-depleted heathlands in southwest France. The second year, we planted Ulex europaeus seedlings, a ubiquitous heathland species, under the cover of the two species to evaluate its ability to regenerate. Half of the seedlings were placed in tubes for exclusion of competitor roots. We measured the development of the competitors aboveground and belowground and their interception of resources (light, water, inorganic P). Ulex seedlings’ growth and survival were also measured. Our results on resources interception were consistent with species distribution in heathlands. Molinia, which dominates rich heathlands, was the strongest competitor for light and water in the rich soil. Calluna, which dominates poor heathlands, increased its root allocation in the poor soil, decreasing water and inorganic P availability. However, the impact of total competition and root competition on Ulex seedlings decreased in the poor soil. Other mechanisms, especially decrease of water stress under neighbouring plant cover, appeared to have more influence on the seedlings’ response. We found no formal contradiction between Tilman and Grime’s theories. Root competition has a primary role in acquisition of soil resources in poor habitats. However, the importance of competition decreases with decreasing fertility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fixed dunes are indicators of successful recovery of desertified land after several years of vegetation restoration. Land use profoundly influences soil properties; however, the effects of changes in land use, after the dunes are fixed, on soil physical, chemical and microbial biomass properties are still unclear. This study investigates the soil physical and chemical properties and soil microbial biomass in a desertified land located in the Xiaojihan desertification control station in northern Shaanxi province, where land use changed from shrub land to arboreal land, arable land and nursery garden. No significant changes in soil properties were found when shrubland was changed to arboreal land. However, changing the fixed desertified land from shrub land to arable land and nursery garden decreased soil porosity, but significantly increased soil bulk density (BD), soil organic matter (SOM), cation exchange capacity (CEC), total nitrogen (TN) and available nutrients (N, P, K). Soil microbial biomass carbon (MBC), nitrogen (MBN) and phosphorus (MBP), as well as microbial quotient (MBC/SOC, MBN/TN, MBP/TP), decreased significantly. No significant changes were detected in soil texture, total phosphorus (TP) and total potassium (TK). Results of this study indicated that agricultural land use can improve the fertility of fixed desertified land; however, soil microbial biomass could decrease. Therefore, conversion of fixed dunes to agricultural usage is full of risks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alternaria spores are a common component of the bioaerosol. Many Alternaria species are plant pathogens, and their conidia are catalogued as important aeroallergens. Several aerobiological studies showing a strong relationship between concentrations of airborne spore and meteorological parameters have consequently been developed. However, the Alternaria airborne load variation has not been thoroughly investigated because it is difficult to assess their sources, as they are a very common and widely established phytopathogen. The objective of this study is to estimate the impact of vegetation and land uses as potential sources on airborne spore load and to know their influence, particularly, in cases of long-medium distance transport. The daily airborne spore concentration was studied over a 5-year period in León and Valladolid, two localities of Castilla y León (Spain), with differences in their bioclimatic and land use aspects. Moreover, the land use analysis carried out within a 30 km radius of each monitoring station was combined with air mass data in order to search for potential emission sources. The results showed a great spatial variation between the two areas, which are relatively close to each other. The fact that the spore concentrations recorded in Valladolid were higher than those in León was owing to prevailing winds originating from large areas covered by cereal crops, especially during the harvest period. However, the prevailing winds in León came from areas dominated by forest and shrubland, which explains the low airborne spore load, since the main Alternaria sources were the grasslands located next to the trap. Furthermore, the risk days in this location presented an unusual wind direction. This study reveals the importance of land cover and wind speed and direction data for establishing potential airborne routes of spore transport in order to improve the Alternaria forecasting models. The importance of conducting Alternaria aerobiological studies at a local level is also highlighted. [Display omitted] • There is a great spatial variation in Alternaria airborne load between nearby areas. • The analysis of land use around each trap is crucial to explain spore variation. • High frequencies of low wind speeds from Alternaria sources cause high spore levels. • Cereal crops and grasslands are the most important Alternaria emission sources. • Harvest season with favorable spore transport conditions is the period of greatest risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Multiple runoff components in a soil-epikarst system were directly monitored. • Critical zone structure exerted more evident influence on carbon loss than land uses. • Thicker soils with less undulating soil-epikarst contact facilitated carbon loss. • Artificial forage grasslands reduced carbon loss. In karst hillslopes, the soil-epikarst system is not only the main reservoir of soluble carbon, but also the hot spots of hydrological and biogeochemical processes. However, the soluble carbon loss mechanism through various runoff components occurring in the soil-epikarst system is not clear. We hypothesize that the karst critical zone structure determines the runoff and soluble carbon loss, and that these response processes can be regulated by land use. 12 experimental plots on a typical karst hillslope (each with 5 × 20 m projected area) of four land uses (naturally recovered shrubland, forage grassland, economic forest land, and cropland) were intensively instrumented for separately monitoring surface, subsurface, and epikarst seepage runoffs and their dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) concentration. Results show that economic forest land had the highest total runoff and soluble carbon loss, followed by cropland, naturally recovered shrubland, and forage grassland. Generally, karst critical zone structure was the most important factors for controlling DOC and DIC loss through surface, subsurface, and epikarst seepage runoffs. Critical zones with thicker soil and less undulating soil-epikarst contact were more susceptible to runoff and soluble carbon loss. Although not as important as critical zone structures, land use can effectively regulate runoff and prevent soluble carbon loss by affecting rainfall partitioning in karst hillslopes. Planting forage grassland is an effective method of reducing carbon loss, due to its remarkable ability of reducing runoff in the soil-epikarst systems. Our results provide useful insights for determining appropriate land uses and optimizing soil and water conservation strategies in karst hillslopes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change, alteration of atmospheric composition, land abandonment in some areas and land use intensification in others, wildfires and biological invasions threaten forests, shrublands and pastures all over the world. However, the impacts of the combinations between global change factors are not well understood despite its pressing importance. Here we posit that reviewing global change factors combination in an exemplary region can highlight the necessary aspects in order to better understand the challenges we face, warning about the consequences, and showing the challenges ahead of us. The forests, shrublands and pastures of the Mediterranean Basin are an ideal scenario for the study of these combinations due to its spatial and temporal heterogeneity, increasing and diverse human population and the historical legacy of land use transformations. The combination of multiple global change factors in the Basin shows different ecological effects. Some interactions alter the effects of a single factor, as drought enhances or decreases the effects of atmospheric components on plant ecophysiology. Several interactions generate new impacts: drought and land use changes, among others, alter water resources and lead to land degradation, vegetation regeneration decline, and expansion of forest diseases. Finally, different factors can occur alone or simultaneously leading to further increases in the risk of fires and biological invasions. The transitional nature of the Basin between temperate and arid climates involves a risk of irreversible ecosystem change towards more arid states. However, combinations between factors lead to unpredictable ecosystem alteration that goes beyond the particular consequences of drought. Complex global change scenarios should be studied in the Mediterranean and other regions of the world, including interregional studies. Here we show the inherent uncertainty of this complexity, which should be included in any management strategy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In temperate drylands, livestock grazing and irrigation agriculture alter biocrust cover and thereby soil nitrogen (N) dynamics. However, the influence of land use on biocrusts and soil N dynamics in tropical drylands is unknown. We evaluated the influence of rainfed agriculture and firewood extraction on biocrust functional groups and soil N dynamics in a tropical dryland. We collected biocrusts in abandoned croplands resulting from rainfed agriculture and mesquite shrublands resulting from firewood extraction to measure the cover of heterocystous cyanobacteria, non-heterocystous cyanobacteria, cyanolichens, and chlorolichens. We also collected soil below biocrusts to evaluate soil N dynamics (total and available N, N transformation rates, microbial biomass N), energy availability (total C), and microbial activity (C mineralization). We evaluated the correlation between biocrust functional group cover and soil N dynamics, and between microbial activity and soil N dynamics. In abandoned croplands, heterocystous cyanobacteria had high cover and were associated to altered soil N dynamics. In mesquite shrublands, cyanolichens had high cover and were associated to unaltered soil N dynamics. In this tropical dryland, both activities have contrasting changes in biocrust functional group cover and soil N dynamics, probably due to differences in energy availability and soil microenvironments for microbial activity under biocrusts. • Heterocystous cyanobacteria had high cover values in abandoned croplands. • H. cyanobacteria had low N availability, transformation, and immobilization. • Cyanolichens had high cover values in mesquite shrublands. • Cyanolichens had high N availability, transformation, and immobilization. • H. cyanobacteria favor soil N losses, while cyanolichens favor soil N conservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Questions Can herbaceous above-ground net primary production ( ANPP) be estimated from remote sensing when woody and herbaceous plants are intermingled? How does herbaceous ANPP change in space and time in an ecosystem dominated by woody species? What are the main controls of herbaceous ANPP to paddock scale? Location Native plant communities and buffelgrass roller chopped pastures of the Arid Chaco, western Argentina (28-32° S, 64-67° W; area: 100 000 km2). Methods We decomposed normalized difference vegetation index ( NDVI) data from MODIS (pixel size: 250 m × 250 m) into woody ( W) and herbaceous ( H) components. We calibrated the relationship between field estimates of herbaceous ANPP and the H component of NDVI using linear regression. The regression model fitted was applied to a 10-yr MODIS database for four paddocks to estimate herbaceous ANPP. We analysed the relationship between herbaceous ANPP and watering point distance and growing season precipitation. Results The annual integral of NDVI × proportion of the herbaceous component [ H/( H + W)] explained 71% and 91% of herbaceous ANPP variation in native plant communities and buffelgrass roller chopped pastures, respectively. The regression model fitted, however, differed (P < 0.05) between the two types of system. The NDVI annual integral explained a higher proportion of herbaceous ANPP variations than the NDVI annual peak or the growing season (December-April) integral. For native plant communities, herbaceous production increased significantly ( P < 0.05) with watering point distance, and marginally significantly ( P < 0.10) with growing season precipitation. For buffelgrass roller chopped pastures, the herbaceous production increased significantly ( P < 0.05) with growing season precipitation. Conclusion Our model was able to estimate herbaceous ANPP from the decomposition of an NDVI time series that included woody components. Thus, the model provides the basis for more accurate monitoring of spatial and temporal variability of herbaceous ANPP in areas where herbaceous and woody plant components co-exist. Applying our models, we detected clear spatial and temporal patterns of herbaceous ANPP. The possibility of describing in a spatially explicit way the past 14 yrs of herbaceous ANPP allows designing livestock management strategies and devise alternatives to control degradation processes in the Arid Chaco. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Shrublands cover a large proportion of the world’s land surface, yet they remain poorly studied in comparison to other ecosystems. Within shrublands, soil organic matter (SOM) is replenished from inputs of both above- and below-ground plant litter, however, their relative importance depends on their respective turnover rates. To critically address this, we measured the biodegradation rates of the soluble and insoluble components of 14 C-labelled above- and below-ground plant litter in soil. During the 150 day incubation, the amount of plant-derived soluble-C lost as 14 CO 2 was similar for the different plant parts being 64.7 ± 2.3% for roots, 72.1 ± 7.4% for stems, and 72.4 ± 1.8% for leaves. In comparison, the turnover of the insoluble fraction was much slower. However, again little difference in mineralisation was seen for the different plant parts with the total losses being 21.1 ± 0.9% for roots, 19.5 ± 1.6% for stems, and 19.6 ± 1% for leaves. A double exponential first order kinetic model fitted well to the experimental data. It also allowed the partitioning of C between microbial anabolic and catabolic processes for the soluble C component. Using this model, we deduced that the soluble fraction turns over ca. 40 times annually, whereas it takes ca. 2.5 years to turnover the insoluble fraction. For the soluble plant component, the overall microbial carbon use efficiency (CUE) was estimated to be greater for root-derived C in comparison to that derived from aboveground (no difference was observed for the insoluble component). From this, we tentatively suggest that C sourced from belowground plant components may persist longer in soil than C derived from aboveground plant components. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]