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This study examines the complexities of climate modeling, specifically in the Panj River Basin (PRB) in Central Asia, to evaluate the transition from CMIP5 to CMIP6 models. The research aimed to identify differences in historical simulations and future predictions of rainfall and temperature, examining the accuracy of eight General Circulation Models (GCMs) used in both CMIP5 (RCP4.5 and 8.5) and CMIP6 (SSP2-4.5 and 5-8.5). The evaluation metrics demonstrated that the GCMs have a high level of accuracy in reproducing maximum temperature (Tmax) with a correlation coefficient of 0.96. The models also performed well in replicating minimum temperature (Tmin) with a correlation coefficient of 0.94. This suggests that the models have improved modeling capabilities in both CMIPs. The performance of Max Plank Institute (MPI) across all variables in CMIP6 models was exceptional. Within the CMIP5 domain, Geophysical Fluid Dynamics (GFDL) demonstrated outstanding skill in reproducing maximum temperature (Tmax) and precipitation (KGE 0.58 and 0.34, respectively), while (Institute for Numerical Mathematics) INMCM excelled in replicating minimum temperature (Tmin) (KGE 0.28). The uncertainty analysis revealed a significant improvement in the CMIP6 precipitation bias bands, resulting in a more precise depiction of diverse climate zones compared to CMIP5. Both CMIPs consistently tended to underestimate Tmax in the Csa zone and overestimate it in the Bwk zone throughout all months. Nevertheless, the CMIP6 models demonstrated a significant decrease in uncertainty, especially in ensemble simulations, suggesting improvements in forecasting PRB climate dynamics. The projections revealed a complex story, as the CMIP6 models predict a relatively small increase in temperature and a simultaneous drop in precipitation. This indicates a trend towards more uniform temperature patterns across different areas. Nevertheless, the precipitation forecasts exhibited increased variability, highlighting the intricate interaction of climate dynamics in the PRB area under the impact of global warming scenarios. Hydrological components in global climate models can be further improved and developed with the theoretical reference provided by this study., Competing Interests: Declarations. Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests., (© 2025. The Author(s).)

Ammopiptanthus nanus , a Tertiary-era endangered plant, is of great scientific value. In this research, we focus on A. nanus population dynamics in an effort to bridge the divide between micro genetic variation and a macroscopic ecological pattern of distribution. The population structure of 129 wild specimens of A. nanus from eight populations was analyzed using EST-SSR molecular markers in this research. The Mantel test and RDA analysis have been used in this research to investigate the factors that influence the genetic diversity of A. nanus . Using 15 pairs of SSR primers, a total of 227 alleles were detected in 129 samples from 8 populations. The mean number of alleles was 17, and the average expected heterozygosity was 0.405. It is shown that wild A. nanus is divided into six individual populations. A. nanus are significantly affected by wind speed in terms of the variation of genetics. It is suggested that a nature conservation area for A. nanus be established as soon as possible, based on our results and the current natural distribution of the species. It is necessary to focus on the issue of pests and diseases while simultaneously preventing the continuation of anthropogenic woodcutting and disaster. Manual seedling collection should be employed in regions where the environment permits. Through making use of manual breeding techniques, this will contribute to the growth of the natural population of A. nanus .

Xanthomonas citri pv. malvacearum (Xcm) associated with bacterial blight disease is a significant and widespread pathogen affecting cotton worldwide. The excessive use of harmful chemicals to control plant pathogens has exerted a negative impact on environmental safety. Thymol is a monoterpene phenol present in the essential oils of plants belonging to Lamiaceae family. In this study the antimicrobial activity of thymol was evaluated against Xcm. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and 99.9% bactericidal concentration (MBC) of thymol against Xcm were 2 and 4 mg/mL, respectively. The effect of MIC and MBC of thymol against Xcm was assessed on the Luria-Bertani medium. The effect of thymol on intercellular ATP levels, membrane potential, and motility in Xcm was assessed using fluorescence spectrometry for membrane potential and firefly luciferase-based assay for ATP levels. Thymol ruptured the cellular membrane of Xcm, resulting in decreased intracellular ATP concentrations, intracellular leakage of genetic material, and changes in membrane potential. Scanning electron microscopy images supported the impact of thymol on the cell membrane of Xcm. Moreover, thymol inhibited the swimming motility and biofilm formation of Xcm at concentrations equal to or above the MIC and MBC. In contrast, sub-MIC concentrations of thymol had little to no impact on the virulence of Xcm. In conclusion, thymol demonstrated the potential as a strong bactericidal compound against Xcm., Competing Interests: Declarations. Conflict of interest: The authors disclose no competing interest. Ethical Approval: Our research did not include any human subjects and animal experiments. Consent to Participate: Not applicable. Consent for Publication: Not applicable., (© 2025. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

Grouping behavior is a fundamental component of animal population dynamics, shaped by both environmental factors and the social interactions among individuals, ultimately enhancing adaptability to their habitats. However, the social organization of the wapiti subspecies inhabiting the Tian Shan Mountains remains poorly understood. In this study, we investigated the grouping behavior of Tianshan wapiti in the Bogda Peak Nature Reserve, northwestern China from July 2019 to November 2020. Using infrared-triggered camera traps, we analyzed seasonal variation in group size and group frequency, as well as sex-specific aggregation and segregation pattern. Our results showed that Tianshan wapiti group sizes varied considerably, ranging from 1 to 32 individuals, with most groups being relatively smaller, typically consisting of 1 to 9 individuals. Seasonal differences in group size were significant ( H = 28.91, df = 3, p < 0.05). Additionally, group type showed significant variation across seasons (χ 2 = 93.32, df = 18, p < 0.05). Anakysis of sex-specifia aggregation and segregation (SSAS) indicated no consistent segregation of females and males throughout the year. However, there was a notable tendency for sex-specific aggregation during July and from October to December. These findings provide new insights into the social organization and seasonal grouping behavior of Tianshan wapiti, contributing to a better understanding of their behavioral ecology and informing conservation and management strategies for this subspecies.

Lead (Pb), a toxic metal, causes severe health hazards to both humans and plants due to environmental pollution. Biochar addition has been efficiently utilized to enhance growth of plants as well as yield in the presence of Pb-induced stress. The present research introduces a novel use of biochar obtained from the weed Achyranthes japonica to enhance the growth of plants in Pb-contaminated soil. An experiment was performed with 7 treatments: Control, Pb 2+ (10 mg kg -1 ) only, biochar (4 %) only, allantoin (4 g kg -1 ) only, biochar combined with Pb 2+ , allantoin combined with biochar, as well as a combination of allantoin and biochar with Pb 2+ . Lead toxicity alone markedly diminished plant growth metrics, including root and shoot length, biomass (wet and dry), chlorophyll concentration, and grain production. The application of biochar, allantoin, or their joint administration markedly enhanced the length of shoots (by 50.3 %, 29 %, and 70 %), length of roots (by 69 %, 50 %, and 69 %), and fresh biomass of shoots (by 5 %, 29 %, and 5 %), respectively. This enhancement is ascribed to improved soil characteristics and more efficient absorption of nutrients. The application of biochar, allantoin and their combination improved the tolerance against Pb 2+ by increasing the total chlorophyll level by 12 %, 16 %, and 17 %, respectively, vs. the control. Likewise, these amendments significantly (p < 0.05) improved the activity of antioxidant enzymes, including SOD, POD, and CAT by 49 %, 29 %, and 49 %, respectively. The resistance towards Pb 2+ was enhanced by biochar, allantoin, and their combined application, with lower Pb 2+ concentrations in shoots (59.9 %, 40.1 %, and 49.8 %), roots (48.2 %, 24.1 %, and 58.3 %), and grains (60.2 %, 29.7 %, and 40.1 %) compared to solely Pb-stress, respectively. In summary, converting the weed Achyranthes japonica into biochar and integrating it with allantoin provides an eco-friendly approach to control its proliferation while efficiently alleviating Pb-induced toxicity in plants., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2025 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Imidacloprid (IMI), a leading neonicotinoid insecticide, is widely used in China. Nevertheless, owing to its high toxicity to pollinators, regulatory scrutiny of its usage has increased in recent years. Despite this, no relevant issues have been announced in China, and its usage continues to rise. In this study, we systematically reviewed the development history, pollution characteristics, and environmental problems associated with IMI in China, which is imperative to promote its green development. The results show that most IMI products (97.1%) in China are registered for agricultural use. Owing to its extensive use and strong migration ability in different environmental matrices, IMI has been broadly detected in multiple environmental media. The average detection rate (DR) of IMI in soils, ambient water, and sediments were 90.7%, 81.3% and 84.5%, respectively, and the corresponding concentrations were 54.6 ± 83.8 ng/g dry weight (dw), 32.8 ± 103 ng/L, and 1.7 ± 2.9 ng/g dw, respectively, indicating high IMI abundance in multiple environmental media in China. The spatiotemporal distribution of IMI was generally determined by its application modes, transport, and degradation rates. IMI is commonly overused in China, leading to the development of high IMI resistance in many pests, and a high DR of IMI in food, drinking water, and human bodies. To alleviate IMI pollution in China, the joint efforts of the government, farmers, and scientists are necessary, including but not limited to formulating laws and regulations, strengthening governmental supervision, improving farmers' knowledge of IMI use, and promoting technological innovation in IMI and application methods., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Microplastics (MPs) have become pervasive pollutants in terrestrial ecosystems, raising significant ecological risks and human health concerns. Despite growing attention, a comprehensive understanding of their quantification, sources, emissions, transport, degradation, and accumulation in soils remains incomplete. This review synthesizes the current knowledge on the anthropogenic activities contributing to soil MP contamination, both intentional and unintentional behaviors, spanning sectors including agriculture, domestic activities, transportation, construction, and industry. Furthermore, it examines the spatial distribution, accumulation, and abundance of MPs across various land use types, alongside a critical assessment of existing quantification methodologies. While the predominant metric for MP quantification is particle number concentration, integrating mass and area concentration enhances the ability to compare pollution levels, assess fluxes, and conduct risk analyses. Additionally, the review explores the transport behavior of MPs in soil, distinguishing between external mechanisms (abiotic factors: wind, leaching, and runoff, biotic factors: soil bioturbation and food chain interactions), and internal mechanisms that are impacted by the characteristics of MPs themselves (e.g., shape, color, size, density, surface properties), soil properties (e.g., porosity, pH, ionic strength, organic matter and mineral content), coexisting substances, and soil structural dynamics. The study of MP transport in soil remains in its early stages, with substantial gaps in knowledge. Future research should focus on integrating number, mass concentration, and area concentration for the more holistic quantification of MP abundance, and prioritize the development of more accurate and efficient methodologies. In addition, the investigation of MP transport and degradation processes under varying environmental conditions and soil management practices is critical for addressing this emerging environmental challenge., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2025 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Agriculture is a significant contributor to the country's economic development. We used multiple Landsat images from 1990 to 2021 in the Murshidabad-Jiaganj Block to assess changes in the agricultural system and their underlying causes. The Rabi season saw a 10.99% growth in agrarian regions from 1990 to 2000 and an 8.86% increase in 2010, yet it declined by 28.12% in 2021. During the summer, the cultivated lands diminished by 26.63%, 19.43%, and 19.64%, while in the Kharif season, they declined by 21.78%, 15.68%, and 11.99% from 1990 in the years 2000, 2010, and 2021, respectively. The agricultural area had 36.82%, 34.16%, and 19.01% increases between 1990 and 2021, respectively. Regarding direction, farmland acreage decreased in all zones except the SSE, which had a 0.95% increase. Mono-, double-, and triple-cropping systems have decreased in area, while multi-cropping systems have experienced increases of 43.51%, 4.50%, and 18.49% in 1990-2021, respectively. The multi-cropping system has a good correlation with all agroclimatic factors. The reduction of irrigated lands post-2009 significantly affected the agriculture system. The fall in agricultural employment in recent decades is attributable to migration seeking higher-paying occupations. The advancement of accurate remote sensing-based modeling is crucial for mitigating food security risks, particularly those posed by climate change, and informing policy decisions., Competing Interests: Declarations. Ethical approval: All authors have read, understood, and have complied as applicable with the statement on “Ethical responsibilities of Authors” as found in the Instructions for Authors. Competing interest: The authors declare no competing interests., (© 2025. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.)

Argali stands as the largest species among wild sheep in Central and East Asia, with a concerning rate of decline estimated at 30%. The intraspecific taxonomy of argali remains contentious due to limited genomic data and unclear geographic separation. In this study, we constructed a chromosome-level genome assembly and annotation for the Tibetan argali (O. a. hodgsoni), together with population genomic resequencing of 32 individuals representing four subspecies. The contig-level genome was 2.64 Gb in size, with a contig N50 length of 71.69 Mb and an estimated genomic completeness of 96.01%. Using Hi-C sequencing data scaffolding, 99.90% of initially assembled sequences were mapped and oriented onto 28 pseudo-chromosomes except the Y chromosome. Annotation uncovered 21,564 protein-coding genes and 46.38% repeat sequences. The average coverage of the population resequencing data was 23.74 with mean mapping ratio up to of 97.19%. The high-quality genome assembly and annotation of the Tibetan argali, coupled with the high-depth population genomic data, will serve as a valuable genetic resource for studies on the taxonomy and conservation of argali., Competing Interests: Competing interests: Q.L. is an employee of Beijing Bio Huaxing Gene Technology Co., LTD. The authors declare no competing interests., (© 2025. The Author(s).)

Soil fungi are essential to ecosystem processes, yet their elevational distribution patterns and the ecological mechanisms shaping their communities remain poorly understood and actively debated, particularly in arid regions. Here, we investigated the diversity patterns and underlying mechanisms shaping soil fungal communities along an elevational gradient (1,707-3,548 m) on the northern slope of the Central Kunlun Mountains in northwest China. Results indicated that the dominant phyla identified across the seven elevational gradients were Basidiomycota and Ascomycota , displaying a unimodal pattern and a U-shaped pattern in relative abundance, respectively. Soil saprotroph and nectar/tap saprotroph were the dominant functional groups (>1.0%). Along the elevational gradients, soil fungal α-diversity demonstrated a generally decreasing trend, whereas β-diversity showed a contrasting increasing trend. Among the environmental variables, altitude and climate (mean annual precipitation, MAP; mean annual temperature, MAT) were the strongest predictors for α-diversity. Partial least squares path modeling (PLSPM) analysis revealed that soil water content (Wat) was the most influential factor driving fungal α-diversity, while vegetation coverage (Veg) emerged as the primary determinant of soil fungal community composition. The influence of Wat on fungal α-diversity shifted from indirect to direct as elevation increased, transitioning from lower elevations (≤2,448 m) to higher elevations (≥2,746 m). Similarly, the impact of Veg on soil fungal community composition exhibited a comparable pattern. The null model analysis revealed that homogeneous selection and dispersal limitation dominated the soil fungal community assembly at elevations lower than 2,448 m and higher than 2,746 m, respectively. Variations in ecological processes may be linked to changes in key environmental factors that influence soil fungal communities in an elevation-dependent manner. These findings can enhance our ability to predict soil fungal diversity patterns and their responses to climate change in the ecosystems of the northern slope of the Central Kunlun Mountain., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2025 Zhang, Li, Zhang, Li, Zhang, Jiang, Islam, Li and Zeng.)

Lilies ( Lilium spp.) are renowned for their diverse and captivating floral scents, which are highly valued both commercially and ornamentally. This review provides a comprehensive overview of recent advancements in the identification, biosynthesis, and regulation of fragrance components in lily flowers. Various volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that contribute to the unique scents of different lily species and cultivars, including terpenoids, benzenoids/phenylpropanoids, and fatty acid derivatives, are discussed. The release patterns of these compounds from different floral tissues and at different developmental stages are examined, highlighting the significant role of tepals. Detection methods such as gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and sensory analysis are evaluated for their effectiveness in fragrance research. Additionally, the biosynthetic pathways of key fragrance compounds are explored, focusing on the terpenoid and benzenoid/phenylpropanoid pathways and the regulatory mechanisms involving transcription factors and environmental factors. This review also addresses the influence of genetic and environmental factors on fragrance production and proposes future research directions to enhance the aromatic qualities of lilies through selective genetic and breeding approaches. Emphasis is placed on the potential applications of these findings in the floral industry to improve the commercial value and consumer appeal of lily flowers.

Litterfall load is crucial in maintaining ecosystem health, controlling wildfires, and estimating carbon stock in arid regions. However, there is a lack of spatiotemporal analysis of litterfall in arid riparian forests. This study aims to estimate Litterfall load using a BP neural network based on vegetation indices from Landsat 5 and 8 satellite images, litterfall inventory data, slope, and distance to major river tributaries. It also aims to analyze the spatiotemporal distribution pattern of litter in the research area by estimating and analyzing the spatiotemporal pattern of litterfall along the desert riparian forests of the lower Qarqan and Tarim Rivers from 2001 to 2021. The results show that the initiation of the ecological water transfer project has facilitated the decomposition of litterfall, leading to an initial decline. Subsequently, the vegetation gradually recovered, leading to an increase in leaf litter input. Since 2001, litterfall initially decreased until reaching its lowest value of 4.39 × 10 9 kg in 2005, followed by a subsequent increase, reaching its highest value of 12.5 × 10 9 kg in 2021. The study concludes that ecological water conveyance promotes both the decomposition and increase of litterfall. Initially, it accelerates litterfall decomposition, while later stages foster an increase in Litterfall load. Meanwhile, due to the ecological water transfer project and the higher vegetation cover along the Tarim River compared to the Qarqan River, the Tarim River basin experiences higher average Litterfall load and variation., Competing Interests: Declarations. Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Post-harvest losses and rapid fruit ripening at room temperature are major challenges in preserving fruit quality. This study aimed to reduce such losses by applying a red carotenoid pigment, bacterioruberin extracted from an Arthrobacter sp. The carotenoid was characterized as bacterioruberin and its derivative tetra anhydrous bacterioruberin (λmax 490 nm), and an m / z value of 675 and 742 (M+ 1H) +1 . The annotated LIPID MAP demonstrated the presence of over 360 isoprenoids annotated transcripts. The compound exhibited significant antioxidant activity, with an IC 50 of 22 μg/mL, iron chelation and antibacterial activities indicating its potential as a natural preservative. When applied to grapes, peaches, and apricots, bacterioruberin (2 %) effectively prevented spoilage for six days at room temperature. Statistical analysis using one-way ANOVA revealed a significant correlation (p = 0.05) between treated and control groups in subjective quality attributes. Computational investigation with phospholipase D and VQ22 motif protein further supported the preservative potential of bacterioruberin., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (© 2025 The Authors.)

Lithium, a rare metal of strategic importance, has garnered heightened global attention. This investigation delves into the laboratory visible-near infrared and short-wavelength infrared reflectance (VNIR-SWIR 350 nm-2500 nm) spectral properties of lithium-rich rocks and stream sediments, aiming to elucidate their quantitative relationship with lithium concentration. This research seeks to pave new avenues and furnish innovative technical solutions for probing sedimentary lithium reserves. Conducted in the Tuanjie Peak region of Western Kunlun, Xinjiang, China, this study analyzed 614 stream sediments and 222 rock specimens. Initial steps included laboratory VNIR-SWIR spectral reflectance measurements and lithium quantification. Following the preprocessing of spectral data via Savitzky-Golay (SG) smoothing and continuum removal (CR), the absorption positions (Pos2210nm, Pos1910nm) and depths (Depth2210, Depth1910) in the rock spectra, as well as the Illite Spectral Maturity (ISM) of the rock samples, were extracted. Employing both the Successive Projections Algorithm (SPA) and genetic algorithm (GA), wavelengths indicative of lithium content were identified. Integrating the lithium-sensitive wavelengths identified by these feature selection methods, A quantitative predictive regression model for lithium content in rock and stream sediments was developed using partial least squares regression (PLSR), support vector regression (SVR), and convolutional neural network (CNN). Spectral analysis indicated that lithium is predominantly found in montmorillonite and illite, with its content positively correlating with the spectral maturity of illite and closely related to Al-OH absorption depth (Depth2210) and clay content. The SPA algorithm was more effective than GA in extracting lithium-sensitive bands. The optimal regression model for quantitative prediction of lithium content in rock samples was SG-SPA-CNN, with a correlation coefficient prediction (R p ) of 0.924 and root-mean-square error prediction (RMSEP) of 0.112. The optimal model for the prediction of lithium content in stream sediment was SG-SPA-CNN, with an R p and RMSEP of 0.881 and 0.296, respectively. The higher prediction accuracy for lithium content in rocks compared to sediments indicates that rocks are a more suitable medium for predicting lithium content. Compared to the PLSR and SVR models, the CNN model performs better in both sample types. Despite the limitations, this study highlights the effectiveness of hyperspectral technology in exploring the potential of clay-type lithium resources in the Tuanjie Peak area, offering new perspectives and approaches for further exploration., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Populus tree species are commonly used for creating shelter forests in vast areas of northern China, at least partially due to their fast growth. However, they are facing severe problems of decline and mortality caused by drought. In contrast, tree species native to water-limited environments usually have slow growth and are currently not commonly used in afforestation, while these species are gaining more attention in forestry for their greater resilience to drought. In Horqin Sandy Land, we conducted a comparative analysis of xylem hydraulics and associated physiological traits between six Populus tree species and six tree species native to drought-prone areas. Compared to the native species, the Populus species exhibited significantly higher stem hydraulic conductivity but lower resistance to drought-induced xylem embolism than the native tree species. The observed interspecific variations and contrasts in xylem hydraulics between the two species groups were predominantly attributed to xylem anatomical characteristics at the pit level rather than at the tissue level. In line with the divergences in hydraulics, we found significantly lower intrinsic water use efficiency (WUE i ) in Populus than in the native species, suggesting that the two groups adopted relatively acquisitive and conservative water use strategies, respectively. The trade-off between hydraulic efficiency and safety, as well as that between hydraulic efficiency and WUE i , underlies the contrasts in performance between Populus species and the native tree species, that is, fast growth of Populus species but high risk of hydraulic dysfunction when facing drought, and vice versa., (© 2025 Scandinavian Plant Physiology Society.)

Two siderophore-synthesizing species SYSU BS000078 T and SYSU BS000231 T were isolated from the black soil collected from fields located in Heilongjiang province, China. The results of phylogenetic analysis based on the 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that these two strains showed the highest sequence similarity to Parafrigoribacterium mesophilum KCTC 19311 T (98.61 % and 98.68 %, respectively). The average nucleotide identity (ANI) values between the two strains and other members of the genus Parafrigoribacterium were lower than 95 %, recommended for distinguishing novel prokaryotic species. Cells of strains SYSU BS000078 T and SYSU BS000231 T were aerobic, motile, Gram-stain-positive and non-spore-forming rods. The colonies of these two strains exhibited a cream pigment, with tidy edges and smooth surfaces. Growth was observed within the temperature range of 4-37 °C (optimal growth at 28 °C) and pH range of 6.0-8.0 (optimal growth at pH 7.0). The predominant polar lipids detected in these two strains included diphosphatidylglycerol and phosphatidylglycerol. The predominant respiratory quinones was MK-9. The major cellular fatty acids (>10 %) were iso-C 16:0 , anteiso-C 15:0 , and anteiso-C 17:0 . The genome size and G + C content of strain SYSU BS000078 T were determined to be 2.89 Mbp and 66.5 %, respectively. Meanwhile, SYSU BS000231 T exhibited a genome size of 2.81 Mbp, accompanied by a G + C content of 65.8 %. Based on the phenotypic, physiological, genotypic, and phylogenetic data, these two strains represent two novel species of the genus Parafrigoribacterium, which are proposed as Parafrigoribacterium soli sp. nov. SYSU BS000078 T (=GDMCC 1.4599 T  = KCTC 59245 T ), and Parafrigoribacterium humi sp. nov. SYSU BS000231 T (=GDMCC 1.3816 T  = KCTC 59001 T )., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.)

Soil moisture and nitrogen (N) fertilizer control the balance between nitrous oxide (N₂O) production and consumption in soil. However, the impact of nitrification and urease inhibitors on soil N₂O production and consumption under varying soil moisture levels remains insufficiently understood. In this study, a soil column experiment was conducted to investigate N₂O concentrations and accumulation at different soil depths (0, 5, 15, 30, and 60 cm) in sandy soil over two months. The soil was collected from a drip-irrigated field subjected to long-term cotton cultivation in an arid region. Four fertilizer treatments were applied: urea, urea + nitrification inhibitor (Dicyandiamide, DCD), urea + nitrification and urease inhibitors [N-(n-butyl) thiophosphoric triamide, NBPT], and an unfertilized control. These treatments were tested under three soil moisture levels [23%, 46%, and 70% water-filled pore space (WFPS)]. The results showed that treatments with inhibitors significantly reduced cumulative surface N₂O emissions by 33.2%-58.2% compared to urea alone. Notably, the treatment with both DCD and NBPT achieved the greatest reductions in surface emissions and in N₂O concentrations at 5 cm and 15 cm soil depths at 70% WFPS. Additionally, across all N fertilizer sources, 70% WFPS led to increased N₂O concentrations in the soil profile compared to lower soil moisture levels. Column N₂O accumulation was positively correlated with surface cumulative N₂O emissions under all three moisture conditions. Our study highlights that under high soil moisture conditions, DCD and NBPT can significantly mitigate intense N₂O emissions in sandy soils. This emission reduction is likely attributed to enhanced nitrification within the 0-15 cm soil layer rather than reduced N₂O diffusivity and denitrification along the soil profile. Therefore, we recommend applying nitrification and urease inhibitors under high soil moisture conditions as an effective strategy to reduce N₂O emissions in sandy soils., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

Seven unreported compounds were isolated from dried flower buds of Ochrocarpus longifolius in this study, including an alkaloid ochrocaracid A (1), five coumarins ochrocarpins I (2), J (3), K (4), L (5), and M (6), and one styryl-2-pyranone compound iresinoacid (7) and nine known compounds (8-16). All these compounds were found in O. longifolius for the first time. Their structural elucidation was achieved through NMR, HR-ESI-MS, and ECD data. Additionally, a glucose uptake-promoting activity assay revealed that compounds 10 (128.21 μM) and 16 (123.15 μM) increased the glucose uptake capacity of L6 cells by 1.49-fold and 1.48-fold, respectively. These bioactive compounds could be potential candidates for further pharmaceutical applications., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

The net ecosystem exchange (NEE), determining terrestrial carbon sequestration capacity, is strongly controlled by climate change and has exhibited substantial year-to-year fluctuations. How the increased frequency and intensity of warm extremes affect NEE variations remains unclear. Here, we combined multiple NEE datasets from atmospheric CO 2 inversions, Earth system models, eddy-covariance data-driven methods and climate datasets to show that the terrestrial carbon sequestration capacity is weakened during warm extreme occurrences over the past 40 years, primarily contributed by tropical regions (81% ± 48%). The underlying mechanism can be rooted in the overwhelmingly decreased trend of gross primary productivity compared with terrestrial ecosystem respiration. Additionally, the weakened terrestrial carbon sequestration capacity is mainly driven by the transition from temperature or soil moisture control to vapour pressure deficit control, which is associated with the increasing intensity of warm extremes. Our findings suggest that warm extremes threaten the global carbon sequestration function of terrestrial ecosystems. Therefore, more attention should be given to the evolution of the increasing intensity of warm extremes in future climate projections., Competing Interests: Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Limited.)

Within ecosystems, habitat influences structure, and structure determines function, forming a habitat-structure-function framework (HSFF). Net ecosystem productivity (NEP) is a key indicator for assessing regional or global carbon dynamics. However, the response thresholds of NEP to habitat and structural factors, along with management strategies based on these thresholds, remain under-explored. Therefore, this study examines the response thresholds of NEP to habitat and structural factors in the karst and non-karst regions of southwest China, which exhibit strong surface heterogeneity, based on the HSFF using a restricted cubic spline method. The results are, (1) The interannual NEP increase rate and carbon storage per unit area were notably greater in karst regions than in non-karst ones. However, compared to non-karst regions, karst regions show greater NEP variability and lower stability. (2) Significant nonlinear relationships were identified between NEP and nine habitat factors and six structural factors. NEP thresholds due to habitat and structural factors were smaller in karst regions than in non-karst regions. (3) Habitat factors had greater relative importance and marginal contribution than structural factors in karst and non-karst regions, with energy and water as the main influences on NEP. (4) Using the potential carbon sinks areas determined by the threshold, the karst areas in the entire study will play an important role in carbon sinks in the future. Overall, this study not only deepens the understanding of the differences in ecosystem NEP between karst and non-karst regions, but also provides new perspectives and strategies for optimizing ecosystem management based on habitat and structural characteristics., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

The Tianshan wild fruit forest region is a vital repository of plant biodiversity, particularly rich in the unique genetic resources of endemic medicinal plants in this ecological niche. However, human activities such as unregulated mining and excessive grazing have led to a significant reduction in the diversity of these medicinal plants. This study represents the first application of DNA barcoding to 101 medicinal plants found in the Tianshan wild fruit forests, using three genetic loci along with morphological identification methods. A phylogenetic analysis was performed to delineate species relationships. The results indicate that the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region has been identified as the most reliable barcode for species identification across different families, while combining data from multiple gene segments can improve species detection. Moreover, the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) was employed to assess and prioritize the 101 medicinal plants, highlighting 23 species as candidates for urgent conservation efforts in the region. The approaches and insights from this study provide a significant benchmark for DNA barcoding studies on medicinal plants with local significance and establish an evaluative framework for the conservation of biodiversity and the surveillance of genetic resources among medicinal plants in the Tianshan wild fruit forest area.

Extreme climatic events, such as drought, can significantly alter belowground microbial diversity and species interactions, leading to unknown consequences for ecosystem functioning. Here, we simulated a drought gradient by removing 30 %, 50 %, and 70 % of precipitation in a semi-arid grassland over five years. We assessed the effects of drought on bacterial and fungal diversity, as well as on their species interactions. We also evaluated the impact of drought on ecosystem individual functions (e.g., plant biomass and microbial activity), and on multifunctionality (EMF). Finally, we linked the drought-induced changes in microbial communities with the variations in EMF. Drought significantly increased fungal diversity and intensified species interactions, but it decreased bacterial diversity and species interactions. Both plant and microbial biomass significantly decreased with increasing drought severity, while microbial activity showed the opposite trend. Only the -50 % rainfall treatment notably reduced EMF. Bacterial diversity and species interactions positively correlated with most ecosystem functions. However, fungal parameters were negatively associated with these functions. Structural equation modeling indicated that bacterial diversity had a strong direct positive effect on EMF (standardized path coefficient: 0.52), and that bacterial diversity was indirectly suppressed by drought through decreasing soil water content and bacterial phospholipid fatty acids (PLFAs). In contrast, fungal species interactions had a significant direct negative effect on EMF with the highest standardized path coefficient (-0.6) and were directly enhanced by fungal diversity. Drought had indirect positive effects on fungal diversity by decreasing soil water content and stimulating fungal PLFAs. Our results highlight the importance of considering soil microbial species interactions when evaluating the ecological impacts of drought. Furthermore, the divergent regulatory pathways of bacterial and fungal communities to EMF suggest that improving ecosystem functionality may be achieved by enhancing bacterial diversity while mitigating fungal species interactions through reducing fungal diversity., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2025 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.)

Climate change has caused many challenges to soil ecosystems, including soil salinity. Consequently, many strategies are advised to mitigate this issue. In this context, biochar is acknowledged as a useful addition that can alleviate the detrimental impacts of salt stress on plants. The objective of this study is to evaluate the effects of different levels of salt (Control; T0 0 gl -1 , T1; 1.50, and T2; 3 gl -1 ) and biochar addition rates (A0; 0 g kg -1 , A1; 40 g kg -1 , and A2; 80 g kg -1 ) on the agronomic, physiological, and biochemical responses of corn plants. The results of our study showed a significant increase in the biomass of corn plants when exposed to salt stress and treated with 40 g kg -1 of biochar. The result underscores the significant function of Acacia-biochar in mitigating salt toxicity. The application of A1 biochar at a specified rate mitigated the adverse effects of salt-induced oxidative stress by augmenting the activities of catalase (CAT) and glutathione-S-transferase (GST). Furthermore, the utilization of biochar led to an increase in chlorophyll b concentrations in maize plants subjected to saline water treatment. Biochar is generally considered an efficient method for alleviating the adverse effects of salinity. To enhance plant growth and development while mitigating salinity-induced toxicity, the application of biochar in saline soils must be implemented appropriately., Competing Interests: Declarations. Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests. Ethics approval and consent to participate: This study does not include human or animal subjects. Permission: Permissions or licenses were obtained to collect maize variety (SILVER-2019) and Acacia bark taken from (Regional Agricultural Research Institute Bahawalpur) before starting the research. Statement on guidelines: All experimental studies and experimental materials involved in this research are in full compliance with relevant institutional, national and international guidelines and legislation., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Mining activities in arid regions of China have led to severe environmental degradation, including soil erosion, vegetation loss, and contamination of soil and water resources. These impacts are particularly pronounced in abandoned mining areas, where the cessation of mining operations has left vast landscapes unrehabilitated. In response, the Chinese government has implemented a series of legal and regulatory frameworks, such as the "Mine Environmental Protection and Restoration Program", aimed at promoting ecological restoration in these areas. However, the unique environmental conditions of arid regions, including water scarcity, extreme temperatures, and poor soil quality, present significant challenges to restoration efforts. This review provides a comprehensive analysis of the ecological restoration of abandoned mining areas in China's arid regions, focusing on the legal framework, restoration techniques, and evaluation systems. The restoration methods, their initiation timelines, monitoring systems, and the cost-benefit aspects of various strategies are critically reviewed alongside case studies from regions such as the Mu Us Desert and Qaidam Basin. Key strategies like phytoremediation, soil rehabilitation, and water resource management are assessed for their effectiveness, while challenges in enforcement, socioeconomic integration, and community engagement are discussed. This review concludes that while significant progress has been made, further improvements in restoration practices and evaluation systems are essential for long-term sustainability. Integration of socioeconomic indicators, community involvement, and advanced monitoring technologies are necessary for successful outcomes.

The high-efficiency ball milling treatment technology primarily combines the excitation of oxidation processes with high-speed physical collisions, thereby promoting the reaction processes and enhancing the degradation effectiveness of materials. This technology has gained widespread attention in recent years for its application in the degradation of organic solid chemical pollutants. In this study, quantum chemical density functional theory (DFT) was employed to first analyze the impact of electron addition and subtraction on molecular chemical bonds. The molecular energies of the target pollutants and their possible intermediates were then calculated, and the theoretical energies required for the degradation pathways of the target organic compounds under oxidative-enhanced ball milling were computed. This further validated the accuracy of the ball milling experimental results. The theoretical energy required for the complete mineralization of solid organic chemicals through ball milling degradation was calculated, with values of 16,730.74 kJ/mol for lindane, 20,162.46 kJ/mol for tetrabromobisphenol A, 10,628.04 kJ/mol for sulfamethoxazole, and 4867.99 kJ/mol for trimethoprim. By combining different ball milling experimental conditions, the theoretical reaction time required for the complete mineralization of the target organic chemicals can be calculated. The comparison of theoretical calculations with the experimental results provides new insights into the ball milling degradation process and degradation pathways of the target pollutants.

Extreme cold events, becoming more frequent, affect plant growth and development. Much is known about C-repeat binding transcription factor (CBF)-dependent cold-signaling pathways in plants. However, the CBF-independent regulatory pathway in angiosperms is unclear, and the cold-signaling pathways in non-angiosperms lacking CBFs, such as the extremely cold-tolerant desert moss Syntrichia caninervis, are largely unknown. In this study, we determined that fully hydrated S. caninervis without cold acclimation could tolerate a low-temperature of -16°C. Transcriptome analysis of S. caninervis under 4°C and -4°C treatments revealed that sugar and energy metabolism, lipid metabolism and antioxidant activity were altered in response to cold stress, and surprisingly, most photosynthesis-related genes were upregulated under cold treatment. Transcription factors analysis revealed that A-5 DREB genes, which share a common origin with CBFs, are the hubs in the freezing-stress response of S. caninervis, in which ScDREBA5 was upregulated ~1000-fold. Overexpressing ScDREBA5 significantly enhanced freezing tolerance in both S. caninervis and Physcomitrium patens by upregulating genes involved in photosynthetic and antioxidant pathways. This is the first study to uncover the mechanism regulating the cold-stress response in S. caninervis. Our findings increase our understanding of different cold-stress response strategies in non-angiosperms and provide valuable genetic resources for breeding cold-tolerant crops., (© 2024 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Food security is the foundation of sustainable human development, and the balance between food supply and demand in urban areas is highly important for promoting residents' health and the sustainable development of cities. This paper takes the Urumqi Metropolitan Area (UMA), a typical oasis urban area, as the study area and uses the food production-demand gap indicator to assess the balance of food production and consumption in the region from 2000 to 2020 and projects food demand in 2030-2060. The results show, first, that residents' food consumption is characterized by high carbohydrate, protein, and fat consumption, and that this put more pressure on food production. Second, different food consumption structures will have different impacts on food production, and the local food production capacity in UMA falls short of ensuring a balanced nutritional structure for residents. Third, food demand increases significantly in 2030-2060, and the pressure of population consumption structure on food production is much greater than that of population growth. Considering the environmental effects of food transportation and the loss of food nutrients, on the production side, the construction of the UMA should be accelerated by including Qitai County and Jimsar County in the UMA's planning scope, strengthening city-regional connections, and improving the local food production and supply capacity of surrounding areas. On the consumption side, regional dietary guidelines should be developed based on local dietary culture and agricultural production conditions to help guide residents to adjust their dietary structures, thereby alleviating pressure on local food demand. Such measures are crucial for ensuring sufficient food supply and promoting balanced nutrition among the population.

The utilization of various Moringa oleifera plant sections as a medicinal and nutritional source for humans and animals has been the subject of significant research in recent years. This study aimed to investigate the nutritional profiling through proximate analysis and the antipyretic activity of M. oleifera leaves, bark, and root in methanolic extract from different sites of Punjab, Pakistan. Methanolic extract of leaves, bark, and root from sites i to e of Southern Punjab, Central Punjab, and Northwest Punjab as S1, S2, and S3, respectively, at doses of 50, 100, and 150 mg/kg bw showed statistically significant results as compared to the positive and negative controls. The S1 leaves showed marvelous proximate compositions and antipyretic activity as a result of significantly lowering temperature as compared to the other methanolic leaves, bark, and root extracts of M. oleifera plant sample collected from other sites. The antipyretic activity of M. oleifera leaves, bark, and root was investigated using the standard reference drug paracetamol (200 mg/kg). The antipyretic activity was evaluated using baker's yeast-induced pyrexia. Obtained data were analyzed using one-way ANOVA followed by Tukey's post hoc test and p <  0.05 was considered significant. The study showed that the methanolic extract of M. oleifera leaves possesses highest antipyretic activities as compared to bark and root which justifies its use as nutritional and traditional medicine in the treatment of fever., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflicts of interest., (© 2024 The Author(s). Food Science & Nutrition published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Uncovering the response of plant functional types (PFTs) to nutrient limitation caused by atmospheric deposition is critical for assessing the health of terrestrial ecosystems under climate change conditions. However, it remains unclear how atmospheric deposition and underlying ecological factors affect PFTs globally. To address this, we compiled a global dataset of four PFTs, i.e., herb, evergreen broad-leaf (EB), deciduous broad-leaf (DB), and conifer (CO), and utilized both linear mixed-effects models and structural equation models to describe the thresholds of their net primary productivity (NPP), and tested the relationships between their NPP and potential environmental drivers based on the N/P threshold hypothesis. We found that atmospheric N and P deposition non-linearly affected NPP and the effects were most pronounced for the EB, DB, and CO categories, with tipping points in the ranges of 8.32-9.33 kg N·ha -1 ·yr -1 and 0.20-0.30 kg P·ha -1 ·yr -1 , respectively. Atmospheric N and P deposition negatively affected the NPP of approximately 53.68% and 43.88% of terrestrial ecosystem plants, respectively, suggesting increased P limitation and N saturation in most terrestrial ecosystems worldwide. We further determined that the N/P threshold hypothesis is applicable in assessing the effects of atmospheric N and P deposition on the growth of woody plants (EB, DB, and CO) through nutrient limitation. The results of this study will contribute to more effective landscape management in changing environments., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Du, Tang, Zheng and Li.)

Understanding long-term temperature variability in the Upper Indus Basin (UIB), northern Pakistan, and its driving mechanisms is challenging due to the scarcity of long observational records and available literature. In this study, we reconstructed a 651-year (1370-2020 CE) warm-season (March-September) temperature record using the tree-ring maximum latewood density (MXD) of blue pine (Pinus wallichiana). The reconstruction explains 57 % of the variance in actual temperature during the common calibration period (1972-2020 CE). Our analysis identified ten high-temperature periods (temperature > 20.9 °C) and nineteen low-temperature periods (temperature < 19.8 °C), with the coldest years being 1392, 1707, 1817, and 1837, and the warmest years being 2013, 2016, 2017, and 2018. Spatial correlation analysis reveals a significant positive correlation with field temperature, predominantly in neighboring regions, and a significant negative correlation with relative humidity and precipitation. Multi-taper spectral analysis shows inter-annual (1.9, 2.5, 2.7, 5.5 years) and interdecadal (11, 18, 23, 25, 40, 71 years) cycles, suggesting a potential linkage with the Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation (AMO). The negative linkage between our reconstruction and the region's standardized Palmer Drought Severity Index (scPDSI) indicates that continued temperature increase could result in severe drought in northern Pakistan in the near future. During the 20th century, the UIB experienced two distinct warming phases: 1948-1970 CE and 1994-2020 CE. The warming rate during 1994-2020 CE was 0.5 °C higher, indicating unprecedented recent warming. The reconstructed temperature record also demonstrates a large-scale spatiotemporal signal and a strong connection with most recorded volcanic eruptions. These findings enhance our understanding of long-term temperature variability in the region, highlighting the significance of MXD in reconstructing past temperature patterns., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest We do not have any conflict of interest with this revised manuscript., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Xinjiang is an important region due to its unique epidemic characteristics of wheat stripe rust disease caused by Puccinia striiformis f. sp. tritici . Some previous studies on race identification were conducted in this region, but it is still unclear how temporal changes affect the dynamics, diversity, and virulence characteristics of Pst races in Xinjiang. To gain a better understanding, we compared the race data from spring and winter wheat crops of 2022 with that of 2021. Our results showed a significant change in virulence frequency in 2022. Vr10 , Vr13 , and Vr19 exhibited an increasing trend, with a frequency of ≥18%, while the maximum decline was observed in Vr1 , Vr3 , and Vr9 , with a frequency of ≤-25%. It was found that Yr5 and Yr15 remained effective against Xinjiang Pst races. The race diversity increased from 0.92 (70 races out of 345 isolates) to 0.94 (90 races out of 354 isolates) in 2022, with G22G being the dominant race group. Race CYR34 became prevalent in the region in 2022, while the LvG grouped was wiped out in 2022, from both summer and winter crop seasons. HyG and SuG groups showed an overall declining trend. Overall prevalent races showed over-summering and over-wintering behaviors in Xinjiang. The number of new races occurrence frequency increased by 34% in 2022, indicating a potential change in the population structure of Pst . It is crucial to introduce newly resistant gene cultivars in this region and to establish rust-monitoring protocols to prepare for any future epidemics.

Pathogenesis-related proteins (PR), whose expressions are induced by biotic and abiotic stress, play important roles in plant defense. Previous research identified the salt-induced HcPR10 gene in the halophyte Halostachys caspica as a regulator of plant growth and development through interactions with cytokinin. However, the mechanisms by which HcPR10 mediates resistance to abiotic stress remain poorly understood. In this study, we found that the heterologous expression of HcPR10 significantly enhanced salt and drought tolerance in Arabidopsis, likely by increasing the activity of antioxidant enzyme systems, allowing for effective scavenging of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and thus protecting plant cells from oxidative damage. Additionally, the overexpression of HcPR10 also activated the expression of stress-related genes in Arabidopsis. Furthermore, using yeast two-hybrid technology, five proteins (HcLTPG6, HcGPX6, HcUGT73B3, HcLHCB2.2, and HcMSA1) were identified as potential interacting partners for HcPR10, which could positively regulate the salt stress response mediated by HcPR10. Our findings lay the foundation for a better understanding of the molecular mechanisms of HcPR10 in response to abiotic stress and reveal additional candidate genes for improving crop salt tolerance through genetic engineering., Competing Interests: Declarations. Conflict of interest: The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature B.V.)

Introduction: The Calligonum species is a typical shrub with assimilative branches (ABs) in arid regions in Central Asia. The nutrient distribution patterns at different reproductive stages are of great significance for further understanding the ecological adaptation and survival strategies of plants., Methods: In the present study, a common garden experiment was employed to avoid interference by environmental heterogeneity. Furthermore, the nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) allocation characteristics in the supporting organs (mature branches), photosynthetic organs (ABs), and reproductive organs (flowers and fruits) of Calligonum caput-medusae (CC), Calligonum arborescens (CA), Calligonum rubicundum (CR), and Calligonum klementzii (CK) during the flowering, unripe fruit, and ripe fruit phases were systematically analyzed., Results: Aboveground organs were the main factors affecting the variation of N, P, and K concentrations and their stoichiometric ratios, and the reproductive stages were secondary factors affecting N, P, and the P:K ratio and species were secondary factors affecting K and the N:P and N:K ratios. Meanwhile, significant interactions were found for all three of the aforementioned factors. The N and P concentrations in the ABs of the four species were highest during the flowering phase, while the N:P ratio was lowest, which then gradually decreased and increased, respectively, during plant growth. This result supported the growth rate hypothesis, i.e., that the growth rate is highest during the early growth stage. In the growth period, the N, P, and K concentrations in each organ of the four Calligonum species followed the power law, with the allocation rates of N and P being generally higher than K. There were differences among the species as the N-P scaling exponent in the ABs of CR was only 0.256; according to the scaling exponent law, this species was the least stressed and had the strongest environmental adaptability. Overall, the adaptability of the four species could be ranked as CR > CA > CC > CK. In conclusion, there were significant differences in nutrient traits among different aboveground organs, species, and reproductive stages., Discussion: The results of this study contribute to a deeper understanding of the nutrient allocation strategies of different Calligonum species and provide scientific evidence for the ex-situ conservation and fixation application of these species., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Liu, Zhang, Jin, Wang, Zhang and Wang.)

The analysis of terrestrial ecosystem carbon dynamics, based on scarce carbon flux observations or carbon flux products simulated by reanalysis meteorological data, has great uncertainties. A more accurate understanding of carbon dynamics in Eurasia was achieved by using a carbon flux dataset (CFD) from meteorological stations with quasi-observational characteristics. The growth of net carbon uptake of ecosystems over Eurasia has been decreasing since the early 2000s. The net ecosystem productivity (NEP) increased significantly with the growth rate of 8.7 × 10 -3  g C m -2 d -1  yr -1 in spring, summer, and autumn (SSA) during 2003-2011 (p < 0.05), which was correlated with the enhanced vegetation index (EVI) and land surface water index (LSWI). This growth was mostly in dry subhumid and humid regions. However, the change in Eurasian NEP was not significant after 2011. Additionally, about 79 % of the stations in Eurasia were in net carbon uptake in SSA, and net carbon emission stations were mainly located in southwestern Eurasia. The intensity of net carbon uptake was highest in the forest, with a mean carbon uptake of 1.73 ± 0.76 g C m -2 d -1 in SSA during 2003-2018, and almost all stations demonstrated carbon uptake. During 2011-2018, the number of stations experiencing reduced NEP exceeded those with increased NEP, and this ratio was higher compared to 2003-2011, mainly due to the decrease in EVI and LSWI. The rate of NEP decline at stations with reduced NEP was 5.2 × 10 -3  g C m -2 d -1  yr -1 faster during 2011-2018 than in the previous period (p < 0.01). Most of the decreases in NEP during 2011-2018 occurred in cropland, grassland and urban land. The spatio-temporal dynamic analysis of Eurasian NEP could provide references for effective carbon management., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

The arid and semi-arid regions of northwest China are characterized by sparse vegetation and fragile ecosystems, making them highly susceptible to the impacts of climate change and human activities. Based on observed meteorological data, the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), the Lund-Potsdam-Jena dynamic global vegetation model (LPJ), a vegetation recovery potential model, and the MK trend test method, this study investigated the spatiotemporal distribution of vegetation recovery potential in northwest China and its relationship with global warming and increasing precipitation. The results indicated that vegetation in northwest China significantly increased, with greening closely related to trends in warming and wetting during 1982-2019. However, the vegetation recovery potential declined due to climate change. Central and southern Xinjiang and central Qinghai exhibited higher grassland recovery potential, while the central Gobi Desert areas of northwest China had lower recovery potential. The eastern part of northwest China was highly sensitive to drought, with moderate vegetation growth and recovery potential. Remote sensing data indicated a 2.3% increase in vegetation coverage in the region, with an average vegetation recovery potential index (IVCP) of 0.31. According to the results of LPJ model, the average vegetation recovery potential index for northwest China was 0.14, indicating a 1.1% improvement potential in vegetation coverage. Overall, climate warming and wetting facilitated vegetation recovery in northwest China, particularly in mountainous areas. The findings provide valuable insights for ecological restoration efforts and offer practical guidance for combating desertification and enhancing sustainable development. Moreover, these results underline the importance of incorporating vegetation recovery potential into regional policy-making to improve environmental resilience in the face of ongoing climate change.

Chlorinated organic pollutants (Cl-OPs), highly toxic and environmentally persistent, have become the spotlight, particularly from petrochemical industry. This study focuses on environmental fate of Cl-OPs from petrochemical industry, and transformation mechanisms in multi-media, aiming to enhance pollution control and remediation strategies. Emitted from leakage and waste discharge, Cl-OPs, encompassing chlorinated volatile organic compounds (Cl-VOCs), traditional and emerging persistent organic pollutants (POPs), were prevalent with average concentrations of 10 -6 -10 3 μg/m 3 in the atmosphere, 10 -2 -10 5 μg/kg in soil and 10 0 -10 5 μg/L in groundwater. Significantly, emerging POPs, particularly hexachlorobutadiene (HCBD) and short-chain chlorinated paraffins (SCCPs), with concentrations comparable to Cl-VOCs, urgently need attention. Once into the environment, Cl-OPs are naturally transformed primarily through atmospheric oxidation and water photolysis induced by hydroxyl radical (‧OH), and microbial degradation. Despite challenges in atmospheric complete degradation, ‧OH in water effectively photolytically degrade chlorinated benzenes and paraffins facilitated by dissolved oxygen and organic matter. Microbial degradation, influenced by oxygen, temperature, and pH, is essential for Cl-OPs removal from water and soil, where oxidation make complete mineralization possible whereas dechlorination may generate higher toxic intermediates. Hence, Cl-OPs control necessitates an attentive to leakage and waste management. Furthermore, advanced ‧OH oxidation and microbial treatment are of effective remediation prospect., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Most of the world's mountains are distributed across national boundaries. However, due to the sovereignty of national boundaries, conservation plans between neighboring countries are often uncoordinated. Against the backdrop of impending environmental changes, transboundary mountain ecosystems and biodiversity face significant threats. This study employs the MaxEnt model, leveraging data on climate, topography, landscape, and human activities to predict potential distribution areas for mammals and birds, aiming to identify biodiversity hotspots (BHs) and analyze their distribution mechanisms in the Altai Mountains transboundary region (AMTR). Results indicate that BHs are primarily located near the Russian-Mongolian border, significantly influenced by climate variables, elevation, and human activities. The study also highlights changes in key habitat types (KHTs), particularly transitions between grassland and bareland, and the impact of climate-driven land cover change on the distribution of BHs. Furthermore, the research evaluates the coverage of protected areas and emphasizes the importance of identifying key biodiversity areas (KBAs) and establishing transboundary corridors for enhanced species protection and future environmental change adaptation. The findings underscore the necessity of transboundary cooperation and focused strategies for biodiversity conservation to mitigate the adverse effects of climate change and human activities., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright: © 2024 Yuan et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.)

Understanding the evolutionary history of a species is essential for effective conservation management. Malus sieversii , a relict broad-leaf forest tree found in arid Central Asian mountains, has a narrow and fragmented distribution and is classified as an endangered species in China. This species is considered one of the ancestors of the domesticated apple trees. In the present study, we sampled five populations of M. sieversii and its wide-ranging congener M. baccata from China. Through deep whole-genome resequencing, we analyzed the population's genetic diversity, genetic structure, demographic history, fixation of deleterious mutations, and genomic divergence. Our results revealed that M. baccata exhibits a higher level of genetic diversity than M. sieversii . The effective population size of M. sieversii decreased, whereas that of M. baccata recovered after the bottleneck effect. In M. sieversii , the genetic structure of the Yili region was distinct from that of the Tacheng region. Populations at the rear edge of the Tacheng region showed a stronger fixation of deleterious mutations than those in the Yili region. Genomic divergence indicated that the positively selected genes were associated with physiological processes within the genomic islands between the Yili and Tacheng regions. Based on these findings, we recommend the establishment of two separate conservation units for the Yili and Tacheng lineages to preserve their genetic resources. Given the limited distribution range and high fixation rate of deleterious mutations, urgent protective measures are recommended for the Tacheng lineage., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflicts of interest., (© 2024 The Author(s). Evolutionary Applications published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

N 6-methyladenosine (m6A) modification is a crucial and widespread molecular mechanism governing plant development and stress tolerance. The specific impact of m6A regulation on plants with inherently high salt tolerance remains unclear. Existing research primarily focuses on the overexpression or knockout of individual writer or eraser components to alter m6A levels. However, a comprehensive study simultaneously altering overall m6A modification levels within the same experiment is lacking. Such an investigation is essential to determine whether opposing changes in m6A modification levels exert entirely different effects on plant salt tolerance. In this study, we identified the major writer member mRNA adenosine methylase A (SbMTA) in sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) as critical for sorghum survival. The sbmta mutant exhibits a phenotype characterized by reduced overall m6A, developmental arrest, and, ultimately, lethality. Overexpression of SbMTA increased m6A levels and salt tolerance, while overexpression of the m6A eraser alkylated DNA repair protein AlkB homolog 10B (SbALKBH10B) in sorghum showed the opposite phenotype. Comparative analyses between sorghum with different m6A levels reveal that SbMTA- and SbALKBH10B-mediated m6A alterations significantly impact the stability and expression levels of genes related to the abscisic acid signaling pathway and growth under salt stress. In summary, this study unveils the intricate relationship between m6A modifications and salt tolerance in sorghum, providing valuable insights into how m6A modification levels on specific transcripts influence responses to salt stress., Competing Interests: Conflict of interest statement. The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest., (© The Author(s) 2024. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of American Society of Plant Biologists. All rights reserved. For commercial re-use, please contact reprints@oup.com for reprints and translation rights for reprints. All other permissions can be obtained through our RightsLink service via the Permissions link on the article page on our site—for further information please contact journals.permissions@oup.com.)

Sphingobacterium , as the type genus of the family Sphingobacteriaceae , comprises a diverse array of species found in various environments. In this study, we aim to reassess and elucidate the taxonomic relationships of Sphingobacterium species. Based on 16S rRNA gene sequences, the phylogeny of 70 validly published Sphingobacterium species was reconstructed. Of which, 50 species with available genomes were further subjected to overall genome relatedness indices (OGRI) analysis, resulting in the identification of distinct pairs of closely related species. One such pair, consisting of the type strains of Sphingobacterium soli and Sphingobacterium cellulitidis , exhibited an average nucleotide identity (ANI) of 97.7%, a digital DNA-DNA hybridization (dDDH) of 80.1% and an average amino acid identity (AAI) of 98.3%, alongside a 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity of 99.8%. Based on the phylogenetic, OGRI and phenotypical evidence, we propose S. soli as a later heterotypic synonym of S. cellulitidis . Additionally, another pair of type strains, Sphingobacterium siyangense and Sphingobacterium cladoniae , possessed ANI, dDDH, AAI and 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity values of 96.3, 70.1, 96.0 and 99.0%, respectively. These values, together with differences in phenotypic traits, support the proposal of two subspecies within this taxonomic lineage. Thus, we propose the establishment of two new subspecies, S. siyangense subsp. siyangense subsp. nov. and S. siyangense subsp. cladoniae subsp. nov.

Acid mine drainage (AMD) causes serious environmental pollution, which imposes stresses on soil ecosystems. Therefore, it is critical to study the responses of soil bacterial communities to AMD pollution in ecologically fragile desert grasslands. Here, the bacterial community composition, structure, and assembly processes in vertical soil profiles of an AMD contaminated desert grassland were explored using 16S rRNA high-throughput sequencing. The results showed that the surface layers of the profiles exhibited lower pH and higher heavy metals (HMs) content due to AMD influence. The AMD contamination led to reduced bacterial diversity in the surface soil layer of the profiles and significantly changed the bacterial community composition and structure. Gradients in pH, TK, TN, and HMs were the main factors driving bacterial community variability. In contrast to the uncontaminated profile, deterministic processes were important in shaping soil bacterial community in the AMD contaminated profiles. These findings will enhance understanding about the responses of soil bacteria in desert grassland soil to the environmental changes caused by AMD contamination and will improve the remediation of AMD contaminated soil., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Crops face constant threats from insect pests, which can lead to sudden disasters and global famine. One of the most dangerous pests is the Asian citrus psyllid (ACP), which poses a significant threat to citrus plantations worldwide. Effective and adaptive management strategies to combat ACP are always in demand. Plant resistance (PR) is a key element in pest management, playing crucial roles such as deterring pests through antifeedant and repellant properties, while also attracting natural enemies of these pests. One effective and innovative approach is the use of entomopathogenic fungi (EPF) to reduce pest populations. Additionally, other natural enemies play an important role in controlling certain insect pests. Given the significance of PR, EPF, and natural arthropod enemies (NAE), this review highlights the benefits of these strategies against ACP, drawing on successful examples from recent research. Furthermore, we discuss how EPF can be effectively utilized in citrus orchards, proposing strategies to ensure its efficient use and safeguard food security in the future., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest All authors have no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

The impact of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) on the physiological and biochemical processes crucial for tree seedling growth is substantial. Although the study of plant hydraulic traits in response to N and P is growing, comprehensive research on their combined effects remains limited. Malus sieversii, a key ancestral species of modern apples and a dominant species in Xinjiang's Tianshan wild fruit forest, is witnessing a decline due to climate change, pests and diseases, compounded by challenges in seedling regeneration. Addressing this, a 4-year study was conducted to determine the optimal fertilisation method for it. The experiment explored varying levels of N (N10, N20 and N40) and P (P2, P4 and P8), and their combined effects (N20Px: N20P2, N20P4, N20P8; NxP4: N10P4, N20P4 and N40P4), assessing their impact on gas exchange, hydraulic traits, and the interplay among functional traits in Tianshan Mountains' M. sieversii seedlings. Our study revealed that All N-inclusive fertilisers slightly promoted the net photosynthetic rate. N10 significantly increasing leaf hydraulic conductivity. All P-inclusive fertilisers adversely affected hydraulic conductivity. P8, N20P4 and N20P8 notably increased seedlings' vulnerability to embolism. Seedlings can adaptively adjust multiple functional traits in response to nutrient changes. The research suggests N10 and N20 as the most effective fertilisation treatments for M. sieversii seedlings in this region, while fertilisation involving phosphorus is less suitable. This study contributes valuable insights into the specific nutrient needs of it, vital for conservation and cultivation efforts in the Tianshan region., (© 2024 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Iron (Fe) oxides can interact with soil organic carbon (SOC) to form Fe-bound organic carbon (OC-Fe), which strongly promotes SOC protection, mitigating global climate change. However, the global patterns and factors controlling OC-Fe are unclear. Here, we conducted a meta-analysis of 3,395 globally distributed soil profiles to reveal the role of Fe-Al oxides in global soil carbon stabilization and stocks. The global OC-Fe stock in topsoil is 233 PgC, accounting for 33 ± 15% of the total SOC stock. A substantial OC-Fe deficit (difference between OC-Fe and OC-Fe max ) was observed at the equator and at mid-latitudes. Our findings suggest that mineral factors should be incorporated into soil carbon models to improve model predictions. Although there are uncertainties in current OC-Fe extraction method, the global distribution of OC-Fe and OC-Fe max constitutes a vital resource for future research targeting carbon cycling issues and offers innovative strategies for global soil carbon sequestration initiatives., Competing Interests: Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Skewness, a measure of the asymmetry of a distribution, is frequently employed to reflect a biologically important property. Another statistic, the Gini coefficient (GC), originally used to measure economic inequality, has been validated in measuring the inequality of biological size distributions. Given that the GC and skewness control overlapping domains and interact with each other, researchers are perplexed by their relationship (varying with the biological [organ, tissue or cell] size distributions) and use both of them together to provide a more complete picture of the data. This study provides analytical forms of the GC for biological size distributions, including two-parameter Weibull, uniform, normal, two-parameter lognormal, gamma, three-parameter Weibull, three-parameter lognormal, and three-parameter gamma distributions. Two empirical data sets and simulation data sets were used to clarify the GC-skewness relationships under different distributions. For the aforementioned distributions, the GC-skewness relationships can be divided into three types: (i) for a symmetrical distribution, the skewness is 0, and the GC ranges from 0.56 to 0.58 multiplied by the standard deviation divided by the mean irrespective of its relationship with the skewness; (ii) for an asymmetric distribution with a zero threshold, the GC is a monotonously increasing function of the skewness, and the two measures are equivalent; (iii) for an asymmetric distribution with a non-zero threshold, the GC is determined by the skewness and an additional correction factor. We showed the differences in improving the accuracy of GC calculations based on small-sample adjustments among various calculation methods, including the polygon (trapezoidal set) area method and the rotated Lorenz curve method. The present study turns the GC into a property of the distribution and offers a clear understanding for the GC-skewness relationship. This work provides insights into selecting and using the GC to measure inequality in ecological data, facilitating more accurate and meaningful analyses., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflicts of interest., (© 2024 The Author(s). Ecology and Evolution published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Alhagi camelorum , a desert shrub known for its impressive drought tolerance, exhibits notable resilience under arid conditions. However, the underlying mechanisms driving its drought resistance remain largely unexplored. This study aims to investigate these mechanisms by exposing A. camelorum to osmotic stress using varying polyethylene glycol (PEG) concentrations (1%, 5%, 10%) in a controlled laboratory setting. Growth analysis revealed significant inhibition and phenotypic changes with increasing PEG levels. Transcriptomic analysis, including differentially expressed gene identification, GO enrichment analysis, and hierarchical cluster analysis of genes in roots and shoots, identified key pathways associated with drought adaptation, such as ABA-activated signaling, cell wall biogenesis, photosynthesis, and secondary metabolite biosynthesis. Notably, some genes involved in these pathways exhibited tissue-specific expression patterns and showed PEG concentration-dependent regulation. Key findings include the dose-dependent (R 2 > 0.8) upregulation of a proline-rich protein (Asp01G030840) and a BURP domain-containing protein (Asp02G039780), as well as critical genes involved in cell wall biogenesis (encoding Pectinesterase inhibitor domain-containing and Fasciclin-like arabinogalactan protein), and secondary metabolite biosynthesis (encoding enzymes for terpenoid and flavonoid biosynthesis). The regulation of these genes is likely influenced by phytohormones such as ABA and other stress-related hormones, along with significant transcription factors like ABI4, TALE, MYB61, GRAS, and ERF. These insights lay the groundwork for further research into the functional roles of these genes, their regulatory networks, and their potential applications in enhancing drought resistance in desert plants and agricultural crops.

High-altitude plants face extreme environments such as low temperature, low oxygen, low nutrient levels, and strong ultraviolet radiation, causing them to adopt complex adaptation mechanisms. Phenotypic variation is the core manifestation of ecological adaptation and evolution. Many plants have developed a series of adaptive strategies through long-term natural selection and evolution, enabling them to survive and reproduce under such harsh conditions. This article reviews the techniques and methods used in recent years to study the adaptive evolution of high-altitude plants, including transplantation techniques, genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, and metabolomics techniques, and their applications in high-altitude plant adaptive evolution. Transplantation technology focuses on phenotypic variation, which refers to natural variations in morphological, physiological, and biochemical characteristics, exploring their key roles in nutrient utilization, photosynthesis optimization, and stress-resistance protection. Multiple omics technologies, including genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, and metabolomics, have revealed genes, regulatory pathways, and metabolic networks associated with phenotypic variations at the genetic and molecular levels. At the same time, the limitations and deficiencies of current technologies used to study plant adaptation to high-altitude environments were discussed. In addition, we propose future improvements to existing technologies and advocate for the integration of different technologies at multiple levels to study the molecular mechanisms of plant adaptation to high-altitude environments, thus providing insights for future research in this field.

Biological soil crusts (biocrusts) play pivotal ecological roles in regulating nitrogen cycling within desert ecosystems. While acknowledging the essential role played by ammonia-oxidizing microorganisms in nitrogen transformation, there remains a paucity of understanding concerning how disturbances to biocrusts impact the diversity and spatial distribution patterns among ammonia oxidizer communities within temperate deserts. This investigation delved into assessing how 4 years' worth of removing biocrust influenced niche differentiation between nitrifying archaea and bacteria while also examining its effects on shaping community structures of predominant ammonia-oxidizing archaea (AOA) within the Gurbantunggut Desert soils. Despite notable variations in abundance of ammonia-oxidizing microbes across distinct soil depths throughout different seasons, it became apparent that removing biocrust significantly altered both the abundance and niche pattern for AOA alongside their bacterial counterparts during winter and summer periods. Notably dominating over their bacterial counterparts within desert soils, AOA displayed their highest archaeal to bacterial amoA gene copy ratio (6549-fold higher) at a soil depth of 5-10 cm during summer. Moreover, substantial impacts were observed upon AOA diversity along with compositional changes following such perturbation events. The aftermath saw an emergence of more diffuse yet dynamic AOA communities, especially noticeable amidst winter when nitrogen and water limitations were relatively alleviated. In summary, our findings underscore how interactions between biocrust coverages alongside factors like soil temperature, total carbon content, or NO 3 &#95;N concentrations govern niches occupied by ammoxidation communities whilst influencing assemblage processes too. The sensitivity shown by dominant AOAs towards biocrust removal further underscores how biocrust coverage influences nitrogen transformation processes while potentially involving other communities and functions in desert ecosystems.- &#95;N concentrations govern niches occupied by ammoxidation communities whilst influencing assemblage processes too. The sensitivity shown by dominant AOAs towards biocrust removal further underscores how biocrust coverage influences nitrogen transformation processes while potentially involving other communities and functions in desert ecosystems., Competing Interests: Declarations. Competing Interests: The authors declare no competing interests., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Apocynum pictum ( A. pictum ) honey is rich in effective ingredients including flavonoids, terpenes, and alkaloids that are beneficial to human health. In this study, widely targeted metabolomics were used to detect the plant-derived secondary metabolites of the same batch of A. pictum honey from 2022 to 2024, in order to explore whether storage time changes the quality of A. pictum honey, especially the content of plant-derived secondary metabolites with important health benefits. The results showed that storage time had no significant effect on the content of sugars, proteins, and other major components in A. pictum honey. At the same time, we also found that although storage time had an impact on the content of some secondary metabolites such as flavonoids in A. pictum honey, the changes in the content of the characteristic active ingredient, hyperoside, in A. pictum honey were not significant. These findings suggest that storage time has a minimal impact on the quality of A. pictum honey. This study provides a theoretical basis for the rational storage of A. pictum honey.