Table of Content

10 December 2025, Volume 44 Issue 12

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Biological interactions mediated by volatiles of invasive plants.

2025, 44(12):  3873-3882.  doi:10.13292/j.1000-4890.202512.020

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Plant invasion results in biodiversity loss, ecosystem degradation, and the impairment of ecological service functions. The volatile secondary metabolites released by invasive plants may affect plant invasion. We review the current research status of how volatile substances released by invasive plants affect neighboring plants, animals, and microorganisms in both aboveground and underground ecosystems. Studies have shown that volatile substances from invasive plants can inhibit seed germination and seedling growth of neighboring plants through air diffusion or soil transmission. Furthermore, they can regulate the behavior of native insects, for instance, by repelling herbivorous insects and attracting pollinators, to gain a competitive advantage over native plants. In addition, invasive plants may enrich local pathogenic microorganisms or recruit beneficial microorganisms via their volatiles, thereby interfering with the growth of native plants. As integrated organic entities, there is an inherent connection between the aboveground and underground volatiles of plants. Exploring the links between aboveground and underground volatiles of invasive plants in terms of their synthesis, release, and ecological functions is conducive to systematically revealing the ecological functions and evolution of plant volatiles, as well as deeply clarifying the mechanisms of plant invasion mediated by volatiles.





Effects of invasive plants on soil nitrogen transformation under the background of day and night warming and its correlation with ammoniaoxidizers.

CHEN Baoming, SU Zheyang, FANG Yuqi

2025, 44(12):  3883-3890.  doi:10.13292/j.1000-4890.202512.032

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Global warming shows a diurnal asymmetrical trend. Invasive plant species have significant impacts on soil nitrogen (N) transformation. Ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB) and archaea (AOA) are the key microorganisms regulating N transformation. However, the effects of invasive plants on soil N transformation under day and night-warming and its relationship with ammonia-oxidizing microorganisms remain unclear. Two invasive alien plants (Bidens alba and Praxelis clematidea) and a native plant (Emilia sonchifolia) were selected. A common garden experiment with three warming treatments (day warming, night warming and whole day warming) and a control (no warming) was set up. We investigated the effects of different plants on soil N transformation under day and night-warming and the relationship between soil N content and ammonia-oxidizing microorganisms. The results showed that day warming increased the soil NH₄⁺ of B. alba and the soil NO₃^- content of E. sonchifolia, while night warming increased soil NO₃^- content of B. alba but decreased soil NH₄⁺ content of P. clematidea. Those results indicate that different warming had different effects on soil nitrogen content, which depended on plant species. Day and night-warming increased the abundance of AOB of P. clematidea, while soil AOB abundance of B. alba was only increased under night warming, and warming had no significant effects on abundance of soil AOA. There was a signi-ficant positive correlation between the abundance of AOB and NO₃^- of the two invasive species, indicating that the promotion effect of invasive plants on soil NO₃^- content was mainly related to the increases of AOB abundance under warming. This study is helpful for understanding the effects of day and night-warming on soil N transformation with plant invasion, and the role of AOA and AOB in soil N transformation.





Effect of Spartina alterniflora invasion on the abundance of diazotrophs in coastal wetland soils of Fujian Province.

YE Yueling, ZUO Ting, CHEN Qirun, YANG Ping, YE Guiping, LIN Yongxin

2025, 44(12):  3891-3897.  doi:10.13292/j.1000-4890.202512.034

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Diazotrophs are the primary source of bioavailable nitrogen in natural ecosystems, making the elucidation of their abundance paramount for effective soil nitrogen management. To reveal the response of soil diazotroph abundance to Spartina alterniflora invasion and its key controlling factors, we collected soil samples from eight typical coastal wetlands in Fujian Province and employed real-time quantitative PCR to measure the abundance of nifH genes in bare tidal flats and S. alterniflora invaded wetland soils. The results showed that S. alterniflora invasion increased the contents of soil organic carbon (SOC), ammonium (NH₄⁺-N), nitrate (NO₃^--N), sulfate (SO₄^2-), microbial biomass carbon (MBC), microbial biomass nitrogen (MBN), salinity, and Cl^-, while decreased soil pH. The copy number of nifH gene in S. alterniflora invaded wetland soils was significantly higher than that in bare tidal flat soil, suggesting that S. alterniflora invasion significantly increased soil diazotroph abundance. The abundance of nifH gene was significantly negatively correlated with soil pH and positively correlated with SOC, NH₄⁺-N, NO₃^--N, and MBN. Path analysis indicated that S. alterniflora invasion affected the abundance of nifH genes both directly and indirectly through SOC and MBN. Stepwise regression analysis revealed that MBN and SO₄^2- explained most of the variations in nifH gene abundance, with MBN being the most crucial environmental factor controlling nifH gene abundance. In summary, S. alterniflora invasion significantly increases the abundance of soil nifH genes in typical coastal wetlands of Fujian Province, with MBN being the most critical environmental factor regulating nifH gene abundance.





Effect of carbon addition on biomass and root and leaf morphological traits of Spartina alterniflora.

CHEN Hao, XIN Kun, XIONG Yanmei, QIAN Wei, ZENG Shujun, LI Zerui, AI Xihang, ZHANG Dina, HU Kaijie

2025, 44(12):  3898-3905.  doi:10.13292/j.1000-4890.202512.031

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Elevated nitrogen levels in the environment enhance the adaptability and invasive ability of Spartina alterniflora. However, there is limited research on reducing soil nitrogen content by carbon addition to control Spartina alterniflora. In this study, under simulated tidal conditions, we used carbon addition to reduce available soil nitrogen. We set up an experiment with two types of carbon sources (glucose and sodium acetate), two carbon addition levels (400 and 800 g C·m^-2), and a control (CK) to analyze the effects of carbon addition on S. alterniflora biomass and root and leaf morphological traits. The results showed that carbon addition significantly decreased soil nitrate nitrogen and the biomass of roots, stems, and leaves of S. alterniflora (P<0.05). When the rate of carbon addition reached 800 g C·m^-2, it significantly reduced lateral root length, adventitious root length, root surface area, specific root length, leaf length, leaf width, leaf perimeter, leaf area, and specific leaf area, and significantly increased the ratio of lateral root length to adventitious root length and root tissue density (P<0.05). However, carbon addition treatments had no significant effect on stem-to-leaf ratio and leaf length-width ratio of S. alterniflora (P>0.05). S. alterniflora biomass was significantly negatively correlated with carbon addition level, while root tissue density and the ratio of lateral root length to adventitious root length were significantly positively correlated with carbon addition level (P<0.05). Overall, carbon addition reduced soil nitrate nitrogen content and significantly inhibited the biomass of S. alterniflora as well as the biomass of roots and leaves. Our findings could contribute to predicting the response of invasive plants to nutrient management measures and provide new insights for the management of invasive S. alterniflora.





Effects of phosphorus addition on the growth and competition of Chromolaena odorata and two native species in rocky desertification area.

PAN Yumei, TANG Saichun, LI Xiangqin, WEI Chunqiang, WEI Yujing, YIN Fulin

2025, 44(12):  3906-3914.  doi:10.13292/j.1000-4890.202512.038

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Phosphorus is a key resource influencing alien plant invasion. To investigate the effects of phosphorus addition on the invasion of Chromolaena odorata in karst rocky desertification area, we conducted a pot experiment to examine the growth and competitive responses of the invasive plant C. odorata and the native plants Eupatorium chinense and Vitex negundo under three phosphorus addition levels (0, 50, and 100 mg·kg^-1). The results showed that phosphorus addition significantly increased plant height and biomass in both C. odorata and E. chinense, but did not affect V. negundo. When grown in competition with E. chinense, C. odorata consistently demonstrated greater biomass across all treatments. Under high-phosphorus conditions, C. odorata exhibited significantly higher root mass ratio (RMR) and root-to-shoot ratio (R/S) than E. chinense. Moreover, its competitive indices-the relative interaction intensity (RII) and relative dominance index (RDI) showed significant increases. When grown in competition with V. negundo, plant biomass showed no significant differences between C. odorata and V. negundo across all phosphorus levels. Phosphorus addition did not affect growth parameters in either species. Both species exhibited negative RII values under all treatments. Furthermore, there was no difference in either RII (except low phosphorus treatment) or RDI between the two species. Phosphorus addition enhanced the competitive advantage of C. odorata over E. chinense, but did not alter the competition between C. odorata and V. negundo. These findings demonstrate that phosphorus-mediated effects on invasion success depend critically on the identity of native competitor. This research provides novel insights into the mechanisms driving C. odorata invasion in rocky desertification areas and provides a scientific basis for developing management strategies.





The influence of species diversity and community nurturing time on the resistance of forage grasses to Mikania micrantha invasion.

HUANG Jingjing, WANG Hao, HAN Aiyan, HUANG Qiaoqiao

2025, 44(12):  3915-3922.  doi:10.13292/j.1000-4890.202512.018

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Mikania micrantha, an invasive plant species, causes significant harm in South China. Utilizing plant replacement control can mitigate the detrimental effects of invasive species and yield ecological and economic benefits. We examined the effect of species diversity and community nurturing time on resistance of five forage grass species to M. micrantha invasion, including Medicago sativa, Trifolium hybridum, Stylosanthes guianensias, Lolium perenne, and Dactylis glomerata. The results showed that when M. micrantha and forage grasses grew simultaneously, the forage grass communities had poor control over M. micrantha. When M. micrantha invaded mature forage grass communities (nearly 4 months of nurturing), an increase in forage grass diversity resulted in a decrease in M. micrantha biomass, but the difference was not statistically significant. When inoculated with soils without M. micrantha conditioning, an increase in forage grass diversity increased the individual growth of M. micrantha and forage grasses through soil legacy effect. Biomass of forage grasses was negatively related with that of M. micrantha, and this relationship was particularly strong when M. micrantha invaded mature forage grass communities, indicating that mature forage grass communities with substantial biomass could effectively suppress M. micrantha. Aboveground biomass of mature forage grass communities containing S. guianensias ranged from 75.16 to 162.2 g per pot, but that without S. guianensias ranged from 0.2 to 15.66 g per pot. Therefore, planting S. guianensias either alone or in combination with other forage grass species and nurturing these communities for a period of time (nearly 4 months) can effectively resist M. micrantha invasion.





The impact of plant diversity and environmental factors on the invasiveness of Solidago canadensis around Ningbo Port. 

WU Xiehui, CHENG Xiaoyan, XU Fanghan, LAO Nini, HU Yaxin, LI Saiqiang, YANG Xiaodong

2025, 44(12):  3923-3931.  doi:10.13292/j.1000-4890.202512.035

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Invasive alien species pose a severe threat to China’s biodiversity, economic development, and human health, yet research on the invasion mechanisms remains relatively insufficient. This study focused on the widely invasive Solidago canadensis in China, with the surrounding area of Ningbo Port as the study region. After investigating 270 quadrats, principal component analysis, multiple linear regression models, and generalized linear models were employed to explore the effects of species diversity, phylogenetic diversity, and environmental factors on the invasion of S. canadensis. The results showed that: (1) The invasion of S. canadensis was severe, accounting for 74.44% of the surveyed quadrats; (2) The influence of environmental factors on the invasiveness of S. canadensis was limited, with only the second factor composed of soil factors showing a significant positive correlation with the relative height of S. canadensis (P<0.05); (3) Species diversity had a significant inhibitory effect on S. canadensis, exerting a notably negative impact on relative height, relative abundance, relative cover, and ecological importance value (P<0.05), with contributions all exceeding 70%; (4) Phylogenetic diversity did not affect the invasiveness of S. canadensis (P>0.05), and the Darwinian naturalization conundrum requires further investigation. This study demonstrates that the invasiveness of S. canadensis in port areas is not affected by environmental factors, but is primarily suppressed by plant diversity, particularly species diversity. It is suggested that the “biotic resistance hypothesis” is the main mechanism explaining the invasion of S. canadensis in port areas. Our findings are of significant importance for the development of control strategies for invasive species in port regions.



Interception mechanism of tumbleweed dispersal of Solanum rostratum by fences. 

YU Hang, ZHOU Quanlai, CAO Wei, ZHANG Yue, MA Yingpei, MA Weige, JIANG Yan, WANG Yongcui, CUI Xue, ZHANG Mengying

2025, 44(12):  3932-3938.  doi:10.13292/j.1000-4890.202512.027

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Dispersal interception of Solanum rostratum is crucial for controlling its invasion into new habitats and large-scale spread. We used a wind tunnel simulation to determine the wind velocity required for stem breakage of the plant according to assumed dispersal characteristics of tumbleweed. An experiment following randomized block design was conducted to monitor the effect of fences on dispersal interception. We found that the mature plants were not broken when the wind speed was 14 m·s^-1. In the enclosed area, 99.1% of plants were not broken by wind, and 0.9% were artificially broken during fence construction. The fruits did not drop from the plant in the field, and so we did not find fruits passing through mesh holes of the fence by wind. Different fences with small (3 cm×3 cm), medium (6 cm×6 cm), large (12 cm×12 cm) and extra-large (20 cm×40 cm) mesh hole did not affect interception efficiency. Half of the plants were able to climb over 40 cm high fence, while the plants were unable to climb over 70 cm high fence. Therefore, S. rostratum is not a typical tumbleweed, and its stem can not be broken by wind, but could be broken by animals or people trampling. The long-distance dispersal of S. rostratum can be controlled effectively by preventing contact with livestock and human disturbance.





Investigation of alien plants and risk assessment of invasive alien plants in urban landscaping in the Lingshan Tourist Area, Jiangxia District, Wuhan.

MAO Qinghui, CHENG Dandan

2025, 44(12):  3939-3945.  doi:10.13292/j.1000-4890.202512.017

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To clarify the invasion status of alien plants in the Lingshan Tourist Area of Jiangxia District, Wuhan City, assess their potential ecological risks, and develop classified prevention and control strategies, we combined field surveys and quadrat investigations to systematically record information of species composition, survival status, invasion intensity, and harmful characteristics of alien plants. Additionally, the Terrestrial Plant Species Invasiveness Screening Kit (TPS-ISK) developed based on the Australian Weed Risk Assessment (WRA) system was used to evaluate the invasion risk of 17 alien plant species commonly used in landscaping and determine their respective risk levels. The results showed that a total of 75 alien plant species were recorded, belonging to 34 families and 59 genera. Asteraceae and Fabaceae were the dominant families, accounting for 20% and 9.3%, respectively. Herbs (accounting for 72.8%) significantly outnumbered woody plants, and the Americas were the primary regions of origin (accounting for 67.7%). Among the 75 alien species, 13 were listed in the first to fourth batches of invasive alien species in China, 45 (including the above 13 alien invasive species and six landscaping alien species) were recorded in the 2023 edition of the Catalogue of Invasive and Naturalized Alien Plants in China, 31 were used in urban landscaping, and five were crops. We further selected five invasive species and five alien crops with high frequency to test the applicability of TPS-ISK, and to conduct risk assessment on 17 landscaping alien species with invasion risks. The results showed that all the five invasive alien species, including Solidago canadensis, Erigeron canadensis, Phytolacca americana, Ipomoea purpurea, and Amaranthus retroflexus, were classified as high-risk. The five alien crops, including Citrullus lanatus, Cucurbita moschata, Solanum tuberosum, Ipomoea batatas, and Zea mays, were classified as low-risk. Among the 17 alien landscaping species, Trifolium pratense, Trifolium repens, and Canna indica were identified as high-risk; seven species including Portulaca grandiflora, Senna tora, and Cosmos bipinnatus were classified as medium-risk; and the remaining species were low-risk. Our results demonstrate that TPS-ISK is suitable for assessing the invasion risks of alien plants in the study area, and that alien landscaping plants should be managed through tiered prevention and control measures based on their assessed risk levels.





Spatiotemporal variations and invasion mechanism of Spartina alterniflora in the Jiaozhou Bay coastal wetland.

ZHANG Siyi, DONG Liu, MAO Youtong, SUN Yining, WANG Sen, KONG Fanlong, LI Maomao

2025, 44(12):  3950-3959.  doi:10.13292/j.1000-4890.202512.019

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Based on field surveys, literature reviews, and satellite remote sensing, we investigated the spatiotemporal variations and mechanisms of Spartina alterniflora invasion in the Jiaozhou Bay coastal wetland of Qingdao. The results showed that S. alterniflora invasion in the Jiaozhou Bay exhibited distinct spatiotemporal characteristics. Specifically, the estuary of the Yanghe River had the largest invasion area (338.75 hm²) and the fastest expansion rate. In contrast, the invasion areas at the confluence estuary of the Moshui River and the Baisha River and the eastern tidal flat area of the Jiaozhou Bay National Ocean Park were relatively smaller, but the growth trend was noticeable. The invasion of Spartina alterniflora in the Jiaozhou Bay coastal wetland could be attributed to four main factors: (1) the intrinsic biological traits of Spartina alterniflora; (2) the unique environmental conditions of the Jiaozhou Bay; (3) S. alterniflora mainly invaded through three expansion modes: external isolation expansion, edge expansion, and tidal creek-led expansion. It occupied the Yanghe Estuary area, the confluence estuary area of the Moshui River and Baisha River, and the eastern tidal flat area of Jiaozhou Bay National Marine Park respectively, showing different expansion rates and spatial characteristics; and (4) the impact of human activities (such as the construction of sewage outlets and rubber dams, and aquaculture) on S. alterniflora invasion in the Jiaozhou Bay coastal wetland (the northern bank of the Yanghe estuary, the eastern river channel from the Baisha River estuary, and the eastern tidal flat area of the Jiaozhou Bay National Ocean Park). By elucidating the spatiotemporal variations of S. alterniflora invasion, this study revealed the invasion mechanisms in the Jiaozhou Bay coastal wetland, providing a scientific basis for the development of rational wetland protection and S. alterniflora control strategies to prevent the secondary invasion. These findings offer enlightening implications for policy-making and practical applications in related fields.





Current status of alien fish invasion in the middle and lower reaches of Zengjiang River and its relationship with environmental factors.

HUANG Junhan, WANG Yuxiang, LUO Si, FANG Miao, SHU Lu, XU Meng, WEI Hui, WANG Xuejie, HU Yinchang, YU Fandong, GU Dangen

2025, 44(12):  3960-3969.  doi:10.13292/j.1000-4890.202512.037

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This study evaluated fish community structure and the invasion status of alien fish in the middle and lower reaches of the Zengjiang River, with a focus on the distribution pattern of alien fish and their relationship with environmental factors, aiming to reveal the invasion mechanism and provide a scientific basis for ecological management. Fish samples and environmental factors were collected from 20 sampling sites in the middle and lower reaches of the Zengjiang River in the summer and winter of 2024. Fish community composition and dominance were quantified using the index of relative importance (IRI), the abundancebiomass comparison (ABC) curve, and Jaccard similarity index. Principal component analysis (PCA) was applied to identify dominant environmental drivers, while redundancy analysis (RDA) was employed to elucidate the relationships between fish assemblages and environmental factors. A total of 25 fish species, comprising 753 individuals with a total biomass of 47.88 kg, were recorded. Exotic species accounted for 74.37% of the total abundance and 74.40% of the total biomass. The Redbelly tilapia (Coptodon zillii) and Amazon sailfin catfish (Pterygoplichthys pardalis) were the dominant species throughout the year, replacing the previously dominant Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus). Fish communities in the winter showed higher similarity compared to summer. PCA results indicated that flow velocity and specific conductivity were the key environmental factors. RDA further revealed that the distribution of Redbelly tilapia was negatively correlated with specific conductivity, while Amazon sailfin catfish was positively correlated with flow velocity. This study demonstrates a rapid replacement of dominant exotic species in the Zengjiang River and clarifies the coupling mechanisms between their distributions and key environmental factors. Our findings highlight the importance of implementing targeted management measures based on the major environmental drivers influencing exotic fish distribution, in order to curb the spread of high-risk invasive species and promote ecological restoration and sustainable fisheries in the Zengjiang River Basin.





Stochastic processes dominated the bacterial community assembly in rhizosphere soil of Picea crassifolia in Helan Mountain.

ZHAO Yujia, YANG Yuze, LI Yue, HAO Ke, LI Yinggang, LI Min

2025, 44(12):  3970-3977.  doi:10.13292/j.1000-4890.202512.013

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To understand the diversity of soil bacteria in the rhizosphere of Picea crassifolia and its response to environmental changes, and to reveal the mechanism of soil microbiome of P. crassifolia in adapting to alpine and drought stress, Illumina Miseq high-throughput sequencing technology was used to analyze the community composition of soil bacteria. The results showed that Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria and Acidobacteria were the main dominant phyla, with relative abundances of 34.9%, 28.0% and 13.9%, respectively. At the genus level, the relative abundances of Sphingomonas (4.5%), RB41(3.0%) and Bradyrhizobium (3.0%) were more than 1.0% and were the dominant genera. The bacterial diversity and richness increased with the increasing altitude. The analysis of the co-occurrence network of bacterial communities showed that the modularity index of the network was 0.939, indicating a high modularity level. Stochastic processes accounted for 70.4% of assembly processes, indicating that the ecological construction of the bacterial community in the rhizosphere soil of P. crassifolia was dominated by the stochastic processes.





Response of plant-microorganismsoil ecological stoichiometric characteristics of a young forest of Cyclobalanopsis gilva to difficult site.

DING Yafei, XU Yonghong, FAN Jianzhong, LIN Yukun, HUANG Shengyi, ZHOU Zhichun, WANG Bin

2025, 44(12):  3978-3987.  doi:10.13292/j.1000-4890.202512.012

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Understanding the plant-microorganism-soil ecological stoichiometric characteristics of young Cyclobalanopsis gilva forests on site challenging for afforestation can provide a scientific basis for the optimal growth of young C. gilva forests in such conditions. We collected samples of roots, branches, leaves, as well as soils at depths of 0-10, 10-20, 20-40 and 40-60 cm from a 7-year-old C. gilva plantation established on both difficult and control sites in Tanxia forest area of Shouchang Forest Farm, Jiande City, Zhejiang Province. The ecological stoichiometric characteristics of carbon (C), nitrogen (N), and phosphorus (P) in different organs of C. gilva, soil and soil microbial biomass were compared between the difficult site and control site. The results showed that the vertical distribution patterns of soil C, N, P contents and their stoichiometric ratios on the difficult site and the control site were similar, all decreasing with the increasing soil depth. However, all those variables for different soil layers on the difficult site were lower than those on the control site, particularly the C, N, P contents in different soil layers of difficult site, as well as the C∶N and C∶P in 0-10 and 10-20 cm soil layers, showing significant reductions. Leaf C content, root and leaf N content, leaf P content, root and branch C∶P and N∶P were significantly lower on the difficult site. Conversely, root and branch P content and root C∶N were significantly higher on the difficult site. Leaf N∶P on the difficult site was 18.56, suggesting that plant growth was co-limited by both N and P, whereas it was 21.31 at the control site, indicating that plant growth was mainly limited by P. Soil microbial biomass C, N, and P on the difficult site diminished progressively with increasing soil depth, and such decrease was less pronounced compared to that on the control site across all soil depths. Soil microbial biomass C, N, and P in all layers of the difficult site was consistently lower than that on the control site. The relationships of C, N, and P contents and stoichiometric ratios among plant, microorganism, and soil components in the young C. gilva forest on the difficult site were weaker compared to those on the control site. Collectively, soil nutrient levels and microbial biomass C, N, and P on the difficult site were relatively low. Plant growth was co-limited by both N and P, and the coupling relationship among plants, microorganisms, and soil nutrients was weak. Future research could further explore the targeted nutrient management and microbial regulation measures to promote growth of C. gilva.





Dynamics of plant species diversity and soil anti-scourability in Panzhihua tailings pond.

CHEN Bolan, TANG Lan, CHEN Huiqin, BAI Yishu, HE Yuting, LU Xinyao, ZHOU Yi, HAO Jianfeng

2025, 44(12):  3988-3997.  doi:10.13292/j.1000-4890.202512.008

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Vegetation on the dam body after the closure of the tailings pond blocks pollutant diffusion and consolidates soil and water. Exploring the correlation between vegetation restoration and soil anti-scourability is conducive to ensuring the geological safety of dam body, and would provide a reference for the ecological restoration in the mining area. The space-for-time substitution method and typical plot method were used in this study. We carried out community survey, anti-scourability test, and root morphology analysis over five representative vegetations with different restoration years (2, 8, 14, 20 and 26 years) in the Majiatian tailings pond in Panzhihua City, with the natural vegetation of the surrounding mountains without tailings disturbance as the control (CK). The results showed that: (1) The restored vegetations were dominated by herbaceous plants. The number of perennial plant species increased with the increase in the restoration duration. Dodonaea viscosa and Leptochloa chinensis were the dominant shrub and herbaceous species adapted to the tailings pond in the long term, respectively. (2) The Shannon diversity index (H), species richness index (D) and Simpson dominance index (H′) of the herb layer of the restored communities exhibited a trend of decreasing-increasing-decreasing-increasing with the restoration duration. The magnitude of the fluctuation was rapid and then slow. The D was the lowest in the restored community at the end of the 8th year of restoration (P<0.05), with D of the restored communities for shrubs and herbs were significantly lower than that of the CK community (P<0.05). (3) The soil anti-scourability coefficient (AS) showed a trend of decreasing and then increasing with the restoration duration. The AS of the community restored for 26 years was significantly higher than that of the other restored communities (P<0.05), but still significantly lower than that of the CK. (4) The number of root tips, number of branches, root length density, root surface area density, root volume density of fine roots (root diameter less than 1 mm) showed a highly significant positive correlation with the D value of the herbs (P<0.01). The herbaceous diversity index was positively correlated with the AS, indicating that herbaceous diversity promoted the morphological development of root systems and further enhanced the soil anti-scourability. With the increases of vegetation restoration duration, the fluctuation of plant species diversity slowed down and the soil anti-scourability increased. The diversity of herbaceous species and the development of fine root morphology have an important influence on the improvement of soil anti-scourability in tailings ponds.





Species composition, structure, and floristic characteristics of subtropical evergreen and deciduous broad-leaved mixed forest in southwestern Hubei.

2025, 44(12):  3998-4007.  doi:10.13292/j.1000-4890.202512.007

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Exploring community composition and structure characteristics of natural evergreen deciduous broad-leaved mixed forest in the mountainous regions of southwestern Hubei can provide scientific evidence for biodiversity conservation and sustainable utilization of forest resources. Based on survey data of woody plants with a diameter at breast height (DBH) ≥ 1 cm from a 6 hm² plot in Jinzi Mountain National Forest Farm, Hubei Province, China, we analyzed species composition, structure and floristic characteristics. Results showed that a total of 39907 woody plants were recorded within the plot, belonging to 180 species, 53 families, and 96 genera. There were 116 species of deciduous species with 23454 individuals, and 64 species of evergreen species with 16453 individuals. Both the number of species and individuals of deciduous species were higher than those of evergreen species. The importance values of deciduous and evergreen species were 73.28 and 26.72, respectively. The dominant species was Castanea henryi from the Fagaceae. The DBH classes of both evergreen and deciduous trees exhibited an inverted J-shaped distribution, while the dominant species displayed an L-shaped distribution. The tree, subtree, and shrub layers were primarily dominated by deciduous species, with evergreen species being subordinate. The floristic composition exhibited a mixture of tropical and temperate components. At the family level, tropical families (47.2%) were greater than temperate families (37.7%), whereas at the genus level, temperate genera (59.4%) were more numerous than tropical genera (36.5%). Our results will contribute to a deeper understanding of species composition and structural characteristics of subtropical evergreen and deciduous mixed forests, and provide basic information for forest protection and management.





CH₄, CO₂, and N₂O fluxes of Populus euphratica trunk in the middle reaches of the Tarim River and influencing factors.

AISHAN Tayierjiang, YAO Shiyu, WANG Huijuan, HALIK müt

2025, 44(12):  4008-4018.  doi:10.13292/j.1000-4890.202512.005

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As the single dominant tree species in the Tarim River Basin, Populus euphratica plays a significant role in the regional carbon cycle. We employed in situ observation methods to measure the emission rates of greenhouse gases (CH₄, CO₂, and N₂O) in the trunk (at breast height, 130 cm from the base of the tree) in a natural Populus euphratica forest in the middle reaches of the Tarim River. The aim is to investigate the characteristics of CH₄, CO₂, and N₂O emission fluxes from the tree trunk at different distances from the riverbank and to identify the potential influencing factors. The results showed that CH₄ and CO₂ emission fluxes from the trunks were significantly influenced by sampling site and temperature period (P<0.05). CH₄ and CO₂ emissions during the low-temperature period (05:00-08:00) were greater than those during the high-temperature period (16:00-19:00). In contrast, N₂O flux was relatively stable. The fluxes of CH₄, CO₂, and N₂O during the low-temperature period were within the ranges of 0.0583-0.6042, 35.944-127.521, and 0.020-0.058 μg·m^-2·h^-1, respectively. During the high-temperature period, the emission fluxes for CH₄, CO₂, and N₂O were 0.0542-0.6085, 33.968-101.344, and 0.019-0.102 μg·m^-2·h^-1, respectively. CO₂ fluxes showed a statistically significant positive correlation with air temperature during the high-temperature period. CO₂ and CH₄ emission fluxes were mainly positively regulated by core moisture content and core density, particularly more significant during high-temperature periods (AM: P<0.01; PM: P<0.001). Wind speed exerted a significant and negative impact on CO₂ emissions (P<0.001), while N₂O emissions were not affected by growth and meteorological factors. The emissions of CH₄, CO₂, and N₂O from trunk showed nonlinear relationships with soil moisture. CH₄ and CO₂ fluxes initially decreased and then increased with increasing soil moisture, whereas the N₂O emission fluxes displayed an opposite trend. In general, greenhouse gas emissions from Populus euphratica trunks varied significantly among individual trees. CH₄ and CO₂ fluxes showed large fluctuations that were closely associated with soil moisture and plant growth indicators. In contrast, N₂O fluxes exhibited minimal variation and were insensitive to environmental factors.





Effects of exogenous calcium on phosphorus nutrition and rhizosphere microbial community of ECM-associated Pinus massoniana seedlings.

PANG Li, WANG Yunpeng, QIAO Zhiwei, ZHOU Wenyang, LIU Chao

2025, 44(12):  4019-4030.  doi:10.13292/j.1000-4890.202512.026

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We investigated the effects of exogenous calcium (Ca) on the rhizosphere microbial community structure and soil phosphorus cycling of ectomycorrhiza (ECM)associated Pinus massoniana seedlings, aiming to provide reference for improving the productivity of ECM-dominated forest plantations. There were four treatments, including control, ECM fungal inoculation, Ca addition, and ECM fungal inoculation + Ca addition. The effects of Ca addition on rhizosphere microbial community composition of ECM-associated seedlings were analyzed by metagenomics. The structural equation model (SEM) was used to analyze the relationship between phosphorus cycle functional genes, microbial biomass (MBC, MBP), extracellular enzymes (CBH, ACP, POD), and root parameters. The main factors affecting phosphorus nutrition of ECM-associated seedlings were analyzed. The results showed that: (1) Ca additions significantly increased the relative abundance of Actinobacteria and Bacillota in the rhizosphere of ECM-associated seedlings, mainly including species from Arthrobacter, Mycolicibacterium, Streptomycetaceae, Bacillus, and Rhodococcus; (2) These enriched beneficial bacteria cooperated with ECM fungi to significantly increase ACP secretion in rhizosphere. After the addition of Ca, the relative abundance of microbial phosphorus absorption and transport genes (pstB) and inorganic phosphorus dissolution genes (ppa and pqqC) increased in rhizosphere, which thereby significantly increased the rhizosphere MBP and phosphorus content of ECM-associated seedlings by 86.21% and 47.07%, respectively; (3) Ca additions increased the number of absorptive roots with larger diameter (root diameter of 0.5-2.0 mm) of ECM-associated seedlings. These seedlings adopted dual strategies of altering root architecture and enhancing mycorrhizal symbiosis to acquire soil phosphorus. Under the condition of phosphorus limitation, adding a certain amount of calcium can improve soil phosphorus cycling and promote the uptake of soil phosphorus by ECM-associated seedlings.





Effects of ecological factors on seed germination of Phragmites australis and Triarrhena lutarioriparia. 

LI Caiyun, DING Shuai, HU Qiankun, DONG Biao, YUAN Longyi

2025, 44(12):  4031-4040.  doi:10.13292/j.1000-4890.202512.004

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Seed germination is a critical phase for plant population establishment and expansion, regulated by multiple factors. We investigated the effects of storage temperature, incubation temperature, substrate type, and mixed-sowing ratio on seed germination of Phragmites australis and Triarrhena lutarioriparia. Utilizing seed germination assays and allelopathy bioassays, we measured germination percentage, germination vigor, germination index, root length, shoot length, branch number, vital index, and the synthetic effect of allelopathy (SE). The results showed that low-temperature storage at 4 ℃ significantly enhanced germination of both species by breaking seed dormancy. The optimal temperature for seed germination of both species was 30 ℃. Furthermore, loam soil and monoculture conditions were more conductive to the germination of both species, while mixed sowing intensified the competition. The higher germination rate was observed when the higher proportions of a single species under mixed sowing conditions. Under the extract concentrations of 0.025 and 0.05 g·mL^-1, the SE of P. australis extract on T. lutarioriparia seeds was both -0.17, whereas the SE of T. lutarioriparia extract on P. australis seeds were -0.28 and -0.46, respectively. The extract of P. australis and T. lutarioriparia exhibited inhibitory effects on seed germination, with the allelopathic intensity of T. lutarioriparia extract on P. australis seeds being significantly stronger than that of P. australis extract on T. lutarioriparia seeds. Our results indicated that the integrated mechanisms involving temperature treatments, substrate adaptation and interspecific interactions variously drive the germination of P. australis and T. lutarioriparia, providing critical ecological evidence to decipher the spatial differentiation patterns of natural populations.





Phytoplankton community characteristics and their associations with environmental factors following ecological water replenishment in the Yongding River (Beijing section).

ZHANG Tianjiao, DU Liwei, LI Tianyu, LI Wenzhong, ZHANG Yaofang, YE Zhihan, SHI Changqing, YU Yipei

2025, 44(12):  4041-4051.  doi:10.13292/j.1000-4890.202512.006

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To clarify the impact of ecological water replenishment on phytoplankton community of the Yongding River (Beijing section), we analyzed the phytoplankton community dynamics during different water supplementation periods and their relationship with environmental factors. In 2023, a survey of phytoplankton communities and water environment was conducted in the mountain gorge and plain sections of the Yongding River during the pre-supplementation (June, August) and post-supplementation (September, October) periods. Phytoplankton samples and water samples were collected from eight sites. The results showed that ecological water replenishment significantly altered water physicochemical characteristics and the structure of phytoplankton community. During the post-supplementation period, water depth and chlorophyll a concentration were higher, while water temperature, pH, and total organic carbon concentration were higher during the pre-supplementation period. The mountain gorge section had higher pH and total nitrogen concentration than the plain section, while the plain section had relatively higher water temperature and chemical oxygen demand. A total of 144 phytoplankton species were recorded, mainly belonging to the Chlorophyta, Bacillariophyta, and Cyanophyta phyla. The highest species number occurred in September, while the lowest was in June. The phytoplankton density and biomass reached their maximum in September and August, respectively. Ecological water replenishment significantly affected phytoplankton diversity, with the highest biodiversity index in August and the highest evenness index in October. Canonical correspondence analysis showed that water temperature, total organic carbon, total nitrogen, and chlorophyll a concentration were key factors influencing the distribution of phytoplankton community. This study reveals the impacts of ecological water replenishment on phytoplankton community structure and provides important scientific evidence for the ecological restoration and management of the Yongding River.





Characteristics of phytoplankton communities and their hydroecological drivers in the Nujiang River basin and the upper section of Lancang River basin.

FANG Jinlong, WANG Shilu, WANG Yuchun, LI Qiuhua, XIANG Gang, LI Shehong, BAO Yufei, LIU Kun, GUO Mingwei, TAN Di, HAN Xiangfeng

2025, 44(12):  4052-4061.  doi:10.13292/j.1000-4890.202512.029

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The composition and structure of phytoplankton communities are important indicators for evaluating water quality and water ecology. However, characteristics of riverine phytoplankton communities and their relationship with water ecology are not fully understood in remote areas at high altitudes with low ambient temperature and light anthropogenic activities. In this study, phytoplankton communities were investigated in Nujiang River and the upper section of the Lancang River in July-August 2019, with a goal of evaluation of water quality and ecology in the rivers using the functional group classification method in combination with algal diversity index and functional group based Qr index. Furthermore, the key factors influencing phytoplankton community structure were evaluated. The results showed that a total of 44 phytoplankton species from 4 phyla and 36 genera were recorded in the Nujiang River, with an average biomass of 1.74 mg·L^-1 (0.013-13.299 mg·L^-1). The dominant functional group was MP. In comparison, 38 species from 4 phyla and 31 genera were detected in the upper section of the Lancang River, with an average biomass of 1.21 mg·L^-1 (0.079-5.840 mg·L^-1). Besides the major functional group of MP, a large number of moderately eutrophic functional groups such as J, K, W1, and W2 were found in the upper section of the Lancang River, indicating stronger eutrophication than in the Nujiang River. The values of indices indicated that the ecological status in two rivers was at a good condition, with the water quality of the Nujiang River being better than that of the upper section of the Lancang River. The structure of functional groups in the Nujiang River was mainly affected by water temperature, dissolved oxygen, and nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations. In contrast, the structure of phytoplankton communities in the upper section of the Lancang River was mainly regulated by nitrate nitrogen and total nitrogen concentrations. The analysis by coupling with the land-use data of the watersheds showed that algal communities in the Nujiang River and the upper section of Lancang River basins were significantly correlated with bare land and construction land (P<0.05), indicating that soil erosion and human activities have significant impacts on the water ecology of rivers in ecologically sensitive alpine areas, and are the primary controlling factors for the protection of water environment in alpine rivers.








Differences in avian community structure between urban and peri-urban forest parks in Nanjing.

WANG Xue, WANG Xuan, WANG Lei, SUN Wenjie, DING Jingjing

2025, 44(12):  4062-4071.  doi:10.13292/j.1000-4890.202512.001

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Urban green spaces are important for maintaining urban biodiversity. From April 2022 to January 2024, we employed the transect method to investigate bird communities in two representative urban green spaces of Nanjing City, Laoshan National Forest Park located in the suburbs and Zijinshan National Forest Park situated in the city center. A total of 117 bird species and 7833 individuals were recorded, with 103 species (3987 individuals) being observed in Laoshan and 89 species (3846 individuals) in Zijinshan. We quantified species diversity and functional diversity of birds in both parks using the Shannon index, Simpson index, Pielou’s evenness index, Rao’s quadratic entropy, functional evenness, and functional divergence. We analyzed the differences in bird community composition at the functional group level across different seasons between the two parks. Results showed significant differences in species diversity and functional diversity between the two parks. Overall, Laoshan exhibited higher bird diversity during summer, whereas Zijinshan showed greater diversity in autumn and winter. Species composition differed significantly between the two parks, with the highest BrayCurtis dissimilarity in spring. In spring, the proportion of functional groups nesting in shrubs, cliffs, or walls, and those foraging on water surfaces, was significantly higher in Zijinshan. These findings demonstrate that the configuration of urban green spaces has a profound impact on bird communities. We recommend enhancing the effectiveness of urban biodiversity conservation through rational planning of urban green spaces, such as increasing habitat types suitable for various bird species.





Diversity and spatial distribution of birds and mammals based on infrared camera monitoring in the understory of Guangdong Luokeng Crocodile Lizard National Nature Reserve. 

GAO Xiaohui, CHEN Daojian, WANG Zhengzhen, ZHANG Min, WANG Xincai, ZOU Fasheng

2025, 44(12):  4072-4082.  doi:10.13292/j.1000-4890.202512.024

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To better understand the current status of wildlife resources in Guangdong Luokeng Crocodile Lizard National Nature Reserve, a total of 50 infrared camera sites were deployed between January 2022 and July 2023, which captured 8316 days of work and obtained 11589 identifiable independent and valid photos. Over this period, 65 species (14 species of mammals and 51 species of birds) in 13 orders and 30 families were recorded, including one first-class nationally protected species, Tragopan caboti, and 15 second-class nationally protected species, such as Macaca thibetana, Prionailurus bengalensis, Prionodon pardicolor, Arborophila gingica, Pitta nympha. Mammals with high relative abundance index included Dremomys pyrrhomerus, Muntiacus vaginalis, Melogale moschata, and Callosciurus erythraeus. Birds with high relative abundance index included Lophura nycthemera, Pterorhinus pectoralis, and Arborophila gingica. The higher species diversity occurred at altitudes of 900-1000 m and below 500 m. Species diversity was positively correlated with altitude, and such positive correlation was more pronounced in mammals. Meanwhile, species diversity was higher in the core and buffer areas of the reserve than the experimental area, and this difference was more pronounced in birds. When these results were compared to camera monitoring in neighboring reserves in the Nanling Mountains, Nanling reserve had the highest diversity of mammals, while Luokeng reserve and Nanling reserve had a higher bird species diversity. This survey had accumulated baseline data on the diversity of birds and mammals in Luokeng Reserve that future long-term monitoring programs of wildlife resources can build off. The study preliminarily grasped the diversity data of birds and mammals in the understory of Luokeng Nature Reserve, and thus accumulated basic data for the long-term monitoring of wildlife resources in the reserve and the entire Nanling Mountains in the future.





Camera-trapping monitoring of bird and mammal diversity in Lishan National Nature Reserve, Shanxi.

XU Lin, LYU Weiwei, NIU Zhonghui, YUE Kexin, LIU Nian, XU Maohong, CUI Shaopeng

2025, 44(12):  4083-4091.  doi:10.13292/j.1000-4890.202512.003

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Lishan National Nature Reserve is the largest and most species-rich national nature reserve in Shanxi Province. The core area in Hungou harbors the only remaining primary forest on the Loess Plateau and in North China. From November 2020 to April 2024, a long-term camera-trapping survey was conducted to monitor mammalian and avian diversity in the reserve. The survey recorded 16 mammal species from 6 orders and 11 families, as well as 16 bird species from 5 orders and 7 families. Turdus boulboul was identified as a new species record for the reserve and a new bird distribution record for the Shanxi Province. Two species (Panthera pardus and Moschus moschiferus) are listed as Class I national protected animals, while seven species are listed as Class II national protected animals, including Macaca mulatta, Vulpes vulpes, Martes flavigula, Prionailurus bengalensis, Pucrasia macrolopha, Chrysolophus pictus, and Accipiter nisus, collectively accounting for 28.13% of all recorded species. Four species are categorized as threatened in the China Biodiversity Red List: Moschus moschiferus (Critically Endangered, CR), Panthera pardus (Endangered, EN), Prionailurus bengalensis (Vulnerable, VU), and Martes flavigula (VU), comprising 12.5% of all recorded species. The five most abundant mammals, as evaluated with the relative abundance index (RAI), were Arctonyx collaris, Sciurotamias davidianus, Sus scrofa, Capreolus pygargus, and Macaca mulatta. The top five bird species with the highest RAIs were Corvus macrorhynchos, Corvus corone, Urocissa erythroryncha, Pucrasia macrolopha, and Chrysolophus pictus. Additionally, the nocturnal activity analysis of the top ten species by RAIs showed that three species (Paguma larvata, Prionailurus bengalensis, and Arctonyx collaris) exhibited nocturnal activity, while the remaining seven species, such as Moschus moschiferus and Capreolus pygargus, were diurnal. This study provides foundational data for research on bird and mammal diversity in Lishan National Nature Reserve. For a more comprehensive biodiversity inventory in the future, it is suggested that monitoring efforts should be expanded to key areas, such as the Yunmeng core zone, and that complementary methods should be integrated to overcome the limitations of camera-trapping technology.








Prediction of potentially suitable habitats of Ciconia nigra in Beijing based on MaxEnt model.

ZHANG Wei, LYU Jiang, WANG Wenxue, TIAN Hengjiu

2025, 44(12):  4092-4099.  doi:10.13292/j.1000-4890.202512.014

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Black Stork (Ciconia nigra) is a firstclass national protected animal in China with endangered populations. We used the data of 100 distribution points of C. nigra and 14 environmental variables, including climatic, vegetation, topographic, hydrologic, and human disturbances, to assess the potentially suitable distribution areas of C. nigra in Beijing and to explore the impact of climate change on its suitable habitat. The maximum entropy model (MaxEnt) was then applied to simulate the potentially suitable distribution of C. nigra in Beijing under current and three future climate scenarios. The contribution rates of environmental variables to the species distribution model were analyzed to evaluate the key factors influencing potentially suitable distribution. We further analyzed the changes of potentially suitable distribution areas and patterns. The results showed that: (1) The key environmental variables influencing potentially suitable distribution of C. nigra were land cover types (24.0%), distance to rivers (18.8%), elevation (18.3%), distance to roads (9.1%), annual precipitation (5.6%), and precipitation in the driest month (5.4%). (2) Currently, the potentially suitable distributions of C. nigra in Beijing were mainly concentrated along river basins and surrounding areas, including the Juma River in Fangshan, Yongding River in Mentougou, Guanting Reservoir in Yanqing, and Miyun Reservoir. The total suitable areas were estimated at 2168.89 km², accounting for 13.2% of Beijing’s total area, with highly suitable areas of 58.36 km² (2.7%), moderately suitable areas of 415.87 km² (19.2%), and lowly suitable areas of 1694.66 km² (78.1%). (3) The potentially suitable distribution area of C. nigra showed an overall increasing trend under SSP1-2.6 (Low-emission Economic Pathway) and SSP2-4.5 (Mid-emission Economic Pathway) scenarios, while it exhibited an initial increase followed by a sharp decrease under SSP5-8.5 (High-emission Economic Pathway) scenario. The contraction areas predominantly occurred in southwestern and central regions of Beijing such as Fangshan, Mentougou, and Changping. Conversely, the expansion areas were mainly distributed in northern regions of Beijing like Yanqing, Huairou, and Miyun. Under different climate scenarios, the centroid of C. nigra’s potentially suitable distribution shifted towards the northeastern and higher altitude regions. Our results provide scientific basis for the conservation of C. nigra resources and for formulating effective strategies to cope with climate change.





Spatiotemporal variations of evapotranspiration and the impact of land use change on water consumption in the Loess Plateau.

GUO Yuanhong, LIU Wenjuan, LI Jiating, MA Kun

2025, 44(12):  4100-4109.  doi:10.13292/j.1000-4890.202512.015

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Accurate assessments of the spatiotemporal variations of actual evapotranspiration (ET) and the impact of land use changes on ET are crucial for the rational utilization and optimal allocation of regional water resources. With MOD16A2 data as the primary data source, we analyzed the spatiotemporal distribution and trends of actual ET of Loess Plateau from 2000 to 2022 by Theil-Sen trend analysis and Mann-Kendall test. Additionally, land use data were incorporated to examine the variations in ET across the primary land use types within the study area and to estimate the regional water consumption. The results showed that: (1) Actual average daily ET in the Loess Plateau exhibited annual fluctuations with an overall increasing trend, ranging from 0.52 to 0.97 mm, with an average daily increase rate of 0.015 mm·a^-1. Spatially, ET values showed an increasing trend from the northwest to the southeast of the region. (2) Among the four dominant land use types, the annual average evapotranspiration followed an order: forest land > cultivated land > grassland > unused land. (3) From 2000 to 2020, the cultivated land area in the Loess Plateau decreased by 13377.0 km², with a reduction rate of 6.2%. In contrast, forest land area increased significantly by 3748.6 km², primarily due to the “Grain for Green” policy, while constructed land increased by 11657.8 km². (4) The trend in water consumption was consistent with the changes in land use areas, showing an overall increasing trend from 2000 to 2020. These findings provide a robust scientific foundation for the sustainable utilization and allocation of water resources in the Loess Plateau, particularly under the context of the “Grain for Green” policy.





Spatiotemporal distribution and potential risks of Sb, As, and other elements in water environment of mining area.

SHI Yidan, TU Han, WU Pan, LI Ling

2025, 44(12):  4110-4120.  doi:10.13292/j.1000-4890.202512.010

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River pollution caused by mining has long been a typical environmental problem in mining areas. Focusing on the miningcontaminated areas, we examined the distribution of polluting elements (such as Sb and As) and their potential risks after water environment treatment in a polymetallic mining area in southwest China. We characterized the spatial distribution of polluting elements by analyzing the contents of polluting elements in the surface water and groundwater before and after local water environment treatment. The main sources of polluting elements in the current water environment were identified through positive matrix factorization (PMF) analysis, and the Nemerow pollution index and geoaccumulation index of local water bodies was analyzed. The results showed that the aquatic chemistry was dominated by Ca-SO₄ type. Sb and As in surface water and sediment were mainly from mining activities, while Zn, Cu and Cd in the environment mainly came from traffic pollution sources. Compared with the condition before local water environment treatment, the pollution has been significantly improved. However, the content of Sb and As in some samples still exceeds the standard and the sediment in current river has potential pollution risk. Therefore, sediments should be the main target of environmental management in this area, and attention should also be paid to the environmental risk of Sb and As in the water environment of the mining area.





Nutrient characteristics and improvement countermeasures of limestone slag in North China.

TANG Shiqi, LI Yuqian, YAO Yao, YANG Xiaobing, ZHANG Wenchao, LI Jinbo, SONG Guilong

2025, 44(12):  4121-4130.  doi:10.13292/j.1000-4890.202512.036

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Slag is one of the important materials for soil reconstruction in mining areas. We investigated the nutrient characteristics of typical limestone slag and its improvement strategies across six representative limestone mines in North China. We compared the nutrient content and enzyme activity between limestone slag of these sites and conventional greening soil. The potential application of organic waste compost for slag amendment was also explored. The results showed that most limestone slag had a favorable particle size distribution and suitable physical structure, indicating that nutrient recombination was the key to soil reconstruction. The cation exchange capacity, available nitrogen, available phosphorus, available potassium, and organic matter content of limestone slag were all significantly lower than those of conventional soil. The activities of catalase, alkaline phosphatase, sucrase, and urease were lower, suggesting that the limited nutrient release capacity was a key constraint on vegetation restoration. The soil enzyme activity of limestone slag was significantly correlated with the nutrient characteristics. The application of organic waste can effectively improve the pH of limestone slag and enhance nutrient availability. Peat, sewage sludge, composted green waste, fermented chicken manure, and fermented pig manure are suitable materials for ameliorating limestone slag. Our findings will provide a theoretical basis and scientific support for soil reconstruction and ecological restoration projects in limestone mining areas.





Antibacterial activity of endophytic fungi from Artemisia argyi var. argyi cv. Qiai against human pathogenic bacteria.

XU Bilin, YE Xin, FAN Likun, QIN Yuxin, HU Qingyang, ZHANG Jialiang

2025, 44(12):  4131-4143.  doi:10.13292/j.1000-4890.202512.002

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Endophytic fungi of medicinal plants are important antagonistic microbial resources. However, few studies have focused on the endophytic fungi of Artemisia argyi var. argyi cv. Qiai, which is a national geographical indication product in China and a genuine medicinal material in Hubei Province. In this study, the tissue grinding method was employed to isolate endophytic fungi from the roots, stems, and leaves of Qiai. The antibacterial activity of ethyl acetate extracts from the fermentation broth of these endophytic fungi was screened against five multidrug-resistant bacteria and five common human pathogenic bacteria using the filter paper disk method. Additionally, molecular biological classification and identification of the re-screened strains were conducted by amplifying the ITS sequences. A total of 71 endophytic fungi were isolated from Qiai. Among them, 13 strains exhibited inhibitory effects on two or more indicator bacteria. Notably, 9 out of the 13 effective strains originated from the leaves. Specifically, the strains Aspergillus niger YX-Y-12 and Aspergillus udagawae HQY-Y-15 displayed strong antibacterial activity against carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (CRAB) and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), respectively. Among them, the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) of the extract of the fermentation broth of strain YX-Y-12 against CRAB-1 were both 0.832 mg·mL^-1, while the MIC and MBC of strain HQY-Y-15 against MRSA were 0.052 and 0.208 mg·mL^-1, respectively. These 13 strains belonged to 1 phylum, 3 classes, 4 orders, 6 families and 6 genera: Aspergillus, Penicillium, Cladosporium, Fusarium, Acremonium, and Cercospora. Five out of the 13 strains belonged to the genus Aspergillus, accounting for 38.5%. Penicillium thomii and Cercospora beticola were isolated from plants for the first time. The ethyl acetate extracts of the fermentation broth of P. thomii, Aspergillus sclerotigenum, and Cladosporium tenuissimum had antibacterial activities against human pathogenic bacteria. Furthermore, A. niger had antibacterial activity against CRAB. Penicillium herquei had antibacterial activity against MRSA and Staphylococcus aureus. A. udagawae had antibacterial activity against Listeria monocytogenes/MRSA/S. aureus. C. beticola had antibacterial activity against Proteus vulgaris and Escherichia coli. Cladosporium cladosporioides had antibacterial activity against P. vulgaris. Moreover, the endophytic fungus A. udagawae HQY-Y-12 of Artemisia argyi var. argyi cv. Qiai may be a new species. Our results laid a foundation for further exploring the action mechanism of the functional endophytic fungi of Artemisia argyi var. argyi cv. Qiai and provided strain resources for the development of new antibacterial substances.





Complex effects and mechanisms of solution chemical conditions on the migration of perfluorooctanoic acid.

XING Yingna, LI Qi, JI Lei, FU Xiaowen, ZHANG Qiang, WANG Jianing

2025, 44(12):  4144-4151.  doi:10.13292/j.1000-4890.202512.028

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Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and its salts are a group of emerging persistent organic pollutants with both hydrophobic and oleophobic properties. Their widespread presence in soil and groundwater threatens human health and ecological safety. In this study, we investigated the effects of solution ionic strength, pH, dissolved organic matter (DOM), and cation type on the migration of PFOA through saturated column experiments. The breakthrough curves were fitted by the convection-diffusion equation, and the key mechanisms were discussed. Results showed that PFOA had a high mobility. When the background electrolyte was NaCl, the ionic strength and pH of the solution did not affect the maximum relative concentration (C/C_0max) of PFOA, and its breakthrough rate remained at about 100%. However, the electrostatic repulsion between PFOA and the porous media was weakened, leading to a slow migration velocity under acidic conditions. When the background electrolyte was CaCl₂, the migration characteristics of PFOA significantly changed. The increase in ionic strength and the decrease in pH reduced the breakthrough rate of PFOA by 8.3% and 23.4%, respectively. In addition, DOM had the ability to inhibit the migration of PFOA, which was enhanced by Ca²⁺. Multivalent cations in the pore solution could alter the interaction between PFOA and the pore medium by bridging. This alteration could change the response of PFOA transport behavior to variations in solution chemical conditions and play a crucial role in its migration. These results provide an important scientific basis for predicting the environmental transport behavior and managing the migration risk associated with PFOA.





Research advances on fire adaptations and responses of major coniferous tree species in southwest China’s forests.

HONG Ruicheng, ZHU Xilong, XU Shiying, MA Cheng, FANG Xiangyang, YAN Xiangxiang, HAN Li, WANG Qiuhua

2025, 44(12):  4152-4158.  doi:10.13292/j.1000-4890.202512.023

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The southwest China’s forest region is a critical fire prevention region in China, characterized by a high incidence of forest fires, largely due to the fire-adapted traits of its predominant vegetation. This region hosts a wide range of coniferous tree species, including Pinus yunnanensis, P. kesiya, P. densata, as well as the  subspecies of P. yunnanensi' (P. yunnanensi' var. pygmaea and P. yunnanensis var. tenuifolia). These coniferous species have developed notable fire adaptations, including high flammability, fire-dependent regeneration, and strong fire resistance. They exhibit high flammability but possess fire resistance, enabling them to eliminate competing plants through fire and rapidly regenerate post-fire, resulting in strong competitiveness. The distribution zones of these Pinus species are high-frequency forest fire areas. We systematically summarize the distinct fire adaptation strategies of major coniferous species in southwest China’s forests and their successional patterns under fire disturbance. This review aims to provide references for understanding the maintenance mechanism of the major coniferous tree ecosystem in the southwest forest area and exploring the future forest fire management methods in this region. Future research should focus on post-fire dynamic recovery mechanisms of dominant vegetation in southwest China’s forest region, fire risk zoning and zonal management strategies, and implementation and optimization of prescribed burning techniques.





Research progress on post-fire vegetation recovery.

LI Kaili, LIU Zhihua, XU Wenru, JIAO Kewei, YU Yue, LV Qiushuang, GUO Wenhua, ZHOU Siyu, GUAN Ruhong

2025, 44(12):  4159-4170.  doi:10.13292/j.1000-4890.202512.025

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Forest fire influences the composition, structure, and function of forest ecosystems, serving as a key disturbance factor that regulates forest dynamics and may potentially triggering irreversible shifts in successional trajectories. Investigating post-fire vegetation recovery and the driving factors is crucial for assessing the impacts of forest fires driven under the context of climate change and for developing effective fire management strategies. We systematically reviewed research on post-fire vegetation recovery since 1990 using bibliometric methods from four aspects: research methodologies, spatiotemporal recovery characteristics, driving factors, and management strategies. Furthermore, we identified the challenges in post-fire vegetation recovery research and proposed future research directions, aiming to provide a valuable reference for advancing quantitative studies on post-fire vegetation recovery in China.





Research progress on sources, measurement methods, generation and release mechanisms, and mitigation technologies of total dissolved gas supersaturation in high dam discharge.

XIE Pei, HAO Chenlin, QIAO Fei

2025, 44(12):  4171-4176.  doi:10.13292/j.1000-4890.202512.033

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The discharge of water from high dams can lead to the supersaturation of total dissolved gas (TDG) in downstream water bodies, posing serious risks to the health of aquatic ecosystems. With an increasing number of high dam projects coming into operation in China, the issue of TDG supersaturation in downstream water caused by high dam discharge has attracted growing attention. We review the research progress in the sources, evaluation criteria, measurement methods, generation and release processes, influencing factors, and mitigation techniques of TDG in high dam discharges. The occurrence of TDG can be attributed to the over-dissolution of gases in the deep and high-pressure areas of the stilling basin during high dam discharge. Based on the current status of TDG-related evaluation criteria, the necessity of setting limits for TDG in water environmental standards in China is pointed out. Two methods for measuring TDG saturation are summarized. The first one used the pressure of dissolved gases in water to represent the function of TDG saturation, and the other used concentration and solubility to represent the function of TDG saturation. The generation and release processes of TDG supersaturation and their influencing factors are elaborated, and mitigation techniques are proposed for each process. Our findings would provide ideas and scientific basis for addressing TDG supersaturation in high dam discharges.





Simulation of long-distance dispersal of Cytospora canker in Xinjiang based on HYSPLIT model.

LI Quansheng, CAO Shanshan, WANG Lei, HOU Ruixia, SUN Wei

2025, 44(12):  4177-4186.  doi:10.13292/j.1000-4890.202512.021

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Cytospora canker has caused significant losses in forest and fruit industries in Xinjiang. To explore the patterns of long-distance spread of this disease with air currents, the spatiotemporal dynamics of risks, and the possibility of its prevalence in different regions in Xinjiang, we conducted a 48-hour forward spread simulation of canker disease spores from 22 inoculum sources during the period from March to October of 2013 to 2022. The simulation was based on the HYSPLIT model combined with NCEP global reanalysis meteorological field data and implemented using MeteoInfo software. Through trajectory frequency analysis, cluster analysis, and trend analysis of the generated trajectory data, we analyzed the dispersal range, primary transmission pathways, and risk evolution patterns of Cytospora canker in Xinjiang. Results showed that: (1) The dispersal of Cytospora canker demonstrated pronounced regional and seasonal variations. In northern Xinjiang, dispersal trajectories were predominantly influenced by the west and northwest winds, with faster transmission speeds and wider affected areas. Some dispersal trajectories crossed or circumvented the Tianshan Mountain to reach southern Xinjiang. (2) The dispersal trajectories in southern Xinjiang were influenced by east and northeast winds. The western regions of southern Xinjiang were affected by northwest winds, with smaller transmission ranges than infection sources in northern Xinjiang. (3) From 2013 to 2022, the areas with an upward trend in transmission risk were more extensive in northern Xinjiang, while there were more areas with a downward trend in transmission risk in southern Xinjiang. Some regions in the Ili River Valley and Akto County were high-risk areas.





Multi-model discrimination on Yunnan’s specialty organic agricultural products based on isotope characteristic values.

ZHANG Liheng, JIA Lixin, SHUANG Ruichen, SHAO Jinliang, MENG Fanqiao, FANG Yunting, WU Di

2025, 44(12):  4187-4197.  doi:10.13292/j.1000-4890.202512.030

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Traditional studies in the identification of organic products mainly focus on detecting certification labels. There were no effective trait indicators for distinguishing organic products. To fill this knowledge gap, we utilized isotope ratio mass spectrometry (IRMS) to differentiate the organic and conventional samples. We selected certified organic farms and adjacent conventional farming areas in Yunnan Province, and collected samples of Polygonatum Sibiricum, lettuce, apples, and soils. Using discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA) and dimensionality reduction analysis, key indicators were identified. Machine learning models such as RandomForest and XGBoost were constructed to develop a method for distinguishing Yunnan’s highland organic products. The results showed that there were significant differences between organic and conventional farming in terms of product δ¹⁵N, soil alkali-hydrolyzable nitrogen and other indicators, with δ¹⁵N being the most important factor for distinguishing organic products. Product δ¹³C, total nitrogen content, soil δ¹⁵N, and alkali-hydrolyzable nitrogen content were significant indicators of organic farming. The machine learning models built using isotope characteristics such as δ¹⁵N and δ¹³C, along with product-soil property parameters, effectively distinguished the organic and conventional products, achieving an accuracy of over 92%.





Habitat suitability evaluation of Reeves’s pheasant in Yaoluoping National Nature Reserve.

LI Heng, ZHOU Lizhi, CHU Jun

2025, 44(12):  4198-4210.  doi:10.13292/j.1000-4890.202512.016

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Population distribution and habitat quality of wildlife are fundamental to the stability of species populations and crucial for the conservation of wildlife, especially for the threatened species. The Reeves’s pheasant (Syrmaticus reevesii) is a national firstclass key protected wildlife species in China. It is urgent to strengthen the habitat suitability assessment of this species. This study was conducted from June 2023 to May 2024 in the Anhui Yaoluoping National Nature Reserve. Transect surveys and infrared camera monitoring were used to collect distribution data on the Reeves’s pheasant. Based on the collected environmental variable data, the MaxEnt model was applied to examine habitat suitability and identify influencing factors during the pre-breeding, breeding, post-breeding, and wintering periods. The results showed that there were 461±69 Reeves’s pheasants in the study area, with an average population density of 3.75 ± 0.56 ind·km^-2, primarily distributed in the southern, eastern, and northeastern parts of the reserve. Peak activity periods occurred during the wintering and pre-breeding seasons, with the most frequent presence recorded in coniferous forest habitats. The model projections indicated that the suitable habitat area for the Reeves’s pheasant varied across different periods, with the largest area during the wintering season measuring 70.48 km² and accounting for 57.30% of the protected area. The suitable habitat areas for the pre-breeding, post-breeding, and breeding seasons decreased sequentially, with 67.72 km² (55.06%), 66.85 km² (54.35%), and 64.74 km² (52.63%) respectively. The spatiotemporal distribution characteristics of the suitable habitat were consistent in different periods, primarily distributed in the southern, eastern, and northeastern parts of the reserve. Forest trails, vegetation types, and residential areas were the main determinants of habitat during the pre-breeding and breeding periods, with the characteristics of being less than 200 m away from forest trails, coniferous forest habitats, and 50-500 m away from residential areas. Forest trails, vegetation types, and slope were the main environmental factors affecting habitat suitability during the post-breeding and wintering periods, with the characteristics of being 200-250 m away from forest trails, 400-500 m away from residential areas, and a slope of 4°-20°. Regions with an altitude of 750-1200 m, close to water sources, better vegetation growth, and sloping sunny and semi-sunny slopes were also important areas of activity. By revealing the habitat characteristics of Reeves’s pheasant, our results provide theoretical basis for formulating scientifically sound conservation and management measures.





Spatiotemporal variations and driving factors of ecosystem service supply and demand risk bundles: A case of Xinjiang Basin.

MENG Lingqi, TANG Jia, HU Xijun, ZHANG Yali, WEI Baojing, ZOU Wei, WANG Yezi

2025, 44(12):  4211-4224.  doi:10.13292/j.1000-4890.202512.039

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Identifying the type evolution, spatiotemporal pattern and influencing factors of supply and demand risk bundles of basin integrated ecosystem services is important for understanding ecological problems and making ecological restoration and management decisions. Following a multi-model framework including InVEST-SOM-RDA-RF, we analyzed the supply and demand status of carbon sequestration (CS), soil retention (SR), water yield (WY), leisure and recreation (LR), and habitat quality (HQ) in Xinjiang Basin from 2000 to 2020. Combined with redundancy analysis, the influencing factors of supply and demand risk of ecosystem services in different years were examined, the supply and demand bundles of ecosystem services were identified, and the influence factors of supply and demand risk bundles and its nonlinear response relationship were further excavated. The results showed that the supply and demand ratios of CS, WY, LR and HQ in Xinjiang Basin were “high in the north and south, low in the middle” from 2000 to 2020. The relationship between supply and demand was worsening. The ratios of supply to demand in SR was “low in the north and south, high in the middle”, while the relationship between supply and demand was deteriorating first and then trending. Population, slope, and night lighting were the main factors influencing the supply and demand of these five types of ecosystem services. The basin mainly included four supply and demand service bundles: CS-WY-LR-HQ supply and demand risk bundle (B1), HQ supply and demand risk bundle (B2), SR supply and demand risk bundle (B3), and supply and demand security bundle (B4). From 2000 to 2020, the B1 area expanded from 47 km² to 63 km², with the compound supply and demand risk with the cities as the core areas being intensified. The area of B3 increased first and then decreased, while the area of B2 and B4 decreased. The risk of supply and demand of soil conservation was still the main ecological risk of the region. Population, night lighting, and slope were highly sensitive and correlated with the generation and spatiotemporal distribution of supply and demand risk bundles of B1, B2, and B3, respectively. Our results can provide decision-making basis for risk management and control of supply and demand of integrated ecosystem services in the basin.