Study on the spatial and temporal evolution of ecosystem service value based on land use change in Xi'an City.

Ecosystem service value (ESV) is essential for understanding regional ecological benefits and resources. This study utilizes the fourth phase of land use data from the Resource and Environment Science Data Centre of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. We corrected the ESV coefficient using the equivalent factor method for value per unit area and integrated the biomass factor of farmland ecosystems in Shaanxi Province.

Changing patterns of global nitrogen deposition driven by socio-economic development.

Advances in manufacturing and trade have reshaped global nitrogen deposition patterns, yet their dynamics and drivers remain unclear. Here, we compile a comprehensive global nitrogen deposition database spanning 1977-2021, aggregating 52,671 site-years of data from observation networks and published articles. This database show that global nitrogen deposition to land is 92.

Reduced adult stem cell fate specification led to eye reduction in cave planarians.

Eye loss occurs convergently in numerous animal phyla as an adaptation to dark environments. We investigate the cave planarian Girardia multidiverticulata (Gm), a representative species of the Spiralian clade, to study mechanisms of eye loss. We found that Gm, which was previously described as an eyeless species, retains rudimentary and functional eyes.

Advancements and future perspectives in nutrient film technique hydroponic system: a comprehensive review and bibliometric analysis.

In the context of climate change, reducing the environmental impact of agriculture has become increasingly critical. To ensure sustainable food production, it is essential to adopt cultivation techniques that maximize resource efficiency, particularly in water and nutrient usage. The Nutrient Film Technique (NFT) is one such hydroponic system, designed to optimize water and nutrient use, making it a valuable tool for sustainable agriculture.

Insight into the evolution of phosphorous conversion, microbial community and functional gene expression during anaerobic co-digestion of food waste and excess sludge with spicy substances exposure.

Garlic and chili are widely used as food flavoring agents in food cooking, therefore might be accumulated in large amounts in food waste (FW). The effects of garlic and chili on the dissolution, hydrolysis, acidification and methanation in an anaerobic co-digestion system were investigated during the combined co-digestion of FW and excess sludge (ES). Additionally, the transformation of phosphorus form and microbial metabolism changes during the process were analyzed.

Persistent but weak magnetic field at the Moon's midstage revealed by Chang'e-5 basalt.

The evolution of the lunar magnetic field can reveal the Moon's interior structure, thermal history, and surface environment. The mid-to-late-stage evolution of the lunar magnetic field is poorly constrained, and thus, the existence of a long-lived lunar dynamo remains controversial. The Chang'e-5 mission returned the heretofore youngest mare basalts from Oceanus Procellarum uniquely positioned at midlatitude.

Unearthing the secrets of Australia's most enigmatic and cryptic mammal, the marsupial mole.

The marsupial moles are arguably Australia's most enigmatic marsupials. Almost indistinguishable from placental (eutherian) moles, they provide a striking example of convergent evolution. Exploring the genome of the southern marsupial mole, we provide insights into its unusual biology.

Phytohormones involved in vascular cambium activity in woods: current progress and future challenges.

Vascular cambium is the continuation of meristem activity at the top of plants, which promotes lateral growth of plants. The vascular cambium evolved as an adaptation for secondary growth, initially in early seed plants, and became more refined in the evolution of gymnosperms and angiosperms. In angiosperms, it is crucial for plant growth and wood formation.

Environmental microbial reservoir influences the bacterial communities associated with Hydra oligactis.

The objective to study the influence of microbiome on host fitness is frequently constrained by spatial and temporal variability of microbial communities. In particular, the environment serves as a dynamic reservoir of microbes that provides potential colonizers for animal microbiomes. In this study, we analyzed the microbiome of Hydra oligactis and corresponding water samples from 15 Hungarian lakes to reveal the contribution of environmental microbiota on host microbiome.

Membrane-targeted push-pull azobenzenes for the optical modulation of membrane potential.

We introduce a family of membrane-targeted azobenzenes (MTs) with a push-pull character as a new tool for cell stimulation. These molecules are water soluble and spontaneously partition in the cell membrane. Upon light irradiation, they isomerize from trans to cis, changing the local charge distribution and thus stimulating the cell response.

Unraveling the drivers of optimal stomatal behavior in global C plants: A carbon isotope perspective.

Understanding the drivers of stomatal behavior is critical for modeling terrestrial carbon cycle and water balance. The unified stomatal optimization (USO) model provides a mechanistic linkage between stomatal conductance (g) and photosynthesis (A), with its slope parameter (g) inversely related to intrinsic water use efficiency (iWUE), providing a key proxy to characterize the differences in iWUE and stomatal behavior. While many studies have identified multiple environmental factors influencing g, the potential role of evolutionary history in shaping g remains incompletely understood.

Exploring the plastic-fed Indian mealworm (Tenebrio molitor) gut bacterial strain (Bacillus subtilis AP-04) - A potential driver of polyethylene degradation.

Plastic biodegradation by microbes is an environmentally friendly and sustainable approach that has no negative consequences. In this study, mealworms were fed with 9 different diets with expanded polystyrene (EPS) and polyethylene foam (PF), after 28 days of incubation mealworm survival rates were highest at 93.3 % when fed wheat bran alone whereas 83.

Up to the mountains and down to the wetlands: Thirty years' migration of cropland in China since 1990.

Cropland changes are crucial aspects of land-use/land-cover changes (LUCC), which profoundly influence agricultural sustainability and terrestrial ecosystem health. In the context of dynamic shifts within the natural environment, coupled with the evolution of agricultural practices and the transformation of agrarian systems and policies, the trajectory of farmland alteration has exhibited significant divergence across various nations and regions. This article delves into the intriguing phenomenon of China's cropland migrating up to mountains and down to wetlands and analyses its spatiotemporal pattern evolution from 1990 to 2020.

Theoretical Insights into the Efficient Reduction of Nitrate to Ammonia on Crystalline Carbon Nitride.

The nitrate reduction reaction (NORR) has emerged as a promising approach for wastewater treatment and ammonia (NH) synthesis. Poly(triazine imide)/LiCl (PTI/LiCl), a highly crystalline carbon nitride with a well-defined structure, has shown significant potential in this field. In this study, the electronic properties and catalytic performance of PTI/LiCl for NORR were investigated through theoretical calculations.

Evolution takes multiple paths to evolvability when facing environmental change.

Life at all scales is surprisingly effective at exploiting new opportunities, as demonstrated by the rapid emergence of antimicrobial resistance and novel pathogens. How populations acquire this level of evolvability and the various ways it aids survival are major open questions with direct implications for human health. Here, we use digital evolution to show that changing environments facilitate the simultaneous evolution of high mutation rates and a distribution of mutational effects skewed toward beneficial phenotypes.

Lacustrine sedimentation patterns at the Northern Antarctic Peninsula and surroundings as a response to late Holocene and Modern Climate changes.

The Northern Antarctic Peninsula (NAP) and the West Antarctic Ice Sheet (WAIS) are likely to respond rapidly to climate changes by increasing the collapse of peripheral ice shelves and the number of days above 0 °C. These facts make this region a representative hotspot of the global sea level rise and the location of one of the global climate tipping points (thresholds in the Earth system whose changes may become irreversible, if exceeded). Understanding the climate evolution of the NAP, based on past evidences, may help infer its future scenario.

Large morphological transitions underlie exceptional shape diversification in an adaptive radiation.

Adaptive radiations are characterized by an increase in species and/or phenotypic diversity as organisms fill open ecological niches. Often, the putative adaptive radiation has been studied without explicit comparison to the patterns and rates of evolution of closely related clades, leaving open the question whether notable changes in evolutionary process indeed occurred at the origin of the group. Anolis lizards are an oft-used model for investigating the tempo and mode of adaptive radiations.

Evolution characteristics and causes of iodine and fluoride in groundwater of Hengshui city in North China.

Iodine and fluoride are essential trace elements for human health, with both deficiency and excess intake impacting well-being. This study investigates the groundwater funnel area in eastern Hengshui City, utilizing groundwater level and hydrochemical data from 2014 to 2022. Hydrogeochemical methods were employed to comprehensively analyze the evolution characteristics and causes of iodine and fluoride concentrations in the funnel area.

Biophysical effects of croplands on land surface temperature.

Converting natural vegetation to croplands alters the local land surface energy budget. Here, we use two decades of satellite data and a physics-based framework to analyse the biophysical mechanisms by which croplands influence daily mean land surface temperature (LST). Globally, 60% of croplands exhibit an annual warming effect, while 40% have a cooling effect compared to their surrounding natural ecosystems.

Strontium isoscape of sub-Saharan Africa allows tracing origins of victims of the transatlantic slave trade.

Strontium isotope (Sr/Sr) analysis with reference to strontium isotope landscapes (Sr isoscapes) allows reconstructing mobility and migration in archaeology, ecology, and forensics. However, despite the vast potential of research involving Sr/Sr analysis particularly in Africa, Sr isoscapes remain unavailable for the largest parts of the continent. Here, we measure the Sr/Sr ratios in 778 environmental samples from 24 African countries and combine this data with published data to model a bioavailable Sr isoscape for sub-Saharan Africa using random forest regression.

Territory Sizes and Patterns of Habitat Use by Forest Birds Over Five Decades: Ideal Free or Ideal Despotic?

Relations among territoriality, abundance and habitat suitability are fundamental to the ecology of many animal populations. Theory suggests two classes of possible responses to increasing abundance in territorial species: (1) the ideal free distribution (IFD), which predicts smaller territory sizes and decreased fitness as individuals adaptively pack into suitable habitats, and (2) the ideal despotic distribution (IDD), which predicts stable territory sizes and fitness in preferred habitats for dominant individuals and increased use of marginal habitats, reduced fitness and changes in territory sizes for subordinate individuals. We analysed the territory sizes and locations of seven migratory songbird species occupying a 10-ha plot in the Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest, New Hampshire, USA over a 52-year period.