Impact of land use change on carbon storage based on the PLUS–InVEST model: A case study in the urban belt along the Yellow River, China
March 2026
Terrestrial ecosystems are vital for maintaining equilibrium in the global carbon cycle. Land use and land cover change (LUCC), which is influenced mainly by urbanization and ecological policies, impacts...
Phosphate-solubilizing fungi: Isolation, characterization, and impact on soil as potential biofertilizers
February 2026
The escalating global demand for sustainable agriculture necessitates the development of effective biological alternatives to conventional chemical fertilizers, particularly those addressing phosphorus...
Soil aggregate stability influenced by different integrated livestock-forest systems, pastures, and tillage in the Brazilian semi-arid areas
March 2026
Soil aggregation is a fundamental process that influences various soil properties, including structure, porosity, water infiltration, and resistance to erosion. In the Caatinga biome, preserving the...
Multi-media distribution, sources, and ecological risk of per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in the Weihe River Basin, China
April 2026
Per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) have garnered significant global attention due to their widespread presence and potential environmental and health risks. However, research on the occurrence...
Mechanistic insights into mixed gravel–soil mulching effects on soil hydrology in arid ecosystems: A field micro-lysimeter study
April 2026
Gravel mulching plays a vital role in modifying the hydrological cycle in arid and semi-arid areas. Yet, the mechanisms underlying long-term mulching effects on soil evaporation remain poorly understood....
Modeling decadal snow and ice dynamics and their hydrological impacts in the Balkhash Lake Basin, Central Asia
April 2026
The Balkhash Lake Basin (BLB), a vital Central Asian watershed, faces hydrological uncertainty under climate warming. This study integrated multi-source remote sensing data (Sentinel-1 snow depth, Randolph...
Glacial melting impact on runoff and evapotranspiration based on glacier-coupled SWAT model: A case study in the upper Shiyang River Basin, China
February 2026
Glacial meltwater constitutes a vital component of the water supply in arid and semi-arid areas. However, the influence of glacial melting on runoff and evapotranspiration under global warming remains...
Spatiotemporal evolution of ecosystem services and ecological connectivity optimization in arid Northwest China
March 2026
Northwest China serves as a critical ecological barrier region for maintaining national water, energy, and food security, as well as transboundary ecological governance. However, under the dual pressures...
Spatiotemporal patterns and driving forces of dust weather events in Central Asia from 2000 to 2020
January 2026
Central Asia is characterized by an arid climate and widespread desert distribution, with its sustainable development severely constrained by dust events. An objective understanding of the spatiotemporal...
Precipitation or temperature? Nonlinear responses of particulate matter and ozone to meteorological extremes in an arid climate
April 2026
Northern Xinjiang, an arid inland area in Northwest China, is highly vulnerable to air pollution under intensifying climate extremes, yet the relative roles of temperature and precipitation extremes...
Analysis of bank slope stability considering vegetation hydro-mechanical reinforcement
February 2026
The banks in the middle and lower reaches of the Tarim River in China are weak in erosion resistance and prone to collapse. Vegetation, as a natural reinforcement material, can effectively improve slope...
Improving land cover classification in drylands with MSAVI: Evidence from the South Aral Seabed
February 2026
The South Aral Seabed is an extreme dryland ecosystem undergoing rapid transformation yet remains misrepresented or absent in global land cover datasets. Conventional vegetation indices, specifically...
Spatiotemporal dynamics and driving factors of carbon sinks across ecosystems in Northwest China
May 2026
Net ecosystem productivity (NEP) is a key indicator for estimating carbon sink dynamics in terrestrial ecosystems. Existing studies on carbon sink dynamics in Northwest China have uncertainties in quantifying...
Numerical simulation and spatiotemporal tracking of sand and dust storm events in East Asia
March 2026
Sand and dust storms (SDSs) are natural disasters that frequently occur during spring in arid and semi-arid areas., causing serious impacts on human health, air quality, transportation, and agricultural...
Multi-source remote sensing and machine learning reveal spatiotemporal variations and drivers of NPP in the Tianshan Mountains, China
January 2026
Arid mountain ecosystems are highly sensitive to hydrothermal stress and land use intensification, yet where net primary productivity (NPP) degradation is likely to persist and what drives it remain...
Influence of grazing patterns on the stability of soil aggregates in semi-arid grasslands
February 2026
Global grassland degradation necessitates the identification of sustainable grazing management strategies. In semi-arid regions, grazing exclusion (GE), cold-season grazing (CG), and free grazing (FG)...
Spatiotemporal variations of surface water and its response to climate change in global arid regions during 2000–2020
April 2026
Surface water plays an essential role in the ecohydrological cycle, especially in water-scarce regions. Changes in surface water restrict social, economic, and agricultural development. However, the...
Evaluation of ecological environmental quality and its driving factors in a mountain basin: A case study of the Manas River Basin, China
April 2026
In recent years, intensified land use change driven by climate change and human activities have markedly impacted the ecological environmental quality of the arid inland river basins. The implementation...
Identification of dominant plant water-use strategies in arid zones under deuterium depletion conditions
April 2026
Identifying plant water sources is fundamental for elucidating ecohydrological processes and improving water resource management in arid zones under climate change. Stable hydrogen and oxygen isotopes...
Enhancing urban resilience through water ecosystem services in the arid region of Northwest China
March 2026
Within the context of global climate change and rapid urbanization, increasing urban resilience (UR) is especially important in the arid region of Northwest China (ANC), where fragile ecosystems and...
Effect of drought and elevated temperature on the physiological and biochemical properties of C3 and C4 halophytes in Amaranthaceae
January 2026
Rising temperatures and increased droughts caused by climate change significantly reduce crop yields. Halophytes with different photosynthetic metabolism types have specific mechanisms for resistance...
Effects of wetland connectivity on plant communities and vegetation patterns in the Qaidam Basin
April 2026
The Qaidam Basin, a typical alpine arid inland basin on the northern Qinghai-Xizang Plateau, China, hosts wetland ecosystems that are strongly constrained by topography and extreme climate. These ecosystems...
Anthropogenic activities amplify spatiotemporal variations in regional ecological security patterns dominated by natural factors: Evidence from the West Liaohe River Basin, China
May 2026
Ecological security patterns (ESPs) represent an effective way to maintain regional ecological security and promote regional sustainable development. This study investigated the spatiotemporal variations...
Dynamic vegetation change response to topography based on Landsat observations in the Tianshan Mountains, China during 2000–2022
March 2026
In the arid regions of Northwest China, vegetation cover plays a crucial role in maintaining unique terrestrial ecosystems. Vegetation growth is highly sensitive to variations in topographical factors,...
Wind and sand control in composite shelterbelts combining Cyperus esculentus with trees and shrubs: Evidence from wind tunnel and field studies
February 2026
Cyperus esculentus (C. esculentus), a desert-adapted plant species with both ecological and economic value, has been widely cultivated in northern China's sandy regions. However, limited studies have...