Research BackgroundThe hydrological processes of plants in forest ecosystems of arid regions are an essential component of regional water cycles. They not only influence community structure, ecological functions, and productivity but also affect the regional balance of matter and energy. As the primary source of water input into arid ecosystems, precipitation exhibits significant seasonal variability and limited temporal availability. The coniferous forests at the northern foothills of the Tianshan Mountains represent a typical cool-temperate forest characterized by relatively abundant rainfal...
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2026
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09
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01
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Research BackgroundIn permafrost regions, CH₄ emissions represent a significant potential positive feedback to global warming. However, most existing studies and models assume a monotonic response between CH₄ fluxes and temperature, paying relatively little attention to the possible nonlinear threshold characteristics in CH₄ production and oxidation processes, as well as to the asymmetry in hydrothermal conditions between warming and cooling seasons. This suggests that the same temperature may correspond to different flux states during the warming and cooling phases (i.e., “hysteresis effect”)...
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2026
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08
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21
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Research BackgroundIn karst regions, the soil layer is shallow and bedrock is often exposed. Groundwater distribution varies significantly across different soil layers and rock fractures, making water availability a critical factor limiting vegetation restoration and long-term stability. Limestone and dolomite differ markedly in terms of weathering degree, soil thickness, and fracture structure, which may further influence plant root water uptake, xylem water transport, and leaf transpiration processes. However, existing studies have largely focused on the impacts of climate or vegetation type...
release time:
2026
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07
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25
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BackgroundGrassland ecosystems are an important component of the global carbon cycle, playing a critical role in soil carbon sequestration, water conservation, and biodiversity maintenance. However, arid and semi-arid grasslands are highly sensitive to fluctuations in rainfall and grazing disturbances. Short-term, intense rainfall can rapidly alter soil moisture, thereby influencing plant growth, microbial activity, and ecosystem carbon exchange; meanwhile, grazing intensity further modulates this response by adjusting vegetation structure and soil water-holding capacity. Although previous stu...
release time:
2026
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07
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18
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Against the backdrop of global change, the water cycle is being reshaped. How does precipitation enter the soil? How is soil water absorbed by plants? Does deep soil water contribute to groundwater recharge? These questions may seem disparate, yet they all point to the same critical medium—the soil water.Recently, the team led by Professor Zhu Guofeng from Northwest Normal University published a data paper in Scientific Data, presenting and releasing a global-scale dataset of stable isotopes in soil water. This dataset systematically integrates observations of stable hydrogen and oxygen isotop...
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2026
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07
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10
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Research BackgroundForest carbon sequestration is an important pathway for mitigating global climate change. The temperate forests in Northeast China cover a vast area and store substantial carbon, playing a crucial role in the nation’s carbon balance and regional climate regulation. Therefore, accurately assessing their carbon sink capacity is of great significance. However, estimating forest carbon sinks does not simply yield a single numerical value. Observation methods, sampling timing, spatial heterogeneity, and measurement errors in component analysis can all affect the reliability of th...
release time:
2026
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06
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29
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Research BackgroundGlobal warming is accelerating the degradation of permafrost in high-altitude cold regions and is also altering the way rivers receive water. The Qinghai-Tibet Plateau is the world’s largest and highest-altitude permafrost region, as well as an important source area for numerous rivers. As the active layer of permafrost deepens and seasonal freeze-thaw processes intensify, the connections among surface water, soil water, and groundwater are being reshaped, leading to changes in the sources of river runoff. Previous studies have shown that precipitation, snowmelt, soil water,...
release time:
2026
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06
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18
Views：6
Research BackgroundNatural wetlands serve as significant carbon sinks. The long-term inundation conditions slow down the decomposition of organic matter, allowing large amounts of carbon to accumulate in the soil. As a result, wetlands play a crucial role in the global carbon cycle and in regulating greenhouse gases. However, with the expansion of land development and food production, an increasing number of natural wetlands are being converted into paddy fields. This not only alters land use types but also reshapes soil moisture levels, redox conditions, and microbial communities, thereby aff...
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2026
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06
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12
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Research BackgroundMoso bamboo (Phyllostachys edulis) is an important species in subtropical forest ecosystems, providing both economic value and ecological functions. However, the long-term cultivation of monospecific moso bamboo forests often leads to constraints on soil nutrient cycling, declining soil fertility, and reduced productivity. In contrast, moso–broadleaf mixed forests can help improve soil conditions, enhance stand stability, and boost productivity. Yet, without effective management, moso bamboo can spread rapidly via rhizomes, altering community structure and inhibiting the reg...
release time:
2026
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06
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01
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Research BackgroundIn global change research, inland water bodies such as rivers and lakes are not merely conduits for the transport of carbon from land to the ocean; they also serve as critical interfaces for carbon transformation and the release of greenhouse gases. Organic carbon entering these water bodies is partly retained and buried within them, while another portion is converted into CO₂ and CH₄ through microbial decomposition, anaerobic methanogenesis, and gas diffusion, ultimately being released into the atmosphere.In rapidly urbanizing regions, land-use changes, domestic wastewater ...
release time:
2026
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05
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22
Views：2