The use of mixed forests and non-native tree species have the potential to mitigate climate change impacts and enhance biodiversity. However, little is known about how forest composition and environmental factors affect each step of natural regeneration in mixed forests, especially in mixtures with non-native trees. Here we investigated how forest composition affected European beech seed survival (through seed tracking), seed sprouting (via field germination experiments), and seedling survival (monthly seedling monitoring) in pure beech forests and in admixtures with Norway spruce and the introduced Douglas-fir in a mast and non-mast year of beech. We also assessed how biotic and abiotic factors (small mammal abundance, ungulate access, seed production, seed burial, canopy cover, distance to nearest adult tree, seedling aggregation, understory density, browsing damage, and soil properties) affected these regeneration dynamics. Seed survival was negatively affected by the presence of conifers and mouse abundance. Seed germination was influenced by whether seeds were buried or not. Seedling survival increased in Douglas-fir admixtures, and in forests with higher soil quality. Browsing damage and ungulate access diminished seedling survival. Seed production had the greatest influence on absolute number of seedlings. Forest composition and environmental factors had distinct impacts on regeneration of beech depending on its ontogenetic stage. Here, we provide evidence supporting the notion that Douglas-fir is not impairing the regeneration of native trees in mixed forests. In fact, mixtures with Douglas-fir benefited the survival of beech seedlings, likely due to better soil properties and less damage from herbivores on these stands.

For establishment and growth of newly planted seedlings it is essential to overcome environmental stress at the planting site. Adding the amino acid arginine at planting is a novel treatment aiming at increased establishment success, so far tested in a limited number of applied studies. We examined the effects of adding arginine-phosphate (arGrow (R)), mechanical site preparation (MSP), and planting time on survival and growth of Norway spruce and Scots pine seedlings in two field experiments in boreal southeastern Norway. After three growing seasons, survival for spring planted seedlings of both species was significantly better following MSP, while addition of arginine-phosphate did not have any effect. Autumn planted pine seedlings with MSP and arginine had higher survival and also larger diameter than spring planted ones with MSP but without arginine. Spruce and pine seedlings with MSP were taller and had larger diameter than those without MSP. For spring planted seedlings of both species, dry weight of roots and shoots was positively affected by MSP, but not by arginine. To conclude, arginine-phosphate had neutral to modestly positive effects on survival and growth, while MSP had clear positive effects. The effect of planting time varied with species.

Recently, oily wastewater has become an urgent cross-regional problem. Membrane technology is considered a sound solution to this crisis. However, membrane fouling causes a sharp decrease in water permeance and service life, which greatly restricts membrane applications. In addition to a few degradable materials, the most severely polluted membranes are burned or buried in the soil, wasting resources and accelerating ecological damage. Inspired by Guandong candy, we reported a novel, facile, and green approach to construct composite polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) membranes with stable self-cleaning, anti-oil-fouling, and photocatalytic recovery properties for efficient oil-in-water emulsions separation. Due to the synergistic effect of the superhydrophilic tin dioxide/titanate nanotubes (SnO2/TNTs) and Guandong-candy-inspired electrolessly welding organic-inorganic hybrid colloids, the composite PVDF membrane showed remarkable stability and underwater oil-repellency properties. Accordingly, the composite PVDF membrane achieved excellent water permeance (>2600 L m(-2) h(- 1 )bar(- 1)), superior separation efficiency (>99.6 %), and long-term antifouling performance during soybean oilin-water emulsion separation. More importantly, the composite PVDF membrane exhibited highly efficient selfcleaning and recovery of the PVDF membrane and SnO2/TNTs under visible-light irradiation. Within the framework of green and sustainable concepts, this is a novel reusable idea for the recyclable utilization of commercial PVDF membranes and photocatalytic minerals in oily wastewater purification.

To remedy ecological damage and soil contamination in mining brownfields, this research focuses on the Gumi Mountain mining area in Wuhan. It proposes restoration strategies based on Nature-based Solutions (NbSs). Besides terrain restoration and soil enhancement, it also involves the redesigning of water systems, hydrological management, and the stratified planting of native species to restore plant communities. As China's inaugural quartz optical fiber was born here, we need to consider its history when making reclamation strategy for the Optics Valley City. This research took the Pulsed High Magnetic Field Facility (PHMFF) as the prototype to build a model that integrates mountain, river, forest, farmland and flower ecosystems. Based on NbS, we divided the brownfield by functions and redesigned the tourist routes. This research offers new methodologies for similar efforts in mine rehabilitation.

For six decades the African Journal of Range & Forage Science and its precursors have contributed to understanding drivers of rangeland degradation and development of approaches for restoration of damage by grazing, mining and other forms of land use. Of the 857 articles selected by the keyword search, only around 150 focused on reversing loss of natural capital, including soil, water and biodiversity and or resilience, and were cited in this review. Restoration approaches ranged from grazing management such as resting, rotational grazing and grazing intensification, to interventions such as burning, browsing and clearing of encroaching woody or non-native plants, resource capture, reseeding and replanting. Global change brings novel challenges for restoration research. Major knowledge gaps include assessment of restoration progress, development of policy and incentives to promote and fund restoration, and identification of unintended risks posed by restoration interventions.

AimHigh temperatures during forest fires can cause significant damage to tropical dry forest areas and alter their ecological stability, particularly by affecting seed viability and seedling emergence. This study evaluates the seedling emergence response of 18 dry forest species to fire-simulated temperatures, aiming to assess their potential for restoration in fire-prone Colombian ecosystems.LocationThe seeds used in this study were obtained from three tropical dry forests in Colombia.MethodsA total of 9832 seeds from 18 dry forest species were collected directly from the soil seed bank in three tropical dry forests in Colombia. These seeds were then exposed to simulated forest fire temperatures (100 degrees C, 150 degrees C, and 200 degrees C) for 10 min. Seed viability was analyzed using the 2,3,5-triphenyl tetrazolium chloride reagent (tetrazolium test) and assessed using a generalized linear model. Seedling emergence and mean emergence time were evaluated using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) with temperature treatments as factors.ResultsThe study revealed that seedling emergence significantly decreased with higher heat shock temperatures. Notably, Hura crepitans and Parkinsonia aculeata tolerated temperatures up to 100 degrees C, while Caesalpinia pulcherrima and Enterolobium cyclocarpum showed increased emergence at that temperature. Based on their emergence responses, species were classified as stimulated, tolerant, sensitive, or vulnerable. Seed viability declined with rising temperatures, and the mean emergence time increased in species like Cordia alba, Crescentia cujete, and Lonchocarpus violaceus.ConclusionsThis study shows that heat shocks at 150 degrees C and 200 degrees C significantly reduced seed bank viability for most Colombian dry forest species. However, Caesalpinia pulcherrima and Enterolobium cyclocarpum were stimulated by 100 degrees C heat shocks, while Hura crepitans and Parkinsonia aculeata showed no adverse effects. Vulnerable species like Coccoloba acuminata and Pithecellobium dulce exhibited no viable seeds at higher temperatures, suggesting potential local extinctions. These results emphasize the need to focus on heat-tolerant species for restoration efforts in fire-prone ecosystems.

Global change can easily cause the wetland ecosystem structure and function to be damaged by alien species. Former studies on Spartina alterniiora invasion only focused on the effect of aboveground communities, ignoring the potential regeneration of soil seed banks. Therefore, the study aimed to find the key resources that limit the S. alterniiora invasion and the regulation mechanism for S. alterniiora regeneration. Through investigating the S. alterniiora communities with different invasion stages, we studied the structure and composition of the aboveground communities and the soil seed banks, in response to the soil properties and water and nitrogen addition. The dominant competitive advantage of S. alterniiora was mainly affected by the aboveground biomass, which was regulated by soil NH4+-N and moisture content. Although the richness was same in the soil seed banks under the S. alterniiora communities with different coverage, S. alterniiora seeds maintained its specific competitive dominance. The niche breadth of S. alterniiora and the niche overlap between S. alterniiora and Tripolium pannonicum was the highest under low aboveground coverage. The soil seed bank germination experiments showed that the S. alterniiora density decreased when the soil nitrogen concentration exceeded 1 g/ kg, while the density of native species E. crusgalli and T. pannonicum decreased when the water depth above the soil surface exceeded 2 cm. The successful naturalization of S. alterniiora invasion regulated by nitrogen-water coupling is a bet-hedging of the niche and fitness differences between invasive and native species in the coastal salt marsh of eastern China.

Management of perennial weeds has become increasingly difficult with the reduction of herbicide use. Creeping perennials accumulate reserves in specialized belowground organs from which they regenerate new plants after a disturbance. Through tool selection, tillage operations could be optimized to reduce perennial-weed reserves and limit regeneration. In the present study, the effect of five tools on the fragmentation of the creeping roots of Cirsium arvense (L.) Scop. (Canada thistle), a major perennial weed in arable crops, were analysed. A field trial was set up to measure the lengths of the root fragments left after tillage. Five tools were tested: mouldboard ploughing, rotary harrow, disc harrow, rigid-tine cultivator and goose-foot cultivator. Fragment-length distribution varied according to the tool: rotary harrow left the smallest (3.7 cm on average) and least variable fragment lengths, mouldboard ploughing the longest (12.7 cm) and most variable ones. The other tools produced intermediate-sized fragments (8-10 cm). Based on these results and literature, a model was proposed to predict perennial-weed regeneration probability from storage-organ fragments after one tillage run. The effects of six factors, which were agronomic (tillage tool), environmental (soil conditions and temperature) and biological (storage-organ fragment diameter, maximal belowground-shoot length and pre-tillage storage-organ distribution), were tested through a sensitivity analysis. According to the model, the probability of fragment regeneration success is lower for the rotary harrow than for the mouldboard plough. The most important drivers of fragment regeneration success were the biological traits: fragment diameter and maximal belowground-shoot length per unit fragment biomass. The present model should be complemented to predict the effect of tillage on perennial-weed regrowth and help improving non-chemical weed-management strategies. To achieve this, further research is needed on plant regrowth potential from storage organs and their architecture in the soil.

Key message We test the potential benefits of planting 2-year vs. 1-year-old seedlings to restore Mediterranean oak-dominated systems. Planting 2-year-old Quercus suber L. seedlings is recommended for improved survival and resilience against wild boar (Sus scrofa L.) and drought in dry sandy soils. The removal of acorns in seedlings did not apparently influence leaf biochemical traits and could reduce wild boar damage, particularly in 1-year-old seedlings. Context In the face of anthropogenic global change, Mediterranean oak-dominated ecosystems confront increased biotic (ungulate herbivory) and abiotic (drought) stressors, compromising forest regeneration. Restoration measures are imperative to address this scenario. Aims This study assesses the impact of different mitigation measures on the survival and biochemical traits of two oak species. Methods We planted Quercus ilex L. and Q. suber L. seedlings in Caba & ntilde;eros and Do & ntilde;ana National Parks (Spain), subjecting them to three treatments: cotyledon/acorn removal, seedling age (1- vs. 2-year-old), and herbivore protection (fenced vs. non-fenced). Results Wild boar (Sus scrofa L.) damage peaked in winter and early spring, while drought prevailed from late spring to fall. In sandy soils, wild boar uprooted 1-year-old more often than 2-years-old seedlings (40% vs. 18%). One-year-old seedlings without acorns showed higher survival rates against wild boar only in sandy soils. The removal of acorns in seedlings did not influence plant biochemical traits. Conclusions Planting 2-year-old seedlings in sandy soils may mitigate wild boar damage and improve drought resilience. Seedling age seems more important than acorn removal against biotic and abiotic stressors although acorn removal could reduce wild boar damage in 1-year-old seedlings. Our results underscore the importance of considering multiple stressors in oak restoration strategies.

Wind disturbances are one of the main drivers of forest dynamics in Europe, shaping forest stands and modifying the ecosystem services provisioning. Salvage logging is often most common strategy adopted after a high-severity disturbance in managed stands. Understanding natural regeneration dynamics including their interaction with the logging operations, is crucial to understand how forests will be changing under a climate with increasing variability and to design adequate adaptive post-disturbance management strategies. In this study, we focused on 148 stands damaged by storm Vaia (2018). The aim was to analyze natural regeneration dynamics under different logging systems and to investigate influences of site characteristics and disturbance legacies on sapling growth and seedling emergence. The sampling protocol consisted of one transect per stand, perpendicular to one of the intact forest edges, and with a length of 80 m. Along the transect, we collected soil cover, natural seedling and sapling stem density, and deadwood quantity in four sample plots of 3 m radius each at distances of 0, 20, 40, and 80 meters from the edge (592 plots in total). Regeneration species composition was mainly driven by previous stand composition, with some exceptions depending on seed dispersal strategy. Distance from the edge significantly influenced seedlings and saplings occurrence in large gaps and affected the browsing damage percentage, together with deadwood presence. According to GLM's models, distance from the edge, elevation, and logging methods influenced seedling establishment. At the same time, species characteristics, edge structure, deadwood and logging damages significantly influenced pre-storm seedlings and saplings presence and health. In conclusion site factors, disturbance legacies, and logging strategies are key points to consider in post-disturbance management for a fast forest recovery.