Monitoring the regional impact of forest loss and gain on carbon uptake with solar-induced fluorescence measurements from the GOME-2A and TROPOMI sensors

Reliable and robust monitoring tools are crucial to assess the effectiveness of land mitigation techniques (LMTs) in enhancing carbon uptake, enabling informed decision-making by policymakers. This study, addressing one of the scientific goals of the EU H2020 LANDMARC project, examines the feasibility of using satellite solar-induced fluorescence (SIF), in combination with other satellite data, as a monitoring proxy to evaluate the effects of LMTs on carbon uptake. Two distinct cases are explored: (1) instantaneous vegetation destruction caused by a 2019 Eucalyptus wildfire in south-east Australia, and, (2) gradual forest gain resulting from reforestation efforts in northern China over 2007–2012. The cases are monitored using TROPOMI and GOME-2A SIF, respectively. Comparing the temporal variability in SIF across the affected and nearby reference areas reveals that vegetation dynamics changed as a consequence of the land use changes in both cases. Specifically, in the Australia case, TROPOMI demonstrated an immediate reduction in SIF signal of 0.6 mW m−2 sr−1 nm−1 (−72 %) over the Eucalypt Forest right after the fire. Exploiting the strong correspondence between TROPOMI SIF and gross primary productivity (GPP) at the nearby eddy-covariance Tumbarumba site and through the FluxSat product, we estimate that the fire led to a loss in GPP of 130–200 GgC in the first eight months after the fire. Over the northern Chinese provinces of Gansu, Shaanxi, Sichuan, Chongqing and Shanxi, we report an increase in GOME-2A summertime SIF of 0.1–0.2 mW m−2 sr−1 nm−1 coinciding with reforestation efforts between 2007 and 2012. This increase in SIF signal is likely driven by a combination of increasingly favourable natural conditions and the reforestation effort itself. A multivariate model that takes into account growth factors such as water availability and maximum temperature as well as satellite-derived forest cover data explains the observed variability in GOME-2A SIF in the Chinese case reasonably well (R2=0.72). The model suggests that both increases in forest cover as well as in soil moisture have led, in step, to the observed increase in vegetation activity over northern China. In that region, for every 100 km2 of additional forest cover, SIF increases by 0.1 mW m−2 sr−1 nm−1 between 2007 and 2012. Our study highlights that the combined use of satellite-based SIF, together with supporting in situ, modelled and satellite-data, allows to monitor the impact of LMT implementation on regional carbon uptake as long as the scale of the LMT is of sufficient spatial extent

Termite sensitivity to temperature affects global wood decay rates.

Deadwood is a large global carbon store with its store size partially determined by biotic decay. Microbial wood decay rates are known to respond to changing temperature and precipitation. Termites are also important decomposers in the tropics but are less well studied. An understanding of their climate sensitivities is needed to estimate climate change effects on wood carbon pools. Using data from 133 sites spanning six continents, we found that termite wood discovery and consumption were highly sensitive to temperature (with decay increasing >6.8 times per 10°C increase in temperature)-even more so than microbes. Termite decay effects were greatest in tropical seasonal forests, tropical savannas, and subtropical deserts. With tropicalization (i.e., warming shifts to tropical climates), termite wood decay will likely increase as termites access more of Earth's surface

Fungus diversity in revegetated paddocks compared with remnant woodland in a south-eastern Australian agricultural landscape

Despite the importance of fungi for restoration, their presence in revegetated sites has received little attention. We compared the diversity and composition of macrofungi (i.e. those that form fleshy mushrooms and truffles) in 12 sites where 3-to-6-year-old native trees and shrubs had been planted (woodland restoration sites), with that in six woodland remnants. All sites were within an agricultural landscape near Holbrook in New South Wales. Of 58 fungal genera recorded, 57% occurred in woodland restoration sites and 83% in nearby patches of remnant woodland. Of the genera found in restoration sites, 70% were also found in the woodland remnants. The dominance of early successional genera such as Lacceria and Scleroderma in restoration sites suggests windblown colonisation by fungi. The reduced proportion of hypogeous genera (truffles) that rely on mammal vectors, which are less likely to occur in the restoration sites, also supports the view that most fungi occurred in restoration through colonisation rather than being generated from soil spores. Greatest overall fungal diversity occurred in large remnants that had greater structural complexity. Across all sites, epigeous genera (mushrooms) were most common (78% of all taxa collected across 46 genera) and of the nutritional modes, mycorrhizal genera (forming symbiotic associations with plants) were the most common (206 collections, 71%, 25 genera). Both hypogeous and mycorrhizal fungi were positively associated with the diversity of native forb species (wildflowers), suggesting that lower fungal diversity in restoration sites is likely to be a consequence of long-term agricultural practices, particularly fertilizer use

Why non-native grasses pose a critical emerging threat to biodiversity conservation, habitat connectivity and agricultural production in multifunctional rural landscapes

<b>Context</b>\ud \ud Landscape-scale conservation planning is key to the protection of biodiversity globally. Central to this approach is the development of <i>multifunctional rural landscapes</i> (MRLs) that maintain the viability of\ud natural ecosystems and promote animal and plant dispersal alongside agricultural land uses.\ud \ud <b>Objectives</b>\ud \ud We investigate evidence that <i>non-native grasses</i> (NNGs) in rangelands and other low-intensity agricultural systems pose a critical threat to landscape conservation initiatives in MRLs both in Australia and globally. Methods We first establish a simple socio-ecological model that classifies different rural landscape elements within typical MRLs based on their joint conservation and agro-economic value. We then quantify the impacts of eight Australian NNGs(Andropogon gayanus, Cenchrus ciliaris, Eragrostis curvula, Hyparrhenia hirta, Nassella neesiana, Nassella trichotoma, Phalaris aquatica and Urochloa mutica) on different landscape elements and then classify and describe the socio-ecological transformations that result at the MRL scale.\ud \ud <b>Results</b>\ud \ud Our data indicate that two broad classes of NNGs exist. The first reduces both conservation and agro-economic value (‘co-degrading’ species) of invaded landscapes, while the second improves agroeconomic value at the expense of conservation value (‘trade-off’ species). Crucially, however, both classes cause hardening of the landscape matrix, agricultural intensification, reduced habitat connectivity, and the loss of multi-value land use types that are vital for landscape conservation.\ud \ud <b>Conclusions</b>\ud \ud NNGs drive socio-ecological transformations that pose a growing threat to landscape-scale connectivity and conservation initiatives in Australia and globally. There is an urgent need for further research into the impacts of NNGs on habitat connectivity and biodiversity within multifunctional landscapes, and the socio-ecological goals that can be achieved when landscape transformation and degradation by these species is unavoidable

Colonisation of native tree and shrub plantings by woodland birds in an agricultural landscape

Tree planting has become a cornerstone strategy for natural resource management in agricultural landscapes, yet its contribution as habitat for woodland birds has not been fully investigated. A case study from the Holbrook region in southern New South Wales was used to assess woodland birds in young plantings of native trees and shrubs. Ground-foraging insectivorous woodland birds were under-represented in the plantings, partly due to a lack of native forb diversity (wildflowers) and leaf litter. Of 69 woodland bird species recorded over a three-year period, 48 species (70%) occurred in planted sites, 59 species (86%) occurred in remnant woodland, and 34 species (49%) occurred in adjacent paddock sites. The greater diversity of birds in planted sites relative to paddock sites was mostly due to understorey birds. The proportion of mist-netted birds recaptured was similar in both planted (15%) and remnant woodland (16%) sites, suggesting that individual birds were staying in planted sites. The proportion of woodland birds showing breeding activity (as measured by the presence of a brood patch) was slightly lower in planted sites (24% of all woodland species) than in remnant woodland (29%). Birds such as the superb fairy-wren, red-browed finch and southern whiteface were more likely to occur in planted sites, suggesting that plantings provide unique, transitional-stage habitat within agricultural landscapes. Restoring native forbs, as part of a broader strategy of woodland management, will help to reverse the decline of ground-foraging insectivorous woodland birds in agricultural landscapes

Termite sensitivity to temperature affects global wood decay rates

Deadwood is a large global carbon store with its store size partially determined by biotic decay. Microbial wood decay rates are known to respond to changing temperature and precipitation. Termites are also important decomposers in the tropics but are less well studied. An understanding of their climate sensitivities is needed to estimate climate change effects on wood carbon pools. Using data from 133 sites spanning six continents, we found that termite wood discovery and consumption were highly sensitive to temperature (with decay increasing &gt;6.8 times per 10°C increase in temperature)—even more so than microbes. Termite decay effects were greatest in tropical seasonal forests, tropical savannas, and subtropical deserts. With tropicalization (i.e., warming shifts to tropical climates), termite wood decay will likely increase as termites access more of Earth’s surface.</p

Termite sensitivity to temperature affects global wood decay rates

Deadwood is a large global carbon store with its store size partially determined by biotic decay. Microbial wood decay rates are known to respond to changing temperature and precipitation. Termites are also important decomposers in the tropics but are less well studied. An understanding of their climate sensitivities is needed to estimate climate change effects on wood carbon pools. Using data from 133 sites spanning six continents, we found that termite wood discovery and consumption were highly sensitive to temperature (with decay increasing >6.8 times per 10°C increase in temperature)—even more so than microbes. Termite decay effects were greatest in tropical seasonal forests, tropical savannas, and subtropical deserts. With tropicalization (i.e., warming shifts to tropical climates), termite wood decay will likely increase as termites access more of Earth’s surface

Termite sensitivity to temperature affects global wood decay rates

Deadwood is a large global carbon store with its store size partially determined by biotic decay. Microbial wood decay rates are known to respond to changing temperature and precipitation. Termites are also important decomposers in the tropics but are less well studied. An understanding of their climate sensitivities is needed to estimate climate change effects on wood carbon pools. Using data from 133 sites spanning six continents, we found that termite wood discovery and consumption were highly sensitive to temperature (with decay increasing >6.8 times per 10°C increase in temperature)-even more so than microbes. Termite decay effects were greatest in tropical seasonal forests, tropical savannas, and subtropical deserts. With tropicalization (i.e., warming shifts to tropical climates), termite wood decay will likely increase as termites access more of Earth's surface