Transformation in the Forest Ecosystem of Northeastern China Driven by Human Factors Over the Past 1600 Years
Abstract Human‐driven degradation of forest ecosystems has profoundly altered land cover, disrupted ecosystem functions, and contributed to climate variability. Understanding long‐term changes in forest composition and resilience is crucial for developing effective, evidence‐based restoration strate...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wiley
2025-05-01
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| Series: | Earth's Future |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1029/2024EF005661 |
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| author | Yong Luo Xin Zhou Sihan Sun Xiaoyan Liu Shiwei Jiang Anze Chen Xuanqiao Liu Hongfei Zhao Min Ding Liqiang Xu Xiaolin Zhang Zhuoya Zhang |
| author_facet | Yong Luo Xin Zhou Sihan Sun Xiaoyan Liu Shiwei Jiang Anze Chen Xuanqiao Liu Hongfei Zhao Min Ding Liqiang Xu Xiaolin Zhang Zhuoya Zhang |
| author_sort | Yong Luo |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Human‐driven degradation of forest ecosystems has profoundly altered land cover, disrupted ecosystem functions, and contributed to climate variability. Understanding long‐term changes in forest composition and resilience is crucial for developing effective, evidence‐based restoration strategies. This study presents a 1,600‐year paleoecological reconstruction of forest dynamics in northeastern China, based on sedimentary pollen records from Sihailongwan Maar Lake. The findings reveal that from 480 to 1930 CE, natural factors primarily governed forest dynamics, allowing for a stable adaptation of mixed coniferous and broadleaved species to climate fluctuations. However, since 1930 CE, human activities have become the dominant force, leading to significant shifts in forest structure, reduced coniferous populations, and a substantial decline in ecological resilience. This study provides an ecological baseline based on naturally driven forest dynamics, offering essential guidance for restoring a resilient mixed coniferous‐broadleaved forest structure. Furthermore, these recommendations emphasize the importance of strengthening forest protection, limiting logging, and engaging local communities in conservation efforts. However, as global warming continues to accelerate, the ecological baseline derived from historical dynamics may become less applicable. This necessitates the establishment of new baselines that take future ecological changes into account. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-20ec00bcb68648c1bd4d1d1ab20c07b0 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2328-4277 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-05-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Earth's Future |
| spelling | doaj-art-20ec00bcb68648c1bd4d1d1ab20c07b02025-08-20T03:12:19ZengWileyEarth's Future2328-42772025-05-01135n/an/a10.1029/2024EF005661Transformation in the Forest Ecosystem of Northeastern China Driven by Human Factors Over the Past 1600 YearsYong Luo0Xin Zhou1Sihan Sun2Xiaoyan Liu3Shiwei Jiang4Anze Chen5Xuanqiao Liu6Hongfei Zhao7Min Ding8Liqiang Xu9Xiaolin Zhang10Zhuoya Zhang11School of Earth and Space Sciences University of Science and Technology of China Hefei ChinaSchool of Earth and Space Sciences University of Science and Technology of China Hefei ChinaLaboratory for Earth Surface Processes College of Urban and Environmental Sciences Peking University Beijing ChinaSchool of Earth and Space Sciences University of Science and Technology of China Hefei ChinaSchool of Earth and Space Sciences University of Science and Technology of China Hefei ChinaSchool of Earth and Space Sciences University of Science and Technology of China Hefei ChinaSchool of Earth and Space Sciences University of Science and Technology of China Hefei ChinaSchool of Earth and Space Sciences University of Science and Technology of China Hefei ChinaSchool of Earth and Space Sciences University of Science and Technology of China Hefei ChinaSchool of Resources and Environmental Engineering Hefei University of Technology Hefei ChinaSchool of Earth and Space Sciences University of Science and Technology of China Hefei ChinaSchool of Soil and Water Conservation Southwest Forestry University Kunming ChinaAbstract Human‐driven degradation of forest ecosystems has profoundly altered land cover, disrupted ecosystem functions, and contributed to climate variability. Understanding long‐term changes in forest composition and resilience is crucial for developing effective, evidence‐based restoration strategies. This study presents a 1,600‐year paleoecological reconstruction of forest dynamics in northeastern China, based on sedimentary pollen records from Sihailongwan Maar Lake. The findings reveal that from 480 to 1930 CE, natural factors primarily governed forest dynamics, allowing for a stable adaptation of mixed coniferous and broadleaved species to climate fluctuations. However, since 1930 CE, human activities have become the dominant force, leading to significant shifts in forest structure, reduced coniferous populations, and a substantial decline in ecological resilience. This study provides an ecological baseline based on naturally driven forest dynamics, offering essential guidance for restoring a resilient mixed coniferous‐broadleaved forest structure. Furthermore, these recommendations emphasize the importance of strengthening forest protection, limiting logging, and engaging local communities in conservation efforts. However, as global warming continues to accelerate, the ecological baseline derived from historical dynamics may become less applicable. This necessitates the establishment of new baselines that take future ecological changes into account.https://doi.org/10.1029/2024EF005661forest ecosystemclimate changehuman activityecological resilience |
| spellingShingle | Yong Luo Xin Zhou Sihan Sun Xiaoyan Liu Shiwei Jiang Anze Chen Xuanqiao Liu Hongfei Zhao Min Ding Liqiang Xu Xiaolin Zhang Zhuoya Zhang Transformation in the Forest Ecosystem of Northeastern China Driven by Human Factors Over the Past 1600 Years Earth's Future forest ecosystem climate change human activity ecological resilience |
| title | Transformation in the Forest Ecosystem of Northeastern China Driven by Human Factors Over the Past 1600 Years |
| title_full | Transformation in the Forest Ecosystem of Northeastern China Driven by Human Factors Over the Past 1600 Years |
| title_fullStr | Transformation in the Forest Ecosystem of Northeastern China Driven by Human Factors Over the Past 1600 Years |
| title_full_unstemmed | Transformation in the Forest Ecosystem of Northeastern China Driven by Human Factors Over the Past 1600 Years |
| title_short | Transformation in the Forest Ecosystem of Northeastern China Driven by Human Factors Over the Past 1600 Years |
| title_sort | transformation in the forest ecosystem of northeastern china driven by human factors over the past 1600 years |
| topic | forest ecosystem climate change human activity ecological resilience |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1029/2024EF005661 |
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