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Malacosoma franconica ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775) (Lepidoptera, Lasiocampidae) is reported for the first time in Romania based on a male specimen found in the south-west of the country, on the shore of the Danube, very close to the border with Serbia. DNA barcoding data confirms the morphology-based identification of the specimen and shows that it is genetically similar to other conspecifics from southern and central Europe. An overview of the species' distribution in Serbia and Bulgaria shows that, although the species has a fragmented range and very few records from those areas, its presence in Romania is not completely unexpected given the proximity of records from the above-mentioned countries. The sandy grassland where the Romanian specimen was found corresponds well to the preferred habitat of M. franconica . This site, as well as other potentially suitable areas in Romania, deserve further research to assess the distribution and conservation status of this local, often threatened, moth.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2025.1730583.].

Blowouts are a common type of wind-eroded landform found in sandy and desertified areas. They also represent a major degradative surface process affecting grassland ecosystems. Blowouts exacerbate changes in surface morphology through their effects on other surface phenomena including vegetation. In this paper, Xilingol League sandy grassland blowouts are taken as the research object, and the U.S. Keyhole satellite data and China’s Gaofen-1 satellite data are used as the data source, and the blowouts are extracted based on the 3 S technology for a total of six periods of high-resolution remote sensing image data in the study area from 1962 to 2023. The Landscape Pattern Index method and Fuzzy Land Use Simulation (FLUS) modelling applied to changes over the last six decades provided spatial evolution parameters for predicting future blowout distributions. Results showed that blowouts affecting the Xilingol grassland area increased by 16.81% over the past 60 years. The patch density (PD) increased by 0.9 per hectare. The mean proximity index (PROX_MN) and mean Euclidean nearest neighbour distance (ENN_MN) showed a tendency to decrease and then increase indicating initial expansion and then merging of adjacent blowouts to create the present landscape. The FLUS model used ten factors to predict changes in blowout distributions from 2023 to 2033. Factors included digital elevation model (DEM), slope, aspect, normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), mean annual temperature, mean annual precipitation, population density, real GDP, distance to water, and distance to impervious surfaces. It was found that grassland area decreased by 6217.12 hm 2 and blowout area decreased by 102.91 hm 2 . Results of this study can expand understanding of blowout morphodynamics in ecologically sensitive areas.

PurposeAfforestation is increasingly recognized as an effective measure to mitigate elevated atmospheric carbon (C) dioxide and combat climate change. While afforestation can increase C sequestration by biomass production with tree growth, little is known about whether and how tree growth affects soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks and stability. Here, we aimed to explore mechanisms underlying changes in SOC stocks and fractions with stand development from the perspective of tree-microbe-mineral interactions.MethodsWe measured aboveground plant input, soil pH and exchangeable base cations, microbial biomass, hydrolytic and oxidative enzymes, and SOC stocks and fractions along an age-sequence of Mongolian pine (Pinus sylvestris var. mongolica) plantations with six age classes ranging from 15- to 61-year-old and adjacent grasslands in the Keerqin Sandy Lands, Northeast China.ResultsWe found that afforestation of grasslands did not significantly affect 0–100 cm SOC stocks. Ecosystem C stocks linearly increased with stand development, and this C accretion was mainly attributed to tree biomass C sequestration. Topsoil (0–10 cm soil layer) mineral-associated C (MAOC) stocks and absolute phenol oxidase activities increased, and particulate organic C (POC) stocks and absolute β-glucosidase activities decreased with increasing stand age, but these changes disappeared in the 61-year-old stand. Structural equation model revealed that topsoil MAOC stocks were directly related to bacterial biomass and absolute β-glucosidase and phenol oxidase activities, and topsoil POC stocks were directly related to absolute β-glucosidase activities.ConclusionsOur findings suggest that soil microbes play a central role in mediating the dynamics of SOC stocks and stability along stand development.

The frequency and intensity of extreme precipitation events and severe drought are predicted to increase in semiarid areas due to global climate change. Plant morphological traits can reflect plant responses to a changing environment, such as altered precipitation or drought patterns. In this study, we examined the response of morphological traits of root, stem, leaf and reproduction meristems of annual herbaceous species to altered precipitation and drought patterns in a semiarid sandy grassland. The study involved a control treatment (100% of background precipitation) and the following six altered precipitation treatments: (1) P(+): precipitation increased by 30%, (2) P(++): precipitation increased by 60%, (3) P(-): precipitation decreased by 30%, (4) P(--): precipitation decreased by 60%, (5) drought 1 (D1): 46-day drought from May 1st to June 15th, and (6) drought 2 (D2): 46-day drought from July 1st to August 15th. P(++) significantly increased root length, flower length-to-width ratio, both P(+) and P(++) significantly increased stem length and flower number in the plant growing seasons, while all of them decreased under P(-) and P(--). The annual herbaceous plants marginally increased the number of second-level stem branches and stem diameter in order to better resist the severe drought stress under P(--). P(+) and P(++) increased the root, stem, leaf, and flower dry weight, with the flower dry weight accounting for a larger proportion than the other aboveground parts. Under D2, the plants used the limited water resources more efficiently by increasing the root-to-shoot ratio compared with P(-), P(--) and D1, which reflects biomass allocation to belowground increased. The linear mixed-effects models and redundancy analysis showed that the root-to-shoot ratio and the dry weight of various plant components were significantly affected by morphological traits and altered precipitation magnitude. Our results showed that the herbaceous species have evolved morphological trait responses that allow them to adapt to climate change. Such differences in morphological traits may ultimately affect the growing patterns of annual herbaceous species, enhancing their drought-tolerant capacity in semiarid sandy grassland during the ongoing climate change.

Background: The restoration of the degraded sandy grasslands in Hulun Buir is crucial for maintaining the local ecological balance and sustainable development. Caragana microphylla Lam., a shrub species widely employed in the restoration of sandy vegetation. It is essential to understand its impact on the understory vegetation and soil properties during this process. Methods: This study employed ANOVA, Pearson correlation, and redundancy analysis to systematically analyze the impact of C. microphylla on the three critical stages of desertified grassland vegetation recovery: semi-fixed dunes, fixed dunes, and sandy grasslands. It provided strategies for the restoration of desertified grassland vegetation and offered additional theoretical evidence for the role of vegetation in promoting the recovery of sandy lands. Results: (1) As the degree of vegetation recovery in desertified grasslands increases, the species richness of understory vegetation, Shannon–Wiener index, community height, and biomass also increase. Both the community height and biomass within shrublands are higher than outside, with species richness within the shrublands being higher than outside during the semi-fixed and fixed-sand land stages. (2) In both the 0~10 cm and 10~20 cm soil layers, soil water content showed an increasing trend, peaking in the sandy grassland stage (1.2%), and was higher within the shrublands than outside. The soil water content at 10~20 cm was higher than in the 0~10 cm layer. In both layers, clay and silt content gradually increased with the degree of vegetation recovery in the sandy land, and higher within the shrublands than outside, while the opposite was true for sand content. (3) In both soil layers, soil organic carbon gradually increased with the degree of vegetation recovery, peaking in the sandy grassland stage (4.12 g·kg−1), and was higher within the shrublands than outside. Total nitrogen increased from the semi-fixed-sand land stage to the fixed-sand land stage, with higher levels within the shrublands than outside at all stages. Soil pH within the shrublands decreased as the degree of vegetation recovery increased. There was no significant change in the total phosphorus content. (4) In both soil layers, soil physicochemical characteristics accounted for 59.6% and 46.9% of the vegetation changes within and outside the shrublands, respectively, with the main influencing factors being the soil particle size, total nitrogen, soil water content, and soil organic carbon. Conclusions: In the process of sandy grassland restoration, C. microphylla facilitates the growth and development of vegetation by enhancing the underlying soil physicochemical properties, specifically regarding the soil particle size distribution, soil water content, soil organic carbon, and total nitrogen.

This research is part of a Hungarian Research OTKA project that examines the vegetation of sandy grasslands along the Danube. During this study, Festuca wagneri and Festuca tomanii were identified as potentially suitable grass species for urban planting and turf establishment based on preliminary research. Our aim was to determine the germination success of seeds from aesthetically selected individuals and to identify the growing media on which they germinate most effectively. From the collected Festuca individuals, we analyzed 30 specimens of each taxon under garden conditions and selected the individuals for germination. The Festuca tomanii individuals were uniform, so we selected only 5 individuals. The Festuca wagneri individuals were categorized into three groups: leaves and inflorescence densely upright, inflorescence shoots spread out, and low ’dwarf’ form (compact and dense but short in stature). It was assumed that Festuca species seeds would germinate better in sandy soils. To test our hypothesis, seeds from ten Festuca wagneri and five Festuca tomanii individuals, selected based on aesthetic criteria, were sown in six different substrates: a sand–peat mixture, sand, coconut fiber, peat, coconut fiber–sand mixture, and native sandy soil (Calcaric Arenosol). Contrary to our expectations, the growth and germination rates of seeds sown in peat and coconut fiber substrates were higher than those in native sandy soil. These results suggest that Festuca seeds germinate better on substrates resembling dead plant debris with a peat-like structure or on the surface of live mosses rather than on bare sand. Among the examined individuals, the seeds from the spreading Festuca wagneri group exhibited the highest germination rate, making this group particularly suitable for urban environments. Additionally, one of the upright Festuca wagneri individuals showed the highest leaf average length and should also be considered for urban planting. In contrast, despite their uniform appearance, the Festuca tomanii individuals did not demonstrate similar germination trends. In fact, the seeds from two clumps did not germinate at all, indicating that further research is necessary.

Fungal fairy rings (FFRs) are circular patterns primarily formed by basidiomycete fungi. These structures significantly influence grassland ecosystems by mediating nutrient cycling, altering soil microbial communities, and driving shifts in plant community composition. The present study investigates FFR formed by Agaricus xanthodermus in a Pannonian sandy grassland, with a focus on vegetation structure, productivity, and diversity. Field surveys conducted along transects across FFR quantified plant species cover, height, and additional ecological parameters. The findings demonstrate that FFR alters species dominance, reduces diversity at the ring edge, and based on ecological indicator values of plant species it increases soil nitrogen, and modify the movement of water and nutrients within the soil. Collectively, these results suggest that FFRs function as ecosystem engineers, shaping ecological processes and affecting the agricultural potential of semi-natural grasslands.

In this study, we examined the colonization of unvegetated, dry slopes in the lignite‐mining area of Goitsche, Germany. The plots, characterized by different habitat conditions, were studied from 1994–2000. The vegetation development on treated plots was compared to untreated plots showing spontaneous succession. For initial treatments we used fresh plant clippings from a species‐rich sandy grassland (Armerion elongatae) mowed at the end of July. Soil seed bank samples, taken at the beginning of the experiments and cultivated for 18 months, confirmed that the vegetation development on the slopes started with primary succession. Because seed rain is considered to be an important factor in primary succession, we also studied the diaspore input during the first year. The hospitable Quaternary substrate of Site I (pH = 4.1–4.7, 92 % sand) supports fast vegetation development on treated and untreated plots. On treated plots, we have identified plant assemblages similar to initial stages of the Armerion elongatae community. On control plots, Coryne‐phorion communities have established spontaneously. At Site II (mixed Quaternary and Tertiary substrate, pH = 3.0–3.5,40 % sand) the total cover and number of psammophytic species was low. Treated plots showed development towards ruderal sandy grassland, but the establishment of Calamagrostis epigejos would eventually lead to monodominant stands. Untreated control plots showed basically the same pattern, however the development was slower. At Site III (pH = 1.8–2.8, 34 % sand), the hostile Tertiary substrate impeded the succession on both treated and untreated plots because low pH and therefore high amounts of Al³⁺ produced elemental toxicity to plants. The application of plant clippings accelerated the vegetation development in sites with a pH exceeding 3. On plots with the initial treatment, vegetation cover and total number of species were higher than on untreated plots. The application of fresh plant clippings from areas with similar habitat conditions appears to be a viable alternative to traditional restoration methods.

QUESTION: Aluminium (Al) toxicity is one of the most important factors restricting plant establishment on acidic soils, but its ecological significance for the occurrence of species along natural pH gradients is still under investigation. Are species occurring on acidic sandy soils less susceptible to Al toxic effects on germination and seedling root growth rate than species from calcareous sandy soils? How strong is the explanatory power of species' Al susceptibility for their occurrence along a pH gradient, as represented by their Ellenberg indicator value (EIV) for soil reaction (R)? Can Al tolerance of species be used as an independent trait to support Ellenberg's empirically‐derived reaction indicator values? LOCATION: Dry sandy grasslands in Southern Germany, with soil reactions ranging from acidic to calcareous. METHODS: We tested early seedling responses to different Al concentrations in 15 species from dry sandy grasslands. A filter paper‐based system was used to germinate seeds under Al concentrations of up to 10 mM. Germination, absolute root growth and the length of the root hair zone were recorded 7 and 14 d after first germination. Al concentrations that reduced root growth by 50 or 95% (ED50 and ED95, respectively) were correlated to Ellenberg indicator values (EIV) for soil reaction. RESULTS: EIV explained 66% of the variance in species' Al sensitivity. Tolerated Al concentrations resemble those concentrations the individual species are exposed to in their natural habitats. CONCLUSIONS: Among all soil factors varying with soil pH, Al is one of the strongest restrictions to species' occurrence in acidic soils. Al acts as an environmental filter by allowing only Al‐tolerant seedlings to grow roots and establish. Al sensitivity is a measurable objective trait that could form a crucial physiological component in defining R indicator values.