International Journal of Natural Resources and Environmental Studies

Abstract: This article aims to systematically review the research advancements of biochar in the field of wastewater pollutant adsorption and explore its application potential and challenges as an environmentally friendly adsorbent material. With the acceleration of industrialization and urbanization, the massive discharge of various organic and inorganic pollutants into water bodies poses severe threats to both ecosystems and human health, making the development of efficient, cost-effective, and sustainable water treatment technologies a critical focus in environmental engineering. Biochar, a porous carbon material produced through pyrolysis of biomass under oxygen-deficient conditions, demonstrates significant advantages in adsorbing and removing pollutants such as heavy metal ions, organic dyes, drug residues, and nutrients due to its extensive pore structure, large specific surface area, and surface-modifiable functional groups. Starting from theoretical foundations, this paper elucidates how raw materials and pyrolysis conditions critically influence biochar's physicochemical properties, as well as the key mechanisms involved in adsorption—including pore filling, electrostatic attraction, surface complexation, ion exchange, and π-π interactions. Subsequently, it reviews current domestic and international research on biochar's performance in adsorbing various pollutants, analyzes the relationships between raw material selection, modification methods (e.g., acid/alkali treatment, metal loading, composite construction), and adsorption efficiency, and evaluates the effects of adsorption parameters such as pH, temperature, initial pollutant concentration, and contact duration. Although studies confirm biochar's ability to significantly reduce pollutant concentrations, its practical applications face challenges including limited adsorption capacity, insufficient selectivity, unstable regeneration performance, and potential ecological risks. This paper provides a comprehensive … Read More

Abstract: Block D has maintained low-efficiency and low-rate development for more than 30 years, with an oil recovery factor of merely 8.4%. It is urgent to tap the production potential of this mature oilfield. Centered on detailed analysis of production and injection wells, this study achieves breakthroughs via refined sedimentary cognition, clarifies the distribution rules of oil-water contact, accurately characterizes faults to identify reservoir space, predicts remaining oil potential to define development directions, and finally realizes the deployment of profitable well locations. The integrated evaluation and overall edge potential tapping methodology for mature blocks proposed in this paper boasts broad application prospects, which can be extended to 14 mature oilfields including Shuguang Oilfield and Xinglongtai Oilfield. Read More

Abstract: This study aims to take the Duihekou Reservoir in Deqing County, Huzhou City, China as a case study to explore key issues in the construction and enhancement of ecological buffer zones for rural water sources, analyze the construction outcomes and existing challenges, and propose optimization measures. The research findings indicate that the ecological buffer zone construction of the reservoir has achieved significant results in improving water quality and enhancing ecosystem stability, yet it also faces ecological and management challenges such as a monotonous vegetation structure and inadequate management and maintenance. Based on these findings, the study proposes ecological restoration measures which including optimizing vegetation structure and strengthening wetland rehabilitation, as well as management optimization strategies such as establishing comprehensive management systems and enhancing interdepartmental collaboration, along with social participation initiatives like fostering public engagement mechanisms and implementing ecological compensation programs, aiming to provide valuable insights for the construction and enhancement of ecological buffer zones in other rural water sources. Read More

Abstract: Quantifying terrestrial ecosystem carbon storage is critical for understanding the global carbon cycle, mitigating climate change, and achieving carbon neutrality targets. Land use and land cover change (LUCC) represents one of the most significant anthropogenic drivers of terrestrial carbon dynamics. Within the peer-reviewed English-language literature, the integration of remote sensing, geographic information systems (GIS), and spatially explicit models has become a prominent approach for carbon storage assessment. This review synthesizes a purposive sample of 23 peer-reviewed studies (2006–2025) across four analytical dimensions: (1) carbon storage estimation models, including the InVEST framework, Gaussian process regression (GPR), DNDC, and CBM-CFS3; (2) land use simulation models such as FLUS, PLUS, and CLUE-S; (3) multi-scenario prediction frameworks; and (4) driving factor analyses. A structured comparison of model architectures, validation approaches, and reported accuracies reveals systematic strengths and limitations within each model class as represented in this corpus. The synthesis identifies five cross-cutting concerns in the reviewed literature: (i) a pronounced geographic concentration on Chinese study sites (65% of the corpus), which limits the global generalizability of the synthesized findings; (ii) the near-absence of out-of-sample validation for coupled LUCC–carbon frameworks within the reviewed studies; (iii) potential confirmation bias toward positive model performance reporting; (iv) a conceptual gap between static carbon density look-up approaches and dynamic biogeochemical process representations; and (v) a temporal scale mismatch between land use simulation time steps and carbon flux timescales. Future research priorities identified from this corpus include independent multi-model validation against field measurements, formal uncertainty propagation through coupled model chains, and the operationalization of carbon storage modeling within … Read More

Abstract: To investigate the effects of biochar preparation and structural regulation on the remediation of heavy-metal-contaminated soils in China, this study used a Meta-analysis method to systematically collect and integrate published literature worldwide including field experiments, pot experiments, and laboratory incubation studies. We quantitatively evaluated the influences of straw-derived biochar properties such as feedstock type, pyrolysis temperature, modification method, and application rate on soil physicochemical properties and the remediation efficiency for soils contaminated with lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), and arsenic (As).The results showed that modified biochar significantly improved soil physicochemical properties. Compared with the control group, the average increases in soil pH, soil organic carbon (SOC) content, and cation exchange capacity (CEC) reached 10.34%, 36.48%, and 23.42%, respectively. Among different modification methods, thiourea modification had the most obvious effect on increasing soil pH (25.83%), microbial modification most prominently promoted SOC (61.25%), and Mn modification increased CEC by up to 132.69%.In terms of biochar intrinsic properties, biochar with pH 9–10 achieved the highest SOC improvement (46.38%); pyrolysis temperature above 700°C performed best in enhancing pH and CEC (21.08% and 74.56%, respectively); application rate of 1%–2% led to the largest CEC increase (55.72%), while 2%–5% most effectively improved SOC (35.18%). For soil conditions, modified biochar increased CEC most significantly in alkaline soils (48.08%), and the improvement in sandy soils was markedly higher than in other soil textures. For heavy metal remediation, the immobilization of Pb by modified biochar was dominated by pH and ash content, with the best performance at high temperature (>700°C) and application rate of 4%–6%. The optimal conditions for Cd remediation were lignocellulosic feedstock, organic modification, and 2%–3% application rate, which … Read More

Abstract: Nitrous oxide (N₂O) is an important component of agricultural greenhouse gas emissions, and nitrogen inputs to croplands represent one of the major anthropogenic sources of N₂O. The emission factor (EF), which links nitrogen input to direct N₂O emissions, has long been used in national greenhouse gas inventories and agricultural mitigation assessments. The conventional fixed-EF approach is simple and suitable for large-scale accounting, but extensive field observations have shown that cropland EFs vary substantially across climate zones, soil backgrounds, cropping systems, and management practices. A single fixed coefficient cannot adequately capture the spatial heterogeneity, interannual variability, and event-driven pulse characteristics of cropland N₂O emissions. In recent years, with the development of global field observation databases, meta-analyses, machine learning, and interpretable modelling approaches, EF research has gradually shifted from estimating average coefficients to explaining the mechanisms underlying EF variability. Existing studies indicate that cropland N₂O emissions are jointly regulated by nitrification, denitrification, and N₂O reduction processes. Their variability is mainly controlled by nitrogen substrate availability, soil moisture and oxygen diffusion, soil pH, soil organic carbon, temperature, precipitation, and agricultural management practices. Acidic soils, high SOC, high nitrogen input, humid conditions, and heavy rainfall after fertilization are more likely to create high-emission risks. Meanwhile, drying–rewetting, freeze–thaw cycles, and extreme rainfall events can trigger short-term emission peaks, further challenging the fixed-EF approach. This review synthesizes current knowledge on the variability, driving mechanisms, multifactorial interactions, and methodological advances in cropland N₂O EF research. It further suggests that future EF systems should move from fixed empirical coefficients toward regionalized, dynamic, and … Read More

Abstract: The Sharpear Enope squid (Ancistrocheirus lesueurii) is a highly adapted mesopelagic cephalopod found across the world's tropical and subtropical oceans. Living in the deep-sea twilight zone, it is uniquely characterized by photophores, light-producing organs on its mantle, head, and arms, used primarily for counter-illumination, a camouflage technique that masks its silhouette from predators below. Additionally, A. lesueurii possesses sharp, chitinous hooks on its tentacular clubs instead of traditional suckers, enhancing its efficiency in capturing mesopelagic fishes and crustaceans. This article synthesizes research on the squid's anatomical specializations, diel vertical migration, and ecological role as both a mid-water predator and vital prey for apex predators like sperm whales, offering insights into deep-sea food web dynamics. Read More

Abstract: The intensification of urbanization has exacerbated the conflict between the stability of rural ecosystems and economic development. Understanding the dynamic succession of ecosystem services (ESs) in rural areas is essential for achieving regional ecological sustainability. This study assessed seven ESs in the rural areas of Hangzhou from 2000 to 2020, analyzing their spatiotemporal evolution characteristics, dynamic changes in trade-offs/synergies, and driving mechanisms. The results showed that: (1) ESs exhibited a spatial distribution pattern characterized by “high in the southwest and low in the northeast.” Soil conservation and cultural services showed an overall upward trend, water yield and water purification first increased and then declined, while carbon storage, habitat quality, and food production declined continuously. (2) Among the 21 ES pairs, eight exhibited significant correlations, with notable changes observed in pairs related to food production, cultural services, and habitat quality. (3) Among the prominent trade-off/synergy pairs, socio-economic factors were identified as the dominant drivers of changes in ES trade-offs/synergies in Hangzhou‘s rural areas. Read More

Abstract: To investigate the response mechanisms of seeds of the invasive plants Praxelis clematidea and Bidens pilosa to low-temperature environments and their dispersal potential, this study used the paper culture method in petri dishes. Seeds were subjected to 25°C （room temperature）, 4 °C, 0 °C, and -20 °C for 3 and 6 months. After treatment, germination tests were conducted under suitable conditions, with freshly collected seeds serving as the control (CK). Seed germination and seedling growth indicators were measured to analyze the effects of temperature and treatment duration on seeds and seedlings of the two species. The results showed that germination and seedling growth indicators of both species decreased with longer treatment duration and increased with lower treatment temperatures, but all remained lower than those of the CK. After 6 months at room temperature, all indicators for both species dropped to zero. After 6 months at -20 °C, the germination rates of P. clematidea and B. pilosa decreased by 33.8% and 1.2%, respectively, compared with the CK, with the latter showing a significantly smaller reduction. After 6 months of low-temperature treatment, seedling height, root length, fresh weight, and root-to-shoot ratio of both species were lower than those after 3 months, though most differences were not significant. In conclusion, seeds of P. clematidea and B. pilosa have a certain tolerance to low-temperature environments and can still germinate and establish in new habitats under suitable conditions after low-temperature treatment. Among them, B. pilosa seeds exhibit stronger low-temperature tolerance and have a higher potential risk of northward dispersal. Read More

Abstract: Short-video platforms have reshaped how outdoor tourism is imagined, circulated, and practiced. Through algorithmic recommendation, visual storytelling, and emotional mobilization, natural landscapes are increasingly transformed into digital spectacles that stimulate imitation, destination check-ins, and concentrated flows of visitors. This paper examines the environmental governance challenges generated by this mediated form of outdoor tourism from the perspective of digital landscapes. It argues that ecological risks arise not only from the physical intensity of tourism activities but also from the mismatch between media-driven behavioral diffusion and traditional governance systems. Government regulation remains largely organized around territorial administration, platform responsibility is still insufficiently institutionalized, and public participation is often fragmented and symbolic. To address these problems, the study proposes a collaborative governance framework built around multi-stakeholder coordination, platform accountability, ecological risk early warning, and institutionalized public participation. The findings suggest that environmental governance in the digital era should move beyond post-event administrative control toward data-informed, responsibility-based, and ethically embedded coordination among governments, platforms, social organizations, and users. Read More