Plant-microbe interactions are fundamental to biodiversity maintenance and ecosystem functioning, and their assembly is shaped by a complex interplay of ecological and evolutionary processes. However, how these forces jointly influence ectomycorrhizal (EcM) fungal communities, especially those dominant in subalpine forests, remains poorly understood. To address this, we investigated EcM fungal communities associated with 11 species of Pinaceae (Abies, Picea and Pinus) across 195 monodominant stands in the subalpine forests of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. We found that all pine species are consistently associated with a broad phylogenetic range of EcM fungal lineages, and that pine-EcM association networks exhibit low connectance, indicating low partner specificity. Variation in fungal community structure was significantly influenced by host identity, environmental factors and spatial distribution, but not by host phylogenetic relatedness. Notably, fungal taxa from three dominant lineages (Sebacina, Russula and Inocybe) were clustered phylogenetically with globally distributed Pinaceae-associated taxa, pointing to evolutionarily conserved symbiotic associations across biogeographic regions. Together, these results indicate that EcM fungal communities in subalpine Pinaceae forests are assembled through a combination of evolutionary conservatism and environmental filtering. The persistent association with key EcM fungi across Pinaceae species underscores their essential role in supporting tree physiology and forest ecosystem stability in subalpine environments. What governs the formation of symbiotic partnerships between microbes and their hosts? Drawing on a regional-scale study across the Tibetan Plateau, we demonstrate that the assembly of pine-ectomycorrhizal fungal communities is not shaped by a single force. Rather, their structure emerges from the interplay between evolutionary conservatism and environmental filtering. (sic)(sic):(sic)(sic)-(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic).(sic)(sic), (sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(EcM)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic).(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)11(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(Abies),(sic)(sic)(sic)(Picea)(sic)(sic)(sic)(Pinus)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic), (sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)195(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)EcM(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic).(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic):1)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)EcM(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic), (sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic), (sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic).2)EcM(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic),(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic), (sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic).3)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)3(sic)(sic)(sic)EcM(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic), (sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(Sebacina),(sic)(sic)(sic)(Russula)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(Inocybe), (sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)EcM(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic), (sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic).(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic), (sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)EcM(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic), (sic)(sic)EcM(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic).

Purpose Wetland soils are critical hotspots for biogeochemical cycling mediated by microbial extracellular enzymes, yet they are severely affected by ongoing wetland degradation. However, the patterns of extracellular enzyme activities, the associated microbial metabolic limitation, and their key drivers along wetland degradation gradients remain unclear. Methods We quantified extracellular enzyme activities associated with carbon (C), nitrogen (N), and phosphorus (P) acquisition, together with plant community attributes and environmental variables, across a wetland degradation gradient in the lower Yellow River wetlands, China, to investigate the response of microbial metabolism to habitat degradation. Results Wetland degradation significantly decreased the activities of C-, N-, and P-acquiring enzymes, and increased enzymatic C:N and C:P ratios. The enzymatic stoichiometry modeling further revealed a coupled C and P limitation for microbial metabolism in degraded wetlands, which intensified along the degradation gradient. These changes were primarily driven by plant community characteristics (e.g., plant density), soil environment (pH and electrical conductivity), and nutrient availability. Structural equation modeling showed that wetland degradation resulted in C and P limitation primarily via altering soil electrical conductivity and nutrient availability. Conclusion Our results suggest that degradation-induced changes in plant community and soil factors jointly drive C and P co‑limitation of microbial metabolism in wetland ecosystems. This understanding highlights the importance of integrating plant–soil interactions and their effects on microbial functions and ecosystem processes in the restoration and management of degraded wetlands.

The carbon (C) use efficiency (CUE) of microorganisms, as important engine of the soil C cycle, determines the proportion of microbial metabolic C allocated to biomass and their C sequestration potential. The continuous input of high-quality C sources in the soil has formed microbial hotspots with higher microbial metabolic activity (e.g., rhizosphere), but it is unclear whether the microorganisms here have a higher microbial CUE, especially lacking verification at the regional scale. Herein, we collected paired rhizosphere and bulk soil samples from 46 alpine coniferous forest sites on the eastern Tibetan Plateau to quantify the difference in microbial CUE between the two soil compartments using the 18O stable isotope-based techniques. We also determined soil resource availability (i.e., dissolved organic C and nutrient availability) and microbial physiological traits to elucidate the mechanism affecting microbial CUE. The results revealed that the average microbial CUE in the rhizosphere was higher by 103.4

Magnesium hydroxide (MH) is a promising halogen-free flame retardant, but its practical use is often limited by aggregation arising from high surface polarity and insufficient colloidal stability. Here, two anion-tailored [BMIM]+-based ionic liquids, 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium acrylate (ILA) and 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium glycinate (ILB), were employed in an ionic-liquid-assisted controlled precipitation route to regulate MH crystal growth and interfacial stabilization. Under optimized conditions, MH-ILA and MH-ILB exhibited reduced average particle sizes of 93.96 and 81.68 nm and increased absolute zeta potentials of -23.37 and -31.85 mV, respectively, indicating markedly improved dispersion stability. Structural characterization further showed that ionic-liquid addition modified MH morphology, crystallographic growth, surface chemistry, and thermal behavior. DFT calculations revealed an anion-directed facet-selective growth mechanism on the MH (001) surface: both ionic liquids preferentially adsorb on this surface, whereas ILB shows stronger multi-site interactions and a more negative adsorption energy than ILA (-3.827 vs -2.738 eV), leading to more effective suppression of growth along [001]. These results establish an anion-tailoring strategy for facet-selective growth regulation and colloidal stabilization of nano-MH, and provide a mechanistic basis for designing advanced flame-retardant inorganic nanofillers.

Magnesium hydroxide (MH) nanoparticles are environmentally friendly inorganic flame-retardants with excellent smoke suppression and broad application prospects in polymers. To address the pollution caused by traditional halogen/phosphorus flame-retardants and the agglomeration of MH during synthesis, this study employs N-methylimidazolium acrylate ionic liquid (ILA) as a crystal growth regulator, combined with an optimized room-temperature and atmospheric-pressure homogeneous precipitation method to achieve the controlled synthesis of MH. Crystallization kinetics studies via conductivity measurements reveal that ILA, through the synergistic effect of "coordination inhibition + steric hindrance", extends the crystallization induction period of MH, retards nucleation and growth rates, and reduces activation energy. Dynamic light scattering (DLS) tests show that the ILA-regulated MH has an average particle size of 154.5 nm and a zeta potential of -17.24 mV, indicating improved dispersibility. Structural characterization results demonstrate: X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) detects 14.59% nitrogen, confirming the chemisorption between ILA and MH; scanning electron microscopy (SEM) observes a cluster-like lamellar morphology; and X-ray diffraction (XRD) indicates preferential (1 1 0) facet growth. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) shows that MH-ILA has a maximum decomposition temperature of 377.29 degrees C and a char residue of 56.18% at 800 degrees C. Density-functional theory (DFT) calculations suggest that ILA forms an interface with MH via Mg-O bonds, and the hydrogen bonding and pi-pi conjugation of the imidazole ring further reinforce this spontaneous chemisorption process. This work provides a sustainable strategy for the green synthesis of high-performance nano flame-retardants.

Background: In response to the growing demand for environmentally friendly and efficient flame retardants, nano-magnesium hydroxide (nano-MH) has emerged as a promising candidate due to its high thermal stability and smoke suppression properties. However, its practical application is limited by agglomeration and high loading requirements. Methods: This study presents a controlled synthesis strategy using the ionic liquid 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium glycinate (ILA) as a multifunctional regulator. Under optimized conditions (Na/Mg molar ratio of 2.5, 10 g/mol ILA addition, 0.4 mol/L MgSO4, reaction temperature of 50 degrees C, reaction time of 60 min), ILA enables the formation of well-dispersed hexagonal nano-MH platelets (1-5 mu m) with enhanced thermal stability and a surface nitrogen content of 9.77%. Mechanistic studies via DFT reveal a "dual-anchoring" effect. The imidazolium cation electrostatically interacts with surface OH- groups, while the glycinate anion coordinates with Mgt*, preferentially inhibiting (001) plane growth. The optimized magnesium hydroxide (MH) was combined with polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) to prepare nano-magnesium hydroxide/PVA composite materials. A comprehensive and detailed analysis was conducted from the perspectives of thermal stability, flame-retardant performance, and material morphology using thermogravimetric analysis, limiting oxygen index, horizontal burning test, micro-scale combustion calorimetry, and scanning electron microscopy. The study elucidates the influence mechanism of ILA-regulated nano-magnesium hydroxide on the flame-retardant properties of the nanocomposites. Significance: The resulting magnesium hydroxide nanoparticles not only retain the intrinsic merits of conventional magnesium hydroxide, including non-toxicity, smoke suppression, and environmental friendliness, but also serve as functional fillers capable of enhancing both the mechanical and flame-retardant properties of polymer matrices. Compared with traditional flame-retardant additives, these nanoparticles exhibit clear advantages, thereby demonstrating their high-performance characteristics. This work provides deep insights into ionic liquid-mediated crystal engineering and offers a sustainable pathway for designing high-performance nano flame retardants.

IntroductionWetlands are among the most vital ecosystems on Earth, yet they also face severe degradation risks due to intensifying human activities and climate change. Clarifying the response of wetland plant communities to habitat degradation and its key drivers is therefore essential for the effective conservation, restoration, and management of wetland ecosystems. However, how plant community biomass responds to degradation and the underlying drivers remain poorly understood.MethodsHere, we measured plant community characteristics and soil physicochemical properties along a well-characterized degradation gradient of wetlands in the lower reaches of the Yellow River to determine the drivers of variation in plant community aboveground biomass.ResultsThe results showed that aboveground biomass, community coverage, density, and height of the wetland plant community decreased consistently with intensifying degradation, whereas species diversity showed no significant change. The variation in aboveground biomass was significantly associated with community structural metrics (e.g., coverage, density, height) but not with species diversity. Furthermore, changes in soil nutrient availability rather than water conditions were the dominant environmental factor driving the decline in aboveground biomass with wetland degradation.DiscussionCollectively, these findings underscore the critical role of soil nutrient availability in mediating wetland plant community structure and function under degradation scenarios. This insight is crucial for understanding wetland ecosystem degradation mechanisms and could inform restoration strategies for degraded wetlands.

Knowledge about the variation patterns of plant traits along environmental gradients is valuable for the mechanistic understanding of community assembly and ecosystem functions under environmental changes. In wetlands, aboveground plant traits are commonly studied, however, little is known about the responses of belowground plant traits and their coordination with aboveground traits to environmental changes. Samples of four dominant species and soil were collected from wetland sites of varying degradation along the Yellow River. Key leaf and root traits were measured to determine variations of community functional composition (i.e., community-weighted trait means and functional diversity) and their environmental drivers. Intensified degradation of riparian wetlands shifted community-level leaf and root traits towards more conservative values, characterized by denser leaves and roots (i.e., greater leaf dry matter content and root tissue density) and lower nutrient contents. However, the functional diversity of leaf and root traits did not show a consistent increase or decrease with the degradation of riparian wetlands. Moreover, degradation-induced changes in soil nutrients were the main factors driving leaves and roots within the plant community to become denser and lower in nutrient content toward severely degraded habitats. These results demonstrate that leaf and root traits are coordinated in adapting to changes in wetland habitats, and highlight that filtering mechanisms for plant adaptive traits within the community are trait-specific. This is insightful for understanding the adaptation of wetland plants to environmental change, and could contribute to plant functional restoration of riparian wetlands in disturbed landscapes.

Cadmium (Cd) pollution from smelters severely impacts farmland ecosystems, particularly soil microbial communities. However, the combined mechanism of Cd and crop rhizosphere effects on microorganisms in alkaline soils remains less understood. This study investigated their synergistic interactions and microbial adaptive responses in Cd-contaminated alkaline wheat croplands. We studied alkaline wheat fields near a lead-zinc smelter in the North China Plain. At wheat tillering, we compared rhizosphere and bulk soils from fields with different Cd pollution levels. We analyzed soil properties, total Cd, bioavailable Cd, and bacterial communities (using 16 S rRNA sequencing) to determine how Cd and rhizosphere effects shape communities and their interactions with soil properties. Significant divergence existed between bulk and rhizosphere bacterial communities. Rhizosphere effects markedly reduced bacterial α-diversity. Synergistic interactions between Cd exposure and rhizosphere processes modulated taxon-specific responses (e.g., Arthrobacter). Soil acidification (reduced pH) and increased total phosphorus were key drivers of community restructuring. Rhizosphere networks exhibited distinct topology with higher connectivity (average degree: 11.3 vs. 9.5) than bulk soil. Under combined Cd and rhizosphere effects, wheat selectively enriched Cd-resistant bacteria, fostering a more stable and stress-resistant rhizosphere community. Cd contamination and rhizosphere effects synergistically reshaped bacterial community structure, specifically affecting certain genera in alkaline cropland soil. This enhances understanding of how combined rhizosphere influences and Cd contamination impact these ecosystems, providing valuable insights for ecological restoration in heavy metal-contaminated areas.

The plant rhizosphere, a region interconnecting roots, soil, and microorganisms, is critical for plant resource acquisition, community structure, and the functional stability of ecosystems. Most studies focus primarily on root traits, while overlooking the covariation within the rhizosphere root-soil-microbe continuum and its ecological implications under environmental change. Here, we highlight the necessity of integrating rhizosphere function into a broader theoretical framework encompassing belowground traits, such as the core functional modules of roots, rhizosphere microorganisms (including mycorrhizal fungi), and soil. We further identify critical knowledge gaps and future directions for research on rhizosphere function traits. This framework expands current perspectives on plant belowground functional traits, plant adaptation, and ecosystem stability under changing environments.

Soil compaction often imposes stress on root development and plant survival. However, root anatomical responses that enable persistent root growth and functioning under soil compaction remain unclear. We grew 10 herbaceous species differing substantially in lateral root diameter, in soils with low (1.0 g cm-3) and high (1.4 g cm-3) bulk density, and assessed root traits including root biomass, anatomical structures, and respiration rates. Greater root thickening upon soil compaction was found in species with thicker first-order lateral roots, mainly due to larger cortical cell size. Both xylem vessel diameter and wall thickness increased more in compacted soils in these species. Despite these anatomical shifts, root respiration rate responded little to soil compaction across most species, likely due to the opposite investment in cortical cells and xylem vessels. Notably, root biomass, independent of root respiration rate and anatomical structures, determined whole-plant growth under soil compaction. Our study reveals two independent strategies of root response to soil compaction: anatomical remodeling for mechanical and metabolic maintenance, and root biomass investment for resource acquisition. These findings offer new insights for breeding and selecting species tolerant to soil compaction and highlight multidimensional strategies of plant adaptation to physical stress.

Terrestrial plants exhibit immense variation in their form and function among species. Coordination between resource acquisition by roots and reproduction through seeds could promote the fitness of plant populations. How root and seed traits covary has remained unclear until our analysis of the largest-ever compiled joint global dataset of root traits and seed mass. Here we demonstrate that seed mass and seed phosphorus mass scale positively with root diameter in arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) plants, depending on variation in root cortical thickness instead of root vessel size. These findings suggest a dual role of AM association in phosphorus uptake and pathogen resistance which drives the global root–seed coordination, instead of initially expected resource transport via root vessels as the main driver. In contrast, we found no relationship between root traits and seed mass in ectomycorrhizal plants. Overall, our study reveals coordination between roots and seeds in AM plants, which is probably regulated by root–mycorrhizal symbiosis, and may be crucial in shaping global plant diversity and species distributions. In this study, Yang et al. compile a global dataset to uncover the degree to which plants coordinate root and seed traits. They report a global positive correlation between root diameter and seed size, driven by dual roles of arbuscular mycorrhiza in phosphorus uptake and pathogen defence.

Root traits, particularly anatomical traits, underpin root functions necessary for plant survival and adaptation. However, the coordination of root traits in extreme environments remains unresolved. We linked root functions that encompass foraging, uptake, and mining to anatomical traits of absorptive roots of typical and common species on the Tibetan Plateau and compared them with those in other regions globally. Our results showed that in alpine grasslands of the Tibetan Plateau, root functions were governed by root diameter and associated anatomical traits, rather than by specific root length (SRL, an indicator of root foraging) as observed globally. Specific root respiration (an indicator of active nutrient uptake) scaled with tube size and number within the root vascular system, whereas root exudation rate and acid phosphatase activity (indicators of nutrient mining) were linked to cortex cell size and layer number. These anatomical adaptations contrast with global patterns, where higher SRL supports nutrient acquisition through reduced construction costs. Our findings reveal unique root forms and functions in the alpine environments, highlighting the importance of cellular anatomy in shaping plant function in extreme environments.

Magnesium hydroxide (MH) synthesized via conventional methods suffers from critical drawbacks, including broad particle size distribution, severe agglomeration, and poor dispersibility in organic matrices. To address these challenges, this study used MgSO4 & sdot;7H2O and NaOH as raw materials, with 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium acrylate (ILA, C11H18N2O2) and N-methylimidazolium acrylate (ILB, C7H10N2O2) as regulators. Homogeneous precipitation was successfully employed to synthesize nano-MH and its dispersion. Through rigorous optimization of the process, the optimal preparation parameters were precisely defined. Characterization results indicate that the addition of acrylic ionic liquids (ILs) can effectively decrease the particle size of nano-MH and enhance the stability of its dispersion. Under the regulation of two types of acrylic ILs, the average particle sizes of the MH dispersions are 93.96 nm and 154.50 nm, respectively. Moreover, density functional theory (DFT) simulations and calculations have unveiled the adsorption behaviors of different ILs on the MH (110) crystal plane. ILA exhibited a steric hindrance effect, with its cations interacting with the substrate and adsorbing onto the (110) crystal plane of MH. In contrast, ILB, characterized by its short-branched chains, enabled the simultaneous binding and adsorption of both anions and cations to the substrate on the (110) crystal plane. As a result, ILB not only formed hydrogen bonds but also established Mg-O ionic bonds with MH, thus showing a stronger adsorption affinity on the (110) crystal plane. These findings lay a solid theoretical foundation for the synthesis and application of nano-MH.

Nutrient acquisition through symbiotic ectomycorrhizal fungi is carbon (C) costly but fundamental for plant growth, community, and ecosystem functioning. Here, we examined the functions of roots and mycorrhiza with respect to nutrient uptake after artificially inducing C limitation-seven months after girdling of an ectomycorrhizal tree, Pinus taeda. Root physiological activity (measured as root nitrogen content and root exudation) declined after girdling and was accompanied with 110% and 340% increases in mycorrhizal colonization and extramatrical hyphal length, respectively. Fungi colonizing roots switched to a community characterized by higher C efficiency (lower C cost) of nutrient acquisition (CENA, the amount of nutrient acquisition per unit C cost) and lower network complexity, indicating a tradeoff between CENA and stability of the fungal community. Root transcriptome analysis suggested a shift in metabolic pathways from a tricarboxylic acid cycle decomposition of carbohydrate to lipid biosynthesis to maintain closer associations with mycorrhiza for nutrient cycling after the girdling. By integrating multi-level evidence, including root transcriptome, fungal composition, and network complexity data, we demonstrate an increased dependence on mycorrhiza for nutrient acquisition under the C limitation condition, which is likely due to a shift to fungal community with higher CENA at the cost of lower stability.

Microbial leftovers, known as necromass, are key players in storing carbon in the soil around plant roots (i.e. rhizosphere), a zone characterized by high-efficiency microbial anabolism. Yet, the extent and mechanisms through which the rhizosphere contributes to soil organic carbon (SOC) via microbial necromass, especially under changing environments remain unclear. We aimed to evaluate the contributions of microbial necromass to SOC and influencing factors from the rhizosphere perspective. We collected the rhizosphere and bulk soil from 39 alpine coniferous forest sites on the eastern Tibetan Plateau to assess the extent of microbial necromass contribution to SOC in the rhizosphere from a dynamic perspective by calculating the ratio of increased amino sugars (AS) to increased SOC in the rhizosphere relative to that in bulk soil (RAS/SOC). We also collected climate data and determined nutrient concentrations and microbial physiological traits in rhizosphere soil to elucidate the factors affecting RAS/SOC. The results showed that across all sampling sites, the average concentrations of SOC-normalized AS in the rhizosphere were significantly higher than those in the bulk soil. Furthermore, the average RAS/SOC was greater than 1, indicating a faster microbial necromass accumulation than SOC accumulation in the rhizosphere. These results implied that the rhizosphere sustains a greater capacity for microbial necromass contribution to the SOC pool than the bulk soil does. Soil nutrient availability was the primary factor affecting RAS/SOC, and precipitation indirectly affected microbial anabolism and RAS/SOC by changing soil nutrient status. Additionally, with increasing rhizosphere soil nutrient availability, microbial carbon-use efficiency and growth rate increased but the biomass-specific enzyme activity declined, indicating that microorganisms tended to exhibit high-yield strategies with increasing soil nutrient availability. Synthesis. Our findings underpin the vital effect of microbial necromass in SOC accumulation from the rhizosphere perspective and offer valuable insights into mechanisms underlying microbial C metabolic processes in rhizosphere SOC accumulation under changing environments. (sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)((sic)(sic)(sic))(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic), (sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic).(sic)(sic), (sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic), (sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(SOC)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic).(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)SOC(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic). (sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)39(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic), (sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)SOC(sic)(sic)(sic)(RAS/SOC)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)SOC(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic).(sic)(sic), (sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic), (sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic), (sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)RAS/SOC(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic). (sic)(sic)(sic)(sic), (sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic), (sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic), (sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)RAS/SOC(sic)(sic)1, (sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)SOC(sic)(sic)(sic).(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic), (sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)SOC(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic).(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)RAS/SOC(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic), (sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)RAS/SOC.(sic)(sic), (sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic), (sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(CUE)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic), (sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic), (sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic). (sic)(sic):(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)SOC(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic), (sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)SOC(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)C(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic).

Nano-magnesium hydroxide (MH), an environmentally friendly inorganic material, is widely used in flame retardancy, adsorption, and nanocomposites. However, precise control of its nanostructure and crystallization kinetics during synthesis remains a key challenge. This study aims to unveil the ionic liquid-mediated MH crystallization mechanism. MH was prepared via homogeneous precipitation using NaOH and MgSO4 & sdot;7H2O as raw materials, with two 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium-based ILs (ILA, ILB) as regulators. Via a synergistic approach of crystallization kinetics analysis and density functional theory (DFT) simulation, this study elucidated how ionic liquids (ILs) regulate MH nucleation and growth. Real-time conductivity monitoring tracked Mg2+ dynamics, and the effects of temperature, reactant concentration, and IL type on MH crystallization kinetics were studied. DFT calculations optimized the precursor complexes (MgSO4-ILA/ILB), while electrostatic potential (ESP) and atom-in-molecule (AIM) analyses resolved the coordination between anions and Mg2+ as well as the regulatory mechanism of nucleophilic attack. Experiments show that under appropriate temperatures, ILs inhibit nucleation and induce smaller particles, with ILB more effective in growth control. ESP and frontier orbital analyses reveal IL cations affect growth kinetics and particle size through hydrogen bond-mediated nucleophilic attack direction and steric effects. This work reveals IL anions control MH crystallization via synergistic electrostatic, coordination, and steric effects, offering a framework for IL-based MH nanostructure customization.

The stability mechanisms of ecosystem functions have been a hot topic in ecology. However, in wetland ecosystems, the mechanisms by which biotic and abiotic factors interact to affect ecosystem stability in changing environments remain largely unclear. This study investigated the key factors and underlying mechanisms that regulate the spatial variability of wetland productivity by measuring community productivity, multiple components of biodiversity (i.e., species diversity, community functional composition and diversity), and environmental factors along a well-characterized gradient of wetland degradation in the lower reaches of the Yellow River. The results showed that the spatial variability of productivity in wetlands increased with intensified degradation. The spatial variability of wetland productivity was not related to species richness, but was mainly affected by changes in community functional composition and diversity. Furthermore, degradation-induced changes in soil nutrients drove the spatial variability of productivity to increase with shifts in functional composition towards more conservative traits (i.e., higher leaf dry matter content and root tissue density), and to decrease with higher functional trait diversity. These findings reveal the driving mechanism of spatial variability in wetland productivity under degradation, and suggest that reduced nutrient availability, by altering plant resource strategies, can affect the spatial reliability of key ecosystem functions in wetlands.