Regeneration Mechanisms and Tradeoffs of Ecosystem Function after Drastic Environmental Changes

Numerous factors, including large-scale natural disasters, extreme climate events, and human disturbances, can cause abrupt environmental changes over a short period. These changes will result in the deterioration or even loss of ecosystem functions, characterized by large scale, wide distribution, and difficult recovery. After drastic environmental changes, the original ecosystem structure becomes destroyed. Ecosystems can be restored through functional tradeoffs and reorganizations to adapt to the new environment and establish a new equilibrium between organisms and the environment and can include human-induced regenerative efforts. In this process, the regeneration and adaptation mechanisms are different from those in a gradually changing environment. Plants, animals, and microorganisms participate in the functional tradeoff mechanisms by regulating species composition, species quantity, morphological characteristics, and physiological processes. It has been demonstrated that functional tradeoffs are closely related to community assembly, where the primary strategy is to regulate resource allocation and energy expenditure among the components of the system. Therefore, studying the mechanisms and ecological strategies of ecosystem function recovery and tradeoffs can help predict the co-succession of organisms and the environment under significant disturbances and their ecological risk response.

This Research Topic focuses on the discoveries and insights into phenomena and processes of ecosystem function changes reflected by plants, soil fauna, and soil microbes following drastic environmental changes (natural disasters, rewilding, or direct management actions) and how these changes impact the ecosystem with a focus on diversity, ecosystem functioning, or abiotic factors. This includes human-induced environmental regenerative efforts (for example, but not limited to, rewilding and environmental management). We aim to collect high-quality research papers that explore the processes and mechanisms of alterations to ecosystem functions, and provide a scientific basis for managing and responding to sudden ecological and environmental risks resulting from significant disturbances.

We welcome subtopics including, but not limited to:

• The functional tradeoffs and ecological strategies used by regenerating plants to adapt to drastic environmental changes resulting from large-scale natural disasters, human disturbance, biological invasion, and extreme climates;
• Population dynamics, adaptive mechanisms, and ecological function of soil fauna following severe soil degradation;
Microorganisms' function and ecological strategy in restoring soil function after severe soil degradation；
• Human-induced environmental regenerative efforts (for example, but not limited to, rewilding and environmental management) and the impact on the diversity/heterogeneity/ecosystem services of an ecosystem；
• Studies on environmental changes (natural disasters, rewilding, or direct management actions) and how these changes impact the ecosystem with a focus on diversity, ecosystem functioning, or abiotic factors.