The deliberate introduction of the beneficial gene in crop plants through transgenic technology can provide enormous agricultural and economic benefits. However, the impact of commercialization of these crops on the ecosystem particularly on belowground soil biodiversity is still uncertain. Here, we examined and compared the effects of a non-transgenic maize cultivar and an insect-resistant transgenic maize cultivar genetically engineered with cry1Ah gene from Bacillus thuringiensis, on the rhizosphere bacterial community using 16S rDNA amplicon sequencing and soil metabolome profile using UPLC/MS analysis at six different growth stages. We found no significant differences in bacterial community composition and diversity at all growth stages between the two cultivars. The analysis of bacterial beta-diversity showed an evident difference in community structure attributed to plant different growth stages but not to the plant type. In contrast, the soil metabolic profile of transgenic maize differed from that of the non-transgenic plant at some growth stages, and most of the altered metabolites were usually related to the metabolism but not to the plant-microbe interaction related pathways. These results suggest that genetic modification with the cry1Ah gene-altered maize soil metabolism but had no obvious effect on the rhizosphere bacterial community.

Systematic biodiversity and ecosystem service (ES) conservation is vital for ecological sustainability and human well-being. This study combines MaxEnt, Zonation, InVEST, and MSPA models to identify Conservation Priority Areas (CPAs) in the Wujiang River Basin (WJRB), integrating biodiversity hotspots, ESs, and landscape connectivity. Results reveal CPAs span 1.13 × 10⁴ km² (primarily downstream), but existing natural reserves (NRs) cover only 24.86% of these critical zones, leaving over 75% unprotected in this region. Current NRs occupy 0.62 × 10⁴ km², with 5.82% of the basin (mainly upstream) available for targeted expansion. Spatial analysis reveals mismatches, such as some NRs protecting low-value ecological areas, resulting in imbalanced coverage. Expanding NRs across the board is less effective than adjusting protection scope or management strategies in areas of spatial mismatch, based on identified CPAs. This can involve establishing new reserves and appropriately relaxing land-use restrictions to allow compatible activities within them. New conservation planning should prioritize large, interconnected CPA regions to enhance landscape coherence. Simultaneously, integrating ecological compensation mechanisms can align protection goals with local livelihood improvements, fostering community engagement. This approach addresses critical gaps and enhances conservation efficiency by strategically directing resources toward high-value, vulnerable ecosystems. The methodology offers a replicable framework for balancing ecological preservation and human needs in river basin management.

While genetically modified crops bring significant economic benefits, the environmental safety issues they may pose have also received increasing attention. To study the impact of planting genetically modified insect-resistant crops on soil ecosystems, this research employed methods such as 16S rDNA amplicon full-length sequencing, using transgenic Cry1Ah insect-resistant corn HGK60 and its conventional counterpart Zheng 58 as subjects for a three-year continuous survey to analyze the effects of planting transgenic Cry1Ah insect-resistant corn HGK60 on the rhizosphere bacterial community. The following results were obtained. (1) A total of 216 corn rhizosphere soil samples were annotated to 51 phyla, 119 orders, 221 families, and 549 genera. (2) Overall, there was no significant difference in the composition of the rhizosphere bacterial community between HGK60 and Zheng 58 at the phylum, class, order, or family levels (p > 0.05), and the planting of HGK60 did not significantly affect the relative abundance of rhizosphere probiotics (p > 0.05). Some differences appeared only briefly and were not reproducible. (3) Alpha and beta diversity analyses showed that overall, the planting of HGK60 had no significant impact on the structure of the rhizosphere bacterial community (p > 0.05). (4) Significant changes in the rhizosphere bacterial community were observed across different growth stages of corn. It can be concluded that the planting of HGK60 has no significant impact on the rhizosphere bacteria. This study provides valuable data support for the environmental safety assessment of genetically modified crops.

Karst rock desertification is an extreme form of land degradation that poses a serious threat to regional ecological security and sustainable development in Southwest China. Understanding the response patterns of plant communities and soil properties along desertification gradients is critical for developing effective ecological restoration strategies. This study focused on Qingzhen City, Guizhou Province, a representative karst desertification region. Using remote sensing to classify rock desertification intensity, together with systematic vegetation surveys and soil sampling, we investigated variation patterns in ecological parameters along the degradation gradient. The results revealed three key patterns. First, rock desertification was widespread across Qingzhen and exhibited pronounced spatial differentiation. Second, as desertification intensified, vegetation community structure became progressively simplified, transitioning from forests to shrublands. Biomass and vegetation cover declined from 77.25 kg/m² and 83% to 0.62 kg/m² and 15%, respectively. Notably, species diversity exhibited a bell-shaped relationship with desertification intensity, peaking at the potential desertification stage before declining under increasing environmental stress. Third, soil physicochemical properties showed complex nonlinear responses along the desertification gradient. Soil bulk density decreased, and pH increased with increasing desertification intensity, while volumetric water content fluctuated across stages. Soil total carbon and total nitrogen exhibited temporary enrichment during the light-to-moderate desertification stages, likely due to shifts in litter quality. Overall, these findings demonstrate that both plant communities and soil properties respond nonlinearly to rock desertification gradients. Together, the results enhance the understanding of the ecological processes underlying karst rock desertification and support the development of targeted regional restoration strategies.