Pulse Brain · Growing Health Evidence Index
Peer-reviewed

Contrasting effects of impervious cover on riparian plant and soil bacterial communities in a rapidly urbanising Himalayan city

Karma Jamtsho, Mark A. Lund, David Blake, Eddie van Etten

The Science of The Total Environment · 2025

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Summary

Rapid urbanisation-particularly the expansion of impervious surfaces-is reshaping riparian landscapes worldwide. These areas are frequently targeted for development due to their favourable topography, abundant water resources, and aesthetic appeal. However, the impact of increasing impervious cover on soil bacterial communities in biodiverse urban riparian zones remains poorly understood, especially in developing countries, raising concerns about potential declines in essential ecosystem functions. In this study, we investigated the effects of impervious cover, quantified as the Percentage of Total Impervious Area (PTIA), on the taxonomic and functional diversity of riparian soil bacteria in Thimphu City, Bhutan. Using plot-based taxonomic profiling and metagenomic analysis across a PTIA g

Source type
Peer-reviewed study
DOI
10.1016/j.scitotenv.2025.180681
Catalogue ID
SNmok1w3mz-s0e7wa
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