Living Systems at the Land–Water Interface: Integrative Perspectives on Soil, Forests, and Ecosystem Functioning

Abstract

Terrestrial ecosystems operate through tightly coupled interactions among soil systems, vegetation, hydrological processes, and biogeochemical cycles. Forests, agricultural landscapes, and natural resource systems collectively shape ecosystem resilience, productivity, and biosphere stability. This mini review synthesizes recent conceptual and empirical advances across forestry, soil science, ecosystem science, biogeochemistry, ecohydrology, and ecotoxicology, with an emphasis on system-level interactions rather than isolated components. By adopting an integrative lens, the article highlights how land management practices influence nutrient cycling, water regulation, pollutant dynamics, and long-term ecological sustainability. The review further discusses emerging challenges posed by environmental stressors and outlines future research directions needed to support resilient biosphere–human interactions. Conceptual Framing of Integrated Terrestrial Systems