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Rieko Urakawa
Asia Center for Air Pollution Research
Rieko Urakawa's research has significantly advanced our understanding of forest ecosystems, focusing on the complex interactions between environmental factors, microbial processes, and nutrient cycling. Studies have shown that topography plays a more crucial role in determining functional trait composition of Collembola communities than forest type, highlighting the importance of spatial heterogeneity in shaping biodiversity. Urakawa's work also reveals that soil microbial activity during winter enhances nitrogen cycling in cool-temperate deciduous forests, and that factors such as soil origin, microclimate conditions, and freeze-thaw cycles significantly influence nitrogen mineralization rates. These findings have important implications for managing forest ecosystems and mitigating the impacts of climate change on nutrient cycling.