Progress and prospects of research on microhabitat scale characterization and utilization in a karst area

Microhabitats within karst regions globally have historically functioned as both evolutionary cradles and ecological refuges for species (Luo et al. 2016; Su et al. 2017), serving as fundamental components for ecosystem establishment and maintenance. These microhabitats, arising from carbonate rock dissolution and intimately linked to subsurface systems, are uniquely characteristic of karst terrains. However, the spatial heterogeneity of different microhabitats has not received sufficient attention (Bátori et al. 2023). Clarifying the fundamental characteristics of surface and subsurface microhabitats directly supports regional soil-water conservation efforts, agricultural productivity, and ecosystem protection initiatives (Wei et al. 2022). Thus, Through systematic evidence synthesis spanning China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) and Web of Science (WOS) databases, we delineate global research trajectories and knowledge frontiers in microhabitat studies, providing critical insights to advance theoretical frameworks in this field.
Based on this, this paper reviews the characteristics, research progress, utilization techniques, and key scientific issues of microhabitats at various scales, aiming to deepen our understanding of karst microhabitats and provides a theoretical foundation for future research.

全球喀斯特区域内的微生境（microhabitats）在历史上既是物种的进化摇篮，也是其生态避难所（Luo等，2016；Su等，2017），是生态系统建立与维持的基础组分。此类微生境源于碳酸盐岩溶解作用，与地下系统紧密相连，是喀斯特地貌的独特特征。然而，不同微生境的空间异质性尚未得到充分关注（Bátori等，2023）。阐明地表与地下微生境的基本特征，可直接支撑区域水土保持工作、农业生产力提升及生态系统保护举措（Wei等，2022）。为此，本研究通过系统综合中国知网（CNKI）与Web of Science（WOS）数据库的证据，描绘全球微生境研究的发展轨迹与知识前沿，为推动该领域理论框架的发展提供关键见解。

基于此，本文综述了不同尺度微生境的特征、研究进展、利用技术及关键科学问题，旨在深化对喀斯特微生境的认知，并为未来研究奠定理论基础。