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The Miyawaki method, developed by Akira Miyawaki, restores natural forests by planting diverse native species in compact spaces, rapidly creating compact, resilient ecosystems. Initially successful in Japan, its global application bloomed but remains rare in Mediterranean urban areas despite benefits like biodiversity enhancement and climate change mitigation. This method's effectiveness in Mediterranean climates, which face unique challenges like urban heat islands and biodiversity loss, is underexplored in literature and practice. We are leading a project in Italy to identify optimal plant assemblages, addressing the method's documentation gap in urban settings. It explores the potential of Tiny Forests to provide ecosystem services and improve urban liveability against climatic extremes. This note paper details the methodological steps undertaken in this experimental application, offering a tailored approach to test the method's adaptability and impact in Mediterranean urban environments, suggesting a significant opportunity for urban greening and resilience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Extensive 14C dating and botanical identification of charcoal fragments located in the organic surface soil layer and buried in the mineral podzolic solum were used to reconstruct the successional pathways of a balsam fir forest site. The studied forest site developed in a context of continuous fire disturbance over the last 9000 years with at least 26 fires occurring at a mean interval of 330 years. Tree vegetation of the site followed a four-step trajectory consisting of an early-Holocene spruce forest and a late-Holocene mixedwood balsam fir forest. Boreal-like spruce-birch and temperate-like white pine-birch forests dominated the site between 7900 and 5900 cal. B.P. and 5600 and 1275 cal. B.P., respectively. Because all forest types developed repeatedly after fire since early deglaciation, changes in forest composition, in particular the shift of white pine forest to balsam fir forest, and concurrent decline of birch (yellow birch and/or paper birch) and pine populations were most likely related to progressive cooler and wetter conditions from mid- to late Holocene. Fire disturbance on this part of the southern boreal biome has been a continuous, positive regenerative process over the Holocene, allowing the successional turnover of boreal and temperate trees under the influence of climatic change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An introduction is presented in which the editor discusses articles in the issue on topics including dwarf mistletoes, research papers and pathogenic microorganisms.

Seeking to generate a deeper methodological and theoretical dialogue between botanical science and anthropology, this paper summarizes interdisciplinary approaches to human–plant interactions we have described as "sensory ecology" and "phytoethnography", applying these concepts to vital questions about human–plant relations in Amazonia. Building on this work, we broaden the scope of our investigations by considering their relevance to the field of historical ecology. In particular, we discuss Eduardo Viveiros de Castro's concept of "multinaturalism" and explore how it can be applied to understanding management and domestication of forest landscapes in Amazonia by Indigenous Peoples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Calea ternifolia Kunth (Asteraceae), the "dream herb", is an important medicinal plant that grows from Mexico to Costa Rica. The plant is highly valued for rituals and for treating several illnesses including anorexia, upset stomach, diabetes, periodic fevers, diarrhea, bile problems, and skin diseases. This comprehensive literature survey on C. ternifolia was performed up to January 2021. Our review focuses on traditional uses, botanical aspects, chemical constituents, quality control tests, as well as pharmacological and toxicological studies. Data were recorded using online scientific databases including Scopus, PubMed, Google Scholar, Taylor and Francis Imprints, National Center for Biotechnology Information, Science Direct, JSTOR, and SciFinder. The information was assembled from research articles, relevant books on herbal medicinal plants and the history of medicinal plants from Mexico, theses, reports, and web pages. The more significant botanical and ethnomedical aspects were recorded including the discovery of the oneirogenic use (enhancer of dreams) of C. ternifolia by the Chontal Indigenous communities in Oaxaca, Mexico. The plant contains sesquiterpenes and flavonoids as the major constituents. Some properties associated with the plant's traditional uses have been demonstrated including spasmolytic, antidiabetic, antidepressant, anti-inflammatory, and antinociceptive effects. The plant's toxicity will be discussed in this paper. Solid pharmacological research provided evidence supporting the use of the dream herb for oneiromancy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper describes the importance of fungi to Canadian Indigenous Peoples. Based on collaborative research with Indigenous knowledge holders and a review of literature, approximately 30–40 fungi are documented as having cultural roles for Canadian Indigenous groups. Some peoples have not eaten mushrooms traditionally, whereas others have a history of harvesting, cooking, storing, and trading mushrooms for their diets. Perennial tree fungi have application as tinder, fire starter, and for carving masks. They also have a range of medicinal uses, some being consumed as medicinal teas, and others applied externally, in some cases by moxibustion to relieve underlying pain. Puffballs also have a range of material and medicinal applications, especially for stopping haemorrhages. Fungi are widely known for spiritual or sacred associations and play key roles in rituals, ceremonies, stories, and beliefs, which are also reflected in the names of some species. The antiquity of peoples' relationships with fungi is likely very deep, extending back to ancient Asian or European ancestors of Pleistocene times, whose descendants on those continents have used them in similar ways. Fungi continue to play important roles for Indigenous Peoples today, with some being harvested commercially, and many still used in traditional ways. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Regional and global biodiversity may be underestimated due to the presence of cryptic species: species that are morphologically similar, but genetically distinct. Here, we focus on two cryptic duckweed species, Lemna minor L. and Lemna turionifera Landolt, which have overlapping geographic ranges and are easily mistaken for one another. We developed species-specific primers based on DNA barcoding sequences to facilitate the rapid identification of these two monomorphic duckweeds, allowing us to investigate their presence and distribution in Alberta, Canada. While current reports indicate the presence of L. turionifera (and the morphologically distinct Lemna trisulca L.) in Alberta, our data indicate that L. minor is also present, predominantly in the southern part of the province. Thus, this paper (i) contributes to the accuracy and completeness of a regional flora, and (ii) provides useful and flexible tools for the rapid molecular identification of cryptic Lemna species, which are of wide interest in diverse fields such as biotechnology, toxicology, bioremediation, and ecology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The hemiparasitic European mistletoe, Viscum album L. (Viscaceae), displays a rapid and remarkable expansion into natural and urban ecosystems in Ukraine. The monitoring and management of this quickly spreading species is becoming increasingly difficult as new plant species become hosts. Unlike other local mistletoe species, the European mistletoe has a broad distribution and thus requires a countrywide pest status assessment for control. This review outlines the major taxonomic and evolutionary issues pertinent to V. album with an emphasis on the characters used to distinguish its five currently recognized subspecies. The review also provides an updated distribution map and host range for the three V. album subspecies in Ukraine [V. album subsp. album, V. album subsp. abietis (Wiesb.) Janch., and V. album subsp. austriacum (Wiesb.) Vollm.], addressing the current knowledge of their biology and ecology. A significant portion of the paper is devoted to the diversity of organisms associated with V. album, including herbivores, endophytes, and parasites, drawing particular attention to major pollination and dispersal vectors, as well as potential biocontrol agents for this mistletoe species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Owing to changing weather patterns, catastrophic natural disasters are expected to happen more frequently and cause dramatic life and economic losses worldwide. The United States experienced a historically high record of weather disasters in 2017, with the economic losses exceeding 300 billion dollars. A major contributor to economic loss and threat to public safety is damage, destruction, and failure of civil structures in the strong-wind dominated disasters. There is a pressing need for reconstruction and redesign of critical civil structures to better cope with high winds to mitigate the loss of lives and properties. This paper takes a biomimetic perspective to link problem areas with potential solutions for future bio-inspired technology development, by identifying the most vulnerable aspects of civil structures in strong winds on one side and wind-resilient examples of biological systems on the other side. Of particular interest are plants that thrive in high winds, as they have likely adapted to manage the harsh environment under pressure of natural selection. Specific biological examples include the Saguaro cactus (Carnegiea gigantean Britton & Rose), reed grass, and shape reconfiguration of leaves. A review of problem areas, abstracted principles, and exemplary biological role models shall inform and guide towards new designs of wind-resilient civil structures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We developed a method combining passive baiting (animals that are not trapped) with DNA meta-barcoding of the feces acquired, to study fungi in the diet of small mammals. Mammal and fungal species were identified using genomic DNA of 596 fecal samples collected in five regions of the eastern Canadian boreal forest. For identification of the small mammal species, the cytochrome b region was used. A total of eight species of small mammals displayed hypogeous fungi consumption, with northern flying squirrels (Glaucomys sabrinus) and red-backed voles (Myodes gapperi) as the top consumers. For identification of their fungal diets, the ribosomal internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region was used. We recovered 722 taxa of Ascomycota, 429 Basidiomycota, 81 Zygomycota, 4 Chytridiomycota, 1 Glomeromycota, and 44 unidentified fungal taxa. Of these, 28 were hypogeous sequestrate fungi (underground fructification), which presumably are dug out by small mammals for consumption. Otherwise, for the remaining fungi [epigeous (above ground fructification) or microscopic fungal species], it is unclear which ones are selected by the animal as a dietary source or result from incidental contamination. Our paper presents a promising approach for tracing mycophagy in small mammals, and our results suggest that fungal diversity is important for the diet of some small mammals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Today, scattered disjunct stands of two temperate species, yellow birch and white pine, are present north of their continuous distributional range in southern Quebec (Canada) at topographical locations that offer protection from severe fires. This study tested whether these species had populations more numerous and widespread millennia ago when the climate was presumably warmer. Specifically, this research involved the analyses of pollen, plant macrofossils, and charcoal fragments of two sites within the western part of Quebec's balsam fir - paper birch bioclimatic domain: a forest humus deposit from a yellow birch stand (local scale), and a peatland (regional scale). Fossil data suggest that white pine was more abundant regionally between 7500 and 5000 cal. BP, before coming rare under subsequent cooler conditions. Likewise, yellow birch was more abundant regionally between 7700 and 1500 cal BP. Its subsequent decline and the local disappearance of white pine by ∼200 cal. BP may both be explained by the severe fires that occurred in recent centuries, as well as the rarity of suitable habitats for these species. The sustained presence of temperate species in mixed boreal forests is the result of the combined action of climate, natural disturbances and habitat characteristics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A growing appreciation of the intimate association between trees and a wide diversity of mycorrhizal fungi in forest ecosystems is leading to the view that trees and their associated mycorrhizal symbionts should be considered meta-organisms or holobionts. For ectomycorrhizal associations, nitrogen (N) mobilization and uptake is a major contribution from the fungal partners. This paper reviews the traditional methods of measuring N uptake by ectomycorrhizae, and describes the application of microelectrode ion flux measurement of nitrogen uptake using the MIFETM technique to ectomycorrhizal fungi associated with forest trees. From results obtained with microelectrode ion flux measurement thus far, we argue that plant N uptake capacity should be considered an exogenous trait, related to the functional diversity among ectomycorrhizal species and communities, rather than a function of host plant root physiology, alone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Invasiveness has usually been studied as a species-level attribute; nevertheless, phenotypic differences between individuals in a population can lead to significant variations in colonization ability. In this paper, we analyse the potential effects of sex morphs of Prunus mahaleb L., a gynodioecius fleshy-fruited tree, on its invasiveness in natural grasslands in the southern Argentine Pampas. We assessed the abundance of both hermaphrodite and female plants, and compared their fecundity, propagule size, and germination response. We found that the females were less abundant in the invasive populations studied, apparently since the beginning of the colonization. However, our results demonstrated that at the present time, females do not show any fecundity reduction, which clearly shows that P. mahaleb has established an effective interaction with generalist pollinators that compensates for the apparently disadvantaged females. Fruit set showed a wider range of variability over time in the females than in the hermaphrodites, which could be the consequence of greater susceptibility to changes in the activity of pollinators. We found no evidence of a female benefit due to reallocation of resources or better outcrossed progeny when considering propagule size and germination. We discuss the relative importance of sex morphs and interactions at different stages of the invasion process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spring ephemerals take advantage of the high light conditions in spring to accumulate carbon reserves through photosynthesis before tree leaves unfold. Recent work has reported delayed leaf senescence under constant light availability in some spring ephemerals, such as wild leek ( Allium tricoccum). This paper aims to establish whether tree canopy composition and phenology can influence the growth of spring ephemerals through changes in their phenology. Wild leek bulbs were planted in 31 plots in southern Quebec, Canada, under canopies varying in composition and densities. Light availability and tree phenology were measured, along with other environmental conditions, and their effect on the growth of wild leeks was assessed with a redundancy analysis. Higher light availability resulted in better growth of wild leeks. The plants postponed their senescence under trees with late bud-burst, and thus better bulb growth and seed production were achieved. The tree litter and temperature and moisture levels of the soil also influenced the growth and survival of wild leeks. Thus, tree leaf phenology appears to have a strong impact on the growth of spring ephemerals by modulating the length of their growing season and their photosynthetic capacity. This underlines the importance of considering the variation of light availability throughout the growing season in the study of spring ephemerals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Substratum plays an important role in saxicolous lichen communities, providing a stable growth surface for long-term attachment and influencing the relative abundance of species. Saxicolous lichen communities consisting of Xanthoparmelia and Arctoparmelia were previously characterized using thallus cover on the substratum as well as lichen fecundity, but it was not known whether the substratum influenced lichen fecundity. The objectives of this paper were to compare variation in element concentrations among lichen communities, and to examine the correlation between elemental composition and percent cover and fecundity (numbers of apothecia, ascospores, and percent germination) of each of three lichens Arctoparmelia centrifuga, Xanthoparmelia viriduloumbrina, and X. cumberlandia. Percent cover and fecundity features were compared with the rock type and 21 elements from 37 transects. Element concentrations varied among communities, but the grassy rock community had significantly higher concentrations of elements than the mossy or treed rock communities. Positive correlations were present between fecundity and particular elements for the three species. This study provides insight into the complexity of the relationship between the geological composition of the substratum and saxicolous lichen biology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biomass equations are essential for evaluating the climate change mitigation potential of forests through biomass accumulation and carbon sequestration. In northern Iran's Hyrcanian forests, topographic relief is so extreme that developing biomass equations from destructive sampling of trees is physically challenging. In this paper, allometric biomass and leaf area equations were developed for three common Hyrcanian tree species: Oriental beech ( Fagus orientalis Lipsky), chestnut-leaved oak ( Quercus castaneifolia C.A.Mey.), and common hornbeam ( Carpinus betulus L.). A total of 30 trees, ranging in diameter at breast height (DBH) from 21 to 90 cm, were felled and stems, branches, twigs, and leaves from each tree were measured and weighed. Allometric equations for estimating biomass from DBH and height and their combinations were derived. Model comparison and selection were based on R2, Akaike's information criterion (AIC), prediction error sums of squares, model standard error estimate (SEE), ΔAIC, and correction factor. The best-fit equations had adjusted R2 values between 0.81 to 0.98 and SEE values between 0.351 and 0.681. The allometric equations provide improved methods for predicting forest biomass and carbon storage in Hyrcanian forests from standard forestry measurements, which means these equations may be applied to historical and new forest data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studies on floral development have widened the knowledge on the floral morphology of Araceae, particularly in genera delimited through classical taxonomic treatments. In Pothoideae, floral ontogenetic studies are limited to some representatives of Pothoidium Schott and Pothos L. and only one species of Anthurium Schott, with no focus on gynoecium. This background reveals a lack of ontogenetic data on the largest genus in the clade. This paper presents gynoecial ontogeny of species circumscribed in different sections of Anthurium, describes gynoecial developmental patterns, and evaluates the relevance of ontogenetic characteristics in the taxonomy of the sections studied. New data for the Araceae include the recognition of four floral developmental phases, the carpellary nature of the ovarian septum, and the development of the symplicate and synascidiate zones of the gynoecium. The apical septum described in Anthurium scandens (Aubl.) Engl. is first reported for the genus in this study. We also highlight the importance of these ontogenetic data as new information for the Pothoideae within Araceae and to understand the notable phases of floral development in the reproductive biology of Anthurium. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]