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The tropical Andes region harbors areas that are highly significant for biodiversity at both global and local scales. However, despite the severe conservation threats that this region has to confront, conservation initiatives are limited, by funding and because of the need for more information to decide which areas are priorities for conservation. Identifying Important Plant Areas (IPAs) offers a valuable methodology for establishing conservation priorities, a particularly complex task in a mega-biodiverse region such as the northern Andean tropics. Due to its iconic recognition and conservation value, this study focused on the Espeletiinae subtribe (Asteraceae) as a model group; hence, the distribution data for 138 species was compiled from 5560 georeferenced records. Using the IPA methodology, we divided the study area, this is, the distribution area of the subtribe in the Andean tropics, into 220 Units of Analysis (UA) represented by 10 × 10 km plots. Refined species' distribution areas, incorporating richness, threatened species, and ecosystem-based richness distributions, were analyzed using newly generated maps to evaluate the conservation value of each UA. Our analysis identified 176 UAs with some level of relevance using sub-criterion cA1 (with 59 species) and 51 UAs using sub-criterion cB (with 76 species). Integrating both criteria, we classified 11 UAs as high-priority, 62 as medium-priority, and 147 as low-priority, highlighting the IPAs that require focused conservation efforts. Two identified high-priority IPAs are located in Venezuela and nine in Colombia, predominantly associated with the Eastern Cordillera. These areas concentrate between 7 and 12 species. They are mainly linked to the páramo complexes of Colombia and the Sierra Nevada in Venezuela, primarily within Cool Temperate Moist Grassland ecosystems on mountains. Our results provide a spatial planning procedure and analytical tool for decision-makers to guide conservation management and actions across northern Andes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coniferous forests are under severe threat of the rapid anthropogenic climate warming. Abies (firs), the fourth‐largest conifer genus, is a keystone component of the boreal and temperate dark‐coniferous forests and harbors a remarkably large number of relict taxa. However, the uncertainty of the phylogenetic and biogeographic history of Abies significantly impedes our prediction of future dynamics and efficient conservation of firs. In this study, using 1,533 nuclear genes generated from transcriptome sequencing and a complete sampling of all widely recognized species, we have successfully reconstructed a robust phylogeny of global firs, in which four clades are strongly supported and all intersectional relationships are resolved, although phylogenetic discordance caused mainly by incomplete lineage sorting and hybridization was detected. Molecular dating and ancestral area reconstruction suggest a Northern Hemisphere high‐latitude origin of Abies during the Late Cretaceous, but all extant firs diversified during the Miocene to the Pleistocene, and multiple continental and intercontinental dispersals took place in response to the late Neogene climate cooling and orogenic movements. Notably, four critically endangered firs endemic to subtropical mountains of China, including A. beshanzuensis, A. ziyuanensis, A. fanjingshanensis and A. yuanbaoshanensis from east to west, have different origins and evolutionary histories. Moreover, three hotspots of species richness, including western North America, central Japan, and the Hengduan Mountains, were identified in Abies. Elevation and precipitation, particularly precipitation of the coldest quarter, are the most significant environmental factors driving the global distribution pattern of fir species diversity. Some morphological traits are evolutionarily constrained, and those linked to elevational variation (e.g., purple cone) and cold resistance (e.g., pubescent branch and resinous bud) may have contributed to the diversification of global firs. Our study sheds new light on the spatiotemporal evolution of global firs, which will be of great help to forest management and species conservation in a warming world. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Protected areas form the backbone of global conservation efforts. Vegetation is the primary foundation for achieving conservation goals, and soil seed banks is a cryptic biodiversity reservoir for recruiting species that may not be represented in above‐ground vegetation. Unfortunately, unmanaged grazing by wild herbivores has led to vegetation degradation in semi‐arid to arid regions. However, experimental evidence on the long‐term impacts of wild herbivores on soil seed banks is largely lacking.Here, with the aim of examining how wild herbivores impact soil seed banks, we investigated the composition of the germinable seed banks in three protected areas (Yathong, Mungo and Boolcoomatta) along a semi‐arid to arid precipitation gradient in south‐eastern Australia.The density and species richness of the soil seed banks increased with increasing aridity, which indicated that the soil seed banks in arid regions is an important biodiversity reservoir. The effects of wild herbivores on soil seed density were strongly dependent on precipitation. Wild herbivores disrupted the soil seed banks at the most arid site but promoted the accumulation of seeds in the soil at the least arid site. Grazing was linked to an increase in the frequency of the seeds of introduced species and decrease in the frequency of the seeds of perennials.Synthesis and applications: Disruption of the soil seed banks by the grazing of wild herbivores could lead to the failure of post‐rain pulses of vegetation growth and hamper efforts to restore vegetation in protected areas. Therefore, suppressing wild herbivore numbers is a strategy that could enhance soil seed bank reserves and revegetation efforts in arid protected areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The collection and freezing of plant seeds in gene banks has been an integral part of global biodiversity policy since the early twentieth century. In recent years, the use of cryopreservation technologies (the storage of biological material at temperatures as low as −196 °C) has been advocated as a complement to these strategies. This technology promises that it will be possible to freeze significantly more plant varieties for longer periods of time. The article draws on scientific publications to analyze the current discourse on cryopreservation technology in the field of agricultural plant conservation. It underpins and intensifies biopolitical trajectories that have been inherent in ex situ conservation from the outset. First, cryotechnology submits to a pure line ontology which frames living beings as having an intrinsic genetic identity, and aims to secure this genetic identity against unplanned changes. Second, cryopreservation is linked to an imaginary of ecological separation that implies the idea that biodiversity can ultimately be preserved without a habitat. The article concludes by pointing to the material limitations and unsolved problems cryotechnologies inevitably face. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The authors discovered a new population of Hieracium lucidum Guss., a species hitherto considered strictly endemic to Monte Gallo. Useful elements for the ecological characterisation of the new population are provided. The stretch of carbonate coastline between the Egadi Islands and the western portion of the Province of Palermo displays a very high wealth of valuable floristic elements and represents an unicum in terms of both phytogeography and ecology. Considering the extreme fragmentation of the distribution pattern of many endemic and exclusive species that characterise this district, as in the case of H. lucidum, the authors suggest upgrading the strategies to protect the local botanical heritage, going beyond the species approach and thinking on a wider territorial scale. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the current context of global changes, threatened flora is declining and homogenising at the expense of rare and protected species. Among conservation biology and ecological restoration techniques, plant translocation is one of the recommendations increasingly used. However, translocation remains risky and is recommended as a last resort to conserve protected flora in land use planning. Furthermore, it raises ethical questions partly linked to genetic processes. In this context, we studied how plant translocations are perceived by conservation actors in France, including their genetic aspects. The analysis of translocation perception complements that of feedback on concrete translocation operations and allows us to provide a qualitative assessment of current practices. We have adopted an interdisciplinary approach to survey different types of actors in nature conservation, involved or not in at least one stage of translocation operations (preparation, implementation and monitoring). Three main types of translocation perception divide our sample quite strongly (50% favourable/ 45% unfavourable/ 5% undecided). Surprisingly, their professional activity or the level of involvement in such an operation have no influence on their opinion on translocation, nor on the proposals of alternative measures. Only 15% of the actors involved in translocations used genetic data at least once. To conclude, it would be necessary to promote the sharing of feedback from past experiences. This would allow an up-to-date list of species unacceptable for translocation. Comparing the results of different protocols and implementation conditions for the same species or group should improve overall translocation success rates. Highlights: Plant translocation is a solution for the conservation of threatened species. This solution is currently ecologically risky and raises ethical and genetic questions. We identified three main perceptions (50% favourable/45% unfavourable/5% undecided). These ratios are similar among the different professional activities of respondents. Improving the feedback and success of translocations should improve its perception. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High-elevation and cold regions have harsh natural conditions with low temperatures and intense ultraviolet radiation, which impede plant growth and maintenance. Therefore, soil and water conservation vegetation restoration models are of great significance. In this study, a site condition analysis was performed based on three main limiting factors, including climatic and meteorological, soil, and topographic and geomorphological factors, providing a basis for vegetation restoration. The study area was divided into different site types. After investigating the situation of nurseries distributed in places such as Tibet, Qinghai, and Sichuan, trees, shrubs, and grasses with ecological characteristics similar to those of the local vegetation, including strong stress resistance, good soil and water conservation benefits, and well-established artificial cultivation practices, were selected as alternative vegetation for late-stage planting of indigenous tree species. Combining the results of site condition analysis and site type classification, the configuration of trees, shrubs, and grasses for different off-site condition types and the corresponding greening methods are discussed, providing a scientific reference for ecological restoration in high-elevation and low-temperature regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This review compares contemporary with traditional medicine and indigenous pharmacopoeias. A new approach for an indigenous pharmacopoeia is explored. Kaitiakitanga and conservation of medicinal plants, as well as sustaining and strengthening rongoā Māori and improving health outcomes through developing Te Tauihu Pharmacopoeia is an aspiration. Valuing medicinal plants as taonga and acknowledging traditional understanding along with guiding tikanga, including respect, humility, honesty, transparency and permission from knowledge holders, are prerequisites for such an initiative. Pharmacopoeias have traditionally described the making of healing medicines. Hundreds of these have been compiled, some dating back prior to 1,000 AD, notably the Chinese Pharmacopoeia in 250 AD. Despite a drive for standardisation, there are different styles including regional and indigenous pharmacopoeias, arising from different rationales for their development. In Aotearoa-New Zealand there are no current pharmacopoeias; historical and recent laws and policies have either impeded or fallen short of the commitment made by other countries to traditional medicines. Reversing the erosion of traditional knowledge resulting from colonisation is an important driver for written versions of indigenous verbal pharmacopoeias, but a new pharmacopoeia based on verbal traditions, historical information, and mātauranga Māori cannot be pursued lightly, and should be led by indigenous knowledge holders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study of medicinal plants and having a protected status is an urgent issue for the conservation of biodiversity in Kazakhstan. Rhaponticum carthamoides (Willd.) Ilijn is a medicinal plant, and its excessive harvesting and destruction of habitats, as well as its conservation status, are of concern. We conducted a study to assess the ecological characteristics of the habitat of the species in the Tarbagatai National Natural Park, calculate the amount of medicinal raw materials, calculate both aboveground and underground phytomass, and calculate biological and operational reserves. A map has been developed to show the distribution of the species and potential harvest sites. In addition, a correlation analysis was performed to understand how population size affects productivity. The results highlight the need for continuous monitoring and protection of endangered species. The conservation of Rhaponticum carthamoides in the Tarbagatai State National Nature Park is currently ensured by its protected status. However, the study emphasizes the importance of developing a sustainable use regime to effectively manage plant resources and ensure their preservation for future generations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Global attention is highly focused on biodiversity conservation. Various countries are actively implementing relevant conservation measures. To advance these efforts in China, it is essential to understand global conservation actions. The orchid family, one of the most diverse groups of flowering plants, has become a "flagship" group for plant conservation. In this study, we summarized 3418 policies and regulations related to orchid conservation in 45 countries. We found that orchid conservation actions in various countries have focused on in situ conservation, with 1469 policies and regulations issued for nature reserves, while ex situ conservation has been seriously neglected, with only seven relevant regulations. Most developing countries have experienced an increase in orchid conservation actions, while developed countries have plateaued. We amassed 370 non-governmental organizations (NGOs) for orchid conservation. At present, the total number of policies and regulations for orchid protection in China is approximately 84, with 67 issued since 2000. Two non-governmental organizations have been established for orchid conservation. Although the benefit of orchid conservation in China is significant, it still requires continuous improvement compared to many other countries. We recommend that the Chinese government draws on the experiences of the United States, Canada, and Australia in areas such as policy and regulation formulation, optimization of non-governmental organizations, and implementation of related conservation projects. Through learning and collaboration, challenges can be transformed into opportunities for development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Important Plant Areas (IPAs) are a successful method of identifying priority areas for plant conservation. Assessment of IPAs, however, often relies on criteria related to species, while incorporation of habitats has been less consistent. Using Uganda as a case study, we test the application of the threatened habitat criterion—criterion C. We identified nationally threatened habitats using Red List of Ecosystems criteria and assess, for the first time, how differing application of thresholds under IPA criterion C can influence IPA network outcomes. Eleven threatened habitats were identified, with declines switching from predominantly forest to savanna types after the mid‐20th century. Significantly, we found current IPA guidance on use of criterion C needlessly limits the number of sites that qualify as IPAs. The "five best sites" IPA threshold is reserved for countries where quantitative data is unavailable; however, the application of the relevant percentage‐based thresholds to quantitative data largely generated fewer than five IPAs, comparably limiting conservation opportunities identified. We recommend, therefore, that the "five best" threshold is available for application on both qualitative and quantitative data. This will bolster the value of IPAs in conserving and restoring threatened and ecologically important habitats under the Kunming‐Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Seed coating is commonly applied in agricultural seed industry to alleviate biotic and edaphic barriers and improve seed germination, seedling emergence and establishment. Recently, this seed enhancement technology has been tested and applied to seeds of native species for ecological restoration and conservation. This work presents a novel application of seed coating for the reintroduction of species with dust‐like seeds that render direct seeding and cultivation unfeasible. Here we have used seed coating on Lindernia procumbens (Krocker) Philcox (Linderniaceae), a threatened annual species of paddy fields. Lindernia procumbens seeds were encrusted to the surface of rice seeds that acted as carrier to spread the species along rice sowing. We first tested how two selected concentrations of binder affected L. procumbens germination, then we investigated sowing depth (i.e. surface level—light, and buried—darkness) effect. Rice encrusting is a feasible and valuable tool for preserving threatened species with tiny seeds, since binder did not limit L. procumbens germination. Light increased L. procumbens seedlings emergence compared to buried conditions. Although L. procumbens emergence was limited in a paddy field trial, we promoted the formation of a soil seed bank for the species. As such, this should not discourage the possibility to reintroduce rare species with tiny seeds in agroecosystems. This pioneering technique can be extended to ecological restoration, where there is an urgent need for new seed‐based approaches and seed‐coating technologies to improve seedling establishment and restoration efficacy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Societal Impact Statement: Herbaria, as collections of preserved plants, contain large amounts of data both in the labels and the specimens themselves, which can be applied in different study fields. A literature review was conducted to discover how the uses of herbaria have evolved over time since records began. This analysis revealed insights into how herbaria are presently used. Uses include traditional taxonomic review, as well as advanced technological tools, which are being applied to herbaria material to address societal and global challenges and therefore contribute to decision‐making in conservation. Summary: Herbaria as collections of preserved plants contain large amounts of data and prominent information, both on the labels and on the specimens themselves. There are 400 million specimens preserved in herbaria worldwide, with great potential for studies in conservation and effects of global change on plants. (1) In this paper, we investigate the array of herbaria uses through a systematic review of the scientific literature in SCOPUS covering the period 1842–2022. (2) We reviewed a total of 2900 papers and classified them in different areas of knowledge, as well as the taxonomic level studied. (3) Our results show that taxonomic use is the most relevant over time. This taxonomic use, together with the use as primary source of plant diversity data, is essential for documenting, planning, and acting on the conservation of threatened plants. Furthermore, our results have shown that new and diverse uses have emerged since 1990, mostly related to ecological issues, as herbaria provide a historical record of plant diversity and distribution, as well as their ecological and evolutionary responses, allowing scientists to track changes over time. (4) This contributes to improve the knowledge of biodiversity and to increase the effectiveness of conservation strategies and policies, which are a priority to address on going global change. Therefore, our study shows the relevance and potential of herbaria in ecology, including new or forthcoming uses, which are different from the uses originally intended by collectors. Thus, their preservation is critical as the unique and exceptional record for the knowledge of changes in biodiversity over space and time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents data on the seed germination ecophysiology of three Arabis species endemic to Cyprus: Arabis cypria, Arabis kennedyae and Arabis purpurea. Final seed germination in the dark, as a function of temperature, presented different responses among species and among seed lots of the same species. Different degrees of seed dormancy were also identified among different seed lots. In all cases, maximum final germination was achieved between 10–20 °C. Red light irradiation is the most efficient treatment for dormancy breakage in all three species, which implies phytochrome control of seed germination. As a result, seed germination in nature is expected to take place on the soil surface and not under canopy cover. The small seed size, the light requirement for germination and the variable germination patterns among different seed lots of the three studied species imply the formation of soil seed banks, perhaps as an essential part of their survival strategy. The value of the data presented in this paper is discussed in relation to the ex-situ conservation of the studied species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change and biodiversity conservation are two of the most urgent challenges of the twenty-first century. Current global climate models indicate that climate-related events will continue to increase in frequency and intensity, leading to severe impacts on ecosystems, particularly plant diversity. Despite the 2015 Paris Agreement, efforts to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius and secure adequate climate financing remain unsatisfactory. In addition, the National Biodiversity Strategic Action Plans (NBSAPs), a core mechanism of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), have faced issues in implementation at the national level. Many NBSAPs lack clear and measurable biodiversity targets, which limits their effectiveness. This review presents a comprehensive analysis of these urgent issues, highlighting the significant challenges and deficiencies in current climate and biodiversity conservation policies. It evaluates the effectiveness of the Kew conservation strategy as a model for protecting and conserving plant diversity. Furthermore, this review underscores the pivotal role of plant tissue culture (PTC) technology in achieving plant conservation targets within the post-2020 global biodiversity framework. This review strongly supports the post-2020 global biodiversity framework and the integration of PTC into global plant conservation strategies to meet the ambitious 30-by-30 targets. This review also advocates for the establishment of the Kew-Wide Mechanism (KWM) to bolster climate resilience, reduce anthropogenic impacts on plant diversity, revitalize global conservation efforts, and accelerate ecosystem restoration in the face of ongoing climate change. Proposed as a comprehensive approach to plant conservation, the KWM offers a strategic, innovative, and scalable solution as the global economy transitions toward decarbonization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fire regimes are changing globally, leading to an increased need for management interventions to protect human lives and interests, potentially conflicting with biodiversity conservation. We conceptualized 5 major aspects of the process required to address threats to flora and used this conceptual model to examine and identify areas for improvement. We focused on threat identification, policy design, and action implementation. We illustrated the application of the conceptual model through a case study in southeastern Australia, where policies have been designed to prevent hazard reduction burns from exposing threatened flora to high‐frequency fire (HFF). We examined whether threatened species have been accurately identified as threatened by HFF, species were accounted for in key policies, and implementation of the policy reduced the incidence of HFF for target species. Species were mostly identified accurately as being threatened by HFF, and, broadly, the policy effectively minimized the threat from HFF. However, 96 species did not have HFF identified as a threat, and another 36 were missing from the policy entirely. Outcomes regarding the reduction of threat from HFF since policy introduction were species specific, despite an average increase in fire interval of 2 years. Despite the policy, over half (55%) the species studied have been affected by HFF since the policy was introduced. Although relatively minor improvements could optimize threat identification and policy design, the mixed success of action implementation highlights limitations that warrant further investigation. Our conceptual model enabled us to make clear and targeted recommendations for how different aspects of the policy could be improved and where further work is needed. We propose the conceptual model can be useful in a variety of contexts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We introduce the database of European vascular plant red lists, a compilation of red list categories designated to taxa during in-country conservation assessments. Version 1.0 of the database is a standalone static dataset with open access in an end-user friendly format. Its aim is to fulfil the objectives of European Cooperation in Science and Technology (COST) Action 18201, ConservePlants. The database synthesizes data across 42 red lists from 41 countries, with participation of 39 out of a total of 44 European countries and two additional Mediterranean countries. The database contains 51,109 records representing 21,481 original taxonomic names with 37 different red list categories. During data harmonisation, 20,312 of the original taxonomic names were assigned to 17,873 unique accepted taxonomic names with scientific authorships across 184 families, 1650 genera and 15,593 species; and red list categories were standardised to 13 unique categories. We see this database as a source of information in diverse plant conservation activities and suitable for various stakeholders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The research investigates the diversity, bioprospecting, and conservation status of Pteridophyta in diverse habitats, focusing on the Bukit Tigapuluh National Park, Riau, Indonesia. The current research probes the diversity of pteridophytes and the conservation efforts of the Talang Mamak community in Riau, Indonesia, particularly in bioprospecting. It integrates ethnobotany and field exploration, utilizing ethnobotanical data as the primary database. Ethnobotanical data analysis used Microsoft Excel spreadsheets, incorporating respondent consensus factors and preference ratings. Conservation assessments adhere to the rigorous standards of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List Categories and Criteria. It uncovers 39 distinct Pteridophyta species belonging to 19 families. Engaging with the Talang Mamak community reveals nine plant species holding substantial bioprospecting potential, including Selaginella sp., Angiopteris evecta (G.Forst.) Hoffm., and Lygodium microphyllum (Cav.) R.Br. A comprehensive literature review underscores the scientific importance of these findings, highlighting bioactive compounds in 50% of identified species. Conservation assessments, rooted in the IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria, designate five Pteridophyta species as endangered. Pteridophytes play a vital role in the daily lives of the community, from traditional medicine to spiritual and cultural practices. This research underscores the imperative of holistic conservation strategies integrating scientific knowledge with community engagement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Insects are the major pollination vectors for angiosperms, and insects native to a given habitat can play an irreplaceable ecological role in food webs and plant reproduction. With precipitous declines in insect species over the last decades, it is urgent to document insect assemblages in native plant communities to support conservation efforts. Identifying pollinators and their pollination activity is challenging; however, emerging technological methods are providing new monitoring capabilities. In this study, we compare the accuracy of two different methods of monitoring to assess the flower‐visiting insect assemblage and likely pollinators of Encinitas baccharis (Baccharis vanessae): focal observations and video recordings from camera traps. B. vanessae is a rare, endemic species found in Coastal Sage Scrub communities in San Diego County. This federally listed species is threatened by habitat loss and fragmentation, which may also be affecting the availability of its insect pollinators. Results indicate that B. vanessae supports and is supported by a variety of flower‐visiting insect groups. The diversity of insect visitors at male and female plants were similar across all diversity measurements. The insect vectors identified were as expected given B. vanessae pollination syndrome. This syndrome also aligns with wind as a pollination vector, providing evidence of ambophily. While focal observations underreported insect activity by approximately half, the proportions of common diurnal visitors were similar with both methods. Camera traps were unable to provide sufficient detail to discern visually similar groups, but were able to record nocturnal insect activity, which was dominated by moths (Lepidoptera, 82%). While collection protocol in this study did not record the time an insect spent interacting with a flower, we anecdotally observed moths spent notably longer periods in contact with flowers than most diurnal insects. This study has implications for effective monitoring and conservation of endangered plant species and their affiliated pollinators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)'s Red List of Threatened Species is regarded as the primary source of global extinction risk for species. Despite this importance, the IUCN has assessed less than 20% of the world′s estimated 400,000 flowering plants due to issues like insufficient data or a lack of experts. Thousands of conservation status assessments were generated recently in response to the call to action by the revised Target 2 of the Global Strategy for Plant Conservation (GSPC), "An assessment of the conservation status of all known plant species, as far as possible, to guide conservation action." Accelerated extinction risk assessments are needed to identify species that are most at risk of extinction, which can then be thoroughly evaluated by the Red List assessment procedure. The land area in the Pacific Islands is significantly smaller than in other parts of the world. Plant species restricted to these islands may be identified as "At Risk" due to the limited land area of these islands, despite being widespread locally. Distribution and abundance data of single-island endemic plant taxa of Kosrae, Federated States of Micronesia, are analyzed and combined with digital elevation model files from this island, ArcGIS, and herbarium data, to calculate the percentage of land area that is available within a species′ elevational occurrence, a metric we have coined the Extent of Inhabitable Elevation of Island Occurrence (EIEIO). This metric can be used as a streamlined system to rapidly identify species that need plant conservation attention and allows for a swifter response to Target 2 of the GSPC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: This study investigated the potential for enhancing the efficacy of the biological control agent, Aphidius colemani, against the cotton aphid, Aphis gossypii, by planting Zinnia elegans flowers alongside cucumbers in greenhouses. Three treatments were examined: (1) the combined use of Z. elegans and A. colemani; (2) A. colemani alone; and (3) a control without either. Our results indicated that the Z. elegans and A. colemani combination maintained a lower A. gossypii population compared to other treatments. While A. colemani alone initially suppressed the A. gossypii population, it soon increased. This study concluded that integrating Z. elegans with the biological control agent could more effectively manage aphid populations in cucumber greenhouses. This study aimed to evaluate the enhancement of A. gossypii control by A. colemani when Z. elegans was planted as a companion crop in cucumber greenhouses. The density and spatial distribution of A. gossypii and parasitized mummies were investigated across three treatment plots: (1) the simultaneous application of A. colemani and cultivation of Z. elegans (parasitoid-zinnia plot); (2) the application of A. colemani alone (parasitoid plot); and (3) a control plot (no application of both). A. gossypii maintained low densities in the parasitoid–zinnia plots, while its densities in the parasitoid plots initially decreased but rapidly increased thereafter. The spatial distribution patterns of A. gossypii and parasitized mummies showed similar trends across treatments. However, the parasitism rate of A. gossypii exhibited random distribution in parasitoid and control plots, while showing uniform distribution in the parasitoid–zinnia treatment. These results supported the idea that cultivating Z. elegans alongside cucumber could enhance the effectiveness of A. colemani as a biocontrol agent against A. gossypii, highlighting the importance of such companion planting in pest management strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Rapid expansion of the Lanzhou–Xining (Lanxi) urban cluster in China during recent decades poses a threat to the fragile arid environment. Quantitatively assessing the impact of urban expansion on vegetation in the Lanxi urban cluster has profound implications for future sustainable urban planning. This study investigated the urban expansion dynamics of the Lanxi urban cluster and its impacts on regional vegetation between 2001 and 2021 based on time series land cover data and auxiliary remote sensing data, such as digital elevation model (DEM) data, nighttime light data, and administrative boundary data. Thereinto, urban expansion dynamics were evaluated using the annual China Land Cover Dataset (CLCD, 2001–2021). Urban expansion impacts on regional vegetation were assessed via the Vegetation Disturbance Index (VDI), an index capable of quantitatively assessing the positive and negative impacts of urban expansion at the pixel level, which can be obtained by overlaying the Enhanced Vegetation Index (EVI) and rainfall data. The major findings indicate that: (1) Over the past two decades, the Lanxi region has experienced rapid urban expansion, with the built-up area expanding from 183.50 km2 to 294.30 km2, which is an average annual expansion rate of 2.39%. Notably, Lanzhou, Baiyin, and Xining dominated the expansion. (2) Urban expansion negatively affected approximately 53.50 km2 of vegetation, while about 39.56 km2 saw positive impacts. The negative effects were mainly due to the loss of cropland and grassland. Therefore, cities in drylands should balance urban development and vegetation conservation by strictly controlling cropland and grassland occupancy and promoting intelligent urban growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ability of plants to modify biomass allocation and leaf phenotypes to best utilize available resources has been heavily studied. No Tabernaemontana species have been included in this research agenda. Therefore, Tabernaemontana pandacaqui Poir. and Tabernaemontana rotensis (Kaneh.) B.C. Stone plants were subjected to 24% or 100% sunlight and various traits were determined to compare the relative level of plasticity. Midday net carbon dioxide assimilation was greater for T. rotensis in sun-grown plants, but greater for T. pandacaqui in shade-grown plants. Saturating light intensity and midday Fv/Fm were greater for T. rotensis in sun-grown plants, but did not differ between the species for shade-grown plants. Light compensation intensity was greater for T. rotensis than T. pandacaqui in both light treatments. Apparent quantum yield was greater for T. pandacaqui shade-grown plants but was similar for the two species in sun-grown plants. Greater relative root growth in full sun compared with shade was exhibited by T. rotensis but not by T. pandacaqui. These findings indicated that T. pandacaqui develops functional traits that improve performance in shade-grown plants, and T. rotensis develops facultative traits that enable performance in sun-grown plants. These insights into how T. pandacaqui and T. rotensis respond to sun and shade conditions add to the knowledge needed to inform the selection of niche conditions when using them in managed mixed forest plantings such as conservation and restoration sites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Natural forests play a crucial role in providing various ecosystem services, including timber production and biodiversity conservation. However, climate change and anthropogenic factors pose a severe threat to competing forest ecosystem services functions. Therefore, to optimize and sustainably utilize competing forest services, tradeoffs are often necessary. This study was conducted in Northwest China to explore tradeoffs aimed at improving the quality of Quercus wutaishanica Mayr natural forests under climate change conditions, focusing on stand volume, timber production, and understory vegetation diversity conservation. Data from 77 field surveys were used to construct a coupled model for stand growth, stand structure, and site conditions. Changes in understory vegetation species number (UVSN) with crown cover were quantified. These models and relationships can be used as tools to estimate tradeoffs. As stand density increased, single-tree volume decreased, whereas timber volume increased. UVSN increased and then decreased with increasing crown cover and was able to maintain a relative maximum at 0.5–0.65. Under the current climatic conditions, the optimum stand densities corresponding to 30, 40, 50, and 60 years were 1390, 1153, 1042, and 871 trees/ha, respectively, to maintain a high UVSN and adequate stand volume. When mean annual temperature rose, stand densities could be reduced to maintain high-quality timber. Although only two major services were considered, the tradeoffs presented in this study can inform future research to improve the quality of natural forests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The "Serra da Concórdia" is part of the Atlantic Forest phytogeographical domain in the Brazilian state of Rio de Janeiro and it has a predominant phytophysiognomy of Semideciduous Seasonal Forest. This region underwent intense habitat loss and fragmentation during the 19th century, due to coffee plantations and later pastures. With the decline of these activities, the areas were abandoned, triggering secondary succession. In 2002, the "Parque Estadual da Serra da Concórdia" was established in this region to preserve the remaining forest fragments. The updated list of vascular plants recorded in this protected area, published in the "Catálogo de Plantas das Unidades de Conservação do Brasil", is presented here, along with information on richness, endemism, and conservation status. New information: The "Parque Estadual da Serra da Concórdia" houses 231 vascular plant species, of which 90% are angiosperms, 10% ferns and lycophytes, and 27% endemic to the Atlantic Forest. Ten species are threatened with extinction, three are categorized as Endangered, and seven as Vulnerable. Although there have been expeditions in the "Parque Estadual da Serra da Concórdia", they have been limited, resulting in a low number of records and the species richness for a protected area. This is notable considering the 2,130 Brazilian native vascular plant species recorded in the semideciduous seasonal forest of Rio de Janeiro. Our data indicates that floristic inventories of Brazilian protected areas could help highlight gaps in flora knowledge and support the proposal of effective conservation actions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fire events in South America are becoming more extensive and frequent as climate extremes and human pressures increase, and even repeatedly occurring in some areas within decades. However, the relationship between recurring fires and vegetation dynamics remains unclear. Here, we extracted the number of fire occurrences using burned area satellite product and analysed the relationship between recurring fires and vegetation dynamics with remote sensing land use and vegetation index datasets in South America. We show that approximately 1.39 × 106 km2 of burnt area has experienced recurring fires during 2001–2020. More than half of burnt area of recurring fires occurred in savannahs with remaining burnt area in grasslands, forests and croplands. Although forests tended to be less susceptible to recurring fires among all vegetation types, their coverage loss with recurring fires was the greatest. The greater proportion of forest conversion to croplands concurred with more recurring fires. Conversely, the coverage of croplands and grasslands gained the most with recurring fires. In the areas without vegetation conversion, more frequent recurring fires further suppressed canopy greenness and density, even in fire‐adapted savannahs and grasslands. Our results suggest that recurring fires and land use change are generally coincident, reflecting the intense pressure of human activities on natural vegetation in South America. Thus, coordinated efforts on vegetation conservation and sustainable management of human‐induced burning in the region are urgently needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An efficient protocol to standardize the multiple shoot induction of plantlets from nodal explants of Physalis angulata L. using MS basal media with the combination of Cytokinin and auxin was studied in this research. Physalis angulata is a cosmopolitan plant found in tropical and sub tropical regions of the world. The plant has wide range of therapeutic abilities in fields like ethnobotany, phytochemistry, pharmacology, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, immunoregulatory, anti-diabetic, anticancerous and antilipidiamic function especially the compound Physalin. For large scale production and extraction of these functional compounds from the plant, a conservational technique namely plant tissue culture was employed in this study, where, node from elite mother plant is taken and inoculated in the MS medium supplemented with combinations of cytokinin (BAP+KIN) and auxin (NAA+IAA) in various range of concentration was used. The aseptic condition was maintained and data's were analysed by ANOVA. From the result it was observed that highest concentration provided best result of number and length of shoots and roots. From this study, it is evident that plant tissue culture plays a role in not only conservation of RET plants but also common plants and weeds with therapeutic ability that could be accessed for large scale production and also compound elucidation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The driving effects of climate change and human activities on vegetation change have always been a focal point of research. However, the coupling mechanisms of these driving factors across different temporal and spatial scales remain controversial. The Southwestern Alpine Canyon Region of China (SACR), as an ecologically fragile area, is highly sensitive to the impacts of climate change and human activities. This study constructed a vegetation cover dataset for the SACR based on the Enhanced Vegetation Index (EVI) from 2000 to 2020. Spatial autocorrelation, Theil-Sen trend, and Mann-Kendall tests were used to analyze the spatiotemporal characteristics of vegetation cover changes. The main drivers of spatial heterogeneity in vegetation cover were identified using the optimal parameter geographic detector, and an improved residual analysis model was employed to quantify the relative contributions of climate change and human activities to interannual vegetation cover changes. The main findings are as follows: Spatially, vegetation cover exceeds 60% in most areas, especially in the southern part of the study area. However, the border area between Linzhi and Changdu exhibits lower vegetation cover. Climate factors are the primary drivers of spatial heterogeneity in vegetation cover, with temperature having the most significant influence, as indicated by its q-value, which far exceeds that of other factors. Additionally, the interaction q-value between the two factors significantly increases, showing a relationship of bivariate enhancement and nonlinear enhancement. In terms of temporal changes, vegetation cover shows an overall improving trend from 2000 to 2020, with significant increases observed in 68.93% of the study area. Among these, human activities are the main factors driving vegetation cover change, with a relative contribution rate of 41.31%, while climate change and residual factors contribute 35.66% and 23.53%, respectively. By thoroughly exploring the coupled mechanisms of vegetation change, this study provides important references for the sustainable management and conservation of the vegetation ecosystem in the SACR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Societal Impact Statement Herbaria, as collections of preserved plants, contain large amounts of data both in the labels and the specimens themselves, which can be applied in different study fields. A literature review was conducted to discover how the uses of herbaria have evolved over time since records began. This analysis revealed insights into how herbaria are presently used. Uses include traditional taxonomic review, as well as advanced technological tools, which are being applied to herbaria material to address societal and global challenges and therefore contribute to decision‐making in conservation. Summary Herbaria as collections of preserved plants contain large amounts of data and prominent information, both on the labels and on the specimens themselves. There are 400 million specimens preserved in herbaria worldwide, with great potential for studies in conservation and effects of global change on plants. (1) In this paper, we investigate the array of herbaria uses through a systematic review of the scientific literature in SCOPUS covering the period 1842–2022. (2) We reviewed a total of 2900 papers and classified them in different areas of knowledge, as well as the taxonomic level studied. (3) Our results show that taxonomic use is the most relevant over time. This taxonomic use, together with the use as primary source of plant diversity data, is essential for documenting, planning, and acting on the conservation of threatened plants. Furthermore, our results have shown that new and diverse uses have emerged since 1990, mostly related to ecological issues, as herbaria provide a historical record of plant diversity and distribution, as well as their ecological and evolutionary responses, allowing scientists to track changes over time. (4) This contributes to improve the knowledge of biodiversity and to increase the effectiveness of conservation strategies and policies, which are a priority to address on going global change. Therefore, our study shows the relevance and potential of herbaria in ecology, including new or forthcoming uses, which are different from the uses originally intended by collectors. Thus, their preservation is critical as the unique and exceptional record for the knowledge of changes in biodiversity over space and time.

Global warming is exhibiting a seasonal trend, while different seasons have different warming variations. However, the impact of seasonal warming on plants remains unclear. This study employed Open Top Chambers (OTCs) to simulate future seasonal warming scenarios in alpine meadow. The study examined plant community dynamics following long‐term seasonal warming. The transcriptional and physiological responses of two dominant species (Kobresia pygmaea and Stipa purpurea) were examined. Results suggest that seasonal warming effects are correlated with both the duration of warming and the season which warming occurs. A long annual warming duration, especially growing season warming, made plants confront various stresses. K. pygmaea adopted a stress‐avoidance strategy, showing a negative response, and leading to population decline or disappearance. This kind of dieback had also been observed in other Cyperaceae species. Meanwhile, due to positive responses, S. purpurea adopted a stress‐tolerance strategy and overcame the impact of warming, partially gained the dominance over Cyperaceae species. Overall vegetation coverage and plant community diversity decreased over the years. These results reveal the impact of seasonal warming to plants, explaining the reasons for changes in plant communities under seasonal warming and providing new insights for future plant conservation under seasonal warming. Significance Statement: Seasonal warming exerts distinct effects on plant communities compared to year‐round warming. This study demonstrates that warming during the growing season, particularly in summer and autumn, imposes significant stress on alpine meadow plants. The negative response of Cyperaceae species emerges as a critical factor driving community degradation under seasonal warming. These findings advance our understanding of the ecological impacts of seasonal warming and elucidate potential mechanisms underlying plant community decline. They also provide a theoretical foundation for grassland management and conservation strategies in the context of future global seasonal warming scenarios. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In light of increasing human impacts on natural areas and climate change, urgent action is required to accelerate species conservation efforts. Ex situ conservation has gained importance, yet the increasing endangered species challenge is magnified in botanic gardens, notably tropical ones, insufficient to safeguard such diverse flora. This study focused on the living collection of the arboretum at the Rio de Janeiro Botanical Garden, examining all cultivated specimens and institutional database records between January and July 2023. It cross-referenced the collection’s composition with the Flora e Funga do Brasil list, as well as Red Lists, to reveal that the collection includes 6960 specimens representing 1420 species, with 60.6% of these species native to Brazil, belonging to 134 botanical families. The collection encompasses all Brazilian phytogeographic domains, with the Atlantic Forest and the Amazon having the highest number of species in cultivation. In terms of conservation efforts, the collection includes 83 species from the Brazilian Red List and 106 species from the IUCN Red List, contributing to the Global Strategy for Plant Conservation, Target 8. This evaluation is the first step toward identifying collection gaps, future planning, and targeting species for acquisition to enhance the effectiveness of our conservation efforts.

Green spaces are key aspects of urban ecology. The current study aims to estimate temporal changes in green spaces of Guwahati Metropolitan Development Authority, and also to investigate the tree community structure of three selected green patches. Change detection analysis of identified green spaces was done by comparing the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) maps of satellite images from 2022 with those from 1972. NDVI maps were classified into three threshold categories: no vegetation (NV), moderate vegetation (MV), and high vegetation (HV). The results show changes in the area of selected green patches as well as NV, MV, and HV regions between 1972 and 2022. The tree community structure in the three selected patches indicates a low diversity of plant species. The result of the current study prioritizes patch-wise management of urban green spaces in Guwahati city with the help of both remotely sensed and ground data. Thus, the present study can significantly contribute to plant community conservation and management of urban green spaces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Argania spinosa, an endangered species from southwestern Morocco, is studied for preservation through plant biotechnology. The research aims to optimise argan tree propagation to boost production, preserve heritage, and use residual species. In vitro seedlings are transferred to a modified Murashige and Skoog medium with various phytohormones. Six combinations of auxins and cytokinins are tested for germination. Results show that a liquid medium with activated charcoal from argan shells promotes stem elongation. Meta-topoline at 0.5 mg L−1, combined with naphthalene acetic acid (NAA) at 0.2 mg L−1, enhances shoot growth, leaf formation, and callogenesis. Adding benzylaminopurine (BAP) at 0.1 mg L−1 and indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) at 0.02 mg L−1 to the medium elongates stems by 4.3 cm after 21 days. A 2000 ppm IBA concentration is key for a 90% rooting rate. These findings underscore plant biotechnology’s role in preserving and propagating argan trees, improving resource management, and supporting sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The upas tree (Antiaris toxicaria Lesch.) is a medically important plant that contains various specialized metabolites with significant bioactivity. The lack of a reference genome hinders the in-depth study as well as rational exploitation and conservation of this plant. Here, we present the first holotype-resolved chromosome-scale genome of the upas tree. The assembled genome consisted of 26 chromosomes that contain 1.34 Gb of sequencing data with a contig N50 length of 60 Mb. Genome annotation identified 43,500 protein-coding genes in the upas tree genome, of which 98.75% were functionally annotated. This high-quality reference genome will lay the foundation for further studies on the evolution and functional genomics of the upas tree. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Variations in vegetation composition and structure are significant signals of the succession of mudflat ecosystems and have important indicative roles in mudflat ecosystem degradation. Due to poor accessibility of vast even mudflat areas, variation in vegetation composition and structure across mudflat areas remains unclear in the Yellow River Delta (YRD), China. We provided an UAV multispectral orthomosaic with 10 cm ground sample distance to classify and compare the vegetation composition and structure across mudflat areas in the YRD. The vegetation classification overall accuracy achieved 95.0%. We found that although a significant difference (p < 0.05) was checked out in terms of the Shannon–Wiener diversity index (from 1.33 to 0.92) and evenness index (from 0.96 to 0.66) among the eight subareas from land to sea, all four dominant vegetation communities (S. salsa, L. bicolor, T. chinensis, and P. australis) were discovered at all eight subareas. Our findings support the idea that the regional environment and local microtopography are the predominant forces for variation in vegetation composition and structure across mudflat areas. From the perspective of vegetation restoration and conservation, changing the local microtopography will be an interesting way to enhance the vegetation diversity of the mudflat ecosystems in the YRD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Southwest China is an important carbon sink area in China. It is critical to track and assess how human activity (HA) and climate change (CC) affect plant alterations in order to create effective and sustainable vegetation restoration techniques. This study used MODIS NDVI data, vegetation type data, and meteorological data to examine the regional and temporal variations in the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) in Southwest China from 2000 to 2020. Using trend analysis, the study looks at the temporal and geographical variability in the NDVI. Partial correlation analysis was also used to assess the effects of precipitation, extreme climate indicators, and mean temperature on the dynamics of the vegetation. A new residual analysis technique was created to categorize the effects of CC and HA on NDVI changes while taking extreme climate into consideration. The findings showed that the NDVI in Southwest China grew at a rate of 0.02 per decade between 2000 and 2020. According to the annual NDVI, there was a regional rise in around 85.59% of the vegetative areas, with notable increases in 36.34% of these regions. Temperature had a major influence on the northern half of the research region, but precipitation and extreme climate had a notable effect on the southern half. The rates at which climatic variables and human activity contributed to changes in the NDVI were 0.0008/10a and 0.0034/10a, respectively. These rates accounted for 19.1% and 80.9% of the variances, respectively. The findings demonstrate that most areas displayed greater HA-induced NDVI increases, with the exception of the western Sichuan Plateau. This result suggests that when formulating vegetation restoration and conservation strategies, special attention should be paid to the impact of human activities on vegetation to ensure the sustainable development of ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Angiosperms with large genomes experience nuclear‐, cellular‐, and organism‐level constraints that may limit their phenotypic plasticity and ecological niche, which could increase their risk of extinction. Therefore, we test the hypotheses that large‐genomed species are more likely to be threatened with extinction than those with small genomes, and that the effect of genome size varies across three selected covariates: life form, endemism, and climatic zone.We collated genome size and extinction risk information for a representative sample of angiosperms comprising 3250 species, which we analyzed alongside life form, endemism, and climatic zone variables using a phylogenetic framework.Genome size is positively correlated with extinction risk, a pattern driven by a signal in herbaceous but not woody species, regardless of climate and endemism. The influence of genome size is stronger in endemic herbaceous species, but is relatively homogenous across different climates. Beyond its indirect link via endemism and climate, genome size is associated with extinction risk directly and significantly.Genome size may serve as a proxy for difficult‐to‐measure parameters associated with resilience and vulnerability in herbaceous angiosperms. Therefore, it merits further exploration as a useful biological attribute for understanding intrinsic extinction risk and augmenting plant conservation efforts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: The flora of the Ogasawara Islands is briefly described, and the causes of its decline are discussed. The conservation of endangered plants of Ogasawara since the 1980s by the Koishikawa Botanical Garden, The University of Tokyo, is detailed, with notes on the pollination biology of endemic species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Moths (Order Lepidoptera) represent a large and diverse group of insects. To better understand moth diversity in the mountains of western North Carolina, we documented species richness, distribution, and phenology at the Tater Hill Plant Conservation Preserve in Watauga County. From June to August of 2022, we surveyed 6 locations once every other week with bucket traps and documented moth diversity via photography, resulting in 2631 individuals and 223 species. Common eastern species as well as northern species at the southern reaches of their ranges were present. There were 17 species newly recorded in the county, 1 significant state record, and species that had not been recorded in Watauga County in decades. Documenting moth diversity contributes to our knowledge of ecosystems, which has the potential to inform conservation management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In light of increasing human impacts on natural areas and climate change, urgent action is required to accelerate species conservation efforts. Ex situ conservation has gained importance, yet the increasing endangered species challenge is magnified in botanic gardens, notably tropical ones, insufficient to safeguard such diverse flora. This study focused on the living collection of the arboretum at the Rio de Janeiro Botanical Garden, examining all cultivated specimens and institutional database records between January and July 2023. It cross-referenced the collection's composition with the Flora e Funga do Brasil list, as well as Red Lists, to reveal that the collection includes 6960 specimens representing 1420 species, with 60.6% of these species native to Brazil, belonging to 134 botanical families. The collection encompasses all Brazilian phytogeographic domains, with the Atlantic Forest and the Amazon having the highest number of species in cultivation. In terms of conservation efforts, the collection includes 83 species from the Brazilian Red List and 106 species from the IUCN Red List, contributing to the Global Strategy for Plant Conservation, Target 8. This evaluation is the first step toward identifying collection gaps, future planning, and targeting species for acquisition to enhance the effectiveness of our conservation efforts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plant pests and diseases can have a major impact on the operation of botanic gardens and the conservation of plants more broadly. Botanic Gardens of Sydney have a wide range of strategic initiatives to manage biosecurity to ensure existing problems are managed, new incursions prevented, and that pests and diseases do not spread from our gardens. Action on the conservation of plant species threatened by exotic pests and diseases also requires integrated inter-disciplinary science to manage these threats that includes conservation horticulture, seed banking and cryopreservation, genomics and disease detection and management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Farmland habitats witness steep declines in biodiversity. One rapidly declining farmland species is the ortolan bunting Emberiza hortulana. In Finland, a staggering 99% of the population has been lost during the past 30 years. Changes in the breeding habitats have been proposed as a reason for the decline, although hazards during migration and wintering may also play a role. We gathered a 19‐year data set of Finnish ortolan buntings and studied which spatial characteristics, habitat features, and climate factors might explain the population growth rate at the singing‐group level. As explanatory variables we used region, density of small‐scale structures, proportion of agricultural area in the landscape, diversity of crop types, proportion of bare ground, and temperature and precipitation of previous breeding season. Higher population growth rates were associated with higher crop type diversity and higher proportion of bare ground. The mosaic of various crop plants and bare ground may provide a wider array of feeding, hiding and nesting places, and an easier access to food. Higher growth rates were also associated with landscapes dominated by interconnected agricultural land, which may reflect the species' sociability and avoidance of forested areas. The North Ostrobothnia region had higher growth rates compared to other regions. We suggest that northern populations of ortolan bunting should be targeted for further studies on feeding and breeding ecology as well as for urgent conservation actions, such as increasing crop type diversity and bare ground. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Resorption of key elements promotes their conservation in plants in nutrient‐poor ecosystems. In seasonal environments, the timing of resorption is expected to influence resorption efficiency and plant fitness due to the trade‐off between maximizing photosynthetic carbon gain by late resorption and minimizing frost risks and nutrient loss by early resorption. Here, we hypothesize that (1) these alternative strategies with respect to the timing of element resorption both occur among summergreen species; (2) deciduous woody plants favour delayed resorption while herbaceous species benefit from gradual, early onset resorption; (3) this pattern is part of a more general relationship in which species with conservative resource economic traits have more delayed resorption.We measured nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and carbon (C) contents of mature, senescing and senesced leaves of 22 predominant plant species across four types of ecosystems in a subarctic region. We then calculated timing of resorption as the Julian calendar day of 50% of element resorption (T50), and examined its relationship with plant functional types and leaf resource economic traits (leaf mass per area [LMA], leaf C, N and P contents).The timing of N resorption in subarctic plants ranged from day 213 to 254, while the timing of P resorption ranged from day 211 to 261 and of C from day 214 to 260 across species. On average, the resorption of N and P and depletion of C were 13, 12 and 19 days respectively earlier in herbaceous plants than in woody ones. For all the three elements, T50 of plants decreased significantly with increasing acquisitive economic traits.Synthesis: As hypothesized, we found that (1) both "steady‐and‐slow" and "late‐and‐fast" strategies of resorption timing co‐occurred in a subarctic flora; consistent with these two strategies, herbaceous plants resorbed nutrients and carbon earlier than deciduous woody species; (2) relevant functional traits representing resource conservation were positively and linearly related to the timing of nutrient resorption and carbon depletion. These findings for element resorption timing have important implications for functional changes in the vegetation composition of seasonal regions in response to temperature fluctuations in a changing climate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study was carried out at the Trans-Himalayan Herbal Garden, located at the National Institute of Sowa Rigpa-Leh, from 2021 to 2023. An assessment of pollen viability was conducted using seven significant medicinal and aromatic plants from the Ladakh region. Analysis of pollen vitality was conducted using the acetocarmine staining technique. The pollen viability of Inula racemosa Hook. f. ranged from 91.08 ± 1.39 % to 82.44 ± 1.48 % in Ephedra gerardiana Wall. Among the genus Inula racemosa, the highest percentage (91.08%) of viable pollens indicates a normal meiosis, whereas Ephedra gerardiana recorded the lowest percentage. Among the chosen species, Inula racemosa, Verbascumthapsus, Hyoscyamus niger, and Dracocephalum heterophyllum stand out for their exceptional pollen viability. These species can be effectively utilized for conservation purposes and as male parents in hybridization. The result for the average pollen density varied from 1533.07 ± 106.32 in Capparis spinosa L. to 276.00 ± 10.20 in Dracocephalum heterophyllum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plant species in Mediterranean ecosystems are expected to exhibit diverse responses to environmental stresses such as climate aridity and challenging soil conditions by adopting various functional strategies. However, intraspecific variability at the local scale has received insufficient attention in the study of CSR strategies. This study aims to evaluate intraspecific variability in leaf traits and CSR strategies of seven woody species growing on ultramafic and non-ultramafic soils in the Beni Bousera region of Northern Morocco. We first conducted a physicochemical analysis to assess differences in soil composition between the two sites. Subsequently, we measured leaf fresh weight, leaf dry weight, and leaf area and calculated CSR strategies for 10 individuals per species. The results revealed significant differences between the two soil types, primarily driven by a moderate serpentine effect characterized by a Ca:Mg ratio <1 in the ultramafic site, along with distinct soil texture. In response to these challenging conditions, we observed substantial intraspecific variability in leaf traits, accompanied by shifts in CSR strategies for certain species. At the ultramafic site, Quercus coccifera adopted an S strategy, while Cistus salviifolius exhibited an S/SC strategy. Lavandula stoechas and Teucrium fruticans displayed notable interindividual variability, whereas Cistus atriplicifolius, Phillyrea latifolia, and Erica arborea maintained consistent strategies across both sites. Our research contributes to the enrichment of CSR databases and highlights the applicability of the CSR strategy framework at the local, intraspecific level, offering a valuable foundation for future ecological studies and plant conservation efforts. Moreover, investigating intraspecific variability in leaf traits and CSR strategies enhances our understanding of plant adaptation mechanisms in extreme environments such as Mediterranean serpentine soils. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fine root traits embody trade-offs between resource acquisition and conservation in plants. Yet, the differentiation of these traits across root orders, the existence of a root economics spectrum (RES) spanning these orders, and their linkage with leaf traits remain underexplored. In this study, we analyzed the first three root orders and leaf traits of 15 co-occurring plant species, including ten herbs and five shrubs, from the desert–oasis transition zone of the Hexi Corridor. We measured twelve morphological and chemical traits to investigate the relationships between root and leaf traits. Our results revealed significant variation in root traits both among species and within species across different root orders. We identified RES that spanned root orders, with higher-order roots exhibiting more conservative traits and lower-order roots displaying traits aligned with resource acquisition. Additionally, leaf and fine root traits showed partially decoupled adaptive strategies, yet evidence also supported the existence of a leaf economics spectrum (LES) and a potentially two-dimensional whole plant economics spectrum (WPES). Our findings suggest synergistic resource allocation strategies between fine roots and the entire plant, emphasizing the importance of root order in understanding fine root structure, function, and their interactions with other plant organs. These insights advance the understanding of fine root traits and their integration within the broader plant economics spectrum. Nevertheless, the differences in fine root traits across root orders, the presence of a root economics spectrum (RES) spanning these orders, and the relationships between fine root and leaf traits remain underexplored. We examined the first three root orders and leaves of 15 co-occurring plant species (ten herbs and five shrubs) from the desert–oasis transition zone in the Hexi Corridor, measured twelve key morphological and chemical traits. We observed substantial variation in root traits among species and root orders within species. The root economics spectrum (RES) spanned across root orders, with higher-order roots positioned at the conservative end and lower-order roots at the acquisitive end of the "investment-return" strategy axis. Leaf and fine root traits of the 15 co-occurring plant species exhibited partially decoupled adaptive strategies. However, there was also evidence for the presence of a leaf economics spectrum (LES) and a whole plant economics spectrum (WPES), with the WPES potentially being two-dimensional. Furthermore, our findings suggest synergistic resource strategies between fine roots and the whole plant. Concurrently, the significant interspecific and intraspecific differences in fine root traits, combined with the presence of a root economics spectrum across root orders, underscore the critical importance of root order in studying fine root structure, function, and their associations with other plant organs. Our findings offer valuable insights for future research on fine root traits, the RES, and their integration with the whole plant economics spectrum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Verbal accounts, supported by limited ground‐based and satellite images, reveal decreasing riparian woodland and a loss of large trees along the rivers of the Kruger National Park (KNP, South Africa) over the last century. A multi‐decadal analysis was conducted to identify trends in extent and possible drivers of riparian woodland change. Aerial and satellite imagery (1936–2018) were used to quantify changes in the extent of riparian woodland at 18 sites on 14 rivers in KNP. These changes were compared in a multivariate time‐series with river flow and local rainfall. Particular attention was paid to cumulative flow effects, as well as the frequency and magnitude of large infrequent disturbances such as droughts and floods. Riparian tree cover fluctuated over the time period, and the trajectory of change varied between sites. Most (11) sites experienced a decrease in overall riparian tree cover over ~80 years, with these declines being significant at six sites. Peak flow and maximum rainfall events were strongly associated with these decreases, indicating that flood events are potentially the biggest driver of tree loss from the system. Indeed, the mega‐flood event of 2000 and subsequent large floods have resulted in substantial declines in riparian woodland extent in recent decades. Alternatively, flow variability and cumulative rainfall significantly influenced woodland expansion in isolated cases. With global change models predicting more erratic rainfall and an increased likelihood of large infrequent disturbances, together with increasing demands to abstract more water, the long‐term future of these dynamic habitats and their associated biota here is uncertain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gunung (Mount) Talang is an active volcano in West Sumatra that has a number of Nepenthes species, including the endemic N. talangensis, but their ecology has been little been studied. This study found five species of Nepenthes growing in the protected forest area of Gunung Talang, namely N. bongso, N. inermis, N. pectinata, N. spathulata and N. talangensis. The population of N. talangensis is very small (23 individuals) and it grows sympatrically with N. bongso and N. inermis forming natural hybrids. Lithocarpus conocarpus, Camellia lanceolata, Syzygium acuminatissimum, Adinandra dumosa and Dehaasia sp. are the five most dominant tree species found in the Nepenthes habitat, while L. conocarpus and Podocarpus neriifolius had strong positive associations with N. talangensis. Growth rates of the five Nepenthes species were not significantly different, neither were foliar nitrogen (mean = 1.14%) or phosphorus concentrations (mean = 0.11%). We suggest that N. talangensis should be considered as Critically Endangered and outline some possible conservation actions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Native seeds are a finite resource, and their inclusion in revegetation is vital for supporting restoration outcomes that are both effective and scalable. Pelletized seed enhancement technologies (SETs) offer a promising solution to improve seed use efficiency in ecological restoration. Yet, knowledge of how diverse suites of native species perform when pelletized is required to optimize the application of SETs to the many species and ecosystems where restoration is required. Using a greenhouse trial of 64 Australian plant species, we assessed species performance to pelleting by evaluating (1) overall species amenability to pelleting based on total emergence and survival and (2) how pelleting modifies the rate of emergence based on average time to emergence, emergence rate index, and time spread of emergence. We investigated the potential for using morphological seed traits (seed endosperm:seed ratio, seed length, seed area, and seed coat thickness) to predict performance outcomes, by identifying traits that may aid in the prediction of species amenability to pelleting and emergence speed when pelletized. We found that some species demonstrate high amenability to pelleting and that pelleting can modify the emergence rates for many species. This work advances our understanding of the applicability of SETs for diverse native species, demonstrating the application of such technologies for meeting ecological restoration goals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: This study genetically characterizes the Cape Verde palm tree, Phoenix atlantica, exploring its genetic differentiation and recent divergence from its relative, Phoenix dactylifera, while also examining its significance for conservation efforts and enhancing our understanding of the historical trajectories of African palm trees. The Cape Verde palm tree, Phoenix atlantica, holds significant ecological and cultural importance within the Cape Verde archipelago. However, its genetic distinctiveness has been questioned due to its close relationship and morphological similarity to the date palm (Phoenix dactylifera). In this study, we used an expanded sample set, 18 simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers, and a plastid minisatellite to characterize P. atlantica in Cape Verde and investigate its relationship with other Phoenix species. Our findings identify genetic markers that differentiate the P. atlantica genetic pool, including a unique fixed allele. We also provide evidence of the recent divergence of P. atlantica from Northern African date palm populations, suggesting a relatively recent colonization of Cape Verde by palm trees. Additionally, we characterized the genetic composition of palm tree populations across three Cape Verde islands, concluding that wild samples from certain populations in Boavista and Sal are best suited for establishing a seed and/or germplasm bank for replantation efforts, representing a crucial step for the conservation of Cape Verde's natural heritage. Overall, our results enhance the understanding of the historical trajectories and genetic characterization of palm trees in Africa, offering valuable insights for conservation strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]