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The present study aims to document the traditional knowledge and the distribution of diverse halophytes used by the coastal community of Vietnam to compensate for the food, fodder, and medicine demands. The information was gathered from the local people, plant traders, and herbalists using a semi-structured questionnaire. The survey indicated the ethnobotanical uses of 11 plant species from 8 families in the targeted area. 60% of studied plants were used in more than two different ways in which the majority of halophytic species possessed medicinal values, followed by being culinary, fodder, roof thatching, handicraft, and growing medium. The main diseases in the regions were joint and stomach pain. According to the mode of preparation, decoction form was the predominance with 64% over all modes. Based on the result, Cocos nucifera L., Portulaca oleracea L., and Suaeda maritima (L.) Dumort. had the highest appearance frequency of 17%. In addition, the seashore was the most prevalent location of halophytes that it was inhabited by 5 out of 11 species. The predominant habit recorded was herbs, followed by shrubs, trees, and vines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Climate change significantly influences the geographical distribution of plant species worldwide, especially endemics. Endemic species are plants that live in limited distribution ranges of unique ecology and, thus, are the most vulnerable species to climate change. Therefore, understanding the impacts of climate change on the distribution of these species can assist in developing appropriate plans for their conservation. In this study, we aimed to apply various species distribution models (SDMs) to predict the current potential distributions of two endangered plant species, Silene leucophylla (S. leucophylla, endemic) and Silene schimperiana (S. schimperiana, near-endemic), in Saint Catherine protected area (St. Catherine PA), Egypt. Then, using the best-fit model to project their future distribution under the maximum climate emission scenario (Representative Concentration Pathway 8.5 (RCP8.5)). Six different SDMs were constructed using different geospatial raster imagery sets of environmental factors. For each model, five machine learning (ML) algorithms were used. The results of these ML algorithms were then ensembled by calculating the weighted average of their predictions. Results: Based on the analysis of digital geospatial imageries produced by the best-fitting model, the predicted suitable areas of S. leucophylla and S. schimperiana were 23.1 km2 and 125 km2, respectively. These sites are located mainly in the high-elevation middle northern part of the study area. Annual precipitation, mean temperature of the driest quarter, altitude, and precipitation seasonality were the essential predictors of the distributions of both species. Future predictions of both species indicated opposing results between the studied species. Predictions in the 2050 and 2070 future conditions revealed significant range contraction for the distribution of S. leucophylla. For S. schimperiana, a range shift is predicted, with both range contraction and range expansion of its current suitable habitats, for the same future projections. Unfortunately, in 2080 predictions, both species could be projected to a complete loss from the entire area. Conclusion: This study highlights the importance of including diverse types of environmental variables in SDMs to produce more accurate predictions, rather than relying only on one variable type. It also revealed the potential negative impacts of future climate change on the distributions of two endangered plant species, S. leucophylla and S. schimperiana, inhabiting St. Catherine PA. Consequently, we urgently recommend the initiation of different plans and strategies seeking their conservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Interest in the study of domesticated plants increased near the end of the 18th century, mainly because of their economic potential. In the 19th century, there was a new focus on the historical understanding of species, their origin, changes in their distribution, and their evolutionary history. Charles Darwin developed an extended interpretation of species domestication, considering variations, reproduction, inheritance, and modification as standard processes between wild and domesticated organisms. In this context, one relatively neglected aspect was the geographical distribution of domesticated species. Alphonse de Candolle addressed and developed in detail the question of the geographical origin of cultivated plants. Since 1836 Alphonse de Candolle had been studying the topic and obtained evidence that contributed to understanding aspects such as the center of origin, dispersion, competition, selection, and time of domestication. Although Darwin himself admitted that Géographie botanique raisonnée (de Candolle, Alphonse,de. Géographie botanique raisonnée; ou, exposition des faits principaux et des lois concernant la distribution géographique des plantes de l'epoque actuelle, 2ème tome. Paris: Masson.) was of great help to him in the development of his evolutionary theory, the importance of de Candolle's contribution is seldom recognized. Our purpose is to detail the dialogue between Alphonse de Candolle and Darwin on the geography of domesticated plants, to understand some of the most critical discussions that contributed to the reinterpretation of domestication under the Darwinian proposal of modified descent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The distribution of integral indicators of the soil-plant system components contamination with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in the urban area has been considered. An anthropogenically modified natural complex of the RUDN University campus and the adjacent South-Western Forest Park (Moscow) was the object of study. Soils (Albic Retisols (Ochric)) and common plant species were studied. Traffic load was the main pollution source. Emissions from five sections of roads, around and across the territory, formed a specific pattern of pollutants, which was demonstrated by the example of marker compounds, namely, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. Background concentrations of individual polyarenes in the environment, determined by the method of dynamic phase portraits, have been calculated as an approximate safe level of contamination of soils and vegetation. A local redistribution of contamination zones was revealed owing to the migration of polyarenes from snow into soils, and then into root systems, and the above-ground parts of plants distribution. The proposed methodological approach, based on the use of integral indicators, allows us to assess the degree of damage to ecosystems caused by a complex of priority pollutants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study addresses the complex taxonomy and distribution of the genus Portulaca L. (Portulacaceae) within the Balkans, focusing on the often-debated species composition and distribution patterns in the P. oleracea aggregate. Our research aims to resolve this ambiguity by addressing two key questions: 1) Which Portulaca taxa are present in the Balkans, and 2) What is the current distribution of these taxa here? To achieve this, we conducted literature reviews, seed collection, species identification using micromorphological characteristics, and distribution analysis. Our findings reveal the presence of four distinct species in the Balkans: P. oleracea agg., P. grandiflora, P. pilosa and P. umbraticola. Additionally, within the P. oleracea complex, twelve microspecies have been identified, primarily differentiated based on seed micromorphology. Besides, five species (P. daninii, P. granulato-stellulata, P. rausii, P. sardoa, and P. trituberculata) have been documented in Montenegro, and one species (P. nitida) – in Slovenia for the first time. This study provides a valuable contribution to the botanical knowledge of the Balkan Peninsula, offering the recommendations for future studies of the P. oleracea complex for the solution of the taxonomic puzzle in this aggregate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Commensal relationships between wild plants and their dispersers play a key ecological and evolutionary role in community structure and function. While non-human dispersers are often considered critical to plant recruitment, human dispersers have received much less attention, especially when it comes to non-domesticated plants. Australia, as a continent historically characterized by economies reliant on non-domesticated plants, is thus a key system for exploring the ecological role of people as seed dispersers in the absence of agriculture. Here, we utilize a controlled observation research design, employing ecological surveys and ethnographic observations to examine how seed dispersal and landscape burning by Martu Aboriginal people affects the distribution of three preferred plants and one (edible, but non-preferred) control species. Using an information theoretic approach, we find that the three preferred plants show evidence of human dispersal, with the strongest evidence supporting anthropogenic dispersal for the wild bush tomato, Solanum diversiflorum. Human dispersal of wild plants has received limited attention. Here, the authors combine ecological surveys and ethnographic observations to examine how Martu Aboriginal people's seed dispersal and landscape burning impact plant distribution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Frugivores and seed dispersers are important in maintaining biodiversity and ecosystems. Yet, these agents receive less attention, in particular from ubiquitous or garden-cultivated species like Amorphophallus paeoniifolius and Alocasia odora. Despite extensive ecological studies carried out across the distribution regions of both species in tropical and subtropical, the only known disperser of A. paeoniifolius is the bird-of-paradise that was reported from Papua New Guinea. Meanwhile, there are reports of Pycnonotus and Eudynamys being the dispersers for both wild and cultivated Amorphophallus in India. Despite this, the frugivores and dispersal agents for both A. paeoniifolius and A. odora, in general, are not known and may be different in other parts of the world. In this study, I set up camera traps at five sites (two for A. paeoniifolius and three for A. odora) between 2017 and 2019 at the Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden to observe the frugivores and dispersal agents for these two ubiquitous cultivated aroid species. Apart from morphological observations on the infructescence of A. paeoniifolius and A. odora, the size of berries were measured and number of seeds per berry were counted. Six frugivores (Pycnonotus aurigaster, Copsychus saularis, Alophoixus pallidus, Niltiva davidi, Orthotomus sutorius, and Pycnonotus jocosus) were identified as potential dispersal agents, attracted to the colourful, succulent, and smaller (< 2 cm) berries. Pycnonotus aurigaster visited both A. odora and A. paeniifolius. The latter four frugivores visited A. paeniifolius, whereas P. jocosus visited only A. odora. All frugivores demonstrate endozoochory, and consumed the entire berries without showing any peculiar behaviour patterns. The berries are red-yellowish on ripening, with an average size of 1.63 cm ± 0.23 cm × 0.88 cm ± 0.19 (L × W) for A. paeniifolius, and 1.04 ± 0.09 cm × 0.67 ± 0.09 cm for A. odora. This study provides insight into how frugivores may depend on and connect to their regions of distribution as well as the distributions of plant taxa. Similar studies could be comparatively expanded into different distribution localities of A. paeoniifolius and A. odora for a wider understanding of their relationship linkage to the dispersal agents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Salvia sect. Angulatae and S. sect. Nobiles are among the sections of Salvia L. (Lamiaceae) with most of their Brazilian species represented in the Atlantic Forest and the Cerrado domains, which are important regions of species richness for the genus. After extensive evaluation of the literature, populations in situ and specimens in herbaria, including nomenclatural types, we identified a requirement for taxonomic and nomenclatural changes in S. arenaria and S. sellowiana, and for updated identification keys and taxonomic notes for the other members of these sections, particularly S. rivularis in S. sect. Nobiles. Two names are synonymised, Salvia articulata = S. sellowiana and S. itatiaiensis = S. arenaria and notes on the nomenclature and morphology of these species are provided. A first-step lectotypification (S. arenaria var. sellowii) and a second-step lectotypification (S. itatiaiensis) are also presented, as well as detailed descriptions for S. arenaria and S. sellowiana and preliminary conservation status assessments for both. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the age of big data, scientific progress is fundamentally limited by our capacity to extract critical information. Here, we map fine-grained spatiotemporal distributions for thousands of species, using deep neural networks (DNNs) and ubiquitous citizen science data. Based on 6.7 M observations, we jointly model the distributions of 2477 plant species and species aggregates across Switzerland with an ensemble of DNNs built with different cost functions. We find that, compared to commonly-used approaches, multispecies DNNs predict species distributions and especially community composition more accurately. Moreover, their design allows investigation of understudied aspects of ecology. Including seasonal variations of observation probability explicitly allows approximating flowering phenology; reweighting predictions to mirror cover-abundance allows mapping potentially canopy-dominant tree species nationwide; and projecting DNNs into the future allows assessing how distributions, phenology, and dominance may change. Given their skill and their versatility, multispecies DNNs can refine our understanding of the distribution of plants and well-sampled taxa in general. By modelling the distribution of the entire Swiss flora using deep learning and citizen science data, this study demonstrates a method that predicts flowering phenology and potentially dominant tree species more accurately than commonly used approaches. This approach could enable investigation of understudied aspects of ecology and refine our understanding of plant distributions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Environmental DNA (eDNA) analysis can facilitate surveillance of invasive aquatic plant's distribution. However, it is still questionable how accurately eDNA concentration reflects and predicts aquatic plant abundance. Although previous studies investigated relationships between aquatic plant eDNA concentration and their abundance in freshwater environments, the conclusions were not consistent between the studies. Here, a systematic literature search was conducted to summarize previous findings and meta-analyze the relationships between eDNA concentration and aquatic plant abundance. Hierarchical random-effect meta-analyses showed significant positive, but weak, relationships between them (r = 0.45 in average), meaning that eDNA concentration accounted for approximately 20% of the observed variation in plant abundance. Additionally, the relationships tended to be rather stronger in the field than in the laboratory environments, which may be attributed to limited quantifiability and species specificity of plant coverage as abundance metrics, heterogeneous dispersion of plant eDNA particles, and phenology-dependent eDNA production from plant bodies. The finding indicates that aquatic plant eDNA particles could reflect more regional (but not local) abundance, and thus, eDNA-based abundance estimation might be more appropriate at a broader scale (i.e., lower spatial resolution). Further studies focusing on various environmental parameters and plant ecotypes are needed to clarify the relationship. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the distribution and conservation status of plant species in lentic wetlands of Mediterranean islands. Field data on vascular macrophytes were collected from the online national databases of the "Conservation of the island wetlands of the Mediterranean Basin" (MedIsWet). A comprehensive inventory of wetlands was conducted, and information on the main anthropogenic impacts and conservation priorities was compiled. In addition to all vascular hygro- and hydrophytes, we retained information on those species typically adapted to environments with intermittent or temporary wetness. A significant knowledge gap regarding the distribution and conservation of plant species in Mediterranean wetlands was found. A lower endemism rate was observed particularly in coastal wetlands. However, approximately 25% of species, mainly with relatively wide distribution, were identified as endangered or with unknown conservation status. Including all macrophytes adapted to seasonal wetness is crucial when considering wetland conservation efforts. The research emphasised the importance of considering diverse wetland types, including seasonal and permanent, natural and artificial, for effective plant conservation. Artificial wetlands emerged as potential habitats with considerable biodiversity conservation value. This study provides a comprehensive inventory of wetlands and valuable insights into the distribution, ecology, and conservation relevance of aquatic macrophytes in Mediterranean islands. The research enhances our understanding of biogeographic patterns and processes, offers critical information for the management and conservation of Mediterranean island wetlands, and presents a replicable approach that can be applied to other wetland contexts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Himalaya and Hengduan Mountains (HDM) are recognized as two global biodiversity hotspots, harboring the world's richest alpine flora. However, to what extent the distribution of alpine plants here is affected by climate change remains largely unknown. Bergenia (Saxifragaceae) are perennial medicinal herbs mainly distributed in the Himalaya-HDM region. In this study, we used bioclimatic data for current and future climate scenarios to assess the impact of climate change on the potential distribution of three Bergenia (Saxifragaceae) species. Our results revealed that the geographical distribution of the studied Bergenia species is primarily influenced by precipitation and elevation. By 2090, the three Bergenia species are expected to show contrasting range changes. The western Himalayan alpine species Bergenia stracheyi is expected to expand its range with 21.93 and 17.36% under the optimistic (SSP1-2.6) and moderate (SSP2-4.5) climate change scenario, respectively, while its distribution will shrink by 5.26% under the pessimistic scenario (SSP5-8.5). The Himalayan mid-elevation species B. ciliata is expected to expand its range from 142.42 to 157.14%. In contrast, the distribution range of the east Himalaya-HDM alpine species B. purpurascens is expected to shrink with 34.88 to 47.24%, with most of the habitats in the southeast chains of the HDM at lower elevation summits being lost. In addition, all three Bergenia species are projected to shift their ranges to higher elevations in response to temperature increases. Overall, we conclude that alpine plants may be more vulnerable to climate change than their congeners at lower elevations, supporting the "nowhere to go" hypothesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The global consumption of antibiotics leads to their possible occurrence in the environment. In this context, nature-based solutions (NBS) can be used to sustainably manage and restore natural and modified ecosystems. In this work, we studied the efficiency of the NBS free-water surface wetlands (FWSWs) using Eichhornia crassipes in microcosm for enrofloxacin removal. We also explored the behavior of enrofloxacin in the system, its accumulation and distribution in plant tissues, the detoxification mechanisms, and the possible effects on plant growth. Enrofloxacin was initially taken up by E. crassipes (first 100 h). Notably, it accumulated in the sediment at the end of the experimental time. Removal rates above 94% were obtained in systems with sediment and sediment + E. crassipes. In addition, enrofloxacin was found in leaves, petioles, and roots (8.8–23.6 µg, 11–78.3 µg, and 10.2–70.7 µg, respectively). Furthermore, enrofloxacin, the main degradation product (ciprofloxacin), and other degradation products were quantified in the tissues and chlorosis was observed on days 5 and 9. Finally, the degradation products of enrofloxacin were analyzed, and four possible metabolic pathways of enrofloxacin in E. crassipes were described. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: The aim of this study is to develop and test the applicability of a rapid in situ plant chemistry profiling technique to determine elemental composition of small-volume plant and soil samples obtained from a woody bioenergy crop species, Populus trichocarpa. Expanding the research tools available to characterize the nutrient element correlations among plant tissue types and soil depths is a critical need in the path of understanding productivity and adaptation of plants to variations in external abiotic and biotic factors and developing sustainable perennial bioenergy crops that are co-optimized for biomass valorization aboveground and carbon sequestration belowground. Methods: Several plant root, stem, and soil samples were tested using laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) to evaluate the presence and distribution of nutrient elements. Samples were tested as collected and after being dried and cross sectioned to evaluate the effectiveness of using LIBS for in situ analysis on plant samples. Results: The collected LIBS spectra show the elemental peaks were the same in both the as collected and prepared samples for roots and stems. Qualitative amounts of elements such as H, C, N, O, Li, Na, Mg, K, Ca, Fe, Al, and Si were able to be identified rapidly in raw samples. Conclusion: Here we demonstrate suitability of LIBS in obtaining rapid, in situ, elemental distribution in plant and soil samples, utilizing only small sample volumes and minimal sample preparation. This demonstration opens up a new rapid phenotyping avenue necessary to fill the asymmetrical knowledge gaps in belowground performance of plant systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biodiversity in all its dimensions is being threatened by climate change and the impact of human activities. Genetic diversity is a key dimension of biodiversity underlying adaptation to global changes. Here we assess the impact of climate change on plant genetic diversity in a region located in the southernmost portion of Argentina and Chile range. We compiled available published research on population genetics of 22 plant species from forests, monte and steppe ecoregions and modelled the impact of future climates on their suitability distributions. Based on our results, 7 out of 22 species are predicted to lose more than 50% of their current suitable areas being the average loss across all species 40% (SSP 126) and 45% (SSP370). Several hotspots where species richness and genetic diversity overlap are located in areas that are predicted to become unsuitable, particularly in northern Patagonia, Argentina. Along the Arid Diagonal, some steppe and monte species are predicted to lose areas. Stable areas, on the other hand, were identified, to the west and south of the Andes, thus offering opportunities to preserve the genetic variants that might be critical for adaptation. Although higher temperatures will be threatening in the future, some of the areas we identify might act as promising natural refuges for southern South America flora, as long as appropriate conservation and management policies of the genetic resources are being implemented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Environmental heterogeneity can significantly modify the rate of species extinction with an increase in anthropogenic load and the rate of recolonization of disturbed territories after a decrease in load, but this issue is poorly understood. The distribution of 14 species of the herb–dwarf shrub layer of forests on an area of 1734 km2 in two natural regions of the eastern and western macroslope of the Urals during periods of high (1995–1998) and low (2014–2016) emissions from the Middle Ural Copper Smelter has been analyzed. With an increase or decrease in load, the pattern of dynamics and the magnitude responses are species-specific and significantly depend on habitat conditions, but the main contribution to the spaciotemporal dynamics of species affects the load level. During the period of high emissions, the environmental heterogeneity slows down the decrease in area of species distribution along a load gradient, but the distribution decreases under very heavy pollution, regardless of habitats or species. After the reduction of emissions, the distribution of most species in the heavily polluted areas has changed little for 19 years; the elimination and reduction in the distribution of the most sensitive species continues. Positive shifts have been revealed mainly in less polluted areas; the rates of recolonization vary in different habitats. Depending on habitat conditions, the species response to an increase or decrease in pressure can be "fast" (relatively high rates of change) or "slow" (lower rates of change and even a continued decline in distribution, despite reductions in pressure). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The presence of Andean plant genera in moist forests of the Brazilian Atlantic Coast has been historically hypothesized as the result of cross-continental migrations starting at the eastern Andean flanks. Here we test hypotheses of former connections between the Atlantic and Andean forests by examining distribution patterns of selected cool and moist-adapted plant arboreal taxa present in 54 South American pollen records of the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM), ca. 19–23 cal ka, known to occur in both plant domains. Pollen taxa studied include Araucaria, Drimys, Hedyosmum, Ilex, Myrsine, Podocarpus, Symplocos, Weinmannia, Myrtaceae, Ericaceae and Arecaceae. Past connectivity patterns between these two neotropical regions as well as individual ecological niches during the LGM were explored by cluster analysis of fossil assemblages and modern plant distributions. Additionally, we examined the ecological niche of 137 plant species with shared distributions between the Andes and coastal Brazil. Our results revealed five complex connectivity patterns for South American vegetation linking Andean, Amazonian and Atlantic Forests and one disjunction distribution in southern Chile. This study also provides a better understanding of vegetation cover on the large and shallow South American continental shelf that was exposed due to a global sea level drop. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Root architecture is the temporal and spatial configuration of root system in the heterogeneous matrix of soil that is prone to chemical stresses. Gallium (Ga) is among the emerging chemical pollutants that are mostly associated with high-tech industries, specifically associated with semiconductors. In view of its potential risk and increasing distribution in the environment, this study was designed to evaluate the inhibition rate, Ga distribution in different tissues, and root architecture of rice seedlings under different concentrations of Ga. We observed that 2.59, 46.7, and 168.2 mg Ga/L were minimum (EC20), medium (EC50), and maximum (EC75) effective concentrations for rice plants that corresponded to the 20, 50, and 75% inhibition on the relative growth rate, respectively. Distribution of Ga in rice tissues showed that accumulation of Ga was much higher in roots than shoots of rice seedlings, and it increased with an increase in Ga doses. Evan blue staining technique reveals that the number of damaged/dead cell was dose-dependent on Ga. Moreover, several traits associated with root system architecture demonstrating that rice root system architecture altered in response to Ga stress. Collectively, the results reveal that Ga exposure inhibited the growth and development of rice plants. This study will enhance our understanding that how different concentrations of Ga in the environment can affect plants; however, more comprehensive studies are essential to further determine plant response against Ga stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context: An increase in the number and availability of datasets cataloging invasive plant distributions offers opportunities to expand our understanding, monitoring, and management of invasives across spatial scales. These datasets, created using on-the-ground observations and modeling techniques, are made both for and by researchers and managers. Objectives: The large number and variety of data types and associated datasets can be difficult to navigate, require high levels of data literacy, and can overwhelm the intended end-users. By providing a synthesis of available data types and datasets, this work may facilitate data understanding and use among researchers and managers. Methods: We synthesize types of invasive plant distribution data sources, highlighting publicly available datasets and their potential applications and limitations for research and management. Results: Eight data types and their potential applications for research and management are described. We also describe gaps in current invasive species distribution data usability and outline a path forward for improving the use of invasive plant data in future research and management. Conclusions: Accessible and usable invasive plant spatial data are needed for developing landscape scale analysis and management plans. By synthesizing the invasive plant data available, with examples and limitations for application, this work will serve as a guide to facilitate appropriate and efficient data choices in current and future research and management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Maqui (Aristotelia chilensis) is a small tree endemic to Patagonia. It is currently being actively domesticated for its edible berries, which have high polyphenol content and anti-oxidant capability. However, little is known about its population structure and evolutionary history, information which is useful for the design of effective conservation and domestication strategies. Based on information from other species, we hypothesize that genetic diversity in maqui is higher in northern population and decrease to the South, associated with past migration patterns and as a result has well-structured populations. To explore the genetic diversity of 14 populations (183 samples) of this species, that represent the geographic distribution of the species in Chile we used 13 polymorphic microsatellite markers. Clusters based on Bayesian genetic and spatial structure analyses were used to reconstruct patterns of phylogeographic and demographic history. We found that maqui populations are well-structured, with a substantial reduction of genetic diversity from north to south. The lowest diversity was found in areas that were once covered by ice during the quaternary glaciation. In conclusion, three main genetic groups were revealed by Structure analysis, and genetic diversity reduction from its northern limit in central Chile to the Patagonian region was found, suggesting that an active recolonization process took place during the last few millennia following the last glacial period. These results will help to define accessions from different regions and contribute to support conservation and domestication initiatives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Allium macrostemon Bunge, commonly referred to as "no-biru" in Japan, is a widespread wild onion species found across the country. Despite being deeply entwined in ancient Japanese culture, it remains an underutilized crop in Japan. Determining the origins of its domestic populations and understanding their genetic composition is crucial to highlighting the plant's historical significance in Japan. This study aims to bridge this knowledge gap by examining the genetic diversity of 47 A. macrostemon samples from various regions in Japan using RAD-Seq. Our analyses distinguished unique population structures, dividing the samples into three distinct groups: A, B, and C. Notably, groups A and B showed clear evidence of bulb propagation, while group C did not. Group C formed four subgroups: C1, C2, C3, and C4. Hybridization between subgroup C1 and either group A, B, or both, resulted in the emergence of subgroups C2, C3, and C4. Thus, groups A, B, and C1 are posited as the ancestral populations. Additionally, our morphological observations indicated distinct differences among these three groups. Our findings also suggest that human migration may have influenced the plant's distribution, hinting at active usage in the past that later waned, causing its current underutilized status. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the northern forelands of the Alps, farmers report an increase of Jacobaea aquatica in production grasslands. Due to its toxicity, the species affects grassland productivity and calls for costly control measures. We are investigating the extent to which management practices or climatic factors are responsible for the increase of the species and how the situation will change due to climate change. We tested for effects of management intensity, fertilization, agri-environmental measures, and soil disturbance, and modeled the occurrence of the species under rcp4.5 and rcp8.5 scenarios. The main determinants of the occurrence of the species are soil type and summer rainfall. A high risk is associated with wet soils and > 400 mm of rain between June and August; an influence of the management-related factors could not be detected. Under the climate-change scenarios, the overall distribution decreases and shifts to the wetter alpine regions. Thus, the current increase is rather a shift in the occurrence of the species due to the altered precipitation situation. Under future climatic conditions, the species will decline and retreat to higher regions in the Alps. This will decrease the risk of forage contamination for production grassland in the lowlands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The goal of this study is to examine the impact of coal power plants on the distribution of natural radionuclides in the environment and its effects on air particulate matter and solid fallout. To this end, spatial distributions and correlations are used to group radionuclides and trace elements. The study also identifies sources of elevated concentrations, such as geogenic, anthropogenic, or agricultural, and provides dose assessments, ecological risk assessments, pollution load indices, and geoaccumulation indices. These findings will inform future research and decision making in managing and regulating natural radionuclides near coal power plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The distribution of heavy metals in plants (Castanea sativa, Sambucus nigra, Verbascum thapsus, Popolus spp., Salix spp., Acer pseudoplatanus, Robinia pseudoacacia) growing in soils from active and abandoned mining areas is of scientific significance as it allows to recognize their ability to survive in a hostile environment and provide useful indications for phytoremediation operations. In this work, soils from the former Hg-mining area of Abbadia San Salvatore (Tuscany, Central Italy) were analyzed for total, leached Hg, % of organic and inorganic-related Hg. The dehydrogenase enzyme activity (DHA) was also measured with the aim to evaluate the status of the soil, being characterized by high Hg contents (up to 1068 mg kg−1). Eventually, the concentration of Hg in the different parts of the plants growing on these soils was also determined. Most studied soils were dominated by inorganic Hg (up to 92%) while the DHA concentrations were < 151 µg TPF g−1 day−1, suggesting that the presence of Hg is not significantly affecting the enzymatic soil activity. This is also supported by the bioaccumulation factor (BF), being predominantly characterized by values < 1. Sambucus nigra and Verbascum thapsus had the highest Hg contents (39.42 and 54.54 mg kg−1, respectively). The plant leaves appear to be the main pathways of Hg uptake, as also observed in other mining areas, e.g., Almadèn (Spain), indicating that particulate-Hg and Hg0 are the main forms entering the plant system, the latter derived by the GEM emitted by both the edifices hosting the roasting furnaces and the soils themselves. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Observed climate change leads to the variations in the phenology, physiology, and biochemistry of grape berries, to a shift in the distribution of the grape plant areas and, as a result, to a change in the specialization of associated regions. Using the agroclimatic indicators for a comprehensive assessment of the climate change impact on viticulture, a comprehensive assessment of the grape growth conditions, potential quality of wine, and the climate-related risks in the Crimea and Donbass (on the example of Sevastopol and Artemovsk) over two 30-year periods (1961–1990 and 1991–2020) has been carried out. The results have shown a significant change in climatic conditions: an increase in heat availability in both regions and a decrease in frost susceptibility in the south of Donbass. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fruiting behaviour and sex form are important goals for Luffa breeders and this study aimed to shed light upon inheritance patterns for both these traits. The hermaphrodite form of Luffa acutangula (known as Satputia) is an underutilized vegetable with a unique clustered fruiting habit. Its desirable traits, such as plant architecture, earliness, as well as contrasting traits like unique clustered fruiting, bisexual flower, and crossability with Luffa acutangula (monoecious ridge gourd with solitary fruits), make it a potential source for trait improvement and mapping of desirable traits in Luffa. In the present study, we have elucidated the inheritance pattern of fruiting behaviour in Luffa using F2 mapping population generated from a cross between Pusa Nutan (Luffa acutangula, monoecious, solitary fruiting) × DSat-116 (Luffa acutangula, hermaphrodite, cluster fruiting). In F2 generation, the observed distribution of plant phenotypes fitted in the expected ratio of 3:1 (solitary vs cluster) for fruit-bearing habit. This is the first report of monogenic recessive control for cluster fruit-bearing habit in Luffa. Herein, we designate for the first time the gene symbol cl for cluster fruit bearing in Luffa. Linkage analysis revealed that SRAP marker ME10 EM4-280 was linked to the fruiting trait at the distance of 4.6 cM from the Cl locus. In addition, the inheritance pattern of hermaphrodite sex form in Luffa was also studied in the F2 population of Pusa Nutan × DSat-116 that segregated into 9:3:3:1 ratio (monoecious:andromonoecious:gynoecious:hermaphrodite), suggesting a digenic recessive control of hermaphrodite sex form in Luffa, which was further confirmed by the test cross. The inheritance and identification of molecular marker for cluster fruiting trait provides a basis for breeding in Luffa species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cold stress dramatically constrains crop yield and limits the geographical distribution of plants. However, the mechanism underlying cold and freezing acclimation in high-altitude medicinal plants, particularly, Picrorhiza kurroa remains unknown. Here, we have used three different temperature treatments, namely 4 °C 24 h, 4 °C 7D, and − 4 °C 24 h, to induce early cold stress, one-week cold stress, and freezing stress, respectively, in P. kurroa and utilized a metabolomic approach to decipher cold stress mitigation strategy. Temperature treatment caused wilting and necrosis of leaves, decreased photochemical reflective index, increased normalized plant chlorophyll index, anthocyanin reflectance index, and flavonol reflectance index. These biochemical changes are associated with the significant expression (p < 0.05) of 171 metabolites. The multivariate analysis leads to the identification of 31 (VIP > 1) from 171 metabolites contributing significant variance between control and cold/freezing stressed tissue. Differential metabolite expression leads to the alteration of 16 metabolic pathways with an impact of more than 0.1. The key metabolic pathways participating in induced cold/freezing acclimation are biosynthesis of secondary metabolites, flavone and flavonol biosynthesis, starch and sucrose metabolism, pyrimidine metabolism, butanoate metabolism, and fatty acid degradation, among others. The present analysis also showed that picroside is expressed differentially under cold/freezing stress, suggesting its role in cold/freezing acclimation. Further, this study provides a platform for future research in disentangling the role of identified metabolites and metabolic pathways putatively involved in cold/freezing stress response. In addition, identified metabolites could provide a basis for elucidating the evolution of metabolic response to cold/freezing stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This document is a correction notice for an article titled "Seed dispersal by Martu peoples promotes the distribution of native plants in arid Australia" published in Nature Communications. The correction addresses errors in Table 4 and its legend, as well as incorrect affiliation details for several authors. The corrected version of Table 4 and its legend have been provided, and the affiliation details have been updated. The original article has been corrected accordingly. [Extracted from the article]

Recognition of species richness spatial patterns is important for nature conservation and theoretical studies. Inventorying species richness, especially at a larger spatial extent is challenging, thus different data sources are joined and harmonized to obtain a comprehensive data set. Here we present a new data set showing vascular plant species richness in Poland based on a grid of 10 × 10 km squares. The data set was created using data from two sources: the Atlas of Distribution of Vascular Plants in Poland and the Polish Vegetation Database. Using this data set, we analysed 2,160 species with taxonomical nomenclature according to the Euro + Med PlantBase checklist in 3,283 squares covering the entire territory of Poland (ca. 312,000 km2). The species were divided into groups according to their status and frequency of distribution, and the statistics for each square were obtained. For purposes of analysis, sampling bias was assessed. The data set promotes theoretical analysis on species richness and reinforces the planning of nature conservations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aquatic plants are crucial for aquatic ecosystems and their species and distribution reflect aquatic ecosystem health. Remote sensing technology has been used to monitor plant distributions over large scales. However, the fine identification of the species of aquatic higher plants is challenging due to large temporal-spatial changes in optical water body properties and small spectral differences among plant species. Here, an aquatic plant identification method was developed by constructing a decision tree file in the C4.5 algorithm based on the canopy spectra of eight plants in the Changguangxi Wetland water area from hyperspectral remote sensing technology. The method was used to monitor the distribution of different plants in the Changguangxi Wetland area and two other water areas. The results showed that the spectral characteristics of plants were enhanced by calculating their spectral index, thereby improving the comparability among different species. The total recognition accuracy of the constructed decision tree file for eight types of plants was 85.02%. Nymphaea tetragona, Pontederia cordata, and Nymphoides peltatum had the highest recognition accuracy and Eichhornia crassipes was the lowest. The specific species and distributions of aquatic plants were consistent with the water quality in the area. The results can provide a reference for the accurate identification of aquatic plants in the same type of water area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Functional traits influence plant distributions along broad environmental gradients leading species to occupy communities where their traits enable them to successfully establish and compete for resources. Trait differences are also expected to influence plant distributions and diversity at finer spatial scales within communities. However, relatively few empirical studies have examined the extent to which interspecific trait variation predicts local species-environment distributions. We surveyed herbaceous plants within a heterogeneous acid bedrock glade in south-central Wisconsin to elucidate how traits influence local plant distributions and diversity. Using quadrat-scale environmental covariates (soil depth, canopy openness, and neighborhood tree phenology) and species functional trait means (SLA, vegetative height, and seed mass), we modeled variation in local species distributions as well as plant diversity across 361 quadrats distributed evenly in a 1 ha study plot. Functional traits predictably mediated individualistic species distributions along local gradients in soil depth and canopy openness as well as differential plant responses to variation in canopy leaf phenology. Small-seeded herbs occurred in shallow soil microsites while the prevalence of large-statured plants increased with canopy openness. Local species richness and functional trait dispersion were greatest in microsites near canopy gaps where sun-adapted and shade-adapted plant species co-occur and in microsites surrounded by later-leafing trees. Interspecific trait differences influence local species distributions and shape spatial patterns of diversity within heterogeneous plant communities like bedrock glades. The parallels between local plant distributions within this heterogeneous community and regional plant distributions across the landscape suggest trait-mediated ecological sorting influences plant distributions along environmental gradients similarly across spatial scales. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Drinking water (DW) quality can change during distribution, leading to taste and odor events and microbial regrowth. Pilot plants mimicking distribution networks are crucial for understanding these changes. We present a new pilot plant design, including piping material, sensors, and instrumentation. The three independent loops (100 m each) of the pilot exhibit identical behavior, allowing simultaneous testing of three conditions. Monitoring includes taste and odor compound formation, microorganism regrowth, and dissolved organic carbon changes. Real-time measurements enable continuous monitoring, and inner pipe biofilm sampling is feasible. The pilot's modularity facilitates studying climate change effects, different piping materials, and source waters on DW quality in the distribution network. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phelypaea tournefortii (Orobanchaceae) primarily occurs in the Caucasus (Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, and N Iran) and Turkey. This perennial, holoparasitic herb is achlorophyllous and possesses one of the most intense red flowers among all plants worldwide. It occurs as a parasite on the roots of several Tanacetum (Asteraceae) species and prefers steppe and semi-arid habitats. Climate change may affect holoparasites both directly through effects on their physiology and indirectly as a consequence of its effects on their host plants and habitats. In this study, we used the ecological niche modeling approach to estimate the possible effects of climate change on P. tournefortii and to evaluate the effect of its parasitic relationships with two preferred host species on the chances of survival of this species under global warming. We used four climate change scenarios (SSP1-2.6, SSP2-4.5, SSP3-7.0, SSP5-8.5) and three different simulations (CNRM, GISS-E2, INM). We modeled the species' current and future distribution using the maximum entropy method implemented in MaxEnt using seven bioclimatic variables and species occurrence records (Phelypaea tournefortii – 63 records, Tanacetum argyrophyllum – 40, Tanacetum chiliophyllum – 21). According to our analyses, P. tournefortii will likely contract its geographical range remarkably. In response to global warming, the coverage of the species' suitable niches will decrease by at least 34%, especially in central and southern Armenia, Nakhchivan in Azerbaijan, northern Iran, and NE Turkey. In the worst-case scenario, the species will go completely extinct. Additionally, the studied plant's hosts will lose at least 36% of currently suitable niches boosting the range contraction of P. tournefortii. The GISS-E2 scenario will be least damaging, while the CNRM will be most damaging to climate change for studied species. Our study shows the importance of including ecological data in niche models to obtain more reliable predictions of the future distribution of parasitic plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Indian Himalayan Region (IHR) is known for its rich biodiversity and lacking for comprehensive information on geographic distribution of threatened plants. Realizing the importance of location specific dataset, we have compiled the information on threatened plants in grid-based formats across the IHR. The state-of-the-art information on threatened plants of IHR includes 85 species (18 CR, 34 EN, 31 VU and 2 EW) representing 41 trees, 34 herbs, 3 shrubs, 3 mosses, 2 vines, and 2 bryophytes belonging to 56 genera under 41 families. Orchidaceae was the dominant family with 12 threatened species followed by Dipterocarpaceae (7 species), Fabaceae and Zingiberaceae (6 species each). As compared to Western Himalaya the Eastern Himalayan states harbor more richness of threatened plants. Arunachal Pradesh is the richest with 34 species followed by Meghalaya (33) and Assam (28). The paper provides locations specific information on threatened plants which can be targeted for implementing conservation planning, actions and appropriate approach can further be applied for their conservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As an important food crop in China, changes in suitable areas for rice planting are critical to agricultural production. In this study, the maximum entropy model (MaxEnt) was utilized to pick the main climatic factors affecting single-season rice planting distribution and project the potential changes under RCP4.5 and RCP8.5 scenarios. It was clear that rice planting distribution was significantly affected by annual total precipitation, the accumulated temperature during a period in which daily temperature was ≥ 10 °C, the moisture index, total precipitation during April–September, and continuous days during the period of daily temperature ≥ 18 °C, with their contribution being 97.6%. There was a continuous decrease in the area of good and high suitability for rice planting projected from 2021–2040 to 2061–2080, with a respective value ranging from 1.49 × 106 km2 to 0.93 × 106 km2 under the RCP4.5 scenario and from 1.42 × 106 km2 to 0.66 × 106 km2 under RCP8.5 scenarios. In 2081–2100, there was a bit increase in the area of good and high suitability under the RCP4.5 scenario. The most significant increases in good and high suitability were detected in Northeast China, while obvious decreases were demonstrated in the Yangtze River Basin which might be exposed to extreme temperature threat. The spatial potential planting center was characterized by the largest planting area in 25°N–37°N and 98°E–134°E. The north boundary and center of rice cultivation arose to 53.5°N and 37.52°N, respectively. These potential distributions for single-season rice under future climate change can provide a theoretical basis for optimizing rice planting layout, improving cultivation, and adjusting variety and management systems in response to climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coastal dunes are ecosystems significantly affected by the invasion of alien plants. The specific flora and plant communities across these habitats are currently under serious threat. The study was performed on shifting and stable dunes in Ukraine. We aimed to analyze (i) the alien species composition across Ukrainian coastal dunes, (ii) the division of alien plants by life forms, ecological requirements, introduction time, geographical origin, and naturalization degree; (iii) the distribution of alien plants in accordance with coastal zonation of sandy shores of the Black Sea and Azov Sea regions; (iv) which habitats are invaded more frequently. We found that in the flora of Ukrainian coastal dunes, 16.3% of species are alien; among them, 9.4% are neophytes. Most of them originated from the Mediterranean-Turanian region. Anisantha tectorum, Centaurea diffusa, Bromus squarrosus are the most frequent alien species. Regarding Raunkiaer's system of life forms, 61.6% of alien plants are therophytes. By the soil moisture, submesophytes (45.2%) are predominant. Ecological spectra according to soil acidity, nitrogen content, and salt regime of the soil showed that the alien plants distribution across Ukrainian coastal dunes are determined by the complex influence of different abiotic gradients. The highest number of aliens was observed on shifting dunes (19.3%). The stable dunes are less invaded (14.6%). The alien flora composition differs considerably across these types of dunes as well as across the Black Sea and Azov Sea coasts. Our results showed that the coastal dunes of Ukraine should be in the focus of conservation and management with the position of preventing biodiversity losses caused by alien plant species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context: Deforestation, forest degradation and intensification of farming threaten terrestrial biodiversity. As these land-use changes accelerate in many landscapes, especially in the Global South, it is vital to anticipate how future changes might impact specific aspects of biodiversity. Objectives: The objectives of this study were to model woody plant species richness in southwestern Ethiopia, for the present and for four plausible, spatially explicit scenarios of the future ('Gain over grain', 'Mining green gold', 'Coffee and conservation' and 'Food first'). Methods: We used cross-validated generalized linear models for both forest and farmland, to relate empirical data on total and forest-specialist woody plant species richness to indicators of human disturbance and environmental conditions. We projected these across current and future scenario landscapes. Results: In both farmland and forest, richness peaked at intermediate elevations (except for total species richness in farmland) and decreased with distance to the forest edge (except for forest specialist richness in forest). Our results indicate that the 'Mining green gold' and 'Food first' scenarios would result in strong losses of biodiversity, whereas the 'Gain over grain' scenario largely maintained biodiversity relative to the baseline. Only the 'Coffee and conservation' scenario, which incorporates a new biosphere reserve, showed positive changes for biodiversity that are likely viable in the long term. Conclusions: The creation of a biosphere reserve could maintain and improve woody plant richness in the focal region, by forming a cluster with existing reserves, would be a major step forward for sustainability in southwestern Ethiopia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study presented the determination and distribution of 210Pb in plants using Liquid Scintillation Counting. The analysis method of 210Pb in plants has been improved by optimizing the pulse shape analysis setup,constructing quenched correction curves, as well as consideration of the counting from both 210Pb and its progeny 210Bi. This method was used to test for the determination of 210Pb in samples of three species collected from two sites around a uranium mining facility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change is very important for the distribution of plant resources, especially for crops. Angelica plants have a long history of use and significant crop resources in China, whose rhizomes are extensively used in medicine and food. In this paper, 1599 georeferenced herbarium records were analyzed using DIVA-GIS, and the ecological distribution and richness of the current and future distribution simulation were analyzed using the MaxEnt model. The results show that they are from 32 provinces in China. Among these provinces, Sichuan, Gansu, and Yunnan have the largest number of herbariums. According to the MaxEnt model simulation, it is found that the precipitation in the warmest season, annual precipitation, and the driest monthly precipitation are the foremost bioclimatic variables that control the distribution of eight selected Angelica plants (A. biserrata, A. gigas, A. laxifoliata, A. likiangensis, A. longicaudata, A. omeiensis, A. polymorpha, and A. valida). It can be seen from the potential distribution map that the suitable growth areas of A. polymorpha and A. valida have increased, while the suitable growth areas of the six species of Angelica have decreased in varying degrees, 18.24%, 20.01%, 9.91%, 53.16%, 10.06%, and 12.64% respectively. Therefore, it is necessary to protect the Angelica plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change is closely related to the distribution of plant resources. Cerasus serrulata is an important plant resource in China. The study on the influence of environmental factors on the distribution of suitable areas of C. serrulata is conducive to the protection and development of C. serrulata. In this paper, the distribution information of 238 Chinese Cerasusserrulata plants was processed by DIVA-GIS. The MaxEnt model was used to simulate the current and future distribution, and the ecological distribution and richness of Cerasus were analyzed. The results showed that the Cerasus serrulata was widely distributed in Hebei, Heilongjiang, Shandong, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Anhui, Jiangxi, Hunan, and Guizhou provinces, mainly in the low and middle elevation areas of 10 to 1200 m. Based on this model, the precipitation of the warmest quarter, the precipitation of the driest month, and the mean temperature of the coldest were the most significant bioclimatic variables affecting the distribution of C. serrulata. In the future, climate change may lead to a slight increase of 2.31% in the area of suitable habitat for Cerasus serrulata, while the optimal habitat will decrease from 20.81 to 14.55%. Therefore, conservation measures should be taken to protect these precious resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alexander von Humboldt's depictions of mountain vegetation are among the most iconic nineteenth century illustrations in the biological sciences. Here we analyse the contemporary context and empirical data for all these depictions, namely the Tableau physique des Andes (1803, 1807), the Geographiae plantarum lineamenta (1815), the Tableau physique des Îles Canaries (1817), and the Esquisse de la Géographie des plantes dans les Andes de Quito (1824/1825). We show that the Tableau physique des Andes does not reflect Humboldt and Bonpland's field data and presents a flawed depiction of plant occurrences and vertical succession of vegetation belts, arising from Humboldt's misreading of La Condamine's description (1751). Humboldt's 1815 depiction, by contrast, shows a distribution of high-vegetation belts that is consistent with La Condamine's description, while the 1824 depiction drops innovations made in 1815 and returns to simply showing numerous species' names, thus not applying Humboldt's own earlier zonation framework. Our analysis of contemporary reactions to Humboldt's TPA includes Francis Hall's posthumously published 1834 illustration of Andean plant zonation near Quito and Humboldt's reaction to Hall's critique. Throughout his work on plant geography, Humboldt disregarded some of his own observations, or confused them. At stake was his reputation as an innovator in the field of plant geography and a discoverer of the sequence of high-elevation vegetation belts on the world's mountains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We analysed the floristic subdivisions of Albania by hierarchical clustering of all the vascular plant species of Albania over a grid of 25 km cells, adapting data from the Vascular Species Distribution Atlas in Albania of (Barina Z (ed.) (2017) Distribution atlas of vascular plants in Albania. Hungarian Natural History Museum, Budapest). We identified the principal axes of variation of the flora and the bioclimatic variables that explain it. We also analysed the bioclimate of Albania by means of a self-organizing map (SOM) of the main climatic variables and the application of the global bioclimatic model of Rivas-Martínez. We compared the analysis based on the flora with that based on the bioclimate. The results divided Albania into eight floristic units corresponding to the main vegetation types (Carpinus orientalis woodlands, Quercus cerris woodlands, Quercus petraea and Fagus sylvatica woodlands, Quercus coccifera woodlands, Quercus coccifera and Quercus ithaburensis woodlands, Pinus heldreichii woodlands, alpine vegetation of North Albania, and alpine vegetation of eastern Albania). Two main trends of variation can be recognized: four elevational belts, strongly correlated with average July temperature, and a north–south subdivision, weakly correlated with annual rainfall and thermal excursion. The bioclimatic analysis (SOM and Rivas-Martínez model) resolves and adds detail to the axis of the elevational belts but cannot discern the north–south subdivision apart from the high mountains. We obtained a division into eight floristic units ordered according to two gradients: four elevational belts, each in turn subdivided into a north-central and a southern province. These two gradients seem to have a broader meaning in Southern Europe, particularly the north–south subdivision at about 30° latitude. The partial mismatch between the bioclimate and the flora indicates that bioclimatic models of Europe are in need of a revision and suggests that the history, in addition to the present-day climate (for instance, the vegetation of the last glacial maximum), can play a role in shaping the biogeography of Southern Europe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Community structure and dynamics are influenced by numerous abiotic and biotic factors requiring large datasets to disentangle, which are often difficult to obtain over the spatiotemporal scales necessary for meaningful analysis. The approach outlined here illustrates one potential solution to this problem by leveraging computer vision methods to gain accurate, in-depth community data from ~ 10,000 photographs of salt marsh plants across an elevation gradient at Sapelo Island, GA, USA. A convolutional neural network (ResNext101) trained to detect the 6 dominant plant species achieved high accuracy for all species, allowing mapping of high-marsh plant communities over gradients in elevation and pore-water salinity. To statistically analyze the high-resolution mapping data, we constructed a structural equations model using the generated data as informed by prevailing ecological theory for salt marshes in the Southeastern United States. Model fit to data was strong, with R2 values for five of six plant species > 0.7. The distribution of the rare understory perennial Limonium carolinianum, however, was not accurately predicted by the model. Modeled effects of abiotic factors elevation and soil salinity were commensurate with the literature. Biotic interactions also largely conformed to ecological understanding of Southeastern marshes, but a potentially novel positive interaction between Borrichia frutescens and Batis maritima was observed. Overall, this approach shows promise as a method of efficiently generating and statistically analyzing community data for sessile species at scales not previously possible. This study contributes to a growing body of work developing integrated computer vision and big data techniques for ecological field work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Here, from macrophylogeographic mtDNA empirical data, we propose a scenario for the evolution and speciation of two important forest trees, European black pine and Scotch pine, and their multiple subspecies and varieties. Molecular clock simulations revealed that INDEL variability in the Pinus mitochondrial genome is relatively old, i.e., from the Pliocene-Miocene epoch, and related to historical tectonic continental fluctuations rather than to climate change at a large geographic scale. For conservation and management biodiversity program recommendations, special attention is given to the relationships between different speciation models, historical migration patterns, and differences between peripheral and central populations. Species evolution involves the mixing of different speciation modes, and every speciation mode has different effects on different DNA types (e.g., mitochondrial vs. chloroplast vs. nuclear DNA). The misbalance between the contributions of different meta-population census sizes vs. effective population sizes to asymmetric migration patterns is the result of different genotypes (and subphylogenetic lines) responding to selection pressure and adaptive evolution. We propose initial minimal size of conservation unit (between 3 and 5 ha) from central and marginal natural area of distribution for both species in the dynamic management system for practical forest genetic diversity management. The proposed physical sizes were determined by the effective population size, effective radius of seed distribution data, forest density age dynamics, succession pattern, natural selection pressing and species biology [R-17]. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Northern Viet Nam displays a remarkable diversity of wild bananas (Musa L.), including the species from which the majority of cultivated bananas derive. The taxonomy and exact distribution of these wild bananas are however not well known, limiting their conservation and use. In the present study, we describe the morphology, ecology, and phytogeography of the 6 Musa species that were collected between 2016 and 2019 in northern Viet Nam: Musa acuminata Colla, M. balbisiana Colla, M. itinerans Cheesman, M. haekkinenii N.S.Ly & Haev, M. lutea R.V.Valmayor, L.D.Danh and Hakkinen and M. paracoccinea A.Z.Liu and D.Z.Li:. Of these, M. itinerans was the species with the most widespread distribution range, occurring as large mats in various habitats between 136 and 1331 m, whereas M. acuminata was found between 136 and 989 m and M. balbisiana was between 108 and 981 m. Furthermore, M. lutea, M. paracoccinea and M. haekkinenii were distributed in open areas with low competition for light, between 80 and 800 m. These latter three species have the potential to become ornamental plants, being characterized by bright and colourful upright inflorescences. The data presented here will help in providing a valuable contribution to the conservation and use of the wild bananas in northern Viet Nam. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change has an extremely important impact on the geographic distribution of plants. The genus Millettia is an important plant resource in China and is widely used in medicine and ornamental industries. Due to the continuous changes of climate and the development and utilization of plant resources of the genus Millettia, it is of great significance to systematically investigate the geographic distribution of plants of the Millettia and their potential distribution under climate change. DIVA-GIS software was used to analyze 3492 plant specimens of 35 species of genus Millettia in the herbarium, and the ecological geographic distribution and richness of Millettia were analyzed, and the MaxEnt model was used to analyze the current and potential distribution in the future. The results show that the genus Millettia is distributed in 30 provinces in China, among which Yunnan and Guangdong provinces are the most distributed. Our model determines that precipitation in the driest month and annual temperature range are the most important bioclimatic variables. Future climate changes will increase the suitable habitat area of M. congestiflora by 16.75%, but other cliff beans Suitable habitats for vines will decrease significantly: M. cinereal by 47.66%, M. oosperma by 39.16%, M. pulchra by 36.04%, M. oraria by − 29.32%, M. nitida by 22.88%, M. dielsiana by 22.72%, M. sericosema by 19.53%, M. championii by 7.77%, M. pachycarpa by 7.72%, M. speciose by 2.05%, M. reticulata by 1.32%. Therefore, targeted measures should be taken to protect and develop these precious plant resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plant species play a crucial role in mediating the activity and community structure of soil microbiomes through differential inputs of litter and rhizosphere exudates, but we have a poor understanding of how plant species influence comammox Nitrospira, a newly discovered ammonia oxidizer with pivotal functionality. Here, we investigate the abundance, diversity, and community structure of comammox Nitrospira underneath five plant species and a bare tidal flat at three soil depths in a subtropical estuarine wetland. Plant species played a critical role in driving the distribution of individual clades of comammox Nitrospira, explaining 59.3% of the variation of community structure. Clade A.1 was widely detected in all samples, while clades A.2.1, A.2.2, A.3 and B showed plant species-dependent distribution patterns. Compared with the native species Cyperus malaccensis, the invasion of Spartina alterniflora increased the network complexity and changed the community structure of comammox Nitrospira, while the invasive effects from Kandelia obovata and Phragmites australis were relatively weak. Soil depths significantly influenced the community structure of comammox Nitrospira, but the effect was much weaker than that from plant species. Altogether, our results highlight the previously unrecognized critical role of plant species in driving the distribution of comammox Nitrospira in a subtropical estuarine wetland. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change is significantly affecting the distribution of plants worldwide. Cyclocarya paliurus (Batal.) Iljinsk. (Juglandaceae), a rare deciduous tree, is a traditional nutraceutical tea owing to its health benefits and appealing flavor. In this study, climatic factors and soil physio-chemical factors were screened using MaxEnt modeling, and suitable habitat areas during three historical periods and under two climatic change scenarios were predicted based on 425 occurrence records. MaxEnt model performance was excellent, showing a high prediction ability, with an average area under curve value of 0.9786 ± 0.0025 and true skill statistic index of 0.9556. Eleven climatic factors, as well as four soil physio-chemical factors, were selected based on jackknife resampling. The habitat suitability simulation for three historical periods (last glacial maximum, mid-Holocene, and 1960–1990) showed that although the high-suitability area for C. paliurus decreased during the three periods, the combined intermediate- and high-suitability area increased. The analysis of the suitable habitat distributions under two global warming scenarios (RCP2.6 and RCP8.5) showed a decline in the suitable habitat area of C. paliurus in response to climatic warming. Our results provide basic references for the management of this species in nature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Serious concerns exist about potentially reinforcing negative effects of climate change and land conversion on biodiversity. Here, we investigate the tandem and interacting roles of climate warming and land-use change as predictors of shifts in the regional distributions of 1701 plant species in Sweden over 60 years. We show that species associated with warmer climates have increased, while grassland specialists have declined. Our results also support the hypothesis that climate warming and vegetation densification through grazing abandonment have synergistic effects on species distribution change. Local extinctions were related to high levels of warming but were reduced by grassland retention. In contrast, colonisations occurred more often in areas experiencing high levels of both climate and land-use change. Strong temperature increases were experienced by species across their ranges, indicating time lags in expected warming-related local extinctions. Our results highlight that the conservation of threatened species relies on both reduced greenhouse gas emissions and the retention and restoration of valuable habitat. Land use change has been the dominant anthropogenic driver of plant distribution change, but climate change has also become a major factor. This analysis of long-term data shows that warming likely reinforced the impact of grassland abandonment on plant species distribution change in Sweden. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The relict tree Zelkova carpinifolia (Pall.) K. Koch, ordinarily growing in the Hyrcanian–Euxinian phytogeographic region, is reported for the first time from Iraq, namely the north-east of the country. The site lies on the margin of this species' distribution between the other extant isolated records in the south easternmost region of Turkey and western Iran. Given that this species is extremely rare in neighbouring countries, every single population makes a significant contribution to our understanding of the species' phytogeography and conservation. The oldest individuals reported in the study are 105, 102, 93, 90 and 84 years old, and the average age is 46. The palaeobotanical background, habitat characteristics and information on population characteristics are presented. Additionally, SEM micrographs of Zelkova carpinifolia leaves were taken and compared with published sources. The findings are discussed in the context of the worldwide distribution of the species and its conservation status. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]