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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]

The detailed description of the distribution, morphology and relationships with host plants (19 species; 15 new records as host plants) of Manatha albipes from Kerala, India is presented here. Significant differences in the morphology from populations of M. albipes from other areas of India have been described. The larval stages of these moths are polyphagous and cause low to severe damage in host plants. The mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase 1 sequence of 692 bp length was sequenced and deposited in NCBI Genbank with the accession number MN717272.The sequence analysis confirms the identity of M. albipes as distinct from other closely related species of bagworms. M. albipes is not yet a major pest in Kerala but is emerging as a threat in the monocultures of neighbouring states. We demonstrate how many plant species in human altered habitations are carryover sources for M. albipes. Preliminary distribution map and threat analysis of the species in the state based on known land use data using GIS tools indicates large areas of agricultural land to be under threat. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The gram pod borer, Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner) is the insect pest of global agricultural importance due to its wide host range and cosmopolitan distribution, which is supported by a strong genetic base. This paper presents genetic diversity of the pest population feeding on different hosts (inter-host) and geographic locations (inter-location) in Uttarakhand Himalayas, India and their micro-evolutionary consequences. A total of 21 inter-host and 17 inter-location populations were studied using both nuclear (SSR markers i.e., 1st tier) and mitochondrial genes (cytochrome b i.e., 2nd tier). In case of inter-host populations, grouping was observed in relation to crop season (Kharif and Rabi), sequential growing of the crops and association of crops with weeds and concurrence of crop growth stages. Interestingly, in both the nuclear and mitogenome analysis, the wheat population stood separate as a major cluster, which might be due to its adaptation towards the crop in recent past in the region. Although there is a differential grouping in SSR and cytb based clustering in inter-location populations, high altitude populations stand separate. The study illustrates ecological and evolutionary driven behavioural adaptations in H. armigera populations in Uttarakhand Himalayan population, India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We analyzed a national database on plant richness with 7761 species from 15,565 nested quadrants to offer the maiden and indicative plant richness pattern of India across its latitudinal and longitudinal gradient. We observed two peaks in the species richness curves along both latitudinal and longitudinal gradients, due to harbouring of higher species richness in the Western Ghats and the Himalayan hot spots. The bands at 10°–11°N latitude and 76°–77°E longitude accommodate maximum of 703 and 864 number of plant species respectively, which could be explained due to cumulative contribution of (i) the Western Ghats, Eastern Ghats, Lakshadweep and Andaman and Nicobar islands along latitudinal; and (ii) the Western Ghats, central India and the Western Himalaya along longitudinal gradients. On dissection of the relationship between plant richness to environment (i.e., geographic area, topography and vegetation types) using Generalized Additive Model (GAM), we observed varied explanations for latitude and longitude. While geographic area and topography explained (98.8% deviance) to the species richness pattern across longitude, all three explained (99% deviance) to the distribution pattern along latitude. We also found that the species richness and vegetation types are positively correlated. Environmental heterogeneity, especially geographic area, topography and disturbance explain the distribution pattern of plant richness in India. Knowing the spatial pattern of plant richness could help in formulating large-scale conservation measures for India. It is hoped that the study would attract larger readership, particularly the Indian bio-geographers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biodiversity is continually transformed by a changing climate. Conditions change across the face of the planet at variable pace leading to rearrangements of biological associations. The carbon cycle and the water cycle, arguably the two most important large-scale processes for life on Earth; depend on biodiversity at genetic, species, and ecosystem levels and can yield feedbacks to climate change. India is no less affected through this feedback mechanism of climate change and had shown its cause and effect association in several studies. In this special issue we present 25 papers contributed by ca 90 authors from India and elsewhere those discuss wide-ranging aspects of biodiversity and climate change. These contributions are based on presentations made at the 2nd International Workshop on Biodiversity and Climate Change (BDCC-2018) held on 24–27-February 2018 at the Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur, India. The papers are arranged in six sections: Plant (and lichen) Diversity and Climate; Plant Diversity Pattern and Environmental Heterogeneity; Forest Biomass and Carbon; Plant Diversity and Remote Sensing; Species Distribution Modelling; and Animal Diversity, Soil and Biotechnology. Included amongst the contributions are ones using a national database on plant diversity, describing vegetation carbon and biomass sequestration patterns, utilizing remote sensing to assess plant diversity proxies and conservation prioritization, employing species distribution models to analyze climate change scenarios, using acoustics indices for rapid assessment of biodiversity, addressing the soil micro-biome and environmental stress on medicinal plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change enhances invasive species distribution by altering species composition in native ecosystems. Here we assessed harmony in plant invasions of two perennial exotic species of similar origin and naturalised in India, i.e., Chromolaena odorata and Tridax procumbens. Predictions made for the current condition was subsequently projected for the years 2050 and 2100 for both moderate and extreme climate change scenarios. Maximum Entropy (Maxent) was applied to assess their habitat suitability, risk area identification and shifts in range sizes. The distribution of C. odorata could mostly depend on temperature and moisture availability; and invade the biodiversity-rich regions of India viz., the Eastern Ghats, the Western Ghats, the Eastern Himalaya and the north-eastern regions. The prevalence of T. procumbens in central regions of India could demonstrate its greater dependencies on precipitation seasonality and radiation than that on temperature. These discrepancies in climatic dependencies allowed both for a harmonious distribution, i.e., inhabiting in regions not utilised by other. Both are likely to reduce their potential distribution areas in the future climate, where moisture availability is a key factor for their range expansion. The capacity to tolerate a wide range of temperature and solar radiation allowed T. procumbens to manage climate change impacts more efficiently, compared with C. odorata. The present study reveals harmony in their distributions and suggests distinct conservation protocols for each of them to control their invasion risks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on a study that examines the anthropogenic land cover and land use on the invasive aquatic macrophytes distribution in Northeast India's tropical floodplains.

Presently alien species are invading least invaded areas largely because of anthropogenic activities. The distribution of alien plant species is determined by many factors and in mountainous areas altitude is one of the most important factors determining the distribution of plant species. In order to understand the role of roads in distribution of alien plant species along elevational gradient, two road transects were selected. These two road transects were divided into equally spaced altitudinal zones and at each site 3 plots were selected. A total of 200 species were recorded out of which 133 were native and 67 were alien. Total species richness decreased with altitude while as native species richness increased. Level of invasion expressed as proportion of alien plant species decreased with altitude in all the three plots. In addition, floristic similarity between plots decreased with increasing altitudinal difference. From the present study it is clear that alien plant species have not invaded the alpine areas to a large extent but anthropogenic activities like unplanned road development and promotion of tourism in the area is likely to threaten the uninvaded high altitude areas of the region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The spread of alien plant species in bio-rich mountains calls for documenting their distribution across altitudes. The present study, therefore, analysed altitudinal distribution of alien species richness in the Himalayan state of Himachal Pradesh and tested the null hypothesis that-alien species richness in Himalaya is independent of altitude. For this, information on alien species was collated from published literature. As the zone above 5000 m is mostly snow-covered and devoid of major vegetation in the Himalaya, the altitudinal range from 300-5000 m was divided into bands of 100 m each. If a species was reported occurring from 300 to 600 m, then it's presence was counted in the 300-400 m, 400-500 m, and 500-600 m bands. All the species occurring in these individual 100 m bands were tabulated. For comparisons of alien species richness along altitude, five altitudinal groups were identified (>1000, 1000-2000, 2000-3000, 3000-4000 and 4000-5000). Their richness across and between these group was statistically compared using R. Alien species richness was maximum in the 1000-1100 m band, and significantly varied along the altitudinal gradient. Life form analyses revealed the absence of alien climbers above 2500 m. Alien species distribution patterns are in contrast to the native species distribution whose maximum richness is reported at mid-altitudes (2000-2500 m). This may be because most of the alien species are tropical in origin and have been introduced at lower altitudes. Interestingly, alike the native species, members of Asteraceae, Fabaceae, and Poaceae dominated the alien flora along the entire altitudinal gradient. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lianas are structurally dependent life-form that rely mostly on trees to access the forest canopy. The complex interactions between lianas and trees are often effected by host species' traits. Lianas are evolved with various climbing mechanisms that aid them attach and infest the host trees. Liana infestation on trees now seems to be common in many tropical forests, where they are abundant. The present study was aimed to investigate the patterns of liana-tree interactions in tropical dry evergreen forest of Point Calimere Wildlife Sanctuary (PCWS), southeast India. This study also analyzes the impact of various tree functional traits on liana colonization success in the PCWS. All trees = 10 cm girth at breast height (gbh) was measured along with lianas (= 1 cm diameter at 1.3 m from the rooting point) they hosted. Overall, 57.9% of trees in the study sites carried at least one liana. The infested trees hosted an average of 1.53 ± 0.49 (range; 0-8) lianas per tree. At PCWS, the trees with medium girth-class, moderate wood specific density, rough bark and those with pronounced summer leaflessness are more prone to be infested by lianas. The preference of lianas under different climbing mechanisms in selecting host trees remained similar, although their proportion differed slightly in the present study. Liana infestation on host trees can be highly dynamic under the current scenario of increasing liana abundance and biomass in tropical forests world over for which, we recommend the need for documenting the patterns of tree-liana interactions, by employing a standard protocol to facilitate global comparisons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fossil leaflet impression described here as a new species Rourea miocaudata sp. nov., showing close resemblance with the modern leaflets of Rourea caudata Planch. (Connaraceae R. Br.), has been recorded from the lower part of the Siwalik sediments (Dafla Formation, middle-upper Miocene) exposed at the road-cutting section of Pinjoli area in West Kameng district, Arunachal Pradesh. The important morphological characters of the fossil are its narrow elliptic leaflet, cuneate base, long caudate apex, entire margin, eucamptodromous to brochidodromous secondary veins, presence of intersecondary veins, percurrent and reticulate tertiary veins and orthogonally reticulate quaternary veins. This is the first authentic record of the occurrence of leaflet comparable to R. caudata of Connaraceae from the Cenozoic sediments of India and abroad. At present R. caudata does not grow in India and is restricted only in southeast Asia especially in China and Myanmar. This taxon probably migrated to these southeast Asian regions after lower Siwalik sedimentation (middle-upper Miocene) due to climatic change caused by post-Miocene orogenic movement of the Himalaya. The recovery of this species and other earlier-described evergreen taxa from the same formation, suggests the existence of a tropical, warm and humid climatic conditions during the depositional period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Construction of big dams on rivers develops artificial lakes or water reservoirs which conceive alterations in soil properties of the upstream catchment area. An undulating topography and freckly soil properties cause ups and downs in tree diversity, composition and distribution. The study aimed to evaluate the effect of Gobind Sagar reservoir on soil properties relative to the distance from it and aßsess its effect on tree diversity, evenness and their distribution in tropical and subtropical forests. Based on data analysis it was found that the soil moisture and organic carbon decreased along with increasing distance from the reservoir. It played a significant role in varying tree diversity. The sites distributed within 0-2 km showed significantly higher a and β-diversity indices. Tree species richness and diversity indices showed a strong correlation ( p < 0.05) with soil moisture and organic carbon content. Simpson's and McIntosh evenness indices showed a strong negative correlation with soil bulk density. Indirect Detrended Correspondence Analysis (DCA) identified soil moisture and soil organic carbon as two major environmental gradients that influenced tree diversity and their distribution in five tropical and four subtropical forests in an upstream catchment of the reservoir. Mixed forests inhabited moist sites and Acacia-Pinus forests showed an inclination to dry areas. Canonical Correspondence Analysis (CCA) revealed that the tree species in tropical forests were mainly affected by driving forces such as soil moisture, organic carbon and bulk density whereas, in subtropical forest tree species were influenced by elevation, soil pH, EC and clay content. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thirty-six strains of Bipolaris oryzae collected from infected seed from different geographical locations in India were used for the analysis of genetic variability by using molecular markers. The molecular characterization using three marker systems, i.e., universal rice primers (URPs), inter-simple sequence repeat (ISSR) and random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) was carried out, which revealed differences in strains from different geographical origins as well as by clustering of various B. oryzae strains which otherwise could not be revealed through conventional characterization. Out of 13 URPs, 20 ISSR and 30 RAPD primers screened, seven URPs, eight ISSR and 14 RAPD markers gave very good reproducibility banding patterns. Polymorphic bands ranging between 86.3% and 100% in URP, 81.8% and 100% in ISSR, and 91.6% and 100% were recorded in the case of RAPD markers. The total number of bands recorded was 1791 with an average of 255.86 in URP, 2541 with an average of 317.63 in ISSR, and 3226 with an average of 230.42 in RAPD markers. Maximum heterozygosity ( Hn) was revealed by URP 30F (0.26), ISSR 6 (0.36) and RAPD marker OPB-1 (0.31). The polymorphism information content (PIC) values ranged between 0.69 and 6.43 in URP, 3.86 and 8.03 in ISS, and 2.58 and 8.55 in RAPD marker profiles. Maximum cophenetic correlation was found in URP ( r = 1.000), followed by ISSR ( r = 0.813) and RAPD ( r = 0.784). The combined analysis of all three marker systems showed high cophenetic correlation ( r = 0.848), which indicated a good fit of the data for genetic diversity analysis. Hence, combined use of three marker systems would be more sensitive and reliable in characterizing genetic variability in B. oryzae strains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The cotton mealybug Phenacoccus solenopsis Tinsley (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae), an invasive pest species, has appeared on a large scale on cotton in India since 2006. Its distribution within the plant, and associated yield losses in cotton, were studied over 2 years. Distribution of P. solenopsis was observed within the cotton plant from vegetative to boll formation stage. In the vegetative and square formation stages, the highest mealybug population was recorded on the upper portion of the stem, followed by the middle leaves of the plant. In the boll formation stage, there was no significant difference in distribution of the insect among plant parts. Losses in cotton due to the mealybug varied between 14.9% at Grade 1 and 53.6% at Grade 4, on a 0 to 4 severity index, with a mean reduction of 35% and 32%, during 2008 and 2009, respectively. There was a significant relationship between severity of infestation and decrease in seed cotton yield. The information generated from this study will help in the early detection of mealybug infestation and estimation of yield losses corresponding to the severity grade of the damage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Silene vulgaris is an important ethnobotanical species, but so far no thorough meiotic analysis has been performed, despite its wide occurrence in temperate and alpine Himalayas, this prompted us to undertake present study. We investigated original meiotic chromosome number and effect of cytomixis on meiotic course, microsporogenesis and pollen grain size and fertility. The paper also summarizes the previously published chromosome counts in the species and cytogeography of 2 x and 4 x cytotypes in the Indian Himalayas and elsewhere. Meiocytes preparations were made through standard squashed technique in 1 % acetocarmine. Two ploidy levels have been determined during the cytomorphological surveys, diploid (2 n = 2 x = 24) and tetraploid (2 n = 4 x = 48). Most of the presently scored populations were found to be diploid (2 n = 2 x = 24). Morphologically 2 x and 4 x individuals were indistinguishable from each other. Meiosis was perfectly normal in 4 x cytotype. However, some of the 2 x plants showed the phenomenon of cytomixis and associated meiotic abnormalities. Consequent to cytomixis, hypo-, hyperploid and enucleated pollen mother cells (PMCs) were resulted. Such PMCs combined with other meiotic abnormalities yielded sterile and variable sized pollen grains. On the basis of overall information, it is clear that 2 x cytotype is the most widely distributed cytotype in the Indian Himalayas as well as elsewhere. On the other hand, the 4 x cytotype seems to be less frequently present in the Indian Himalayas and outside of India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate has played a crucial role in assigning a different kind of topography to Rajasthan and Gujarat since the Cenozoic time. Evidently, three genera, namely, Dipterocarpus Gaert. f., Hopea Roxb. and Shorea Roxb. of the Dipterocarpaceae are described from the Neogene sediments of western India (Rajasthan and Gujarat). These taxa are marked by their complete absence in the region today. The presence of Dipterocarpaceae in western India has been noticed from the Early Eocene up to the Plio-Pleistocene in deep time. The family is usually a dominant component of the humid tropical and subtropical flora of the Indo-Malayan region and its discovery, along with earlier described fossils from western India indicates existence of ancient tropical rain forests in western India. A change in the climate affected warm and humid conditions occurring there during the Cenozoic resulting in arid to semi-arid climate at present which is responsible for the ultimate extinction of Dipterocarpaceae in the region. In addition, the palaeobiogeography of Dipterocarpaceae is reviewed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Tropical Ecology is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Pterospermumocarpon (Type: P. kalviwadiensis), a new morphogenus of fossil fruits showing resemblance with fruits of extant Pterospermum Schreb. (Malvaceae s.l.), is described from the Sindhudurg Formation (Miocene) at the Kalviwadi Village, Sindhudurg District, Maharashtra, India. Diagnostic feature of the fossil taxon is the dehiscent pentalocular capsule with five distinct sutures and imprints of winged seed-like structures in the locules. Recent modifications in the systematics of the Malvales, their fossil record, and the distribution and migration of Pterospermum and other malvalean taxa in the context of the Indian subcontinent are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to reconstruct the palaeoclimate, a number of fossil wood pieces were collected and investigated from two new fossil localities situated in the Dhemaji and Lakhimpur districts of Assam. They belong to the Tipam Group considered to be of Middle-Late Miocene in age and show affinities with Gluta (Anacardiaceae), Bischofia (Euphorbiaceae), Bauhinia, Cynometra, Copaifera-Detarium-Sindora, Millettia-Pongamia, and Afzelia-Intsia (Fabaceae). The flora also records a new species of Bauhinia named Bauhinia miocenica sp. nov. The assemblage indicates a warm and humid climate in the region during the deposition of the sediments. The occurrence of some southeast Asian elements in the fossil flora indicates that an exchange of floral elements took place between India and southeast Asia during the Miocene. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The genus Cantharellus is known to have a global distribution and to form ectomycorrhizal associations with a diverse set of host plants. Here we describe Cantharellus pseudoformosus as a species new to science with a possible association with Cedrus deodara. ITS and LSU data demonstrated that the material from India is distinct from Cantharellus formosus and other closely related species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main focus of the paper is to assess the land use/ land cover (LULC) change in northern Chhattisgarh due to industrialization using remote sensing and Geographical Information System (GIS). The impact was assessed using an information extraction method applied to temporal satellite data (LANDSAT and IRS scenes) in GIS domain. For assessing the impact on natural resources, the classification scheme was restricted to (1) Forest patches ((a) completely cleared, (b) partially cleared, (c) least affected), (2) Non-Forest ((d) completely changed, (e) least changed), (3) Industrial/Mining area, and (4) River. Over the three decades 22.22% of forests have been completely cleared and converted to industrial setup. Another 25% is completely cleared and 10% is degraded. Around 4% of agricultural area is totally affected due to industrial activity. Random assessment of plant distribution (Trees, Shrubs and Herbs) indicates significant changes in the herb distribution directly related to distance gradient form the industrial/mining setup. Visual recording, socio-economic survey and satellite data also helped in delineation of extent of environmental pollution in forest and non-forest areas. The paper presents methodology for the environmental impact assessment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aglaia bourdillonii is a plant narrowly endemic to the southern portion of the Western Ghats (WG), in peninsular India. To understand its ecological and geographic distribution, we used ecological niche modeling (ENM) based on detailed distributional information recently gathered, in relation to detailed climatic data sets. The ENMs successfully reconstructed key features of the species' geographic distribution, focusing almost entirely on the southern WG. Much of the species' distributional potential is already under protection, but our analysis allows identification of key zones for additional protection, all of which are adjacent to existing protected areas. ENM provides a useful tool for understanding the natural history of such rare and endangered species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Tropical Ecology is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Tropical Ecology is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Tropical Ecology is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The use of vegetation in interpreting geological phenomena is becoming an important tool in the search for ore deposits which are buried under thick soil cover or layers of unmineralised rock. The present investigation was undertaken to study the distribution of Gymnosporia montana developed on pegmatites with a view to establish this species as a geobotanical indicator of these rock types. A significant feature of this area is the occurrence of G. montana as a lithological indicator of pegmatites. The biogeochemical behaviour of G. montana was studied by analysing the leaves and twigs of this plant species. It has the capability of accumulating large amounts of Ca, K, Mg, B, Ba, Cu, Mn, Sr and Zn. Further, this study has given great scope to understand the geobotanical and biogeochemical behaviour of this plant species in this famous Nellore mica belt. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a study which investigates the growth and distribution pattern of corchorus depressus in a semi arid desert in Jodhpur, India. The study assessed the phytosociological parameters of the area and the reproductive and aggressive capacity of the species in various soil mixtures. It reveals that the plant's aggressiveness and reproductive capacity increases in clay. The authors conclude that the vegetation patterns are linked with relief position and soil moisture.