Search

The effect of environmental gradients on the remarkable diversity of mountain‐associated plants and on the species' abilities to cope with climate change transcends species‐specific strategies. For instance, our understanding of the impact of thermal gradients on ecological divergences in populations of widely distributed species is limited, although it could provide important insights regarding species' response to climate change.Here, we investigated whether populations of an endemic species broadly distributed across an elevation gradient employ unique or multiple divergent ecological strategies according to specific environmental conditions. We hypothesised that populations employ distinct strategies, producing a tolerance‐avoidance trade‐off related to the thermal conditions they experience across elevations.We conducted our research with 125 individuals of Pitcairnia flammea (Bromeliaceae) sampled from various elevations spanning from sea level to ~2200 m and cultivated under the same conditions. To assess specific ecological strategies of P. flammea populations across elevations, we examined leaf temperature, heat and cold tolerances, as well as other structural/morphological, optical, physiological and biochemical leaf traits.We majorly observed that water‐saving traits diminish as elevation increases while membrane fluidity, majorly associated with unsaturated and very‐long‐chain lipids, enhances. Low‐elevation individuals of P. flammea invest in water storage tissues, which likely prevent excessive water loss through the intense transpiration rates under warming periods. Conversely, high‐elevation plants exhibit increased membrane fluidity, a possible response to the stiffening induced by low temperature.Our results revealed a tolerance‐avoidance trade‐off related to thermal strategies of populations distributed across an elevation gradient. Low‐elevation plants avoid excessive leaf temperature by investing in water‐saving traits to maintain transpiration rates. High‐elevation individuals, in turn, tend to invest in membrane properties to tolerate thermal variations, particularly cold events.Our findings challenge the conventional notion that plants' vulnerability to warming depends on species‐specific thermal tolerance by showing diverse thermal strategies on populations across an elevation gradient. Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Humid dunes slacks are a highly threatened habitat, listed as vulnerable in the EU habitat red list. Accelerated successional processes in dune systems have resulted in the loss and degradation of ideal conditions for specialist dune slack species, hence the need for conservation management. We investigated the restoration of a dune slack in North Wales, UK, where vegetation and soil removal to 10 cm depth was undertaken to reinstate nutrient‐poor, open and damp conditions. We assessed the outcomes of the management for dune slack communities over the 18 years since restoration. We also assessed the differences between restored and unrestored areas of dune slacks. The dunes were restored in the winter of 2004/2005, after which we conducted vegetation surveys in fixed quadrats for most years in the restored and adjacent, un‐restored dune slacks. Species diversity and plant community composition changes over time were assessed using Shannon's index, multivariate analysis and indicator species analysis. Comparisons between the restored and unrestored areas of the dune slacks were also made. Ellenberg indicator values (EIVs) were examined to identify potential environmental drivers of post management successional changes. After 18 years the restored dune slacks developed a species‐rich and diverse community. compared to the unrestored slacks. The establishment of species occurred rapidly in the first three years, followed by continued but slower increases in species richness and diversity. This is due to the addition of new species without losses of established species. EIVs show no significant difference over time suggesting the restored areas are still at an early stage of succession. Distinct stages of community change since restoration are characterised by different indicator species. Plants are likely to be largely recruited from an existing seed bank. Restoration by turf removal may be suitable for other low nutrient, species rich habitats dependent upon fluctuating groundwater levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Changing environment markedly shapes plant diversity and vegetation across all spatial scales. It leads to innumerable local, regional and sometimes global changes in plant communities. Here, we present eleven full-text research articles of the Special Issue "Plant communities in changing environment", which focuses on the evaluation of plant diversity and vegetation changes in different plant communities. We conclude that the results of all research studies show that plants, habitat and functional diversity are strongly conditioned in space and time by various factors, including climate, water regime, snow conditions, and human activities. These changes are also among most significant potential threats for plant diversity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the field of ecology, more and more attention is paid to the analysis of the interaction of herbaceous plants with the structure of ecosystems, including forests. The aim of the study was to determine the impact of herbaceous plants on the biodiversity and stability of pine plantations in Western Polissia of Ukraine. To achieve this goal, in 2010-2023, the State Enterprise "Research Farm "Horodetske" assessed the diversity of herbaceous plant species, measured their number and cover, evaluated soil physical properties and biometric parameters of pine trees, and assessed how changes in the pine plantation ecosystem caused by herbaceous plants can affect carbon sequestration and oxygen productivity. The study found that herbaceous species among pine plantations in Western Polissia perform important ecological functions that contribute to the conservation and restoration of ecosystems. The presence of these plants enriches the soil with organic matter and helps maintain the structural and functional stability of ecosystems. The study showed that herbaceous plants contribute to the restoration of pine plantations by providing protection and support for young trees, and have a positive impact on their biometric parameters, increasing the total phytomass. Herbaceous plants also improve soil physical properties, such as pH, humus content, aggregate water resistance and water permeability, which can contribute to soil structural stability and the health of pine stands. In addition, the presence of herbaceous plants contributes to more efficient carbon sequestration and oxygen production, which is important for the balance of the air environment in the ecosystem. The results obtained are of great importance for environmental management and conservation of natural resources in the Western Polissia region, as they provide scientific basis for developing strategies for the conservation and restoration of forest ecosystems, taking into account the role of herbaceous plants in their functioning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

(1): The Upper Silesia region of Poland is one of the most extensively altered regions of Europe due to human activity, especially coal mining. (2): We used cluster analysis to examine the floristic composition of three classified forest communities: forests developed on post-coal mine mineral heaps (HF), mixed deciduous forests (DECI), and managed secondary coniferous forests (CON). Vegetation data were collected from 44 randomly selected plots, and plant traits connected with persistence, dispersal, and regeneration were taken from commonly used plant trait databases. (3): Higher species richness, species diversity, and evenness (36, 2.7, and 0.76, respectively) were calculated for HF plots compared with those plots from DECI (22, 1.9, and 0.62) and CON (18, 2.0, and 0.71) plots. Higher functional richness (0.173, 0.76) and functional divergence were determined for HF compared with those calculated for DECI (FRic 0.090, FDiv 0.71) and CON (FRic 0.026, FDiv 0.69). In contrast, the substrate from HF forests had significantly lower soil respiration (0.76 mg-CO2 h/m2) compared with substrates from both CON and DECI forests (0.90 and 0.96 mg-CO2 h/m2, respectively); (4): A set of complex abiotic stresses which plants suffer from on coal mine spoil heaps shaped different patterns of taxonomic and functional diversity. These findings demonstrate the importance of investigating successional aspects and carbon dynamics of de novo forests which have developed on post-coal mine spoil heaps in urban industrial areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The mechanisms underpinning the soil microbial community assembly are important, particularly in the fragile karst forest ecosystem. Despite such significance, relevant topics remain limited. We investigated a typical karst area, the Maolan National Nature Reserve in China. For this purpose, 30 forest dynamics plots were established on three restoration gradients in degraded karst forests, namely shrub, pioneer tree, and climax communities. Using vegetation surveys, we explored the diversity patterns, driving factors, and community assembly of the soil microbial communities during the restoration of degraded karst forest ecosystems. In addition, the soil physicochemical properties and macrogenomic sequencing data were examined. One-way analysis of variance and principal coordinates analysis showed no significant changes in soil microbial α-diversity during restoration, and the opposite pattern was observed for β-diversity. Variation partitioning analysis revealed that the combined effect of both soil microbial β-diversity and soil was significant (28% and 32% for bacteria and fungi, respectively). Pearson correlation analyses showed that plant species diversity and soil multifunctionality correlated significantly with soil microbial β-diversity. In contrast, the direct effect of plants was smaller (2% and 3% for bacteria and fungi, respectively). According to the dispersal–niche continuum index, stochastic processes were responsible for the assembly of the bacterial and fungal soil microbial communities. During restoration, the dominant influence of stochastic effects on the assembly of bacterial communities intensified. In contrast, the reverse tendency was observed in soil fungi. The investigation of the diversity pattern of soil microbial communities and their assembly can provide theoretical references for the restoration of degraded ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rehabilitation strategies for degraded mine dumps have generally seen limited success due to different complications associated with mining biophysical disturbance. In this study, we tested a combination of two methods to expedite revegetation of kimberlite tailings at Letseng Diamond Mine (i.e., in the Afro‐alpine areas of Lesotho). We ran trials on different growth media located on fine and coarse kimberlite tailings (i.e. sites) mixed with different substrate combinations and topsoil and sowing a seed mix comprised of native plant species. Overall, as predicted, fine kimberlite tailings displayed significantly higher plant abundance than coarse kimberlite tailings, and sown seeds performed significantly better than spontaneous colonisation by emerging species. Kimberlite tailings mixed with topsoil (100 mm) showed significantly greater plant abundance, and similarly, when coarse kimberlite tailings were introduced to fine tailings. Physicochemical analyses of growth media components suggested that topsoil provided additional nutrients and that plants could readily access available nutrients in the fine kimberlite tailings. We noted a gradual significant increase in plant abundance over 5 years, enhanced by new plant species emerging from the topsoil seed bank or by natural seed dispersal. Although plant abundance differed significantly, both fine and coarse kimberlite tailings displayed high plant species diversity (H = 3.4 and D = 0.95 and H = 3.5 and D = 0.95, respectively). Out of 36 emerging plant species, 15 species spontaneously colonised both growth media. The significant variation in abundance among plant species between treatments was mostly attributed to dominant forb species, namely Chrysocoma ciliata, Glumicalyx montanus, Oxalis obliquifolia, Senecio inaequidens and Trifolium burchellianum. We have identified suitable growth media for plant community restoration on kimberlite tailings in the Drakensberg alpine area using a seed mix of native plant species in combination with natural seed dispersal from the surrounding pristine environment. We provide evidence for using two complementary approaches to optimise native plant community development during restoration in the Drakensberg alpine area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigated the plant species diversity, community assemblage, net primary production and soil carbon sequestration in an old field (OF), which went through passive restoration with spontaneous secondary succession, and a restored prairie (RP), which went through active restoration with reintroduction of native plants. The passive restoration in OF did not attain as high diversity and richness of plant species as did in RP. Our NMS (nonmetric multidimensional scaling) ordination revealed a clear divergence of RP and OF vegetation with dissimilar species compositions to separate paths of succession trajectory. The spontaneous succession in OF has made very little progress due to a potentially strong inhibitory priority effect of invasive plants. The belowground biomass in the high‐diversity RP was 1.3× higher than the low‐diversity OF. We found no measurable difference in soil C sequestration between RP and OF at this time, possibly due to edaphic factors, lack of legumes, or both. Human intervention is needed for restoring abandoned croplands—highly disturbed, fragmented and isolated habitats—to tallgrass prairies in the U.S. Midwest. Our recommended intervention includes but is not limited to removal of exotic plants, further augmentation of native plants (particularly legumes), and periodic burns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wetlands are a vital source of biodiversity and ecosystem services. The study investigated the plant species diversity and assessed the perception of the ecosystem services of the area and drivers of wetland degradation in Sinana district, Southeast Ethiopia. Vegetation inventory, household surveys, focused group discussions, and key informant interviews were employed to gather information. A total of 45 sample plots laid along transacts were inventoried. A plot size of 5 m × 5 m (25 m²) and 1 m × 1 m (1 m²) nested within the major plot was used for shrubs and herbs, respectively. A total of 137 households were surveyed to collect socioeconomic data. The study identified 20 plant species belonging to 14 families. Family Cyperaceae was dominant within the studied wetland. The Shannon diversity (H=1.15) indicates that the wetland has low vegetation diversity with an uneven distribution (E=0.385) of vegetation. A total of 20 ecosystem services thought to be underprovisioning, regulating, and cultural services were identified. According to plaintiffs, major provision services are grazing livestock (77.4%), irrigation (76.6%), and harvesting of grass for fodder (68.6%). Important drivers of wetland degradation are a shortage of cropland (70.8%), lack of awareness (69.3%), upland land degradation (65.7%), and increasing population (62%). The main driver, a shortage of cropland, was the key driver, followed by a lack of awareness and upland land degradation. Therefore, the result heightened that the studied wetland is under serious degradation due to high human pressure associated with population growth and climate change. Thus, an appropriate wetland management strategy must be designed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nature reserves play an important role in the protection of biological habitats and the maintenance of biodiversity, but the performance and mechanisms of desert steppe nature reserves in improving plant community productivity, biodiversity and soil nutrient content are still largely unknown. To investigate the conservation effects of desert steppe nature reserve management on plant productivity and biodiversity, we compared the plant biomass, diversity and soil nutrient content inside and outside the West Ordos National Nature Reserve through sample survey, biomass determination, diversity index calculation and soil nutrient content determination. We found the following: (1) The aboveground biomass and belowground biomass of plant communities in the nature reserve were significantly larger than those outside the reserve; and the aboveground biomass of plant communities in shrub–steppe was significantly larger than that of herb grassland in both the nature reserve and the outside of the reserve. (2) The Margalef richness index, Shannon–Wiener index and Simpson index were significantly greater in the reserve than outside the nature reserve. In the desert steppe, the establishment of the nature reserve increased the α-diversity of the plant community. (3) The soil organic carbon (SOC) and soil total nitrogen (STN) were greater in the nature reserve than outside the reserve, and for the 10–20 cm and 20–40 cm soil layers, the SOC and STN were significantly greater in the core protected zone of the reserve than outside the reserve. The reserve significantly increased the nutrient content of the deeper soil layers. (4) The aboveground biomass of the plant community had a significant positive linear relationship with the species richness index, the Shannon index, and the Simpson index. There was a positive correlation between the diversity of the plant community and the soil nutrients. In summary, the nature reserve improved local plant productivity, biodiversity and the soil nutrient content, and the soil nutrient content in deeper soil layers may be the driving factor for the increase in productivity and biodiversity, which deepens our understanding of the conservation effectiveness of the nature reserve and its mechanisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Land degradation due to bush encroachment and drought threatens the well-being of land users and forage production in the semi-arid savannas of southern Africa. This study aimed to analyse how herbaceous vegetation in the Kalahari savanna can recover from drought, and how this is affected by previously implemented bush control measures. We compared plant species composition and diversity of the herbaceous layer across a drought-release (2021) and post-drought (2022) year within two land use types (game and livestock) in bush-encroached and controlled areas, respectively. Diversity decreased significantly during the post-drought year. Annual species dominated in the drought-release year, which were replaced by perennial forbs and dwarf shrubs in the post-drought year. Selective bush control enhanced herbaceous species abundance and richness due to decreased competition. The species richness was higher in the game ranch compared to the cattle farm during the drought-release year. Herbaceous abundance, however, increased on the cattle farm. The management strategies, feeding behaviour and animal movement may have contributed to these differences in these two contrasting land use types. This study showed that herbaceous plant communities can recover rapidly after a drought period and in areas where bush control was applied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: High plant species diversity (PSD) has been reported to enhance soil organic carbon (SOC) storage, but the mechanisms underlying its stimulative effects on soil aggregates remain poorly understood, especially in terms of the effects on aggregate-associated OC content. Methods: We selected 45 plots in a subtropical forest to determine the pattern of variation of soil aggregate-associated OC along a natural PSD gradient and the effects exerted by PSD. Results: OC contents of three soil aggregate fractions were significantly and positively correlated with PSD. High PSD could enhance the proportion of macroaggregate OC in bulk OC, but decreased that of silt + clay-associated OC. Our results also revealed that high PSD might increase the OC content in soil aggregates by stimulating plant litter inputs. At the same time, high PSD increased soil minerals, which could enhance mineral protection of OC in soil aggregates. Conclusions: Along the PSD gradient, the accumulation of OC in soil aggregates was mainly influenced by Ca2+/Mg2+-mediated mechanisms that protected them in the study area, which is characterized by karst forest soils dominated by dolomite and limestone. Our study provides a better understanding of soil C dynamics in aggregates under varying PSD in forest ecosystems, possibly assisting in making more accurate predictions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plant species loss, driven by global changes and human activities, can have cascading effects on other trophic levels, such as arthropods, and alter the multitrophic structure of ecosystems. While the relationship between plant diversity and arthropod communities has been well-documented, few studies have explored the effects of species composition variation or plant functional groups. In this study, we conducted a long-term plant removal experiment to investigate the impact of plant functional group loss (specifically targeting tall grasses and sedges, as well as tall or short forbs) on arthropod diversity and their functional groups. Our findings revealed that the removal of plant functional groups resulted in increased arthropod richness, abundance and the exponential of Shannon entropy, contrary to the commonly observed positive correlation between plant diversity and consumer diversity. Furthermore, the removal of different plant groups had varying impacts on arthropod trophic levels. The removal of forbs had a more pronounced impact on herbivores compared to graminoids, but this impact did not consistently cascade to higher-trophic arthropods. Notably, the removal of short forbs had a more significant impact on predators, as evidenced by the increased richness, abundance, the exponential of Shannon entropy, inverse Simpson index and inverse Berger- Parker index of carnivores and abundance of omnivores, likely attributable to distinct underlying mechanisms. Our results highlight the importance of plant species identity in shaping arthropod communities in alpine grasslands. This study emphasizes the crucial role of high plant species diversity in controlling arthropods in natural grasslands, particularly in the context of plant diversity loss caused by global changes and human activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urban environments are dynamic landscapes shaped by a multitude of factors, including environmental conditions and socio-economic influences. This study systematically investigates how various factors shape urban plant diversity in Haikou City, Hainan Province, China, focusing on 30 key drivers including socioeconomic aspects, biophysical conditions, landscape elements, and management practices. Our research methodology involved a comprehensive analysis of these factors' impact on six types of urban plant species: spontaneous, native spontaneous, exotic spontaneous, cultivated, native cultivated, and exotic cultivated. Conducted in urban areas with varying population densities and landscape features, our sampling approach aimed to understand the species' distribution patterns. We discovered significant correlations between plant species diversity and specific environmental and socio-economic variables. Our results indicate that spontaneous species are prevalent in densely populated areas with strong social ties, whereas areas rich in tree and shrub cover see fewer such species. Native cultivated species favor more serene, less urbanized landscapes, while exotic cultivated species are predominantly found in economically affluent areas with diverse vegetation. These findings offer valuable insights for urban planning and biodiversity conservation, emphasizing the need for customized greening strategies that align with local environmental and social contexts. By adopting such tailored approaches, urban planners can more effectively manage landscapes, enrich green spaces, and foster biodiverse, sustainable ecosystems. This research not only enhances our understanding of urban plant biodiversity but also lays the groundwork for future studies and policy-making, promoting harmonious integration of diverse plant life within urban settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Large dam removal can trigger changes to physical and biological processes that influence vegetation dynamics in former reservoirs, along river corridors downstream of former dams, and at a river's terminus in deltas and estuaries. We present the first comprehensive review of vegetation response to major fluvial disturbance caused by the world's largest dam removal. After being in place for nearly a century, two large dams were removed along the Elwha River, Washington, USA, between 2011 and 2014. The exposure, erosion, transport, and deposition of large volumes of sediment and large wood that were impounded behind the dams created new fluvial surfaces where plant colonization and growth have occurred. In the former reservoirs, dam removal exposed ~290 ha of unvegetated sediment distributed on three main landforms: valley walls, high terraces, and dynamic floodplains. In addition to natural revegetation in the former reservoirs, weed control and seeding and planting of desirable plants influenced vegetation trajectories. In early years following dam removal, ~20.5 Mt of trapped sediment were eroded from the former reservoirs and transported downstream. This sediment pulse, in combination with transport of large wood, led to channel widening, an increase in gravel bars, and floodplain deposition. The primary vegetation responses along the river corridor were a reduction in vegetated area associated with channel widening, plant establishment on new gravel bars, increased hydrochory, and altered plant community composition on gravel bars and floodplains. Plant species diversity increased in some river segments. In the delta, sediment deposition led to the creation of ~26.8 ha of new land surfaces and altered the distribution and dynamics of intertidal water bodies. Vegetation colonized ~16.4 ha of new surfaces: mixed pioneer vegetation colonized supratidal beach, river bars, and river mouth bars, and emergent marsh vegetation colonized intertidal aquatic habitats. In addition to the sediment-dominated processes that have created opportunities for plant colonization and growth, biological processes such as restored hydrochory and anadromous fish passage with associated delivery of marine-derived nutrients may influence vegetation dynamics over time. Rapid changes to landforms and vegetation growth were related to the large sediment pulse in the early years following dam removal, and the rate of change is expected to attenuate as the system adjusts to natural flow and sediment regimes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The phenomenal expansion of angiosperms has prompted many investigations into the factors driving their diversification, but there remain significant gaps in our understanding of flowering plant species diversity. Methods: Using the crown age of families from five studies, we used a maximum likelihood approach to classify families as having poor, predicted or high species richness (SR) using strict consensus criteria. Using these categories, we looked for associations between family SR and i) the presence of an inferred familial ancestral polyploidization event, ii) 23 life history and floral traits compiled from previously published datasets and papers, and iii) sexual system (dioecy) or genetically determined self-incompatibility (SI) mating system using an updated version of our own database and iv) geographic distribution using a new database describing the global distribution of plant species/families across realms and biomes and inferred range. Results: We find that more than a third of angiosperm families (65%) had predicted SR, a large proportion (30.2%) were species poor, while few (4.8%) had high SR. Families with poor SR were less likely to have undergone an ancestral polyploidization event, exhibited deficits in diverse traits, and were more likely to have unknown breeding systems and to be found in only one or few biomes and realms, especially the Afrotropics or Australasia. On the other hand, families with high SR were more likely to have animal mediated pollination or dispersal, are enriched for epiphytes and taxa with an annual life history, and were more likely to harbour sporophytic SI systems. Mapping the global distribution of georeferenced taxa by their family DR, we find evidence of regions dominated by taxa from lineages with high vs low SR. Discussion: These results are discussed within the context of the literature describing "depauperons" and the factors contributing to low and high biodiversity in angiosperm clades. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Seed endophytic bacteria are beneficial to plants. They improve seedling growth by enhancing plant nutrient uptake, modulating stress-related phytohormone production, and targeting pests and pathogens with antibiotics. Seed endophyte composition can be influenced by pollination, plant cultivar, and soil physicochemical conditions. However, the effects of plant community richness on seed endophytes are unknown. To investigate the effects of increasing plant species richness on the diversity and composition of the seed microbiome, we made use of a well-established long-term biodiversity experiment in Germany (The Jena Experiment). We sampled seeds from different Plantago lanceolata blossoms in a plant diversity gradient ranging from monoculture to 16 species mixtures. The seeds were surface sterilized to remove seed surface-associated bacteria and subjected to a metabarcoding approach to assess bacterial community structure. Results: Our data indicate a very stable core microbiome, which accounted for more than 90% of the reads and was present in all seeds independent of the plant richness level the seeds originated from. It consisted mainly of reads linked to Pseudomonas rhizosphaerae, Sphingomonas faeni and Pirellulla spp. 9% of the obtained reads were not part of the core microbiome and were only present in plots of specific diversity levels. The number of unique ASVs was positively correlated with plant richness. Interestingly, most reads described as non-core members belonged to the same genera described as the core microbiome, indicating the presence of different strains or species with possibly different functional properties important for seed performance. Conclusion: Our data indicate that Plantago lanceolata maintains a large seeds core microbiome across the plant richness gradient. However, the number of unique ASVs increases alongside the plant community richness, indicating that ecosystem biodiversity also mitigates diversity loss in seed endophytes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spatial heterogeneity of biodiversity is linked to environmental gradients across landscapes. In forest vegetation, trees essentially affect the forest understorey flora, not only by forming the microecological conditions but also by their competitiveness. Here, we investigate the changes in taxonomic diversity along the altitudinal gradient in forests dominated by the strongly competitive, European beech (Fagus sylvatica), considering different ecological drivers important for vegetation diversity. The response of plant species diversity to changing characteristics is mostly non-linear or has an increasing trend. This reflects the specific environments of the studied region of Western Carpathians (Central Europe), where a high variability of geological substrates and the occurrence of base-rich rocks at higher altitudes increase species diversity. The beech cover, the geological substrate and the orography were found to be the most significant factors determining the diversity patterns. The increasing trend towards higher altitudes is significant on carbonate bedrock regardless of any other studied factors. The geological conditions multiply the number of species almost twice on carbonates compared to the communities on silicates. The Veľká Fatra Mts and Slovenský raj Mts are the plant diversity hotspots of beech forests in the Western Carpathians. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pollinator sharing often leads to receipt of heterospecific pollen (HP) along with conspecific pollen. As a result, flowering plants can accumulate diverse communities of HP on stigmas. While variation in HP diversity is an important selective force contributing to flowering plant fitness, evolution and community assembly, our understanding of the extent and drivers of heterogeneity of HP diversity is limited.In this study, we examined the species compositions and abundances of ~1000 HP communities across 59 co‐flowering plant species in three serpentine seep communities in California, USA. We evaluated the variation in HP diversity (γ diversity) across plant species in each seep and asked whether the variation in HP γ diversity was caused by variation in HP diversity within stigmas (α diversity) or HP compositional variation among stigmas (β diversity) due to the replacement of HP species (turnover) or their loss (nestedness) from one stigma to another. We further evaluated the potential drivers of variation in HP α and β diversity using phylogenetic structural equation models.We found that variation in HP γ diversity across plant species was driven strongly by differences among species in HP α diversity and to a lesser extent by HP β diversity. HP community turnover contributed more to HP β diversity than nestedness consistently across plant species and seeps, suggesting a general pattern of HP compositional heterogeneity from stigma to stigma. The phylogenetic structural equation models further revealed that floral traits (e.g., stigma area, stigma‐anther distance, stigma exposure) and floral abundance were key in determining HP α diversity by influencing HP abundance (load size), while floral traits and abundance showed variable impact on HP β diversity (turnover and nestedness). Pollination generalism contributed relatively less to HP‐α and β diversity.These findings disentangle the heterogeneity in HP diversity at different levels, which is essential for understanding the process underlying patterns of HP receipt in plant communities. That floral traits drive the heterogeneity in HP diversity points to additional avenues by which HP receipt may contribute to plant evolution. Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Free‐living N2 fixation (FNF) is an important source of bioavailable nitrogen for forests. Though increasing plant species diversity (PSD) benefits soil nitrogen accumulation, how it impacts FNF rate has not been explored.Forty‐five plots covering a PSD gradient were selected in a subtropical karst forest, southwest China. FNF rates in leaf litter and soil were measured using acetylene reduction assay calibrated with a 15N2 fixation method. Diazotrophic community, litter and soil properties were determined as well.The nifH gene abundance was not significantly altered in litter but was significantly decreased in soil by higher PSD. Diazotrophic community's Shannon diversity was significantly increased by higher PSD in both litter and soil. Increasing PSD inhibited litter FNF rate via aggravating phosphorus limitation and decreasing the relative abundance of Betaproteobacteria and Deltaproteobacteria. For the mineral soil horizon, increasing PSD suppressed FNF rate via decreasing nifH gene abundance caused by elevated N availability and lowered phosphorus and iron availability or through decreasing the relative abundance of Deltaproteobacteria but increasing that of Betaproteobacteria.Our findings, for the first time, reveal the microbial and abiotic controls on FNF in litter and soil in response to PSD, and hence benefit the prediction of nitrogen input via biological N2 fixation under changes in PSD. Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soil mulches and conditioners have been shown to improve soil moisture conservation, infiltration, and seed germination and survival, but their interactive effects with sporadic rainfall and the existing vegetation have rarely been considered. In an experimental field study, we assessed the effects of soil additives (sawdust and hydrogel) and mulches (river sand and plant debris) on seedling emergence and survival of Astragalus nigricans Barneby, in the rangelands of Mashhad, northeast Iran. We also assessed any effects on soil moisture and temperature several days after rain in July 2017 and May 2018 and weed composition, density, and diversity. The most successful treatment was hydrogel, associated with earlier seedling emergence for A. nigricans, greater seedling survival, and biomass production. Sawdust and sand treatments were useful for root proliferation and seedling emergence in the spring of the first season, but they led to high seedling mortality under drought. Debris of Artemisia khorasanica shoots was the most efficient and consistent treatment for soil moisture conservation and temperature stability in both years, but its possible allelopathic effects led to high seedling mortality and a long delay (41 days) on seedling emergence. Plant debris also negatively affected the density, richness, and diversity of nontarget plant species. Despite differences among different rainfall events, mulch treatments have an important role in regenerating degraded rangelands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the importance of quantifying chemical diversity in hybrid plants to understand the ecological consequences of hybridization. Hybridization can result in changes to the chemical profiles of plants, leading to the production of novel metabolites. These changes in chemical composition can have both positive and negative effects on plant performance and interactions with herbivores. By studying chemical diversity in hybrids, researchers can gain insights into the adaptive roles of hybridization in plants. The article also highlights the use of metabolomics and bioinformatics tools to quantify and compare chemical diversity among different plant species. [Extracted from the article]

The article provides an overview of the Global Strategy for Plant Conservation (GSPC) and its development since 2002. The GSPC was created to address the conservation of threatened plant species and their habitats on a global scale. It has achieved significant milestones, such as the development of national plant conservation strategies and Red List assessments for all tree species. The Global Partnership for Plant Conservation (GPPC) has played a crucial role in supporting the implementation of the GSPC and raising awareness. The article also discusses the development of a post-2020 update to the GSPC, which will align with the new Global Biodiversity Framework and focus on complementary actions for plant conservation. The GSPC is expected to be adopted at CBD COP 16. [Extracted from the article]

This research delves into the intricate world of botanical nomenclature within Tamil culture, shedding light on the linguistic transparency and cultural significance embedded within plant names. Through an analysis of five diverse plant species, including vēlipparutti (Pergularia daemia), pīḷai (Aerva lanata), tumpai ceṭi (Leucas aspera), āṭātōṭai (Justicia adhatoda), and the toṭṭāṟ curuṅki (Mimosa pudica), this study explores the factors contributing to the naming of plants and the transparency of these names in the Tamil language. Each plant's name reflects not only its physical attributes but also its cultural context, highlighting the rich tapestry of traditions and observations woven into Tamil botanical terminology. The transparency of plant names in Tamil is a remarkable feature that facilitates communication and understanding among speakers. These names often provide vivid descriptions of the plants, allowing individuals to easily identify and recognize them in their natural environment. Through linguistic analysis and cultural interpretation, this research provides valuable insights into the intricate relationship between language, culture, and nature in the Tamil-speaking regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wild bees (Hymenoptera: Apoidea) play an important role as pollinators of many crops and managed populations of Osmia spp. (Megachilidae), through the installation of trap-nests, proved to be efficient in several fruit orchards. In order to optimize the trap-nest protocols, it is necessary to understand which environmental factors play a major role in the reproductive success of these bees. Here, we studied how climate, land use and vegetation affect nest occupation rate (OR, i.e. total number of colonized tunnels/total number of tunnels in the trap-nest), brood productivity (BP, i.e. total number of brood cells built in a completed nest tunnel) and parasitism rate (PR, i.e. total number of parasitized brood cells/BP) in Osmia bees nearby almond orchards in South-East Spain, a largely understudied Mediterranean area. We found that the summer solar radiation positively influenced all three parameters, while spring solar radiation positively affected OR and BP, and negatively PR. Higher abundance of pastures and forests compared with crops increased OR, though not BP, and reduced PR. Vegetation evenness and diversity of dominant plant species also positively affected OR and BP, while they were unimportant for PR. OR was not affected by climate, but BP increased with maximum temperature in the warmest month and decreased with temperature annual range. PR also increased with high temperature, as well as with precipitation. Arid conditions limited OR and BP and boosted parasitism. Overall, it seems that Osmia bees nearby almond field in this area would benefit from trap-nest installation in well solar-radiated, hot and humid sites with a diverse vegetation. Since we have also found a negative association between PR and BP in nests with at least one parasitized cell, environmental conditions which improve productivity will also likely reduce parasitism in these bees. Implications for insect conservation Optimization of trap-nesting protocols for maintaining abundant Osmia populations is crucial to an effective use of these bees as managed pollinators. In our study we suggest that trap-nests locations should be chosen also taking into account a number of local climatic and habitat factors, given their importance in affecting key traits of reproductive success in these solitary bees. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tropical deforestation and forest degradation have resulted in substantial losses of goods and services and a decline in the quality of life. Agroforestry is a viable land-use option to counteract such declines in ecosystem services, including biodiversity and supporting local livelihoods. However, it is unclear how socioecological factors mediate these roles, which hinders the implementation of initiatives to conserve biodiversity. This study aimed to investigate perennial plant species composition and diversity in relation to socioecological variables and agroforestry practices in central Ethiopia. The vegetation data were collected from 243 sample farms that belonged to 81 randomly chosen households from nine kebeles. Across all practices, 92 plant species from 75 genera and 46 families were identified. Of these, 77% were native plant species, and the remaining were exotic ones. Margalef species richness and the Shannon diversity index were both significantly higher (p < 0.05) in homegardens and middle elevations. Furthermore, species richness and the Shannon diversity index were positively and significantly related to slope, farm size, farm age, and wealth status. Parklands, lowland altitude, and younger farms had the highest Simpson's evenness, whereas wealth status, farm size, and slope had no significant association with Simpson's evenness. Overall, this study showed that agroforestry serves as a refuge for native species and helps reverse species loss in natural forests. However, native species are gradually being replaced with exotic species, compromising the integrity of agricultural landscapes. Our study also emphasizes the urgent need to consider socioecological factors when examining biodiversity and planning agricultural landscape management strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soil phosphorus (P) partitioning could contribute to species diversity and structure in plant communities, but field-scale evidence for P partitioning remains scarce. We hypothesized that the presence of P partitioning could be inferred from statistical associations between the spatial distributions of plants and chemical forms of bioavailable soil P. We investigated this in a diverse tropical tree community on Barro Colorado Island, Panama. We quantified potentially bioavailable forms of soil P by extraction in 2 mM citric acid followed by treatment with phosphatase enzymes. We then linked these P forms to the distribution of 189 tree species in a 50 ha forest dynamics plot by testing species–P associations against null models of random dispersal. We found that 20% of tree species were significantly (α = 0.05) associated with the depletion of at least one soil organic P fraction, although around half of these associations might be false rejections of the null hypothesis due to type I error. Species in the Fabaceae (legumes), which are known to express high rates of phosphatase in their roots, were most frequently associated with soil P fractions. We interpret our findings as evidence of widespread P partitioning at the community scale, affecting a relatively small proportion of tree species in this moderately fertile forest. We predict that stronger evidence of partitioning will be found at sites with lower P availability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are ancient and ecologically important symbionts that colonize plant roots. These symbionts assist in the uptake of water and nutrients, particularly phosphorus, from the soil. This important role has led to the development of AMF inoculants for use as biofertilizers in agriculture. Commercial mycorrhizal inoculants are increasingly popular to produce onion and carrot, but their specific effects on native mycorrhizal communities under field conditions are not known. Furthermore, adequate availability of nutrients in soils, specifically phosphorus, can reduce the diversity and abundance of AMF communities in the roots. The type of crop grown can also influence the composition of AMF communities colonizing the plant roots. This study aimed to investigate how AMF inoculants, soil phosphorus levels, and plant species influence the diversity of AMF communities that colonize the roots of onion and carrot plants. Field trials were conducted on high organic matter (muck) soil in the Holland Marsh, Ontario, Canada. The treatments included AMF-coated seeds (three to five propagules of Rhizophagus irregularis per seed) and non-treated onion and carrot seeds grown in soil with low (~46 ppm) and high (~78 ppm) phosphorus levels. The mycorrhizal communities colonizing the onion and carrot roots were identified by Illumina sequencing. Five genera, Diversispora, Claroideoglomus, Funneliformis, Rhizophagus, and Glomus, were identified in roots of both plant species. AMF communities colonizing carrot roots were more diverse and richer than those colonizing onion roots. Diversispora and Funneliformis had a 1.3-fold and 2.9-fold greater abundance, respectively, in onion roots compared to carrots. Claroideoglomus was 1.4-fold more abundant in carrot roots than in onions. Inoculation with R. irregularis increased the abundance and richness of Rhizophagus in AMF communities of onion roots but not in carrot roots. The soil phosphorus level had no effect on the richness and diversity of AMF in the roots of either crop. In summary, AMF inoculant and soil phosphorus levels influenced the composition of AMF communities colonizing the roots of onion and carrot plants, but the effects varied between plant species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Shrubs have expanded into grasslands globally. However, the relative importance of aboveground and underground diversity and the relative importance of underground community assembly and diversity in shaping multifunctionality and functional trade-offs over shrub expansion remains unknown. Methods: In this study, aboveground and underground multitrophic communities (abundant and rare archaea, bacteria, fungi, nematodes, and protists) and 208 aboveground and underground ecosystem properties or indicators were measured at three stages (Grass, Mosaic, Shrub) of shrub expansion on the Guizhou subtropical plateau grassland to study multifunctionality and functional trade-offs. Results: The results showed that shrub expansion significantly enhanced aboveground, underground, and entire ecosystem multifunctionality. The functional trade-off intensities of the aboveground, underground, and entire ecosystems showed significant V-shaped changes with shrub expansion. Shrub expansion improved plant species richness and changed the assembly process and species richness of soil abundant and rare subcommunities. Plant species diversity had a greater impact on multifunctionality than soil microbial diversity by more than 16%. The effect of plant species diversity on functional trade-offs was only one-fifth of the effect of soil microbial diversity. The soil microbial species richness did not affect multifunctionality, however, the assembly process of soil microbial communities did. Rather than the assembly process of soil microbial communities, the soil microbial species richness affected functional trade-offs. Discussion: Our study is the first to couple multitrophic community assemblies to multifunctionality and functional trade-offs. Our results would boost the understanding of the role of aboveground and underground diversity in multifunctionality and functional trade-offs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Salinity, a significant abiotic stressor, adversely affects global plant growth. To address this, monitoring genetic diversity within a plant species germplasm for salt tolerance traits is vital. This study investigates the responses of ten sorghum genotypes to varying salt stress levels (control, 60 mM NaCl, and 120 mM NaCl), aiming to assess genetic diversity. Using a randomized complete block design with three replications and a split-plot arrangement, salt treatments were assigned to main plots, and genotypes were placed in sub-plots. Physiological attributes, including photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance, CO2 concentration, leaf area index, chlorophyll concentrations, and antioxidant enzyme activity, were measured during the 50% flowering stage. Fresh forage yield was evaluated at the early dough stage, while dry forage yield and sodium/potassium concentrations were determined post-drying. Salinity induced 10-23% and 21-47% reductions in forage fresh yield at 60 mM and 120 mM NaCl, respectively, across sorghum genotypes. Forage dry yield also declined by 11-33% at 60 mM NaCl and 30-58% at 120 mM NaCl. Increased oxidative stress markers, proline, soluble carbohydrates, and antioxidant enzyme activity accompanied salinity. Genotypes exhibited diverse responses, with Payam showing significant chlorophyll and yield reductions at 60 mM NaCl and notable stress indicators at 120 mM NaCl. Pegah and GS4 demonstrated robust osmoregulation. In stress tolerance indices, Sepideh excelled at 60mMNaCl, while GS4 outperformed at 120mMNaCl. Pegah demonstrated high tolerance at 120 mM NaCl. Our findings highlight the importance of combating oxidative stress, managing water-related stress, and maintaining ionic homeostasis for sorghum's salt stress resilience. Key indicators like K/Na ratio, MDA, MSI, SOD, and proline effectively differentiate between tolerant and sensitive genotypes, offering valuable insights for sorghum breeding. Salt-tolerant sorghum genotypes exhibit stable photosynthesis, improved stomatal function, and membrane integrity through efficient osmotic regulation and robust antioxidant enzyme activity. This capability enables them to sustain performance, minimizing final product loss. The results suggest cultivating salt-tolerant sorghum in saline areas for increased sustainable production, with Pegah and GS4 emerging as promising candidates for further testing in salt-affected environments to obtain reliable yield data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

(1) Background: Heterotrophs can affect plant biomass and alter species diversity–productivity relationships. However, these studies were conducted in systems with a low nitrogen (N) availability, and it is unclear how heterotroph removal affects the relationship between plant species diversity and productivity in different N habitats. (2) Methods: Three typical understory herbaceous plants were selected to assemble the plant species diversity (three plant species richness levels (1, 2, and 3) and seven plant species compositions), and the control, insecticide, fungicide, and all removal treatments were performed at each plant species diversity level in systems with or without N addition treatments. (3) Results: In systems without N addition, the insecticide treatment increased the plant aboveground biomass, total biomass, and leaf area, while the fungicide treatment reduced the plant belowground biomass, root length, and root tip number; the presence of Bidens pilosa increased the plant aboveground biomass. Similarly, the presence of Bletilla striata increased the plant belowground biomass and root diameter under each heterotroph removal treatment. In systems with N addition, all removal treatments reduced the plant belowground biomass and increased the plant leaf area; the presence of B. pilosa significantly increased the plant aboveground biomass, total biomass, and root length under each heterotroph removal treatment. The presence of B. striata significantly increased the plant belowground biomass and leaf area under insecticide and fungicide treatments. (4) Conclusions: Heterotroph removal alters the plant species diversity–biomass relationship by affecting the plant functional traits in systems with different N availabilities. The impact of biodiversity at different trophic levels on ecosystem functioning should be considered under the background of global change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The diversity-productivity relationship is a central issue in maintaining the grassland ecosystem’s multifunctionality and supporting its sustainable management. Currently, the mainstream opinion on the diversity-productivity relationship recognizes that increases in species diversity promote ecosystem productivity.Methods: Here, we challenge this opinion by developing a generalized additive model-based framework to quantify the response rate of grassland productivity to plant species diversity using vegetation survey data we collected along a land-use intensity gradient in northern China.Results: Our results show that the grassland aboveground biomass responds significantly positively to the Shannon-Wiener diversity index at a rate of 46.8 g m-2 per unit increase of the Shannon-Wiener index in enclosure-managed grasslands, under the co-influence of climate and landscape factors. The aboveground biomass response rate stays positive at a magnitude of 47.1 g m-2 in forest understory grassland and 39.7 g m-2 in wetland grassland. Conversely, the response rate turns negative in heavily grazed grasslands at -55.8 g m-2, transiting via near-neutral rates of -7.0 and -7.3 g m-2 in mowing grassland and moderately grazed grassland, respectively.Discussion: These results suggest that the diversity-productivity relationship in temperate grasslands not only varies by magnitude but also switches directions under varying levels of land use intensity. This highlights the need to consider land use intensity as a more important ecological integrity indicator for future ecological conservation programs in temperate grasslands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A “grazing ban” policy has been implemented in some pastoral areas in China to fence degraded grasslands for restoration. However, fencing increased grazing pressures in unmanaged grasslands. Based on the mechanism of negative edge effect, we investigated whether overgrazing on unmanaged grassland interfered with the restoration of adjacent grazing-banned grassland by affecting soil properties and microbial community using a sample in Hulun Buir of Inner Mongolia, in order to optimize the “grazing ban” policy. Plant and soil were sampled in areas 30  m away from the fence in unmanaged grassland (UM) and in areas 30  m (adjacent to UM) and 30–60  m (not adjacent to UM) away from the fence in the grazing-banned grassland (F-30  m and F-60  m). The species richness and diversity of plant communities and the ASV number of fungal communities significantly decreased in F-30  m and UM, and the Simpson index of the bacterial community significantly decreased in F-30  m compared with F-60  m. The abundance of fungi involved in soil organic matter decomposition significantly decreased and the abundance of stress-resistant bacteria significantly increased, while the abundance of bacteria involved in litter decomposition significantly decreased in UM and F-30  m compared with F-60  m. The simplification of plant communities decreased in soil water and total organic carbon contents can explain the variations of soil microbial communities in both UM and F-30  m compared with F-60  m. The results of PLS-PM show that changes in plant community and soil microbial function guilds in UM may affect those in F-30  m by changing soil water and total organic carbon contents. These results indicate that overgrazing on unmanaged grassland interfered with the restoration of adjacent grazing-banned grassland by affecting soil properties and microbial community. The grazing-banned grasslands should be adjusted periodically in order to avoid negative edge effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article examines the diversity and population status of wild edible plants in the Kinnaur District of Himachal Pradesh, India. It found a total of 115 plant species, with 91 of these species being used for various edible purposes by the local people. The study highlights the importance of public awareness and community-based management to protect and preserve wild edible plant species in the region. The document provides a list of wild edible plant species found in the fringe forest areas of Himachal Pradesh, along with information on their uses, density, frequency, and importance value index. The research emphasizes the need for further research on the nutritional profiles and processing methods of these plants and calls for their inclusion in future forestry and rural plantation programs. Additionally, the articles explore the utilization of wild edible plants by indigenous communities in various districts of Himachal Pradesh, highlighting their importance in providing nutritional support and offering insights into traditional knowledge and practices. [Extracted from the article]

Pollen is a vector for diversification, fitness-selection, and transmission of plant genetic material. The extent to which the pollen microbiome may contribute to host diversification is largely unknown, because pollen microbiome diversity within a plant species has not been reported, and studies have been limited to conventional short-read 16S rRNA gene sequencing (e.g., V4-MiSeq) which suffers from poor taxonomic resolution. Here we report the pollen microbiomes of 16 primitive and traditional accessions of maize (corn) selected by indigenous peoples across the Americas, along with the modern U.S. inbred B73. The maize pollen microbiome has not previously been reported. The pollen microbiomes were identified using full-length (FL) 16S rRNA gene PacBio SMRT sequencing compared to V4-MiSeq. The Pan-American maize pollen microbiome encompasses 765 taxa spanning 39 genera and 46 species, including known plant growth promoters, insect-obligates, plant pathogens, nitrogen-fixers and biocontrol agents. Eleven genera and 13 species composed the core microbiome. Of 765 taxa, 63% belonged to only four genera: 28% were Pantoea, 15% were Lactococcus, 11% were Pseudomonas, and 10% were Erwinia. Interestingly, of the 215 Pantoea taxa, 180 belonged to a single species, P. ananatis. Surprisingly, the diversity within P. ananatis ranged nearly 10-fold amongst the maize accessions analyzed (those with ≥3 replicates), despite being grown in a common field. The highest diversity within P. ananatis occurred in accessions that originated near the center of diversity of domesticated maize, with reduced diversity associated with the north–south migration of maize. This sub-species diversity was revealed by FL-PacBio but missed by V4-MiSeq. V4-MiSeq also mis-identified some dominant genera captured by FL-PacBio. The study, though limited to a single season and common field, provides initial evidence that pollen microbiomes reflect evolutionary and migratory relationships of their host plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ecosystem management aims at providing many ecosystem services simultaneously. Such ecosystem service multifunctionality can be limited by tradeoffs and increased by synergies among the underlying ecosystem functions (EF), which need to be understood to develop targeted management. Previous studies found differences in the correlation between EFs. We hypothesised that correlations between EFs are variable even under the controlled conditions of a field experiment and that seasonal and annual variation, plant species richness, and plot identity (identity effects of plots, such as the presence and proportion of functional groups) are drivers of these correlations. We used data on 31 EFs related to plants, consumers, and physical soil properties that were measured over 5 to 19 years, up to three times per year, in a temperate grassland experiment with 80 different plots, constituting six sown plant species richness levels (1, 2, 4, 8, 16, 60 species). We found that correlations between pairs of EFs were variable, and correlations between two particular EFs could range from weak to strong or negative to positive correlations among the repeated measurements. To determine the drivers of pairwise EF correlations, the covariance between EFs was partitioned into contributions from species richness, plot identity, and time (including years and seasons). We found that most of the covariance for synergies was explained by species richness (26.5%), whereas for tradeoffs, most covariance was explained by plot identity (29.5%). Additionally, some EF pairs were more affected by differences among years and seasons, showing a higher temporal variation. Therefore, correlations between two EFs from single measurements are insufficient to draw conclusions on tradeoffs and synergies. Consequently, pairs of EFs need to be measured repeatedly under different conditions to describe their relationships with more certainty and be able to derive recommendations for the management of grasslands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The effects of invasive plants on species diversity and ecosystem stability differ owing to the different stages of invasion. Xanthium spinosum is an invasive weed that is widely distributed in Europe, Asia, and North America. Its adaptability and competitive advantage over native species have led to agricultural loss and biodiversity reduction, yet its impact on local plant communities under different degrees of invasion has not been reported. Therefore, in this study, we aimed to investigate the effects of different degrees of invasion by X. spinosum on the diversity, stability, and invasibility of local plant communities in Yining County, Xinjiang, China. We believe that our study makes a significant contribution to the literature because we found that as the degree of X. spinosum invasion increased, species diversity and community stability decreased, while community invasibility increased. Notably, a light degree of invasion was found to enhance the diversity and stability of local plant communities. Based on our findings, we recommend that X. spinosum be controlled and eradicated in the early stages of invasion to prevent further invasion and harm to indigenous species. Studying the effects of different degrees of exotic plant invasion on native plants' community structure and plant diversity is essential for evaluating the harm caused to ecosystems by plant invasion. In this study, we investigated the effects of Xanthium spinosum, a widespread invasive species, on plant community species diversity and community stability in the Ili River Valley area of Xinjiang, China, under three invasion levels (no invasion and low, moderate, and heavy invasion), and the competitive advantage index, invasion intensity, and contribution of plant community species diversity to community stability and invasibility were determined for the prickly fungus under different degrees of invasion. The results show that there were significant differences (p < 0.05) in the species diversity and community stability of plant communities caused by different degrees of invasion of X. spinosum. The species diversity and stability of plant communities were negatively correlated with the community invasibility, competitive advantage, and invasion intensity of X. spinosum (p < 0.05); therefore, the competitive advantage and invasion intensity of X. spinosum increase with the increase of its invasion degree. On the contrary, community species diversity and stability decreased with the increase of its invasion degree, ultimately leading to differences in community invasibility under different invasion degrees. The Shannon–Wiener and Simpson's indices were the greatest contributors to community stability and invasibility, respectively. Moderate and heavy levels of invasion by X. spinosum reduced the diversity and stability of local plant communities, increased the invasibility of communities, and substantially affected the structures of plant communities. Therefore, the continued invasion by X. spinosum will have an immeasurable impact on the fragile ecosystems and diversity of indigenous species in Xinjiang. We recommend that this invasive species be controlled and eradicated at the early stages of invasion to prevent further harm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: This study investigated the characteristics and species diversity of semi-natural plant communities on Langqi Island, a coastal island in Fujian Province, China. Additionally, we explored the environmental factors that influenced species diversity and community distribution. The results revealed that the semi-natural plant communities on Langqi Island had rich plant species diversity, with variations in diversity among different plant formations. The soil total potassium and nitrogen contents significantly affect the species diversity of the semi-natural plant communities, whereas the soil pH, soil total nitrogen content, organic matter content, available potassium content, and elevation significantly affect the community distribution. This study can provide important reference information for the construction of semi-natural or artificial plant communities on islands. (1) Background: Islands are relatively independent and fragile ecosystems with unique habitats. Studying the relatively stable semi-natural plant communities on islands can enrich island vegetation data and provide an understanding of the factors affecting species diversity and distribution. (2) Methods: The semi-natural plant communities on Langqi Island (LI) in Fujian Province were sampled, and the redundancy method was used to analyze the correlation between species diversity, community distribution, and environmental factors. (3) Results: (i) There were 432 species of vascular plants, with 306 genera and 110 families; (ii) the semi-natural plant communities consisted of three vegetation types, 10 formations, and 10 clusters; (iii) the species diversity indices of the semi-natural plant communities presented a trend of gradually decreasing along the shrub, tree, and herb layers. Different formations varied in terms of the species diversity index; and (iv) the soil total potassium and nitrogen contents significantly affected the species diversity of the LI semi-natural plant communities, whereas the pH, soil TN content, organic matter content, AK content, and altitude significantly affected the community distribution. (4) Conclusions: Selecting appropriate tree species for mixed forests based on plant characteristics and regional conditions, together with regulating the soil nutrient content, can improve the species diversity of semi-natural plant communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article "Reflecting on two and a half decades of restoration ecology in Applied Vegetation Science (1998–2023)" discusses the evolution of restoration ecology since the inception of the journal in 1998. The initial focus of the journal was on reintroducing plant species to degraded sites and understanding large-scale processes linked to restoration. Over time, there has been a shift towards a more comprehensive examination of restoration success and the resilience of restored sites. The articles published in 2023 highlight the importance of functional traits and the challenges of returning all species in restoration projects. The field of restoration ecology continues to grapple with defining success and balancing plant diversity with complex ecosystems. [Extracted from the article]

This article discusses the importance of reproducibility in vegetation research and the role of data and code sharing in achieving this. The International Association for Vegetation Science (IAVS) has implemented a mandatory "Data Availability Statement" in the Journal of Vegetation Science (JVS) and Applied Vegetation Science (AVS) to improve transparency and reproducibility. The article examines the availability and accessibility of data and code in these journals over the past 10 years and finds a significant increase in data availability since 2019, while code availability has increased more slowly. The authors suggest that more information and training on data and code sharing practices could further improve reproducibility. They also acknowledge the need to consider issues of governance, protection of local community knowledge, and equity in data use. The text discusses two articles that were considered as award candidates for the Journal of Vegetation Science. The first article by Léo Delalandre and his co-authors examines the response of different plant groups to management intensification in Mediterranean rangelands. They found that annuals and perennials responded differently to the management gradient, highlighting the importance of considering different plant groups in studies of trait-environment relationships. The second article by Nicola Alessi and colleagues addresses the effects of probabilistic versus preferential sampling on analytical results in vegetation science. They compared two data sets of forest vegetation plots and found that probabilistic sampling was better for estimating species richness and diversity, while preferential sampling was better for detecting forest-specialist [Extracted from the article]

Question: Patchiness of herbaceous species is a common feature of degraded alpine grasslands on the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau; however, the impact of this phenomenon on vegetation, soil seed bank (SSB), and soil carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) is largely unknown. We asked how different herbaceous patches affect above‐ground vegetation, the SSB and soil organic C (SOC) and total N (TN) contents in alpine meadows. Location: An alpine meadow on the Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau, China. Methods: We used field and greenhouse experiments to evaluate above‐ground vegetation parameters, the SSB composition, and SOC and TN contents of four commonly distributed herbaceous patches (Leymus secalinus, Kobresia humilis, Leontopodium nanum and Pedicularis kansuensis) and non‐patch vegetation (control). Results: There were significant differences in the species composition of above‐ground vegetation, with the plant species richness, Shannon–Wiener index, Simpson index, and Pielou evenness index reduced in the four patches compared to the control. In addition, patches had increased above‐ground biomass (AGB) and a lower below‐ground biomass to above‐ground biomass ratio (BGB:AGB); while the species diversity indices did not change considerably among the patches. The species composition of the SSB in the four patches differed from that in the control and the seed density increased markedly, but the species richness and diversity of the SSB remained unaltered. Moreover, the contents of SOC, total C, TN, microbial biomass C, and microbial biomass N in the four patches were markedly lower than in the control. Conclusions: These findings suggest that patchiness of herbaceous species can alter the flora composition of alpine meadows and reduce plant species diversity, as well as the SOC and TN contents, which will adversely impact grassland biodiversity conservation and soil C sequestration, and then may intensify the degradation of alpine meadows on the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: Latitudinal gradients in plant communities are well studied, yet how these fundamental ecological patterns influence ecosystem recovery after extreme weather events remains largely unknown. In coastal foredunes, we investigated how the cover of a key dune‐building grass (Uniola paniculata), vegetation diversity and vegetation cover vary along a short latitudinal gradient during recovery from hurricane disturbance. Location: Southeastern USA. Methods: We surveyed 24 sites, from central Florida to north Georgia (>400 km), four times over 18 months. General linear mixed‐effect models were used to unravel patterns of vegetation responses across latitude. Results: Vegetation properties showed countervailing patterns across the latitudinal gradient. While vegetation richness, functional diversity and total cover generally declined, Uniola cover increased with increasing latitude. Further, the latitude–richness relationship strengthened while the latitude–functional diversity relationship was invariant with increasing time since the hurricane disturbance. Meanwhile, the latitude–Uniola association was seasonally dependent and strongest in the summer. Latitude also influenced diversity–cover relationships: vegetation cover was positively related to species richness at lower latitudes, while it was positively associated with functional diversity only at northern sites. We found no relationship between species richness or functional diversity and increases in cover between time steps; however, recruitment of new species and functional groups was associated with increases in vegetation cover between time steps at northern sites. Conclusions: Our study highlights the temporal dynamism and contrasting patterns along latitudinal gradients exhibited by key engineering species and overall plant diversity in foredunes — a crucial line of coastal protection — exposed to hurricane disturbances. These results suggest a need for greater integration of latitudinal and diversity effects into our understanding of coastal dune resilience. They also highlight the potential benefits of enhancing dune plant biodiversity, particularly in areas where the dune‐building grasses that are classically employed in restoration (e.g., Uniola) are unfavoured, to accelerate the re‐establishment of well‐vegetated dunes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The biodiversity park in the Cirata Reservoir Main Transformer (MTR) area is a part of Mount Cantayan, is located in Purwakarta Regency. The elevation of area is 140 to 280 meters above sea level with total area 11.2 hectares. The research aims to identify plant species and their diversity and provide recommendations for species enrichment in biodiversity parks. The data collection method used purposive sampling. Vegetation analysis is carried out using Nested Sampling. Vegetation data analysis includes the Important Value Index (IVI) and species diversity index (H’). The research results found 23 families consisting of 59 species including seedlings, saplings, poles and trees. Diversity index of Shanon-Wiener (H’) in for seedlings, saplings, poles and trees was 2.72; 3.34; 3.40 and 4.04. This diversity index is included in the high category. In the plant growth phase at seedling level, the highest IVI was for the kidahu (Dracontomelon dao) species at 82.95%. At the highest IVI sapling level, robusta coffee (Caffea canaephora) was 58.6%. At the pole level, the highest IVI was for mahogany (Swietenia mahogany) 300%, and at tree level, the highest IVI was obtained for mahogany (Swietenia mahogany) 174.7%. The recommendation species for enrichment planting in biodiversity park are 26 species. The species combination of Pingku (Dysoxylum densiflorum) (Blume) Miq., Tangkele (Kleinhovia hospita), Kosambi (Scleichera oleosa), Loa (Ficus variegata) and Nangsi (Villebrunea rubescens) has the potential to become the dominating plant species in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Desertification reversal is globally significant for the sustainable development of land resources. However, the mechanisms of desertification reversal at the level of plant community are still unclear. We hypothesized that desertification reversal has clear effects on plant community composition, plant functional types (PFTs), and other vegetation characteristics, including plant diversity and biomass, and their changes in the early stages of reversal are more dramatic than in later stages. We investigated the vegetation of four to five different stages of desertification reversal at each of seven large study sites in southwestern Mu Us Sandy Land, China. The results show that the dominant species in very severe desertification areas were replaced by perennial grasses in potential desertification areas. The importance values of annual forbs and perennial sub-shrubs decreased dramatically (from 42.59 and 32.98 to 22.13 and 5.54, respectively), whereas those of perennial grasses and perennial forbs increased prominently (from 13.26 and 2.71 to 53.94 and 11.79, respectively) with the reversal of desertification. Desertification reversal increased the complexity of plant community composition by increasing plant species in each PFT, and C3 plants replaced C4 plants to become the dominant PFT with reversal. Plant species richness and species diversity rose overall, and aboveground plant biomass significantly (p < 0.05) increased with the reversal of desertification. Most vegetation characteristics changed more strikingly in the early stages of desertification reversal than in later stages. Our results indicate that the type and composition of the plant community were dramatically affected by desertification reversal. Anthropogenic measures are more applicable to being employed in early stages than in later stages, and Amaranthaceae C4 plants are suggested to be planted in mobile dunes for the acceleration of desertification reversal. This study is useful for designing strategies of land management and ecological restoration in arid and semiarid regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mutualism is thought to be more prevalent in the tropics than temperate zones and may therefore play an important role in generating and maintaining high species richness found at lower latitudes. However, results on the impact of mutualism on latitudinal diversity gradients are mixed, and few empirical studies sample both temperate and tropical regions. We investigated whether a latitudinal diversity gradient exists in the symbiotic microbial community associated with the legume Chamaecrista nictitans. We sampled bacteria DNA from nodules and the surrounding soil of plant roots across a latitudinal gradient (38.64–8.68 °N). Using 16S rRNA sequence data, we identified many non‐rhizobial species within C. nictitans nodules that cannot form nodules or fix nitrogen. Species richness increased towards lower latitudes in the non‐rhizobial portion of the nodule community but not in the rhizobial community. The microbe community in the soil did not effectively predict the non‐rhizobia community inside nodules, indicating that host selection is important for structuring non‐rhizobia communities in nodules. We next factorially manipulated the presence of three non‐rhizobia strains in greenhouse experiments and found that co‐inoculations of non‐rhizobia strains with rhizobia had a marginal effect on nodule number and no effect on plant growth. Our results suggest that these non‐rhizobia bacteria are likely commensals—species that benefit from associating with a host but are neutral for host fitness. Overall, our study suggests that temperate C. nictitans plants are more selective in their associations with the non‐rhizobia community, potentially due to differences in soil nitrogen across latitude. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biodiversity typically increases multiple ecosystem functions simultaneously (multifunctionality) but variation in the strength and direction of biodiversity effects between studies suggests context dependency. To determine how different factors modulate the diversity effect on multifunctionality, we established a large grassland experiment manipulating plant species richness, resource addition, functional composition (exploitative vs. conservative species), functional diversity and enemy abundance. We measured ten above‐ and belowground functions and calculated ecosystem multifunctionality. Species richness and functional diversity both increased multifunctionality, but their effects were context dependent. Richness increased multifunctionality when communities were assembled with fast‐growing species. This was because slow species were more redundant in their functional effects, whereas different fast species promoted different functions. Functional diversity also increased multifunctionality but this effect was dampened by nitrogen enrichment and enemy presence. Our study suggests that a shift towards fast‐growing communities will not only alter ecosystem functioning but also the strength of biodiversity‐functioning relationships. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Home gardens (HGs) are thriving traditional food systems safeguarding a rich agrobiodiversity. They supply basic needs as well as ceremonial and religious benefits to households (HHs). However, documentation of HGs in Ethiopia is inadequate and patchy. This ethnobotanical study was carried out in Digelu Tijo District Oromia National Regional State, Ethiopia to identify and document plant species diversity in HGs and the associated indigenous ecological knowledge of the local people. Four kebeles were selected based on their worthy traditional HG practice and detailed indigenous knowledge of the community. From these sites, 130 respondents (HG owners) were selected based on their good HG practice and management. Data were collected using semi-structured interviews, guided garden tours, group discussions, and market surveys. Data were analyzed by preference ranking, direct matrix ranking, descriptive and inferential statistics, Sørensen's similarity index, Shannon-Wiener diversity index, and Pearson correlation coefficients. HG areas range from 0.04 ha to 0.25 ha with a mean of 0.12 ha. A total of 72 useful plant species were documented. Fabaceae was the most frequently observed family containing ten species, followed by Solanaceae. The plant species comprised, 33% trees, 23% shrubs, 42% herbs, and 3% climbers. Eight social use categories were identified: edible plants (26%), medicinal plants (24%), forage plants (11%), plants for construction (10%), for income generation (9%), ornamentals (8%), spices (7%) and for shading (5%). The Shannon-Wiener indices of plant diversity (H') ranged between sites from 2.53 to 3.33. Ecological values of the HGs in the study area include maintenance of soil fertility, habitat provision to many organisms, enhancement of water quality, prevention of soil erosion, carbon sequestration, and improving soil moisture by providing shade. HGs are important for food security and restoring ecosystem services, particularly in ruined regions. The HGs are highly diversified with different plant species providing multiple uses and several ecological goods and services, but their potential is beyond this. They are threatened by various factors like lack of water, lack of access to quality seed/seedlings, disease and pests, poor access to markets, and insufficient technical support by agricultural experts. Therefore, for enhanced and integrated conservation of these rich resources and to ensure food security, joint efforts by all concerned stakeholders are required. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The relationship between biodiversity and ecosystem multifunctionality (EMF) is critical to understanding the dynamics of ecosystem services. Several studies have investigated alterations in multiple ecosystem functions under grassland degradation and its relationship with taxonomic diversity. However, how multidimensional biodiversity (taxonomic, functional, and phylogenetic diversity) and abiotic factors mediate EMF in degraded alpine meadows has yet to be well been explored. In this study, alpine meadows with different degrees of degradation were investigated in Maqu County, Gansu Province, China. The average and multi‐threshold methods were used to quantify EMF, while structural equation modeling (SEM) was used for statistical analysis. The results show that: (1) Degradation of alpine meadows has altered the species composition and diversity of plant communities. (2) Taxonomic, functional, and phylogenetic diversity were all significantly and positively correlated with EMF, and species richness, functional richness and Faith's PD effectively drive EMF within thresholds of 22%–75%, 20%–86% and 42%–72%, with maximum effects of 0.29, 0.33 and 0.12, respectively. (3) Degradation of alpine meadows directly and significantly reduced EMF, and mediated indirectly through plant diversity and soil abiotic factors. The multifunctionality index for different degrees of degradation showed non‐degraded (60.89) > light degraded (37.84) > moderate degraded (−14.17) > heavy degraded (−48.55). The results of this study reveal the relative importance of multidimensional plant diversity in predicting EMF of degraded alpine meadows, and potential mechanisms by which plant diversity and abiotic factors mediate the effects of alpine meadow degradation on EMF. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The landscape of Harla-Ija Aneni Valley and Mountain Complex are inhabited by rich floristic diversity with endemism. However, the recurrent drought and over-exploitation of plant resources, coupled with increasing human population in the area, has been severely affecting the vegetation of these complex semi-arid ecosystems, which require research-based intervention. Objective: The objective of this study was to analyse the floristic composition, vegetation structure and diversity of Harla-Ija Aneni valley and mountain complex landscapes to support the on-going dry land restoration efforts undertaken in the study area. Material and Methods: A total of 58 quadrats each measuring 20 m x 20 m for trees, 5 m x 5 m for shrubs and woody climbers, and 1m x 1m for herbs and grasses were used to collect floristic data such as height and diameter at breast height (DBH) of woody species and type and number of plant species. Shannon-Weiner Diversity Index, richness, and evenness were used to analyse the vegetation data. Results: A total of 121 plant species belonging to 91 genera, and 48 families were identified, of which 10 species (8.3%) were endemic. Poaceae and Fabaceae were represented by higher number of species (11 species = 9.09%) each. Species richness, Shannon-Wiener Diversity Index (H'), and evenness values for the entire study area were 121, 3.12 and 0.38, respectively. Average basal area of woody species in the study area was 2.10 m2 ha-1, higher density at lower diameter class. The diameter and height class distribution of the woody species exhibited inverted J-shaped distributions, which indicate a continuous and good regeneration status. The three community types were: Acacia tortilis-Rhus natalensis, Ficus vasta-Acacia brevispica and Psychotria orophila-Canthium pseudosetiflorum. Conclusions and Implications: It is concluded that the study area harbours many native endemic plant species and taxonomic diversity. The results indicate that this unique landscape possesses ecologically and economically important plant species, which could be used as a provenance to establish semi-arid natural vegetation genetic resource centers in eastern Ethiopia. Therefore, the floristic diversity should be conserved to enhance ecosystem services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]