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The results of the annual excursion of the Working Group for Vegetation Science of the Italian Botanical Society, held in the Egadi Islands, Mount San Giuliano and Mount Cofano (W Sicily) on April 23--27 2022, are presented. This paper includes: (1) general information on the visited sites; (2) geology and geomorphology; (3) climatology and bioclimatology with tables of climatic data; (4) description of the following five geobotanical itineraries -- accompanied by 29 original vegetation relevés and 11 synthetic relevés, proceeding from different bibliographic references: (a) Mount San Giuliano; (b) Marettimo Island: coastal and subcoastal stretch of the southern part, between Punta Bassana and Contrada Chiappera; (c) Marettimo Island: Case Romane, Mount Pizzo Falcone and the north-western coastal stretch; (d) Island of Levanzo; (e) Mount Cofano -- with catenal pictograms of the vegetation, surveys and description of the plant communities and related syntaxonomic scheme; (5) list of the surveyed plant taxa, collected specimens and herbaria in which they are deposited. A new syntaxon is also described (Catapodio pauciflori-Moraeetum sisyrinchii ass. nova), referring to an ephemeral dry grassland located along the north-western coastal stretch of Marettimo. The new association is framed in the Plantagini-Catapodion balearici, alliance of the Stipo-Bupleuretalia semicompositi order of the class Stipo-Trachynietea distachyae (order Stipo-Bupleuretalia semicompositi, alliance Plantagini-Catapodion balearici). An original synoptic table, regarding 17 different plant communities with high frequency of Moraea sisyrinchium, provides a comparative framework of the new association with allied vegetation units so far described throughout the Mediterranean region. Syntaxonomical and nomenclatural remarks regarding the Mediterranean vegetation occurring in this territory are also given throughout the text. Some floristic updates for the study sites are also reported, including the discovery for the first time in Sicily of Lysimachia loeflingii. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conservation of biodiversity has now become one of the most important issues in the world. Among them, the conservation of medicinal plants requires special protection. Today, medicinal plants are widely used in scientific medicine. Its main purpose is to prepare medicinal preparations on the basis of medicinal plants. Huge territories of Kazakhstan are provided with rich natural diversity. Our country has unique plants, adapted to life in the desert. In addition, the flora is rich in forest and steppe species. In recent years, the country's environmental problems have become more complex. The issue of conservation of medicinal plants is a pressing environmental concern. The pharmaceutical industry in Kazakhstan is still in need of development. Therefore, the development of the pharmaceutical industry has become an urgent issue in the country. Intensive integrated use (highland pastures, hayfields, developed cattle breeding, as well as use as a recreation area) of mountain and foothill territories, has caused significant anthropogenic changes in flora and vegetation in recent years. The relevance of the study, is the study of the medicinal plant Capparis heerbacea Willd. which grows mainly in the deserts, semi-deserts and steppes of Central Asia and Kazakhstan. This species is well adapted to different abiotic conditions and was therefore selected for the present study. The research work was carried out in 2020-2022. Classical botanical methods were used in the work. These include: route surveys, ecological systematics, ecological geography, methods of studying cenopopopulations. As a result of research work communities are characterized by the following data: Populations which are in Turkestan region and grow in disturbed areas, gradually increase the number of their individuals and thereby restore the local flora or form the conditions for the formation of new communities and populations of other species. And in the Kyrgyz Alatau population, the ecological condition is stable, which is shown by the mosaic distribution of the study species. The study showed that C. herbacea can be one of the main dominant species for a particular area or locality and an edificator for some ephemeral or ephemeroid species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Municipality of Lezha is located in the western part of the territory of Albania and has a wide geographical extent to the shores of the Adriatic Sea. Most of the territory is characterized by a flat plain relief, mainly in the western and central part, while in the eastern part the relief is generally hilly and mountainous. In the tectonic framework, the Lezha plain is located on the structural foundation of the Ionian, Krasta and Mirdita tectonic zones. The relief for the most part is distinguished for a consistency on the structures on which it is formed, where the 2 hilly ranges with parallel extension to each other, of Rrenc and Kakarriq, are formed on the structures of the horses and at the same time of the anticlines, and the hilly ridges in Mëlqi, Manati, Kallmet and Zejmen as well as the mountain ridge of Vela. In the central part, the territory is distinguished for tectonic faults which are reflected by active seismic movements, where as a consequence during the historical evolution, the city of Lezha has undergone radical transformations, while the decreasing tectonic movements experienced by the graben structure of Lezha, have caused relief and relief. consequently the waters of the Adriatic Sea have advanced towards the continental part, damaging many of the ecosystems of the coastal lagoons. The lithological structure consists of flysch rocks, triassic and jurassic limestones, volcanic and magmatic limestones, as well as cretac limestones in the northwest. The western and southern sectors near the shores of the Adriatic Sea are distinguished for a variety of special ecosystems with geomorphological, geological, geobotanical, tourist and economic values. The western part is bordered by the waters of the Adriatic Sea, where consequently the low plain coasts are formed near the delta of the Drin River of Lezha and the Mat River, which with the large solid river inflow have created favorable conditions for the accumulation of quaternary deposits. and for the formation of the alluvial field of Lezha. The territory is distinguished for typical Mediterranean climates, accompanied by high rainfall values, as well as a large number of hours of sunshine, offering opportunities for the development of seaside tourism and the growth of subtropical agricultural crops. In economic development, during the period before the 1990s, the main branches of industry were the wood and paper industry, construction materials bricks, tiles, etc. and the food industry (fish processing). One of the urban centers and the main seaport in the north of Albania is Shëngjin, which is presented as one of the most important centers of coastal tourism, where massive beaches stretch along the entire coastline. Coastal lagoons are a growing tourist and recreational attraction, but human capacity and infrastructure at the service of visitors is lacking in tools and equipment, signs, information boards, guides, trails, watchtowers, camping, etc.). Although in recent years there has been an increase in the number of visitors, the challenge remains their extension outside the peak of the summer tourist season, as well as their distribution in other parts of the managed nature reserves. The next largest influx of people will inevitably increase the risk of fires, which can destroy essential bird habitats. One of the main objectives of this paper should be to accurately determine the dynamics of the coastline in the medium and long term, requires the assessment of coastal fragments that are involved in the abrasion and deposition processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigated the landscapes and vegetation cover of the Ubur-Dzokoi hollow of the Selenga middle mountains. It was found that according to the physical-geographical zoning, the study area is a hummocky terrain of dry steppe landscape. The geosystems of the hollow include steppe and forest-steppe communities. Barchan relief formation is due to human activities and the dynamics of the wind regime. An analysis of key morphometric parameters of hollow relief is carried out based on the SRTM digital elevation model. As a result of the automated classification of Landsat TM multispectral images with a further identification of landscape types, multitemporal (for the years 1990, 2000 and 2010) landscape maps are created. These maps are validated by field landscape and geo-botanical investigations. The algorithm of the ISODATA unsupervised classification method was used, which allows the outlines with non-contrast structure of spectral brightness to be identified. The maps show clear changes in vegetation cover, indicating a decrease in the forest area, a gradual replacement of sedge-forb steppe communities with free-standing trees as well as an increase of sand deposits on unused arable and fallow lands. The spatial structure of vegetation on aeolian landforms was studied. It was concluded that their main component is psammophyte vegetation. We have made 25 geobotanical descriptions. The floristic composition of the coenocomplex includes 52 species of higher vascular plants. The ecological structure of the florocoenocomplex was identified on the basis of analyzing groups of plants in relation to the factor of soil moisture content. The method of ordination was used to determine the ecological differentiation of vegetation. To identify the spatial and structural organization of vegetation used geobotanical profiles and geobotanical descriptions of the sites, and satellite imagery. A large-scale (1:10 000) vegetation map for aeolian landforms was compiled. A correlation of the species in environmental groups showed a predominance of xerophytes (48%). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To investigate the ecosystems on dunes, five typical dunes were selected in the coastal area of the Baltic Sea in southwest Estonia. To study ground vegetation species richness, species composition and horizontal structure, 251 quadrats of 1 m2 in size were established and descriptions of vascular plants, bryophytes and lichen species were provided. Topographical factors, soil horizons, soil pH and electrical conductivity, soil nutrients, soil moisture conditions and light conditions were determined. In total, 42 vascular plant, 43 bryophyte and 48 lichen species were recorded on five dunes. Vascular plant species richness and composition on forested dunes was dependent on the absolute dune height, zone and aspect of the slope, soil nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus content, soil pH and moisture, the cover of the bryophyte-lichen layer and light conditions. Regarding bryophyte and lichen layer species composition, important factors were the aspect of the dune, vascular plant species cover, light conditions, the thickness of the moderately decomposed organic soil horizon, soil pH, electrical conductivity and volumetric water content. Lichen species richness was highest on the slopes of the dunes, while bryophyte species richness was higher at the bottoms and decreased towards the tops of the dunes. Ground vegetation species richness and species' horizontal and vertical structure on forested dunes were highly dependent on topography-induced differences, aspect, height and zone of the dunes. The most important factors controlling the complex of ground vegetation were light conditions, soil water content, thickness of the moderately decomposed litter layer and soil potassium and calcium content. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the studies is to reveal phytocoenotic diversity and peculiarities of spatial-temporal organization of phytocoenoses with vegetation types contact and of extrazonal coenoses within zonal taiga in different Pre-Baikalian regions. The objects of studies are phytocoenoses of zonal vegetation types contact as well as of coenoses formed under extrazonal conditions. The subject of studies is to reveal phytocoenotic (and structural-dynamic) peculiarities of environments contact phytocoenoses and to determine the vector of their development on the background of modern climate dynamics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study aim was to define the landscape determinants as certificates of natural and cultural heritage which identify the young glacial landscape under traditional agricultural management. These studies were conducted in the upper Parsęta basin (Pomerania, Poland) covered by the many annual environmental monitoring programs since 1994. The aim of this monitoring is to observe changes in geoecosystems of the temperate climate zone. The parameters of the abiotic landscape subsystem have been monitored in a wide range of terms, whereas biotic elements and cultural resources only in a very limited way. This was the reason for undertaking complementary studies. The paper presents the so-called "zero-state" for 2014, which will be a reference point from which to track the direction of landscape changes in the future. The abiotic, geobotanical, and cultural determinants of this state chosen have been characterized on the basis of field mapping data and the available literature. They were chosen based on the methodology of landscape audit to define the specificity of the traditional agricultural landscape. They were selected on the basis of assessment criteria for landscape structure: complexity (diversification of land use and cover), naturalness (syngenesis of plant communities, hydrochemical properties of surface waters), coherence of composition with natural conditions, stewardship (intensity of use, crop weeds, ecological succession, fallows, anthropogenic denudation), aesthetic and visual perception, historicity (continuity of natural landscape elements, continuation of traditional agricultural use, architectural objects), and disharmonious elements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Altai-Sayan mountain region (ASMR) is the Western part of the South Siberian mountain belt and is characterized by diverse climatic conditions. As a result, the forest-steppe belt forms areas of different size at various altitudes. This work presents the analysis of over 4000 relevés and over 100 geobotanical transects characterizing all forest-steppe landscapes of the ASMR. The biodiversity of basic vegetation communities comprises 5 classes, 6 orders, 9 alliances, and 43 associations. Areas with similar spectra of vegetation communities were unified into 8 forest-steppe landscapes. Two generalized types of ASMR forest steppes were proposed: Altai-Sayan and North-Mongolian. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An analysis is made of the geobotanical forecasting technique. Mapping is known to be recognized as the most powerful method of forecasting-geobotanical investigations. A close interrelation between geobotanical forecasting and vegetation mapping is demonstrated. To improve objectivity of the findings used cartographic models of modern and predicted vegetation which most fully represent the entire structuralcenotic diversity of plant communities in Prebaikalia, the central region of Baikalian Siberia. The predictive constructions are based on analyzing modern vegetation which always includes structural features of its future that manifest themselves in primary and stable derivative communities. We developed the legend and compiled the map (sc 1:200 000) of the region's modern vegetation. The state of the natural environment of the Lena- Angara interfluve is assessed having regard to the various functions of plant communities in geosystems. The 1:200 000 map of probability-forecasted (within 200 years) vegetation is presented for Lena-Angara interfluve. It is shown that complete recovery of the primary structure will not occur within 200 years. It is found that it is necessary to carry out predictive-cartographic investigations for the whole of Baikalian Siberia as vegetation of this region is characterized by a decreased activity of recovery processes occurring under the influence of anthropogenic factors. The reason has to do with the harsh natural conditions where it is not worthwhile to pursue extensive nature management, such as is universally the case to date, leading to undesirable economic consequences, because the degree of disturbance to vegetation in a number of areas of Prebaikalia has now reached as critical level. It is concluded that a further policy of nature management on this territory must be built upon the new principles to be approved by government documents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research was carried out in Kyiv Polissya geobotanical province, in one of most common woods type -- fresh and wet sudubravas. Its purpose is to determine ornithocenosis structure in diff erent age groups of this type of forest. To achieve that, forest bird species lists were composed, their population density and that of ecological groups of birds were calculated. In the course of the research in the breeding periods of 2013-2014, two-time surveys were carried out on 12 survey routes of total length 33 km. For further analysis, forests were divided into age groups: 0-20 years, 20-40 years, 40-60 years, 60-80 years, 80- 100 years and forests over 100 years. Altogether 53 bird species were found. Species lists were poorest in the forests of 0-20 years (18 species), and richest in the forests over 100 years (39 species). Minimal population density was 473 individuals per square kilometer in the youngest forest age group of 0-20 years, maximal -- 2155 individuals per square kilometer in pine forests aged over 100 years. Analysis of diff erent population densities of ecological groups reveals steadily growing numbers of hollow-nesting birds and tree-nesting birds in accordance with aging of the forests. In older forests hollow-nesting birds constitute an absolute majority. Population density of another ecological group shows no such direct tendency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Earlier published data on the long-term geobotanic monitoring in permanent pilot plots have been used to analyze changes in trophic conditions and estimate nitrogen nutrition availability to pine forests of the Serebryanyi Bor Forestry located in the Moscow oblast. The assessments of habitats based on the ecological scales of soil richness with nitrogen, which were developed by D.N. Tsyganov and G. Ellenberg, and analysis of the dynamics of stenobiont species have revealed the properties of changes in the species composition and conditions of nitrogen availability to forests for the period from 1957-1961 to 2003. The results indicate increased nitrogen availability to forests in the studied period for all permanent plots, but reflect different intensities of the trend of eutrophication in different monitoring stages. A more intense growth in soil richness with nitrogen in all permanent plots was in the period since 1957-1961 to 1989-1990. In the next years, the level of nitrogen availability to phytocenoses almost did not change. The improvement in the trophic conditions was accompanied by the growth in total species richness and increase in the number of stenobionts with high requirements to nitrogen nutrition. The results from analyzing the dynamics of stenobionts confirm the division of the period under consideration into two stages. From 1957-1961 to 1989-1990, changes in the species composition of plant communities in the pine forests under consideration were similar but differed in intensity. From 1989-1990 to 2003 (against the background of total deceleration of the eutrophication trend), the similarity of species dynamics in the communities was disturbed. The impact of air pollution by NOx on nitrogen nutrition availability to forests was examined with consideration for the fact that the studied area is within the capital agglomeration. The dynamics of the intensity of air nitrogen deposition is in good agreement with the revealed changes in the species composition of phytocenoses and nitrogen soil richness. It gives reasons to suppose that the trend of forest eutrophication in the 1960s-1980s was strengthened by the impact of increased levels of atmospheric nitrogen deposition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A bioclimatic model for higher units of forest vegetation in the mountains of southern Central Siberia has been developed based on ordination of 560 complete geobotanical releves and correlation analysis between the main-axis values and climatic parameters. The ecogeographic series of communities arranged along the main axes throw light on specific features of the determinative influence of the vertical zonality of climate and its cyclonic (oceanic)-continental regime on the spatial structure of forest vegetation in different geographic sectors of the mountain system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The complex studies of hydromorphism features in taiga weakly differentiated soils using morphological (color), chemical (iron content in different extracts, indicators of reducing conditions (IRIS)), and geobotanic (using the Ramenskii scale) methods have led to ambiguous conclusions. In all the soils, surface gleying was manifested. According to the results obtained by different methods, the maximum reduction processes were related to either the sublitter or the next deeper horizon. The Schwertmann coefficient, the criterion of Bodegom, and the Ramenskii scale indicated an increase of hydromorphism in the soils studied in the following sequence: the lower part of the ridge slopes drained by the small gullies < the middle part of the slopes < the flat tops of the ridges < the depression between the ridges. The morphological diagnostics of gleying proved to be a less sensitive method, which can recognize only the most contrasting hydromorphic soils. The lower horizons in some taiga soils have a bluish gray color probably not related to the recent soil hydromorphism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main goal of the SIT-REM project is the design and the development of an interoperable web-GIS environment for the information retrieval and data editing/updating of the geobotanical and wildlife map of Marche Region. The vegetation, plant landscape and faunistic analysis allow the realization of a regional information system for wildlife-geobotanical data. A main characteristic of the SIT-REM is its flexibility and interoperability, in particular, its ability to be easily updated with the insertion of new types of environmental, faunal or socio-economic data and to generate analyses at any geographical (from regional to local) or quantitative level of detail. Different query levels obtain the latter: spatial queries, hybrid query builder and WMSs usable by means of a GIS. SIT-REM has been available online for more than a year and its use over this period has produced extensive data about users' experiences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The geobotanical mapping of territory in the upper reaches of the Bureya River was carried out. Zonality, general diversity, and territorial ratio of vegetation classes, as well as location on relief (landscape) and dynamic vegetation series, are represented on the map of actual vegetation cover. Mapping as a research method, as a rule, leads to a higher level of understanding of basic peculiarities of an object. The map as a result of research reflects clearly basic peculiarities of an object in accordance with the map scale or demonstrably shows the shortcomings of the conducted study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper there is a new method to asses tourist impact on vegetation cover presented and tested in four locations, which have a different tourist traffic magnitude. Research area is Kasprowy Wierch surroundings in Tatra Mountains. It is a specific place in Tatra Mts., because it can be reached either by cable car or five tourist trails, being the most visited summit in the Polish Carpathians. Each year, there are about 500 thousand people reaching Kasprowy Wierch with a cable car and thousands of walking people. High tourist impact causes many vegetation injuries. Methods used in this research is based on average daily and monthly magnitude of tourist traffic and geobotanical method, which based on a plant species registration and its' surface coverage estimation using Daubenmeir scale. The results attest that some species are resistant to the pressure and other not. In this regard, the species composition and species percentage can be suitable indicator to measure vegetation changes due to the tourist impact. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studies on the structural-dynamic organization and spatiotemporal variation of plant communities at the forest-extrazonal steppe junction and in the zonal forest-steppe have made it possible to reveal some specific features of vegetation formation in certain parts of the Baikal region. It has been shown that processes of paragenesis in the formation of plant communities are characteristic of southwestern Baikal region, while forest expansion to steppe areas is characteristic of the zonal forest-steppe of southwestern Transbaikalia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper describes the locality of Carex disperma reaffirmed after a century; the locality is situated in the present territory of the Viešvilė State Strict Nature Reserve. Plants were found in an old swampy spruce forest, which, according to the geobotanical description, corresponds to the Sphagno girgensohnii-Piceetum Polak. 1962 association. The stand is rich in indicator species of an old-growth forest. Twelve Carex disperma individuals, growing in the area of 3 m², were recorded in 2009. One more locality has recently been found in Utena region, but it has not been published in scientific references yet. Information on other localities of this species in Lithuania is either very old (mid-19th century) or not confirmed by the herbarium specimens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Differentiation of the vertebrate communities almost coincides with the differentiation of ecosystems in vegetation at the type level, as judged by formalized classifications of various blocks of ecosystems of West Siberia by geobotanical map units, and it differs significantly from that in the underground component due to the greater effect of waterlogging on the latter. In invertebrate communities, significant differences are observed in the boreal-subboreal part, where waterlogging is more significant and greater similarity is found among middle and southern-taiga communities than among subtaiga-steppe ones. Over the groups of map units, the heterogeneity of the vertebrate communities differs from that in all the examined blocks of ecosystems in greater differentiation in the tundra zone. In the pretundra northern taiga subzones and from the middle taiga to the steppe zone, the heterogeneity of vertebrate communities is somewhat lower than that of vegetation, and especially in the underground block of ecosystems. However, these differences relate only to the hierarchy of the division, and often occur at the level of taxa of the rank of subtype or class. All these data indicate the relative independence of changes in the distinguished blocks of ecosystems, which gives rise to noncoincidence of the boundaries and sizes of taxa within them, as well as the continuality of the ecosystems as a whole. A significant difference is observed between the traditional geobotanical and typological-chorological zones of terrestrial vertebrate communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The boreal macrobioclimate in North America spreads throughout a vast territory framed in the north by the polar (arctic) area and in the south by the temperate macrobioclimate. Biogeography, bioclimates (thermotypes and ombrotypes), and continentality make possible a high diversity of boreal vegetation, which in their mature dynamical stages is always represented by a conifer forest vegetation structured by trees. The climactical forests of the recognized vegetation series belong to a two well-differentiated phytosociological classes: Linnaeo americanae-Piceetea marianae and Tsugetea mertensiano-heterophyllae. We present in this special publication a synthesis on boreal macrobioclimate in North America and the checklist of the boreal vegetation series recognized throughout the North American territories including their full geobotanical diagnosis and their syntaxonomical scheme. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Vegetation Science is a scientific discipline devoted to the study of vegetation at all levels of complexity spanning populations, plant communities and biomes. It attempts to explain vegetation patterns and the processes governing vegetation assembly and dynamics in all temporal and spatial scales. Vegetation analysis serves to record anthropo-zoogenic effects and portrays similarly structured vegetation formations with characteristic vegetation complexes and plant communities. These plant communities consist of recognisable and reproducible associations of plant types which are subject to natural laws under the same ecological conditions. Wherever one finds similar habitat conditions in comparable bioregions or floristic zones on the planet, similar communities exist and can be typified. Such determinative plant community-habitat-type systems possess high bioindicator value for different biotic and abiotic habitat conditions. The floristic compositions and structure of plant communities and biotope-types can be categorised, and such vegetation units can be abstracted as elementary types, marked by their characteristic species combination under certain habitat-dependent conditions. Phytosociology provides the scientific background and method to address these questions. It was established by Josias Braun-Blanquet (Braun-Blanquet J. 1918. Eine pflanzengeographische Exkursion durch Unterengadin und in den schweizerischen Nationalpark. Beitr Geobot Landesaufnahme 4: 1–80.) and promoted for example in Germany by Reinhold Tüxen (Tüxen R. 1937. Die Pflanzengesellschaften Nord-Westdeutschlands. Mitt. Flor. Soz. Arbeitsgemein. Nieders. 3, Hannover, 170 p.). The Flora-Fauna-Habitat-Guideline (FFH-Natura 2000), enacted on 21 May 1992 established homogenous criteria for endangered biotypes throughout Europe, founded on a modern phytosociological basis. Phytosociological terminology also forms the basis of biotype-differentiation in the UNESCO Convention on Biodiversity (COP9). Vegetation science is a socially and politically critical discipline, serving to benefit and progress human society and sustainable usage of its natural resources. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Abstract: Belgium has a long tradition of so-called ‘biogeographical’ classifications that are actually based on environmental (mainly geological, hydrological and climatic) variables. Ironically, no serious attempts have been made to examine their correspondence to distribution patterns of major species assemblages. We here analysed the distribution of vascular plant species in northern Belgium. The distribution data were derived from a grid based mapping scheme during the period 1972–2008 of all vascular plant species in 6495 grid units of 1km2. We first used the K-means clustering method to group grid squares on the basis of similarity in plant species composition. Subsequently, we regrouped the resulting clusters into a smaller number of geographically coherent distribution groups. This yielded classification of the grid units into nine major phytogeographic square groups that are spatially well separated. The distribution of these groups is largely determined by soil type, as evidenced by analyses of Ellenberg indicator values and by the correspondence with soil types distribution. Three of the phytogeographic square groups coincide with geobotanical districts and/or ecoregions that were formerly defined using environmental factors. However, a large number of other ‘biogeographic’ entities appear ill-supported by our analyses and two of our phytogeographic groups are not recognized within the existing ‘biogeographic’ classifications. Our results provide a well-founded botanical basis for the delimitation of phytogeographical regions in Flanders that is based on the actual distribution patterns of a large number of plant species, rather than of a pre-defined small selection of indicative species or environmental factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Practical and financial constraints associated with traditional field-based lithological mapping are often responsible for the generation of maps with insufficient detail and inaccurately located contacts. In arid areas with well exposed rocks and soils, high-resolution multi- and hyperspectral imagery is a valuable mapping aid as lithological units can be readily discriminated and mapped by automatically matching image pixel spectra to a set of reference spectra. However, the use of spectral imagery in all but the most barren terrain is problematic because just small amounts of vegetation cover can obscure or mask the spectra of underlying geological substrates. The use of ancillary information may help to improve lithological discrimination, especially where geobotanical relationships are absent or where distinct lithologies exhibit inherent spectral similarity. This study assesses the efficacy of airborne multispectral imagery for detailed lithological mapping in a vegetated section of the Troodos ophiolite (Cyprus), and investigates whether the mapping performance can be enhanced through the integration of LiDAR-derived topographic data. In each case, a number of algorithms involving different combinations of input variables and classification routine were employed to maximise the mapping performance. Despite the potential problems posed by vegetation cover, geobotanical associations aided the generation of a lithological map – with a satisfactory overall accuracy of 65.5% and Kappa of 0.54 – using only spectral information. Moreover, owing to the correlation between topography and lithology in the study area, the integration of LiDAR-derived topographic variables led to significant improvements of up to 22.5% in the overall mapping accuracy compared to spectral-only approaches. The improvements were found to be considerably greater for algorithms involving classification with an artificial neural network (the Kohonen Self-Organizing Map) than the parametric Maximum Likelihood Classifier. The results of this study demonstrate the enhanced capability of data integration for detailed lithological mapping in areas where spectral discrimination is complicated by the presence of vegetation or inherent spectral similarities. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

This commentary article discusses the relative merits of new mathematical approaches to lichenometry. It highlights their strong reliance on complex statistics; their user unfriendliness; and their occasional mistreatment of existing lichenometric techniques. The article proposes that the success of lichenometric dating over the past 50 years has stemmed from its relative simplicity, transparency, and general field applicability. It concludes that any new techniques which ignore these principles are likely to be unjustified, unsuitable to the user community and inappropriate for the subject matter. Furthermore, the article raises a more general philosophical question: can statistical complexity and high precision in a ‘geobotanical’ dating technique, fraught with high degrees of environmental variability and inbuilt uncertainty, ever be scientifically valid? [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Elsholtzia splendens Naki has been identified as a copper (Cu) geobotanical indicator. In this study, the effects of Cu supply levels (control, 100, 200, 400, 600, 800, 1000, 1200 mg kg1) on the growth and Cu accumulation in E. splendens were studied in one pot experiment. The results showed that no reduction in shoot height and dry weight was noted when the plants were grown at Cu supply levels up to 1000 mg kg-1 in soil. Slight stimulation on shoot growth was noted at Cu levels ≥ 100 mg kg-1. Copper concentration in shoots and roots increased with increasing Cu levels, and reached a maximum of 1751 and 9.45 mg kg-1 (DW) at 1200 mg Cu kg-1. The amount of Cu accumulated in the roots and shoots were 313 and 22 μ g plant-1 at external Cu levels of 1000 and 800 mg kg-1, respectively. The shoot/root Cu ratios ranged from 0.005 to 0.008 and more than 92% of the total Cu taken up by E. splendens was accumulated in roots. Furthermore, Cu concentrations in roots and shoots were significant and positively correlated with total soil Cu, water, ammonium nitrate (NH4NO3), ammonium (NH4)-acetate, and ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) extractable Cu. These results indicate that E. splendens can considered as a Cu tolerant and accumulated plant, and root is the major part for accumulation of Cu in E. splendens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Botanical products have been widely used for various illnesses and general well-being. However, quality control of botanical products is often not performed due to lack of standardization, resulting in inconsistent efficacies and sometimes serious toxicity. The goals of this study were to determine the correlation between chemical composition and biological activities and to establish a method to measure authenticity, chemical consistency, and biological potency of botanical products. A high-performance liquid chromatography method was used to analyze the authenticity and chemical composition of 10 different commercial extracts. The cell viability assay and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) enzyme immunoassay were used to analyze biological potency and consistency. Our results showed all extracts contained marker components (baicalein and/or baicalin), confirming their authenticity. However, significant product-to-product and hatch-to-batch variation of these marker components was observed with 4 products containing no baicalin at all and baicalein concentration ranging from 0 to 52.3 μg/mg. The 50% growth inhibition concentration of the extracts ranged from 0.18 to 2.0 mg/ml, more than an 11-fold variation. PGE2 levels varied from 19.5 to 111.1 pg/106 cells, more than a 5.7-fold difference. These results demonstrated significant variation in chemical composition and biological activities of the commercial extracts and that the amount of marker components may not reflect biological activity levels. Therefore, chemical analysis alone is inadequate for quality control, and biological assays must be included for botanical products to ensure chemical authenticity as well as pharmacological/ biological potency and consistency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article provides a review of studies concerning the floristics, vegetation description and ecology of the ultramafic (serpentine) soils of Tuscany, central Italy. After a concise history of geobotanical research on Tuscan ultramafic outcrops since the end of sixteenth century, the features of the flora are summarized. The most significant vegetation types are concisely described and their ecology discussed in the following section. The role of soil nickel toxicity in limiting vegetation development is reconsidered and appears less important than are drought and nutrient stress. Drought stress also has a special role during exceptionally dry summers, which can occasionally occur and significantly reduce vegetation structure by causing the local extinction of many late-successional species. Nutrient-addition experiments and permanent plot monitoring provided additional evidence supporting the drought and nutrient stress hypothesis. The last section of this article discusses the main threats to the conservation of the unique plant diversity of Tuscan ultramafic, environments, the most significant of which are quarrying and pine plantations. Pine plantations, mostly established for soil amelioration and erosion control, determine not only the increase in vegetation cover and diversity but also a trend for serpentine endemic and rare species to disappear. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study analyses chromium concentration in plants growing around an area of chromite mineralisation, and proposes that the availability of chromium in plants could have adverse health effects when ingested by domestic animals and ultimately by the human population. This geoepidemiological attribute of geobotany has been observed in the form of chromium eczema in humans. The study was undertaken in the Sekerr Sub-location West Pokot District, which is located in the humid tropical region of the Republic of Kenya. As well as having natural vegetation cover, there are no sources of airborne pollutants in the area, which would vitiate trace element analysis in geobotanical research. The assay results show that the species Satureja abyssinica, Protea kilimandischarica, Ficus sycomorus, and Maerua subcordata have high chromium concentrations. These plants are generally browsed by domestic animals and are in turn eaten by humans. It is, therefore, proposed that a detailed analysis of chromium concentration in blood samples of both domestic animals and the human population be undertaken in order to assess its concentration levels in the population living in this geochemical environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Orbital remote sensing data were assessed for mapping of the main geomorphological and vegetation units of the Bragança peninsula (North Brazil), which belongs to a vast though sparsely mapped mangrove coast. Wide wetland environments characterize the region with extreme variations in extension, temporal evolution, and spatial complexity. This work was based on different digital processing techniques separately applied to Landsat TM and RADARSAT-1 images. In addition, both data were merged on a pixel-to-pixel basis using algorithms, which rendered an enhancement of the coastal landforms and a better discrimination of wetlands and landform types. The interpretation of the integrated product, aided by field validation, made it possible to significantly extend existing mapping. Nineteen geobotanical units were identified: estuarine channels, submerged sand banks, sandflats, old estuarine sandbanks, mudflats, ebb-tidal deltas, barrier-beach ridges, coastal dunes, chenier sand ridges, young intertidal mangroves, intertidal and supratidal mangroves, outer and inner marshes, fluvial flood plains, coastal plateau, degraded and regenerated mangroves, and an artificial lagoon. The digital integration of Fine RADARSAT-1 and Landsat TM data sensitively highlighted geobotanical coastal features, providing a useful tool for a synoptic analysis of their natural and man-driven changes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Examines the anthropogenic and ecological factors that affects a farmer-managed reforestation project in Bohol, Philippines. Use of pre-forestation land; Subsequent maintenance of fire/grazing regimes; Assessment of factors leading to widely varying productivity of Gmelina arborea and Swietenia mahogany.

Examines the interest of pharmaceutical and agri-business companies in genes from natural products located largely in Third World nations. Distribution of the world's biological resources; Interactions between drug companies and developing countries; Bioprospecting today compared with ten years ago; Commercial case for biodiversity conservation; Future bioprospecting; Work of the United States National Cancer Institute (NCI); More.

Presents a factor analysis of geochemical and biogeochemical data to establish the relationship between biogeochemistry, geochemistry and geobotany at Coppermine Island, New Zealand. Botanical methods of exploration for minerals; Concentrations of a number of elements in plants and soils.

The article focuses on the study conducted regarding the floristic relations between New Zealand and it neighbouring islands. A simple biographic model have been developed to help determine the geobotanical distance of both areas. Although the biographic model takes a little account on the dynamics of the plant population, it still indicates that the floristic variations are due to the relative positions and sizes of the islands. This study has been conducted to trace the development of the vegetation.

Reports on the steps taken by members of the U.S. Center for International Environmental Law and coalitions representing indigenous peoples of Amazon basin to discourage bioprospecting in that region of South America. Petition filled by organizations regarding the reexamination of patent covering the Ayahuasca plant.

Examines the conflicts between the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity, 1992, and the Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPs) agreement, 1995. Details of each; Number of articles relating to bioprospecting; Need for signatory states to include each in national law and the reluctance of some countries to do so.

Examines issues relating to bioprospecting in Africa. Opposition to bioprospecting based on colonial experiences; Legislation proposed by the Organization of African Unity (OAU) which would penalize bioprospecting done without a government's permission; Origins of legislation; Views of African states on patents; Details about specific nations.

Reports that Brazilian scientists are concerned that a new law could be an obstacle to future research programs, especially in the Amazon region. Law intended to protect the theft of genetic resources by foreigners; Legislation proposed by Brazilian president Fernando Henrique Cardoso; Nationalistic law from left-wing parties; Background on biodiversity bill; New intellectual property law; Other threats to Brazilian research; Value of the Amazon.

Describes the work and popularity of the International Cooperative Biodiversity Group (ICBG). Sponsorship of the ICBG; Purpose and nature of ICBG projects; Benefits for countries hosting ICBG projects; Number of projects to date; Use of local laboratories; Investment of royalties from successful projects into host countries; Role of private sector; ICBG in Africa; Criticisms of plan.

Describes efforts of Indian scientists to protect their native germplasm from exploitation by other countries. Breeding of a toxin-free variety of Lathyrus sativus; Work at the Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI); Conservation of agro-biodiversity through a national gene bank; Regulation of germplasm by legislation.

Describes steps being taken to ensure that source countries are compensated for products derived from specimens gathered by botanical gardens. Most botanical gardens and seed banks not covered by biodiversity treaties; Nature of ad hoc agreements between gardens and drug companies; Example of the New York Botanical Garden (NYBG); Difficulties determining the source country of a plant.