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The Matsu Islands Tern Refuge comprises eight reefs located at a relay station on the East Asian bird migration route, and it attracts many transiting, wintering, or breeding birds to inhabit and live on the reefs every year. In order to understand the compositions of plant communities as a breeding habitat for seabirds, we investigated the plant communities of the eight reefs. A total of 130 plots of 10 × 10 square meters were established, from which we found 107 species of plants in 102 genera and 51 families. Among this, we found one critically endangered (CR) species, four vulnerable (VU) species, and three near-threatened (NT) species. The result of two-way indicator species analysis (TWINSPAN) and indicator value (IndVal) showed 130 samples were divided into 11 vegetation types; most of the vegetation types had significant indicator species. We also use the two-way to present the plot of detrended correspondence analysis (DCA) by vegetation types and reefs. Moreover, this result reveals that these samples were more clearly cluster divided by islands. Our results reveal that the compositions and characteristics of plant communities were related clearly to the environmental factors for each reef in the Matsu Islands Tern Refuge. Canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) indicated that species composition of vegetation yielded high correlation with soil property, especially with soil pH. In addition, we found that the traces of bird activity is relevant to the characteristics and structures of plant communities. We found that the plant communities comprising low-grass shrubs would provide relatively soft nesting materials and sheltering effects for eggs or hatchlings for terns. Compared to low-grass shrubs, the traits of high-grass shrubs would not be beneficial to nest for breeding of terns on the ground, and no nested trace was found in these plant communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract The carbon stock, biomass, and CO2 emissions in woody species play crucial roles in understanding and managing ecosystems. Understanding these aspects is crucial for sustainable forest management, conservation, and mitigating the impact of woody species on global carbon dynamics and climate change. This study examined the nexus between carbon stock, biomass, and CO2 emission of woody plant composition in disturbed and undisturbed areas in Southwestern Nigeria. The study involved the random establishment of plots in the disturbed and undisturbed areas and, in each plot, the woody plants were enumerated and identified to the species level. The results showed that total biomass (102.645 Mg ha-1), total carbon stock (51.323 Mg C ha-1), and total CO2 emission (188.354 Mg C ha-1) values of tree species in undisturbed plots were higher than the values of total biomass (70.768 Mg ha-1), total carbon stock (35.384 Mg C ha-1), and total CO2 emission (129.859 Mg C ha-1) recorded in disturbed plots. The results also revealed that total biomass (0.123 Mg ha-1), total carbon stock (0.061 Mg C ha-1), and total CO2 emission (0.225 Mg C ha-1 ) values of shrub species recorded in disturbed plots were higher than values of total biomass (0.067 Mg ha-1), total carbon stock (0.034 Mg C ha-1) and total CO2 content (0.124 Mg C ha-1) recorded in undisturbed plots, respectively. The findings showed that in undisturbed and disturbed plots of shrubs, biomass, carbon and CO2 emissions have a strong positive correlation of 1.000**. While biomass, carbon, and CO2 emission have a very strong positive correlation (0.999**) in undisturbed plots of trees, the biomass, carbon, and CO2 emission have moderate to strong positive correlations (0.458** to 0.974**) in disturbed plots of the tree. The study concluded that while biomass, carbon stock, and CO2 emission values of tree species were higher in undisturbed plots than in disturbed plots, the biomass, carbon stock, and CO2 emission values of shrub species were lower in undisturbed plots than in disturbed plots. It also concluded that the main purpose of establishing reserve forests is not totally achieved as human activities occurring in reserve forests still contribute to the increment of climate change.

The carbon stock, biomass, and CO2 emissions in woody species play crucial roles in understanding and managing ecosystems. Understanding these aspects is crucial for sustainable forest management, conservation, and mitigating the impact of woody species on global carbon dynamics and climate change. This study examined the nexus between carbon stock, biomass, and CO2 emission of woody plant composition in disturbed and undisturbed areas in Southwestern Nigeria. The study involved the random establishment of plots in the disturbed and undisturbed areas and, in each plot, the woody plants were enumerated and identified to the species level. The results showed that total biomass (102.645 Mg ha-1), total carbon stock (51.323 Mg C ha-1), and total CO2 emission (188.354 Mg C ha-1) values of tree species in undisturbed plots were higher than the values of total biomass (70.768 Mg ha-1), total carbon stock (35.384 Mg C ha-1), and total CO2 emission (129.859 Mg C ha-1) recorded in disturbed plots. The results also revealed that total biomass (0.123 Mg ha-1), total carbon stock (0.061 Mg C ha-1), and total CO2 emission (0.225 Mg C ha-1) values of shrub species recorded in disturbed plots were higher than values of total biomass (0.067 Mg ha-1), total carbon stock (0.034 Mg C ha-1) and total CO2 content (0.124 Mg C ha-1) recorded in undisturbed plots, respectively. The findings showed that in undisturbed and disturbed plots of shrubs, biomass, carbon and CO2 emissions have a strong positive correlation of 1.000**. While biomass, carbon, and CO2 emission have a very strong positive correlation (0.999**) in undisturbed plots of trees, the biomass, carbon, and CO2 emission have moderate to strong positive correlations (0.458** to 0.974**) in disturbed plots of the tree. The study concluded that while biomass, carbon stock, and CO2 emission values of tree species were higher in undisturbed plots than in disturbed plots, the biomass, carbon stock, and CO2 emission values of shrub species were lower in undisturbed plots than in disturbed plots. It also concluded that the main purpose of establishing reserve forests is not totally achieved as human activities occurring in reserve forests still contribute to the increment of climate change. Highlights: • Undisturbed areas had higher tree carbon and CO2 levels, emphasizing their role in carbon sequestration. • Disturbed plots showed higher shrub biomass, suggesting unexpected ecological responses to disturbances. • Despite efforts, reserve forests face challenges, as human activities contribute to climate change impacts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prescribed burning is a management tool commonly used in forested ecosystems in the southeastern United States, but the influence of this method on grassland vegetation and wildlife in this geographic region is unknown. During 2009–2015, we conducted a study to determine if the application of prescribed burning and/or long-term biosolid applications alter plant communities and/or wildlife use of grassland areas at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, Havelock, NC. We monitored vegetation growth, measured plant community composition, and documented wildlife activity in four study plots for 3 years after the implementation of annual winter prescribed burns. Prescribed burning reduced the amount of litter, increased bare ground during spring, and altered the plant community composition relative to areas that were not burned. Overall, prescribed burning did not alter (F1,803 = 0.37, p = 0.54) bird use of the airfield grasslands, while the long-term application of biosolids resulted in higher (F1,803 = 17.61, p < 0.01) bird use. Few species-specific differences in avian use of prescribed burned and unburned grasslands were found. In contrast, white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) use of areas that were burned in winter, as well as the adjacent unburned areas, was drastically reduced. Winter prescribed burning appeared to remove forage plants at the time of year deer would use them the most. Our findings suggest that prescribed burning and biosolid applications, used alone and in combination, might be viable grassland management tools for altering wildlife use of grassland areas, specifically white-tailed deer; however, similar research at additional locations should be conducted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Habitat degradation and heavy grazing by livestock are common conservation challenges across the steppes of Mongolia and Central Asia. Livestock grazing patterns are generally not uniform and are typically greater near campsites and watering holes. In this study, we examined how plant composition in a mountain steppe in southern Mongolia varied along a gradient of increasing distance from wells. We found that the cover and average height of Ephedra prezewalskii increased with increasing distance from the wells whereas soil chemistry and the other variables of plant composition that we examined were similar along the gradient of increasing distance from the wells. These results suggest relatively limited impact of livestock grazing on plant composition in our study. However, our study was limited in space and time and further studies are needed to understand the impact of livestock grazing in this mountain steppe in southern Mongolia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The flora within Protected Areas (PAs) plays a crucial role in providing essential resources for wildlife, including forage, shelter, breeding sites, and water. However, the current understanding of the floristic composition of Mikumi National Park (MINAPA) is limited, hindering the implementation of effective conservation and management strategies. This study aimed to update the plant species records for MINAPA based on the Angiosperm Phylogeny Group (APG) IV classification by analyzing the data from unpublished surveys conducted between the 1960s and 1990s, as well as a more recent survey in 2021. A total of 951 species records were compiled, representing 504 genera and 124 families. Among these, 35 species were listed in the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) red list with 15 (1.6%) classified as Vulnerable (VU), 7 (0.7%) as Near Threatened (NT), 10 (1.0%) as Endangered (EN), and 3 (0.3%) as Critically Endangered (CR). Additionally, 16 species were found to be endemic to Tanzania. The data from the 1960s-1990s surveys revealed 778 species distributed across 421 genera and 106 families with 12 (1.5%) listed in the IUCN red list. Notably, 173 species (18.2%) were newly recorded in 2021 and distributed across 148 genera and 58 families. Among these newly recorded species, 21 (2.2%) were listed in the IUCN red list and 13 were found to be endemic to Tanzania. This study significantly enhanced our understanding of the flora of MINAPA and emphasized the importance of conducting regular surveys to update the status of floral resources in PAs, particularly where reports are based on outdated taxonomic nomenclature. These findings will contribute to the advancement of scientific research and management techniques, particularly in the context of ongoing changes in climatic conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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

The olive fruit fly (Bactrocera oleae) (Rossi) is the most economically important insect pest in many olive cultivation areas worldwide. However, levels of infestation by this pest show remarkable variability, even among orchards in close proximity to one another. While the factors driving this variability remain uncertain, there is evidence that the presence of native plants species can influence pest populations in agro‐ecosystems via various mechanisms, suggesting that variation in the composition of understorey plant communities might plausibly play a role. In this study, we first used field trapping and plant community surveys to explore the effect of the native understorey plants Cistus creticus (Cistaceae), Lavandula stoechas (Lamiaceae), Origanum onites (Lamiaceae) and Sarcopoterium spinosum (Rosaceae) on the abundance of B. oleae across 40 olive orchards on Lesvos Island (Greece). These four plant species are widely spread in many olive orchards. Our results revealed a relationship between the plant community and the intensity of flies captured in McPhail traps, and identified the plant species C. creticus and S. spinosum whose presence was negatively correlated with fly abundance (estimate = −0.047, −0.091, respectively). The subsequent laboratory behavioural experiments revealed that exposure to olfactory cues from C. creticus and S. spinosum reduced fly attraction to odours from the olive host (Olea europaea) by 10%. These results thus reveal a relationship between the infestation levels by B. oleae and the composition of the plant community in olive orchards on Lesvos and suggest a plausible mechanism via which olfactory cues from native aromatic species might influence fly recruitment. More generally, these findings highlight the potentially important role of understorey communities in mediating resistance to B. oleae and other agricultural pests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Grasslands play an essential role in maintaining the health of planet Earth, but many grasslands have lost their ecosystem services due to unsustainable management practices, such as overgrazing. Little is known about how grazing activity interacts with plant biotypes, impacting grassland ecosystem services. Here, we (1) assessed the relative performance of five plant biotypes in response to grazing activities and (2) determined the effectiveness of grazing exclusion in enhancing soil physiochemical properties in grasslands. The synthesis of 39,214 observations on plant‐, soil‐, and anthropogeny‐related factors from 88 published studies revealed that grazing exclusion increased aboveground plant biomass accumulation by 100.4% (±4.2 SE), belowground biomass by 70.2% (±25.7), total soil C content by 21.4% (±1.7), and soil organic carbon (SOC) concentration by 14.3% (±0.8), on average, as compared to moderate‐to‐heavy (MtH) grazing. Plant biotypes responded to grazing activities differently; alpine meadows increased total soil C content by 107.2%, alpine steppes increased SOC by 52.2%, but desert steppes decreased total C content by 21.8% under the grazing exclusion. All plant biotypes reduced soil bulk density by 6.4%–19.4% under grazing exclusion. Soil microbial community diversity responded to grazing activities inconsistently, ranging from an 18% decrease to a 26% increase in soil microbial diversity compared to MtH grazing. We conclude that selecting appropriate plant biotypes alongside improved grazing management will enhance grassland ecosystem functions and services as plant biotypes affect aboveground and belowground biomass and interface with soil physiochemical properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Matsu Islands Tern Refuge comprises eight reefs located at a relay station on the East Asian bird migration route, and it attracts many transiting, wintering, or breeding birds to inhabit and live on the reefs every year. In order to understand the compositions of plant communities as a breeding habitat for seabirds, we investigated the plant communities of the eight reefs. A total of 130 plots of 10 × 10 square meters were established, from which we found 107 species of plants in 102 genera and 51 families. Among this, we found one critically endangered (CR) species, four vulnerable (VU) species, and three near-threatened (NT) species. The result of two-way indicator species analysis (TWINSPAN) and indicator value (IndVal) showed 130 samples were divided into 11 vegetation types; most of the vegetation types had significant indicator species. We also use the two-way to present the plot of detrended correspondence analysis (DCA) by vegetation types and reefs. Moreover, this result reveals that these samples were more clearly cluster divided by islands. Our results reveal that the compositions and characteristics of plant communities were related clearly to the environmental factors for each reef in the Matsu Islands Tern Refuge. Canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) indicated that species composition of vegetation yielded high correlation with soil property, especially with soil pH. In addition, we found that the traces of bird activity is relevant to the characteristics and structures of plant communities. We found that the plant communities comprising low-grass shrubs would provide relatively soft nesting materials and sheltering effects for eggs or hatchlings for terns. Compared to low-grass shrubs, the traits of high-grass shrubs would not be beneficial to nest for breeding of terns on the ground, and no nested trace was found in these plant communities.

Abstract Grasslands play an essential role in maintaining the health of planet Earth, but many grasslands have lost their ecosystem services due to unsustainable management practices, such as overgrazing. Little is known about how grazing activity interacts with plant biotypes, impacting grassland ecosystem services. Here, we (1) assessed the relative performance of five plant biotypes in response to grazing activities and (2) determined the effectiveness of grazing exclusion in enhancing soil physiochemical properties in grasslands. The synthesis of 39,214 observations on plant‐, soil‐, and anthropogeny‐related factors from 88 published studies revealed that grazing exclusion increased aboveground plant biomass accumulation by 100.4% (±4.2 SE), belowground biomass by 70.2% (±25.7), total soil C content by 21.4% (±1.7), and soil organic carbon (SOC) concentration by 14.3% (±0.8), on average, as compared to moderate‐to‐heavy (MtH) grazing. Plant biotypes responded to grazing activities differently; alpine meadows increased total soil C content by 107.2%, alpine steppes increased SOC by 52.2%, but desert steppes decreased total C content by 21.8% under the grazing exclusion. All plant biotypes reduced soil bulk density by 6.4%–19.4% under grazing exclusion. Soil microbial community diversity responded to grazing activities inconsistently, ranging from an 18% decrease to a 26% increase in soil microbial diversity compared to MtH grazing. We conclude that selecting appropriate plant biotypes alongside improved grazing management will enhance grassland ecosystem functions and services as plant biotypes affect aboveground and belowground biomass and interface with soil physiochemical properties.

Copyright of International Journal of Life Sciences & Biotechnology (2651-4621) is the property of International Society of Academicians and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Wetland plant communities are important in maintaining wetland ecosystem functions and conserving biodiversity. However, current studies on the diversity of wetland plant communities are mainly focused on non-karst regions, while there are fewer studies on the diversity of karst wetland plant communities. To address this research gap, this study analyzes the composition and diversity of the flora of the Huixian karst wetland in south China. The results show that there are 133 species of wetland plants in 39 families and 78 genera in the Huixian Karst wetland, including 128 species of angiosperms in 34 families and 73 genera, and 4 genera and 4 species of ferns in 4 families. The dominant families are Gramineae and Cyperaceae, containing 15 and 7 genera respectively; the dominant genera are Polygonum, Heleocharis and Cyperus, each containing 6 species. By life type and ecological characteristics, emergent plants are the most dominant in the Huixian Karst wetland, with 77 species, accounting for 57.46% of the total. The flora of the Huixian Karst Wetland is divided into 10 types and shows obvious tropical subtropical characteristics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The relevance of the study is related to the need to determine the current state of windbreaks as a component of the forest-agrarian landscape of a particular region. The purpose of the study is to conduct a comprehensive assessment of windbreaks. During the study, data from remote sensing of the Earth using satellite imagery was utilised, which allowed for determining field parameters, the placement of the windbreak system, and their characteristics. Forest inventory works were conducted using commonly accepted methods in forest mensuration, with adjustments made specifically for windbreaks. The quality class of windbreaks was determined based on the percentage of healthy trees out of the total number, and the sanitary condition index was calculated according to established categories. The analysis of the obtained data clearly shows a decline in the quality sequence of common oak from 9 to 3 units within the plantations. The windbreaks were created using the method of oak nest planting, with oak nests placed at a spacing of 5.0×3.0 m and a total windbreak width of 15.0 m. Two additional rows of companion trees were introduced in the wide 5-metre alleys, and companion and shrub species were added within the nest rows. The analysis of the characteristics of windbreaks showed that they have protective heights ranging from 19.6 m to 23.4 m and provide reliable protection for adjacent agricultural fields. Based on the range of effective protective effects of windbreaks, it can be noted that the calculated indicators provide protection with a reliable safety margin of up to 17%. If there is a need to create new windbreaks using the nest planting method in the future, a more efficient scheme is proposed, which involves placing companion tree species in the outer rows to prevent the crowns of the inner rows from spreading towards the field. As a result of the obtained findings, it became possible to conduct a comprehensive expert assessment of the state of windbreaks according to the following criteria: forestry and inventory parameters, meliorative properties, and the sanitary condition index

Prescribed burning is a management tool commonly used in forested ecosystems in the southeastern United States, but the influence of this method on grassland vegetation and wildlife in this geographic region is unknown. During 2009–2015, we conducted a study to determine if the application of prescribed burning and/or long-term biosolid applications alter plant communities and/or wildlife use of grassland areas at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, Havelock, NC. We monitored vegetation growth, measured plant community composition, and documented wildlife activity in four study plots for 3 years after the implementation of annual winter prescribed burns. Prescribed burning reduced the amount of litter, increased bare ground during spring, and altered the plant community composition relative to areas that were not burned. Overall, prescribed burning did not alter (F1,803 = 0.37, p = 0.54) bird use of the airfield grasslands, while the long-term application of biosolids resulted in higher (F1,803 = 17.61, p < 0.01) bird use. Few species-specific differences in avian use of prescribed burned and unburned grasslands were found. In contrast, white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) use of areas that were burned in winter, as well as the adjacent unburned areas, was drastically reduced. Winter prescribed burning appeared to remove forage plants at the time of year deer would use them the most. Our findings suggest that prescribed burning and biosolid applications, used alone and in combination, might be viable grassland management tools for altering wildlife use of grassland areas, specifically white-tailed deer; however, similar research at additional locations should be conducted.

Global energy production is in high demand and is expanding its development into new landscapes, including grasslands. This expansion has intensive impacts on aboveground and belowground components of grasslands which need to be addressed during reclamation to promote long‐term ecological integrity. This study was conducted to ascertain how alternative reclamation practices may improve soil structure (i.e., compaction) while aiding in the creation of conditions that are conducive to both the establishment and continued growth of native grassland plant species. The grassland was reclaimed with different combinations of seeding mixtures (grass or grass and forb), ripping techniques (subsoil ripping or topsoil ripping), and the integration of mulch into the soil profile. Year, seed mixtures, and ripping techniques and their interactions significantly affected community composition and species diversity. Topsoil‐ripping and grass‐forb treatment had a higher association with native, perennial grasses while subsoil‐ripping and grass treatment favor more short‐lived species. Similar trends persisted across penetration resistance and soil moisture readings where topsoil‐ripping and grass‐forb treatment were different from subsoil‐ripping and grass treatments (p ≤ 0.10). Additionally, Kentucky bluegrass, an invasive grass species, increased by 76% over 1 year and was more common in the topsoil‐ripping and grass‐forb treatments. While early in the reclamation process, results suggest topsoil‐ripping and grass‐forb treatment are promising combination reclamation practices that can establish a native grassland community and initiate the improvement of compacted soil conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The relevance of the study is related to the need to determine the current state of windbreaks as a component of the forest-agrarian landscape of a particular region. The purpose of the study is to conduct a comprehensive assessment of windbreaks. During the study, data from remote sensing of the Earth using satellite imagery was utilised, which allowed for determining field parameters, the placement of the windbreak system, and their characteristics. Forest inventory works were conducted using commonly accepted methods in forest mensuration, with adjustments made specifically for windbreaks. The quality class of windbreaks was determined based on the percentage of healthy trees out of the total number, and the sanitary condition index was calculated according to established categories. The analysis of the obtained data clearly shows a decline in the quality sequence of common oak from 9 to 3 units within the plantations. The windbreaks were created using the method of oak nest planting, with oak nests placed at a spacing of 5.0*3.0 m and a total windbreak width of 15.0 m. Two additional rows of companion trees were introduced in the wide 5-metre alleys, and companion and shrub species were added within the nest rows. The analysis of the characteristics of windbreaks showed that they have protective heights ranging from 19.6 m to 23.4 m and provide reliable protection for adjacent agricultural fields. Based on the range of effective protective effects of windbreaks, it can be noted that the calculated indicators provide protection with a reliable safety margin of up to 17%. If there is a need to create new windbreaks using the nest planting method in the future, a more efficient scheme is proposed, which involves placing companion tree species in the outer rows to prevent the crowns of the inner rows from spreading towards the field. As a result of the obtained findings, it became possible to conduct a comprehensive expert assessment of the state of windbreaks according to the following criteria: forestry and inventory parameters, meliorative properties, and the sanitary condition index [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate warming has become the direction of future climate change. Climate warming and terrestrial ecosystem will interact and influence each other. Grassland ecosystem accounts for about 1/3 of land surface area. Observing and analyzing the responses of plant community and ecosystem carbon exchange in grasslands to climate warming will help to further predict changes in grassland ecosystem in the future. This paper reviewed the effects of climate warming on plant physiological and ecological processes, plant community and ecosystem carbon exchange of grasslands. Various results were obtained in different regions and by different experimental methods. Overall, climate warming had a positive effect on alpine grassland ecosystem, a negative effect on tropical grassland ecosystem, and positive/negative effects on temperate grassland ecosystem. In the future, long-term observational studies and mechanism studies on a global scale should be considered to further clarify the responses of grassland ecosystem to global warming. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biologically active taxanes, present in small- to medium-sized evergreen conifers of various Taxus species, are widely used for their antioxidant, antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory effects, but mostly for their antitumour effects used in the treatment of solid tumours of the breast, ovary, lung, bladder, prostate, oesophagus and melanoma. More of the substances found in Taxus plant extracts have medical potential. Therefore, at the beginning of this review, we describe the methods of isolation, identification and determination of taxanes in different plant parts. One of the most important taxanes is paclitaxel, for which we summarize the pharmacokinetic parameters of its different formulations. We also describe toxicological risks during clinical therapy such as hypersensitivity, neurotoxicity, gastrointestinal, cardiovascular, haematological, skin and renal toxicity and toxicity to the respiratory system. Since the effect of the drug-form PTX is enhanced by various Taxus spp. extracts, we summarize published clinical intoxications and all fatal poisonings for the Taxus baccata plant. This showed that, despite their significant use in anticancer treatment, attention should also be focused on the risk of fatal intoxication due to ingestion of extracts from these plants, which are commonly found in our surroundings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Changes in climate and the intensity of agriculture expansion can alter plant population dynamics and community composition and structure of dry shrublands. We tested how temperature and moisture along an elevation gradient, grazing, and nutrient addition in soil affected demographic attributes of Croton shrubs and the composition and structure of plant species in an inter-Andean dry shrubland. At three elevations, we installed grazing and exclusion plots, combined with four nutrient treatments: control, and addition of nitrogen (N), phosphorous (P) alone and in combination. We measured recruitment and survival of Croton seedlings, as well as survival, growth, fruiting of adult Croton and the composition and structure of neighbouring plants. Grazing exclusion improved adult survival of Croton at all three elevations. Grazing exclusion and addition of N and P increased adult growth of Croton at low and medium elevations. Croton seedling recruitment and survival decreased with distance to adult plants. The cover of Croton had a positive relationship with plant abundance and diversity. Temperature, moisture, grazing and nutrient addition can alter the demography and cover of Croton, as well as the composition and structure of its neighbouring plants threatening the functioning of the inter-Andean dry shrubland. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We assessed, for the first time, the plant assemblages in coniferous forests of temperate and alpine ecosystems of the Himalayas to understand the diversity of species and their phenological behaviours that lead to different growth forms in the climax forest community. In this study, we selected the coniferous forests of Bhallesa Hills, situated in Pir Panjal Mountain (Jammu and Kashmir) of the Himalayan biodiversity hotspot as a study area and used the quadrat method to document the floristic diversity over four years (2018–2021). The study sites were divided into four sub-sites (Chilli, Kahal, Chanwari, Gandoh), and at each site, 25 replicated plots (each measuring 2500 m2, 50 × 50 m2) were established for repeated surveys and documentation. We then analysed species diversity, lifeforms, phenology and leaf size spectra of coniferous plant communities. We consulted various pieces of literature to understand native and non-native plants. The results showed that the species diversity and species richness, growth forms and phenology varied in the experimental plots. In total, we found 328 plant species belonging to 228 genera and 78 families from different localities of various growth forms. Approximately 68.51% of the plant species were native, and 31.49%of the species were non-native. In angiosperms, dicotyledon species were found to be dominant, with 83.23% of the total plant species, while the family Asteraceae was common, with 38 species. The biological spectrum analysis showed 29% of the species were chamaephytes, followed by 28% as therophytes and 21% as phanerophytes. We observed that plant communities respond differently to the existing environment drivers, with chamaephyte and therophytes being more tightly linked to temperate mixed-coniferous and alpine ecosystems, affected by climates and the availability of substrates for their growth and existence. The leaf size spectra analyses showed nanophyll (42.81%) as the dominant group. Conservation-prioritised species (IUCN, regional most threatened species in India), such as Taxus wallichiana Zucc., Picrorhiza kurroa Royle ex Benth., Trillium govanianum Wall. ex D.Don, Aconitum heterophyllum Wall. ex Royle and Euphorbia obovata Decne were found to be the most endangered plants. The results indicated more indigenous species, but there is a slow process of depletion of wild species, leading to colonisation by exotic alien species. This study indicated forests of the Himalayan regions are degrading at a faster rate, species are showing a shift in phenological behaviour due to anthropogenic factors leading to climate change, and indigenous species need conservation measures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding native plant diversity in exotic forests is a globally important issue because exotic forestry plantations are expanding, and they may provide lower habitat value than native forests. Transitional forestry is an approach where exotic forests are transitioned to native forest which may help improve biodiversity outcomes in degraded areas. This study aimed to assess factors that influence plant diversity in native and exotic forests in Aotearoa New Zealand. It was predicted that native forest would support higher levels of total understorey plant diversity. To quantify understorey plant diversity, 18 plots under seven native and 11 exotic canopy species were surveyed at seven sites. To control for seed source availability, all exotic plots were within 300 m of native forest. The abundance and diversity of bryophytes and vascular plant species were sampled using quadrats within each 125 m x 60 m plot. From 2308 individual identifications, 254 species across 540 quadrats, within 18 plots were found, encompassing 132 vascular species and 122 bryophyte species. Vascular and bryophyte plant diversity were positively correlated. There was no difference in total species richness between the native and exotic canopy types, however there was consistently higher native diversity under both canopy types. Additionally, there was higher native plant diversity under native canopies than under exotic canopies, with no difference in exotic understorey species between canopy types. Three native vascular species were found to be more associated with native canopies than exotic canopies. The results indicate that in areas where native seed sources are available, native understory species can establish under exotic forest canopies. Given the increasing likelihood of exotic plantation abandonment in Aotearoa, the findings highlight the potential for traditional exotic forestry to improve native biodiversity, where there is a proximate native seed source. • Understory plant diversity was compared in native and exotic forests. • No difference in total plant diversity between forest types. • Higher native plant diversity under native forests. • Vascular and non-vascular diversity is correlated. • Highlights potential for transitional forestry in abandoned exotic plantations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Marmisho valley, located in the north-western Iran, encompasses high species diversity and a unique habitat for birch stands (Betula pendula Roth.). This study was carried out to investigate the vegetation-environment relationship in this area and also to determine the most important environmental factors affecting species distribution with emphasis on the birch species distribution. 30 sample plots were implemented using a random sampling method with a grid size of 200 × 100 m. At each sampling point, 400 m2 and 100 m2 were set up respectively for recording the cover-abundance of woody species and herbaceous species. Also at the center, a soil sample was taken from 0-30 cm depth of mineral soil. As a result, 251 taxa were observed in Marmisho valley. The results of cluster analysis illustrated that sampling plots were respectively divided into three and five ecological groups based on woody and herbaceous species composition, in which significant differences between different ecological groups were approved by MRPP analysis. In addition, DCA indicated that soil texture and soil pH had the most influence on the distribution of ecological groups in the region. Marmisho valley encompasses high level of plant diversity. Therefore, we need urgent forest management strategies such as protective plan to conserve the region.

Biodiversity is the decisive factor of grassland ecological function and process. As the most important human use of grassland, grazing inevitably affects the grassland biodiversity. However, comprehensive studies of seasonal grazing on plant and soil bacterial, archaeal and fungal diversity of typical temperate grassland are still lacking. We examined the impact of seasonal grazing, including no-grazing (NG), continuous grazing (CG), grazing in May and July (G57), grazing in June and August (G68), and grazing in July and September (G79) on grassland plant and soil microbial diversity based on a long-term field grazing experiment. The results showed that the aboveground plant biomass (AGB) of the seasonal grazing plots was significantly higher than that of the CG plots. Compared with NG, CG increased significantly the Margalef richness index of plant community, while did not significantly change the Shannon, Simpson and Pielou evenness of plant community. Grazing changed the composition and biomass of dominant vegetation. Long-term grazing decreased the proportion of Leymus chinensis (Trin.) Tzvel. and increased the proportion of Cleistogenes squarrosa (Trin.) Keng. There was no significant change in the Shannoneven, Shannon and Coverage indices of soil bacteria, archaea and fungi between NG and the grazing plots. But the Chao index of soil fungi in G57, G68 and G79 and archaea in G57, G79 was significantly higher than that in CG. The results of correlation analysis showed that the plant diversity in the CG plots was significantly negatively correlated with the soil bacterial diversity. The plant richness in the G57 and G68 plots was significantly positively correlated with the soil archaea richness. Our study showed that seasonal grazing was a sustainable grazing management strategy for maintaining typical grassland plant and soil microbial diversity in northern of China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and objectives: In order to further protect of rangeland ecosystems, range suitability should be investigated before die utilization of medicinal and industiial plants. Plant composition, production and steep of die slope are among the criteria that determines the suitability of rangeland for the use of medicinal plants. In four habitats of tie following species (Achillea santolinoides, Ziziphora tenuior, Sclerorhachis leptoclada and Hymenocrater calycinus) on three slope classes (less than 30%, 30-30% and more than 60%), importance Value Index (IVI) and accessible production were determined. Methodology: After field visit and observation of medicinal plants as the dominant species in the rangelands of Room districts of Qaen county, plant habitats were identified and sketched. In herbaceous and woody habitats, plots sized 1 m2 and 2 m2 were respectively placed. Samples were taken randomly. After measuring the slope on all sampling plots, the slope was statistically analyzed at three levels of less than 30%, 30 to 60% and more than 60%. During the slope gradient, the stiuctiiral characteristics of vegetation including density, frequency, abundance and dominance of species were measured and based on that, Importance Value Index (IVI) was determined. In order to compare the total production of medicinal plants for different slopes, analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Duncan multiple range tests were used. Cluster analysis was also used to group the habitats based on species composition. Species abundance distribution was investigated using geometric series, broken stick, log-normal, Zipf and Mandelbrot models and the data were fitted with each of the above models. The goodness of fit of these models was measured by the Akaike information criterion (AIC). All statistical analysis was done by R software. Results: The floristic list of the stiudy area showed that in total, 47 plant species belonging to 15 plant families were available, 31 herbaceous, 8 bush, 7 grasses and 1 shrub species. Among the observed species, 66% were medicinal and industrial, 23% forage plants and 11% invasive and thorny. Medicinal plants mostly belonged to Compositae, Apiaceae, Lamiaceae and Brassicaceae. The results showed diat Ziziphora tenuior and Achillea santolinoides had the highest density and Artemisia aucheri and Sclerorhachis leptoclada had the highest ground cover. The low presence of medicinal and industrial were seen on low slopes and the highest on moderate and high slopes. The rank-abundance curve showed drat the species abundance distibution (SAD) of the whole study area was fit by Mandelbrot model and log-normal, which indicates a stable community. The results showed that with increasing slope, the production of medicinal plants decreases. Achillea santolinoides and Ziziphora tenuior, located on slopes of less than 30%, have the highest production and relative importance, and in terms of these two factors, have the necessary competence for exploitation. Conclusion: Although the relative composition of medicinal plants in the region increases with increasing slope, but in terms of plant composition and production, habitats with a slope of more than 60% are not suitable to be used as medicinal plants sites. Generally, in range suitability assessment shrdies, vegetation cover percentage alone is not enough, because there may be species that are pharmacologically and industrially valuable that have a low cover percentage. Although in this study, not all factors affecting rangeland suitability have been studied directly, but the important value index for rangeland suitability studied and the effect of slope on some vegetation characteristics have been investigated and the results showed that the moderate and high slope and production of medicinal plants decreased. Therefore, with increasing slope, rangeland's suitability for medicinal and industrial plants also decreases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to investigate the effects of different climatic conditions (arid vs. semi-arid) on patterns of species richness and plant diversity as well as plant composition in two over-grazed regions. The regions were located in the west of Iran, closed to each other and different in climatic conditions. Based on the aridity index of De Martonne climate classification, Rika (I = 9.94) and Dalab (I = 18.54) were categorized as arid and semi-arid regions, respectively. In each region, we collected plant vegetation data from a nested sampling design consisted of local (80 plots) and regional (8 sites) scales. Patterns of plant diversity and species richness in each region, and similarity of plant composition between the two regions were analyzed using multiplicative partitioning methods, species richness estimator and cluster analysis, respectively. The results showed that diversity components in all scales had significant difference with their expected values (p

We assessed, for the first time, the plant assemblages in coniferous forests of temperate and alpine ecosystems of the Himalayas to understand the diversity of species and their phenological behaviours that lead to different growth forms in the climax forest community. In this study, we selected the coniferous forests of Bhallesa Hills, situated in Pir Panjal Mountain (Jammu and Kashmir) of the Himalayan biodiversity hotspot as a study area and used the quadrat method to document the floristic diversity over four years (2018–2021). The study sites were divided into four sub-sites (Chilli, Kahal, Chanwari, Gandoh), and at each site, 25 replicated plots (each measuring 2500 m2, 50 × 50 m2) were established for repeated surveys and documentation. We then analysed species diversity, lifeforms, phenology and leaf size spectra of coniferous plant communities. We consulted various pieces of literature to understand native and non-native plants. The results showed that the species diversity and species richness, growth forms and phenology varied in the experimental plots. In total, we found 328 plant species belonging to 228 genera and 78 families from different localities of various growth forms. Approximately 68.51% of the plant species were native, and 31.49%of the species were non-native. In angiosperms, dicotyledon species were found to be dominant, with 83.23% of the total plant species, while the family Asteraceae was common, with 38 species. The biological spectrum analysis showed 29% of the species were chamaephytes, followed by 28% as therophytes and 21% as phanerophytes. We observed that plant communities respond differently to the existing environment drivers, with chamaephyte and therophytes being more tightly linked to temperate mixed-coniferous and alpine ecosystems, affected by climates and the availability of substrates for their growth and existence. The leaf size spectra analyses showed nanophyll (42.81%) as the dominant group. Conservation-prioritised species (IUCN, regional most threatened species in India), such as Taxus wallichiana Zucc., Picrorhiza kurroa Royle ex Benth., Trillium govanianum Wall. ex D.Don, Aconitum heterophyllum Wall. ex Royle and Euphorbia obovata Decne were found to be the most endangered plants. The results indicated more indigenous species, but there is a slow process of depletion of wild species, leading to colonisation by exotic alien species. This study indicated forests of the Himalayan regions are degrading at a faster rate, species are showing a shift in phenological behaviour due to anthropogenic factors leading to climate change, and indigenous species need conservation measures.

Biologically active taxanes, present in small- to medium-sized evergreen conifers of various Taxus species, are widely used for their antioxidant, antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory effects, but mostly for their antitumour effects used in the treatment of solid tumours of the breast, ovary, lung, bladder, prostate, oesophagus and melanoma. More of the substances found in Taxus plant extracts have medical potential. Therefore, at the beginning of this review, we describe the methods of isolation, identification and determination of taxanes in different plant parts. One of the most important taxanes is paclitaxel, for which we summarize the pharmacokinetic parameters of its different formulations. We also describe toxicological risks during clinical therapy such as hypersensitivity, neurotoxicity, gastrointestinal, cardiovascular, haematological, skin and renal toxicity and toxicity to the respiratory system. Since the effect of the drug-form PTX is enhanced by various Taxus spp. extracts, we summarize published clinical intoxications and all fatal poisonings for the Taxus baccata plant. This showed that, despite their significant use in anticancer treatment, attention should also be focused on the risk of fatal intoxication due to ingestion of extracts from these plants, which are commonly found in our surroundings.

In order to understand the destruction of the wild resources of Eleutherococcus senticosus distributed in the northeast forest region, this study investigated its current situation, and analyzed the tree species composition and geographical distribution characteristics of Eleutherococcus senticosus community in Xiaoxinganling. The results showed that:(1) there were 2 080 vascular plants belonging to 96 species, 74 genera and 43 families in the plot, including 3 ferns belonging to 3 genera and 3 families; Gymnosperms belong to 1 family, 4 genera and 6 species; 87 species, 67 genera, 39 families of angiosperms. Angiosperms were dominant in the number of families, genera and species, accounting for more than 90%, but most of them were shrubs and herbs. Gymnosperms are mostly tall trees, occupying most of the nutrient space, forming the main forest layer. (2) In Eleutherococcus senticosus community, there were 14 species in Rosaceae and less than 10 species in other families. The proportion of super large genera (51 genera) was the highest, followed by large genera and medium genera(8 genera). Herbs accounted for 54.83% of all plant families, genera, species and plants, and Oxalis, Impatiensnoli-tamgere. and Urtica angustifolia were more than 100 plants. (3) There are six species of the first batch of national second-class key protected plants in the community, including Tilia amurensis, Acanthopanax senticosus, Ribes amurensis, Actinidia arguta, Pinus koraiensis and Fraxinus mandshurica. (4) Five alien invasive species were found, including Gesnerium oleraceum, Sophora japonica, Oxalis, Elsholtzia splendens and Plantago asiatica. (5) The floristic distribution pattern of families was mainly distributed in the north temperate and the floristic distribution pattern of genera was mainly distributed in the north temperate, accounting for 60.27%, with the characteristics of the north temperate or the world floristic. This study provides decision-making basis for the management and protection of Eleutherococcus senticosus community and forest vegetation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Insects are major conduits of resources moving from aquatic to terrestrial systems. While the ecological impacts of insect subsidies are well documented, the underlying mechanisms by which these resources change recipient ecosystems remain poorly understood. Most subsidy inputs enter terrestrial systems as detritus; thus, soil microbes will likely influence the processing of insect subsidies, with implications for plant community composition and net primary productivity (NPP). In a subarctic ecosystem near Lake Mývatn, Iceland where midge (Diptera: Chironomidae) deposition to land is high, we investigated how insect subsidies affected litter processing and microbial communities. We also evaluated how those belowground effects related to changes in inorganic nitrogen, plant composition and NPP. We simulated subsidies by adding midge carcasses to 1‐m2 heathland plots, where we measured effects on decomposition rates and the plant community. We then studied how fertilization treatments (control, KNO3 and midge‐carcass addition) affected graminoid biomass and inorganic nitrogen in greenhouse experiments. Lastly, we conducted a soil‐incubation study with a phospholipid fatty acid analysis (PLFA) to examine how midge addition to heathland soils affected microbial respiration, biomass and composition. We found that midge addition to heathland soils increased litter decomposition and graminoid plant cover by 2.6× and 2×, respectively. Greenhouse experiments revealed similar patterns, with midge carcasses increasing graminoid biomass by at least 2× and NH4+ concentrations by 7×. Our soil‐incubation study found that midge carcasses elevated microbial respiration by 64%, microbial biomass by 43% and shifted microbial functional composition. Our findings indicate that insect subsidies can stimulate soil microbial communities and litter decomposition in subarctic heathlands, leading to increased NPP and changes in plant community composition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ecosystem complexity is among the important drivers of biodiversity and ecosystem functioning, and unmanned aerial systems (UASs) are becoming an important tool for characterizing vegetation patterns and processes. The variety of UASs applications is immense, and so are the procedures to process UASs data described in the literature. Optimizing the workflow is still a matter of discussion. Here, we present a comprehensive synthesis aiming to identify common rules that shape workflows applied in UAS-based studies facing complexity in ecosystems. Analysing the studies, we found similarities irrespective of the ecosystem, according to the character of the property addressed, such as species composition (biodiversity), ecosystem structure (stand volume/complexity), plant status (phenology and stress levels), and dynamics (disturbances and regeneration). We propose a general framework allowing to design UAS-based vegetation surveys according to its purpose and the component of ecosystem complexity addressed. We support the framework by detailed schemes as well as examples of best practices of UAS studies covering each of the vegetation properties (i.e. composition, structure, status and dynamics) and related applications. For an efficient UAS survey, the following points are crucial: knowledge of the phenomenon, choice of platform, sensor, resolution (temporal, spatial and spectral), model and classification algorithm according to the phenomenon, as well as careful interpretation of the results. The simpler the procedure, the more robust, repeatable, applicable and cost effective it is. Therefore, the proper design can minimize the efforts while maximizing the quality of the results.

Understanding the assembly rules of mycorrhizal fungi is crucial, given their tremendous importance in plant nutrition and health. Differentiation in plant‐associated arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) is likely driven by a host‐preference effect. Coexisting plant species may then affect a focal plant microbiota through fungal dispersal among plants, and plant preferential recruitment of AMF. Both mechanisms are likely shaped by the plant's phylogenetic and functional strategies.We expected that (a) the structure of AMF assemblages associated with a focal plant depends on the identity of the neighbouring plant species; (b) this effect would be predicted by the phylogenetic and functional similarity between the focal and neighbouring plant species. These predictions were tested during the first stages of growth, by simulating the early development of plants within a communityUsing an experimental matrix‐focal plant species design testing 15 neighbouring plants from five taxonomic families, we demonstrated that the neighbouring plants provided different species pools for the focal plant, Medicago truncatula, and influenced AMF communities associated with focal plant, especially in terms of richness but not relative evenness. Medicago truncatula grown with Brassicaceae or other Poaceae species displayed respectively no or low AMF richness compared to those grown with Rosaceae and Asteraceae species. These effects were weakly dependent on the phylogenetic distance from the neighbouring plant but were predicted by the functional proximity. AMF assemblages were enriched and bore more resemblance to the neighbouring plants when the neighbouring plants were functionally dissimilar from the focal one. Functional dissimilarity was only a significant predictor when based on traits characterizing the nutrient use and uptake strategy rather than on a more integrated growing strategy of the plant.Microbiota composition was shown to be dependent on the identity of the neighbouring plant, particularly on its functional below‐ground niche. At the colonization stage, when the plant arrives in a community, plant mycobiota might be influenced by the spatial distribution of plants already present in the community. This work suggests a new view of the concept of niche partitioning in space for plants based on microorganism–plant interactions. A free Plain Language Summary can be found within the Supporting Information of this article. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The interactions between rhizosphere microorganisms and pioneer plants play important roles in the restoration of ecological functions after a disturbance. Different pioneer species appear in the initial phase of ecological restoration. However, the patterns of the composition of different pioneer species shaping the microbial communities of the rhizosphere are still poorly understood. Methods: Microcosm experiments were established to compare the taxonomic and functional features of rhizosphere bacterial with fungal communities in response to plant species composition. Results: Both bacterial and fungal communities didn't have significant variation related to the diversity, community composition, and predicted functions between rhizosphere soils collected from treatments containing different compositions of plant species. Rhizosphere bacteria were more sensitive to the external environment than fungi. The fungal diversity exhibited a more significant relationship with the traits of different plant species compared with bacteria. Similar plant traits, especially aboveground plant traits (i.e., total coverage, and aboveground biomass), were correlated with dominant taxa and functional profiles of the both bacterial and fungal community. Furthermore, network analyses showed that Gaiellales and Ganoderma were the key bacterial and fungal taxa, respectively, which played important roles in community assembly. Conclusions: The composition of different pioneer species within a community had similar patterns of rhizosphere bacterial and fungal communities. The connection between plants and soil microorganisms was more likely related to plant traits instead of the species composition. Thus, the processes of plant growth and nutrient uptake, not the combinations of plant species, may be determinants of soil microbial community assemblage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the study was to compare the selenium (Se) status of beef cattle from conventional farms with the status of cattle from organic farms located in western Pomerania and to determine the ratios of Se concentration between soil, forage plants and animals at these locations. The mean total Se (SeT) content in soil was 0.208 mg/kg dry matter (DM) on organic farms and 0.254 mg/kg DM on conventional farms. Animals from conventional farms had significantly (p < 0.05) higher serum Se concentration than those on organic farms. As Se deficiency were classified in 75% of animals from organic farms and in 42% animals from conventional farms. A lack of Se supplementation is associated with a serious risk of deficiency in ruminants, particularly in areas with low Se levels in the soil–plant system. Therefore, more attention should be devoted to increasing the bioavailability of Se for plants by enhancing the physicochemical properties of soil. In addition, the composition of swards for grazing should be adjusted to increase the share of forage plants capable of collecting larger amounts of Se from soil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background The grasshopper Oedaleus asiaticus Bey-Bienko (Acrididae: Oedipodinae) is a dominant and economically important pest that is widely distributed across the Mongolian plateau. This herbivore pest causes major damage to the grassland of the Inner Mongolian steppe in China. The population dynamics of herbivore pests is affected by grassland management practices (e.g., mowing and heavy livestock grazing) that alter plant community structures and stoichiometric characteristics. For example, O. asiaticus outbreak is closely associated with plant preference changes caused by nitrogen loss from heavy livestock grazing. However, the manner by which small-scale variation in vegetation affects grasshopper performance and promotes outbreak is poorly characterized. To address this question, we investigated the relationship between small-scale (1 m2) vegetation variability and measures of O. asiaticus performance associated with plant stoichiometric characteristics. Results We found that food preferences of O. asiaticus varied significantly, but maintained a specific dietary structure for different plant compositions. Notably, small-scale changes in plant community composition significantly affected grasshopper food preference and body size. Partial least-square modeling indicated that plant proportion and biomass affected grasshopper body size and density. We found that this effect differed between sexes. Specifically, female body mass positively correlated with the proportion of Stipa krylovii grass, whereas male mass positively correlated with the proportion of Artemisia frigida grass. Further analyses indicated that grasshopper performance is closely associated with plant stoichiometric traits that might be responsible for the pest’s plague. Conclusions This study provides valuable information for managing grasshoppers using rational grassland management practices.

The complexities of the relationship between biodiversity and human welfare can be simplified by identifying the impact of species diversity on ecosystem function. Since annual production plays an important role in the grazing management and sustainability of rangeland ecosystems, this study examines the relationship between species diversity and annual production of semi-arid rangelands in Khabar National Park under the hypothesis of ecological nest. The annual production of species in 1×1 square plots was estimated in two rangeland types of Artemisia sieberi and Artemisia sieberi- Stipa barbata using the cutting and weighing method. The results showed that although the two plant types differed significantly in terms of annual production (p <0.05), but there was no significant difference between the two rangeland types in terms of diversity indicators of Shannon, Simpson, Margalf, Manichae, and uniformity index. Pearson’s correlation analysis showed that annual production had a positive and significant relationship with species diversity indicators in Artemisia sieberi- Stipa barbata type; however, no significant relationship was observed in Artemisia sieberi. Contrary to the hypothesis of the ecological nest, species did not have the same contribution in annual production, and the dominant species of Artemisia aucheri had the highest contribution in production. According to the hypothesis of mass ratio, the diversity of functional traits in the dominant species has led to better success of rangeland type the Artemisia aucheri- Stipa barbata than the Artemisia aucheri in terms of annual production. In general, it is recommended that conserving of the composition of plant communities is more important to protect ecosystem services compared to maintaining the maximum number of species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Despite increasing interest in β‐diversity, that is the spatial and temporal turnover of species, the mechanisms underlying species turnover at different spatial scales are not fully understood, although they likely differ among different functional groups. We investigated the relative importance of dispersal limitations and the environmental filtering caused by vegetation for local, multi‐taxa forest communities differing in their dispersal ability, trophic position and body size. Location: Temperate forests in five regions across Germany. Methods: In the inter‐region analysis, the independent and shared effects of the regional spatial structure (regional species pool), landscape spatial structure (dispersal limitation) and environmental factors on species turnover were quantified with a 1‐ha grain across 11 functional groups in up to 495 plots by variation partitioning. In the intra‐region analysis, the relative importance of three environmental factors related to vegetation (herb and tree layer composition and forest physiognomy) and spatial structure for species turnover was determined. Results: In the inter‐region analysis, over half of the explained variation in community composition (23% of the total explained 35%) was explained by the shared effects of several factors, indicative of spatially structured environmental filtering. Among the independent effects, environmental factors were the strongest on average over 11 groups, but the importance of landscape spatial structure increased for less dispersive functional groups. In the intra‐region analysis, the independent effect of plant species composition had a stronger influence on species turnover than forest physiognomy, but the relative importance of the latter increased with increasing trophic position and body size. Main conclusions: Our study revealed that the mechanisms structuring assemblage composition are associated with the traits of functional groups. Hence, conservation frameworks targeting biodiversity of multiple groups should cover both environmental and biogeographical gradients. Within regions, forest management can enhance β‐diversity particularly by diversifying tree species composition and forest physiognomy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oak ecosystems support a high amount of biodiversity and are critical for avian conservation in the Pacific Northwest, yet most of the remaining habitat is in a degraded state. A landscape‐scale restoration project in the Klamath Siskiyou Bioregion of southern Oregon and northern California reduced factors that stress oak trees while improving the function of oak‐associated plant communities on 450 ha of private lands from 2011 to 2013. We implemented a before‐after‐control‐impact study to measure changes in vegetation structure and composition, avian community composition, and individual avian species density within 23 restored and 23 control stands. Restoration resulted in reduced Douglas fir and western juniper tree cover and overall shrub cover, but generally did not cause notable shifts between vegetation types (e.g. oak‐conifer forest did not become oak woodland). Oak‐associated birds were positive indicator species following treatment at the restored sites; yet, the avian community composition shift toward an oak‐associated community observed in the NMS ordination was not statistically significant. Furthermore, we observed only negligible change in individual species density of both conifer‐ and oak‐associated birds following restoration. While restoration objectives at all sites sought to improve oak tree vigor and associated ecosystem health, the pre‐restoration stand conditions and thus the specific prescriptions varied widely. More study is needed to disentangle how overstory and understory restoration actions interact to affect bird community response. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tidal wetland restoration through dike removal can enhance coastal ecosystem services, such as flood attenuation, fish production, and carbon sequestration. However, landscape-level heterogeneity may influence recovery. For a 169-ha restoration project in Tillamook Bay, Oregon, we hypothesized that areas of more intensive pre-restoration land use/land cover (cropping, grazing) would differ more from reference conditions before restoration than less-intensive uses and that initial post-restoration recovery would vary by land-use/land-cover type and wetland elevation. Before the restoration, the project site overall had higher non-native plant cover, lower elevation and groundwater levels, and lower soil pH than reference high marsh, with some differences by land-use/land-cover type. The cropped and grazed areas were strongly dominated by non-native species, such as Phalaris arundinacea, and were 74 and 31 cm lower than reference high marsh. Less intensively managed areas had elevations intermediate to the cropped and grazed areas and a trend towards higher native plant cover. The restoration led to higher dry-season groundwater levels, increased soil salinity to mesohaline conditions, and a 10-fold increase in soil pH at the project site, while reducing total plant cover. The degree of pre- to early post-restoration change for some parameters differed by land-use/land-cover type (total and non-native plant cover) and by wetland elevation (soil salinity, pH, and accretion rate; and total and non-native plant cover). Our results suggest that pre-restoration heterogeneity in elevation and land cover/land use may influence early post-restoration recovery. Restoration planning can incorporate such spatial variability into management targets and interventions for specific outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The drivers and rate of vegetation change across spatial gradients can give critical insights into the compositional and structural change we can expect under climate change. Spatial ecotones are of particular interest as they represent heterogeneity in the patterning of vegetation that may reflect how temporal environmental change will manifest in more abrupt step changes in plant composition and/or structure. Another dimension of interest is the degree to which survey methodology impacts the detectability of thresholds in vegetation. We surveyed a Mediterranean to arid zone gradient in South Australia with nested and non-nested transect designs and related the observed vegetation change to soil, landscape and climate to determine the strongest environmental associations. Ordination, principal components analysis (PCA) and threshold indicator taxa analysis (TITAN) were used to detect potential ecotones associated with environmental thresholds. Results from the two transects were compared with test the effects of survey method and spatial sampling on pattern detection. Ordinations and regressions for both transects indicated vegetation changed linearly along the environmental gradient. Species richness and total cover increased with rainfall. Species turnover was very high, with low nestedness, indicating high susceptibility to environmental change. Climate is the major driver of broad-scale vegetation change on our gradient and at this scale vegetation trends are detectable with a range of survey methodologies. TITAN identification of a threshold within the shorter, nested transect (but not the longer transect which extended into the arid zone) indicated that survey methodology influences ecotone detectability, and that although smaller-scale vegetation disjunctions may be present, change spanning the entire mesic to arid zone is largely monotonic. Detecting environmental thresholds at which vegetation changes rapidly is important for predicting climate change impacts. We test for environmental thresholds on a spatial gradient in South Australia using two survey methodologies, and find vegetation change is strongly related to climate but detect no obvious thresholds. This work demonstrates the susceptibility of Mediterranean climate ecosystems to climate change globally and improves our ability to forecast their future trajectories. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Invasive alien tree species can strongly impact biodiversity and future projections predict their spread over natural, semi-natural and human habitats. However, little is known about plant communities that form during the first stages of invasion. We investigated the composition of plant communities in alien Robinia pseudoacacia L. secondary forests growing on grasslands and cultivated areas abandoned during the last 35-40 years in north-eastern Italy to understand whether these formations could cause floristic homogenization of plant communities composition. On the basis of a cluster analysis, plant communities were assigned to seven syntaxonomic categories and split into four groups characterized by the occurrence of 20 species indicative of (a) nitrogen-rich, (b) true forest and (c) open habitat conditions. RDA analysis enabled main stand and environmental variables filtering these communities to be identified and β-diversity components were partitioned through the SDR (Similarity - richness Difference - species Replacement) simplex approach. Plant composition patterns were significantly associated to variability in elevation, stand vertical structure, shrub cover, mean tree diameter and height, and basal area. Shrub cover discriminates between plant communities associated with open or shaded conditions. The partition of β-diversity components revealed that replacement is the prominent process structuring plant communities in these secondary forests. Our study showed that secondary Robinia forests growing on abandoned lands may host compositionally heterogeneous plant communities, thus contributing to regional biodiversity.

Many traditional Chinese medicine compositions can moisturize the skin and utilize in cosmetics. Using a combination of Chinese Medicine Materials and guided by Traditional Chinese Medicine principles, this study selected Echinacea purpurea to protect the skin barrier, Dendrobium nobile to clear heat and promote fluid production, Sophora flavescens to clear heat for diminished inflammation, and Aloe vera combined Lycium barbarum to nourish yin, to together form a "poly TCM moisturizing formulation." These poly plant extracts were investigated and optimized for the stability, safety, and moisturizing ability. The combination moisturizing effect was determined by measuring the expression of FLG mRNA, CLDN‐1 mRNA, and AQP3 protein. Toxicological analysis included a red blood cell hemolysis test and a 3T3 phototoxicity test. It has been observed that by using polysaccharide yield as the evaluation criterion showed optimal extraction at a material‐to‐liquid ratio of 1:100, an extraction temperature of 100°C, and an extraction time of 3 hours. Moisturizing effect experiments showed that the expression of FLG mRNA, CLDN‐1 mRNA, and AQP3 protein was significantly increased. Toxicological tests showed that the composition was safe and caused no irritating effects. Based on these results, this poly traditional Chinese medicine moisturizing formulation is safe within moisturizing effects and can be used as a moisturizing raw material in cosmetics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

East Nusa Tenggara located in the Wallacea area that has many endemic species. However, the existence of germplasm diversity in this area has been threatened due to landscape changes and deforestation. The research was conducted to identify floristic composition in Sikka forest area. This research also aimed to compare that plant composition in Sikka forest area on each of the different altitudes, including their diversity richness and environmental factors. Two sampling methods were used, which are Point-Centered Quarter (PCQ) method that applied for trees and nested sampling method 5x5 m² for sapling and 2x2 m² for ground cover. Measured parameters were Relative Density (RD), Relative Frequency (RF), Relative Coverage/dominance (RC), Important Value Index (IVI), Diversity Index (H'), and Jaccard Similarity Index (J'). Research results showed that the diversity index of each region was relatively low. Plant composition of tree, sapling, and groundcover in three different altitudes was quite different. This result indicates that the plant composition in the Sikka, East Nusa Tenggara is very diverse. The temperature and relative humidity in each altitude area observed was significantly different. One of the endemic species of Flores Island, Eucalyptus urophylla, was only found at 500-700 m asl. There are very limited research on the vegetation diversity held in Flores, East Nusa Tenggara. This research can be the basic for further research in order to explore the potential diversity of flora in this area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To study the effect of canopy gaps on aboveground plant composition and permanent soil seed bank in mixed and pure stands of oriental beech (Fagus orientalis lipsky), artificial and natural canopy gaps with different sizes considered at the Hajikola-Tirankli forest plan, Sari. All canopy gaps were grouped in different classes including small (less than 150 m²), medium (150- 350 m²), and large (350-500 m²) sizes. The variation of aboveground vegetation composition in response to the gap characteristics was surveyed by Detrended correspondence analysis (DCA), and similarity of the aboveground vegetation with soil seed bank in the two depths was compared using the Jaccard similarity index. In total, 71 plant species were identified in the region, from which 26 belonged to above ground, 24 species to soil seed banks and 21 species were similar for both sections. Species such as Carex sylvatica Huds. Carex riparia Curtis, Rubus hyrcanus Juz. and Hypericum androsaemum L. were dominant in the soil seed bank. In addition, results showed that plant composition in vegetation differed with a soil seed bank. The Jaccard similarity index indicated that the similarity rate of aboveground vegetation and the corresponding seed banks under large gaps was higher than those of small/medium gaps and control plots. Moreover, the similarity rate between soil seed bank in the upper layer (0-5 cm) with above-ground vegetation composition was higher compared with the deeper layer (5-10 cm). These differences, especially with regard to the variation of similarity between the soil seed bank and vegetation across a range of gap sizes calls for increased attention to management and rehabilitation measures that are appropriate for each of the microhabitats created by the canopy gaps. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to identify phytoremediating plant species on copper-contaminated soils in abandoned tailings ponds in barangay Paco, Mankayan, Benguet, Philippines. It also examined and verified the role of organic matter in phytoremediation by utilizing growth media with varying concentrations of copper. Agricultural soil, tailings pond overlaid with tops soil and municipal biowaste (TP4), and abandoned tailings pond without rehabilitation (TP3) were amended with 4%, 8%, and 16% compost. These soil materials were placed in their respective 1x1 m² experimental plots and were allowed to be colonized by different plants. The study was conducted for three months at an abandoned agricultural field. All the plants that grew in the experimental plots were identified. The different species in each treatment plot with the highest Importance Values (IV) were considered as dominant. A total of 15 species representing 12 genera and 8 families were recorded in plots utilizing TP3 soil materials. The plant species with the highest importance value was Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers. (54.30). Most of the regenerants were herbaceous flora and grasses. These plants are considered pioneers due to its ability to tolerate stressful conditions. Plots with TP4 soil materials had 18 plant species representing 17 genera and 8 families. The plant species with the highest importance value was Amaranthus spinosus L. (45.53). Among the plant species, Cynodon dactylon was observed to dominate different growth media with highly variable soil physical and chemical characteristics. This plant can be utilized as a phytostabilizing agent in different media types contaminated with copper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]