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Context: The tropical Andes have a long history of human land use, which has affected vegetation patterns especially at high elevations. However, reference patterns to quantify these effects are missing due to lacking data from mountain ranges unaffected by humans. Objectives: We compared landscape-scale patterns of forest distribution in the largest tropical Andean mountain range without high-elevation human occupancy, the Cordillera de Vilcabamba, and a nearby range with a long land-use history, the Cordillera de San Miguel, in Peru. Methods: We quantified topographical positions (exposition, slope, wetness index) of 12.5 × 12.5-m2 pixels with and without forest cover in 100-m elevational bands and compared the study regions. Results: In the undisturbed range (Vilcabamba), forest consistently occurred on steeper slopes than non-forest, differing little in other topographic metrics except a slight preference for the less sunny South- and West-facing slopes. In the disturbed range (San Miguel), forest showed little preference for any landscape position at elevations below 3500 m, but at higher elevations patterns were very clear: forest was more restricted to valley bottoms, as indicated consistently by higher topographic wetness and lower slope and topographic position indices, and to the less sunny South-facing slopes. Conclusions: Land-use has a strong influence on landscape-level forest distribution in this part of the tropical Andes. Similar effects are likely in other tropical mountains, although no reference areas are available in most of them. The patterns described here can support the use of remote sensing to detect minimally disturbed tropical alpine-treeline ecotones, which should be focal points for conservation and research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Benefiting from the rapid development of environmental DNA (eDNA) technologies, sedimentary DNA (sedDNA) emerges as a promising tool for monitoring plant compositions in remote regions. The Tibetan Plateau (TP), renowned for its harsh environment and numerous ponds and lakes, presents a potentially demanding region for the application of sedDNA on vegetation investigations. Here, we used the g and h universal primers for the P6 loop region of the chloroplast trnL (UAA) intron to amplify plant DNA in surface sediments from 59 ponds and small lakes on the southwestern TP. The applicability and limitations of using plant DNA metabarcoding for modern vegetation monitoring and palaeo-vegetation reconstructions have been assessed by comparing sedDNA, pollen, and vegetation survey data. Our results showed that plant DNA metabarcoding recorded 186 terrestrial taxa, of which 30.1% can be identified at the species level. The plant sedDNA approach can effectively disclose the dominant plant taxa (including Asteraceae, Cyperaceae and Poaceae) and significant vegetation assemblages in the vicinity of the investigated sites. The number of taxa and taxonomic resolution of plant sedDNA exceeded that of pollen analysis (75 taxa detected, 5.3% can be identified at species level). Unlike pollen that retains a broad spectrum of regional plant signals (including Pinus and Artemisia), plant sedDNA mirrors very local plants, underscoring its utility in local vegetation monitoring and reconstructions. To conclude, plant DNA metabarcoding of (small) lake sediments warrant increased attention in the future for local vegetation monitoring and reconstructions on the TP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The habitat quality of urban forest patches is determined by the composition and structure of vegetation which in turn affects the quality of trophic resources and shelter provided for wildlife species. In addition, urban development in the landscape surrounding forest patches can affect species' movement between patches, further influencing habitat quality. Understanding how species respond to variation in habitat quality among urban forest patches is especially important for species that contribute to ecosystem services and disservices for urban residents. Here, we assessed habitat quality provided by urban forest patches for white‐footed mice (Peromyscus leucopus) because they are one of the key reservoir species for Lyme disease and they influence disease dilution ecosystem services provided by mammal communities. We examined variation in vegetation composition and structure in forest patches across a gradient of landscape‐scale urban development in and around Philadelphia, PA, USA. In particular, we focused on shifts in vegetation composition and structure associated with invasive understory shrubs given their prevalence in our study system. We then quantified the numerical (index of relative abundance) and morphological responses of white‐footed mice to variation in habitat quality. While we observed no significant effects of environmental variables on our index of mouse relative abundance in forest patches, environmental variables associated with vegetation structure and composition were associated with shifts in mouse morphology. Most notably, mice were larger at sites with more invasive shrub species. This indicates that invasive understory shrubs may be creating higher‐quality habitat for white‐footed mice. Because larger‐bodied mice are likely to feed more ticks, this result has significant implications for Lyme disease dynamics in urban areas, such as amplified transmission. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The conversion of multiple types of ecosystems into tree and shrub plantations can significantly affect soil properties, but until now we know little about its effects on soil base cation concentration and exchangeable capacity. Here, we quantified the effects of ecosystem conversion on the concentration and exchangeable capacity of soil base cations (K+, Ca2+, Na+, Mg2+) based on 2,133 paired observations collected from 153 publications. We found that (1) as a whole, ecosystem conversion did not affect soil base cation concentration and cation exchangeable capacity (CEC) on a global scale; (2) the former ecosystem type significantly affected the effects of ecosystem conversion on CEC, which were significantly increased by 22.7 and 61.1% in bare lands and deserts, respectively, but decreased by 17.2% in primary forests, while it did not affect ecosystem conversion effects on base cation concentration; (3) leaf type significantly influenced the responses of CEC and exchangeable Ca2+ and Mg2+ concentrations to ecosystem conversion, while vegetation composition, mycorrhizal association and soil depth had no impacts; and (4) latitude, year after conversion, soil pH and organic carbon (OC) concentrations also showed significant impacts on base cation concentration and CEC. Overall, our results indicate that the conversion of multiple types of ecosystems into tree and shrub plantations had limited impacts on soil base cation concentration and CEC, but the effects can be regulated by soil properties of the former ecosystems. These results will contribute to better understanding the responses of soils to extensive ecosystem conversions under ongoing environmental change scenarios. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Karst landscapes are characterized by unique relief and drainage patterns, which influence the types of vegetation that can inhabit these environments. Vegetation in karst ecosystems plays a crucial role in groundwater filtration. Plant species diversity within these communities contributes to structural variations across different habitats. This study evaluates the potential of vegetation in community forests in Tubokarto Village, Wonogiri Regency, by analyzing species composition and vegetation. Using a purposive sampling method, we selected areas with polyculture planting patterns and agroforestry, applying a sampling intensity of 2.2% with 20 × 100 m strip plots. The results showed that the species composition at the location consisted of 18 species in 7 families. The stand density for trees is 221 ind ha–1, poles 436 ind ha–1, saplings 1,144 ind ha–1, and seedlings 2,650 ind ha–1 . Tectona grandis emerged as the dominant species, with the highest Importance Value Index (IVI) values: 142.79 at the tree level, 212.48 for poles, 197.84 for saplings, and 122.29 for seedlings. Species diversity indices were 1.53 for trees, 0.97 for poles, 1.36 for saplings, and 1.21 for seedlings. The species richness index showed values of 2.79 for trees, 1.49 for poles, 1.21 for saplings, and 1.80 for seedlings, while the species evenness index ranged from 0.43 to 0.76. The vegetation structure of Tubokarto Village spans strata B and C, with tree diameter class distribution resembling that of natural forests. Environmental factors, including climate and soil composition, are likely influencing species growth patterns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Variations in vegetation composition and structure are significant signals of the succession of mudflat ecosystems and have important indicative roles in mudflat ecosystem degradation. Due to poor accessibility of vast even mudflat areas, variation in vegetation composition and structure across mudflat areas remains unclear in the Yellow River Delta (YRD), China. We provided an UAV multispectral orthomosaic with 10 cm ground sample distance to classify and compare the vegetation composition and structure across mudflat areas in the YRD. The vegetation classification overall accuracy achieved 95.0%. We found that although a significant difference (p < 0.05) was checked out in terms of the Shannon–Wiener diversity index (from 1.33 to 0.92) and evenness index (from 0.96 to 0.66) among the eight subareas from land to sea, all four dominant vegetation communities (S. salsa, L. bicolor, T. chinensis, and P. australis) were discovered at all eight subareas. Our findings support the idea that the regional environment and local microtopography are the predominant forces for variation in vegetation composition and structure across mudflat areas. From the perspective of vegetation restoration and conservation, changing the local microtopography will be an interesting way to enhance the vegetation diversity of the mudflat ecosystems in the YRD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the near-naturalization process of Pinus tabulaeformis plantations in Baxianshan National Nature Reserve was divided into three stages depending on the proportion of P. tabulaeformis present, resulting in the following categories: the P. tabulaeformis forest stage, the mixed forest stage, and the near-natural forest stage. Natural secondary forests were selected as a control. We assessed alterations in the soil's fungal functional structures from three aspects: functional mode, vegetative mode, and growth mode, and their responses to vegetation and soil factors were also explored. The results showed that ectomycorrhizal, saprophytic, and plant pathogen types were dominant in the functional mode, and plant pathogens were most abundant in the P. tabulaeformis forest stage. Meanwhile, ectomycorrhizal fungi were the least abundant in the near-natural forest stage. In the vegetative mode, saprophytic, pathophysiological, and symbiotic types were dominant, and pathophysiological types were the most abundant in the P. tabulaeformis forest stage. In the growth mode, microfungi dominated, and the abundance of clavarioid decreased with near-naturalization. The degree of variation in functional structure in the three dimensions increased with near-naturalization, but the structure of natural secondary forests converged. The species composition of tree layer obviously affected the abundance and functional structure of fungi in the three modes, among which Quercus mongolia and Carpinus hornbeam were the most significant. The soil's pH and nitrate content significantly affected the structure of the functional mode, and the soil's dry matter content and C/N ratio significantly affected the structure of the vegetative mode. In this study, we explored the interaction between the plant community and soil ecological system during the near-naturalization process of plantations in terms of soil fungi functions, further clarifying the role of soil functions in the succession of plant communities and providing a new perspective on the in-depth exploration of ecosystem interactions during the succession of plantations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Management interventions are pivotal in shaping the ecosystems, particularly grassland habitats. This study examines the effects of cutting and burning treatments on vegetation composition, physical properties, and herbivore utilization patterns in Baghaura grassland, situated within Bardia National Park, Nepal. The study considers three treatment plots: cutting only, both cutting and burning, and burning only. Vegetation composition is evaluated using the point intercept method within 1 × 1 m quadrats. Grass samples are collected and weighed for fresh weight determination. Subsequently, samples are separated into green leaf, green stem, dead leaf, and dead stem components, and biomass and leaf‐stem proportion are calculated. The burned plots, characterized by Imperata cylindrica dominance, exhibit the highest species diversity. Furthermore, the burned‐only plots demonstrate significantly greater species height. Cut‐only plots display a higher proportion of green leaves and green stems, while the burned‐only plots exhibit higher mean dry biomass in dead leaves and dead stems. Grazing intensity is notably higher in the cut‐and‐burned plots. The regression model (y = −1.4095x + 98.4948) indicates a subtle, statistically nonsignificant relationship (R2 = 0.0395, p = 0.3205) between grazing intensity and grass height with low grazer diversity (H′ = 0.7). The study suggests that implementing small‐scale cutting followed by controlled burning during the dry season can provide herbivores with fresh, high‐quality forage throughout the year, thereby meeting their nutritional needs. These findings enhance our understanding of the effects of management interventions on grassland ecosystems and can inform the development of sustainable conservation strategies for similar habitats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Changing built-up area is the obvious reason for the fluctuation of land surface temperature phenomena that leads to a distressing urban environment. Urban vegetation has the potential to minimize the land surface temperature intensity. The present study investigated the relationship between land surface temperature (LST) and vegetation patterns in Asansol Municipal Corporation. Landsat 5 TM and Landsat 8 OLI satellite images for the years 1991 and 2021 were used for analysis of landscape metrics viz., class area, patch density, edge density, and mean shape index. Correlation techniques were applied to depict the association between the variables. The study concludes that vegetation configuration has no significant relationship with LST during the study period. However, the vegetation composition is slightly associated with LST which suggests that vegetation composition may play a crucial role in mitigating the LST phenomenon. However, the relationship is very complex and varies spatially and scale-wise. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Woody Plant Encroachment (WPE) is a key driver of grassland collapse in the Southern Great Plain (SGP), resulting in a series of adverse ecological and socioeconomic consequences. Climate change will interact with ongoing WPE as it will likely shift the potential ranges of WPE species. In this study, we employed an ensemble approach integrating results from multiple Species Distribution Models to project future distribution ranges of four major WPE species (Ashe juniper, honey mesquite, post oak, and eastern redcedar) in the SGP across the 21st century. The findings highlighted a noteworthy trend: under future climate conditions, the distribution ranges for these WPE species were projected to shift northward and eastward. Of particular concern is honey mesquite with significant expansion in distribution range, potentially covering up to two‐thirds of the SGP's non‐agricultural area by the end of the 21st century. Conversely, the other three WPE species were expected to experience a contraction in their distribution ranges. Ashe juniper may experience a decline in its current habitats in central Texas but gain new habitats in northern Texas, Oklahoma, and Kansas. The suitable ranges of post oak and eastern redcedar were projected to shrink eastward, primarily being restricted to eastern portions of Oklahoma and Texas under the RCP4.5 and a smaller area in eastern Oklahoma under the RCP8.5. The projected shift in WPE ranges provides a scientific basis for governments to optimize the allocation of management resources and implement timely practices to control the spread of woody plants during the early encroachment stage. Our study methodology is applicable to other regions and continents with WPE issues, including Africa, South America, and Australia. Plain Language Summary: In the Southern Great Plains, the spread of woody plants like Ashe juniper, honey mesquite, post oak, and eastern redcedar is reducing grassland area and causing a series of environmental and socioeconomic problems, such as the decline in livestock carrying capacity and reduction in water availability. Future climates could change where these plants can grow. Our study is to look at how these woody plants might change their distribution pattern in the future. We found that as the climate changes, these woody plants will likely move north and east. This means honey mesquite could take over a significant portion of the Southern Great Plains by the end of the century. But while honey mesquite spreads, the other three plants might shrink in range. Ashe juniper could lose some of its current habitat but gain new areas in northern Texas, Oklahoma, and Kansas. Post oak and eastern redcedar might only be able to grow in smaller areas in eastern Oklahoma and Texas. Knowing how these woody plants will change in their distribution can help governments develop better strategies to prevent the further loss of grasslands and the related ecological and economic benefits. Key Points: Distribution ranges for encroaching woody species in the Southern Great Plains will shift northward and eastward under future climatesHoney mesquite will undergo significant expansion potentially covering two‐thirds of the non‐agricultural area by the end of the centuryThis study provides a scientific basis for optimizing the allocation of management resources to control the spread of woody plants [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Globally, environmental degradation has prompted several countries to strengthen their protected area networks to halt biodiversity loss. National parks incorporate into their design, are based on scientific evidence, and offer a complete management mechanism to enable successful conservation for the most ecologically critical and vulnerable ecosystem. However, managing these protected areas effectively requires a grasp of the complex dynamics of plant ecosystems and edaphic factors. Nevertheless, Pakistan's protected areas have seen the least investigation of these relationships. To fill this knowledge gap, this study investigates the vegetation dynamics and edaphic factors that influence plant distribution in Kala Chitta National Park of Pakistan. A comprehensive botanical survey documented 203 plant species across 60 study sites, revealing a diverse flora comprising species from 160 genera and 54 families. The most abundant families were Poaceae (34 species) and Fabaceae (21 species), Amaranthaceae (13 species) and Asteraceae (15 species). The majority of species were herbaceous (49.2%), followed by grasses (16.7%) and shrubs (15.2%). Climbers and ferns constituted 1.4% and 1.9% of the total, respectively, with co-dominant habits of tall reed and sedge accounting for 2.9% of the vegetation. Ecologically, Therophytes emerged as the most numerous life forms (42.8%), followed by hemicryptophytes (17.7%) and megaphanerophytes (8.3%). Analysis of leaf spectra revealed Nanophylls as the dominant type (36.9%), followed by Microphylls (33%). Phytogeographical distribution highlighted three major clusters, with Asia Tropical, Asia Temperate, and Europe accounting for 45% of species. Four distinct plant communities were identified using TWINSPAN analysis: Senegalia-Dichanthium-Justica (SDJ), Neltuma-Lantana-Cannabis (NLC), Prosopis-Saccharum-Desmostachya (PSD), and Dodonaea-Alhagi-Oxalis (DAO). Each community exhibited unique species compositions and ecological gradients influenced by edaphic factors. PCA revealed associations between specific edaphic variables and plant communities, with available phosphorus (AP) and potassium (AK) linked to the NLC community. At the same time, total nitrogen (TN) was predominantly associated with the DAO community. These findings highlight the importance of soil conservation and sustainable land management practices for preserving biodiversity and ecosystem integrity within Kala Chitta National Park. Future research should focus on long-term monitoring of vegetation dynamics and collaborative conservation initiatives involving local stakeholders to promote ecosystem resilience in the face of environmental change.

Lowland tropical rainforests provide an abundance of biodiversity as well as dynamic and stable ecosystems. These forests include tropical peat forests in various locations and forest types that have vegetation structure and composition characteristics, and carbon stocks that still need to be explored more deeply. Research on the structure and the composition of the vegetation and carbon stock in the old secondary peat forest was carried out in the protected areas of Bukit Batu, Riau Province, and Muara Merang, South Sumatra Province. Based on a 1-hectare permanent plot established in Bukit Batu and Muara Merang, 25 subplots of 20 m by 20 m were established in each location for measurement purposes. The results showed that Bukit Batu and Muara Merang had 42 and 36 species belonging to 26 and 20 families, respectively. Bukit Batu had a species diversity index (H') of 2.93, and the dominant tree species were Palaquium xanthochymum with an importance value index (IVI) = 66.27%, Eugenia sp. (IVI = 32.76%), and Litsea sp. (IVI = 18.39%). The Muara Merang location had a species diversity index (H') of 2.82, and the dominant tree species were Eugenia sp. (IVI = 60.88%), Alseodaphne insignis (IVI = 26.34%), and Adenanthera pavonina (IVI = 22.11%). In Bukit Batu, forest stands with a diameter of ≥10 cm contained a biomass of 178.10 tonnes/ha and carbon stock of 83.70 tonnes C/ha, which is equal to 307.20 tonnes CO2/ha. Meanwhile, in Muara Merang, it was 190.41 tonnes/ha and 89.49 tonnes C/ha, which is equal to 328.44 tonnes CO2/ha. This research, especially that in Bukit Batu, Riau Province, enriches the data and information available to date and is very useful in supporting restoration practices in Riau Province's Giam Siak Kecil Biosphere Reserve, which was designated by UNESCO as part of the Man and Biosphere Program. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anthropogenic climate change is increasing the occurrence of wildfires, especially in northern high latitudes, leading to a shift in land surface climate. This study aims to determine the predominant climatic effects of fires in boreal forests to assess their impact on vegetation composition, surface albedo, and snow dynamics. The influence of fire-induced changes on Earth's radiative forcing is investigated, while considering variations in burn severity and postfire vegetation structure. Six burn sites are explored in central Alaska's boreal region, alongside six control sites, by utilizing Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS)-derived albedo, Leaf Area Index (LAI), snowmelt timing data, AmeriFlux radiation, National Land Cover Database (NLCD) land cover, and Monitoring Trends in Burn Severity (MTBS) data. Key findings reveal significant postfire shifts in land cover at each site, mainly from high- to low-stature vegetation. A continuous increase in postfire surface albedo and negative surface shortwave forcing was noted even after 12 years postfire, particularly during the spring and at high-severity burn areas. Results indicate that the cooling effect from increased albedo during the snow season may surpass the warming effects of earlier snowmelt. The overall climate impact of fires depends on burn severity and vegetation composition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Forest ecosystem attributes and their spatial variation across the landscape have the potential to subsequently influence variations in fire behavior. Understanding this variation is critical to fire managers in their ability to predict fire behavior and rate of spread. However, a fine-scale description of fuel patterns and their relationship with overstory and understory attributes for north-central Appalachia is lacking due to the complicated quantification of variations in topography, forest attributes, and their interactions. To better understand the fire environment in north-central Appalachia and provide a comprehensive evaluation based on fine-scale topography, ninety-four plots were established across different aspects and slope positions within an oak–hickory forest located in southeast Ohio, USA, which historically fell within fire regime group I with a fire return interval ranging from 7 to 26 years. The data collected from these plots were analyzed by four components of the fire environment, which include the overstory, understory, shrub and herbaceous layers, surface fuels, and fuel conditions. The results reveal that fuel bed composition changed across aspects and slope position, and it is a primary factor that influences the environment where fire occurs. Specifically, the oak fuel load was highest on south-facing slopes and in upper slope positions, while maple fuel loads were similar across all aspects and slope positions. Oak and maple basal areas were the most significant factors in predicting the oak and maple fuel load, respectively. In the shrub and undergrowth layers, woody plant coverage was higher in upper slope positions compared to lower slope positions. Overstory canopy closure displayed a significant negative correlation with understory trees/ha and woody plant variables. The findings in this study can provide a better understanding of fine-scale fuel bed and vegetation characteristics, which can subsequently feed into fire behavior modeling research in north-central Appalachia based on the different characterizations of the fire environment by landscape position. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aiming to understand the responses of soil seed bank to different water levels, we investigated vegetation and soil seed bank along a water level gradient (frequently flooded area, unflooded area) on the floodplain wetland of Juzhang River. We used the structural equation model to explore the direct and indirect effects of water level on soil seed bank, and used non-metric multidimensional scaling (NMDS) to assess the role of soil seed bank for vegetation regeneration. The results showed that the density of transient and persistent seed banks at unflooded area was 36.9% and 7.8% higher than that of frequently flooded area, respectively. Shannon index and Pielou index of seed bank and vegetation were significantly affected by water level and sampling location. Water level significantly affected the similarity between seed bank and aboveground vegetation, and the similarity of persistent seed bank with aboveground vegetation was significantly higher than that with transient seed bank. Structural equation model showed that water level had a direct effect on seed bank density, and indirect effects on density and richness of seed bank via affecting soil pH and NH4+-N content. NMDS results showed that there was no significant difference in the composition of the persistent seed bank and vegetation community in autumn under different water levels, but water level significantly changed the community composition of transient seed bank. Transient seed bank was affected by the vegetation and soil property, while persistent seed bank was determined by aboveground vegetation and water level. Although soil seed bank had low regeneration potential for the vegetation communities in floodplain wetlands, soil seed bank could not be neglected during the restoration of propagule diversity after disturbance in wetlands. Persistent seed bank would be an importance source of diversity of propagules for floodplain wetlands restoration following disturbance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Temperate broadleaf forests in the Western Himalaya support a large number of local agro-pastoral communities and provide numerous ecosystem services. Several authors have raised serious concerns about the sustainability of current extractive pressures in these forests. We conducted a detailed ecological study on different forests in Askot Wildlife Sanctuary area to assess their current status in terms of species composition and regeneration of dominant tree species. We quantified structure and composition, population structure and regeneration pattern in six major forest types and compared the findings of a previous study conducted by other authors in the same area about 20 years ago. A total of 180 plots in 18 sites were sampled following the standard phytosociological methods. Canonical component analysis was used to predict the impact of environmental factors on forest communities, and land use land cover changes detected influence of ongoing anthropogenic pressures in the area. The study revealed that extractive pressures in the study area have increased since then, which resulted in the decline of the forested area. However, there has been an expansion of Macaranga pustulata, Quercus leucotrichophora and Quercus lanuginosa since the year 2000 and there is a decline in the regeneration of Quercus semecarpifolia. Considering the significance of high-altitude forests and the ecological sensitivity of Q. semecarpifolia, it is recommended to initiate urgent conservation measures in the region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Management interventions are pivotal in shaping the ecosystems, particularly grassland habitats. This study examines the effects of cutting and burning treatments on vegetation composition, physical properties, and herbivore utilization patterns in Baghaura grassland, situated within Bardia National Park, Nepal. The study considers three treatment plots: cutting only, both cutting and burning, and burning only. Vegetation composition is evaluated using the point intercept method within 1 × 1 m quadrats. Grass samples are collected and weighed for fresh weight determination. Subsequently, samples are separated into green leaf, green stem, dead leaf, and dead stem components, and biomass and leaf‐stem proportion are calculated. The burned plots, characterized by Imperata cylindrica dominance, exhibit the highest species diversity. Furthermore, the burned‐only plots demonstrate significantly greater species height. Cut‐only plots display a higher proportion of green leaves and green stems, while the burned‐only plots exhibit higher mean dry biomass in dead leaves and dead stems. Grazing intensity is notably higher in the cut‐and‐burned plots. The regression model (y = −1.4095x + 98.4948) indicates a subtle, statistically nonsignificant relationship (R2 = 0.0395, p = 0.3205) between grazing intensity and grass height with low grazer diversity (H′ = 0.7). The study suggests that implementing small‐scale cutting followed by controlled burning during the dry season can provide herbivores with fresh, high‐quality forage throughout the year, thereby meeting their nutritional needs. These findings enhance our understanding of the effects of management interventions on grassland ecosystems and can inform the development of sustainable conservation strategies for similar habitats.

Abstract Woody Plant Encroachment (WPE) is a key driver of grassland collapse in the Southern Great Plain (SGP), resulting in a series of adverse ecological and socioeconomic consequences. Climate change will interact with ongoing WPE as it will likely shift the potential ranges of WPE species. In this study, we employed an ensemble approach integrating results from multiple Species Distribution Models to project future distribution ranges of four major WPE species (Ashe juniper, honey mesquite, post oak, and eastern redcedar) in the SGP across the 21st century. The findings highlighted a noteworthy trend: under future climate conditions, the distribution ranges for these WPE species were projected to shift northward and eastward. Of particular concern is honey mesquite with significant expansion in distribution range, potentially covering up to two‐thirds of the SGP's non‐agricultural area by the end of the 21st century. Conversely, the other three WPE species were expected to experience a contraction in their distribution ranges. Ashe juniper may experience a decline in its current habitats in central Texas but gain new habitats in northern Texas, Oklahoma, and Kansas. The suitable ranges of post oak and eastern redcedar were projected to shrink eastward, primarily being restricted to eastern portions of Oklahoma and Texas under the RCP4.5 and a smaller area in eastern Oklahoma under the RCP8.5. The projected shift in WPE ranges provides a scientific basis for governments to optimize the allocation of management resources and implement timely practices to control the spread of woody plants during the early encroachment stage. Our study methodology is applicable to other regions and continents with WPE issues, including Africa, South America, and Australia.

Ethiopian Orthodox churches are significant habitats for endemic and threatened plant species, yet their vegetation status and the land use systems impacting them, are little known. Therefore, this study assessed the land use and land cover changes (LULCC) within a 3 km buffer area and the woody vegetation status of the Tsimur Gebriel Monastery in the Tigray region, Northern Ethiopia. The United States Geological Survey's multi-dated (1986, 1999, and 2018) Landsat imagery was used for LULCC analysis. A supervised classification technique was employed for image classification using a maximum likelihood algorithm. Systematic sampling techniques were used to collect vegetation data (tree species, height, and DBH), using 20 sample plots (20 × 20 m) distanced 100 m apart. The results highlighted that among the five identified LULCC types in the buffer zone of the monastery, the farmland area has expanded from 56 to 78 % at the expense of shrublands between 1986 and 2018. At the monastery, 19 woody tree species from 13 families were identified, with an evenness of 0.5 and a Shannon diversity index of 2.4. The stem density was 336 stems per hectare, and the forest cover was approximately 65 %. Olea europaea was the dominant tree species, while Juniperus procera showed a lack of regeneration at the monastery. Despite the fair natural regeneration, the monastery exhibited lower species diversity, richness, and evenness. However, the monastery remains an important habitat for rare and threatened tree species and may supply seeds for the restoration of degraded lands. Therefore, establishing exclosures in the buffer zone, strengthening stone walls and enrichment planting of degraded tree species should be implemented to ensure the sustainable conservation of valuable tree species.

The edge is a meeting place between two ecosystems, or it can also be interpreted as a boundary where two habitats meet and interact. The presence of edges can create an edge effect and increase richness and species abundance. In the present study, we analyzed how edge and vegetation diversity affect a) bird communities and b) how birds respond to edges. Observation plots were placed in jamblang stands and coconut plantations (edge and interior). Bird communities were observed using point counts with a fixed radius of 25 m, and the distance between plots was 50 m. A survey of vegetation diversity was conducted using a combination of the transect and plot methods. The research showed that the highest species richness and diversity of birds (128 individuals of 18 species) and vegetation (168 individuals of 20 species) were found at the edge, although there were only slight differences in the number of species in each habitat. This was influenced by the structure and composition of the vegetation at the observation site. Nevertheless, this proves that the edge effect shapes the composition of bird communities. There are 9 species of bird can be mapped into 4 response models: generalis neutral, generalist edge exploiter, specialist edge exploiter, and edge specialist. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Peatlands are carbon sinks and have the potential to mitigate global warming. However, it is unclear whether peatlands will remain carbon sinks or switch to carbon sources under global changes, such as climate warming, elevated nitrogen (N) deposition and vegetation composition change.In this study, these global changes were mimicked in a boreal peatland for 7 years to explore the interactions of climate warming, elevated N deposition and vegetation composition on the carbon sink function of peatlands.The results showed that warming has a limited effect on net ecosystem production (NEP), while N addition decreased NEP by 65% owing to the detrimental effect on Sphagnum mosses. The negative impact of N addition on NEP could be mitigated by warming under intact vegetation. Under the treatment of graminoid removal, warming and elevated N addition (WN) decreased NEP by 80%–106%. Under the treatment of shrub removal, 7 years of WN treatment did not affect NEP. These results highlight the importance of vegetation composition in regulating net CO2 flux in peatlands. If peatlands shift to shrub‐dominated ecosystems, the net CO2 uptake in peatlands would be decreased under climate warming and elevated N deposition. If peatlands shift to graminoid‐dominated ecosystems, the net CO2 uptake in peatlands would be unaltered under climate warming and elevated N deposition.This study sheds new light on the interactions of climate warming, elevated N deposition, and vegetation composition change on the CO2 uptake of peatlands; and could help accurately evaluate the carbon sink function of peatlands under future global change. Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Questions: Does the non‐native evergreen Chinese windmill palm (Trachycarpus fortunei) affect native plant community and forest regeneration in deciduous forests? Are effects modulated by soil moisture? What are the implications for forest management and nature conservation? Location: Broadleaved deciduous low‐elevation forests on the southern slope of the Alps across the Swiss–Italian border region. Methods: We compared the native herbaceous and woody plant composition, species richness, Shannon diversity and abundance at ten deciduous forest sites on two moisture conditions (six mesic–moist sites and four mesic–dry sites). Each site consisted of three plots measuring 400 m2 along a gradient of T. fortunei presence, ranging from "dominant", to "present but not dominant" to "absent". Results: In mesic–moist forests with high densities of T. fortunei, species richness and Shannon diversity of native plants and recruiting woody species in the herb and shrub layers were significantly reduced compared to similar sites where T. fortunei is absent or not dominant. However, in mesic–dry forests these variables did not differ between palm‐invaded and uninvaded plots. The abundance of recruiting woody individuals did not differ between plots invaded by palms and uninvaded control plots in either forest type. Conclusions: We expect detrimental consequences for plant diversity in mesic–moist alluvial forests with high T. fortunei densities and few detrimental consequences in the more widespread non‐alluvial forests. We recommend multifaceted management, including targeted eradication in alluvial forests identified as hotspots of native plant diversity, accompanied by hands‐off management of T. fortunei in non‐alluvial forests, recognizing the ongoing and inevitable "laurophyllisation"; a biome shift toward mixed‐evergreen forest that may increase ecosystem climate resilience under ongoing climatic warming. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Evaluate the effect of fire on natural regeneration and forest species diversity in a medium superennifolia forest in southeastern Mexico. Design/methodology/approach: Natural regeneration was classified into three height categories (0 to 30 cm, 31 cm to 1 m and 1 to 3 m) and trees in three forest sites burned and unburnt by fire. Results: A total of 1193 individuals belonging to 69 species in 29 taxonomic families were recorded. Regeneration from 0 to 30 cm presented significant differences in species diversity in unburnt forest sites, while in regeneration from 1 to 3 m in burned forest sites. Limitations on study/implications: These types of studies are a first approximation to natural regeneration after a fire in tropical forests, so it is important to maintain permanent sites to monitor the recovery of ecosystems and thus be able to establish management strategies for the restoration of these ecosystems. Findings/conclusions: Regeneration after the fire was established with a low but constant number of species, indicating a tendency towards vegetation resilience. This information allows government institutions to make better decisions on the management and prevention of these ecosystems in Mexico. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The edge is a meeting place between two ecosystems, or it can also be interpreted as a boundary where two habitats meet and interact. The presence of edges can create an edge effect and increase richness and species abundance. In the present study, we analyzed how edge and vegetation diversity affect a) bird communities and b) how birds respond to edges. Observation plots were placed in jamblang stands and coconut plantations (edge and interior). Bird communities were observed using point counts with a fixed radius of 25 m, and the distance between plots was 50 m. A survey of vegetation diversity was conducted using a combination of the transect and plot methods. The research showed that the highest species richness and diversity of birds (128 individuals of 18 species) and vegetation (168 individuals of 20 species) were found at the edge, although there were only slight differences in the number of species in each habitat. This was influenced by the structure and composition of the vegetation at the observation site. Nevertheless, this proves that the edge effect shapes the composition of bird communities. There are 9 species of bird can be mapped into 4 response models: generalis neutral, generalist edge exploiter, specialist edge exploiter, and edge specialist.

Variations in vegetation composition and structure are significant signals of the succession of mudflat ecosystems and have important indicative roles in mudflat ecosystem degradation. Due to poor accessibility of vast even mudflat areas, variation in vegetation composition and structure across mudflat areas remains unclear in the Yellow River Delta (YRD), China. We provided an UAV multispectral orthomosaic with 10 cm ground sample distance to classify and compare the vegetation composition and structure across mudflat areas in the YRD. The vegetation classification overall accuracy achieved 95.0%. We found that although a significant difference (p < 0.05) was checked out in terms of the Shannon–Wiener diversity index (from 1.33 to 0.92) and evenness index (from 0.96 to 0.66) among the eight subareas from land to sea, all four dominant vegetation communities (S. salsa, L. bicolor, T. chinensis, and P. australis) were discovered at all eight subareas. Our findings support the idea that the regional environment and local microtopography are the predominant forces for variation in vegetation composition and structure across mudflat areas. From the perspective of vegetation restoration and conservation, changing the local microtopography will be an interesting way to enhance the vegetation diversity of the mudflat ecosystems in the YRD.

Previous studies have provided valuable insights into the impact of green space (GS) on land surface temperature (LST). However, there is a need for in-depth comparative research on changing landscape patterns in cities and their effects on the urban thermal environment. This study investigates the spatial arrangement of GS and the influence of impervious surfaces on LST in urban areas, examining their cooling and warming effects in the urban landscapes of Beijing and Islamabad. The study aims to assess the impact of the spatial arrangement of GS on LST using a moving window of 1 km2 to analyze the overall effect of landscape patterns on the urban environment. Using Gaofen (GF–2) and Landsat–8 satellite data, we examined the biophysical surface properties of core urban areas. The results indicate a significant difference in the mean LST of 5.44 °C and 3.31 °C between impervious surfaces and GS in Beijing and Islamabad, respectively. The barren land and GS in Islamabad experience a higher LST of 3.39 °C compared to Beijing, which accounts for 1.39 °C. In Beijing, configuration metrics show no significant effect on urban LST, while edge density (ED) exhibits a slightly negative trend. In contrast, in the city of Islamabad, the landscape shape index (LSI), patch density (PD), and number of patches (NP) metrics have a significant influence on LST. The cooling effect of GS patches (0.1–0.5 ha) is more pronounced, while that of GS patches of 15–20 ha shows no significant effect on LST. The temperature difference (TD) of 5.01 °C was observed from the edge of GS in Beijing and 3.3 °C in Islamabad. Considering Islamabad's lush green scape compared to Beijing, this study suggests that Islamabad may experience an increase in LST in the future due to urbanization. This study's findings may assist urban policy-makers in designing sustainable green city layouts that effectively address future planning considerations.

Aims: Silicon (Si) is an essential element for siliceous organisms, including macrophytes, phytoplankton, and diatoms. Coastal wetlands are critical for bridging the river-estuary-ocean continuum to drive the biogeochemical Si cycles. However, it remains unclear about the contents and distribution patterns of bioavailable Si in soils under various scenarios, and their environmental controls in coastal wetlands. Methods: We conducted a nationwide sampling campaign across ca. 5000 km of coastal wetlands, covering temperate, subtropical, and tropical climates in China, and quantified plant available Si (ASi) using calcium chloride extractable Si (Si-CaCl2). Results: S. alterniflora invasion did not significantly influence ASi content. In contrast, ASi content in the subtropical zone was higher than in the both temperate (medium) and tropical zones (lowest). ASi content was significantly positively correlated with nutrients (i.e., soil organic carbon (SOC), total nitrogen (TN), and total phosphorus (TP)), soil water content (SWC), clay and silt contents, but negatively with soil bulk density (BD) and sand content. ASi content, in detail, increased with increasing pH (pH < 7) but decreased with increasing pH (pH > 7), showing a quadratic function relationship. Conclusions: ASi in coastal wetlands was predominately directly influenced by pH, particle size, and nutrients of coastal soil, while vegetation compositions and plant-derived lignin (Λ8) inputs illustrated a minor effect on ASi patterns. Mean annual temperature (MAT) and precipitation (MAP) indirectly regulated ASi content via affecting soil geochemistry and nutrients distribution. Taken together, ASi distribution are mostly controlled by primary pedogenesis and specific weathering processes in China's coastal wetlands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lowland tropical rainforests provide an abundance of biodiversity as well as dynamic and stable ecosystems. These forests include tropical peat forests in various locations and forest types that have vegetation structure and composition characteristics, and carbon stocks that still need to be explored more deeply. Research on the structure and the composition of the vegetation and carbon stock in the old secondary peat forest was carried out in the protected areas of Bukit Batu, Riau Province, and Muara Merang, South Sumatra Province. Based on a 1-hectare permanent plot established in Bukit Batu and Muara Merang, 25 subplots of 20 m by 20 m were established in each location for measurement purposes. The results showed that Bukit Batu and Muara Merang had 42 and 36 species belonging to 26 and 20 families, respectively. Bukit Batu had a species diversity index (H’) of 2.93, and the dominant tree species were Palaquium xanthochymum with an importance value index (IVI) = 66.27%, Eugenia sp. (IVI = 32.76%), and Litsea sp. (IVI = 18.39%). The Muara Merang location had a species diversity index (H’) of 2.82, and the dominant tree species were Eugenia sp. (IVI = 60.88%), Alseodaphne insignis (IVI = 26.34%), and Adenanthera pavonina (IVI = 22.11%). In Bukit Batu, forest stands with a diameter of ≥10 cm contained a biomass of 178.10 tonnes/ha and carbon stock of 83.70 tonnes C/ha, which is equal to 307.20 tonnes CO2/ha. Meanwhile, in Muara Merang, it was 190.41 tonnes/ha and 89.49 tonnes C/ha, which is equal to 328.44 tonnes CO2/ha. This research, especially that in Bukit Batu, Riau Province, enriches the data and information available to date and is very useful in supporting restoration practices in Riau Province’s Giam Siak Kecil Biosphere Reserve, which was designated by UNESCO as part of the Man and Biosphere Program.

Forest ecosystem attributes and their spatial variation across the landscape have the potential to subsequently influence variations in fire behavior. Understanding this variation is critical to fire managers in their ability to predict fire behavior and rate of spread. However, a fine-scale description of fuel patterns and their relationship with overstory and understory attributes for north-central Appalachia is lacking due to the complicated quantification of variations in topography, forest attributes, and their interactions. To better understand the fire environment in north-central Appalachia and provide a comprehensive evaluation based on fine-scale topography, ninety-four plots were established across different aspects and slope positions within an oak–hickory forest located in southeast Ohio, USA, which historically fell within fire regime group I with a fire return interval ranging from 7 to 26 years. The data collected from these plots were analyzed by four components of the fire environment, which include the overstory, understory, shrub and herbaceous layers, surface fuels, and fuel conditions. The results reveal that fuel bed composition changed across aspects and slope position, and it is a primary factor that influences the environment where fire occurs. Specifically, the oak fuel load was highest on south-facing slopes and in upper slope positions, while maple fuel loads were similar across all aspects and slope positions. Oak and maple basal areas were the most significant factors in predicting the oak and maple fuel load, respectively. In the shrub and undergrowth layers, woody plant coverage was higher in upper slope positions compared to lower slope positions. Overstory canopy closure displayed a significant negative correlation with understory trees/ha and woody plant variables. The findings in this study can provide a better understanding of fine-scale fuel bed and vegetation characteristics, which can subsequently feed into fire behavior modeling research in north-central Appalachia based on the different characterizations of the fire environment by landscape position.

Anthropogenic climate change is increasing the occurrence of wildfires, especially in northern high latitudes, leading to a shift in land surface climate. This study aims to determine the predominant climatic effects of fires in boreal forests to assess their impact on vegetation composition, surface albedo, and snow dynamics. The influence of fire-induced changes on Earth’s radiative forcing is investigated, while considering variations in burn severity and postfire vegetation structure. Six burn sites are explored in central Alaska’s boreal region, alongside six control sites, by utilizing Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS)-derived albedo, Leaf Area Index (LAI), snowmelt timing data, AmeriFlux radiation, National Land Cover Database (NLCD) land cover, and Monitoring Trends in Burn Severity (MTBS) data. Key findings reveal significant postfire shifts in land cover at each site, mainly from high- to low-stature vegetation. A continuous increase in postfire surface albedo and negative surface shortwave forcing was noted even after 12 years postfire, particularly during the spring and at high-severity burn areas. Results indicate that the cooling effect from increased albedo during the snow season may surpass the warming effects of earlier snowmelt. The overall climate impact of fires depends on burn severity and vegetation composition.

Dust deposition can fertilize nutrient-limited peatlands and affect their plant assemblages and ecosystem functions, but the effects of local road dust on peatlands have seldom been studied. Here, we investigate the responses of vegetation composition and surface chemistry (vegetation, surface peat, and groundwater chemistry) at three ombrotrophic peatlands: Rivière-au-Tonnerre (RT), Chemin de l'Anse-de-la-Grande-Pointe (GP), and Kegaska (KEG) in eastern Québec, Canada, to varying levels of road dust deposition with differential chemical composition. At each site, a transect aligned with the dominant wind direction, starting at and perpendicular to the roadside, was sampled at increasing intervals up to 250 m away from the gravel (unpaved) road. We find that the ash content of surface peat is highest closest to the roads at all three sites and decreases exponentially with increasing distance up to 200 m away from the roads. At KEG, with the highest amount of, and the most phosphorus (P) rich, road dust deposition, the ash content is highest among the three sites, decreasing most rapidly with distance away from the road. The stoichiometric mass ratios of carbon (C), nitrogen (N) and P, i.e., C:N, C:P, and N:P, in foliar tissues and surface peat increase significantly with distance away from the road at KEG, and mosses are found to be more responsive in terms of foliar chemistry than shrubs to the road dust deposition. A higher concentration of total dissolved phosphorus at KEG is found closer to the road. At GP, having a moderate amount of road dust deposition, significant increases in C:N, C:P, and N:P ratios with distance are found only in surface peat but not in foliar tissues. Due to the presence of carbonate minerals in the road dust of GP, the calcium (Ca) concentration and pH value of groundwater closer to the road are higher, leading to an obvious loss of vegetation coverage, especially mosses, and a consequent increase in NO3− leaching. In contrast, at RT, having the lowest amount of road dust deposition, only a few clear variation patterns in surface chemistry are found along the sampling transect. Overall, our results suggest that dust from gravel roads can be an important localized source of nutrients for adjacent peatlands and influence their vegetation composition and surface chemistry, depending on the amount of road dust and its chemical composition, especially its contents in Ca and P.

The permafrost properties and cryostructure of Holocene peatlands and underlying the Pre-Holocene deposits within Pur-Taz interfluve in the Northern West Siberia were studied. The cryolithological description, particle size, botanical compositions based on plant macro-fossils, and radiocarbon age from 8500 ± 240 cal BC to 1810 ± 150 cal AD were defined. The polygonal peatlands were formed in lacustrine-bog basins. The "arboreal" horizon at the bottom of the peat, which is characteristic of Northern West Siberia, was identified. This "arboreal" horizon dates to the Boreal and Atlantic periods of the Holocene – 8500 ± 240 cal BC and 7390 ± 210 cal BC, which explains the occurrence of forest tundra in the area of typical modern tundra during the Holocene Climatic Optimum. The vegetation composition of peat-forming plants, the ash content, and the decomposition degree of organic matter were controlled by changing natural conditions and dynamics of peat accumulation during the Holocene: flooding and burial of woody vegetation, overgrowing and eutrophication of water bodies, the gradual accumulation of peat and syngenetic ice-wedge polygon formation, peat accumulation slowing caused by drainage of drained lake basin surface. Organic frost boils on the peatland surface indicate modern deepening of the permafrost Table and are related to an increase of the microorganism activity in the thawed, poorly decomposed peat. The peat accumulation rate was about 1 mm per year. A 2-m peat layer containing ground ice has accumulated over 2500 years. The purpose of the present work is study of the history of the vegetation on the northern limits of treeline. Examination of the peat, macrofossil, decomposition degree, and ash content history of a peat sections on the Pur-Taz Interfluve in North-Western Siberia, provides a long-term view of vegetation dynamics, peatland change, and climate history during the Holocene at the Arctic treeline. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the study was to investigate the vegetation composition, structure, and regeneration status of Dabena woodland in western Ethiopia. Representative and relatively homogeneous vegetation units of sampling sites were selected on the basis of physiognomy. Vegetation data was collected from a sample of 92 plots each 400 m2 placed on transects lines, which were systematically laid. The distance between two consecutive transects was 300 m and the sampling plots were laid at 200 m interval. All vascular plant species were recorded in each plot. The DBH, height, basal area, woody species density, and IVI were used for collection of vegetation structure. Vegetation study revealed a total of 239 species with 187 genera and 76 families were recorded from the Dabena Woodland vegetation. Fabaceae, Poaceae, Asteraceae and Euphorbiaceae were the four most dominant families represented by 21 (8.8%), 18 (7.5%), 18 (7.5%) and 13 (5.4%) species, respectively. Herbs 82 species (35%) had the highest composition. Out of the 239 species identified, 13 were endemic, comprising 5.44% of the total species composition of the study area. The vegetation structure analysis reveals that a large number of individual woody species was distributed in the lower DBH and height classes. The regeneration analysis for priority setting of plant conservation indicates that most of woody species were not represented by seedlings and saplings. Thus, most of woody species in Dabena woodland needs high conservation priority. Accordingly, woody species those not represented by seedlings and saplings should be given the highest conservation priority. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To explore whether there were differences among the patterns of response of grasslands with different levels of degradation to extreme drought events and nitrogen addition, three grasslands along a degradation gradient (extremely, moderately, and lightly degraded) were selected in the Bashang area of northern China using the human disturbance index (HDI). A field experiment with simulated extreme spring drought, nitrogen addition, and their interaction was conducted during the growing seasons of 2020 and 2021. The soil moisture, aboveground biomass, and composition of the plant community were measured. The primary results were as follows. (1) Drought treatment caused soil drought stress, with moderately degraded grassland being the most affected, which resulted in an 80% decrease in soil moisture and a 78% decrease in aboveground biomass. The addition of nitrogen did not mitigate the impact of drought. Moreover, the aboveground net primary production (ANPP) in 2021 was less sensitive to spring drought than in 2020. (2) The community composition changed after 2 years of drought treatment, particularly for the moderately degraded grasslands with annual forbs, such as Salsola collina, increasing significantly in biomass proportion, which led to a trend of exacerbated degradation (higher HDI). This degradation trend decreased under the addition of nitrogen. (3) The variation in drought sensitivities of the ANPP was primarily determined by the proportion of plants based on the classification of degradation indicators in the community, with higher proportions of intermediate degradation indicator species exhibiting more sensitivity to spring drought. These findings can help to provide scientific evidence for the governance and restoration of regional degraded grassland under frequent extreme weather conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Currently, woody invasive species cause for environmental and economic impacts and effect on country gross domestic product. This is observed in Borana rangeland where several woody invasive species infestation happened. This paper aimed to estimate environmental and economic cost of woody invasive species focusing on its distribution and abundance using participatory survey approaches. This approach estimates an average cost for each species by a ratio of management costs, and the annually expenditures incurred by a variety of households. Twelve (12) dominating woody invasive species were recorded in Borana rangeland that are encroached major part of grazing area and Acacia species are the most dominant one. Annually, from each household an estimated total of $29.9 million or 1.1 billion Ethiopian birr economic cost was recorded due to encroachment of woody invasive species and annual economic cost per person was around $424 or 15,137 Ethiopian birr. Cost estimates are the highest for Acacia species (Acacia drepanolobium, Acacia bussei and Acacia mellifera) accounting for 66% of the total estimated economic cost, followed by Capparis tomentosa, which also adversely impacts on ecological services. Such economic cost assessment of woody invasive species used as a monetary basis for ranking the species based on their impact and take prioritizing management actions. Further, the cost estimate approach used in this study could help as a model for woody invasive species economic impact assessments in other part of the rangeland area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Loss of biological diversity is one of the greatest challenges that our civilization must face nowadays. Reaction to the diminishing biodiversity of agricultural landscapes is various measures promoting free-living organisms. The study deals with the vegetation composition and structure of agro-environmental-climatic measures applied on arable land in operating conditions (intensively farmed regions of the Czech Republic). Additional study focus was applied to a popular measure of the feeding bio-belts. Bio-belts are not only hiding places for free-living animals but can provide them a rich food offer in the period from the harvest of main crops until winter. Thanks to the bio-belts, the landscape gains in biodiversity, and sloping sites can be protected from soil erosion. The vegetation of land parts used as bio-belts was assessed using phytocoenological relevés. Dominant plant species sown in the bio-belts were Avena sativa, Panicum miliaceum, Brassica oleracea var. acephala, Fagopyrum esculentum, Phacelia tanacetifolia, and Pisum arvense. Apart from the sown plants, there were also weeds occurring in the bio-belts, of which the most abundant were Chenopodium album, Amaranthus retroflexus, Setaria verticillata, Cirsium arvense, Equisetum arvense, etc. Risks connected with the realization of feeding bio-belts in respect of weeds occurring on arable land are negligible. Weeds from bio-belts have only a limited potential to spread to adjacent arable land. A potential spreading of weeds from the bio-belts to adjacent arable land was not demonstrated. On the contrary, thanks to its composition, the vegetation of bio-belts has the potential to extend the food offer for animals. Thus, bio-belts are useful for supporting biodiversity in regions intensively used for agriculture.

Subalpine peat wetlands are extremely sensitive to global environmental changes and anthropogenic disturbances. Unlike most other biological groups, plant species can possess dormant life‐history stages such as the soil seed bank (SSB), which may help plant communities to resist or at least postpone the detrimental impact of disturbance. This study investigates the potential for SSB to achieve this along a soil moisture gradient. Species richness and density of SSB were significantly lower by 31.9% and 47.2% in wetland, and 35.1% and 68.1% in swamp meadow in comparison with steppe meadow, respectively. Soil moisture content did not directly affect the density and species richness of SSB, whilst had indirect effects on density and species richness via affecting vegetation and soil pH. SSB composition was less responsive to soil moisture changes than plant community composition. Furthermore, compositional trends in the annual plant SSB were weaker than in the aboveground vegetation along the soil moisture gradient. The similarity between SSB and vegetation significantly declined with increasing soil moisture content. High SSB diversity and compositional similarity between the vegetation and SSB may provide a potentially important functional buffer against the impact of ongoing moisture changes on plant communities in wetlands. Dormant life‐history stages can therefore be important sources of diversity in changing environments. Furthermore, although SSB has low regeneration potential for the aboveground vegetation communities in subalpine peat wetlands, the SSB would still not be a neglected factor for the restoration of propagule diversity after disturbance in wetlands if hydrology is restored. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Questions: Does grazing management shape the proportion of plant guilds (grasses, legumes, forbs and sedges) in mountain grasslands?Which properties of grazing management have the greatest effect on the proportion of plant guilds: grazer diversity/identity or grazing intensity?Are the effects of grazing management on guild proportion modified by other environmental variables that explain plant guild distribution at broad spatial scales? Location: Mountains in the Pyrenees. Methods: We modelled the proportion of grasses, legumes, forbs and sedges using data from the PASTUS database (n = 96), which contains a wide range of environmental and management conditions due to the high variety of environmental conditions in mountain grasslands in the Pyrenees. We used a machine‐learning algorithm to find those variables that best explained the proportions of each plant guild. We focussed on the differences between the levels of grazing intensity and the grazing species included in the model, and on detecting interactions between grazing variables and climate, topography and soil conditions. Results: The proportion of forbs and grasses strongly depended on the grazing livestock species at broad spatial scales. Only soil pH showed a higher overall explanatory power on guild distribution. In general, forbs were favoured in cattle‐ and grasses in sheep‐grazed grasslands, the latter also being favoured on acidic soils, while forbs were favoured in more alkaline soil conditions. However, the effects of those factors (grazing species and soil pH) were modulated through interactions with several other environmental variables, including soil Mg, K and P, and terrain slope. In contrast, grazing intensity was a minor driver of guild distribution. Conclusions: Our results provide information about the relationship between plant functional diversity, indicated by the different plant guild proportions, and grazing management in the Pyrenean grasslands. This information could be useful for developing hypotheses for future experimental studies and for designing policies to improve the management of mountain grasslands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The characteristics of island vegetation greatly influence the activities of endemic birds in island areas, such as the Moluccan endemic megapodes (Eulipoa wallacei) on Haruku Island. Therefore, it is essential to identify the specific location of the habitat utilized by individual birds for their daily activities on Haruku Island and to analyze the composition of the vegetation and the variety of plant species. Identification of bird habitat locations using radio-tracking on four newly hatched chicks and four adult birds. A total of 330 individual tracking points were recorded during the study period. The vegetation sample used a total of 420 plots for seedlings, saplings, poles, and trees which were then analyzed for importance value index (IVI), diversity, evenness, and similarity. We found that the Tanjung Maleo forest was their nesting habitat, while the Marunimei and Lalean forests were their daily habitats. A total of 91 plant species and 60 plant families were discovered with the vegetation diversity value of the three habitats was moderate (H’mean = 3.07) and tended to be dominated by air plant (Kalanchoe pinnata), sword fern (Nephrolepsis exalta), cogongrass (Imperata cylindrica), coco-grass (Cyperus rotundus), Indian camphorweed (Pluchea indica), and lanzone (Lansium domesticum) (Emean = 0.88), and have a relatively low level of species similarity between habitats (SImean = 38.30%). We found that the daily habitat of the Moluccan megapode on Haruku Island was around their nesting sites and has a complex structure because it was composed four vegetation strata. Therefore, for conservation purposes, habitat management must prioritize preserving forest habitats around the bird nesting sites.

Elevation-for-latitude substitution offers a tool for studying the influence of temperature and precipitation variability on vegetation structure and composition. Understanding how elevation, aspect, and slope influence vegetation patterns may help in predicting how climate change influences human forest usage and in developing strategies for ensuring the sustained provision of ecosystem services. However, most ecological studies have been carried out in protected areas, leaving forest areas used by humans to lesser attention. Therefore, we asked how elevation, aspect, and slope impact the vegetation on a human-influenced mountain. We measured woody vegetation size, richness, and composition on a mountain with plots set systematically in four cardinal directions at 100-m elevational intervals from the peak, from 1900 to 4200 m above sea level, in the Hengduan Mountains in eastern Himalaya, southwestern China. We quantified how tree maximum height, basal area, aboveground biomass (AGB), tree and shrub species richness, and woody species composition changed with elevation, aspect, and slope. Based on generalized linear models, the maximum tree height, tree basal area, and woody species AGB followed a unimodal trend along elevational gradients, with tree height and basal area peaking at 3100 m, while AGB was highest at 3300 m and somewhat higher on the southern slope. Basal area increased with slope degree. Neither tree nor shrub species richness was influenced by elevation, aspect, or slope. According to canonical correspondence analysis and TWINSPAN classification, elevation and north-south orientation of the slope were major factors influencing woody species compositions, and vegetation was classified into five types of communities. Our results indicated that the influences of elevation, aspect, and slope on woody vegetation structure were similar in a human-influenced forested mountain area as in protected mountain landscapes based on the literature. However, as forests in this area are used more intensively at low and middle elevations of the southern and western slopes, where aridity restricts tree size and AGB, climate change is likely to challenge traditional harvesting practices and place pressure on moving forest usage to higher altitudes.

Understanding the relationship between 2D and 3D green indices holds significant implications for governance, especially amid the escalating demand for urban green spaces during rapid urbanization. However, the existing studies reveal inconsistent results pertaining to the relationships between 2D and 3D green indices and lack a systematic examination of spatial attributes' influence on the relationships. This study addresses these gaps by 1) assessing the correlation between 2D and 3D green indices using high-resolution data, 2) identifying spatial attributes that alter the 2D-3D association, and 3) determining the thresholds of spatial attributes that significantly impact the 2D-3D relationships. The Moderation Model was initially introduced to evaluate the mechanisms within its respective field. High-resolution data was collected from a campus, focusing on key spatial attributes: tree cover density (TC), plot ratio (PR), and vegetation composition (VC). NDVI and GVI were chosen to represent the 2D and 3D green index. The results indicate a significant correlation between NDVI and GVI (R=0.478, p<0.005). TC was identified as the fundamental moderator of the association. A medium TC (32.46 %) was the threshold for a significant NDVI - GVI correlation. Only at low TC (0–10.82 %), interactive effects between spatial attributes were observed: VC (type (e)) substituted NDVI to affect GVI directly; Above a PR of 1.95, the correlation between NDVI and GVI diminishes. In general, NDVI cannot substitutes GVI in areas where TC is higher than 32.46 %, or in areas where TC is lower than 10.82 % with many tall buildings (higher than 8 floors). The findings innovatively reveal the dynamic variation and thresholds in the 2D-3D green index relationships based on site-specific attributes rather than the resolution of data. Practically, a decision-making tree of green index governance is then proposed for relevant stakeholders to choose according to different site conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carbon stock assessment in various ecosystems is vital for monitoring the health of these ecosystems and national accounting for the United Nations convention on climate change. The influence of various anthropogenic drivers on carbon stock in different ecosystems has not been examined comprehensively. This study aims to determine the impact of anthropogenic pressures (lopping, cutting, grazing) on soil physico-chemical properties and carbon stock in four temperate broadleaf forests dominated by different species of oak, viz., Banj oak (Quercus leucotrichophora), Rianj oak (Quercus lanuginosa), Moru oak (Quercus floribunda) and Kharsu oak (Quercus semecarpifolia) along an elevation gradient from 1700–3000 m asl in Gori valley, western Himalaya. Biomass data were collected from 120 quadrats of 10 × 10 m size at three distinct altitudes (4 forest sites × 3 altitudes × 10 quadrats) and analysed for carbon stock, whereas soil samples were randomly collected in triplicate from three depths of each altitude of the forest site and further analysed for their physico-chemical properties. A total of 767 individual trees with a diameter of ≥31 cm were measured at twelve sites and standing biomass was estimated following the growing stock volume equations. Mean carbon stock was highest in Moru oak (396.6 ± 29.5 Mg C ha−1) and lowest in Banj oak forest (189.3 ± 48.6 Mg C ha−1). We also found soil to be the largest pool of forest carbon (43.0–59.7%) followed by aboveground biomass (31.5–45.0%), belowground biomass (8.4–11.7%) and litter (0.4–0.5%). The basal area showed significant effect on altitude and carbon stock, whereas disturbance showed significant (p < 0.05) negative correlation with the total carbon stock. Soil nitrogen exhibited a significant positive correlation (R2 = 0.60) with the basal area, indicating that nitrogen enhances tree growth and forest carbon stock. However, anthropogenic disturbance showed a significant negative impact on the basal area, soil nutrients and carbon stock of oak forests. This concludes that forest structure, anthropogenic pressure and soil parameters contribute to the carbon stock of the area. Considering the significance of these overexploited oak forests, it is recommended to conserve the old-growth forest species in the study area, since they have the highest carbon accumulation potential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wild plants are considered promising natural eco-friendly resources for fibers. Leptadenia pyrotechnica is a xerophytic shrub that flourishes in a sandy desert habitat with high biomass production; therefore, it could be a potential resource for fibers. The present study aimed to investigate the vegetation composition of L. pyrotechnica communities and their correlation with soil variables. Additionally, this study aimed to evaluate the anatomical features of the stem as well as fiber characteristics, including chemical, biometry, morphological, and optical properties. The vegetation analysis showed the presence of 60 species belonging to 22 families, with a prevalence of therophytes. Four communities were determined, dominated by L. pyrotechnica and with co-dominance of the shrubs Haloxylon salicornicum, Ochradenus baccatus, and Retama raetam. The soil organic matter, salinity, texture, and cations were parameters that substantially affect the L. pyrotechnica community. The anatomical investigation showed the structural (anatomical) adaptation of L. pyrotechnica to arid habitats. Chemical analysis of the raw plant material revealed satisfactory levels of cellulose and hemicellulose (48.61% and 18.59%), while lignin and ash contents were relatively low, compared to hardwoods and softwoods. The fiber characterization revealed that fibesr length was 0.72 mm, while width and cell wall thickness were 20.46 and 6.48 μm, respectively. The optical properties revealed a birefringence of 0.028, indicating a good refractive index. These fiber characteristics showed that L. pyrotechnica could be used as raw material for the production of good-quality paper. A further feasibility study is recommended for the evaluation of L. pyrotechnica fibers, as a promising resource for papermaking at a large scale. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Loss of biological diversity is one of the greatest challenges that our civilization must face nowadays. Reaction to the diminishing biodiversity of agricultural landscapes is various measures promoting free-living organisms. The study deals with the vegetation composition and structure of agro-environmental-climatic measures applied on arable land in operating conditions (intensively farmed regions of the Czech Republic). Additional study focus was applied to a popular measure of the feeding bio-belts. Bio-belts are not only hiding places for free-living animals but can provide them a rich food offer in the period from the harvest of main crops until winter. Thanks to the bio-belts, the landscape gains in biodiversity, and sloping sites can be protected from soil erosion. The vegetation of land parts used as bio-belts was assessed using phytocoenological relevés. Dominant plant species sown in the bio-belts were Avena sativa, Panicum miliaceum, Brassica oleracea var. acephala, Fagopyrum esculentum, Phacelia tanacetifolia, and Pisum arvense. Apart from the sown plants, there were also weeds occurring in the bio-belts, of which the most abundant were Chenopodium album, Amaranthus retroflexus, Setaria verticillata, Cirsium arvense, Equisetum arvense, etc. Risks connected with the realization of feeding bio-belts in respect of weeds occurring on arable land are negligible. Weeds from bio-belts have only a limited potential to spread to adjacent arable land. A potential spreading of weeds from the bio-belts to adjacent arable land was not demonstrated. On the contrary, thanks to its composition, the vegetation of bio-belts has the potential to extend the food offer for animals. Thus, bio-belts are useful for supporting biodiversity in regions intensively used for agriculture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To explore whether there were differences among the patterns of response of grasslands with different levels of degradation to extreme drought events and nitrogen addition, three grasslands along a degradation gradient (extremely, moderately, and lightly degraded) were selected in the Bashang area of northern China using the human disturbance index (HDI). A field experiment with simulated extreme spring drought, nitrogen addition, and their interaction was conducted during the growing seasons of 2020 and 2021. The soil moisture, aboveground biomass, and composition of the plant community were measured. The primary results were as follows. (1) Drought treatment caused soil drought stress, with moderately degraded grassland being the most affected, which resulted in an 80% decrease in soil moisture and a 78% decrease in aboveground biomass. The addition of nitrogen did not mitigate the impact of drought. Moreover, the aboveground net primary production (ANPP) in 2021 was less sensitive to spring drought than in 2020. (2) The community composition changed after 2 years of drought treatment, particularly for the moderately degraded grasslands with annual forbs, such as Salsola collina, increasing significantly in biomass proportion, which led to a trend of exacerbated degradation (higher HDI). This degradation trend decreased under the addition of nitrogen. (3) The variation in drought sensitivities of the ANPP was primarily determined by the proportion of plants based on the classification of degradation indicators in the community, with higher proportions of intermediate degradation indicator species exhibiting more sensitivity to spring drought. These findings can help to provide scientific evidence for the governance and restoration of regional degraded grassland under frequent extreme weather conditions.

Connecting scientific research and government policy is essential for achieving objectives in sustaining biodiversity in an economic context. Our approach to connecting theoretical ecology, applied ecology, and policy was devised using principles of restoration ecology and the requisite methodology to restore biodiverse ecosystems. Using a threatened ecological community (TEC) with >120 plant species, we posit our approach as a guide for interpreting and achieving regulatory compliance (i.e., government conditions) enacted to manage or offset environmental impacts of development. We inform the scientific approach necessary to delivering outcomes appropriate to policy intent and biodiverse restoration through theoretical and applied research into the ecological restoration of the highly endemic flora of banded ironstone formations of the Mid West of Western Australia. Our approach (1) defines scale‐appropriate restoration targets that meet regulatory compliance (e.g., Government of Western Australia Ministerial Conditions); (2) determines the optimal method to return individual plant species to the restoration landscape; (3) develops a conceptual model for our system, based on existing restoration frameworks, to optimize and facilitate the pathway to the restoration of a vegetation community (e.g., TEC) using diverse research approaches; and (4) develops an assessment protocol to compare restoration achievements against the expected regulatory outcomes using our experimental restoration trials as a test example. Our approach systematically addressed the complex challenges in setting and achieving restoration targets for an entire vegetation community, a first for a semiarid environment. We interpret our approach as an industry application relevant to policy‐ or regulator‐mediated mine restoration programs that seek to return biodiverse species assemblages at landscape scales. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Riparian zones provide many ecosystem services and are a frequently found type of green area in urban ecosystems; these areas increase the aesthetic value of urban landscapes. The aim of this 17-year study was to assess the applicability of passive vegetation restoration of the gravel/sand bars that emerged after a devastating flood along the river in the city of Prague. The number of species and the sum of their coverages rapidly increased for the initial six years. After the twelfth year, the vegetation composition gradually began to stabilize. Species diversity increased for seven years after the beginning of the succession and then remained essentially unchanged. The diversity values were lower on finer substrates with higher proportions of dust and clay particles. The neophytes, i.e. species introduced after the year 1500, established with more successful on substrates with greater soil skeleton proportions. Finer substrates were preferred by graminoids; among them, the invasive Arrhenatherum elatius was the most abundant. The share of invasive species in the total vegetation cover initially fluctuated at approximately 40%; after eight years, it stabilized at approximately 10%. The proportion of naturalized alien species stabilized within the range of 20–30%. The results show that a new type of species-rich vegetation spontaneously emerged on gravel/sand bars. The vegetation consisted mainly of native and naturalized non-invasive alien species. However, attention needs to be given to potential alien plant invasions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present paper is unique because of the use of modern statistical techniques to assess the species composition, distribution, and regeneration pattern at high altitude Himalayas. Threats to the forest community were also assessed at different survey sites. Stratified random sampling was carried out at 13 high altitude sites of Uttarakhand, from east to west at altitudinal range from 2500m to 4000m a.s.l., irrespective of protected areas. The tree species density was found maximum at Saukherk (665.5±192.3) followed by Mulakherk (586.2+367.7). A total of 16 regenerating tree species were recorded from 13 surveyed sites. The densities of regeneration tree species were low at all the surveyed sites especially towards the glacier; however, saplings were recorded maximum at Hitoli (5176.2±3690.4). PCA was performed to understand the patterns of relationship among various surveyed sites at the landscape level. The tree cover, density, diversity, and richness play a powerful role in discriminating the sites at PC I while the second PC is a gradient of grass and disturbances. The high altitude Himalayas have the anthropoegenic pressure due to tree cutting, lopping, cattle grazing etc. The mean tree cutting, lopping, cattle dung, grazing, and impact of the fire were assessed at different surveyed sites and threat scores were calculated. The Saukherk, Dungiadong are the least threatened sites while the Liwari, Mulakherk and Hitoli are the most threatened sites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]