ФИТОМАССА ПОДЛЕСКА В ПРОИЗВОДНЫХ ЛИСТВЕННЫХ НАСАЖДЕНИЯХ СРЕДНЕЙ ТАЙГИ

Objective: This study aims to appraise woody plant species diversity and their depletion in Abia State, Nigeria with a view of understanding pattern of vegetation loss for a 30-year period through the use of Geographical Information System (GIS) Methodology: The methodology adopted a survey design. The study area was divided into three zones based on vegetation distribution using vegetation map. This was done after preliminary observation of the pattern on the satellite imageries. Landsat 8 satellite imagery for thirty years (1988-2018) was used to determine the rate of vegetation loss. Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) was used to obtain basic information on land cover changes in Abia State. The images were imported into the Erdas Imagine 9.2 environment where they were rectified to a common projection, Universal Traverse Mercator (UTM). Georeferencing was done by assigning geographical information to the datasets. Result and Discussion: The study revealed that Land use land cover (LULC) changes from 1988 to 2018 had serious adverse effects on vegetation distribution in general and woody plant species diversity in particular and these could lead to an irreversible species loss if not total extinction of most exotic woody plant species in the study area. Most importantly, a study of this nature has not been conducted with reference to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) which are currently the framework for discussion of global environment and development issues. Recommendations were made on measures to encourage and sustain woody plant species conservation and so achieve the sustainable development goals agenda of the United Nations. Research Implications: It was the compelling need to preserve and sustainably manage our environment that led the United Nations to formulate the SDGs in September 2015. This study will contribute to the achievement of SDG 15, which aims to protect, restore and promote the sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification and halt and reverse land degradation, and halt biodiversity loss. Originality/Value: This study contributes to knowledge by underscoring the invaluable essence of the GIS as an optimal procedure of choice in appraising the pattern of depletion of woody plant species in Abia State, Nigeria. The findings of the study support the recommend policy formulation by Government as well as the enforcement of pro-active measures in line with these policies, to mitigate reckless plundering of Woody Plant Species (WPS), promote and conserve WPS in order to achieve the United Nations SDGs in the study area.

Studies with herbaceous crops have indicated a similarity in the types of proteins that accumulate in response to environmental stresses and ABA. Many of these proteins belong to a group called dehydrins. We have identified a 60 kDa dehydrin-related protein (PCA 60) in peach associated with cold hardiness. Our objective was to determine if seasonal induction of dehydrins are a common feature in a wide array of woody plants Bark tissues from eight species of woody plants were collected monthly for 1.5 years. The species included: Prunus persica `Loring'; Malus domestica `Golden Delicious'; Rubus sp. `Chester'; Populus sp.; Salix babylonica; Cornus florida; Sassafras albidum, and Robinia Pseudo-acacia. Protein extraction, SDSPAGE, and immunoblotting were performed as previously reported. Immunoblots were probed with a polyclonal antibody recognizing a conserved region of dehydrin proteins (provided by Timothy Close). Although some proteins, immunologically related to dehydrins, appeared lo be constitutive, distinct seasonal patterns associated with winter acclimation were observed in all species. The molecular weights of these proteins varied, although there were similarities in related species (willow and poplar). Although this study represents a precursory examination of dehydrins, the results indicate that these proteins are common to woody plants and that further research to characterize their function is warranted.

Woody plant encroachment has become increasingly problematic in arid and semi-arid ecosystems with the potential to pose serious threats to natural vegetation composition and structure. Although several studies have documented the structure of woody plants in riparian zones, little attention has been given to quantifying woody plant encroachment along the Molopo River. This study was conducted to assess the composition and structural patterns of woody species in the encroached and benchmark sites situated along the riparian zone of the Molopo River near the Tshidilamolomo, Makgori and Loporung villages. Three 20 × 20 m plots were evenly laid out along five 200 m transects spaced approximately 30 m from each other to best represent woody vegetation variability at each site. Woody species were recorded and categorized into six height classes and tree densities were calculated. A total of ten woody plant species were identified, but not all species were a manifestation of woody encroachment. However, the invasive Prosopois velutina and the indigenous Senegalia mellifera, were dominant in the areas, with a tree cover above 40% and densities exceeding 2 000 Tree Equivalent per hectare (TE ha−1). These two woody species were considered as an indication of considerable woody encroachment in the study sites. Regarding woody density near the three villages, there were significant differences between the encroached and the benchmark sites. In both encroached and benchmark sites near the Makgori and Loporung villages, plant species exhibited an inverted J-shaped distribution which suggests the potential for long-term proliferation. In an encroached site near the Tshidilamolomo village, vegetation dominated by the invasive alien P. velutina revealed a bell-shaped pattern indicating an unstable population. Knowledge of the composition and structure of woody plant species near the three communally managed sites proves to be a relevant indicator of the ecological status of riparian ecosystems that could be used to identify high-risk areas, which may provide future opportunities for reducing and managing invasions.

Organic Matter Budgets for Streams: A Synthesis

Variation in fluoride content and leaf injury on plants associated with three aluminium smelters in Norway

Ranchers in the Kansas Flint Hills apply spring-season prescribed fire to improve growth performance of yearling stocker calves, increase native warm-season grass production, and reduce encroachment of woody and invasive plant species. Shifting prescribed fire application from spring (i.e., April) to late summer (i.e., August) or early fall (i.e., September) can reduce Sericea lespedeza infestation, increase native forb diversity, and improve air quality by distributing smoke produced from burning the Flint Hills throughout the year. Effects of late-summer or early-fall prescribed fire on yearling grazing cattle performance is unknown; therefore, our objective was to determine the impact of prescribed-fire timing on growth performance of yearling grazing cattle and plant community characteristics in the Kansas Flint Hills. Over a four-year period, 18 pastures were grouped by watershed and each watershed was assigned to one of three prescribed-fire treatments (24 pastures/treatment): spring (9 April ± 5.1 d), summer (23 August ± 4.9 d), or fall (29 September ± 8.7 d). Burn treatments were applied in years 1, 2, and 3 but were not applied in year 4 due to unfavorable burn conditions. Over 4 consecutive grazing seasons, 1,416 yearling calves (initial BW = 304 ± 49.6 kg) were grazed from May to August following prescribed fire application. Calves were grazed for 90 d at a targeted stocking density of 280 kg live-weight· ha-1. A permanent 100 m transect was established in each pasture and was used to determine plant species composition and soil cover using a modified step-point method. Plant species composition was determined annually in June. Data were analyzed as a completely random design using a mixed model. The final model contained treatment as a fixed effect and year and pasture within treatment as random effects. Average daily gain (ADG) tended to be greater (P = 0.06) for spring-burned pastures compared with fall-burned pastures, whereas ADG for summer-burned pastures were intermediate. Proportions of bare soil were greater (P < 0.01) in spring-burned pastures compared with summer- and fall-burned pastures. Conversely, proportions of litter on the soil surface were greatest (P < 0.05) in summer, intermediate (P < 0.05) in fall, and least (P < 0.01) in spring-burned pastures. Total grass, native grass, total forb, and native forb basal cover did not differ (P ≥ 0.13) among treatments. Conversely, basal cover of nectar-producing forbs was greater (P < 0.01) in fall-burned pastures compared with spring- and summer-burned pastures. Overall, fall prescribed-fire tended to reduce ADG; however, stocker cattle growth performance and native rangeland plant composition was similar between spring- and summer-burned pastures.

Stratification of soil organic matter and biota dynamics in natural and anthropogenic ecosystems

The growth strategies of plant species show the ecological role which is reflexed by their adaptation to environments and competitiveness. Those are essential in the study of the revegetation effectiveness. However, the growth strategies of plant species in various types of habitats have not yet been fully investigated. The objective of this study was to investigate the growth strategies of ten woody plant species which were naturalized from mangrove to lowland habitats in relation to their effectiveness for revegetation program. The seedling’s growth was recorded during 4 months in Purwodadi Botanic Garden-LIPI from October 2014 to February 2015. Complete randomized design with plant species as a treatment using 3 replications was carried out to examine the plant’s Relative Growth Rates (RGRs), their components, leaf nitrogen productivity and growth strategies.The study showed that RGRs of ten woody plants species varied across species. Based on the Pearson correlations, the plant’s Net Assimilation Rates (NAR) and two ecological traits related to the root trait i.e. Nitrogen productivity and Specific Root Length (SRL) were strongly correlated with the RGRs. Heritiera littoralis, Diospyros discolor, Antidesma bunius, Schleichera oleosa, Madhuca longifolia and Syzygium cumini have high RGRs but low Specific Leaf Area (SLA). B. asiatica has relatively low RGRs and SLA, while Dracontomelon dao have high RGRs and SLA. It showed that most of plant species studied, except D. dao achieve growth rates and competitiveness by developing strategies through forming fine roots to maximize its ecological function in nutrients uptake. Most of woody plant species are adaptive to dry lowland habitat and only D. dao potentially occupy the ecosystem. Furthermore, D. discolor and S. oleosa are highly recommended for revegetation in degraded tropical lowland areas.

В статье представлены результаты изучения фитоценотического состава парков города Москвы. Описаны доминирующие виды растений в каждом изученном ярусе: древесном, кустарниковом, травяно-кустарничковом и мохово-лишайниковом. Были собраны основные сведения о 12 парках города, включающие в себя сведения о рекреационной нагрузке, рельефе, степени сомкнутости крон и т.д. Выявлены основные закономерности растительных сообществ парков г. Москвы. Для более наглядного отображения результатов приведены карта расположения парков и таблицы, отображающие количественный состав ярусов и рекреационную нагрузку. В древесном ярусе доминирующими видами были клён остролистный (Acer platanoides) и липа крупнолистная (Tilia platyphyllos). Типичными для древесного яруса видами также являются сосна обыкновенная (Pinus sylvestris), берёза повислая (Betula pendula) и др. Эти виды деревьев можно было найти практически во всех изученных парках. Растения древесного яруса посажены в основном равномерно друг от друга, создавая незагущенную местность. Кустарниковый ярус представлен достаточно бедно. Доминирующие виды составили рябина обыкновенная (Sorbus aucuparia) и калина гордовина (Viburnum lantana). Кустарники представлены не во всех изученных парках. Их полное отсутствие наблюдалось в парках с малым количеством растительности. Травяно-кустарничковый ярус в московских парках представлен весьма обширно. Среди этого яруса можно найти достаточно большое количество разных видов растений. Эти виды составили: крапива двудомная (Urtica dioica), недотрога мелкоцветковая (Impatiens parviflora), чертополох курчавый (Carduus crispus) и др. Мохово-лишайниковый ярус был представлен в основном листостебельными мхами (Bryopsida), семейством Sphagnum и лишайниками из рода Ramalinaceae. The article presents the results of the study of the phytocenotic composition of the parks in Moscow. The dominant plant species in each studied layer are described: tree, shrub, grass-shrub and moss-lichen. Basic information about 12 parks of the city was collected, including information on recreational load, relief, degree of crown density, etc. The main patterns of plant communities of parks in Moscow have been revealed. For a more visual display of the results, a map of the location of the parks and tables showing the quantitative composition of the layers and the recreational load are given. In the tree layer, the dominant species were Norway maple (Acer platanoides) and Large-leaved lime (Tilia platyphyllos). Typical species for the tree layer are also Common pine (Pinus sylvestris), Silver birch (Betula pendula), etc. These tree species could be found in in almost all the park studied. Plants of the tree layer are planted mostly evenly apart from each other, creating a thin area. The shrub layer is poorly represented. The dominant species were Mountain ash (Sorbus aucuparia) and Wayfaring tree (Viburnum lantana). Shrubs are not represented in all the studied parks. Their complete absence was observed in parks with a small amount of vegetation. The grass-shrub layer in Moscow parks is quite extensive. A fairly large number of different plant species can be found among this layer. These species included Stinging nettle (Urtica dioica), Small-flowered balsam (Impatiens parviflora), Сurled thistle (Carduus crispus), etc. The moss-lichen layer was represented mainly by Frondiferous mosses (Bryopsida), the family Sphagnum, and lichens in the genus Ramalinaceae.

<p>The reclamation of highly degraded abandoned mine tailings subjected to the pollutants dispersion in the surrounding areas is a crucial socio-economic issue. The use of plant species locally adapted with complementary ecological functions of the contaminated site and well-adjusted to the low soil functions without interfering with the local biodiversity is considered as a recovery technique.</p><p>The pioneer plant species <em>Pinus halepensis</em>, is growing spontaneously in Sardinian mine tailing dumps (SW- Sardinia, Italy) characterized by extreme concentrations of pollutants, mainly Zn, Pb, and Cd. In this study, a sampling campaign was done, related to plant materials (roots, barks, wood, and needles) and soils, aimed at assessing metal content, plant accumulation, and translocation behavior as well as the main mineralogical characteristics of the soil-plant system in a multidisciplinary approach.</p><p>Mineralogical compositions of substrates and roots assessed through X‐Ray Diffraction (XRD) detected mainly pyrite, dolomite, calcite, quartz, gypsum, and barite in the polluted substrates with the presence of iron sulphate, iron oxide as well as Zn, Pb, Cd, and other elements (Al, Si, and Fe) in different amounts on the plant root surface. Zn ore minerals (smithsonite) and muscovite were mostly in the deeper soil horizon. Zn was the most abundant metal in the substrate as well as all investigated plant tissues. The highest metals concentration range in the soil samples collected around the plant roots were measured for Zn (9043.2 -15299.52 mg kg<sup>-1</sup>), Pb (1604.47 – 4413.29 mg kg<sup>-1</sup>), and Cd (46.11 -58.54 mg kg<sup>-1</sup>). <em>P. halepensis </em>roots accumulated high metal concentrations (664.65 - 2710 mg kg<sup>-1</sup> Zn, 58.39 - 735.88 mg kg<sup>-1</sup> Pb, and 4.86 - 11.02 mg kg<sup>-1</sup> Cd) mirroring the high metal-contamination in soil and plant's ability to tolerate highly metal polluted mine sites.</p><p> The Phyto-stabilization potential of the plant was calculated through the biological accumulation and translocation parameters reported below one for all investigated plant tissues. Metal Translocation Factor (TF) detected in needles for Pb, Zn and Cd ranged between 0.03-0.32, 0.03-0.19, and 0.04-0.14, respectively and Cd TF (0.05-0.2) was more in wood than needles (0.04-0.14). Biological Concentration Factor (BCF) values of Cd, Zn and Pb were estimated to be 0.11-0.19, 0.07-0.18 and 0.02- 0.17, respectively.</p><p>The low metal TF rates indicated that the pioneer woody plant species <em>P. halepensis</em> behaves as an excluder. Thus, we can consider it as a promising plant that tolerates high concentration of Zn, Pb, and Cd and restrict the accumulation and translocation of metals to the aerial parts, performing his role as a woody plant species for long term reclamation, Phyto-stabilization, and re-vegetation process in abandoned mine tailing sites of arid and semiarid Mediterranean regions.</p>

The areas adjacent to the railway stations are part of the urban greening and are considered as a single space that meets the high-quality standards of the urban environment. Monitoring studies (2018-2021) were carried out on the state of native and introduced species of woody plants growing along the railway tracks in the forecourt territories of the cities of the Kola Arctic (Murmansk, Olenegorsk, Apatity, Polyarnye Zori, Kandalaksha) to identify resistant species to this type of pollution. The assessment of the state of woody plants was carried out visually according to the method of V.S. Nikolaevsky and H.G. Yakubov. Qualitative and quantitative characteristics were given for each plant. The average score of the state for the most common tree species was calculated. Some agrochemical soil indicators have been determined. As a result of monitoring studies of green spaces, a slight increase in species diversity was revealed (22 species - 2 018, 24 species - 2 021). The state of woody plants in the railway impact zone depended on level of anthropogenic loads, age of plantations, and regularity of care. A slight increase in the share of the category of plants without signs of weakening was noted, with a significant increase in the category highly weakened (from 31.0 to 51.7 %). The indicator for the categories shrinking and dead wood has changed slightly. The weighted average score of the state of the most common tree species showed no pronounced changes. The nutritional status of soils was characterized by a low level of availability of nitrogenous compounds, changes in soil acidity were found. With regular care, plants can move from one category to another. Existing species of woody plants are stable in these environmental conditions and can be recommended for landscaping objects of this purpose.

Bogani Nani Wartabone National Park (TNBNW) is an important habitat for anoas, which represents genetic diversity of anoa species in the northern area of Sulawesi. Wild animals depend on their habitats for many things, including food. Food availability influences the growth and reproduction of any species. Food information is also important for area management as an input in habitat development activities, which are parts of in-situ conservation. The aim of this study was to investigate the types, abundance and diversity of anoa food plants in TNBNW. The study was conducted in three locations, namely Imandi Mountain, Gambuta Mountain and Sinombayuga Mountain ranging between 0 and 1600 mdpl elevations. Data were collected using line plot sampling method and food type observation was performed with plots size of 0.04 ha. Total observation plots in three research locations were 202, of which 90 plots were in Imandi Mountain and Gambuta Mountain, and 22 plots were in Sinombayuga Mountain. Data were analyzed descriptively and presented in tables. Food abundance was determined by total food plants found in every location. Natural plants food diversity used several indices, which were Margalef Richness, Shannon-Wiener Diversity Index and Evenness Index. The results showed that 35 species of food plants were identified. As many as 28 species of them including herbaceous plants, and seven species of woody plants. Some plant species have higher abundance, namely rofu ( Elatostema sp.), rattan ( Calamus sp.), and various types of fern.

Potential host range of four <i>Phytophthora</i> interspecific hybrids from Clade 8a

The high activity of urban communities anthropogenic especially in Jakarta City cause high rates of carbon emissions. This problem is increased with the high rate of deforestation which is high enough in urban areas. One of ecosystem that can reduce carbon emissions is coastal forest ecosystem. Forests can reduce carbon emissions in the atmosphere and storing it in various compartments such as vegetation, litter and soil organic matter. One of the islands which have a coastal forest with good enough condition is Kotok Besar Island, the cluster of Seribu Islands. This study aims to estimate the carbon stored in tree stands at coastal forest region of west side of Kotok Besar Island, Seribu Islands. Methods of calculating carbon stock was done by making the observation plots and distributed by random sampling method to calculate diameter at breast height (dbh) and identify the type of tree stands were found in the observation plots. dbh data was inserted into allometric equation to obtain the potential of stored carbon estimates. The results showed that the coastal forest of west side of the Kotok Besar Island have the number of plant species that dominate as many as four species, which consists of Thespesia populnea, Casuarina sp., Calophyllum sp., and Cocos nucifera. Biomass value is 853.94 tons / ha and potential of carbon stored is 426.97 tons/ha.

The aim of the study was to assess the resource role of flowering woody plants in maintaining the biological diversity of insects. The studies were carried out in 2019–2020 in the northern forest-steppe of the Ob region during the flowering period of woody plants from the Oleaceae family of the genus Syringa: S. josikaea J. and S. vulgaris L. Insects were collected by mowing with an entomological net in the crowns and under-crown space. The flowering of plants attracted insects from more than 25 families from 7 orders. The largest number of insects belonged to the order Thysanoptera 79.2%, followed by representatives of the orders Hemiptera (7.1%) and Diptera (6.4%). The entomological faunas of S. josikaea and S. vulgaris differed significantly in their taxonomic composition, insects abundance, and their association with flowering periods. Low coefficients of similarity and high power of the factor “plant species” influence on biological diversity and the insects number were revealed. S. josikaea played a more significant role in maintaining the biological diversity of insects. Research showed that insects are associated with a certain species of woody plant.