Sphagnum Peatlands of Kosciuszko National Park in Relation to Altitude, Time and Disturbance

1999 ◽  
Vol 47 (4) ◽  
pp. 519 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter J. Clarke ◽  
A. R. H. Martin
Keyword(s):  
Native Species ◽  
National Park ◽  
Vegetation Change ◽  
Temporal Trends ◽  
Large Change ◽  
Shrub Cover ◽  
Bare Ground ◽  
Field Development ◽  
Trends Over Time ◽  
A Site

Sphagnum peatlands or bogs in the Kosciuszko National Park ranging from montane to alpine in elevation were sampled on two occasions spanning a maximum interval of 32 years. Data analysed for individual samples (305 quadrats) clustered into consistent microhabitat (hummock/hollow) groups and subalpine/alpine subgroups. Quadrat data were aggregated for sites (13 bogs) and analysed for floristic trends over time. Cluster and ordination analyses showed a large change in a single montane bog, but relatively little composition (presence/absence) change for the subalpine and alpine bogs. Analyses of dominant species in alpine (three) and subalpine bogs (three) showed some temporal trends in cover. There appears to be an increase in the cover of Sphagnum and a decrease in shrub cover in the subalpine bogs over the 20–32 years. Changes in shrub cover in undisturbed subalpine sites are attributed to shrub senescence and lack of recruitment. Changes at a site with intensive ski field development (Smiggin Holes) were analysed separately and compared with adjacent sites with no such development. Sphagnum cover had not increased at this site and shrub decline was pronounced. Bare ground and ruderal species increased in cover whereas 13 native species that were originally recorded in 1959 were not re-recorded in 1991. The detection of vegetation change in bogs through monitoring is important for adaptive management of vegetation under intensive use.

scholarly journals Identifying Avian Community Response to Sagebrush Vegetation Restoration in Grand Teton National Park

2013 ◽  
Vol 36 ◽  
pp. 36-45
Author(s):  
Tracey Johnson ◽  
Anna Chalfoun
Keyword(s):  
National Park ◽  
Grassland Birds ◽  
Bird Community ◽  
Community Response ◽  
Sagebrush Steppe ◽  
Native Grasses ◽  
Shrub Cover ◽  
Bare Ground ◽  
Breeding Bird ◽  
Grand Teton National Park

Approximately 50-60% of native sagebrush steppe has been lost to non-native grasses, which has contributed to population decreases for sagebrush-associated songbirds. Removal of non-native grasses and restoration treatments may return structure and function of sagebrush steppe and ultimately benefit songbirds, but their responses must be evaluated. To determine breeding songbird community responses to sagebrush restoration treatments, in 2013 we conducted bird surveys at restored plots at the Kelly Hayfields restoration area in Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming. We compared bird communities and vegetation characteristics in restored plots to plots that were unrestored and to areas of native sagebrush steppe as starting and endpoints for restoration, respectively. Unrestored plots were dominated by non-native grasses; restored plots were dominated by forbs and bare ground and had very little shrub cover (< 0.1%). Native sagebrush plots were dominated by shrubs and native bunchgrasses. Bird community composition was distinct among the three types of plots. Abundance of grassland birds was highest in unrestored plots, and was positively related to cover of non-native grass and litter depth. Abundance of shrubland birds was highest in native sagebrush, and was positively associated with shrub cover. There were very few detections of birds in restored plots, and most species were negatively associated with the high levels of bare ground that characterized these plots. Restored areas may initially (≤5 yrs) provide little breeding bird habitat, which should be accounted for when determining schedules of restoration treatments at Kelly Hayfields.

Long-Term Vegetation Change in Relation to Cattle Grazing in Sub-Alpine Grassland and Heathland on the Bogong High-Plains: an Analysis of Vegetation Records From 1945 to 1994

1994 ◽  
Vol 42 (6) ◽  
pp. 607 ◽  
Author(s):  
CHA Wahren ◽  
WA Papst ◽  
RJ Williams
Keyword(s):  
National Park ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Cattle Grazing ◽  
High Plains ◽  
Shrub Cover ◽  
Bare Ground ◽  
Australian Alps ◽  
Grazed Grassland ◽  
Ungrazed Plot

Changes in vegetation composition and structure are described for grassland and heathland communities on the Bogong High Plains, in the Victorian Alpine National Park. The data are based on long-term records collected from permanent reference plots over the period 1945 to 1994 from plots established in 1945, 1946 and 1979. In the Pretty Valley grassland plots, established in 1946, cattle grazing has prevented the large-scale regeneration of a number of tall, palatable forbs and short, palatable shrubs, while in the absence of grazing, the cover of these Life forms increased substantially. The amount of bare ground and loose litter was significantly greater on the grazed compared with the ungrazed plot. Between 1979 and 1994, there was little or no identifiable trend in the cover of Vegetation or bare ground at either the Pretty Valley grazed site, or two additional grazed grassland sites established nearby in 1979. The current condition of grazed grassland on the Bogong High Plains is interpreted as stable, yet degraded. Improvement in condition will occur in the absence of grazing. In the Rocky Valley open heathland plots, established in 1945, increases in shrub cover over the study period were due to growth of shrubs following the 1939 bushfires that burnt much of the Bogong High Plains. From 1945-1979 shorter-lived shrubs increased in cover; since 1979, these shrubs have senesced, and are being replaced mainly by grasses. On the grazed plot longer lived, taller shrubs have continued to increase in cover and are not senescing. Between 1979 and 1989, total shrub cover declined on the ungrazed plot, but increased on the grazed plot. There was no evidence that grazing has reduced shrub cover, and therefore potential fire risk, in open heathland. These findings have significant management implications for the Alpine National Park and are consistent with those from other regions in the Australian alps.

scholarly journals Rapid Ecosystem Change at the Southern Limit of the Canadian Arctic, Torngat Mountains National Park

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (11) ◽  
pp. 2085
Author(s):  
Emma L. Davis ◽  
Andrew J. Trant ◽  
Robert G. Way ◽  
Luise Hermanutz ◽  
Darroch Whitaker
Keyword(s):  
Remote Sensing ◽  
Land Cover ◽  
Land Cover Change ◽  
National Park ◽  
Vegetation Change ◽  
Ecosystem Change ◽  
Shrub Cover ◽  
Shrub Expansion ◽  
Southern Limit ◽  
Tundra Ecosystem

Northern protected areas guard against habitat and species loss but are themselves highly vulnerable to environmental change due to their fixed spatial boundaries. In the low Arctic, Torngat Mountains National Park (TMNP) of Canada, widespread greening has recently occurred alongside warming temperatures and regional declines in caribou. Little is known, however, about how biophysical controls mediate plant responses to climate warming, and available observational data are limited in temporal and spatial scope. In this study, we investigated the drivers of land cover change for the 9700 km2 extent of the park using satellite remote sensing and geostatistical modelling. Random forest classification was used to hindcast and simulate land cover change for four different land cover types from 1985 to 2019 with topographic and surface reflectance imagery (Landsat archive). The resulting land cover maps, in addition to topographic and biotic variables, were then used to predict where future shrub expansion is likely to occur using a binomial regression framework. Land cover hindcasts showed a 235% increase in shrub and a 105% increase in wet vegetation cover from 1985/89 to 2015/19. Shrub cover was highly persistent and displaced wet vegetation in southern, low-elevation areas, whereas wet vegetation expanded to formerly dry, mid-elevations. The predictive model identified both biotic (initial cover class, number of surrounding shrub neighbors), and topographic variables (elevation, latitude, and distance to the coast) as strong predictors of future shrub expansion. A further 51% increase in shrub cover is expected by 2039/43 relative to 2014 reference data. Establishing long-term monitoring plots within TMNP in areas where rapid vegetation change is predicted to occur will help to validate remote sensing observations and will improve our understanding of the consequences of change for biotic and abiotic components of the tundra ecosystem, including important cultural keystone species.

Ice-free area expansion compounds the non-native species threat to Antarctic terrestrial biodiversity

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Grant Duffy ◽  
Jasmine R Lee
Keyword(s):  
Human Activity ◽  
Native Species ◽  
Climate Scenario ◽  
Climatic Environment ◽  
Species Establishment ◽  
Suitable Habitats ◽  
Terrestrial Biodiversity ◽  
A Site ◽  
Area Expansion ◽  
Free Area

Warming across ice-covered regions will result in changes to both the physical and climatic environment, revealing new ice-free habitat and new climatically suitable habitats for non-native species establishment. Recent studies have independently quantified each of these aspects in Antarctica, where ice-free areas form crucial habitat for the majority of terrestrial biodiversity. Here we synthesise projections of Antarctic ice-free area expansion, recent spatial predictions of non-native species risk, and the frequency of human activities to quantify how these facets of anthropogenic change may interact now and in the future. Under a high-emissions future climate scenario, over a quarter of ice-free area and over 80 % of the ~14 thousand km2 of newly uncovered ice-free area could be vulnerable to invasion by one or more of the modelled non-native species by the end of the century. Ice-free areas identified as vulnerable to non-native species establishment were significantly closer to human activity than unsuitable areas were. Furthermore, almost half of the new vulnerable ice-free area is within 20 km of a site of current human activity. The Antarctic Peninsula, where human activity is heavily concentrated, will be at particular risk. The implications of this for conservation values of Antarctica and the management efforts required to mitigate against it are in need of urgent consideration.

scholarly journals Methodology for classifying the ecosystem integrity of forests in Germany using quantified indicators

2021 ◽  
Vol 33 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Martin Jenssen ◽  
Stefan Nickel ◽  
Winfried Schröder
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
National Park ◽  
Temporal Trends ◽  
Water Flux ◽  
Ecosystem Functions ◽  
Specific Reference ◽  
Atmospheric Nitrogen ◽  
Complete Coverage ◽  
Ecosystem Integrity ◽  
Quantitative Indicators

Abstract Background Atmospheric deposition of nitrogen and climate change can have impacts on ecological structures and functions, and thus on the integrity of ecosystems and their services. Operationalization of ecosystem integrity is still an important desideratum. Results A methodology for classifying the ecosystem integrity of forests in Germany under the influence of climate change and atmospheric nitrogen deposition is presented. The methodology was based on 14 indicators for six ecosystem functions: habitat function, net primary function, carbon sequestration, nutrient and water flux, resilience. It allows assessments of ecosystem integrity changes by comparing current or prospective ecosystem states with ecosystem-type-specific reference states as described by quantitative indicators for 61 forest ecosystem types based on data before 1990. Conclusion The method developed enables site-specific classifications of ecosystem integrity as well as classifications with complete coverage and determinations of temporal trends as shown using examples from the Thuringian Forest and the “Kellerwald-Edersee” National Park (Germany).

Eighty years of change: vegetation in the montane ecoregion of Jasper National Park, Alberta, Canada

2002 ◽  
Vol 32 (11) ◽  
pp. 2010-2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeanine M Rhemtulla ◽  
Ronald J Hall ◽  
Eric S Higgs ◽  
S Ellen Macdonald
Keyword(s):  
National Park ◽  
Vegetation Change ◽  
Fire Regime ◽  
Reference Conditions ◽  
Habitat Diversity ◽  
Climatic Conditions ◽  
Aerial Photographs ◽  
Contributing Factors ◽  
Jasper National Park ◽  
Closed Canopy

Repeat ground photographs (taken in 1915 and 1997) from a series of topographical survey stations and repeat aerial photographs (flown in 1949 and 1991) were analysed to assess changes in vegetation composition and distribution in the montane ecoregion of Jasper National Park, in the Rocky Mountains of Alberta, Canada. A quantitative approach for assessing relative vegetation change in repeat ground photographs was developed and tested. The results indicated a shift towards late-successional vegetation types and an increase in crown closure in coniferous stands. Grasslands, shrub, juvenile forest, and open forests decreased in extent, and closed-canopy forests became more prevalent. The majority of forest stands succeeded to dominance by coniferous species. Changes in vegetation patterns were likely largely attributable to shifts in the fire regime over the last century, although climatic conditions and human activity may also have been contributing factors. Implications of observed changes include decreased habitat diversity, increased possibility of insect outbreaks, and potential for future high-intensity fire events. Results of the study increase knowledge of historical reference conditions and may help to establish restoration goals for the montane ecoregion of the park.

scholarly journals The implementation of an aquatic toxicity index as a water quality monitoring tool in the Olifants River (Kruger National Park)

Koedoe ◽  
1999 ◽  
Vol 42 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
V. Wepener ◽  
J.H.J. Van Vuren ◽  
H.H. Du Preez
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
Water Quality Index ◽  
National Park ◽  
Quality Index ◽  
Aquatic Toxicity ◽  
Temporal Trends ◽  
Kruger National Park ◽  
Toxicity Index ◽  
Olifants River

Large sets of water quality data can leave water quality managers and decision-makers totally overwhelmed. In order to convey the interpretation of the data in a simplified and understandable manner, the water quality results from bi-monthly surveys undertaken at seven different sampling sites in the Letaba, Olifants, and Selati rivers over a two year period (February 1990 to April 1992) were reduced to index values, using a water quality index. The water quality index (Aquatic Toxicity Index or ATI) revealed spatial and temporal trends. The higher index values, recorded for the sampling sites towards the eastern part of the Kruger National Park (KNP), revealed that the water quality was better than the quality measured in the Olifants River on the western bound-ary. The lowest index values were calculated for the Selati River, with index values consistently below 50. Index values indicate that the water quality in the Selati River was unsuitable for supporting normal physiological processes in fish. The water quality of the Selati River had an immediate impact on the water quality of the Olifants River directly below the confluence. Lower index values recorded at sites further downstream was also attributed to the influence of the Selati River since there are no known point sources of contaminants within the boundaries of the KNP. The index scores also elucidated temporal trends with lower scores evident during winter months. This was due to reduced flow in the Olifants River and a greater contribution of contaminated water from the Selati River. Index values increased following the first seasonal rains due to a dilution effect. Very low index values were recorded at certain sites during flood periods due to increased turbidity, reduced oxygen, and increased metal concentrations.

scholarly journals Vegetation Indices Do Not Capture Forest Cover Variation in Upland Siberian Larch Forests

2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (11) ◽  
pp. 1686 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael Loranty ◽  
Sergey Davydov ◽  
Heather Kropp ◽  
Heather Alexander ◽  
Michelle Mack ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Carbon Storage ◽  
Vegetation Change ◽  
Vegetation Index ◽  
Forest Cover ◽  
Global Climate ◽  
Vegetation Indices ◽  
Temporal Trends ◽  
Siberian Larch ◽  
Field Observations ◽  
Larch Forests

Boreal forests are changing in response to climate, with potentially important feedbacks to regional and global climate through altered carbon cycle and albedo dynamics. These feedback processes will be affected by vegetation changes, and feedback strengths will largely rely on the spatial extent and timing of vegetation change. Satellite remote sensing is widely used to monitor vegetation dynamics, and vegetation indices (VIs) are frequently used to characterize spatial and temporal trends in vegetation productivity. In this study we combine field observations of larch forest cover across a 25 km2 upland landscape in northeastern Siberia with high-resolution satellite observations to determine how the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) and the Enhanced Vegetation Index (EVI) are related to forest cover. Across 46 forest stands ranging from 0% to 90% larch canopy cover, we find either no change, or declines in NDVI and EVI derived from PlanetScope CubeSat and Landsat data with increasing forest cover. In conjunction with field observations of NDVI, these results indicate that understory vegetation likely exerts a strong influence on vegetation indices in these ecosystems. This suggests that positive decadal trends in NDVI in Siberian larch forests may correspond primarily to increases in understory productivity, or even to declines in forest cover. Consequently, positive NDVI trends may be associated with declines in terrestrial carbon storage and increases in albedo, rather than increases in carbon storage and decreases in albedo that are commonly assumed. Moreover, it is also likely that important ecological changes such as large changes in forest density or variable forest regrowth after fire are not captured by long-term NDVI trends.

scholarly journals Genomic Considerations for the Modification of Saccharomyces cerevisiae for Biofuel and Metabolite Biosynthesis

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 321 ◽  
Author(s):  
James T. Arnone
Keyword(s):  
Saccharomyces Cerevisiae ◽  
Native Species ◽  
Genetic Manipulation ◽  
Scale Up ◽  
Biosynthetic Pathways ◽  
Yeast Saccharomyces Cerevisiae ◽  
Position Effects ◽  
Industrial Use ◽  
A Site ◽  
Global Population

The growing global population and developing world has put a strain on non-renewable natural resources, such as fuels. The shift to renewable sources will, thus, help meet demands, often through the modification of existing biosynthetic pathways or the introduction of novel pathways into non-native species. There are several useful biosynthetic pathways endogenous to organisms that are not conducive for the scale-up necessary for industrial use. The use of genetic and synthetic biological approaches to engineer these pathways in non-native organisms can help ameliorate these challenges. The budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae offers several advantages for genetic engineering for this purpose due to its widespread use as a model system studied by many researchers. The focus of this review is to present a primer on understanding genomic considerations prior to genetic modification and manipulation of S. cerevisiae. The choice of a site for genetic manipulation can have broad implications on transcription throughout a region and this review will present the current understanding of position effects on transcription.

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