Biodiversity indicators in semi-arid, agricultural Western Australia

1995 ◽  
Vol 2 (4) ◽  
pp. 375 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Abensperg-traun ◽  
G. W. Arnold ◽  
D. E. Steven ◽  
G. T. Smith ◽  
L. Atkins ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Functional Groups ◽  
Native Plants ◽  
Principal Component ◽  
Structural Diversity ◽  
Beetle Species ◽  
Vegetation Types ◽  
Indicator Variable ◽  
Plant Richness ◽  
Indicator Variables ◽  
Semi Arid

The predicted future loss of native Australian species of plants and animals, in part as a result of adverse land management strategies, has led to attempts to identify areas of high biotic richness (numbers of species). Bioindicators are measures of the physical environment, or of a subset of the plants or animals, that best predict biotic richness. Ideally, bioindicators should aim at predicting as large a component of the plant or animal fauna as is possible at minimum cost. For two contrasting vegetation types, we examined remnant area, vegetation structural diversity, species richness of plants, lizards and terrestrial arthropods, and the relative abundance of individual arthropod species, as indicators of faunal richness, using correlation, principal component regression and stepwise regression analyses. The study was carried out in gimlet Eucalyptus salubris woodlands (29 sites) and shrublands (27 sites) in semi-arid, agricultural Western Australia. Sites varied considerably in grazing history (woodland) and in farming history (shrubland). Fauna sampled were lizards (woodland), scorpions (woodland), isopods (woodland), cockroaches (woodland), termites (woodland, shrubland), earwigs (woodland), hemipterans (shrubland), beetles (woodland, shrubland), butterflies (shrubland) and ants (woodland, shrubland). None of the indicator variables in any analyses effectively predicted total faunal richness for either vegetation type (<35% of variation in total richness explained). In correlation analyses for woodlands, vegetation structural diversity and plant richness, but no fauna variable, explained a high percentage of the variation in the richness of lizards (56% explained by richness of native plants, +ve), scorpions (48%, richness of native plants, +ve), termites (55%, vegetation structural diversity, +ve) and beetles (59%, litter, –ve). The richness of the shrubland fauna was poorly predicted by all indicator variables (<25% explained). When using the total richness and abundance of ant functional groups, the abundance of a subset of species within ant functional groups, and of termite and beetle species, in principal component regressions, various ant functional groups explained 42% each of the richness of scorpions and beetles, and eight beetle species explained 50% of termite richness. When remnant area, vegetation structural diversity and the richness of native plants in woodland were tested in step-wise regressions as indicators of total faunal richness, remnant area was the only significant indicator variable, explaining 33% of total richness. The richness of native plants and vegetation structural diversity explained a total of 76% of the pooled richness of lizards + scorpions + termites. No significant indicator variable was found by regression procedures for total richness, or for a subset, of the shrubland fauna. We argue that differences in the predictive qualities of vegetation structure and plant richness between the vegetation types was due, in part, to differences in the spatial heterogeneity of biotic richness, and possibly the scale at which structure was measured. The use of structural diversity or plant richness as predictors of faunal richness for different woodland types, or those with different disturbance histories, or in different geographic or climatic regions, should not be adopted without verification of their efficiency at predicting the richness of the local fauna.

scholarly journals How Vulnerable Are American States to Wildfires? A Livelihood Vulnerability Assessment

Fire ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 4 (3) ◽  
pp. 54
Author(s):  
Janine A. Baijnath-Rodino ◽  
Mukesh Kumar ◽  
Margarita Rivera ◽  
Khoa D. Tran ◽  
Tirtha Banerjee
Keyword(s):  
New Mexico ◽  
Adaptive Capacity ◽  
Principal Component ◽  
Vulnerability Index ◽  
The United States ◽  
Contributing Factors ◽  
Adaptation Measures ◽  
Indicator Variable ◽  
American States ◽  
Indicator Variables

Quantifying livelihood vulnerability to wildland fires in the United States is challenging because of the need to systematically integrate multidimensional variables into its analysis. We aim to measure wildfire threats amongst humans and their physical and social environment by developing a framework to calculate the livelihood vulnerability index (LVI) for the top 14 American states most recently exposed to wildfires. The LVI is computed by assessing each state’s contributing factors (exposure, sensitivity, and adaptive capacity) to wildfire events. These contributing factors are determined through a set of indicator variables that are categorized into corresponding groups to produce an LVI framework. The framework is validated by performing a principal component analysis (PCA), ensuring that each selected indicator variable corresponds to the correct contributing factor. Our results indicate that Arizona and New Mexico experience the greatest livelihood vulnerability. In contrast, California, Florida, and Texas experience the least livelihood vulnerability. While California has one of the highest exposures and sensitivity to wildfires, results indicate that it has a relatively high adaptive capacity, in comparison to the other states, suggesting it has measures in place to withstand these vulnerabilities. These results are critical to wildfire managers, government, policymakers, and research scientists for identifying and providing better resiliency and adaptation measures to support states that are most vulnerable to wildfires.

Multivariate Analysis, Genetic Diversity and Phenotypic Correlation of Nineteen Exotic Groundnut Accessions

2016 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
YPJ AMARASINGHE ◽  
G . WIJESINGHE ◽  
R W PUSHPAKUMARA
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Diversity ◽  
Principal Component Analysis ◽  
Growth Parameters ◽  
Principal Component ◽  
Phenotypic Correlation ◽  
Clustering Method ◽  
Yield Parameters ◽  
Arachis Hypogaea L ◽  
Semi Arid ◽  
Number Of Branches

19 Groundnut ( Arachis hypogaea L. ) genotypes receiv ed from International Crops Research Institute for Semi Arid T ropics (ICRISA T) India w ere ev aluated in a non replicated trial and the characters w ere subjected to multiv ariate analysis to study the v ariability within the genotypes. The first 5 axes of the principal component analysis captured 78% of the total v ariability and identified yield parameters such as number of pods per plant, pod w eight per plant and growth parameters such as number of branches per plant, plant spread, and pod characteristics as the characters contributing most to total v ariation. Phenotypic correlation analysis rev ealed that the yield has positiv e correlation with the characters such as number of pods per plant and number of branches per plant. W ards clustering method has grouped the genotypes into 3 distinct clusters. The results can be applied in order to strengthen the breeding program

scholarly journals Effects of temperature increase and nutrient enrichment on phytoplankton functional groups in a Brazilian semi-arid reservoir

2018 ◽  
Vol 30 (0) ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria da Conceição de Souza ◽  
Luciane Oliveira Crossetti ◽  
Vanessa Becker
Keyword(s):  
Functional Groups ◽  
Green Algae ◽  
Nutrient Enrichment ◽  
Arid Regions ◽  
Soluble Reactive Phosphorus ◽  
Intergovernmental Panel ◽  
Mean Values ◽  
Rainy Period ◽  
Phytoplankton Functional Groups ◽  
Semi Arid

Abstract Aim Our study aimed to evaluate changes in the phytoplankton functional groups brought about by increases in temperature and nutrients predicted by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) scenario for semi-arid regions. Methods Two experiments were performed, one in the rainy season and another in the dry season. The nutrient enrichment was based on the annual mean values (August 2012-August 2013) of soluble reactive phosphorus and nitrate verified in the reservoir. The microcosms were exposed to two different temperatures, the five-year average of air temperature in the reservoir (control) and 4°C above the control temperature (warming). The experiment was conducted over 12 days; every three days water samples of approximately 60 mL in volume were taken from the reservoir for chemical and phytoplankton analysis. All species were classified by Reynolds Functional Groups (RFG). Results The functional groups H1, X1, LO and S1 were the most representative in both seasons (rainy and dry). Our results showed that bloom-forming cyanobacteria, in particular the species of functional groups H1 and M, commonly reported in reservoirs in semi-arid regions of Brazil, were not significantly benefited by the warming and nutrient enrichment. The recruitment of other blue-green species, as well as diatoms and green algae, could be observed. Conclusions The effects of warming and/or nutritional enrichment can change the structure of the phytoplankton community. However, as not expected as the pessimist scenario, in our study the bloom-forming phytoplankton functional groups did not show changes in relative biomass. Instead, the recruitment of diatoms and green algae currently found in enriched environments was verified, specifically in the rainy period, when nutrient dilution typically occurs.

scholarly journals Qualitative Analysis of Traditional Italian Dishes: FTIR Approach

2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (11) ◽  
pp. 4112 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alessandra Durazzo ◽  
Johannes Kiefer ◽  
Massimo Lucarini ◽  
Emanuela Camilli ◽  
Stefania Marconi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Qualitative Analysis ◽  
Ftir Spectroscopy ◽  
Functional Groups ◽  
Food Systems ◽  
Principal Component ◽  
Integrated Approach ◽  
Spectroscopic Characterization ◽  
Cooking Methods ◽  
Food Research ◽  
The Individual

Italian cuisine and its traditional recipes experience an ever-increasing popularity around the world. The “Integrated Approach” is the key to modern food research and the innovative challenge for analyzing and modeling agro-food systems in their totality. The present study aims at applying and evaluating Fourier Transformed Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy for the analysis of complex food matrices and food preparations. Nine traditional Italian recipes, including First courses, One-dish meals, Side courses, and Desserts, were selected and experimentally prepared. Prior to their analysis via FTIR spectroscopy, the samples were homogenized and lyophilized. The IR spectroscopic characterization and the assignment of the main bands was carried out. Numerous peaks, which correspond to functional groups and modes of vibration of the individual components, were highlighted. The spectra are affected by both the preparation procedures, the cooking methods, and the cooking time. The qualitative analysis of the major functional groups can serve as a basis for a discrimination of the products and the investigation of fraud. For this purpose, the FTIR spectra were evaluated using Principal Component Analysis (PCA). Our results show how the utilization of vibrational spectroscopy combined with a well-established chemometric data analysis method represents a potentially powerful tool in research linked to the food sector and beyond. This study is a first step towards the development of new indicators of food quality.

Shrub encroachment is not always land degradation: Insights from ground-dwelling beetle species niches along a shrub cover gradient in a semi-arid Namibian savanna

2018 ◽  
Vol 30 (1) ◽  
pp. 14-24 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert Hering ◽  
Morgan Hauptfleisch ◽  
Katja Geißler ◽  
Arnim Marquart ◽  
Maria Schoenen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Land Degradation ◽  
Shrub Encroachment ◽  
Beetle Species ◽  
Shrub Cover ◽  
Semi Arid

scholarly journals NATURAL PLANT SPECIES INVENTORY OF THE IMPORTANT PLANT AREAS IN ARABIAN PENINSULA: BANI OMAR, TAIZ GOVERNORATE, REPUBLIC OF YEMEN

2020 ◽  
Vol 1 (3) ◽  
pp. 135-150
Author(s):  
Abdul Wali Ahmed Al-Khulaidi ◽  
Abdul Habib Al-Qadasi ◽  
Othman Saad Saeed Al-Hawshabi
Keyword(s):  
Plant Species ◽  
Arabian Peninsula ◽  
Annual Rainfall ◽  
Vegetation Types ◽  
Salvadora Persica ◽  
Natural Plant ◽  
Vegetation Communities ◽  
Ecological Zones ◽  
Average Annual Rainfall ◽  
Semi Arid

The study area is located on the South western mountains of Republic of Yemen, It is characterized by arid and semi-arid climate with high temperatures and low average annual rainfall. The aims of this study are to explore the natural plant species of one of the Important Plant areas of Arabian Peninsula and to evaluate the chance to be a protected area. 61 sample sites covering the whole ecological zones haven been conducted. 135 plant species are found, in which 3 plant species were endemic, 7 near endemic, 29 regional endemic. The study revealed also three vegetation communities with 7 vegetation associations (vegetation types). Vegetation dominated by Ficus cordata, F. sycomorus, Salvadora persica Tamarix aphylla and Ziziphus spina-christi were found on main wadis. Vegetation communities dominated by Acacia asak, Anisotes trisulcus, Jatropha variegate and Zygocarpum yemenense were found on rocky slopes and stony plateau.

scholarly journals The Influence of Individual Characteristics toward Benefit Recipients’ Participation of Program Keluarga Harapan

2020 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 29-37
Author(s):  
Tryas Wardani Nurwan ◽  
Helmi Hasan
Keyword(s):  
Data Analysis ◽  
Quantitative Method ◽  
Individual Characteristics ◽  
Individual Characteristic ◽  
Indicator Variable ◽  
Level Of Education ◽  
Independent Variables ◽  
The Family ◽  
Indicator Variables

The purpose of the study was to determine the effect of individual characteristic toward benefit recipients’ participation of Program Keluarga Harapan (PKH) in Nagari Pematang Panjang, Sijunjung District, West Sumatera. This study used quantitative method with a questionnaire and data analysis using SPSS 21. Based on Slovin’s theory, the respondents in this study were 131 from the 194 benefit recipients. Indicator variable Participation as the dependent variable is participation in the implementation of P2K2 and participation in taking PKH fund benefits. While the indicator variables of individual characteristics as independent variables are the level of education (X1), age (X2), and number of dependents of the Family (X3). The results showed that the three individual characteristic variables influence recipients’ participation.

scholarly journals Mapeamento da desertificação da Região de Desenvolvimento Sertão do São Francisco com base na cobertura vegetal e nas classes de solos (Desertification mapping of “Sertão” San Francisco Development Region based on the vegetation and the soil classes)

2015 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
pp. 510
Author(s):  
Iêdo Bezerra Sá ◽  
Tony Jarbas Ferreira Cunha ◽  
Tatiana Ayako Taura ◽  
Marcos Antônio Drumond
Keyword(s):  
San Francisco ◽  
Arid Region ◽  
The State ◽  
Soil Mapping ◽  
Semiarid Region ◽  
Environmental Services ◽  
Vegetation Types ◽  
Development Region ◽  
Semi Arid Region ◽  
Semi Arid

Na região Semiárida do Estado de Pernambuco existe grande diversidade na paisagem natural, onde a vegetação, os solos e o clima geram uma multiplicidade de situações que concorrem para formação de diferentes ecossistemas e habitats com grande potencial ecológico e ambiental. Nesta região, a vegetação é caracterizada por diferentes fisionomias, variando de áreas com formações arbustivas, com cobertura do solo muito escassa e quase ausente, a formações arbóreas com níveis de cobertura bastante densas. De modo análogo, nesta região ocorre uma grande variedade de solos, que por suas características, manejo e situação no relevo podem potencializar os processos erosivos, determinantes no desencadeamento da desertificação. Considerando as interrelações destas duas variáveis ambientais, este trabalho tem o objetivo de realizar um diagnóstico das áreas susceptíveis à desertificação da Região de Desenvolvimento Sertão do São Francisco - RDSF, tendo como base o cruzamento das informações da cobertura vegetal natural e das classes de solos. Para tanto, foram utilizados o recorte do mapeamento da cobertura vegetal e uso do solo e o recorte do mapeamento de solos da RDSF. Foram estabelecidos critérios para susceptibilidade da cobertura vegetal, assim como para as classes de solos presentes na área. Executou-se a intersecção destas duas bases de informação para o perfil da sensibilidade à desertificação. Os resultados mostram que a RDSF tem os seguintes valores das áreas em processos de desertificação: 1,77% na classe ausente ou fraca; 74,74% na classe moderada; 0,35% na classe acentuada e 23,14% na classe severa. Deste modo, observa-se que aproximadamente 98% da RDSF encontram-se na situação de sensibilidade à desertificação em que predominam as classes de Moderada a Severa. In the semiarid region of the state of Pernambuco there are plenty of biophysics where vegetation, climate, soils, and the various faces and the relationships and processes that take place among them generate the formation of different ecosystems and habitats with great potential ecological and environmental. There are a range of vegetation types, ranging from shrubby coverage areas up to very sparse and mostly absent vegetation areas, which demonstrated high desertification process occurring. Similarly, a variety of soils that is in the region along with vegetation makes this a region of great variation from the viewpoint of environmental supply. This article deals with the realization of a diagnosis of environmental sensitivity to desertification of São Francisco Development Region seeking spatialize the different situations in which the environment fulfills a greater or lesser extent, its role as provider of environmental services. For this, we used the cutting mapping of existing vegetation and soil mapping of the state and the established criteria, as well as edaphic vegetation cover, featuring the susceptibility to degradation and performed the intersection of these two bases of information to profile the sensitivity to desertification. The results show that São Francisco Development Region has the following values of areas undergoing desertification: 1.77% in weak class; 74.74% in the moderate class; 0.35% in sharp class, and 23.14% in severe class. Keywords: desertification, São Francisco, Semi-arid region, soils.   

scholarly journals Mowing alters nitrogen effects on the community-level plant stoichiometry through shifting plant functional groups in a semi-arid grassland

2020 ◽  
Vol 15 (7) ◽  
pp. 074031
Author(s):  
Shijie Li ◽  
Fuwei Wang ◽  
Mengfei Chen ◽  
Zhengyi Liu ◽  
Luyao Zhou ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Functional Groups ◽  
Community Level ◽  
Plant Functional Groups ◽  
Semi Arid

scholarly journals Analysis of soil and vegetation patterns in semi-arid Mediterranean landscapes by way of a conceptual water balance model

2008 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 899-911 ◽  
Author(s):  
I. Portoghese ◽  
V. Iacobellis ◽  
M. Sivapalan
Keyword(s):  
Water Balance ◽  
Soil Water ◽  
Water Holding Capacity ◽  
Sensitivity Analyses ◽  
Vegetation Types ◽  
Study Region ◽  
Mediterranean Landscapes ◽  
Soil Water Holding Capacity ◽  
Water Holding ◽  
Semi Arid

Abstract. This paper investigates the impact of various vegetation types on water balance variability in semi-arid Mediterranean landscapes, and the different strategies they may have developed to succeed in such water-limited environments. The existence of preferential associations between soil water holding capacity and vegetation species is assessed through an extensive soil geo-database focused on a study region in Southern Italy. Water balance constraints that dominate the organization of landscapes are investigated by a conceptual bucket approach. The temporal water balance dynamics are modelled, with vegetation water use efficiency being parameterized through the use of empirically obtained crop coefficients as surrogates of vegetation behavior in various developmental stages. Sensitivity analyses with respect to the root zone depth and soil water holding capacity are carried out with the aim of explaining the existence of preferential soil-vegetation associations and, hence, the spatial distribution of vegetation types within the study region. Based on these sensitivity analyses the degrees of suitability and adaptability of each vegetation type to parts of the study region are explored with respect of the soil water holding capacity, and the model results were found consistent with the observed affinity patterns.

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