scholarly journals Can the response of above- and below-ground traits to overgrazing vary between annual and perennial species?

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hui Zhang ◽  
Wenxing Long
Keyword(s):  
Life Form ◽  
Ground Level ◽  
Life Forms ◽  
Specific Response ◽  
Similar Response ◽  
Perennial Species ◽  
Grassland Species ◽  
Species Response ◽  
Below Ground ◽  
Species Specific

AbstractUnderstanding functional traits that capture species response to grazing is crucial for uncovering mechanisms underlying the grazing-induced alterations in vegetation composition. Currently, the majority of studies ignore the effects of life form on the response of above- and below-ground traits to grazing. In this study we quantified i) whether below-ground traits exhibit similar response to overgrazing as do above-ground traits; and ii) whether the response of above- and below-ground traits to overgrazing varied with life form (annual versus perennial species). To testify the generality of these two questions, we compared common grassland species between an undisturbed and an over grazed meadow at each of four elevations ranging from 3000m to 3600m on the Qinghai Tibetan Plateau. We found both above-ground and below-ground traits exhibited similar resource conservation vs. resource acquisition trade-off for responding to overgrazing. Moreover, perennial species but not annual species determine the response of above- and below-ground traits to overgrazing. This work bridges the gap in the literature for the influence of land-use (in the absence and presence of overgrazing) and life forms (annual and perennial species) on species-specific response at both above-, and below-ground level.

scholarly journals Can Overgrazing Responses Be Disentangled by Above- and Below-Ground Traits?

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hui Zhang ◽  
Qifang He ◽  
Shree Prakash Pandey ◽  
Kai Jiang ◽  
Chen Wang
Keyword(s):  
Life Form ◽  
Life Forms ◽  
Resource Conservation ◽  
Specific Response ◽  
Perennial Species ◽  
Annual Species ◽  
Grassland Species ◽  
Species Response ◽  
Below Ground ◽  
Species Specific

Understanding functional traits that capture species response to overgrazing can help optimize ecosystem functioning. However, most studies have ignored the effects of life-form on the response of above- and below-ground traits to overgrazing. Here, we determined whether the above- and below-ground traits respond similarly to overgrazing; and does the response of above- and below-ground traits to overgrazing vary between the species of annual vs. perennial life-forms. We compared common grassland species between fenced and overgrazed meadows at four elevations (from 3000 to 3600 m), spanning an area of ∼200 square kilometers on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. We found overgrazing resulted in large removal of perennial species at all elevations, which forced perennial species to alter their above- and below-ground traits so that they could shift from resource conservation to resource acquisition to avoid overgrazing. In contrast, overgrazing promoted annual species at all elevation, thus annual species did not make any response to overgrazing. These findings bridge the gap in the literature for the influence of annual vs. perennial life-forms on species-specific response at both above-, and below-ground levels during overgrazing. More important, these results can facilitate selecting species for sustainable ecosystem managements and restoration from overgrazing.

scholarly journals A floristic study on herbs and climbing plants at Puducherry, South India: an approach to biodiversity conservation and regeneration through eco-restoration

Check List ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 555 ◽  
Author(s):  
Raja Ponnuchamy ◽  
Arunachalam Pragasam ◽  
Soupramanien Aravajy ◽  
Prakash Patel ◽  
Lipi Das ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
South India ◽  
Life Form ◽  
Local Level ◽  
Regional Scale ◽  
Floristic Composition ◽  
Ground Level ◽  
Life Forms ◽  
Evergreen Forest ◽  
Coastal Vegetation ◽  
Climbing Plants

A qualitative floristic exploration with life form classifications and monitoring of flowering and fruiting phenology has been carried out at a restored site near Puducherry, South India in 2009 and 2010. The species were classified into three categories based on their occurrence status, namely, Naturally Occurring, Naturally Regenerated and Introduced. The present study focuses only on two life forms, the Herbaceous and the Climbing plants. The site selected for eco-restoration originally comprised of an eroded and severely degraded landscape with scattered remnant species. However, active human intervention over a thirty year period included the introduction of appropriate plant species and other physical measures to enhance soil fertility and ground water level, and regenerate and conserve the deteriorating typical Tropical dry evergreen forest (TDEF) vegetation. A large number of naturally ccurring herbaceous, climbing species (172) and a consistent number of naturally regenerated species (44) are now observed as a result of eco-restoration. Lowland herbaceous species have also established themselves as a green cover at ground level. At present, parts of the area have fertile soils and rich floristic composition with the herbaceous life form represented by 165 species encompassed in 105 genera and 37 families, and the climbing plants represented by 68 species belonging to 54 genera and 25 families. ‘Genus to family’ and ‘species to genus’ ratios indicate the establishment of diverse vegetation in the study site. Nearly one third of the species have been observed flowering throughout the year and about half of the species were observed fruiting throughout the year. We emphasize that the two fold approach of land and vegetation reclamation has been very effective in helping restore the unique TDEF vegetation at the local level and the same may be extended to help regenerate and conserve the Coromandel Coastal vegetation at the regional scale.

scholarly journals Enhancing the Quality of Two Species of Baby Leaves Sprayed with Moringa Leaf Extract as Biostimulant

Agronomy ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (7) ◽  
pp. 1399
Author(s):  
Stefania Toscano ◽  
Antonio Ferrante ◽  
Ferdinando Branca ◽  
Daniela Romano
Keyword(s):  
Leaf Extract ◽  
Foliar Application ◽  
Sugar Content ◽  
Nitrate Content ◽  
Specific Response ◽  
Yield And Quality ◽  
Negative Effect ◽  
Species Specific ◽  
Moringa Oleifera Lam

Natural biostimulants obtained by plants are intensively used nowadays to improve crop yield and quality. The current study aimed to evaluate the effects of leaf extract of moringa (Moringa oleifera Lam.) (MLE) in modifying baby leaf characteristics of two genotypes of Brassica. The trial was started in October 2020 in a greenhouse; a cultivar of kale ‘Cavolo Laciniato Nero di Toscana’ (CL) and a Sicilian landrace of sprouting broccoli ‘Broccoli Nero’ (BN) were used. The plants, after 15, 30 and 40 days from sowing, were treated with MLE, while the control plants (C) with distilled water. Treatment with MLE modified morphological and nutritional value, but with different behavior in the two genotypes. In fact, in BN the treatment reduced the antioxidant activity (2.2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH)) by 54%, while in CL the treatment increased this parameter by 40%. For the phenolic concentration and the sugar content the values recorded were significantly increased by MLE compared to control plants in CL, where in BN a significant reduction was registered. The CL plants treated with MLE showed a significant reduction (−70%) in nitrate content compared to the control plants; a negative effect was, instead, observed in BN, where the plants treated with moringa showed an increase of 60%. Results of this study showed how the foliar application of MLE was effective in improving various nutraceutical parameters, in particular in kale, because it appears to be a species-specific response.

scholarly journals Testing the potential of pollen assemblages to capture composition, diversity and ecological gradients of surrounding vegetation in two biogeographical regions of southeastern Europe

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria Papadopoulou ◽  
Ioannis Tsiripidis ◽  
Sampson Panajiotidis ◽  
Georgios Fotiadis ◽  
Daniel Veres ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Vegetation Structure ◽  
Diversity Indices ◽  
Life Forms ◽  
Ecological Gradients ◽  
Vegetation Diversity ◽  
North Central ◽  
Plant Life Forms ◽  
Pollen Diagrams ◽  
Biogeographical Regions ◽  
Species Specific

AbstractDue to the complex relationship between pollen and vegetation, it is not yet clear how pollen diagrams may be interpreted with respect to changes in floristic diversity and only a few studies have hitherto investigated this problem. We compare pollen assemblages from moss samples in two southeastern European forests with the surrounding vegetation to investigate (a) their compositional similarity, (b) the association between their diversity characteristics in both terms of richness and evenness, and (c) the correspondence of the main ecological gradients that can be revealed by them. Two biogeographical regions with different vegetation characteristics, the Pieria mountains (north central Greece) and the slopes of Ciomadul volcano (eastern Romania), were chosen as divergent examples of floristic regions, vegetation structure and landscape openness. Pollen assemblages are efficient in capturing the presence or absence, rather than the abundance in distribution of plants in the surrounding area and this bias increases along with landscape openness and vegetation diversity, which is higher in the Pieria mountains. Pollen assemblages and vegetation correlate better in terms of richness, that is, low order diversity indices. Relatively high correlation, in terms of evenness, could be potentially found in homogenous and species poor ecosystems as for Ciomadul. Composition and diversity of woody, rather than herb, vegetation is better reflected in pollen assemblages of both areas, especially for Pieria where a direct comparison of the two components was feasible, although this depends on the species-specific pollen production and dispersal, the openness of landscape and the overall diversity of vegetation. Gradients revealed by pollen assemblages are highly and significantly correlated with those existing in vegetation. Pollen assemblages may represent the vegetation well in terms of composition, diversity (mainly richness) and ecological gradients, but this potential depends on land use, vegetation structure, biogeographical factors and plant life forms.

Variation in longevity and traits of leaves among co-occurring understorey plants in a tropical montane forest

2008 ◽  
Vol 24 (2) ◽  
pp. 121-133 ◽  
Author(s):  
Satomi Shiodera ◽  
Joeni S. Rahajoe ◽  
Takashi Kohyama
Keyword(s):  
Life Form ◽  
Census Data ◽  
Condensed Tannin ◽  
Leaf Traits ◽  
Life Forms ◽  
Montane Forest ◽  
Cox Proportional Hazards ◽  
Leaf Longevity ◽  
Tropical Montane Forest ◽  
Leaf Mass Per Area

Abstract:The relationship between leaf longevity and other leaf traits was compared among different life-form categories (trees, herbs, climbers and epiphytes) of 101 plant species in a tropical montane forest on Mt. Halimun, West Java, Indonesia. We applied the Cox proportional hazards regression to estimate the leaf longevity of each species from 30 mo of census data. We examined whether estimated longevity was explained by either species life-form categories, taxonomic groupings (eudicots, monocots, magnoliids and chloranthales, and ferns) or such leaf traits as leaf area, leaf mass per area (LMA), mass-based leaf nitrogen, penetrometer reading, condensed-tannin-free total phenolics and condensed tannin. There was a wide-ranged interspecific variation in leaf longevity, mostly 10–50 mo, similarly across life-form categories. LMA showed a strong positive influence on leaf longevity. We found that relationships between leaf longevity and some leaf traits were different among various life forms. Trees tended to have high LMA, while climbers tended to have low LMA at the same leaf longevity. We hypothesize that such difference among life forms reflects shoot architecture characteristics. Multi-shoot trees with branching architecture need to have self-supporting leaves, whereas semi-epiphytic climbers can maintain relatively low biomass investment to leaves hanging or relying upon the mechanical support from host plants.

scholarly journals Inhibition of Primary Photosynthesis in Desiccating Antarctic Lichens Differing in Their Photobionts, Thallus Morphology, and Spectral Properties

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 818
Author(s):  
Miloš Barták ◽  
Josef Hájek ◽  
Alla Orekhova ◽  
Johana Villagra ◽  
Catalina Marín ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Spectral Reflectance ◽  
Quantum Yields ◽  
Specific Response ◽  
Variable Fluorescence ◽  
Protective Mechanisms ◽  
Quenching Analysis ◽  
Relative Water ◽  
Species Specific ◽  
Kinetics Of ◽  
Reflectance Data

Five macrolichens of different thallus morphology from Antarctica (King George Island) were used for this ecophysiological study. The effect of thallus desiccation on primary photosynthetic processes was examined. We investigated the lichens’ responses to the relative water content (RWC) in their thalli during the transition from a wet (RWC of 100%) to a dry state (RWC of 0%). The slow Kautsky kinetics of chlorophyll fluorescence (ChlF) that was recorded during controlled dehydration (RWC decreased from 100 to 0%) and supplemented with a quenching analysis revealed a polyphasic species-specific response of variable fluorescence. The changes in ChlF at a steady state (Fs), potential and effective quantum yields of photosystem II (FV/FM, ΦPSII), and nonphotochemical quenching (NPQ) reflected a desiccation-induced inhibition of the photosynthetic processes. The dehydration-dependent fall in FV/FM and ΦPSII was species-specific, starting at an RWC range of 22–32%. The critical RWC for ΦPSII was below 5%. The changes indicated the involvement of protective mechanisms in the chloroplastic apparatus of lichen photobionts at RWCs of below 20%. In both the wet and dry states, the spectral reflectance curves (SRC) (wavelength 400–800 nm) and indices (NDVI, PRI) of the studied lichen species were measured. Black Himantormia lugubris showed no difference in the SRCs between wet and dry state. Other lichens showed a higher reflectance in the dry state compared to the wet state. The lichen morphology and anatomy data, together with the ChlF and spectral reflectance data, are discussed in relation to its potential for ecophysiological studies in Antarctic lichens.

BIOMORPHOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF DENDROFLORA OF NNP «NYZHNIODNIPROVSKYI»

2021 ◽  
pp. 84-96
Author(s):  
Pavlova N.R. ◽  
Dzerkal V.M. ◽  
Ponomareva А.А.
Keyword(s):  
Life Form ◽  
Forest Type ◽  
Life Forms ◽  
Forest Steppe ◽  
Morphological Classification ◽  
Salix Alba ◽  
Plant Life Forms ◽  
Nature Park ◽  
Architectural Models

In order to preserve, reproduce and effectively use the natural complexes and objects of the DniproDelta as one of the most valuable natural floodplain-littoral complexes in Europe, which have special environmental, recreational, historical and cultural, scientific, educational and aesthetic value, and ensurethe conservationof «DniproDelta»wetland of theinternational importance,the National Natural Park «Lower Dnipro»was created(Decree of the President of Ukraine of November 24, 2015 No 657/2015).The flora of the higher vascular plants of the Park contains 820 species, 40 species of which (4.9% of the total number) are woody plants. Rosaceae Juss. (14 species), Salicaceae Mirb. (7 species), Aceraceae Juss. (3 types) are leading families of the dendroflora of the Park.Biomorphological characteristics of tree plant species in the flora of the Lower Dnipro National Nature Park were carried out according to the following classifications: 1) K. Raunkiersystem of plant life forms; 2) ecological and morphological classification of life forms of I. G. Serebryakov; 3) architectural models of F. Alle, R. Oldeman and P. Tomlinson; 4) classification of the life forms of plants of the temperate zone, which takes into account the vegetative propagation by O. V. Smirnova, L. B. Zaugolnova.AnalysisoftypesofbiomorphsaccordingtotheclassificationofK. Raunkiershowedthatthevastmajorityofdendrofloraspeciesbelongtophanerophytes, amongthem, dependingontheheightoftheplant, therearedifferentgroups-megaphanerophytes(e.g., Populustremula), mesophanerophytes(Salixalba), microphaneorphytes, nanophanerophytes(Amygdalusnana) andhamephytes(Ephedradistachia).According to the ecological and morphological classification of I. G. Serebryakov life forms, the flora of the Park is dominated by forest-steppe trees and forest-type trees.The trees which belong to one life form often differ in the principles of growth and formation of the crown, branching, and general habitus, which is generally considered as an architectural model of a particular species. According to the classification of architectural models by F. Alle, R. Oldeman and P. Tomlinson, in the flora of the Park, there are five models among which the species formed by the model of Tomlinson have a significant representation, and the species formed by the models of Manzheno and Champagne have a smaller representation.Key words:flora, tree, classification, life form, bush. З метою збереження, відтворення і ефективного використання природних комплексів та об’єктів дельти річки Дніпро як одного з найцінніших природних заплавно-літоральних комплексів у Європі, які мають особливу природоохоронну, оздоровчу, історико-культурну, наукову, освітню та естетичну цінність, забезпечення збереження водно-болотного угіддя міжнародного значення «Дельта р. Дніпро» створено Національний природний парк «Нижньодніпровський» (Указ президента України від 24 листопада 2015 року No 657/2015).Флора вищих судинних рослин Парку попередньо складає 820 видів, з них 40 видів (4,9% від загальної кількості) –деревні рослини.Провідні родини дендрофлори Парку –Rosaceae Juss. (14 видів), SalicaceaeMirb. (7 видів), AceraceaeJuss. (3 види). Біоморфологічну характеристику видів деревних рослин у флорі національного природнього парку «Нижньодніпровський» проведено за класифікаціями: 1) система життєвих форм рослин К. Раункієра; 2) еколого-морфологічна класифікація життєвих форм І. Г. Сєрєбрякова; 3) архітектурні моделі Ф. Аллє, Р. Ольдемана і П. Томлінсона; 4)класифікація життєвих форм рослин помірної зони, яка враховує вегетативне розмноження О. В. Смирнової, Л. Б. Заугольнової.Аналіз типів біоморф за класифікацією К. Раункієра показав, що переважна більшість видів дендрофлори належить до фанерофітів, серед них, в залежності від висоти рослини, виділяють різні групи –мегафанерофіти (наприклад, Populus tremula), мезофанерофіти (Salix alba), мікрофанерофіти (Amorpha fruticosa), нанофанерофіти (Amygdalus nana) та хамефіти (Ephedra distachia).За еколого-морфологічною класифікацією життєвих форм І. Г. Сєрєбрякова у флорі Парку домінують дерева лісостепового типу та дерева лісового типу.Дерева, які відносяться до однієї життєвої форми, часто відрізняютьсяпринципами наростання та формування крони, галуженням, загальним габітусом, що загалом розглядається як архітектурна модель конкретного виду. За класифікацією архітектурних моделей Ф.Аллє, Р. Ольдемана і П. Томлінсона у флорі Парку виділено п’ять моделей, серед яких, значне представництво мають види, що формуються за моделлю Томлінсона, менше представництво мають види, що формуються за моделями Манжено та Шампанії.Ключові слова: флора, дерево, класифікація, життєва форма, кущ.

scholarly journals Floristic, frequency, and vegetation life-form spectra of a cerrado site

2004 ◽  
Vol 64 (2) ◽  
pp. 201-209 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. A. Batalha ◽  
F. R. Martins
Keyword(s):  
Frequency Spectrum ◽  
Vascular Plants ◽  
Life Form ◽  
Quantitative Description ◽  
Life Forms ◽  
Sensu Stricto ◽  
Southeastern Brazil ◽  
Frequency Spectra ◽  
Experimental Station ◽  
Normal Spectrum

We used Raunkiaer's system to classify in life-forms the vascular plants present in 12 random 25 m² quadrats of a cerrado site. The study area is covered by cerrado sensu stricto and is located in the Valério fragment, at about 22º13'S and 47º51'W, 760 m above sea level, in the Itirapina Ecological and Experimental Station, São Paulo State, southeastern Brazil. The floristic spectrum considers the life-form of each species, while in the frequency spectrum, each species is weighted by its frequency. The vegetation spectrum does not consider the species at all, but only the individuals in each life-form class. In the floristic spectrum, the most represented life-forms were the phanerophytes and the hemicryptophytes, as in other cerrado sites. This spectrum differed significantly from Raunkiaer's normal spectrum, mainly due to under-representation of therophytes and over-representation of phanerophytes. The floristic and frequency spectra were similar, but both differed from the vegetation spectrum. We recommend the floristic spectrum when working at larger scales and a description of the phytoclimate is wanted. The vegetation spectrum is preferable when working at smaller scales and wanting a quantitative description of the physiognomy. The frequency spectrum is not recommended at all.

scholarly journals Tomato Below Ground–Above Ground Interactions: Trichoderma longibrachiatum Affects the Performance of Macrosiphum euphorbiae and Its Natural Antagonists

2013 ◽  
Vol 26 (10) ◽  
pp. 1249-1256 ◽  
Author(s):  
Donatella Battaglia ◽  
Simone Bossi ◽  
Pasquale Cascone ◽  
Maria Cristina Digilio ◽  
Juliana Duran Prieto ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Tomato Plant ◽  
Integrated Control ◽  
Macrosiphum Euphorbiae ◽  
Aphidius Ervi ◽  
Aphid Parasitoid ◽  
Trichoderma Longibrachiatum ◽  
Indirect Defenses ◽  
Plant Growth Promoting ◽  
Below Ground ◽  
Species Specific

Below ground and above ground plant–insect–microorganism interactions are complex and regulate most of the developmental responses of important crop plants such as tomato. We investigated the influence of root colonization by a nonmycorrhizal plant-growth-promoting fungus on direct and indirect defenses of tomato plant against aphids. The multitrophic system included the plant Solanum lycopersicum (‘San Marzano nano’), the root-associated biocontrol fungus Trichoderma longibrachiatum strain MK1, the aphid Macrosiphum euphorbiae (a tomato pest), the aphid parasitoid Aphidius ervi, and the aphid predator Macrolophus pygmaeus. Laboratory bioassays were performed to assess the effect of T. longibrachiatum MK1, interacting with the tomato plant, on quantity and quality of volatile organic compounds (VOC) released by tomato plant, aphid development and reproduction, parasitoid behavior, and predator behavior and development. When compared with the uncolonized controls, plants whose roots were colonized by T. longibrachiatum MK1 showed quantitative differences in the release of specific VOC, better aphid population growth indices, a higher attractiveness toward the aphid parasitoid and the aphid predator, and a quicker development of aphid predator. These findings support the development of novel strategies of integrated control of aphid pests. The species-specific or strain-specific characteristics of these below ground–above ground interactions remain to be assessed.

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