Dry grasslands in Wood Buffalo National Park: reply

1999 ◽  
Vol 77 (7) ◽  
pp. 918-921
Author(s):  
A G Schwarz ◽  
Ross W Wein
Keyword(s):  
National Park ◽  
Vascular Plant ◽  
Summer Rainfall ◽  
Dry Grassland ◽  
Dry Grasslands ◽  
Key Species ◽  
Stipa Comata ◽  
Wood Buffalo National Park ◽  
Trees And Shrubs ◽  
Special Protection

In examining dry grassland areas of Wood Buffalo National Park (WBNP), we used vascular plant indicators commonly found in the grassland landscapes in the southern and central parts of the Prairie Provinces. With distance northward the landscapes become increasingly tree-dominated and the dry grasslands have fewer dry grassland indicator species (about 40 in the area of WBNP) and become smaller in size (about 1 ha in WBNP). Key species are Stipa comata Trin & Rupr., Stipa curtiseta (A.S. Hitchc.) Barkworth, and Stipa columbiana Macoun on the drier sites. Paleontological records and historical documents suggest that these remnant dry grasslands must expand during decades of drought and must contract during decades of higher summer rainfall. We hypothesize that fires might enhance dry grassland expansion by stressing and killing trees and shrubs. Southern dry grassland vascular plant species represent over 7% of the total in WBNP. It is reasonable to hypothesize that these represent special ecotypes that deserve special protection through prescribed burning.Key words: remnant grasslands, Stipa spp., climate change.

Threatened dry grasslands in the continental boreal forests of Wood Buffalo National Park

1997 ◽  
Vol 75 (8) ◽  
pp. 1363-1370 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. G. Schwarz ◽  
Ross W. Wein
Keyword(s):  
Plant Species ◽  
Populus Tremuloides ◽  
National Park ◽  
Vascular Plant ◽  
Detrended Correspondence Analysis ◽  
Diversity Indices ◽  
Grassland Species ◽  
Dry Grasslands ◽  
Community Types ◽  
Wood Buffalo National Park

Dry grasslands in Wood Buffalo National Park are unique biological features at 60°N latitude, since they contain plant species normally found in more southern grasslands at 50–55°N latitude. The objectives of this study were to inventory dry grasslands, classify them according to similarity of species cover, and establish relationships with understory species in Populus tremuloides and shrub communities. Dry grasslands were studied at nine sites; most were clustered in the Salt River and Peace Point areas. The largest unit of grassland was about 3.0 ha, and most units were less than 0.5 ha. This contrasts with the hundreds of hectares recorded earlier in the century. Of the 128 vascular plant species identified, 29 are considered as southern, and of these, 15 are regionally rare. Sixty-four plots were classified into nine community types, using two-way indicator species analysis. A group of six communities were dominated by grass and shrub species with a component of southern grassland species. Three communities, strongly dominated by Populus and shrubs, represent community types that invade dry grasslands. Ordination of plots using detrended correspondence analysis showed relationships among the community types and a clear separation of southern grassland species from those found in forest communities. Vascular plant diversity, as represented by mean species richness, ranged from about 15 to 28, and Shannon diversity indices ranged from 1.883 to 2.615. The cover of southern grassland species was negatively correlated (correlation coefficient of −0.524) with cover of tall shrubs and trees, suggesting that the dry grasslands of Wood Buffalo National Park are threatened by tree and shrub invasion, which is due, in part, to a lack of recent fires at these sites. Key words: northern grasslands, biodiversity, endangered species, endangered spaces.

Dry grasslands in Wood Buffalo National Park: reply

1999 ◽  
Vol 77 (7) ◽  
pp. 918-921
Author(s):  
A.G. Schwarz ◽  
Ross W. Wein
Keyword(s):  
National Park ◽  
Dry Grasslands ◽  
Wood Buffalo National Park

Threatened dry grasslands in the continental boreal forests of Wood Buffalo National Park: commentary

1999 ◽  
Vol 77 (7) ◽  
pp. 913-917
Author(s):  
Kevin P Timoney
Keyword(s):  
Boreal Forests ◽  
National Park ◽  
Ecological Factors ◽  
Clear Understanding ◽  
Dry Grasslands ◽  
Calamagrostis Canadensis ◽  
Koeleria Macrantha ◽  
Hordeum Jubatum ◽  
Wood Buffalo National Park ◽  
Agropyron Trachycaulum

There are three primary types of graminoid-dominated communities in or near Wood Buffalo National Park, Canada: freshwater meadows and marshes composed of Calamagrostis canadensis (Michx.) Beauv., Carex atherodes Spreng., Carex aquatilis Wahlenb., Scolochloa festucacea (Willd.) Link, and Poa L.; saline meadows composed of Hordeum jubatum L., Puccinellia nuttalliana (Schult.) A.S. Hitchc.,Agropyron trachycaulum (Link) Malte, Calamagrostis stricta (Timm) Koeler, and Calamagrostis inexpansa A. Gray; and dry grasslands composed of Agropyron trachycaulum, Stipa L., Carex siccata Dewey, Carex obtusata Lilj., and Koeleria macrantha (Ledeb.) J.A. Schultes f. Except for the Peace Point area, it is not known whether dry grasslands have declined in areal extent. Including various wetlands under "dry grasslands", and concluding that these areas no longer support dry grassland is misleading. Dry grasslands exist in Wood Buffalo National Park, but most graminoid-dominated communities in the park are, and have been, freshwater and saline meadows and marshes. A clear understanding of the ecological factors operating in these different ecosystems is critical to informed management.Key words: fire, grassland, prairie, vegetation, wetland, Wood Buffalo National Park.

scholarly journals New record of Ellipsocoris kalashiani Carapezza 2009 in Europe, found in Apulia, Italy (Heteroptera: Scutelleridae)

2021 ◽  
Vol 52 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
I. Laterza ◽  
P. Dioli
Keyword(s):  
New Record ◽  
National Park ◽  
Southern Italy ◽  
Natural Forests ◽  
Dry Grassland ◽  
Ecological Aspects ◽  
Protection Area ◽  
Grassland Habitats ◽  
First Time ◽  
Special Protection

Ellipsocoris kalashiani is recorded for the first time in Apulia (Southern Italy). The specie was described by Carapezza (2009) from Eastern Turkey and Western Armenia, but no records have ever been reported for Europe. Recently, few individuals of this species were found in Alta Murgia National Park (Apulia, Italy), a Special Protection Area (SPA) and Site of Community Importance (SCI), characterized by natural forests and dry grassland habitats, with Mediterranean-steppe vegetation. The specimens were collected in two different localities, about 40 km apart from each other, suggesting a long-standing presence in that area. This study provides the first report of the species for the Italian Heteroptera fauna and several hypotheses about its presence there. However, further investigations are needed in order to clarify some ecological aspects, such as its unknown host plant.

scholarly journals A List of Alien Plants in the Kruger National Park

Koedoe ◽  
1988 ◽  
Vol 31 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
I.A.W. Macdonald ◽  
W.P.D. Gertenbach
Keyword(s):  
Invasive Species ◽  
National Park ◽  
Vascular Plant ◽  
Alien Plants ◽  
Ecological Impacts ◽  
Kruger National Park ◽  
Important Species ◽  
Invasive Status ◽  
And Control ◽  
Trees And Shrubs

The alien vascular plant flora of the Kruger National Park is listed. Annotations cover the invasive status, modes of introduction and dispersal, dates of first recording, ecological impacts and control status of each species. The list comprises 156 species of which 113 are considered invasive within the park. Most of the species have been accidentally introduced to the park. The ecological impacts of 27 species (of which 11 are trees and shrubs) were rated as moderate or high. By 1985 only 10 species are thought to have been eradicated from the park. Most of the invasive species are herbaceous weeds of man-disturbed sites and the eradication of these is generally considered impossible. Most of the important species are dispersed by water and animals. The significance of limiting reinvasion of the park down the rivers flowing into the park, is stressed.

scholarly journals Impacts of soil disturbance on plant diversity in a dry grassland

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Louise Imer Nabe-Nielsen ◽  
Jens Reddersen ◽  
Jacob Nabe-Nielsen
Keyword(s):  
Transition Zone ◽  
Threatened Species ◽  
Vascular Plant ◽  
Soil Disturbance ◽  
Annual Species ◽  
Dry Grassland ◽  
Intermediate Disturbance ◽  
Dry Grasslands ◽  
Disturbance Regimes ◽  
Bare Sand

Abstract Dry grasslands are among the most species rich habitats in Europe, but they are also among the most threatened. Threats include too high and too low levels of disturbance. The aim of this study is to examine the effect of soil disturbance intensity on species composition and diversity in a dry grassland in Mols Bjerge National Park in Denmark. We recorded vascular plant species inside and just outside patches of bare sand, and in the transition zone between these. We found that the number of species was highest in the dense vegetation, intermediate at the transition and lowest in bare sand areas. However, an analysis of plant traits showed that the number of small annual species was highest in the transition zone. High abundance of small annual species may therefore indicate intermediate disturbance regimes. Based on a literature study we demonstrate that many threatened species are adapted to such habitats. This suggests that dry grasslands should be managed to maintain areas with intermediate disturbances intensities to maintain optimal conditions for many threatened species. To our knowledge, this is the first time it has been documented that small annual species can indicate intermediate disturbance regimes in dry grasslands.

scholarly journals AN ASSESSMENT OF PRESENT PLANT DIVERSITY ON THE NATEWA PENINSULA, VANUA LEVU, FIJI

REINWARDTIA ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 17 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew Powling
Keyword(s):  
Plant Species ◽  
Plant Diversity ◽  
National Park ◽  
Secondary Forest ◽  
Indigenous Species ◽  
Conservation Value ◽  
Ecological Diversity ◽  
Shrub Species ◽  
Trees And Shrubs ◽  
Present Plant

POWLING, A. 2018. An assessment of present plant diversity on the Natewa Peninsula, Vanua Levu, Fiji. Reinwardtia 17(2): 125‒132. ‒‒ The Natewa Peninsula, part of the Fijian island of Vanua Levu, is naturally afforested but the forests have been extensively logged in the last 50 years. It is now planned to protect some of the forests from further logging by incorporating them into a National Park. A survey of plant species in the regenerating forests and surrounding land on the Peninsula was performed to assess the taxonomic and ecological diversity of the trees and shrubs, including figs and palms, and also the orchids presently to be found on the Peninsula. The degree of invasion by introduced plant species was also assessed. Of 67 tree and shrub species it was found that 17 were endemic to the Fijian islands, 40 others were indigenous and ten were introduced. The normal habitats of these species included dense, open and secondary forest, showing that trees with a range of ecological characteristics were still present. Endemic and indigenous species of both figs and palms were found, and also terrestrial and epiphytic orchids. No severe infestations of introduced species were observed. It is concluded that the forests of the Peninsula are of sufficient conservation value to justify National Park status. 

scholarly journals Terrestrial Molluscs in the Dry Grasslands of the DNIPRO Upland (Central Ukraine): New Records, Rare Species and Conservation Potential

2018 ◽  
Vol 52 (1) ◽  
pp. 3-12 ◽  
Author(s):  
I. Balashov ◽  
O. Vasyliuk ◽  
D. Shyriaieva ◽  
Z. Shvydka ◽  
O. Oskyrko ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Rare Species ◽  
New Records ◽  
National Level ◽  
Red List ◽  
The Other ◽  
Rock Outcrops ◽  
Dry Grassland ◽  
Dry Grasslands ◽  
First Time ◽  
High Diversity

Abstract Thirty-six species of terrestrial molluscs were found in the dry grasslands and rock outcrops of the study area, including three that were not previously known for Central Ukraine: Granaria frumentum, Pupilla bigranata and Mediterranea inopinata. These species are relics related to dry open habitats and require conservation in Ukraine on the national level, G. frumentum is already listed in the Red Book of Ukraine, and the other two should be listed in its next edition. It is proposed to create the new protected areas in the most important newly revealed locations of these species. These rocky areas also retain the high diversity of land molluscs in the region. The invasive snail Xeropicta derbentina was found for the first time on the DNIPRO Upland, on the edge of natural dry grassland. The rare native snail Morlina glabra was recorded for the first time in Kyiv Region, it is proposed to be included into the regional red list.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document