scholarly journals Influence of litter thickness on the structure of litter macrofauna of deciduous forests of Ukraine’s steppe zone

2016 ◽  
Vol 24 (1) ◽  
pp. 240-248 ◽  
Author(s):  
V. V. Brygadyrenko
Keyword(s):  
Forest Ecosystems ◽  
Steppe Zone ◽  
Absolute Number ◽  
Deciduous Forests ◽  
Large Species ◽  
Vegetation Density ◽  
Tree Crown ◽  
Different Types ◽  
Litter Invertebrates ◽  
Moisture Conditions

The litter in a forest ecosystem acts as a trophic substrate, and at the same time it is the environment for litter invertebrates. But despite this fact, there has been very little research conducted on the influence of litter thickness on the structure of litter macrofauna. The litter of steppe forests contains most types of integrated communities of forest ecosystems. This means that its thickness cannot avoid playing a significant role in the functioning of the ecosystem. Following to the standard methodologies, Invertebrates were collected using pit-fall traps in deciduous forests of Nikolaev, Zaporizhzhya, Dnipropetrovsk, Donetsk and Kharkiv oblasts, which are characterized by different types of geomorphological profile, different moisture conditions, soil salinity, tree crown and herbaceous vegetation density, soil texture and other factors. The total number of macrofauna increases in conditions where litter thickness exceeds40 mmin comparison with forest ecosystems with fragmented and average capacity litter. The number of litter macrofauna species also increases from 11–23 to 38 species on average when litter thickness increases to more than40 mm. The Shannon and Pielou diversity indexes show no definite tendencies to change in relation to changing degrees of litter thickness. At sites of greater thickness of the litter layer, the corresponding increase in the absolute number of litter mesofauna invertebrates is mostly due to saprophages, and the increase the number of species – due to zoophages. The optimum structure of domination was observed at sites with maximum thickness of litter. The proportion of large species shows no statistically significant change in relation to variations in litter thickness. The qualitative compound of the fauna at sites with thick litter changes mainly due to an increase in the number of Carabidae species. 

scholarly journals Soil moisture as determinant of the seasonal soil co2 emission: evidence from central siberia

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anastasia Vladimirovna Makhnykina ◽  
Ivan Ivanovich Tychkov ◽  
Anatoly Stanislavovich Prokushkin ◽  
Anton Igorevich Pyzhev ◽  
Eugene Alexandrovich Vaganov
Keyword(s):  
Soil Moisture ◽  
Forest Ecosystems ◽  
Exponential Model ◽  
Additional Parameter ◽  
Direct Measurements ◽  
Different Types ◽  
Microclimatic Conditions ◽  
Moisture Conditions ◽  
Soil Emission

Abstract Background The soils of the boreal zone contain significant reserves of carbon, therefore, their response to current climate changes will significantly affect the sustainability of forest ecosystems and the future concentration of CO 2 in the atmosphere. When modeling soil emission, it is necessary to focus on the main soil environment factors. In this paper, a simple exponential model of the soil CO 2 emissions growth was modified by introducing an additional parameter - the threshold soil moisture in different types of ecosystems based on the direct measurements. Results The developed model adequately reflects the dynamic changes in soil emission for different types of ecosystems. This result was achieved by including moisture as a second environmental factor besides temperature, describing changes in soil CO 2 emissions during the summer period. The error of direct measurements for all measuring seasons was about 20% of the values of direct measurements of the CO 2 flux. Note that such a high error was observed once per season in early and mid-June, reaching 60-80% on some days. Our models demonstrate in the season with the highest amount of precipitation the smallest differences in modeled fluxes about 15-20%, which indirectly indicates that the emission flux is not inhibited by insufficient moisture in this season. Conclusions The final model application depends on the characteristics of the microclimatic conditions of a particular ecosystem, namely, a factor that has a limiting effect on the biological processes. When studying the functional role of boreal forest ecosystems the moisture conditions consideration is crucial to explain the atmospheric CO 2 emission processes.

scholarly journals Łęgi jesionowo-wiązowe w dolinie środkowej Wisły – stan ekosystemów pozbawionych zalewów i wytyczne do działań ochronnych = Riparian hardwood forests in the valley of the middle Vistula – ecosystem condition in the absence of flooding, and guidelines for protection

2019 ◽  
Vol 91 (3) ◽  
pp. 295-323 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anna Kowalska ◽  
Andrzej Affek ◽  
Edyta Regulska ◽  
Jacek Wolski ◽  
Bogusława Kruczkowska ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Forest Ecosystems ◽  
Arable Land ◽  
Hardwood Forests ◽  
Rural Landscape ◽  
Biologically Active ◽  
Hardwood Forest ◽  
Strong Impact ◽  
Forest Patches ◽  
Alien Plant ◽  
Moisture Conditions

Riparian hardwood forests of Quercus robur, Ulmus spp and Fraxinus spp that are present along major rivers are valuable communities protected by the EU Habitat Directive and recommended for monitoring. Part of the reason for that is relative rarity on the scale of Europe as a whole, and also in Poland. This in turn reflects the way in which fertile habitats were, in their majority, deforested long ago, drained and changed into grasslands or arable land. Additionally, the greater part of these habitats have lost their specific features, as a result of river engineering and – primarily – the construction of the river embankments that have acted to limit flooding and alluvial processes, in that way also initiating change in the composition of both soils and plant communities. Specifically, this article presents selected results of the research project: Riparian hardwood forest services in the middle Vistula river valley. One of the main objectives thereof was to assess the condition of forest ecosystems from which flooding has now been absent for at least 50 years, as well as to prepare guidelines for actions necessary to maintain or restore their diversity, and proper ecological and biological functions. Our research questions therefore revolved around components of riparian hardwood forest ecosystems have been most changed … and why? The research was conducted in six riparian hardwood forests (to date unmonitored) located in the valley of the middle Vistula (in Mazowieckie voivodship). Relevant work was carried out using the standard monitoring guidelines – as primarily based on an assessment of vegetation composition and structure together with water conditions. However, in the work in question, these were augmented by additional analyses allowing for detailed characterisations of soil, the topoclimate, and the species diversity achieved by selected groups of invertebrate (Hymenoptera: Apidae: Bombus and Haplotaxida: Lumbricidae). The communities selected represent multi-functional, species-rich forests. Extensive use of the studied riparian mixed forests ensures that deadwood resources are quite considerable. Moreover, the studied forests exert a strong impact when it comes to mitigation of climate locally. The observed soil types indicate fertile and biologically-active habitats, as well as to soil development largely determined by the height of the groundwater table causing the gleyic process in the lower parts of profiles. However, in some forest patches it is possible to note transformations related to habitat drying, with significant canopy gaps and disturbances of topsoil and the undergrowth. There was a great abundance of invasive alien plant species (mainly Impatiens parviflora) in the undergrowth. Moisture conditions have an impact on the occasional occurrence of Lumbricidae associated with wet and flooded areas. In turn, the domination by Bombus of open-habitat species indicates a transformation of forest structure, and the patchy nature of riparian forests located in a rural landscape. The obtained results demonstrate that protective actions should focus on ensuring adequate soil-moisture conditions, and on restoring the natural structure of vegetation with a view to invasions of alien species being hampered. Another important issue is the proper use of land adjacent to forest patches, as fallows prove to be invaded quickly by the kenophytes preferring abandoned and disturbed places.

scholarly journals Mitigating Effects of Climate Change and Deforestation on Bees With Respect to Their Ecology and Biology

2015 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 1
Author(s):  
Musiliyu Oladipupo Mustafa ◽  
Olubusola Temitope Adeoye ◽  
Folorunso Ishaq Abdulalzeez ◽  
Olukayode Dare Akinyemi
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Forest Ecosystems ◽  
Royal Jelly ◽  
Global Climate ◽  
Tropical Rainforests ◽  
Contributing Factors ◽  
Honey Production ◽  
The World ◽  
Different Types ◽  
Populous Country

<p>Deforestation occurs around the world; though tropical rainforests are particularly targeted, it is considered to be one of the contributing factors to global climate change. While Nigeria is probably best known today for its oil deposits, according to the World Resources Institute, Nigeria is home to 4,715 different types of plant species, and over 550 species of breeding birds and mammals, making it one of the most ecologically vibrant places of the planet. It is also one of the most populous country with appalling deforestation record. This situation is hence making our ecosystems, biodiversity, agriculture and other natural endowments highly unsecured. The Forest provides excellent resources for bees and beekeeping, and bees are a vital part of forest ecosystems. Bees are essential for sustaining our environment because they</p><p>Pollinate flowering plants and conserves biological biodiversity along with their products (honey, propolis, bee wax, royal jelly and bee venom) which are beneficial to man. Conservation of the forest is therefore imperative for sustainable beekeeping. The study reviews the different causes of climate change and how they affect different natural forest activities which are weather-dependent. Also how climate change and other causes (both natural and man-made) lead to deforestation, which in turn distort sustainable honey production in Nigeria. Different sustainable measures hoped to alleviate the effects of climate change and deforestation where also discussed. </p>

Secondary carbonates in loess-paleosoil sequences: a general review

2011 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Gabriella Barta
Keyword(s):  
Sedimentary Environment ◽  
Paleoenvironmental Reconstruction ◽  
Root Cells ◽  
General Review ◽  
Guiding Principle ◽  
Decisive Importance ◽  
Different Types ◽  
Moisture Conditions ◽  
Collective Nouns

AbstractThe literature dealing with secondary carbonates in loess-paleosoil sequences is in many cases ambiguous, which means that different concepts are used for the same features, whereas certain concepts referring to different types are used as collective nouns. The aim of this study is to give a review on this nomenclature and to draw comparision between the various types and concepts. As a main guiding principle the article of Becze-Deák et al. (1997) is used, because it has formulated a proposition of a nomenclature which would be worthwhile to adopt. The terms and concepts introduced by their work are exact, referring to certain separated secondary carbonates and are of decisive importance with a view to paleoenvironmental reconstruction.The research of secondary carbonates in loess-paleosoil sequences is of great importance, through providing detailed information on the paleoenvironment, especially on the former moisture conditions (including leaching processes). Secondary carbonates originate from the vertical, horizontal or in situ resettlement of carbonates during pedogenesis in the soil-sedimentary environment. Among others, calcified root cells, hypocoatings and needle-fiber calcite are classified into the microscale category, while concretions (e.g. loess dolls) belong to the macroscale types.

scholarly journals Changing Trends of NDVI and Their Responses to Climatic Variation in Different Types of Grassland in Inner Mongolia from 1982 to 2011

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (12) ◽  
pp. 3256 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jie Yang ◽  
Zhiqiang Wan ◽  
Suld Borjigin ◽  
Dong Zhang ◽  
Yulong Yan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Inner Mongolia ◽  
Vegetation Index ◽  
Climatic Variation ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Desert Steppe ◽  
Vegetation Density ◽  
Meadow Steppe ◽  
Typical Steppe ◽  
Changing Trends ◽  
Different Types

Normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) is commonly used to indicate vegetation density and condition. NDVI was mostly correlated with climate factors. We analyzed changing trends of NDVI in different types of grassland in Inner Mongolia and the response of NDVI to climatic variation from 1982 to 2011. NDVI of meadow steppe increased significantly in spring while it decreased in other seasons. The annual mean NDVI in typical steppe and desert steppe increased significantly in the last 30a. However, in the greatest area of steppe desert, the NDVI had no significant change in summer, autumn, and the growing season. In meadow steppe, typical steppe, and desert steppe, the area showed a positive correlation of NDVI to temperature as highest in spring compared to other seasons, because warming in spring is beneficial to the plant growth. However, in the greatest area of steppe desert, the correlation of NDVI to temperature was not significant. The NDVI was positively correlated to precipitation in four types of grassland. In the steppe desert, the precipitation had no significant effect on the NDVI due to the poor vegetation cover in this region. The NDVI was not significantly correlated to the precipitation in autumn because of vegetation withering in the season and not need precipitation. Precipitation was a more important factor rather than temperature to NDVI in the region. The response of NDVI to temperature and precipitation in different seasons should be studied in more detail and the effect of other factors on NDVI should be considered in future research.

Organic sulfur in throughfall, stem flow, and soil solutions from temperate forests

1990 ◽  
Vol 20 (9) ◽  
pp. 1535-1539 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter S. Homann ◽  
Myron J. Mitchell ◽  
Helga Van Miegroet ◽  
Dale W. Cole
Keyword(s):  
Forest Ecosystems ◽  
Douglas Fir ◽  
Organic N ◽  
Organic C ◽  
Organic S ◽  
Soil Solutions ◽  
Different Types ◽  
Stem Flow ◽  
S Cycling ◽  
The Difference

In the assessment of S cycling in forest ecosystems, solutions passing through the forests are normally analyzed for inorganic SO4; other forms of S are rarely considered. In this study, organic S (estimated as the difference between total S and SO4-S) was measured in canopy and soil solutions from eight forest stands spanning a broad range of overstory and soil types. Organic-S concentrations varied among the different types of solutions and among the forests, with values ranging from 0 to 50 μmol S•L−1. Organic S was ≤10% of total S in precipitation, 5 to 54% in throughfall, 1 to 50% in stem flow, 16 to 46% in O-horizon solution, 11 to 21% in A- or E-horizon solutions, and 0 to 29% in B-horizon solutions. Organic S was positively correlated with organic C and organic N in Douglas-fir (Pseudotsugamenziesii (Mirb.) Franco) and red alder (Alnusrubra Bong.) soil solutions and in Douglas-fir stem flow (r2 = 0.68 to 0.96, p < 0.001 ). Inclusion of solution organic S in nutrient cycling budgets can alter estimates of S transfers within forests and S transport out of some forest ecosystems.

Vegetation mapping of Svalbard utilising Landsat TM/ETM+ data

Polar Record ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 48 (1) ◽  
pp. 47-63 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bernt E. Johansen ◽  
Stein Rune Karlsen ◽  
Hans Tømmervik
Keyword(s):  
Satellite Images ◽  
Satellite Image ◽  
Landsat Tm ◽  
Inland Waters ◽  
Vegetation Density ◽  
Ancillary Data ◽  
Vegetation Map ◽  
Digital Format ◽  
Different Types ◽  
Classified Image

ABSTRACTThe overall objective of this paper is to present and discuss the most recently developed vegetation map for Svalbard, Arctic Norway. The map is based on satellite images in which several Landsat TM/ETM+ images were processed through six operational stages involving: (1) automatic image classification, (2) spectral similarity analysis, (3) generation of classified image mosaics, (4) ancillary data analysis, (5) contextual correction, and (6) standardisation of the final map products. The developed map is differentiated into 18 map units interpreted from 37 spectral classes. Among the 18 units separated, six of the units comprise rivers, lakes and inland waters, glaciers, as well as non- to sparsely vegetated areas. The map unit 7 is a result of shadow effects and different types of distortions in the satellite image. The vegetation of the remaining eleven units varies from dense marshes and moss tundra communities to sparsely vegetated polar deserts and moist gravel snowbeds. The accuracy of the map is evaluated in areas were access to traditional maps have been available. The vegetation density and fertility is reflected in computed NDVI values. The map product is in digital format, which gives the opportunity to produce maps in different scales. A map sheet portraying the entire archipelago is one of the main products from this study, produced at a scale of 1:500,000.

scholarly journals Close species of rodent superfamily Muroidei in the fauna of Ukraine: taxonomy, biogeography, diagnostics, and ecomorphology

2020 ◽  
Vol 2020 (19) ◽  
pp. 3-26
Author(s):  
Igor Zagorodniuk ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Morphological Differentiation ◽  
Steppe Zone ◽  
Sympatric Species ◽  
The Other ◽  
Similar Species ◽  
Large Species ◽  
Forest Zone ◽  
Wood Mice ◽  
The Carpathians ◽  
Common Voles

The results of the revision of the species composition and related knowledge of taxonomy, biogeography, diagnostics, variability and ecomorphology of polytypic groups of murine rodents, superfamily Muroidei, are presented. These are 5 former "large" species: "wood mice", "common mice", water voles, "shrub voles" and "common voles". Each of these groups is represented in the fauna of Ukraine and neighboring countries by 2–3 species. The two most difficult for revision and for background monitoring of fauna are "forest mice" and "common voles", each of which is represented in the fauna of the region by three morphologically very similar species of different kinship, among which one (the most genetically distant) is widely sympatric to the other two species that are allospecies. Among "forest mice", such species are Sylvaemus uralensis (= microps) against the pair S. sylvaticus + S. witherbyi (= S. falzfeini), and among the "common voles" it is Microtus levis (= rossiaemeridionalis) against the pair M. arvalis + M. obscurus. The other three pairs of species are generally more diverged (at least in terms of habitats and ecology, and in some cases morphology) and clearly less sympatric species. In the group of "common" mice, Mus "musculus" (s.l.), there is a pair of synanthropic and exanthropic forms — M. musculus and M. spicilegus (= M. sergii), which usually do not interact in nature, and therefore poorly diverged in morphology. In the group of "water voles" there is an allopatric pair, represented by the Carpathian-Roztochchian (essentially mountainous, associated with meadows) as well as plain hydrophilic forms, Arvicola scherman and A. amphibius (= A. terrestris). In the group of "shrub voles" there is a sympatric pair of species, one of them has limited distribution in the Carpathians (Terricola tatricus), but the other (T. subterraneus), being sympatric to the first in the Carpathians, also forms numbered populations in lowland forests, as in the forest zone as in the bairak steppe zone. Morphological differentiation between them is generally high, but the Eastern Carpathian form of Terricola tatricus is the smallest in a row of mountain forms of Terricola (multiplex, tatricus, zykovi), which was the reason for its long-term non-recognition in the fauna of Ukraine. For all species, descriptions are presented, including 5 standard parts for this series of publications: general remarks, taxonomy (including nomenclature), distribution (including biotopes), diagnostics (including variability), ecomorphology.Key words: small mammals, habitats, dominance, abundance of species.

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