Assessing species abundance unevenness within and between plant communities

2002 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 237-246 ◽  
Author(s):  
W.L. Strong
Author(s):  
M. I. Dzhalalova ◽  
A. B. Biarslanov ◽  
D. B. Asgerova

The state of plant communities in areas located in the Tersko-Sulak lowland was studied by assessing phytocenotic indicators: the structure of vegetation cover, projective cover, species diversity, species abundance and elevated production, as well as automated decoding methods. There are almost no virgin soils and natural phytocenoses here; all of them have been transformed into agrocenoses (irrigated arable lands and hayfields, rice-trees and pastures). The long-term impact on pasture ecosystems of natural and anthropogenic factors leads to significant changes in the indigenous communities of this region. Phytocenoses are formed mainly by dry-steppe types of cereals with the participation of feather grass, forbs and ephemera, a semi-desert haloxerophytic shrub - Taurida wormwood. At the base of the grass stand is common coastal wormwood and Taurida wormwood - species resistant to anthropogenic influences. Anthropogenic impacts have led to a decrease in the number of species of feed-rich grain crops and a decrease in the overall productivity of pastures. Plant communities in all areas are littered with ruderal species. The seasonal dynamics of the land cover of the sites was estimated by the methods of automatic decoding of satellite images of the Landsat8 OLI series satellite for 2015, dated by the periods: spring - May 20, summer - July 23, autumn - October 20. Satellite imagery data obtained by Landsat satellite with a resolution in the multispectral image of 30 m per pixel, and in the panchromatic image - 10 m per pixel, which correspond to the requirements for satellite imagery to assess the dynamics of soil and vegetation cover. Lower resolution data, for example, NDVI MODIS, does not provide a reliable reflection of the state of soil and vegetation cover under arid conditions. In this regard, remote sensing data obtained from the Internet resource https://earthexplorer.usgs.gov/ was used.


2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexia Stokes ◽  
Guillermo Angeles ◽  
Fabien Anthelme ◽  
Eduardo Aranda-Delgado ◽  
Isabelle Barois ◽  
...  

Abstract Objectives Altitude integrates changes in environmental conditions that determine shifts in vegetation, including temperature, precipitation, solar radiation and edaphogenetic processes. In turn, vegetation alters soil biophysical properties through litter input, root growth, microbial and macrofaunal interactions. The belowground traits of plant communities modify soil processes in different ways, but it is not known how root traits influence soil biota at the community level. We collected data to investigate how elevation affects belowground community traits and soil microbial and faunal communities. This dataset comprises data from a temperate climate in France and a twin study was performed in a tropical zone in Mexico. Data description The paper describes soil physical and chemical properties, climatic variables, plant community composition and species abundance, plant community traits, soil microbial functional diversity and macrofaunal abundance and diversity. Data are provided for six elevations (1400–2400 m) ranging from montane forest to alpine prairie. We focused on soil biophysical properties beneath three dominant plant species that structure local vegetation. These data are useful for understanding how shifts in vegetation communities affect belowground processes, such as water infiltration, soil aggregation and carbon storage. Data will also help researchers understand how plant communities adjust to a changing climate/environment.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Niels Wagemaker ◽  
Liesje Mommer ◽  
Eric Visser ◽  
Alexandra Weigelt ◽  
Thomas Gurp ◽  
...  

2013 ◽  
Vol 368 (1624) ◽  
pp. 20120488 ◽  
Author(s):  
Terry V Callaghan ◽  
Christer Jonasson ◽  
Tomas Thierfelder ◽  
Zhenlin Yang ◽  
Henrik Hedenås ◽  
...  

The subarctic environment of northernmost Sweden has changed over the past century, particularly elements of climate and cryosphere. This paper presents a unique geo-referenced record of environmental and ecosystem observations from the area since 1913. Abiotic changes have been substantial. Vegetation changes include not only increases in growth and range extension but also counterintuitive decreases, and stability: all three possible responses. Changes in species composition within the major plant communities have ranged between almost no changes to almost a 50 per cent increase in the number of species. Changes in plant species abundance also vary with particularly large increases in trees and shrubs (up to 600%). There has been an increase in abundance of aspen and large changes in other plant communities responding to wetland area increases resulting from permafrost thaw. Populations of herbivores have responded to varying management practices and climate regimes, particularly changing snow conditions. While it is difficult to generalize and scale-up the site-specific changes in ecosystems, this very site-specificity, combined with projections of change, is of immediate relevance to local stakeholders who need to adapt to new opportunities and to respond to challenges. Furthermore, the relatively small area and its unique datasets are a microcosm of the complexity of Arctic landscapes in transition that remains to be documented.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert Slesak ◽  
Timothy Harrington ◽  
Anthony D'Amato ◽  
David Peter

Abstract Scotch broom is an aggressive invasive species of major concern in coast Douglas-fir forests of the Pacific Northwest USA. Control efforts are common, but potential for ecosystem recovery following Scotch broom removal is unclear. We assessed the potential for ecosystem recovery following broom removal at two sites that contrasted strongly in soil quality (i.e., texture and nutrient pool size) in western Washington and Oregon. Comparisons were made among replicated plots where Scotch broom was never present (uninvaded), retained, or removed. Microclimate (photosynthetically active radiation (PAR), soil temperature and moisture), soil properties, and vegetation were monitored during 2013 to 2017. Scotch broom removal increased PAR and soil temperature at both sites but had limited effects on soil moisture. Concentrations of Ca, Mg, K, and P were significantly lower with Scotch broom removal compared to the uninvaded and retained treatments, with the effect being most pronounced at the low-quality site. NMS ordinations indicated that the treatments differed in vegetation composition, with limited evidence for recovery in the removal treatment. Nonnative and native species varied inversely in their abundance responses, where nonnative species abundance was greatest in the removal treatment, intermediate in the retained treatment, and lowest in the uninvaded treatment, indicating occurrence of a secondary invasion following removal. As with the soil response, effects were more pronounced at the low-quality site. Our findings indicate that Scotch broom removal exacerbates negative effects on soil and plant communities, with little evidence of ecosystem recovery over our study period. These findings highlight the importance of controlling Scotch broom invasions immediately after the species establishes, especially at low-quality sites that are more susceptible to Scotch broom invasion and negative legacy effects.


2019 ◽  
Vol 20 (2) ◽  
pp. 303-310
Author(s):  
ALEXANDER B. RUCHIN ◽  
ALEXANDER V. ANTROPOV ◽  
ANATOLIY A. KHAPUGIN

Ruchin AB, Antropov AV, Khapugin AA. 2019. Distribution, abundance, and habitats of rare species Parnopes grandior (Pallas 1771) (Hymenoptera, Chrysididae) in Mordovia and adjacent regions, Russia. Biodiversitas 20: 303-310. The study of biological and ecological characteristics is essential in conservation efforts of threatened and locally rare species. Obtaining the comparable data in different regions of a species range allows developing a conservation strategy. We aimed to study the distribution, acquired characteristics of the abundance and habitats of the biology of a rare species Parnopes grandior (Pallas, 1771) in the Republic of Mordovia (European Russia). As a result of our study, the biology of Parnopes grandior found in the Republic of Mordovia and in five adjacent regions (Volga River Basin, Russia) is described. In the Republic of Mordovia in 2008-2018, 18 habitats of this species were identified. In all cases, it was found next to the host wasp colonies of Bembix rostrata (Linnaeus, 1758). The species population was low (no more than five individuals per study site). In all the sites surveyed, it inhabited xerophytic plant communities on sandy disturbed substrate. In these habitats, the coverage of plants is low and does not exceed 20%. The list of plants visited by the adults of Parnopes grandior is given. In the adjacent regions, the species abundance is also not high, but the number of records and abundance increases significantly to the south of the Ulyanovsk region.


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