scholarly journals Sustaining the Landscape: A Method for Comparing Current and Desired Future Conditions of Forest Ecosystems in the North Cumberland Plateau and Mountains

2004 ◽  
Author(s):  
D.L. Druckenbrod
Keyword(s):  
Forest Ecosystems ◽  
Cumberland Plateau ◽  
The North ◽  
Desired Future Conditions

scholarly journals Vitality Structure of the Populations of Vegetative Motile Plants of Forest Ecosystems of the North-East of Ukraine

2019 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 125-132
Author(s):  
Kovalenko Ihor ◽  
Skliar Iurii ◽  
Klymenko Hanna ◽  
Kovalenko Nataliia
Keyword(s):  
Quality Index ◽  
Forest Ecosystems ◽  
Morphological Structure ◽  
Field Studies ◽  
Complete Analysis ◽  
Individual Plant ◽  
North East ◽  
The North ◽  
Motile Species ◽  
Two Populations

Background: The vitality level of the populations has turned out to be statistically reliably associated with such coenotic factors: age and density of forest stand. In general, the vitality spectra vary widely: the quality index Q of the populations ranges from 0,00 to 0,50, that is, it fully covers the theoretically possible scale of the values of this coefficient, which indicates the sensitivity of the vitality structure of the populations to the ecological-coenotic conditions and determines high informative value of the vitality analysis. Objective: The aim of the study is to assess the vitality structure of the populations of vegetative motile plant species – typical representatives of the grassy layer of forest ecosystems of the North-East of Ukraine as a factor that determines their stability and dynamics. Methods: The analysis of the vitality structure is based on the field studies of the populations of 4 vegetative motile species of plants – Aegopodium podagraria L., Asarum europaeum L., Carex pilosa Scop. and Stellaria holostea L. in forest ecosystems of the North-East of Ukraine. Vitality analysis was carried out according to Yu. A. Zlobin’s methodology. Vitality analysis procedure, classically, is carried out in three stages: 1) Selection of quantitative features that characterize the vital status of the individual plant; 2) Evaluation of vitality of individual plants that were included in the sample; 3) Integral assessment of the population’s vitality. Depending on the ratio in the population of plants of classes a, b and c, the population belongs to one of three vitality types: prosperous, equilibrium or depressive. Results: The obtained estimates of the vitality structure of populations of the clone-forming plants in the grass-shrub layer of forests of the North-East of Ukraine can be considered quite reliable, because they are based, in general, on a complete analysis of the morphological structure of about 13 thousand ramets of the studied species of plants. The statistical reliability of estimates of the population’s vitality structure is predominantly between 70 and 99% and only in some cases lower than 70%. As the clone grows older, its ramet’s vitality decreases and the clone degrades. New young clones, that start to form on the basis of genets, replace old ones. Such ramets have increased vitality, greater stress and competitive resistance. Due to the mechanisms of clone substitution in the living cover, the dominance of nemoralis herbs persists for a long time. Conclusion: The vitality spectra of the populations of the studied species of plants vary widely: the quality index Q of the populations ranges from 0,00 to 0,50, that is, it covers full theoretically possible scale of the values of this coefficient, which indicates the sensitivity of the vitality structure of the populations to the ecological-coenotic conditions and determines high informative value of vitality analysis. Prosperous populations: two populations A. europaeum of the associations Quercetum (roboris) coryloso (avellanae) – convallariosum (majalis) and Quercetum (roboris) coryloso (avellanae) – convallariosum (majalis), two populations A. podagraria of the associations – Pinetum (sylvestris) vacciniosum (myrtilli) and Querceto (roboris) – Pinetum (sylvestris) convallarioso (majalis) – vacciniosum (myrtilli), one population S. holostea of the association Querceto (roboris) – Pinetum (sylvestris) vacciniosum (myrtilli) and one population C. pilosa of the association Querceto (roboris) – Pinetum (sylvestris) vaccinioso (myrtilli) – convallariosum (majalis).

scholarly journals Kelp forest ecosystems: biodiversity, stability, resilience and future

2002 ◽  
Vol 29 (4) ◽  
pp. 436-459 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert S. Steneck ◽  
Michael H. Graham ◽  
Bruce J. Bourque ◽  
Debbie Corbett ◽  
Jon M. Erlandson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Case Studies ◽  
Sea Urchin ◽  
North Atlantic ◽  
Forest Ecosystems ◽  
Kelp Forest ◽  
Kelp Forests ◽  
Apex Predators ◽  
The Past ◽  
The North ◽  
Fishing Impacts

Kelp forests are phyletically diverse, structurally complex and highly productive components of coldwater rocky marine coastlines. This paper reviews the conditions in which kelp forests develop globally and where, why and at what rate they become deforested. The ecology and long archaeological history of kelp forests are examined through case studies from southern California, the Aleutian Islands and the western North Atlantic, well-studied locations that represent the widest possible range in kelp forest biodiversity. Global distribution of kelp forests is physiologically constrained by light at high latitudes and by nutrients, warm temperatures and other macrophytes at low latitudes. Within mid-latitude belts (roughly 40–60° latitude in both hemispheres) well-developed kelp forests are most threatened by herbivory, usually from sea urchins. Overfishing and extirpation of highly valued vertebrate apex predators often triggered herbivore population increases, leading to widespread kelp deforestation. Such deforestations have the most profound and lasting impacts on species-depauperate systems, such as those in Alaska and the western North Atlantic. Globally urchin-induced deforestation has been increasing over the past 2–3 decades. Continued fishing down of coastal food webs has resulted in shifting harvesting targets from apex predators to their invertebrate prey, including kelp-grazing herbivores. The recent global expansion of sea urchin harvesting has led to the widespread extirpation of this herbivore, and kelp forests have returned in some locations but, for the first time, these forests are devoid of vertebrate apex predators. In the western North Atlantic, large predatory crabs have recently filled this void and they have become the new apex predator in this system. Similar shifts from fish- to crab-dominance may have occurred in coastal zones of the United Kingdom and Japan, where large predatory finfish were extirpated long ago. Three North American case studies of kelp forests were examined to determine their long history with humans and project the status of future kelp forests to the year 2025. Fishing impacts on kelp forest systems have been both profound and much longer in duration than previously thought. Archaeological data suggest that coastal peoples exploited kelp forest organisms for thousands of years, occasionally resulting in localized losses of apex predators, outbreaks of sea urchin populations and probably small-scale deforestation. Over the past two centuries, commercial exploitation for export led to the extirpation of sea urchin predators, such as the sea otter in the North Pacific and predatory fishes like the cod in the North Atlantic. The large-scale removal of predators for export markets increased sea urchin abundances and promoted the decline of kelp forests over vast areas. Despite southern California having one of the longest known associations with coastal kelp forests, widespread deforestation is rare. It is possible that functional redundancies among predators and herbivores make this most diverse system most stable. Such biodiverse kelp forests may also resist invasion from non-native species. In the species-depauperate western North Atlantic, introduced algal competitors carpet the benthos and threaten future kelp dominance. There, other non-native herbivores and predators have become established and dominant components of this system. Climate changes have had measurable impacts on kelp forest ecosystems and efforts to control the emission of greenhouse gasses should be a global priority. However, overfishing appears to be the greatest manageable threat to kelp forest ecosystems over the 2025 time horizon. Management should focus on minimizing fishing impacts and restoring populations of functionally important species in these systems.

scholarly journals GEO-ENERGY AND EMERGENCE OF MODERN NATURAL AND ANTHROPOGENIC FOREST ECOSYSTEMS AND LANDSCAPES

ÈKOBIOTEH ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 3 (4) ◽  
pp. 609-613
Author(s):  
B.I. Kochurov ◽  
◽  
N.A. Marunich ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Forest Ecosystems ◽  
Spatial Location ◽  
Self Organization ◽  
Forest Steppe ◽  
Ecological Network ◽  
The North ◽  
Energy Flows ◽  
Modern Natural ◽  
Quantitative Changes ◽  
Anthropogenic Forest

The article defines and calculates the geoenergetics of modern natural and anthropogenic forest ecosystems and landscapes. The geoenergetic approach and the developed technique were used for a detailed description and analysis of energy flows of the forest-steppe landscape of Pridnestrovien. On the example of the ecological network of oak tracts in the north of Pridnestrovien, the emergence of the forest is quantified, taking into account the spatial location. The forecast is made, taking into account the scenarios of economic development, quantitative changes in the emergence of forest ecosystems over time. Applying the geoenergetic matrix, the characteristic is given to the qualitative parameters of the forest-steppe landscape, affecting the formation of stability and self-organization of the natural system.

Potential and realized ecological niches of herb and shrub layer in forest ecosystems of the north-eastern Ukraine

2015 ◽  
Vol 26 (3-4) ◽  
pp. 14-20
Author(s):  
I. N. Kovalenko
Keyword(s):  
Soil Moisture ◽  
Environmental Factors ◽  
Forest Ecosystems ◽  
Point Scale ◽  
Shrub Layer ◽  
Ecological Optimum ◽  
The North ◽  
Environmental Regimes ◽  
North Eastern ◽  
Characteristic Species

The species composition of herb and shrub layer of the major forest ecosystems of the north-eastern Ukraine has been analyzed at the level of vegetation classes, and individual ecological optimum of the main species of herbs and shrubs has been determined in order to predict the dynamics of their populations in the region. Literature data and results of our own studies for the period of 2000–2010 have shown that in accordance with the ecofloristic classification in the region, 6 classes of forest vegetation can be distinguished, such as: Querceto-Fagetea Br.-Bl. (1937), Vaccinio-Piceetea Br.-Bl. (1939), Pulsatillo-Pinetea sylvestris Oberdorfer (1992), Quercetea robori-petreae Br.-Bl. et. Tx. (1963), Salicetea purpureae Moor (1958), Alnetea glutinosae Br. Bl. ex Tx. (1943). The analysis of the general monographs on ecofloristic classification made in the north-eastern Ukraine (Klika, 1955; Matuszkiewicz, 2001; Shelyah-Sosonko, 2002; Grygora, 2005; Solomakha, 2008; Goncharenko, 2009, 2010; Rogova et al., 2005, etc.), provided an opportunity to review the composition of the characteristic species for the six classes of vegetation, registered in the region. Thereby, species, that hardly ever occur in the region or are very rare, have been excluded from the list of characteristic species. Plant species, peculiar to forest communities of the north-eastern Ukraine, have been added. Woody plants and shrubs have been excluded from the analysis. For each species of the three central classes its individual ecological optimum has been estimated considering six factors: 1 – light availability, 2 – temperature, 3 – continentality, 4 – soil moisture, 5 – soil acidity, 6 – soil fertility. The point scale of Ellenberg (Ellenberg, 1952, 1996) with 12 points for soil moisture and 9 points for other environmental regimes has been taken as a basis. Due to the fact that the scale of Ellenberg fails to include all these species, and has a lot of gaps in the assessment of individual regimes, it has been supplemented by the point scale of Landolt (Landolt, 1977), in which the number of species is greater and the assessment of their optimum is more complete. Considering that that in the scale of Landolt all environmental factors are divided into 5 points, transformation of points into 12- or 9-integrated assessment of environmental regimes has been made. The indicated pattern of wide ecological amplitude in characteristic species of higher syntaxonomic units in forest vegetation is useful adaptive trait from the phytocoenogenesis point of view. If there is any change in the general soil-climatic conditions, forest phytocoenoses retain their integrity due to the change in their great number and even the floristic composition in the lower tiers. Grouping of classes Querceto-Fagetea Br.-Bl. (1937), Vaccinio-Piceetea Br.-Bl. (1939) and Pulsatillo-Pinetea Sylvestris Oberdorfer (1992) play the leading role in the formation of forest ecosystems in the north- eastern Ukraine. Plant species, peculiar to these classes and being part of herb and shrub layer, provide wide ecological amplitudes, covering at least 3–5-point scales of the main environmental factors. Global warming may result in significant changes in the composition and structure of plant populations that form herb and shrub layer of forest phytocenoses of vegetation classes, peculiar to the north-eastern Ukraine.

Soil enzyme activity and stoichiometry in forest ecosystems along the North-South Transect in eastern China (NSTEC)

2017 ◽  
Vol 104 ◽  
pp. 152-163 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhiwei Xu ◽  
Guirui Yu ◽  
Xinyu Zhang ◽  
Nianpeng He ◽  
Qiufeng Wang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Enzyme Activity ◽  
Forest Ecosystems ◽  
Eastern China ◽  
Soil Enzyme ◽  
Soil Enzyme Activity ◽  
The North

scholarly journals Trophic links of the chaffinch (Fringilla coelebs) in transformed forest ecosystems of North-Eastern Ukraine

2020 ◽  
Vol 28 (1) ◽  
pp. 92-97 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. B. Chaplygina ◽  
O. Y. Pakhomov ◽  
H. A. Yevtushenko ◽  
V. V. Brygadyrenko
Keyword(s):  
Forest Ecosystems ◽  
Foraging Efficiency ◽  
Agricultural Pests ◽  
Fringilla Coelebs ◽  
The North ◽  
Trophic Links ◽  
North Eastern ◽  
Protected Natural Areas ◽  
Nature Park

The сhaffinch (Fringilla coelebs Linnaeus, 1758; Passeriformes, Fringillidae) is one of the most colourful forest species of birds living in Europe, West Asia and North Africa. The diet of this species was studied as a contribution to the conservation of the population of this species in transformed forests of the north-eastern part of Ukraine. Four forest ecosystems were studied: three model sites in oak forests, transformed under intensive recreation pressure, and one model site in a pine-oak forest. A total of 39 invertebrate taxa, dominated by Insecta (93.0%) were found. The orders Coleoptera (32.6%) and Lepidoptera (63.5%) prevailed in the diet of finch nestlings, the highest number of taxa (52.3–76.2%) was represented by phytophages. The phytophagous species also constituted the majority of the consumed prey items (44.0–55.6%). Environmental conditions provided an important effect on the diet structure. The most favourable foraging conditions for the species were found in protected natural areas. According to the analysis, the finch foraging efficiency was similar in all the studied sites. The highest biodiversity indices were found in a protected area of Homilshanski Forests National Nature Park. Results of the research have indicated the crucial role of Fringilla coelebs in the population management of potentially dangerous agricultural pests.

scholarly journals NEW FOR DAGESTAN SPECIES OF TOMENTELLA (THELEPHORALES, BASIDIOMYCOTA)

2019 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 172-179
Author(s):  
S. V. Volobuev ◽  
Yu. Yu. Ivanushenko ◽  
A. B. Ismailov
Keyword(s):  
Trophic Structure ◽  
Forest Ecosystems ◽  
Morphological Description ◽  
The North ◽  
Natural Park ◽  
Research Material ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
North Eastern ◽  
The Republic ◽  
Academy Of Sciences

Aim. To obtain new data on the species diversity and ecological characteristics of the Tomentella fungi growing in the North‐Eastern Caucasus.Materials and methods. Sampling of research material was performed in October, 2018 during a route survey of forest ecosystems in the vicinity of Delichoban, the Derbent district, and across the territory of the Upper Gunib natural park, the Gunib district, in the Republic of Dagestan. Identification of the collected material was carried out by light microscopy in the Laboratory of Systematics and Geography of Fungi, V.L. Komarov Botanical Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences.Results. 3 Tomentella species, which are new for the Republic of Dagestan, have been identified, including T. bryophila, T. ellisii and T. fibrosa. All the discovered species are given with a brief morphological description, details of localities and comments on the current taxonomic position.Conclusion. The Tomentella Pers. ex Pat. s. l. genus is currently represented by 12 species in the territory of the Republic of Dagestan: Tomentella bryophila, T. cinerascens, T. crinalis, T. ellisii, T. ferruginea, T. fibrosa, T. lateritia, T. pilosa, T. punicea, T. stuposa , T. subtestacea and T. umbrinospora. All these species are found across a wide range of altitudinal gradient. Further mycological studies, including those using the molecular and genetic approach, are needed to reveal species new for the region and to expand the understanding of the spatial, ecological and trophic structure of its mycobiota. 

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