scholarly journals Plant Community Structure within a Reclamation Field Trial and Forested Reference Sites in a Post-Mine Environment

Forests ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (6) ◽  
pp. 776
Author(s):  
Sean B. Rapai ◽  
Brianna Collis ◽  
Thomas Henry ◽  
Kimberly Lyle ◽  
Steven G. Newmaster ◽  
...  

Early successional plant community assemblage within a reclamation field trial at the Detour Lake Mine in northeastern Ontario is assessed, and compared with reference forested and historically reclaimed sites. The reclamation field trial examines eight amendment treatment combinations that include treatments with a winter kill cover crop of oats, fertilizer, biosolids, peat, and combinations thereof. The objectives of this study are to: (1) Investigate how soil amendments influence plant functional group establishment and growth in mine overburden; and (2) Explore the amendment properties that best support the establishment and growth of a plant community that resembles the baseline reference sites. Currently, the presence of non-native species and a dominant woody plant community explains the largest proportion of variance between the forested upland and lowland reference sites and all reclaimed sites. Similar to non-native species, graminoids were absent from the upland forested reference sites. The difference in the graminoid community explains much of the variance between the forested reference sites and all reclaimed sites. The cumulative additions of fertilizer and peat increased alpha diversity of non-native and graminoid plants within the amendment treatments, which had greater alpha diversity of these plant functional groups than the forested reference sites. Within the amendment treatments, non-native and graminoid alpha diversity was initially greater in the nutrient treatments, but by 2019 there was no significant difference in non-native or graminoid alpha diversity between amendment treatments. The results indicate that applications of nutrients through fertilizer or biosolids may increase graminoid alpha diversity and abundance within reclamation units in year 1. The results also confirm that the vascular plant community composition present within the historically reclaimed sites and amendment treatments does not resemble the forested reference sites. The plant community present within the amendment treatment sites is best described as early successional, with the presence of non-native herbaceous legumes dominating the historically reclaimed sites. Despite this, the results indicate that fertilizer and biosolids-based treatments have developed a vascular plant community, excluding woody species that is more similar to the forested reference sites than the peat-based treatments. Further research and long-term monitoring are needed to determine which amendment treatment will best support a plant community that resembles the forested reference sites. In addition, future studies of this nature might consider including wildfire affected and post-harvested forest stands as additional reference sites, to better capture possible plant community trajectories of a severely disturbed environment.

1993 ◽  
Vol 23 (10) ◽  
pp. 2216-2229 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Neal Wilkins ◽  
Wayne R. Marion ◽  
Daniel G. Neary ◽  
George W. Tanner

Differential responses of vascular plant community compositions, diversities, and species-abundance distributions to hexazinone site preparation were evaluated on three 1-year-old clearcuts, each representing a point along a generalized edaphic gradient (xeric sandhill, mesic flatwoods, and hydric hammock). Foliar cover by species was sampled along four 20-m permanent line transects within each of three blocked replications of hexazinone treatments (0.0, 1.7, 3.4, and 6.8 kg/ha) at pretreatment and after the first and second growing seasons post-treatment. Cover by woody species decreased with increasing hexazinone rates on all sites (P < 0.05). Herbaceous vegetation recovered from first-season reductions to levels that did not vary with treatment (xeric sandhill and mesic flatwoods) or increased with increasing hexazinone rates (hydric hammock). Hexazinone tolerance by Gelsemiumsempervirens (L.) Ait.f. and Vaccinium spp. on the xeric sandhill and Ilexglabra (L.) Gray and G. sempervirens on the mesic flatwoods influenced diversity responses by woody and herbaceous vegetation. With increasing rates, herbaceous diversity decreased on the xeric sandhill, did not vary on the mesic flatwoods, and increased on the hydric hammock. Plant community responses to hexazinone were found to be functions of application rate, edaphic factors, adaptive strategies of resident species, and the presence or absence of hexazinone-tolerant species.


2013 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 208-218 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shannon M. Claeson ◽  
Peter A. Bisson

AbstractJapanese knotweed and congeners are invasive to North America and Europe and spread aggressively along rivers establishing dense monotypic stands, thereby reducing native riparian plant diversity, structure, and function. Noxious weed control programs attempt to eradicate the knotweed with repeated herbicide applications under the assumption that the system will recover to a native assemblage which will inhibit future invasions. However, eradication efficacy studies typically only measure the amount of knotweed reduced, not the reestablished species diversity or plant origins. For a community scale efficacy study, we measured vascular plant species diversity and cover in riparian areas along five rivers in Washington State, 3 to 6 years after Bohemian knotweed was initially treated with herbicide. Plant species composition was compared between riparian sites treated to remove knotweed and reference sites where knotweed was absent. Sites where knotweed had been removed had significantly more exotic species and vegetative cover than reference sites; however, native species richness and cover were greater in reference sites and areas with more overstory vegetation. The native plants observed were primarily shade tolerant and perennial, as opposed to many of the exotics, which were shade-intolerant annuals. In general, reestablishment of native and exotic vegetation was not related to pretreatment knotweed stem count, size of the invaded area, or timing of herbicide application. However, residual native tree cover was negatively correlated with initial knotweed stem count. Monitoring the success of restoration objectives (e.g., native plant reestablishment or increased species diversity) and characterizing associated habitat features following knotweed eradication will help in the development of site-specific protocols for successful plant community scale restoration.


2021 ◽  
Vol 162 ◽  
pp. 106179
Author(s):  
Zhiying Ning ◽  
Xueyong Zhao ◽  
Yulin Li ◽  
Lilong Wang ◽  
Jie Lian ◽  
...  

Author(s):  
Shien Ren ◽  
Chao Fan ◽  
Liangzhi Zhang ◽  
Xianjiang Tang ◽  
Haibo Fu ◽  
...  

Abstract Plants produce various plant secondary compounds (PSCs) to deter the foraging of herbivorous mammals. However, little is known about whether PSCs can reshape gut microbiota and promote gut homeostasis of hosts. Using 16S rDNA sequencing to investigate the effects of PSCs on the gut microbiota of small herbivorous mammals, we studied plateau pikas (Ochotona curzoniae) fed diets containing swainsonine (SW) extracted from Oxytropis ochrocephala. Our results showed that both long- and short-term treatment of a single artificial diet in the laboratory significantly reduced alpha diversity and significantly affected beta diversity, core bacteria abundance, and bacterial functions in pikas. After SW was added to the artificial diet, the alpha diversity significantly increased in the long-term treatment, and core bacteria (e.g., Akkermansiaceae) with altered relative abundances in the two treatments showed no significant difference compared with pikas in the wild. The complexity of the co-occurrence network structure was reduced in the artificial diet, but it increased after SW was added in both treatments. Further, the abundances of bacteria related to altered alanine, aspartate, and glutamate metabolism in the artificial diet were restored in response to SW. SW further decreased the concentration of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) in both treatments. Our results suggest that PSCs play a key role in regulating gut microbiota community and intestinal homeostasis, thereby maintaining host health. Key points • Swainsonine improves the intestinal bacterial diversity of plateau pikas. • Swainsonine promotes the recovery of core bacterial abundances in the gut of plateau pikas. • Swainsonine promotes the restoration of intestinal bacterial functions of plateau pikas.


2012 ◽  
Vol 2012 ◽  
pp. 1-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rahim Foroughbakhch ◽  
Artemio Carrillo Parra ◽  
Jorge Luis Hernández Piñero ◽  
Marco Antonio Alvarado Vázquez ◽  
Alejandra Rocha Estrada ◽  
...  

A research strategy was established to analyze the structure of timber trees in terms of forest productivity (volume and wood density) of 10 species. The native speciesAcacia farnesiana, Acacia schaffneri,Bumelia celastrina,Cercidium macrun,Condalia hookeri,Ebenopsis ebano,Helietta parvifolia, andProsopis laevigataand the exotic speciesEucalyptus camaldulensisandLeucaena leucocephalawere chosen due to their ecological and economic importance to the rural villages of northeastern Mexico. Measurements of different growth parameters and volume of trees were evaluated. The introduced speciesE. camaldulensisandL. leucocephalashowed the best performance in wood volume production per tree and per hectare when compared to the native species. Likewise, among the native species,E. ebano,P. laevigata,C. hookeri, andA. farnesianatended to show better characteristics in terms of wood volume production in comparison toH. parvifolia,A. schaffneri,C. macrum, andB. celastrina. Results showed a high diversity on the properties studied. The high biomass produced by most of the species considered in this study revealed their great energetic potential when used as wood and firewood or vegetal charcoal.


2015 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 79-83
Author(s):  
MJ Uddin ◽  
MMH Khan

Experiments on hogplum beetle, Podontia 14-punctata were carried out to find out the suitable insecticide(s) with appropriate dose(s) for suppressing both larvae and adults. Results revealed that the highest mortality (100%) was found in 1st instar larvae after 24 hours at each dose of superior 505EC and the lowest mortality was in T4 treated leaves. The highest mortality was also found in 2nd, 3rd, 4th and adult stages of hog-plum beetle by T5 and T6 treatments. No mortality was observed in control treatment in laboratory trial. The mean number of larvae ranged from 1.5 to 7.6 per square meter of quadrate at one week after last spray. No significant difference was observed among treatments regarding percent leaf infestation at one day before 1st spray. The percent leaf infestation ranged from 5.01 to 9.82 at one week after last spray. The lowest percent (5.87%) leaf infestation was found in T6 treated plants while the highest percent (15.76%) leaf infestation was found in untreated control plants. The highest mortality was observed in T5 and T6 treated plants at all larval instars and no significant difference was found between two doses of each insecticide under field condition. The results of field trial also revealed that the minimum dose (0.75 ml L-1 of water) of Superior 505 EC is sufficient to suppress the field population of larvae and adults of Podontia 14-punctata effectively. Finally, it may be concluded that the highest mortality was found in all larval instars and adult stage of hog-plum beetle after 24 hours at each dose of superior 505 EC (T5 and T6 treatments) both in laboratory and field trials.J. Environ. Sci. & Natural Resources, 8(1): 79-83 2015


2011 ◽  
Vol 35 (1) ◽  
pp. 61-67 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fernanda Carlota Nery ◽  
Hilton Morbeck de Oliveira ◽  
Amauri Alves de Alvarenga ◽  
Sara Dousseau ◽  
Evaristo Mauro de Castro ◽  
...  

Ecophysiological studies under semi-controlled conditions in nurseries and greenhouses are essential to enable the use of native species to recover degraded areas and for commercial planting. Talisia subalbens (Mart) Radlk, 'cascudo', is a native fruiting species of the Cerrado on the verge of extinction. The ecophysiological performance of this species was evaluated in nursery conditions under different levels of shading (full sunshine, 30%, 50% and 70%). Initial growth, biomass allocation, gas exchange and chlorophyll content of the plants were analyzed. Full sunshine cultivated plants showed a higher accumulation of total, shoot, and root dry biomass. There was no significant difference in the root/shoot ratio among the treatments. Seedlings cultivated under full sunshine and 30% shading showed higher values for height, basal diameter, and leaf area. Differences in stomata conductance and photosynthesis rate were not observed among the different shading levels. Plants cultivated under 70% of shading had higher contents of chlorophyll a, b, and total. During the initial phase with higher levels of radiation were fundamental for the development of T. subalbens seedlings.


Author(s):  
Franciele Valduga ◽  
◽  
Malena Rostirola Miri ◽  
Daniela Signori ◽  
Larissa Pereira da Costa ◽  
...  

Objective: This research aimed to evaluate the nutritional status and influence on the dietary profile in the gut microbiota, in an attempt to identify possible effects of grape juice consumption among school children aged 6-10. Design: Anthropometric parameters (weight, height, Body Mass Index, waist circumference, triceps, and subscapular skinfold) weremeasured at baseline. A Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ) was carried out to evaluate the dietary profile. Feces were analyzed by culture methods and the alpha diversity was determined by the Shannon Index. Participants: 36 volunteer school children aged 6 to 10 years from two different cities in the South of Brazil. Main outcome measure: Gut microbiota diversity according to anthropometric parameters, nutrition profile and delivery patterns. Analysis: For statistical analysis, t or u test and correlation were used through the statistical software SPSS® version 22.0. Results: The volunteers presented a eutrophic nutritional status, but 41.7% in the City 2 were overweight. There was a significant difference in the consumption of polyphenols (p<0.003), microbiotadiversity, breastfeeding, and delivery patterns by city. However, the dietary profile does not include the portions of daily nutrients recommended in both cities. The volunteers from City 1 presented a greater alpha diversity, which may be related to higher micronutrient intake, breastfeeding, and predominant natural/vaginal delivery Conclusion: We observed that the normal delivery and the dietary profile seems to be important factors to the gut microbiota diversity in these children. Keywords: grape juice; dietary profile; gut microbiota.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Qiang Geng ◽  
Shaofeng Chen ◽  
Yuan Sun ◽  
Yu Zhao ◽  
Zhong Li ◽  
...  

Abstract Objective: To analyze the distribution of gut microbiota in the ED patients, and explore the relationship between the diversity of gut microbiota and psychogenic erectile dysfunction. Methods: 30 cases of patients with erectile dysfunction (ED) and 30 healthy persons (healthy donor, HD) stool specimen were collected, using Illumina's Miseq platform samples V3-V4 region sequences bacterial 16SrRNA gene Paired end (PE) 300 sequencing, sequencing results were analyzed differences in species composition and diversity. Analysis contains five modules: sequencing data quality control, OTU species clustering and annotation, alpha diversity, beta diversity and the use of T-test and the analysis of the LEfSe differences. Results: 1. The flora diversity in the group of ED than HD significantly different (P<0.01), ED group has a low bacterial diversity. 2. Between ED group and HD group, abundant bacteria (TOPlO) and core flora (90%) had no significant difference in the genus level; all bacteria flora (>1%) display, Alloprevotella groups genus presents differences, Alloprevotella only be identified in the HD group. 3. ED and HD groups present in well separated PCoA analysis, having a significant difference in the two kinds of microflora. 4.T-test shows six species were significantly different, in the ED group, Streptococcus and Subdoligranulum were increasing, and Prevotella, Prevotella sp.9, Blautia, Lachnospiraceae NK4A136 groups and Roseburia were decreasing. 5.LEfSe analysis revealed 24 species were significantly different between ED and HD groups. Conclusion: Gene sequencing was performed on the two groups of specimens and finding that microbial community structure and diversity had significant difference, suggesting that ED have low gut microbiota diversity.


2011 ◽  
Vol 63 (4) ◽  
pp. 1127-1134 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ivana Bjedov ◽  
R. Ristic ◽  
N. Stavretovic ◽  
V. Stevovic ◽  
B. Radic ◽  
...  

Revegetation is the most sustainable method of soil stabilization at ski runs. In order to establish a stable plant community, it is recommended to use native species. However, non-native species are most often used. In this paper the revegetation of ski runs at two ski resorts is investigated: Divcibare and Stara Planina. Seven species were used for the revegetation of the ski run at the Divcibare ski resort of which six species were native. Six species were used for the revegetation of the Stara Planina ski resort, of which two species were native. It was established that the plant species used in the seed mixtures were suitable for erosion control at the investigated ski resorts.


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