scholarly journals The influence of invasive Fallopia taxa on resident plant species in two river valleys (southern Poland)

2015 ◽  
Vol 84 (1) ◽  
pp. 23-33 ◽  
Author(s):  
Damian Chmura ◽  
Barbara Tokarska-Guzik ◽  
Teresa Nowak ◽  
Gabriela Woźniak ◽  
Katarzyna Bzdęga ◽  
...  

Riparian zones in two rivers in southern Poland were studied in terms of species composition and soil parameters in patches dominated by three knotweed taxa (<em>Fallopia japonica</em>, <em>F. sachalinensis</em> and the hybrid <em>F.</em> ×<em>bohemica</em>). The main purpose was to detect any differences in species diversity, environmental conditions and in the impact of the three <em>Fallopia</em> spp. on resident species. Fieldwork was conducted in spring and summer in 30 invaded plots (in total 90 subplots). It was demonstrated that vegetation dominated by particular knotweed taxa differed in response to soil pH and ammonium, nitrate, and magnesium content. <em>Fallopia</em> spp. (living plants and necromass) had a stronger negative impact on the cover and species diversity of the resident species in summer in comparison with spring. Vegetation patches differed significantly in species composition in relation to the knotweed taxa present. These differences may be the consequence of the differentiated biotopic requirements of <em>Fallopia</em> taxa and the coexisting plants, or to the different impact of the knotweed taxa on the resident species.

2018 ◽  
Vol 71 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Halina Lipińska ◽  
Wanda Harkot ◽  
Zbigniew Czarnecki ◽  
Rafał Kornas ◽  
Ewa Stamirowska-Krzaczek ◽  
...  

<p>The aim of the study was to assess the impact of cut vegetative shoots of chosen lawn grass cultivars of <em>Festuca</em> being left on the lawn sward surface on the species composition, sodding and appearance, and over-wintering of the lawn. The influence of decomposing biomass was studied in a field experiment between 2008 and 2014. Each cultivar was sown as a monoculture on microplots with an area of 1 m<sup>2</sup>. The control consisted of sites from which the cut sward had been removed immediately after cutting.</p><p>The results obtained may indicate an allelopathic effect of the cut sward of the cultivars left on the lawn surfaces. The following had the most negative effects on the species composition of the lawn sward (from greater to lesser negative impact): <em>F. ovina</em> ‘Espro’, <em>F. rubra</em> ‘Areta’, <em>F. arundinacea</em> ‘Asterix’, and <em>F. ovina</em> ‘Pintor’. With the exception of ‘Espro’, these cultivars also limited the presence of dicotyledonous plants in the lawn sward. The cover of dicotyledonous plants and other unsown grasses was also recorded on the sites with <em>F. rubra</em> ‘Olivia’ and ‘Nimba’. The greatest negative influence on the sodding of the lawn swards was demonstrated by the latter <em>F. rubra</em> cultivar, whereas <em>F. ovina</em> ‘Espro’ had the greatest negative influence on the appearance. However, no differences were found in assessments of over-wintering of the cultivars at the study sites. However, taking into account the scale of these impacts on the characteristics evaluated, the cultivars of <em>Festuca</em> species tested can be recommended for extensive use, where a cut sward can be left on the surface of the lawn. Some caution in this respect is recommended when it comes to <em>F. ovina</em> ‘Espro’ and <em>F. rubra</em> ‘Areta’ and ‘Nimba’.</p>


2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 669-677
Author(s):  
Marvellous B. Lynser ◽  
◽  
Ksanbok Makdoh ◽  
Batriti Nongbri ◽  
◽  
...  

Firewood serves as the principal source of energy for cooking and heating, for many rural communities, but the impact of firewood extraction on the forest is often undermined. The present study was undertaken to assess the firewood consumption pattern by households living near community forests of East Khasi Hills District, Meghalaya and the impact of such activity on species diversity and population structure on such forests. Data on firewood consumption and preferred firewood species, and impacts of firewood harvesting on species diversity and population structure were collected through household surveys and phytosociological studies respectively. The surveyed households showed high dependency on firewood and the consumption pattern varies with the family size. The preferred firewood species are those of hardwood trees such as Quercus spp., Lithocarpus spp., Castanopsis spp. and Myrica spp. Firewood extraction have negative impact on forests, resulting in decrease in species diversity and population of the preferred firewood species. Statistical analysis revealed that species richness and diversity and density differ significantly in protected and unprotected forests. Despite low per capita consumption of firewood and precautionary measures like regulated harvesting in the study area, firewood harvesting cannot be ignored as an important cause of forest degradation and biodiversity loss. More research into local ecological and cultural contexts and perceptions concerning costs and benefits can help devise sustainable management options, including alternative sources of fuel.


Author(s):  
N. B. Istomina ◽  
◽  
O. V. Likhacheva ◽  

The article describes the results of studies of the factors affecting lichen diversity in 46 manor parks of the region of Pskov. The investigated parks were founded in the end of XVIII – beginning of XX centuries. Twenty of them are fragmented and currently occupy less than 5 ha, the area of nine parks varies from 5 to 10 ha, those preserved within historical boundaries cover from 11 to 100 ha. Manor parks are situated both within the settlements’ boundaries (31 parks) and outside the settlements either bordering forest (12) or agricultural lands (3). Ten of the former border the forests. During the study 166 lichen species were identified. Statistical methods were performed to investigate the factors affecting lichen diversity in manor parks. Linear regression analysis was used to examine the dependence of the lichens species number on the park age/date of park creation (dispersion pattern), area of the parks (box plot), substrata diversity (dispersion pattern), and the dependence of the epiphytic lichens species number on tree and shrub species diversity (dispersion pattern). With the biserial correlation coefficient the impact of the settlement and the presence of the surrounding natural forests was calculated. Correlation analysis was performed to demonstrate the colligation between lichen species composition of the parks located in different subzones of forest zone in the region of Pskov. Our findings show that the number of lichen species depends on the park area (p = 0,0315), the variety of substrate types (p ˂ 0,001), and the variety of trees and bushes planted (p ˂ 0,001). The date of park creation and the presence of the surrounding natural forests do not influence the species diversity of lichens. We reveal that the location of the parks in a specific subzone of forest zone (southern taiga and mixed coniferous-broad-leaved forest) has no significant effect on the lichen species composition. The species richness of lichens tends to decrease in parks located within the settlements. The data obtained indicate not only the similarity of the species composition of lichens in the studied communities, but also the long-term development of lichen park communities in comparable climatic and landscape conditions.


2017 ◽  
Vol 37 (03) ◽  
pp. 189-197
Author(s):  
Nkoba Kiatoko ◽  
Suresh Kumar Raina ◽  
Frank van Langevelde

AbstractNatural habitat degradation often involves the reduction or disappearance of bee species. In Africa, stingless bees are hunted for honey, which is used as food, for medicinal purposes, and for traditional rituals. Severe habitat degradation due to human settlement is hypothesized to have a negative impact on the species diversity of the African stingless bee species. In this paper, we assess the impact of habitat degradation on the diversity of five stingless bee species across different habitats in the tropical rainforest of Kenya (indigenous forest, mixed indigenous forest) and its neighbouring landscape (grassland, village) in western Kenya. The species fauna, nest occurrence, and species diversity of the stingless bee species varied across the different habitats. The number of nesting habitats of the meliponine species varied between habitats in the tropical rainforest.Meliponula ferruginea(reddish brown) nested in five habitats, whileMeliponula bocandeiandMeliponula ferruginea(black) nested only in two habitat types. The species richness decreased within the different types of habitats and the indigenous and mixed indigenous forest contained more species than other habitats. The fauna composition in both homesteads was exclusively similar, while the indigenous and mixed indigenous forests were mostly similar. Similarity in habitat preferences for nesting was revealed betweenM. bocandeivsPlebeina hildebrandtiandM. ferruginea(reddish brown) vsHypotrigona gribodoi. The natural native indigenous forest had the most diverse community compared to the degraded habitats. There are taxon-specific responses to habitat change; and in our study, there is clear value in conserving the native indigenous forest.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohammad Bagher Erfanian ◽  
Juha M. Alatalo ◽  
Hamid Ejtehadi

AbstractRecreational activities worldwide have major impacts on the environment. This study examined the impact of different kinds of recreational activities on plant communities in a highly visited park in Mashhad, Iran. Vegetation in the park was sampled along 41 random 10-m transects with different human disturbances (trails, dirt roads, campsites) and undisturbed communities. Life form spectrum, species composition, species and phylogenetic diversity were determined for all communities. Disturbance increased the frequency of therophytes, but decreased the frequency of chamaephytes and percentage vegetated area. Recreational-mediated disturbance had variable impact on species composition, but decreased species and phylogenetic diversity compared with undisturbed areas. Roads and campsites caused the greatest damage, while trails had the smallest negative impact on vegetation. This study showed that damage to (semi-)natural park vegetation differs with recreation activity. This finding can help prioritise management activities to minimise negative impacts of recreation activities on local vegetation. The current visitor load to the urban park studied here appears too high to be sustainable over time, so better monitoring and restrictions on visitor numbers may be needed to minimise the negative impacts on park vegetation. The camping impacts can be managed by creating clusters of designated campsites to spatially concentrate the impact area. Low-impact practices should be communicated to visitors.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jonas Depecker ◽  
Justin Anio Asimonyio ◽  
Ronald Miteho ◽  
Yves Hatangi ◽  
Jean-Leon Kambale ◽  
...  

Despite their key role in biodiversity conservation, forests of the Congo Basin are increasingly threatened by human activities. Whereas deforestation is very conspicuous, it remains challenging to monitor the impact of forest degradation under a more or less intact canopy. Likewise, the outcomes of forest regeneration following agricultural abandonment remain poorly studied in the Congo Basin. Here, we surveyed 125 vegetation quadrats across 25 forest inventory plots in the Yangambi region, and based on historical land-use maps. We aimed to assess both the impact of anthropogenic disturbance and forest recovery on tree species diversity, tree functional traits, community composition, canopy cover, and forest structure, as compared to undisturbed old-growth forest. We found that undisturbed old-growth forest harboured more tree individuals, particularly individuals with a smaller diameter, as well as species with a higher wood density when compared to both disturbed old-growth and regrowth forest. Moreover, species diversity was highest in disturbed old-growth forest. Tree species composition was significantly different between undisturbed old-growth forest and the other two forest categories. Our findings indicate that anthropogenic disturbance results in a degraded forest structure and may reduce the forest's ability to store carbon. Whereas species diversity recovered 60 years after agricultural abandonment, species composition remained different from undisturbed old-growth forest. Our study illustrates the need for more extensive vegetation surveys in the Congo Basin in order to quantify the effects of human disturbance under a closed canopy.


Plants ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (9) ◽  
pp. 1788
Author(s):  
Luis Cruces ◽  
Eduardo de la Peña ◽  
Patrick De Clercq

During the last few years, quinoa, a traditional Andean crop, has been cultivated at low elevations where pest pressure is high and farmers resort to intensive use of insecticides. This field study investigated the impact of four insecticides (cypermethrin, imidacloprid, teflubenzuron and emamectin benzoate) on insect pests of quinoa and their side effects on the arthropod community at the coastal level of Peru, by analysing the species composition, species diversity and population density. The arthropod community was examined with pitfall traps (for ground dwelling species), plant samplings (for pests and their natural enemies that inhabit the crop), and yellow pan traps (to catch flying insects). The results demonstrated that Macrosiphum euphorbiae, Frankliniella occidentalis and Spoladea recurvalis were efficiently controlled by cypermethrin and imidacloprid; the latter compound also showed long-term effects on Nysius simulans. Teflubenzuron and emamectin benzoate proved to be efficient to control S. recurvalis. Imidacloprid had the strongest adverse effects on the arthropod community in terms of species diversity, species composition and natural enemy density as compared to the other insecticides. Findings of this study may assist farmers intending to grow quinoa at the coastal level in selecting the most appropriate insecticides under an integrated pest management approach.


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cord Peppler-Lisbach ◽  
Nils Stanik ◽  
Natali Könitz ◽  
Gert Rosenthal

AbstractQuestionsThe impact of environmental changes on species-rich Nardus grasslands has been documented from the Atlantic biogeographic region but not from Central Europe. Which patterns and trends of community change in species-rich Nardus grassland of the Continental biogeographic region occurred in past decades? Are patterns and trends similar across areas within the Continental biographic region of Germany? Do they correspond to identified changes in the Atlantic biogeographic region of Europe?LocationEast Hesse Highlands, GermanyMethodsIn 2012/15, we re-surveyed vegetation relevés on quasi-permanent plots originally surveyed between 1971 and 1986/87 and re-measured soil parameters. We tested for differences in species frequency and abundance, mean Ellenberg indicator values, diversity measures and soil variables. Nitrogen and sulphur deposition data were analysed to evaluate effects of atmospheric pollutants. We used regression analyses to identify the contribution of environmental drivers to changes in species composition.ResultsWe found significant increases in soil pH, Ellenberg R and N values, species of agricultural grasslands and grassland fallows. C:N ratio, Nardus grassland specialists and low-nutrient indicators declined, while changes in species composition relate to changes in pH and management. There was a strong decrease in sulphur and a moderate increase in nitrogen deposition. Local patterns in atmospheric depositions did not correlate with local changes in species composition and soil parameters.ConclusionThe findings indicate significant overall eutrophication, a trend towards less acidic conditions, and insufficient management and abandonment. This is widely consistent across study areas and correspond to recent reports on vegetation changes and recovery from acidification in the Atlantic biogeographic region. We strongly assume reduction in sulphur deposition during recent decades to be a major driver of these changes combined with increased nitrogen deposition and reduced management intensity. This suggests a large-scale validity of processes triggering changes in Nardus grasslands across Western and Central Europe.NomenclatureThe nomenclature follows the German taxonomic reference list (GermanSL version 1.3) of Jansen & Dengler (2008).


2020 ◽  
Vol 74 (4) ◽  
pp. 135-146
Author(s):  
HALINA LIPIŃSKA ◽  
TERESA WYŁUPEK ◽  
MAŁGORZATA SOSNOWSKA ◽  
AGNIESZKA KĘPKOWICZ ◽  
WOJCIECH LIPIŃSKI ◽  
...  

The study objective was to assess the impact of the vegetative shoots of the lawn cultivars of Poa pratensis (one of the most valuable lawn grasses), cut and left on the lawn surface, on the species composition and overwinter survival of a lawn. The investigation was conducted in a field experiment. Each cultivar was sown in monoculture, on microplots covering 1 m2 each. In the control objects, the cut biomass was removed immediately after the cutting. The investigation showed that ‘Bila’ had the strongest negative impact on the share of sown lawn grass cultivars (sensitivity to the biomass of the same cultivar remaining after cutting). The smallest share of other, unsown grass species in objects where the cut biomass remained was observed in lawns with ‘Nandu’ and, in the case of dicotyledons – with ‘Bila’. The biomass left on the lawn surface after cutting did not have a significant influence on the overwinter survival of the plants. The negative impact of P. pratensis biomass, both on the sown cultivars and other groups of plants, can indicate its allelopathic properties. Therefore, the grass of this species should not be left on the lawn after cutting. The aboveground biomass cut and left on the lawn surface was shown to have a clearly varied influence on the soil pH: in the case of the ‘Ani’ and ‘Bila’ cultivars, the influence was unequivocally negative. In addition, the biomass of these cultivars did not result in significantly increased levels of assimilable forms of phosphorus, potassium and magnesium in the soil.


2015 ◽  
Vol 26 (3-4) ◽  
pp. 116-123
Author(s):  
A. P. Korzh ◽  
T. V. Zahovalko

Recently, the number of published works devoted to the processes of synanthropization of fauna, is growing like an avalanche, which indicates the extreme urgency of this theme. In our view, the process of forming devices to coexist with human and the results of his life reflects the general tandency of the modern nature evolution. Urbanization is characteristic for such a specific group of animals like amphibians, the evidence of which are numerous literature data. Many researchers use this group to assess the bioindicative quality of the environment. For this aim a variety of indicators are used: from the cellular level of life of organization up to the species composition of the group in different territories. At the same time, the interpretation of the results is not always comparable for different areas and often have significantly different interpretations by experts. Urban environment, primarily due to the contamination is extremely aggressive to amphibians. As a consequence, the urban populations of amphibians may be a change in the demographic structure, affecting the reproductive ability of the population, the disappearance of the most sensitive species or individuals, resizing animals, the appearance of abnormalities in the development, etc. At the same time play an important amphibians in the ecosystems of cities, and some species in these conditions even feel relatively comfortable. Therefore, it is interesting to understand the mechanisms of self-sustaining populations of amphibians in urban environments. To assess the impact of natural and anthropogenic factors on the development of amphibian populations were used cognitive modeling using the program Vensim PLE. Cognitive map of the model for urban and suburban habitat conditions were the same. The differences concerned the strength of connections between individual factors (migration, fertility, pollution) and their orientation. In general, factors like pollution, parasites, predators had negative impact on the population, reducing its number. The birth rate, food and migration contributed to raising number of individuals. Some of the factors affected on the strength to of each other as well: the majority of the factors affected the structure of the population, had an influence on the fertility. Thanks to it the model reflects the additive effect of complex of factors on the subsequent status of the population. Proposed and analyzed four scenarios differing strength and duration of exposure. In the first scenario, a one-time contamination occurs and not subsequently repeated. The second and third scenario assumes half board contamination, 1 year (2 scenario) and two years (scenario 3). In the fourth scenario, the pollution affected the population of amphibians constantly. In accordance with the results of simulation, much weaker than the natural populations respond to pollution - have them as an intensive population growth and its disappearance at constant pollution is slow. Changes to other parameters of the model showed that this pollution is the decisive factor -only the constant action leads to a lethal outcome for the populations. All other components of the model have a corrective effect on the population dynamics, without changing its underlying trand. In urban areas due to the heavy impact of pollution maintaining the population is only possible thanks to the migration process – the constant replenishment of diminishing micropopulations of natural reserves. This confirms the assumption that the form of existence metapopulations lake frog in the city. In order to maintain the number of amphibians in urban areas at a high level it is necessary to maintain existing migration routes and the creation of new ones. Insular nature of the placement of suitable habitats in urban areas causes the metapopulation structure of the types of urbanists. Therefore, the process of urbanization is much easier for those species whicht are capable of migration in conditions of city. In the initial stages of settling the city micropopulationis formed by selective mortality of the most susceptible individuals to adverse effects. In future, maintaining the categories of individuals is provided mainly due to migration processes metapopulisation form of the species of existence is supported). It should be noted that the changes in the previous levels are always saved in future. In the case of reorganizations of individuals we of morphology can assume the existence of extremely adverse environmental conditions that threaten the extinction of the micropopulations. 


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