Article
Plant Sciences
Darlem Nikerlly Amaral Paiva, Ricardo de Oliveira Perdiz, Thais Elias Almeida
Summary: Fourier-transform near-infrared spectroscopy (FT-NIR) is an effective technique for discriminating plant species, including ferns. The study found that this technology can accurately identify fern species on dried specimens, providing potential assistance in resolving species delimitation issues and possible hybridization.
JOURNAL OF PLANT RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Suzuki Setsuko, Kensuke Yoshimura, Saneyoshi Ueno, James Raymond Peter Worth, Tokuko Ujino-Ihara, Toshio Katsuki, Shuichi Noshiro, Tomoyuki Fujii, Takahisa Arai, Hiroshi Yoshimaru
Summary: The development of a comprehensive DNA barcode reference library for Japanese native woody seed plants has provided a valuable resource for DNA barcode-based studies and has the potential to be used as a template for similar libraries for other components of the Japanese flora.
MOLECULAR ECOLOGY RESOURCES
(2023)
Article
Forestry
Jan Leidinger, Markus Blaschke, Michael Ehrhardt, Anton Fischer, Martin M. Gossner, Kirsten Jung, Sebastian Kienlein, Johanna Kozak, Barbara Michler, Reinhard Mosandl, Sebastian Seibold, Katja Wehner, Wolfgang W. Weisser
Summary: Forests in Central Europe have been heavily influenced by human activities, leading to a shift from natural beech-dominated vegetation to more profitable species. Integrative approaches promoting mixed forests are now reversing this trend to balance production and conservation goals, with implications for forest biodiversity. Mixing tree species affects local abundances, diversity, and community composition, highlighting the importance of forestry decisions in shaping forest communities.
FOREST ECOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT
(2021)
Article
Forestry
Yericho Berhanu, Gemedo Dalle, Dejene W. Sintayehu, Girma Kelboro, Abebe Nigussie
Summary: This study examines the spatial and temporal dynamics of woody species composition, structure, and diversity in the Sheka Forest Biosphere Reserve. The results show a significant reduction in woody species richness, evenness, and diversity during the study period, which is most pronounced in areas with lower altitudes, lower slope gradients, and higher human settlement and agricultural expansion. Unsustainable land use practices have led to a rapid decline and massive turnover of woody species diversity.
FOREST ECOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT
(2022)
Article
Forestry
Yericho Berhanu, Gemedo Dalle, Dejene W. Sintayehu, Girma Kelboro, Abebe Nigussie
Summary: Understanding the dynamics of woody species diversity is crucial for designing sustainable biodiversity management strategies, yet the scientific information on this topic remains scarce and unexplored in the Eastern Afromontane Forests. The study in the Sheka Forest Biosphere Reserve revealed a significant reduction in woody species richness, evenness, and diversity over time, particularly in areas with settlement and agricultural expansion.
FOREST ECOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
C. H. W. M. R. Bhagya Chandrasekara, D. Nathasha U. Naranpanawa, B. Supun Bandusekara, D. K. N. G. Pushpakumara, D. Siril A. Wijesundera, Pradeepa C. G. Bandaranayake
Summary: Cinnamomum genus comprises about 250 species worldwide, with C. verum being the most popular due to its culinary and medicinal uses. Sri Lanka is the largest producer of true cinnamon and is home to unique wild species. DNA identification and polymorphism analysis are crucial for conservation and utilization strategies.
Article
Plant Sciences
Seahee Han, Raveendar Sebastin, XiaoHan Wang, Kyung Jun Lee, Gyu-Taek Cho, Do Yoon Hyun, Jong-Wook Chung
Summary: This study evaluated the possibility of using DNA barcoding regions to distinguish Vicia taxa in South Korea. The results showed well-resolved phylogeny and effective discrimination of several Vicia species using combined barcoding regions. Further investigation of morphological characteristics was conducted to differentiate unclassified species, with 16 selected traits efficiently distinguishing all Vicia species.
FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Environmental Studies
Shiwei Lin, Yanan Wang, Xiaojian Niu, Hazar Dorduencue
Summary: This study investigates volatility in global natural resource commodities during the Covid-19 pandemic. The results show that coal rents, forest rents, mineral rents, and natural gas rents do not exhibit volatility throughout the study period, while oil rents and total natural resource rents are found to be volatile during the entire period and the pandemic. Furthermore, there is no evidence of positive-negative shocks asymmetry, and negative shock does not enhance volatility in natural resource commodities more than positive shock.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Ju Wu, Jiayi Long, Haixuan Liu, Guangpeng Sun, Jing Li, Lijuan Xu, Chengyang Xu
Summary: BVOC emissions from leaves and flowers of 14 woody landscape species in northern China were analyzed using dynamic flow enclosure technique with GC-MS. Coniferous species had higher leaf emission rates of monoterpenes, while sampled broad-leaved species had lower emission rates of fatty acid derivatives. Most broad-leaved species had relatively high emission rates of flowers, with Syringa oblata and Syringa reticulata containing large amounts of aldehydes.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
(2021)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Wojciech Piaszczyk, Jaroslaw Lasota, Ewa Blonska, Kacper Foremnik
Summary: The study found that habitat moisture has a significant impact on the decomposition process of wood samples, with the greatest mass loss recorded under fresh habitat conditions. Higher moisture content slows down wood decomposition, with weight loss averaging 34% in boggy habitats. Fine woody debris can serve as a useful source of nutrients in forest ecosystems.
Review
Microbiology
Iryna Matsiakh, Audrius Menkis
Summary: This study summarizes the available knowledge on the occurrence, host range, symptoms of damage, and aggressiveness of different Phytophthora species associated with woody plants in Nordic countries, with a special emphasis on Sweden. It evaluates the potential risks of Phytophthora species to different woody plants in this geographical area and emphasizes the increasing threats associated with the continued introduction of invasive Phytophthora species.
Article
Forestry
Hingabu Hordofa Koricho, Girma Shumi, Tikabo Gebreyesus, Shaoxian Song, Fekadu Fufa
Summary: The study assessed the composition, diversity, and conservation status of woody plant species in the Debre Libanos church forests and surrounding forest lands in central Ethiopia. Results showed that the church forest had the highest species richness and diversity indices, while government and private forests had similar total species numbers and diversity indices. The majority of species with higher importance value indices in the church forest were indigenous species.
JOURNAL OF FORESTRY RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Peredo Arce, M. Palt, M. Schletterer, J. Kail
Summary: Most adult EPTs disperse by flying along riparian corridors. However, the effect of riparian vegetation on EPT community is not yet empirically tested, and several open questions remain. This study analyzed 98 sites in Germany and found that deciduous woody riparian cover had a positive effect on EPT dispersal ability, especially in low mountain streams and at regional longitudinal scales. It also highlighted the importance of preserving and restoring natural woody riparian vegetation to improve the ecological status of EPT communities and macroinvertebrates.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
Giacomo Puglielli, Lauri Laanisto, Hendrik Poorter, Ulo Niinemets
Summary: The study found no overarching biomass allocation patterns across species adapted to environments with contrasting levels of abiotic stress. Biomass allocation varied among functional types due to differences in phenology and phylogenetics. The direction of biomass allocation responses between tolerant and intolerant species often contradicted the predictions of the optimal partitioning theory.
Article
Ecology
Kerry D. Woods, Thomas A. Nagel, Bogdan Brzeziecki, C. Mark Cowell, Dejan Firm, Peter Jaloviar, Stanislav Kucbel, Yiching Lin, Zbigniew Maciejewski, Jerzy Szwagrzyk, Jaroslav Vencurik
Summary: Old-growth, mesic temperate forests are often assumed to be structured by gap-phase processes, resulting in quasi-equilibrial long-term dynamics. The annualized mortality rates of tree species in these forests were found to be higher than previous estimates, showing that gap-phase models are inadequate to explain stand dynamics. Variations among species, over time and among size classes suggest non-equilibrial dynamics in old-growth temperate tree communities.
GLOBAL ECOLOGY AND BIOGEOGRAPHY
(2021)
Article
Plant Sciences
Bo Liu, Jin-Long Zhang, Matthew K. Lau, Xu-Gao Wang, Yu Liang, Tian-Xiao Ma
Summary: Functional traits have impacts on species interactions, community composition, and ecosystem functioning. This study focused on the diversification and phylogenetic correlation of multiple functional traits in boreal forest understory species in northeast China. The results showed low levels of phylogenetic niche conservatism, indicating divergence of functional traits among co-occurring understory species. Additionally, both positive and negative phylogenetic correlations were found among the measured functional traits, suggesting adaptations to resource acquisition strategies. This study provides evidence that divergence in functional traits reflects understory adaptions to boreal conditions.
JOURNAL OF SYSTEMATICS AND EVOLUTION
(2023)
Article
Biology
Lan Zhang, Xiaojuan Liu, Zhenhua Sun, Wensheng Bu, Franca J. Bongers, Xiaoyang Song, Jie Yang, Zhenkai Sun, Yin Li, Shan Li, Min Cao, Keping Ma, Nathan G. Swenson
Summary: This study examined how plant communities in mountainous areas adapt to changing climatic conditions with altitude, focusing on the multivariate functional trait structure and redundancy of tree communities. The results showed that functional trait space increased with mean annual temperature, while species trait redundancy had different patterns between mountains. This suggests that warming can widen functional trait space and alter redundancy in plant communities, with varying effects on different ecosystems.
SCIENCE CHINA-LIFE SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Michael V. Cove, Valentine Herrmann, Daniel J. Herrera, Ben C. Augustine, D. T. Tyler Flockhart, William J. McShea
Summary: This study estimated the distribution and density of free-roaming cats in Washington D.C. and found that they are mainly concentrated in residential areas, with very few in larger public spaces and forests. The district was estimated to have approximately 7296 free-roaming cats, with 90% lacking collars and 35% having ear tips indicating participation in TNR programs. This research provides baseline data for data-driven management plans for free-roaming cats in urban environments.
ECOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Elena Woodworth, Amy Tian, Kaleigh Blair, Jamie Pullen, Jonathan S. S. Lefcheck, John D. D. Parker
Summary: Introduced invasive plants are a significant environmental problem, but public interest in them is low compared to other environmental issues like climate change and threatened flagship species. By analyzing Google Trends search data, we found that public interest is influenced by plant abundance, specific plant traits, and media coverage. Improving messaging and increasing public awareness can help increase interest in invasive plants.
BIOLOGICAL INVASIONS
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Olivia G. Cosby, Belden Giman, Roslina Ragai, Vilma Bodos, Timothy R. Van Deelen, William J. McShea
Summary: Understanding wildlife spatiotemporal dynamics at protected area boundaries is critical to conservation. In SE Asia, protected areas are often bordered by indigenous communities whose traditional practices result in increased landscape heterogeneity within their community managed forests (CF). We examined shifts in wildlife activity in forests within and adjacent to Lanjak Entimau Wildlife Sanctuary (LEWS), in Sarawak, Malaysia, and found a relationship between the presence of fruits and seeds and shifts in large mammal activity.
Article
Ecology
Craig Fergus, Iara L. Lacher, Valentine Herrmann, William J. McShea, Thomas S. Akre
Summary: This paper presents an approach to guide the prioritization of locations for invasion management using species distribution models and land use data. The approach takes advantage of the high spatial resolution and broad geographic coverage of land use data to provide landscape-scale results for invasive species management. In a case study in northern Virginia, the proportions of surrounding non-forested land use types were identified as common and strong indicators of invasion risk. The outcomes can inform management actions and help organizations in considering property acquisition or administration.
ECOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Zikun Mao, Fons van Der Plas, Adriana Corrales, Kristina J. Anderson-Teixeira, Norman A. Bourg, Chengjin Chu, Zhanqing Hao, Guangze Jin, Juyu Lian, Fei Lin, Buhang Li, Wenqi Luo, William J. McShea, Jonathan A. Myers, Guochun Shen, Xihua Wang, En-Rong Yan, Ji Ye, Wanhui Ye, Zuoqiang Yuan, Xugao Wang
Summary: This study examines how mutualistic associations between trees and different mycorrhizal fungi (arbuscular mycorrhizal vs. ectomycorrhizal) modulate scale-dependent diversity-biomass relationships. The findings suggest that in soil-heterogeneous forests, arbuscular mycorrhizal tree species and ectomycorrhizal tree species respond differently to increasing soil fertility. Arbuscular mycorrhizal tree dominance contributes to higher tree diversity, while ectomycorrhizal tree dominance leads to greater standing biomass. The study highlights the negative effect of mycorrhizal associations on diversity-biomass relationships.
ECOLOGICAL MONOGRAPHS
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Nathan G. Swenson, Jenny Zambrano, Robert Howe, Amy Wolf
Summary: Identifying the drivers of community structure and dynamics is a major pursuit in ecology. Emphasis is typically placed on the importance of local scale interactions when attempting to explain these fundamental ecological patterns. However, regional scale phenomena are also important predictors.
Article
Ecology
Huiling Zhu, Jinlong Zhang, Mang Lung Cheuk, Billy C. H. Hau, Gunter. A. A. Fischer, Stephan. W. W. Gale
Summary: Anthropogenic disturbance has resulted in the clearance and degradation of tropical forests. Monocultural plantations, such as forest plantations, have a significant negative impact on forest recovery and hinder the restoration of forest structure, diversity, and functioning.
FRONTIERS IN FORESTS AND GLOBAL CHANGE
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Danushka S. Weerasekera, Sandun J. Perera, William J. McShea, Kithsiri B. Ranawana
Summary: In this study, population density and social organization of sambar in Horton Plains National Park (HPNP), Sri Lanka were investigated. Density estimation was conducted using distance sampling along six strip transects every month for three years (2018-2020). The results showed relative stability in population density over the years, with consistent peaks in November-December. The reproductive stage and social organization of the population were described based on antler stage and behavior observations.
Article
Plant Sciences
Tong-Jian Liu, Shu-Yan Zhang, Lei Wei, Wei Lin, Hai-Fei Yan, Gang Hao, Xue-Jun Ge
Summary: This study analyzed 50 complete plastomes of 46 Lysimachia species to identify their structure features and hypervariable loci. Thirteen highly variable regions were identified and certain plastid markers were found to be under positive selection. The genomic data provided new insights into the interspecific relationships of Lysimachia, establishing a basis for further exploration of its taxonomy, phylogeny, and evolutionary history.
Article
Ecology
Xuezhao Wang, Yunyun He, Brian E. Sedio, Lu Jin, Xuejun Ge, Suphanee Glomglieng, Min Cao, Jianhong Yang, Nathan G. Swenson, Jie Yang
Summary: Metabolomics is a powerful tool to study the chemical composition of plants and its relationship with various factors in tropical forests. This study found that tree metabolomes rapidly diversify and locally co-occurring species are more chemically dissimilar. The presence of diverse secondary metabolites can reduce herbivore damage, especially by specialist insect herbivores.
Article
Ecology
Lauren D. Maynard, W. Mark Ford, John D. Parker, Susan R. Whitehead
Summary: This study examined the foraging behaviors of bats in soybean fields and their responses to herbivore-induced plant volatiles (HIPVs), as well as the impact of weather conditions on bat activity. The results showed that bat activity is influenced by temperature and wind speed, but not by soybean HIPVs. These findings provide insights into bat-plant interactions and can guide the development of sustainable pest management strategies.
Article
Biology
Zheng-Feng Wang, Mathieu Rouard, Gaetan Droc, Pat (J S) Heslop-Harrison, Xue-Jun Ge
Summary: This study generated a high-quality chromosome-scale genome assembly of M. beccarii and revealed its genome features and evolution, providing an important genetic resource for studying the genetics of Musaceae plants.
Article
Ecology
Ashley K. Lang, Elizabeth A. Larue, Stephanie N. Kivlin, Joseph D. Edwards, Richard P. Phillips, Joey Gallion, Nicole Kong, John D. Parker, Melissa K. Mccormick, Grant Domke, Songlin Fei
Summary: Efforts to catalog global biodiversity have often overlooked belowground communities. However, the diversity aboveground may influence the diversity of belowground communities and vice versa. This study found that forest canopy structural diversity is associated with the richness and composition of soil microbial communities, but soil properties are stronger predictors of microbial diversity and composition compared to structural diversity and tree species diversity.
