Annona glabra L., a key swamp tree: ecological, functional, and ethnobotanical aspects for conservation and restoration

In response to waterlogging, pedunculate oak is known to develop adventitious roots and hypertrophied lenticels. However, to date, a link between these adaptations and the ability to maintain net CO2 assimilation rates and growth has not been demonstrated. The aim of this study was to explore the cause–effect relationship between the ability to form morphological adaptations (hypertrophied lenticels and adventitious roots) and the capacity to maintain high assimilation rate and growth. The occurrence of morphological adaptations and the parameters of photosynthesis were monitored over 20 days of waterlogging in 5-week-old pedunculate oak seedlings presenting similar morphological development. Based on the development or not of morphological adaptations, the following three categories of responses were identified: development of hypertrophied lenticels and adventitious roots, development of hypertrophied lenticels alone, and the lack of development of adaptive structures. These categories, ranked in the order given, corresponded to decreasing levels of initial net CO2 assimilation rate growth and photosynthesis parameters observed during waterlogging. We observed a two-way cause–effect relationship between the capacity to form adaptive structures and the assimilation rate. Indeed, the initial assimilation rate determined the occurrence of hypertrophied lenticels and growth during stress, and then the development of morphological adaptations enhanced the ability to maintain assimilation levels during the stress.

Commercial Annona species such as sugar apple and atemoya, are sensitive to flooding. Annona glabra (pond apple) is a non-commercial species that grows well in flooded soils and may have potential as a flood-tolerant rootstock for commercial Annonas. The effects of flooding on net CO2 assimilation (A), stomatal conductance (gs), and vegetative growth of 2-year-old, container-grown Annona trees were studied under glasshouse conditions. Seedlings of A. glabra, A. muricata, and A. squamosa, and plants of `49-11' [a cross between atemoya (Annona. spp. hybrid cv. Gefner) × A. reticulata] grafted onto A. glabra or A. reticulata rootstock (`49-11'/A. glabra; `49-11'/A. reticulata) were exposed to 50 days of continuous flooding. Non-flooded (control) plants were irrigated daily. Flooded soil became anaerobic from day 3 of initiating the flooding treatment. Seedlings of A. glabra and A. muricata, and trees of `49-11'/A. glabra, produced more vegetative growth during flooding than A. squamosa and `49-11'/A. reticulata. Flooding decreased A and gs of A. squamosa and `49-11'/A. reticulata, and caused tree mortality (80%) of A. squamosa. Morphological adaptations of A. glabra (seedlings and rootstock) to flooding included adventitious root formation into flood water, development of hypertrophied (swollen) lenticels on trunk and adventitious roots, and development of trunk aerenchyma. All seedling trees of A. glabra and A. muricata, and all grafted trees of `49-11'/A. glabra survived 120 days of continuous flooding. A. glabra rootstock imparted flood tolerance to the `49-11' scion and may therefore impart flood tolerance to other Annona species. A. muricata seedlings may withstand extended periods of waterlogging under field conditions.

Chapter 5: Law and regulation

BackgroundThe occurrence of climate change at an unprecedented scale has resulted in alterations of ecosystems around the world. Numerous studies have reported on the potential to slow down climate change through the sequestration of carbon in soil and trees. Freshwater wetlands hold significant potential for climate change mitigation owing to their large capacity to sequester atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2). Wetlands among all terrestrial ecosystems have the highest carbon density and are found to store up to three to five times more carbon than terrestrial forests. The current study was undertaken to quantify carbon stocks of two carbon pools: aboveground biomass (AGB) and belowground biomass (BGB). Chosen study sites; Kolonnawa wetland and Thalawathugoda wetland park are distributed within the Colombo wetland complex. Colombo was recognized as one of the 18 global Ramsar wetland cities in 2018. A combination of field measurements and allometric tree biomass regression models was used in the study. Stratification of the project area was performed using the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI).ResultsThe AGB carbon stock, across strata, is estimated to be in the range of 13.79 ± 3.65–66.49 ± 6.70 tC/ha and 8.13 ± 2.42–52.63 ± 10.00 tC/ha at Kolonnawa wetland and Thalawathugoda wetland park, respectively. The BGB carbon stock is estimated to be in the range of 2.47 ± 0.61–10.12 ± 0.89 tC/ha and 1.56 ± 0.41–8.17 ± 1.39 tC/ha at Kolonnawa wetland and Thalawathugoda wetland park, respectively. The total AGB carbon stock of Kolonnawa wetland was estimated at 19,803 ± 1566 tCO2eq and that of Thalawathugoda wetland park was estimated at 4180 ± 729 tCO2eq.ConclusionsIn conclusion, the study reveals that tropical freshwater wetlands contain considerable potential as carbon reservoirs. The study suggests the use of tropical freshwater wetlands in carbon sequestration enhancement plans in the tropics. The study also shows that Annona glabra, an invasive alien species (IAS), has the potential to enhance the net sink of AGB carbon in these non-mangrove wetlands. However, further studies are essential to confirm if enhanced carbon sequestration by Annona glabra is among the unexplored and unreported benefits of the species.

Introduction to <i>Climate Change Adaptation in New York City: Building a Risk Management Response</i>

Chapter 6: Insurance industry

Water sprays from an open fire hydrant in Brooklyn, New York, in the midst of a July 2010 heat wave that affected much of the eastern United States.In 2007 the New York City Department of Environmental Protection first teamed up with Alianza Dominicana, a Washington Heights community organization, to educate city residents about the appropriate use of fire hydrants and other ways

Antecedentes y Objetivos: Actualmente existe deterioro y disminución de selvas inundables debido a la deforestación para ganadería e introducción de pastos exóticos. Los objetivos del presente estudio fueron evaluar el porcentaje de supervivencia de plántulas de Annona glabra, el cambio en la vegetación acompañante, y estimar los costos de los tratamientos experimentales de restauración ecológica de una selva inundable de A. glabra transformada en pastizal e invadida por el pasto exótico Echinochloa pyramidalis. Métodos: El estudio se realizó en un pastizal inundable en la costa central de Veracruz, México. Consistió en sembrar cuatro plántulas de A. glabra en cuadros experimentales expuestos a distintas técnicas de restauración. Se probaron 15 tratamientos experimentales que consistieron en cinco técnicas de restauración (sin modificación, cubierta plástica, plantación de Pontederia sagittata, remoción de suelo, y elevación del suelo) y tres pretratamientos aplicados a las plántulas sembradas (plántulas de vivero con y sin fertilizante, plántulas de selva) en un diseño de bloques al azar.Resultados clave: Se registró baja supervivencia de plántulas (30.7%), siendo mayor en plántulas de selva (41.1%). El mayor porcentaje de supervivencia se registró con la técnica de elevación del suelo, seguido de la de remoción. Se registraron 40 especies en la vegetación; la mayor riqueza específica se observó en las técnicas de elevación del nivel del suelo y remoción. Las especies con mayor Valor de Importancia Relativa fueron Echinochloa pyramidalis, Mimosa pigra y Annona glabra. El pretratamiento en el cual se obtuvieron las plántulas directamente de la selva fue el más económico.Conclusiones: Se requieren acciones para incrementar el éxito de la reforestación. Para futuros proyectos de restauración, recomendamos la elevación del suelo en áreas de transplante y cubierta de plástico previo a la plantación, para incrementar la probabilidad de supervivencia, y reducir la cobertura del pasto; además de la reforestación con plántulas colectadas de un fragmento de selva.

New York City Panel on Climate Change 2019 Report Chapter 5: Mapping Climate Risk

Growth, development, yield, and even normal functioning of the tropical and subtropical fruit crops are affected by flood stress due to unpredictable climate change. Flooding-induced anerobic respiration affects the cell integrity by the excess intake of Reactive Oxygen Species and other phytotoxic components, which affects both vegetative and reproductive growth and leads to yield loss or complete crop loss. These anerobic condition favors the growth of microbes which cause Phytophthora root rot. Wilting, necrosis, leaf yellowing, shedding of leaves, and stunted growth are the symptoms shown by flooded plants due to the reduced photosynthetic activity. Due to flood-induced oxidative stress, a plant undergoes morphological, physiological, and biochemical adaptations for survival. Formation of aerenchyma, adventitious root, hypertrophic lenticels, pneumatophores, and leaf epinasty are the morphological adaptations observed in fruit crops. Some of the preventive measures which increase the tolerance toward flood stress are the selection of flood-tolerant rootstocks, pruning to maintain the aerial part/root ratio, application of fertilizers to improve the redox potential, plant recovery, and improved mycorrhizal colonization in the roots.

Part I: Introduction * Adapting to Climate Change in Urban Areas: The Possibilities and Constraints in Low-and Middle-income Nations * Part II: Risk and Vulnerability for Cities * The Rising Tide: Assessing the Risks of Climate Change and Human Settlements in Low Elevation Coastal Zones * Climate Change and Coastal Cities: The Case of Mombasa, Kenya * Vulnerabilities and Responses to Climate Change for Dhaka * The Vulnerability to Climate Change of Cotonou (Benin): The Rise in Sea Level * The Vulnerability of Global Cities to Climate Hazards * Climate, Climate Change and Human Health in Asian cities * Climate Change and Urban Children: Impacts and Implications for Adaptation in Low- and Middle-income Countries * Unjust Waters: Climate Change, Flooding and the Urban Poor in Africa * Urban Poverty and Vulnerability to Climate Change in Latin America * Part III: Case Studies on Adaptation * Adaptation to Climate Change in Durban * Developing a Municipal Adaptation Plan (MAP) for Climate Change: The City of Cape Town * Adapting to Climate Change: Water Management for Urban Resilience * Part IV: Moving Forward * Climate Change Risk: An Adaptation and Mitigation Agenda for Indian Cities * International Funding to Support Urban Adaptation to Climate Change * Conclusions Adaptation and Local Development

CONTENTS I Introduction II Climate Change and Extreme Weather Events III Adaptation in the International Climate Regime IV Insurance and Adaptation in the International Climate Regime V Models for Climate Change Insurance VI Caribbean Catastrophe Risk Insurance Facility VII Climate Change Insurance and the Pacific Island States VIII Viability of Climate Insurance as a Long-Term Adaptation Strategy IX Conclusion I INTRODUCTION Many Small Island Developing States ('SIDS') lie only metres above sea level, making them particularly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change in both the shorter (eg storm surge during large tropical cyclones) and longer (eg sea level rise) terms. (1) The modest ambition for mitigation (ie reduction) (2) of greenhouse gas emissions in the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change ('UNFCCC'), (3) Kyoto Protocol (4) and Copenhagen Accord (5) means that the prospect of avoiding an increase in mean surface temperature of less than two degrees is now very low. (6) The latest climate science suggests the Earth is on a path that will lead to a rise in mean surface temperature of between three and six degrees by 2100. (7) Unless there is a significant reduction in greenhouse gas emissions over coming decades, SIDS are likely to experience tropical cyclones of greater severity, disrupted rainfall patterns and sea level rise. (8) Recent extreme weather events in the Asia-Pacific region, such as Typhoon Haiyan (9) and Cyclone Ian, (10) demonstrate the significant impact of these events on SIDS. (11) The lack of success in mitigating greenhouse gas emissions has led to adaptation to climate change impacts gaining greater prominence within the United Nations climate negotiations. Adaptation to climate change has been defined as '[a]djustment in natural or human systems in response to actual or expected climatic stimuli or their effects, which moderates harm or exploits beneficial opportunities'. (12) Adaptation may take many forms, including pre-emptive action to limit damage from climate change-related events (eg implementing more ambitious building codes to make buildings more resilient to storms) and building institutions to aid recovery after a climate-related event (eg improving emergency services capacity to respond in the immediate aftermath of adverse weather events). Domestically, insurance is an established mechanism to spread financial risk of adverse events and build societal resilience. However, at an international level, the issue of climate change-related insurance has only proceeded in fits and starts. Proposals for an insurance mechanism to support the adaptation of SIDS to climate change date back to 1991. At that time, the Alliance of Small Island States ('AOSIS') proposed an international, state-based pool to provide insurance against the impacts of climate change-related sea-level rise. (13) Despite this early call by AOSIS, a climate change-related insurance mechanism was not included in either the UNFCCC or the Kyoto Protocol. In 2007 climate change-related insurance emerged again on the UNFCCC agenda as the Bali Action Plan launched international discussion on enhanced action on adaptation 'including risk sharing and transfer mechanisms such as insurance'. (14) In 2008 AOSIS made a submission under the Bali Action Plan to include an insurance mechanism as part of a broader response to climate-related loss and damage. (15) In a departure from its earlier proposal in 1991, the 2008 AOSIS submission called for insurance cover for climate change-related extreme weather events such as hurricanes, floods and droughts. (16) In 2010 the Cancun Agreements also invited submissions on the development of a climate risk insurance facility, as a part of an enhanced adaptation framework, to address impacts from extreme weather events. (17) The 2012 Conference of the Parties ('COP') 18 meeting in Doha appeared to be a breakthrough in the development of institutions to assist adaptation to climate change. …

Dominant species losing functions to salinity in the Sundarbans Mangrove Forest, Bangladesh

Himalayan Journal of Sciences Vol.2(4) Special Issue 2004 pp.138-9

Background and aims Wetlands are important carbon sinks across the planet. However, soil carbon sequestration in tropical freshwater wetlands has been studied less than its counterpart in temperate wetlands. We compared carbon stocks and carbon sequestration in freshwater wetlands with various geomorphic features (estuarine, perilacustrine and depressional) and various plant communities (marshes and swamps) on the tropical coastal plain of the Gulf of Mexico in the state of Veracruz, Mexico. These swamps are dominated by Ficus insipida, Pachira aquatic and Annona glabra and the marshes by Typha domingensis, Thalia geniculata, Cyperus giganteus, and Pontederia sagittata.