Effect of Simulated Harvesting on the Plant Composition in the Floating Grasslands of Keibul Lamjao National Park, Manipur

Quantifying the response of plant diversity to large‐scale restoration is essential for measuring management success. One of the world's largest restoration efforts began in 2000 in the Everglades ecosystem in Florida, United States, through the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan. In coordination with ongoing fire management, this restoration effort aims to restore natural hydrologic and fire regimes in this dynamic ecosystem. Restored water and fire regimes in the Everglades interact along an elevational gradient between seasonally inundated marl prairie and frequently burned pine rockland on Long Pine Key in Everglades National Park. To determine the impact of management on plant community richness and composition, we resampled transects spanning the elevational gradient between marl prairie and pine rockland initially sampled prior to the implementation of current restoration efforts (circa 1997–1999). We measured percent plant cover and developed generalized linear mixed models to determine the effects of fire frequency, average water depth, and elevation on plant species richness and composition across the two time periods. Additionally, we used species‐level random effects to examine how individual species respond to each environmental variable. We failed to detect any systematic shifts in plant composition in response to fire and water management. However, we found that complex interactions between fire and water structure plant composition and maximize species richness along gradients of water depth and elevation, with low, moderate, and high burn frequencies increasing richness in wet, moderately wet, and dry sites, respectively.

Previous work from the Plains of Serengeti National Park (SNP) suggested that plant species composition (i.e. the composite measure of species’ identities and abundances) is unchanged on the temporal scale of decades (), raising the possibility that African grazing ecosystems may be resistant to climate change. In this study, grassland plant composition was measured three times between 2000 and 2007 at eight permanent sites spanning the SNP environmental gradient. Confirming previous work, plots in the Serengeti Plains were relatively stable with respect to plant composition through time. In contrast, sites in all other regions of the ecosystem showed greater change in plant species composition during the study. Three factors, annual rainfall, dry season rainfall, and fire frequency, were linearly correlated (all r>0.73) with the amount of composition change at the sites. A path model, which accounted for the strong correlation between annual and dry season rainfall and for the known effect of annual rainfall on fire frequency, was used to elucidate which factors were associated with composition change and which were spuriously correlated. The path model demonstrated that change in plant composition was positively related to annual rainfall, but not dry season rainfall or fire frequency. However, dry season rainfall was positively associated with changes in plant species identity, one component of compositional change, across sites over time. Because climate models predict both increased wet season and decreased dry season rainfall in East Africa, these findings raise uncertainty about how these grasslands will respond to future changes. This study and others () suggests that plant assemblages adapted to low rainfall in Serengeti may exhibit compositionally stability, while the same may not be true in regions of higher average rainfall and larger species pools.

Legacy effects of afforestation on prairie plant and seed bank communities in a northern Canadian prairie

Concentration of grazer activity around watering points and stock posts has led to well-documented vegetation impacts in arid and semi-arid rangelands. Effect of grazing and abiotic factors on perennial plant diversity have been reported in the bio-diverse winter rainfall vegetation of the Succulent Karoo in South Africa, but the impact on annuals had not been investigated. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of rainfall, soil nutrients, land forms and grazing on forage depletion, soil chemistry and the composition, diversity, richness and biomass production of annual plants in the Richtersveld National park, which is a contractual national park used by semi-nomadic pastoralists to herd goats and sheep. A grazing gradient away from stock posts at 100m, 500m and 1000m on sandy plains and rocky foothills at five study sites with different mean annual rainfall and vegetation types were used. Distance from stock posts corresponded to a gradient of forage depletion and resulted in changes in soil chemistry with distance. Biomass production, richness and diversity of annuals were correlated with rainfall but not significantly affected by landform or distance from stock posts. Rainfall and soil variables had a greater influence on species composition than grazing in this arid ecosystem. The decrease in perennial cover and richness near the stock posts was not accompanied by increase in biomass production or richness of annuals, which is expected to have adverse effects on overall plant diversity and forage availability. Keywords: Piosphere, Pastoralists, Rangeland, Succulent Karoo DOI: 10.7176/JNSR/12-10-04 Publication date: May 31 st 2021

It is known that plant species diversity, composition and distribution are influenced by several factors in tropical montane forests. Unfortunately, our knowledge on factors driving these plant community attributes is limited for vegetations of lower montane forest of Kilimanjaro National Park (KINAPA), Tanzania. The objective of this study was to assess the influence of environmental variables and disturbances on species diversity, composition and distribution of plants. Vegetation data were collected along 13 randomly established transects, each with 5 plots measuring 20 m × 50 m, totaling 65 plots. Soil samples from each plot were analyzed for pH, extractable elements (P, K, Mg, Ca, and Na), organic carbon, total nitrogen, and electrical conductivity. The abundance of plant species and the environmental factors were subjected to Canonical Correspondence Analysis (CCA). A total of 179 plant species representing 163 genera and 75 families were identified. The highest plant species richness was recorded on the western slopes, with a mean number of 17.44 species, followed by the southern slopes (15.5) and the eastern slopes (11.1). Analysis of variance revealed a significant difference in plant species richness among the three slopes of Mount Kilimanjaro, F(2, 71) = 16.8, p < .001. Among the soil physico-chemical variables analyzed, only soil pH, calcium (Ca2 +), clay content, potassium (K+), carbon-nitrogen ratio (C/N ratio), and silt were positively correlated with the first CCA Axis (Eigenvalue = 0.86; F-ratio = 4.81; p = .002). This suggests a strong gradient between soil characteristics and plant community variation in the lower montane forest. The findings from this study enhances our understanding of plant diversity, composition and distribution, as well as the environmental factors shaping plant communities. This knowledge is valuable for the restoration and conservation of the lower montane forest of KINAPA.

The Heartland Inventory and Monitoring Network has monitored plant communities in National Parks since 1998. Three of those parks in the northern tier of the network?Herbert Hoover National Historic Site (NHS), Homestead National Historical Park (NHP), and Pipestone National Monument (NM)?have reconstructed tallgrass prairie communities and were sampled concurrently in 2022. In this combined report, we describe similarities and differences among the three parks related to current vegetation and trends. Climatically, Herbert Hoover NHS and Homestead NHP have similar temperature profiles, but Homestead NHP is drier. Pipestone NM differs from the other two parks in temperature and precipitation. Long-term climatic signals for major drought events varied by park, and moisture at Herbert Hoover NHS is likely to increase with climate change. Precipitation shifts could influence vegetation trends in the future requiring action such as flood mitigations, wildfire protections during prolonged drought, and consideration for species additions to adapt to new climate profiles. Plant composition was similar for Herbert Hoover NHS and Homestead NHP while the combination of plant species and abundances at Pipestone NM was different from the other two parks, especially within the Sioux Quartzite community type. There appeared to be some compositional shifts over time for Homestead NHP. That trend was supported by greater species turnover at Homestead NHP than the other two parks. The reconstruction at Homestead NHP is older than that of Herbert Hoover NHS and possibly Pipestone NM, but we are unable to determine the underlying causes of species changes. Quality assessment procedures provided a moderate level of confidence in our data with respect to botanist agreement on identifications. We met our goal of about 80% agreement in species composition. Cover class agreement was greater than?70%, with less than 4% of observations off by more than one class. Native species richness trends varied by park. Herbert Hoover NHS continues to gain native species while Pipestone NM is losing species. Species richness at Homestead NHP did not exhibit a directional trend. Pipestone NM tended to have less cover of forbs and grasses than the other two parks, reflecting the more complex geological landscape with surface rock. Grass abundance appears to be declining from baseline years for all three parks. Grass-like and fern guilds are much less abundant in all the parks than other plant guilds. Woody plants in 2022 were similar at Herbert Hoover NHS and Homestead NHP in terms of mean cover and heterogeneity across the prairies, but tree encroachment into the grasslands is a potential concern. Pipestone NM generally had fewer woody plants (including tree seedlings) in 2022, but the amount varied through time. Canopy closure, measured for the first time in 2022, was present in all three parks, but was greatest at Homestead NHP. Nonnative plant cover was the greatest at Pipestone NM, but current abundance at Herbert Hoover NHS was greater in 2022 than baseline years. Homestead NHP consistently had little nonnative plant cover since 2005. Abundance (% cover) of two nonnative grasses of concern?Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis) and smooth brome (Bromus inermis)?differed by park and year. Recent increases in Kentucky bluegrass abundance at Herbert Hoover NHS might reflect changes in management. Although these parks have individual differences in climate as well as in timing and use of management actions, they share similar histories of cultivation and reconstruction. Efforts to restore or reconstruct portions of the prairie at Pipestone NM were unique among the three parks. Future analyses might continue to combine Herbert Hoover NHS and Homestead NHP but examine Pipestone NM separately; the unique geologic history and differences in vegetation communities at Pipestone NM may make individual assessment a better option. However, comparing trends in guilds of concern, such as woody and nonnative plants, across all three parks can be helpful for gauging success with management tools in light of regional changes in climate.

Keibul Lamjao National Park (KLNP), Loktak lake Manipur, north-east India which is one of the 25 Ramsar sites of international importance and the biggest fresh water Lake in India. Macrophytes of the floating Phumdi mat environment of KLNP play an important role in the aquatic environment. An investigation was planned during the period of about three years from March, 2010 to December 2012, to study the diversity pattern of habitats of macrophytes available in six study sites of KLNP viz., 1.Kumbi, 2.Khordak, 3.Keibul, 4.Toya, 5. Nongmaikhong and 6. Sargam. All total 85 dominant plant species were recorded. Maximum plant species (49) was observed in Site-1 Kumbi (Altitude-780m) and minimum (27) in Site-3 Keibul (Altitude-772). The variation of plant species may be because of the slight variation of altitude. As the six study sites are distributed as floating aquatic environment in KLNP Loktak Lake, there is favourable place of the plants in higher altitude and altitude represents a complex gradient along which many environmental variables change concomitantly. In all the six study sites, common distribution of ten dominant plant macrophytes viz., Ageratum conizoides, Hedychium coronarium, Leersia hexandra, Oenanthe javanica, Phragmites karka, Polygonum sagittatum, Saccharum munja, Thelypteris interrupta and Zizania latifolia was noticed. Individual dominant plant was recorded in other sites also viz., Azola piñata in site-6; Xanthium atrumarium, Polygonum orientale, Dichrocephala latifolia and Cymbopogon citratus in site-2; Arundo plinii, Cuscuta reflexa, Gnaphalium luteo-album, Hydrilla verticillata, Marsilia minuta, Saccolepis interrupta, Selvenia cuculata and Utricularia spp. in site-1. Variation of IVI value of dominant plant species was observed in this study. Even though 85 dominant plants were selected for all the 6 sites, however, maximum plant richness expressed in IVI was recorded in case of Zizania latifolia (Site-5, IVI-87.5) and minimum IVI in case of Xanthium strumarium (Site-2, IVI-1.13). The diversity pattern and habitats of macrophytes in KLNP Phumdi environment might be due to water availability along the altitudinal gradient and other environmental factors suited in the study sites and expected to be an important factor affecting the survival and fecundity of plant population. We need to conserve the natural habitat of KLNP thereby maintaining the luxuriant growth of the seasonal and perennial, macrophytes, so as to maintain the natural flora and fauna of the park. These plants are the food of man and animal therefore, it needs a proper care and attention to protect them from over exploitation. Considering the diversity pattern of habitats of Macrophytes in KLNP, a floating mat Phumdi environment with high floral diversity and unique vegetation assemblage, it has been suggested that this track and adjoining sites should be declared as ecologically sensitive area not only the World Heritage Site.

Aquatic insect diversity of a protected area, Keibul Lamjao National Park in Manipur, North East India

Natural remediation of an unremediated soil twelve years after a mine accident: Trace element mobility and plant composition

Effects of buildings on plant composition and diversity in a Mediterranean protected area

Balinsasayao Twin Lakes Natural Park (BTLNP) is one of the protected areas on the Island of Negros Oriental which is enormously rich in biodiversity due to different Lowland types formed along its elevation gradient. This study was conducted to better understand the composition and diversity of plant species in the natural park to improve conservation and management efforts of these remaining forests which are currently under threat from eco-tourism and other anthropomorphic influences. Within the 18 randomly distributed nested plots, a total of 351 species of plants were recorded. Of these, 183 species were trees, 54 herbs, 51 shrubs, 41 pteridophytes and 22 vines. The result of hierarchical cluster analysis showed differences in plant composition along the elevation gradient. There were 30 (9%) threatened species (vulnerable, endangered and critically endangered) and most of which were found in the submontane Lowland. Furthermore, the species diversity increases from lowland to sub-montane and eventually decreases towards montane Lowland. These results not only indicate the importance of BTLNP, but also highlights the submontane as a special area of concern due to the higher concentration of threatened and endemic species.

Abstract. Studies on ecological successions have a long tradition and have strongly contributed to the understanding of community assembly, niche theory, and ecosystem structure and functionality. Reports on ecological successions are however mostly restricted to one or two taxonomic groups, neglecting the mutual influences and dependencies between multiple taxonomic groups that are the building blocks of diverse communities. We introduce the Alpine research platform Ödenwinkel to promote observational and experimental research on the emergence of multidiversity and ecosystem complexity. We established n= 140 permanent plots along the successional gradient of the forefield of the Ödenwinkelkees glacier at the end of the Stubachtal valley in the Hohe Tauern range (Hohe Tauern National Park, Land Salzburg, Austria). In summer 2019 we completed a first full inventory of biotic and abiotic characteristics of these plots covering the diversity and composition of vascular plants, bryophytes, arthropods, and other animals, bacteria and fungi as well as some geomorphologic properties. In this paper we introduce the design of the research platform and show first results. While focusing on the diversity and composition of vascular plants along the successional gradient, we also provide data on the diversity of animals, bacteria, and fungi. The Ödenwinkel platform will be available as a long-term ecological research site where researchers from various disciplines can contribute to the accumulation of knowledge on ecological successions and on how interactions between various taxonomic groups structure ecological complexity in this Alpine environment.

Protected areas generally occur within a matrix of intensively human-modified landscapes. As a way to maintain the biodiversity in these areas, enclosure by fencing is often preferred. This strategy, however, is costly and little is known about the effectiveness of the alternative of unfenced borders on the vegetation and fauna. The objectives of this study are to assess whether there is a distinct difference in biodiversity and composition of plants and mammals between the protected Lake Mburo National Park and the adjacent ranchlands across an unfenced border and to determine the associations between vegetation and faunal species over the same border. We recorded herbaceous vegetation, woody vegetation, and mammal species composition in plots 300 to 500 m away from the border both inside the protected area and in the adjacent ranchlands. The species composition of herbs and mammals in the protected area differ from the adjacent ranchlands, but there is no difference for trees and shrubs. After accounting for land-use type, distance from the border did not significantly account for any additional variation. We also find a correlation between the species composition of vegetation and fauna. Our results suggest that unfenced borders around protected areas create a clear effect.

We conducted geochronologic and pollen analyses from sediment cores collected in solution holes within marl prairies of Big Cypress National Preserve to reconstruct vegetation patterns of the last few centuries and evaluate the stability and longevity of marl prairies within the greater Everglades ecosystem. Based on radiocarbon dating and pollen biostratigraphy, these cores contain sediments deposited during the last ~300 years and provide evidence for plant community composition before and after 20th century water management practices altered flow patterns throughout the Everglades. Pollen evidence indicates that pre-20th century vegetation at the sites consisted of sawgrass marshes in a peat-accumulating environment; these assemblages indicate moderate hydroperiods and water depths, comparable to those in modern sawgrass marshes of Everglades National Park. During the 20th century, vegetation changed to grass-dominated marl prairies, and calcitic sediments were deposited, indicating shortening of hydroperiods and occurrence of extended dry periods at the site. These data suggest that the presence of marl prairies at these sites is a 20th century phenomenon, resulting from hydrologic changes associated with water management practices.

Iron, copper and zinc isotopic fractionation up mammal trophic chains