Vegetation Abundance Research Articles

Can beavers canopy alterations affect managed forests more than natural forests?

Beavers, as ecosystem engineers, significantly affect riparian ecosystems, mostly through foraging and dams construction. This study examines how beaver-related tree cutting altered canopy openness and affected microhabitats and forest floor vegetation in the Northern Poland’s Tuchola Forest. Woody plant characteristics, forest floor vegetation abundance, and canopy openness were assessed at three sites varying in forest naturalness, with canopy openness being measured using hemispherical photography. Results show that selective tree removal by beavers from all diameter classes significantly increased canopy openness. This alteration leads to transformative changes in forest habitat properties, notably increasing light availability, and to nutrient status changes as evidenced by shifts in Ellenberg indicator values. Consequently, these changes result in increased forest floor total vegetation cover, diversity and composition. The cascading effects of beaver tree-cutting on canopy alterations have been comprehensively modelled using structural equation models. The study also reveals distinct spatial patterns in canopy alterations, with the most pronounced effects near riverbanks. The intensified impact of beaver activities, could be linked to the naturalness of the forest, and might be especially pronounced in more altered environments, particularly where pioneer aspen trees dominate the tree stand composition. These findings underscore the role of beavers in shaping forest dynamics, particularly in managed or disturbed forests. By creating canopy gaps, beavers initiate processes that enhance habitat heterogeneity and biodiversity, suggesting that their presence may be crucial for the restoration of natural processes in disturbed ecosystems.

Prehistoric Cultural Migration in the Middle–Lower Lishui Catchment of Central China in Response to Environmental Changes

Climate change and geological shifts were pivotal in the survival and development of ancient human societies, especially in densely populated regions like the middle and lower Lishui River Basin. This study explored the dynamic interactions between ancient human cultures and the region’s natural environment, using field research alongside geological, geomorphological, and archaeological data spanning from the late Paleolithic to the Neolithic periods. Our findings showed that prehistoric sites in the middle and lower Lishui River Basin were primarily located in the low hilly areas surrounding the lower basin during the Paleolithic era, a pattern shaped by the region’s geomorphology. Early human settlements were strategically positioned near the Lishui River, offering access to vital resources while minimizing flood risk. These locations provided flat terrain, abundant vegetation, and materials for tool-making, factors that supported a hunting and gathering lifestyle. As the coldest phase of the last glacial period approached, the transition from the Paleolithic to the Neolithic eras marked a period of significant behavioral adaptation. In response to the harsher environment, humans began settling on lower terraces and miniaturizing their stone tools, signaling a shift to more specialized hunting techniques. This adaptability and resilience marked the refinement of hunting economies during this period. With the onset of the Holocene epoch and a warmer climate, conditions for human habitation became more favorable. Societies began migrating from the hills to the fertile lower Lishui River Basin, heralding the Neolithic period. This era saw the emergence of settlements and the onset of early rice cultivation, marking the transition from a hunting–gathering economy to one centered on agriculture. By the Daxi period, these settlements had expanded, extending their influence throughout the region. In conclusion, this study underscores the critical roles of climate change and geological features in shaping human settlement patterns, economic activities, and cultural evolution in the middle and lower Lishui River Basin. Our findings offer valuable insights into the evolutionary processes of ancient human cultures in the region and provide a foundation to understand future challenges in sustainable development.

Carotenoids as modulators of the PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway: innovative strategies in cancer therapy.

Cancer progression is primarily driven by the uncontrolled activation of cellular signaling pathways, with the PI3K/Akt/mTOR (PAMT) pathway playing a central role. This pathway significantly contributes to the proliferation and survival of cancer cells, and its hyperactivity is a major challenge in managing several types of malignancies. This article delves into the promising potential of carotenoids, natural pigments found in abundance in fruits and vegetables, as a novel therapeutic strategy for cancer treatment. By specifically targeting and inhibiting the PAMT pathway, carotenoids may effectively disrupt the growth and survival of cancer cells. The article examines the complex mechanisms underlying these interactions and highlights the obstacles faced in cancer treatment. It proposes a compelling approach to developing therapies that leverage natural products to target this critical pathway, offering a fresh perspective on cancer treatment. Further research is essential to enhance the therapeutic efficacy of these compounds.

Lake sediments on the Adamawa Plateau (Central Cameroon) as archives of climate change and the Bantu impact during the last 4000 years BP

AbstractThis study investigates Late Holocene environmental changes in Central Cameroon induced by the combined effects of climate and human impact. For this purpose, sediments from lakes Dang, Massote, Fonjak and Ngaoundaba were studied through lithologic analysis including mineralogical composition and organic geochemistry combined with radiocarbon dates. From these analyses, the sediments at the base of lakes Massote and Dang cores are respectively dated to 4680–3530 and 4220–3580 cal yr BP, whereas the sediments of lakes Fonjak and Ngaoundaba seem to be younger, respectively dated to 3210–3000 and 1870–1740 cal yr BP. Lake sedimentation is dominated by organic matter (OM) poor deposits (OM < 3%) in the lower sections and OM-rich deposits (OM: 5–54%) in the upper sections. This shift from OM-poor to OM-rich sedimentation induced by climate variations occurred at $$\sim $$ ∼ 2800–2400 cal yr BP. The mineral assemblage is predominantly composed of kaolinite with minor contributions from chlorite, smectite, chlorite/smectite, illite/smectite, quartz, K-feldspar, gibbsite, plagioclase, siderite, hematite and goethite. These sediments are clastic, except for Lake Fonjak core sediments which correspond to peat intercalated with carbonate clay and clastic deposits. Age-depth models suggest that the sedimentation rate was 0.2 mm yr-1 for lakes Dang and Massote before $$\sim $$ ∼ 690–560 cal yr BP and $$\sim $$ ∼ 660–470 cal yr BP, respectively. Thereafter, it increased to 0.8 mm yr-1 in Lake Dang and 0.7 mm yr-1 in Lake Massote. Finally, Late Holocene environment changes in Central Cameroon consisted of the shift of open water lakes to marshy fringes with abundant vegetation induced by human activities and facilitated by increasing seasonality.

Vegetation cover in outdoor enclosures reduces feather pecking in farm-reared red-legged partridges (Alectoris rufa)

Feather pecking is a major problem in intensively reared birds, leading to welfare issues, chronic stress and economic losses. Despite the ample literature on how to improve the living conditions in the poultry industry, very little attention has been paid to gamebird species. The red-legged partridge (Alectoris rufa) plays a crucial role in the ecosystems of the Iberian Peninsula and also holds significant socio-economic importance in rural areas, as it is the primary species for small game hunting. Our aim was to experimentally test whether improved housing conditions with abundant natural vegetation cover reduce feather pecking and enhance body condition and growth in red-legged partridges. For two years, we compared the degree of feather pecking in red-legged partridges raised in two types of enclosures: a) in the absence of vegetation and b) with abundant natural vegetation. We also took morphometric measures (body weight and tarsus length) of the birds. We found that feather pecking varied both according to vegetation cover and bird age. Chicks aged between 42 and 67 days old exhibited a higher degree of feather pecking than adults. Vegetation cover reduced feather pecking in adults in one of the years of study and in chicks in the other. Additionally, we also found partial support that the presence of vegetation can improve body condition, as during one year, chicks raised in enclosures with vegetation were marginally heavier than those raised without vegetation. These findings suggest that the presence of vegetation might be a contributing factor in mitigating the development of abnormal behaviours in captive red-legged partridges. Future studies are necessary to evaluate what additional measures can be implemented to enhance the effectiveness of a vegetation enriched environment. Additionally, future studies should aim to investigate the effects vegetation cover in aviaries on other parameters relevant to the welfare of these birds, such as the physiological stress response and other specific behavioural traits.

Long-term Holocene warming trend in Southern China revealed by corrected pollen data

Holocene temperature changes and their forcings serve as pivotal references for current and future warming trends. However, significant discrepancies exist between proxy reconstructions and model simulations of Holocene temperature evolution. Pollen evidence, often central to these discrepancies, have been criticized for potentially reflecting human influence rather than pure temperature variations, complicating our understanding of Holocene temperature changes. Our study focuses on southern China, a region with pronounced discrepancies between models and proxies. We introduce and validate a novel methodology to isolate genuine temperature signals from pollen data. This approach employs an arboreal pollen-based temperature index and correct biases inherent in raw pollen data using the Regional Estimates of Vegetation Abundance from Large Sites (REVEALS) model. Applying this method, we present a new winter/annual temperature record for the past 10,000 years based on two fossil pollen data from the Luoxiao Mountains. Simultaneously, we reconstruct the historical impact of human activities in the region. Our temperature records reveal a sustained warming trend during the Holocene, closely matching model-simulated mean annual temperatures (R = 0.97), and temperature reconstructions based on branched glycerol dialkyl glycerol tetraethers from regional terrestrial and marine archives. In contrast, uncorrected pollen data indicate a cooling trend during the late Holocene, coinciding with significant human impact since approximately 3 ka BP. Our analysis and regional comparison with existing temperature records indicate that such contrasting temperature trends stem from a human-induced cooling bias, particularly pronounced in uncorrected pollen data. We infer that the early to middle Holocene warming was due to various factors, while late Holocene warming was predominantly driven by local annual insolation changes. Our findings challenge previously widely identified late-Holocene cooling trends based on uncorrected pollen data, demonstrating that the correction of pollen data can effectively mitigate human-induced cooling biases in temperature reconstructions. This study confirms the accuracy of climate models in simulating a Holocene warming trend, both temporally and spatially, at least in southern China.

The combined nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizer application reduced soil multifunctionality in Qinghai-Tibet plateau grasslands, China

The impact of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) fertilizer inputs on soil nutrient cycling and ecological function processes has garnered significant attention. Soil multifunctionality primarily refers to the soil's ability to perform multiple functions simultaneously, particularly the functions related to the genes involved in carbon (C), nitrogen (N), and phosphorus (P) cycles, which are critical for ecosystem sustainability. Despite this, the effects of N and P fertilizers on the expression of genes involved in soil carbon (C), nitrogen (N), and phosphorus (P) cycles, and their consequent influence on soil multifunctionality, remain unclear. To investigate this, we conducted a long-term nine-year experiment. The experimental site was fenced to prevent grazing and included four treatments: Control (no fertilizer), N (10 g N m−2 y−1, urea), P (5 g P m−2 y−1, Ca(H2PO4)2), and NP (10 g N and 5 g P m−2 y−1, urea and Ca(H2PO4)2). We examined the effects of these treatments on soil microbial functional gene abundance and multifunctionality. Our findings revealed that N addition altered the composition of soil microbial functional genes but did not affect functional diversity. Both N and P inputs, as well as their combination, negatively impacted soil carbon fixation and the genes encoding enzymes for the degradation of starch, hemicellulose, cellulose, and chitin. N input also disrupted soil nitrogen and phosphorus cycling by inhibiting the expression of soil denitrification genes (nirS and nosZ), phytate hydrolase gene (cphy), and a phosphatase gene (phoD). Additionally, P input significantly inhibited functional genes involved in soil nitrification, denitrification, ammonification, nitrogen fixation, and ammonia oxidation processes. It also adversely affected phytate synthesis and degradation. The combined N and P inputs had a substantial negative impact on soil nitrification (hao), denitrification (narG, nirK, nirS, and norZ), ammonification (gdh), nitrogen fixation, annamox, and nitrogen reduction, and inhibited the expression of soil phosphorus cycle genes. Long-term phosphorus application was found to have a more detrimental effect on soil multifunctionality compared to nitrogen application. Furthermore, our study showed that vegetation diversity and abundance are crucial drivers of soil carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus cycling functional genes and multifunctionality. We concluded that N and P inputs alter soil multifunctionality by influencing vegetation diversity; therefore, maintaining vegetation diversity is essential for sustaining soil multifunctionality.

The microclimatic effects of the native shrub Ephedra californica (Mormon tea) in California drylands.

The impacts of climate change can be profound in many ecosystems worldwide, including drylands such as arid and semi-arid scrublands and grasslands. Foundation plants such as shrubs can provide microclimatic refuges for a variety of taxa. These shrubs can directly influence micro6 environmental measures, and indirectly increase the local environmental heterogeneity as a result. We examined the hypothesis that, in comparison to an open gap, foundation shrubs improve the microclimate beneath their canopy and that microclimate is in turn a significant predictor of annual vegetation. The following predictions were made: 1) mean air temperature (NSAT), ground temperature (SGT), and vapour pressure deficit (VPD) will be significantly lower under the shrubs than in the open microsites; 2) shrub canopy size predicts microclimate; 3) site-level aridity estimates and percent shrub cover influence annual plant abundance and richness; and 4) the site13 level mean of NSAT and VPD predict annual plant abundance and richness. Our study took place in Southwestern California, U.S.A. We used a handheld device with a probe to measure microclimatic variables such as near-surface air temperature (NSAT), near-surface relative humidity (NSRH), and surface ground temperature (SGT) at the shrub species Ephedra californica and in the open gap, across six sites in California, United States. Air temperature and RH were then used to calculate VPD. The mean number of vascular plant species across each site was also recorded. Only SGT was significantly reduced under shrub canopies. Canopy volume was not a significant predictor of all three microclimatic variables, demonstrating that even small, low-stature shrubs can have facilitative effects. Furthermore, total shrub cover and aridity at sites significantly predicted mean plant richness and abundance. There were significantly more plants associated with shrubs and there were significantly more species associated with the open. Mean air temperature and VPD at the site-level significantly predicted vegetation abundance and richness, though microsite-level differences were only significant for richness. Foundation shrubs are a focal point of resiliency in dryland ecosystems. Understanding their impact on microclimate can inform us of better management, conservation, and restoration frameworks.

Nutrient ratios, foliar vector analysis, and nutrient use efficiency of four conifer stands growing under contrasting competing vegetation control treatments in the Pacific Northwest of the United States

This study investigates competing vegetation effects on foliar and total plant-derived nutrient ratios, nutrient use efficiency (NUE), and foliar nutrient content and concentration of ecosystem components using vector analysis for 19-year-old Douglas-fir ( Pseudotsuga menzeisii (Mirb.) Franco), western hemlock ( Tsuga hereophylla (Raf.) Sarg.), western redcedar ( Thuja plicata Donn ex D. Don), and grand fir ( Abies grandis (Dougl.) Lindl.) stands in Oregon's Coast Range and for Douglas-fir and western redcedar in Oregon's Cascade foothills. Treatments included the Control, which received no spring release herbicide applications, and vegetation management (VM), which received 5 years of spring release herbicide applications, reducing competing vegetation abundance. VM increased the NUE of N, P, Mg, S, and Cu across all species when calculated with total plant-derived carbon and of all nutrients when calculated with stemwood carbon. VM often produced more harvestable and plant-derived carbon per unit nutrient fixed, improving the NUE of stands managed for carbon sequestration and timber. Species showed different stand nutrient requirements, evident through foliar and plant-derived nutrient ratios and their relationship with biomass production. Grand fir may obtain larger biomass increments for a given P:N ratio in plant-derived tissue and may be efficient in P-limited Coast Range sites.

Responses of Climatic Drought to Vegetation Cover Dynamics: A Case Study in Yunnan, China

Vegetation cover can regulate regional climate and associated dry–wet variations. However, the effects of the quantitative structure and landscape pattern of vegetation cover on climatic drought remain unclear. Yunnan Province in China, with its abundant vegetation resources, provides a good setting for addressing this research gap. Our objective is to provide guiding recommendations for climate-warming mitigation through the study of the topic. This study adopted four periods of vegetation cover data, from 1992 to 2020, and explored their dynamics. Monthly average precipitation and temperature data from 125 meteorological stations in Yunnan were used to calculate standardized precipitation–evapotranspiration index (SPEI) for 1992–2020 to understand the responses of climatic drought to vegetation cover dynamics. The correlations between quantitative structure, landscape pattern, and climatic drought were investigated by Pearson’s correlation coefficient in 10 km, 20 km, 30 km, and 40 km grid cells, respectively. The results indicate that changes in the quantitative structure of vegetation could influence regional climates, with the contributions to climatic drought mitigation ranked in the following order: broad-leaved forest > shrubland > needle-leaved forest > cropland > grassland. Landscape patterns significantly affected local climates, where broad-leaved and needle-leaved forests had the strongest and most stable correlations with climatic drought, whereas shrubland and grassland showed weaker correlations. The correlations between landscape patterns and climatic drought were stronger during the dry season than the rainy season. Factors such as the landscape dominance index, fragmentation index, and aggregation index had a significant impact on climatic drought. The dominant and aggregated-distribution broad-leaved forests were conducive to climatic drought mitigation, while needle-leaved forests, croplands, and grasslands might exacerbate climatic drought.

Climbing route development affects cliff vascular plants more than subsequent climbing: A guide to evidence‐based conservation management to regulate climbing

Abstract Cliff ecosystems provide refuge to 35%–66% of the world's endemic plants. However, they face growing threats from sport climbing. Evidence suggests that unclimbed cliffs harbour approximately twice the plant richness compared with climbed cliffs, with increasing impact as climbing intensity increases. Unfortunately, it remains unknown whether the climbing impact on cliff vegetation originates from the development (opening) of climbing routes or from temporal changes resulting from subsequent climbing. We recorded cliff vascular plants and lichens at the protected natural area of El Potrero Chico (Mexico) before and after the development of new climbing routes. Subsequently, we re‐recorded the routes at sequential timepoints after 10, 20, and 30 ascents. Additionally, we examined whether the abundance of cliff vegetation influences the extent of climbing impact and whether the surroundings of the routes were also affected. We found that the opening of climbing routes exerted the strongest negative effects on cliff plants, reducing species richness by 38%, while subsequent ascents generated a minimal impact. Worryingly, route opening affected not only species richness in the route itself but also the surroundings of the routes. After 30 ascents, cliff plant abundance decreased by 60.6% within the bolted routes, whereas it decreased by 42.3% in the surroundings. However, this impact depended on the original cliff vegetation abundance. Lichen cover showed a gradual decrease, indicating that cliff‐dwelling lichens are affected not only by the opening of the route but also by subsequent ascents. Synthesis and applications: Given the almost non‐existent regulation of outdoor climbing activities in most countries, we urge the implementation of a conservation management protocol that defines clear strategies to regulate climbing activities and preserve pristine cliffs. On yet unclimbed cliffs with narrow endemic, rare, or threatened species, we propose banning the establishment of new climbing areas. On climbed cliffs lacking protected species, dynamic management actions should be implemented, such as setting a maximum number of routes that can be established and defining limits of acceptable change as climbing intensity increases. The proposed conservation management should help to halt the loss of unique cliff biodiversity and safeguard pristine cliff ecosystems.

Rainfall interception in temperate evergreen broadleaved forest and Japanese cypress plantation with abundant lower-layer vegetation in south-west Japan

ABSTRACT The interception of rainfall in conifer plantations has been intensively studied. However, research on broadleaved forests is limited, although the broadleaved forests dominate approximately half of forest area in Japan. Here, we compared the throughfall and stemflow of each vegetation layer to clarify interception in a naturally regenerated temperate evergreen broadleaved forest (lucidophyllous forest) and a Japanese cypress plantation over a three-year period. Both forests were approximately 100 years old and had abundant lower-layer vegetation. We found that approximately a quarter of rainfall was intercepted in both forests, although the half of that interception in the Japanese cypress plantation was owing to the abundant lower-layer vegetation. This indicated that the interception in the evergreen broadleaved forest was twice that of the Japanese cypress upper canopy. The well-developed layer structure in the evergreen broadleaved forest efficiently intercepted rainfall. From the point of view of water resource management, this study implies that both evergreen broadleaved forests and Japanese cypress plantations with abundant lower-layer vegetation can decrease the amount of water infiltrating soils.

Cold and Wet Island Effect in Mountainous Areas: A Case Study of the Maxian Mountains, Northwest China

The Maxian Mountains, characterized by high altitudes and abundant vegetation, create a cooler and more humid environment compared to the surrounding areas, and are highly susceptible to climate change. In order to study the cold and wet island effects in the Maxian Mountains, air temperature and relative humidity (RH) were analyzed using meteorological station data. Additionally, spatial variations were examined by retrieving Land Surface Temperature (LST) and the Temperature Vegetation Dryness Index (TVDI) from 2001 to 2021. The most pronounced cold island effect was observed in the mountainous area during summer, mainly in May and July. The most significant wet island effect was observed from March to May, with an average relative humidity difference of 24.72%. The cold island area index, as an indicator of the cold island effect, revealed an increasing trend in the summer cold island effect in recent years. The cooling intensity ranged from 5 to 10 °C, with variations observed between 500 and 1000 m. A 30% increase in wet island effects in summer was observed, with a humidification intensity within a range of 500 m. Geodetector analysis identified vegetation cover as the primary factor affecting the thermal environment in mountainous areas. The increase in vegetation in mountainous areas was identified as the main reason for enhancing the cold and wet island effects. The findings emphasize the role of vegetation in enhancing cold and wet island effects, which is crucial for understanding and preserving mountainous regions.

Modelled Vegetation Structure and Abundance Confirms African Savannah Elephant‐Induced Damage Across Space in a Dry Protected Area With Diverse Vegetation

ABSTRACTThe African savannah elephant (Loxodonta africana) is an ecosystem engineer essential in determining the structure and vegetation abundance in mesic dry protected areas such as the Mana Pools National Park (MNP) in Zimbabwe. Understanding the interactions between elephants and vegetation structure is essential for effective conservation and management of savannah ecosystems. Conservation efforts often aim to balance elephant populations with the carrying capacity of their habitats to ensure the sustainability of both flora and fauna within protected areas. Therefore understanding how African savannah elephants influence vegetation structure, abundance and damage is critical for adaptive ecosystem management and wildlife conservation in mesic savannah ecosystems. This study assessed: (i) vegetation structure, (ii) abundance and (iii) evidence of elephant‐induced vegetation damage near a distance gradient to water points in MNP. A generalised linear model (GLM) was used to investigate the relationship between vegetation aspects that is structure, abundance and evidence of damage with distance from water sources. In the mesic protected MNP where African savannah elephants predominate, the modelled vegetation shape, abundance and damage exhibit spatial differences on a distant gradient towards water sources (χ2, p < 0.05). There is need for implementation of comparably, less costly, homogenous conservation measures for African savannah elephants across the artificial water pans in the MNP.

High-resolution Standardized Precipitation Evapotranspiration Index (SPEI) reveals trends in drought and vegetation water availability in China

Understanding vegetation water availability can be important for managing vegetation and combating climate change. Changes in vegetation water availability throughout China remains poorly understood, especially at a high spatial resolution. Standardized Precipitation Evapotranspiration Index (SPEI) is an ideal water availability index for assessing the spatiotemporal characteristics of drought and investigating the vegetation-water availability relationship. However, no high-resolution and long-term SPEI datasets over China are available. To fill this gap, we developed a new model based on machine learning to obtain high-resolution (1 km) SPEI data by combining climate variables with topographical and geographical features. Here, we analyzed the long-term drought over the past century (1901–2020) and vegetation-water availability relationship in the past two decades (2000–2020). The century-long drought trend analyses indicated an overall drying trend across China with increasing drought frequency, duration, and severity during the past century. We found that drought events in 1901–1961 showed a larger increase than that in 1961–2020, with the Tibetan Plateau showing a significant drying trend during 1901–1960 but a wetting trend during 1961–2020. There were 13.90% and 28.21% of vegetation in China showing water deficit and water surplus respectively during 2000–2020. The water deficit area significantly shrank from 2000 to 2020 across China, which is dominated by the significant decrease in water deficit areas in South China. Among temperature, precipitation, and vegetation abundance (LAI), temperature is the most important factor for the vegetation-water availability dynamics in China over the past two decades, with high temperature contributing to water deficit. Our findings are important for water and vegetation management under a warming climate.

Qualitative and Quantitative Analysis of Lecithin Content and Bioactive Chemical Compenents of Corn Oil From Dompu District

Indonesia is one of the Asian nations that has an abundance of vegetation that can be utilized as food yields and medication. One of the plants that can be utilized as neighborhood food is the Corn plant (Zea mays L.), corn is one kind of food crop that has for some time been known and developed. Dompu Regency, located in the province of West Nusa Tenggara, is one of the largest corn producers in Indonesia. From this statement, a revolution is needed for the development of the food industry sector, namely the development of processed products from corn raw materials, namely corn oil. Corn oil extraction is carried out by the Maceration Method, a simple extraction process carried out by soaking the simplicia in a solvent for a certain time at room temperature and protected from light. Development in finding the percentage level (%) of lecithin LC-HRMS (Liquid Choromatography High-Resulution Mass Spectrometry), Among the Compounds: Percentage level (%) of bioactive lecithin compounds from major (main) components: 1-[(11Z)-octadecenoyl]-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (C26H52NO7P) = 8.882%, 1-Linoleoyl-2-Hydroxy-sn-glycero-3-PC (C26H50NO7P) = 6.874%, 1 Palmitoy-Phospadicholine (C24H50NO7P) = 1.898%, 1-Oleoyl-2-hydroxy-sn-glycero-3-PE (C23H46NO7P) = 1.161%, 2-monolinolenin (C21H36O4) = 0.577, (2R)-2-Hydroxy-3-(phosphonooxy)propyl (11Z,14E)-11,14-icosadienoate (C23H43O7P) = 0.386 %, 1-Stearoylglycerol (C21H42O4) = 0.072.

Abundance, diversity and composition of understory plants along the altitudinal gradient and dominant overstory composition types in the temperate Himalayan region

IntroductionThe Indian Himalayan forests are remarkable landforms experiencing tremendous climatic variation, constituting complex and diversified ecosystems with prominent vegetation zones. Despite their global significance and substantial research efforts focused on plant diversity in the temperate Himalayan region, only a few studies have explicitly assessed the distribution patterns of understory vegetation in relation to forest compositional types along altitudinal gradients.MethodsTo cover a wide range of altitudes and diverse overstory compositions, stands were sampled across four altitudinal ranges from 1500 to 3500 meters above mean sea level with increments of 500 meters in elevation steps. The overstory compositions were classified on the basis of dominant tree species in each stand on the similar sites. Vegetation in the shrub and ground layers was surveyed by visually estimating the percentage coverage within circular plots.ResultsA total of 99 understory species including 37 species each in the shrub layer, 62 species in the herb layer vegetation were recorded. The abundance, species diversity and composition of understory vegetation differed significantly along the altitudinal gradient and dominant overstory composition types. Moreover, distinct understory vegetation communities were observed at lower elevations compared to higher elevations, with middle elevations exhibiting intermediate vegetation characteristics. The study also highlighted the importance of dominant overstory composition types in shaping the pattern of understory vegetation abundance, species diversity and composition in the temperate Himalayan region. The higher resource conditions associated with broadleaved stands supported higher understory species abundance at lower elevations, while the heterogeneous conditions induced by the mixedwood stands promoted higher understory species diversity.ConclusionThe hump shaped pattern along the altitudinal gradient appeared to be the most dominant pattern of plant abundance and species diversity and call for more conservation concern towards the middle elevation zones in the temperate Himalayan region. Furthermore, the management interventions should aim at maintaining diverse range of overstory composition types for conserving biodiversity and their ecological functions in the temperate Himalayan region.

Application of Quercetin and its Novel Formulations in the Treatment of Malignancies of Central Nervous System: An Updated Review of Current Evidence based on Molecular Mechanisms.

Quercetin, a naturally occurring polyphenolic compound found in abundance in vegetables and fruits, has emerged as a compelling subject of study in cancer treatment. This comprehensive review delves into the significance and originality of quercetin's multifaceted mechanisms of action, with a particular focus on its application in various brain tumors such as glioblastoma, glioma, neuroblastoma, astrocytoma, and medulloblastoma. This review scrutinizes the distinctive facets of quercetin's anti-cancer properties, highlighting its capacity to modulate intricate signaling pathways, trigger apoptosis, impede cell migration, and enhance radiosensitivity in brain tumor cells. Significantly, it synthesizes recent research findings, providing insights into potential structure-activity relationships that hold promise for developing novel quercetin derivatives with heightened effectiveness. By unraveling the unique attributes of quercetin's anti-brain tumor effects and exploring its untapped potential in combination therapies, this review contributes to a deeper comprehension of quercetin's role as a prospective candidate for advancing innovative treatments for brain cancer.

Low-intensity urbanisation alters community composition across multiple trophic levels on Lipsi Island, Greece.

Urbanisation has reduced the abundance and diversity of many taxonomic groups, and the effects may be more pronounced on islands, which have a smaller regional species pool to compensate. Green spaces within urban environments may help to safeguard wildlife assemblages, and the associated habitat heterogeneity can even increase species diversity. Here, total abundance and species diversity of butterflies, birds, and vegetation at nine rural and nine urban locations were quantified on Lipsi Island, Greece. Sites were assessed using Pollard walks for butterflies, point-count surveys for birds, and quadrats for vegetation. There was no significant difference in the abundance or species diversity of butterflies or vegetation among rural and urban locations, which could pertain to the low building density within urbanised areas and the minimal extent of urbanisation on the island. However, urban areas hosted a significantly greater abundance, richness, and diversity of birds compared to rural sites. The community composition of butterflies, birds, and vegetation also differed significantly between urban and rural locations, highlighting the impact of urbanisation on species across a broad range of trophic groups. This study contributes to ecological knowledge on the impacts of urbanisation across multiple trophic levels in island ecosystems, with comparisons across a gradient of island size and urbanisation intensity needed in future research.

Spectroscopic Phenological Characterization of Mangrove Communities

Spaceborne spectroscopic imaging offers the potential to improve our understanding of biodiversity and ecosystem services, particularly for challenging and rich environments like mangroves. Understanding the signals present in large volumes of high-dimensional spectroscopic observations of vegetation communities requires the characterization of seasonal phenology and response to environmental conditions. This analysis leverages both spectroscopic and phenological information to characterize vegetation communities in the Sundarban riverine mangrove forest of the Ganges–Brahmaputra delta. Parallel analyses of surface reflectance spectra from NASA’s EMIT imaging spectrometer and MODIS vegetation abundance time series (2000–2022) reveal the spectroscopic and phenological diversity of the Sundarban mangrove communities. A comparison of spectral and temporal feature spaces rendered with low-order principal components and 3D embeddings from Uniform Manifold Approximation and Projection (UMAP) reveals similar structures with multiple spectral and temporal endmembers and multiple internal amplitude continua for both EMIT reflectance and MODIS Enhanced Vegetation Index (EVI) phenology. The spectral and temporal feature spaces of the Sundarban represent independent observations sharing a common structure that is driven by the physical processes controlling tree canopy spectral properties and their temporal evolution. Spectral and phenological endmembers reside at the peripheries of the mangrove forest with multiple outward gradients in amplitude of reflectance and phenology within the forest. Longitudinal gradients of both phenology and reflectance amplitude coincide with LiDAR-derived gradients in tree canopy height and sub-canopy ground elevation, suggesting the influence of surface hydrology and sediment deposition. RGB composite maps of both linear (PC) and nonlinear (UMAP) 3D feature spaces reveal a strong contrast between the phenological and spectroscopic diversity of the eastern Sundarban and the less diverse western Sundarban.