Shrubland Research Articles

The extents and rates of conversions of ‘natural’ habitats are the non-linear functions of time periods in agroecosystems of west Ethiopia

The processes of habitat changes on the time continuum and their impacts on biodiversity were less understood in Afrotropical contexts. For instance, the temporal patterns of habitat conversions and the conservation implications were not well addressed. To fill this gap, we investigated the process of conversions among land use types for the period of 1973–2018 in agroecosystem of west Ethiopia. Here, we analyzed the area gains and losses as proxy measures of temporal ‘natural’ habitat changes. Accordingly, the satellite images with four resolutions were used to detect the cropland, forestland, grazing land, shrub land, bare land, and built-up land use types. Next, we analyzed the habitat dynamics by using the extents of area gains and losses and the annual rate of changes. Our results showed that the ‘natural’ habitats have been significantly decreasing due to the expansion of cropland over the past 45 years. As a result, the annual rates of change are higher for natural habitats (e.g., forest and grazing areas) when compared with that of crop land. The area gains were higher for cropland when compared with other land use types, despite the extents temporally varied. Whereas, the extents of area gains to ‘natural’ habitats (e.g., forest) from cropland, grazing land, and shrub land were much lower. Our overall results suggest that not only the habitat changes per se, but also the processes, extents, and rates of conversions need to be taken into account for effective land use planning and biodiversity conservation in tropical agroecosystems.

Spatio temporal change detection analysis of land use/land cover (LULC) using geospatial tools in the Kuzhithuraiyar sub-basin, Kodayar River, Kanniyakumari district, Tamilnadu, India


 
 
 Land use land cover (LULC) has altered dramatically because of anthropogenic activities, particularly in places where climate change and population growth are severe. The geographic information system (GIS), Global Positioning System (GPS) and Remote sensing (RS) are widely used techniques for monitoring LULC changes. This study aimed to assess the LULC changes in Kuzhithuraiyar sub basin of Kanyakumari district, Tamil Nadu, India. The satellite images of four decades, that is 1992, 2002, 2012 and 2022, are collected and worked with the help of ArcGIS and ENVI Software. The findings have been validated in the field using GPS. The sub basin is classified based on Maximum Likelihood Classification (MLC) into nine classes. They are (i) Barren land, (ii) Built-up land, (iii) Crop land, (iv) Dense forest, (v) Fallow land, (vi) Grass land, (vii) Open forest, (viii) Shrub land and (ix) Water body and the gain and loss of each classes have been mapped. Land use/land cover change has occurred due to the direct and indirect involvement of population growth. Land use changes beyond the land’s capability played a significant role in triggering land degradation. To minimize these adverse consequences of land use change, environmentally friendly management measures must be implemented. Proper land use planning is essential for a sustainable development of the study area. Hence, this study will help in future sustainable planning and management.
 
 

Laetoli, Tanzania: Extant terrestrial mollusc faunas shed new light on climate and palaeoecology at a Pliocene hominin site.

Laetoli, Tanzania is one of the most important palaeontological and palaeoanthropological localities in Africa. We report on a survey of the extant terrestrial gastropod faunas of the Laetoli-Endulen area, examine their ecological associations and re-examine the utility of Pliocene fossil molluscs in palaeoenvironmental reconstruction. Standardised collecting at 15 sites yielded 7302 individuals representing 58 mollusc species. Significant dissimilarities were found among the faunas of three broad habitat types: forest, woodland/bushland and open (grassland and scattered, xeric shrubland). Overall, more species were recorded in the woodland/bushland sites than in the forest sites. Open sites were less diverse. Environmental factors contributing most strongly to the separation of habitat types were aridity index and elevation. The results are supplemented with new mollusc data from the Mbulu Plateau south of Lake Eyasi, and compared to the list of species cumulatively recorded from the Ngorongoro area. Some regional variation is apparent and historical factors may explain the absence of some fossil taxa from Laetoli today. Differences in seasonality separated upland forest sites on the Mbulu plateau from those at Lemagurut at Laetoli. Indicator species were identified for each habitat. These included several large-bodied species analogous to the Laetoli Pliocene fossil species that were then used for palaeoenvironmental reconstruction. Based on the estimated aridity index, and adopting the widely used United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) global climate classification, the four stratigraphic subunits of the Upper Laetolil Beds (3.6-3.85 Ma) would be placed in either the UNEP's Dry Sub-humid or Semi-arid climate classes, whereas the Upper Ndolanya Beds (2.66 Ma) and Lower Laetolil Beds (3.85-<4.36 Ma) would be assigned to the Humid and Semi-arid climate classes respectively. Pliocene precipitation at Laetoli is estimated as 847-965 mm per year, refining previous estimates. This is close or slightly higher than the present mean annual precipitation, and is likely to have corresponded to a mosaic of forest, woodland and bushland within a grassland matrix consistent with other reconstructions.

The Complete Genome Sequence of Chlorophonia sclateri (Fringillidae, Passeriformes), the Puerto Rican Euphonia.

The Puerto Rican Euphonia (Chlorophonia sclateri) was recognized as an endemic species in 2023 based solely on morphological differences. A brightly plumaged finch that inhabits a variety of habitats, including lowland dry, scrub forests and shade-coffee plantations (Carlo et. al 2004). To provide molecular evidence for the genetic comparison of Antillean Euphonias, we present the whole genome sequence of Chlorophonia sclateri. Illumina paired-end reads were assembled by a de novo method followed by a finishing step. The raw and assembled data are publicly available via GenBank: Sequence Read Archive (SRR28963854) and assembled genome (JBFPDU000000000).

DIVERSITY OF DESERT VEGETATION OF THE KETPEN RIDGE

The article presents the results of many years of research into the desert vegetation of the Ketpen ridge. The paper presents an analysis of the desert vegetation of the Ketpen ridge. Within the study area, desert vegetation is represented by various communities. Communities with Artemisia stand out here, these are Artemisia terrae-albae; Salsola orientalis + Artemisia terrae albae, and Salsola orientalis + Artemisia terrae - albae + Haloxylon aphyllum associations. The total projective cover in these communities ranges from 25 to 70%, artemisia cover is 25-30%. They always include short-vegetating (Poa bulbosa, 8-10%) and long-vegetating (Stipa caucasica, 15-25%). Subshrubs include Salsola orientalis, Salsola arbusculiformis, Anabasis salsa, and Nanophyton erinaceum. Annual saltwort species are also abundant: Petrosimonia sibirica, Climacoptera brachiata, Girgensohnia oppositiflora, Climacoptera lanata. These communities are more saturated with ephemerals and ephemeroids, forming ephemeral-artemisia groups of communities. Artemisia sublessingiana + Artemisia terrae-albae stand out; Stipa caucasica + Artemisia sublessingiana + Artemisia sublessingiana; Artemisia terrae-albae + Stipa capillata; Ceratocarpus utriculosus + Artemisia terrae-albae associations. The grass herbage contains: Festuca sulcata, Poa stepposa, Poa bulbosa, Stipa caucasica; from forbs - Ceratocarpus utriculosus, C. arenaria, Climacoptera brachiata, as well as weeds and poisonous plants: Goebelia pachycarpa, Acroptilon repens, Xanthium strumarium, Urtica dioica, Atriplex tatarica and others.

Soil microbial community variation among different land use types in the agro-pastoral ecotone of northern China is likely to be caused by anthropogenic activities.

There are various types of land use in the agricultural and pastoral areas of northern China, including natural grassland and artificial grassland, scrub land, forest land and farmland, may change the soil microbial community However, the soil microbial communities in these different land use types remain poorly understood. In this study, we compared soil microbial communities in these five land use types within the agro-pastoral ecotone of northern China. Our results showed that land use has had a considerable impact on soil bacterial and fungal community structures. Bacterial diversity was highest in shrubland and lowest in natural grassland; fungal diversity was highest in woodland. Microbial network structural complexity also differed significantly among land use types. The lower complexity of artificial grassland and farmland may be a result of the high intensity of anthropogenic activities in these two land-use types, while the higher structural complexity of the shrubland and woodland networks characterised by low-intensity management may be a result of low anthropogenic disturbance. Correlation analysis of soil properties (e.g., soil physicochemical properties, soil nutrients, and microbiomass carbon and nitrogen levels) and soil microbial communities demonstrated that although microbial taxa were correlated to some extent with soil environmental factors, these factors did not sufficiently explain the microbial community differences among land use types. Understanding variability among soil microbial communities within agro-pastoral areas of northern China is critical for determining the most effective land management strategies and conserving microbial diversity at the regional level.

Morphological and physiological adaptation of a desert shrub, Encelia farinosa, under drought stress

Water scarcity in arid and semi-arid regions affects ecosystem development. Therefore, elucidation of the mechanisms by which plant species in a given region respond to drought conditions may allow us to improve global vegetation. Encelia species are drought-tolerant and an important component of shrub communities in the arid and semi-arid regions of southern California, U.S.A.; these species are widely used for vegetation restoration in the region. This study aimed to investigate the morphological, and physiological responses in E. farinosa in relation to changes in soil properties under drought conditions. Plants were subjected to two levels of soil water regimes, drought and well-watered conditions (5% and 12% of gravimetric water content, respectively). After 3 months, above-ground biomass, basal diameter, leaf area, leaf and root relative water content, and root length were measured. The shoot:root ratio in dry mass and specific leaf area (SLA) were calculated. We also analyzed leaf and soil nutrients, including total C, N, and available P. In the drought treatment, E. farinosa showed significantly lower above-ground biomass, stem diameter, and shoot and root relative water content. Also, the drought treatment resulted in significantly lower leaf areas, while the SLA and root length were significantly higher. Leaf total C and N were higher in the drought treatment while leaf P was not affected by soil water content. The reduction in plant leaf area, root elongation and the increase in SLA under drought are known as drought avoidance strategies of plants, suggesting that E. farinosa hampers water loss by morphological regulations. Additionally, higher leaf content of C and N seems to be important for metabolic drought adaptation. Further research on osmotic adjustment and antioxidant defense systems will clarify the detailed drought tolerance mechanisms of E. farinosa in relation to C and N accumulation under drought conditions.

Economic valuation of selected ecosystem services in Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT), Pakistan.

Payment for ecosystem services (PES) is a mechanism where a consumer is able and ready to pay for the protection of the precise ecosystem service and there must be a provider such as local societies receiving an economic resource, who in return, must have the ability to maintain that ecosystem service. Economic valuation provides basis for payment for ecosystem services. Therefore, objective of this study was to evaluate tourism and carbon stock services of the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT), Pakistan. Two forest zones (Chirpine and Scrub) of Islamabad capital territory (ICT) were selected for estimation of carbon stock and their carbon credits and carbon worth, a questionnaire-based survey was conducted for tourism as a payment for ecosystem services. The method for carbon stock assessment was systematic sampling for Chirpine forest whereas random sampling was done for scrub forest. The size of sampling plot was 17.84 m radius, and a total of 93 plots (49 Scrub zone and 44 Chirpine zone) was taken in the study area. The carbon stock of both zones (Chirpine and Scrub zone) is 22556.75 ton/ha (Chirpine 20105.79, Scrub 2450.96) and total carbon dioxide sequestered by both zone is 82557.72 ton/ha (Chirpine 73587.2, Scrub 8970.52), total carbon credits of both zone is 302160.87 (Chirpine 269328.97, Scrub 32831.9) and the carbon worth of both Chirpine and scrub zone is 4532418.92 $ (Chirpine 4039937.09$, Scrub 492481.83$). Similarly, from tourism point of view, in Shakar Parian, 94% tourists were agreed for PES whereas 6% were disagreed for the PES (the 6% tourist were disagreed to contribute for PES, 40% were agreed for Rs.5 contribution and 54% for Rs.10.). moreover, in Lake view Park, 97% tourists were agreed and 3% are disagreed (In Lake View Park 5% tourists were disagreed for the PES contribution whereas 32% were agreed for Rs.5 and 63% were for Rs.10). In Damen e Koh, around 87% tourist were agreed and 13% were disagreed, (24% were agreed for the contribution of Rs.5 and 63% tourists were agreed for the contribution of Rs.10). In Marghazar Zoo, 93% tourists were agreed (22% were agreed for contribution of Rs.5 and 71% tourist were agreed for contribution of Rs.10) and 7% are disagreed for PES whereas 7% tourists were not agreed for contribution. PES may implement to compensate forest and parks manager to ensure better management of the forests and parks. Due to prime location and scenic beauty of the ICT, it has huge potential for implementation of PES mechanism for sustainable forest management and conservation. Therefore, it is recommended that Capital Development Authority (CDA) Islamabad should devise a plan for implementation of PES in forests and parks of ICT for its sustainable management of recreational and forest resources.

Enumeration of ferns in dry evergreen scrub forests of Gokak, Ramdurg and Badami hills

Enumeration of ferns in dry evergreen scrub forests of Gokak, Ramdurg and Badami hills

Assessment of Land Use changes and its impact on environment in the least populous district of Haryana through Remote Sensing methods (2001-2021)

In today’s world, almost every accessible piece of land today is being utilized for some or the other purpose directly affecting human needs. Not only is the land being used intensively, but is also evolving and changing with time. The rapid and intensive changes in land use and land cover (LULC) have created the need to quantify these changes in numbers and maps, so that we can understand this information to the best use possible. Thus, this paper aims to examine Panchkula district focusing upon the relationship of land use land cover (LULC) and the consequent changes in environment. Three annual LULC maps (2001, 2011 and 2021) were prepared with the help of satellite images. The change detection showed that built-up area has increased by approximately 268% in two decades with a total area of 10261.9 ha area in 2021, thus indicating that water bodies and barren land were converted into settlement for managing the population across the district and introducing infrastructure for the same. However, the forest and river bed area has increased by 19 % and 78.02 % respectively, while agricultural land was noticed to be increased by 55.62 % with a significant increase during 2001-11 and a slight decrease after 2011. The open scrub land has increased by 56 %. Thus, the present study can help with identifying areas experiencing significant changes in ecosystems and natural resources in the district. It can also provide valuable insights into the expansion of urban areas, changes in infrastructure and the encroachment on natural and agricultural lands, thereby contributing to urban planners to understand urban growth patterns, assess the impacts and make informed decisions regarding land zoning, infrastructure development and resource allocations.

Stoichiometric patterns of assimilative branches of four dominant shrubs and the drivers in a Central Asian desert

Shrubs with assimilative branches (ABs) are unique, drought-resistant, and constructive species in temperate deserts in Central Asia. Understanding the nutrient traits and drivers of ABs are crucial to predict the response and adaptation of desert shrubs to environmental changes. Four dominant shrub species with ABs (i.e., Ephedra przewalskii, Calligonum mongolicum, Haloxylon ammodendron, and Haloxylon persicum) widely distributed in the Junggar Desert in northwestern China were selected as the research objects, and then the intra- and interspecific differences in C, N, and P stoichiometric traits, variation patterns and the drivers were comparatively explored. The ABs had lower C, N, P, and N:P, but higher C:N and C:P than leaves of most terrestrial plants worldwide. The variability of C and N:P in ABs was relatively low, whereas N, P, C:N, and C:P showed great variation. According to the theory of stoichiometric ratio, E. przewalskii and C. mongolicum were most likely limited by N, whereas H. ammodendron and H. persicum were co-limited by N and P. A common N–P scaling exponent (1.171) among the four shrubs was determined, revealing that all the four shrubs faced strong environmental stress. The intra- and interspecific stoichiometric traits exhibited different longitudinal and latitudinal patterns, and their relationships with climatic and soil factors also differed. Soil properties presented the greatest influence on E. przewalskii, whereas C. mongolicum were mainly affected by the interaction of soil properties and climate. The influencing factors on different stoichiometric traits of two saxaul species were diverse and inconsistent, and climatic, soil, and geographic factors played different roles. Consequently, during the long-term adaptation to the desert environment, the shrubs with ABs have formed unique, differentiated but partly convergent stoichiometric patterns. The results are greatly significant for deep understanding of the survival strategy of desert shrubs. In the future, researches on the anatomical structure, physiological traits, trait association of assimilative branches, and the responses to changing environment should be strengthened to comprehensively reveal the adaptation strategies of these desert shrubs.

Estimation of Water Consumption of Haloxylon ammodendron Sand-Fixing Forest in Minqin Oasis-Desert Ecotone of China Based on Leaf Index, China

In order to accurately estimate the water consumption of a Minqin desert Haloxylon ammodendron sand fixation forest, we used thermal equilibrium stem flow measurement to monitor the stem flow dynamics of Minqin desert H. ammodendron (5, 10, 15, and 20 years old, respectively, denoted as H5, H10, H15, and H20). In this study, we chose the growth index of assimilated branches (expressed as Ab in the following text) as the scalar quantity for expansion, and then estimated the water consumption of the H. ammodendron sand fixation forest by fitting the correlation between the water consumption of single H. ammodendron plants and the surface area and dry weight of single Ab. The results showed that the growth of assimilated H. ammodendron branches and the plant’s monthly water consumption were synchronized, and that the growth of Ab and water consumption were significantly higher during the fast-growth period of H. ammodendron (July) compared to during the leaf-expanding (May) and leaf-falling periods (October). After correlation analysis, it was determined that there was a linear function between the surface area and dry weight of Ab and water consumption in H. ammodendron. The simulated water consumption values (kg) of H. ammodendron sand fixation forests were greatly affected by stand density and branching configuration, and the simulated values of H. ammodendron assimilated branch growth (cm) were slightly smaller than the measured values for forests of different ages, while the simulated values of assimilated branch surface area (cm2) had a much smaller relative error (8.92%) on average. Therefore, it is feasible to use the surface area and dry weight of Ab to calculate the water consumption of H. ammodendron sand fixation forests. This can enable the reliable estimation of the water consumption of H. ammodendron forests and provide a reference for desert vegetation sand fixation afforestation and its ecological water management.

Modeling the Monthly Distribution of MODIS Active Fire Detections from a Satellite-Derived Fuel Dryness Index by Vegetation Type and Ecoregion in Mexico

The knowledge of the effects of fuel dryness on fire occurrence is critical for sound forest fire management planning, particularly in a changing climate. This study aimed to analyze the monthly distributions of MODIS active fire (AF) detections and their relationships with a fuel dryness index (FDI) based on satellite-derived weather and vegetation greenness. Monthly AF distributions showed unimodal distributions against FDI, which were described using generalized Weibull equations, fitting a total of 19 vegetation types and ecoregions analyzed in Mexico. Monthly peaks of fire activity occurred at lower FDI values (wetter fuels) in more hygrophytic ecosystems and ecoregions, such as wet tropical forests, compared to higher fire activity in higher FDI values (drier fuels) for the more arid ecosystems, such as desert shrublands. In addition, the range of fuel dryness at which most monthly fire activity occurred was wider for wetter vegetation types and regions compared to a narrower range of fuel dryness for higher monthly fire occurrence in the more arid vegetation types and ecoregions. The results from the current study contribute towards improving our understanding of the relationships between fuel dryness and fire occurrence in a variety of vegetation types and regions in Mexico.

Land use/cover change and transormations in Upper Runde Sub-catchment area in Zimbabwe

The study assessed land use/cover changes in the Upper Runnde sub-catchment in Zimbabwe between 2000 and 2020 using GIS and remote sensing techniques with the support of interviews and field observations. Faster land use/cover changes were experienced within the 2000–2010 decade when compared to the 2010–2020 decade; for instance, bare land increased by 92.1% between 2000–2010 compared to 16.5% between 2010–2020. Major land cover transformations included change from forest land to bare land, grassland and shrub land, and change from grassland to bare and shrub land to grassland. The results confirmed conversion of forests to agricultural lands and settlements following the fast-track land reform program in 2000, and livestock increase induced overgrazing as major human activities driving land cover changes. There is a need for serious attention from resource management stakeholders before depletion of critical resources like water and woodlands. Therefore, the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Water, and Rural Resettlement and the Zimbabwe National Water Authority may consider strict auditing of land uses and water resource use in catchment areas to guard against encroachment of agriculture and other land uses in protected lands and fragile ecosystems like water bodies and wetlands.

Land Use and Land Cover (LULC) Change in Eastern Areas of East Java From 1972 To 2021: Learning From Landsat Image

Urban development, population growth, high traffic jams, and intensive disaster events are indicators of changing the landscape of the eastern area of East Java. Investigating these changes is vital for planning and environmental protection in the future. This study examines changes in land use and land cover (LULC) during the past 50 years in the eastern part of East Java from 1972 to 2021. The changes are examined by contrasting four maps derived from Landsat images (1972, 1997, 2013, and 2021). The following are the main study procedures: (1) data inventory, (2) field survey, (3) image processing and classification, and (4) interpretation of LULC changes. With Google Earth Engine, all photos are downloaded (GEE). Landsat image classification was completed using the maximum likelihood algorithm with an overall Kappa accuracy of&gt;85%. Eight (8) major classifications are therefore produced by the classification: (1) the pavement or urban area (PUA); (2) heterogeneous agricultural land (HAL); (3) bare soil (BS); (4) paddy field (PF); (5) open water body (OWB); (6) vegetation/plantation (VG); (7) shrubland (SL); and (8) wetlands (WL). In the areas with rapid development, the LULC change is more pronounced, i.e., Pasuruan, Jember, and Banyuwangi Regencies. LULC change in and near mid-regency and the rural regions comes next. Over the past fifty years, regional growth has resulted in increases in PUA (+4.4 percent), PF (+12.2 percent), and VG (+17.9 percent). On the other hand, the development has decreased SL, BS, and HAL by 5.8 and 15.9 percent, respectively (-13.1 percent ). LULC alterations for human activities have profoundly altered the natural landscape. Keywords: East Java, GEE, Image Processing, Landsat, LULC

Identifying the impact of global human activities expansion on natural habitats

Human activities expansion globally has exerted tremendous pressure on natural habitats and threatens the conservation of global biodiversity. Studying the impact of human activities expansion on natural habitats globally and in various biomes can provide scientific reference for differentiated approaches to global habitat restoration. However, previous studies still lack identification of the impact of global human activities expansion on natural habitats, especially in different biomes. Here we used the InVEST model to assess the changes in habitat quality globally and across biomes over the past 20 years and analyzed the impact of human activities expansion on them using Spearman correlation coefficients. The results showed an overall global degradation of natural habitats of 0.537% during 2000–2020, while human activities increased by 10.990%. Mangroves were the biomes with the most severe habitat degradation, while deserts and xeric shrublands were the biomes with the most significant habitat restoration. At the global scale, human activities had caused significant and growing negative impact on natural habitats, while in terms of different biomes, human activities may bring about habitat restoration. The findings of this study recommend the implementation of differentiated human activities regulation measures in different biomes to promote global habitat restoration.

Study of Soil Carbon Reserves in Conservation Area in Gili Meno, North Lombok

Gili Meno is a small island located to the north of Lombok Island which is included in a conservation area with high potential as a tourist destination. As a tourist destination, there has been a conversion of green land into hotels and other tourist facilities which has led to changes in land use patterns. In order to reduce the increase in earth's surface temperature due to GHG emissions, especially CO2, CO2 mitigation efforts are needed by squesting carbon into the soil. Research on soil carbon stocks on Gili Meno has been carried out using descriptive methods with survey techniques, namely by taking soil samples in several types of land cover at two depths, namely 0-10 cm and 10-20 cm. The soil samples taken were used for analysis of c-organic and some physical characteristics of the soil. Based on the data obtained, mangrove land cover has the largest potential carbon reserves, namely 89.36 tons.ha-1, then followed by shrub land cover, then coconut plantations, and finally open land and settlements with values respectively 57, 50 ton.ha-1, 44.11 ton.ha-1, and 36.15 ton.ha-1. The high soil carbon reserves in the mangrove ecosystem compared to other land covers reflect that the carbon storage potential of mangrove land covers is better compared to other land cover types. Thus, for long-term land management, the sustainability of mengrove plants must be maintained.

Three Newly Described Species of Ziziphus from Maharashtra, India Based on Morphological and Molecular Evidence

Abstract— Three new species of Ziziphus (Rhamnaceae) from Maharashtra, India, Z. bhandarii, Z. naikii, and Z. bhansalii are described here. These species occur in isolated fragments of the Deccan thorn scrub forest ecoregion on the Deccan plateau. Their placement in Ziziphus is confirmed by molecular analyses combining nrITS and trnL-F spacer regions. Given this phylogeny is the most robust to date of Ziziphus, a previously proposed intrageneric classification was tested, and the classification was not supported suggesting a need for additional investigations in this genus. The new species are most closely related to three Indian species, Z. horrida, Z. xylopyrus, and Z. caracutta, respectively, which are morphologically similar and sympatric, and are distinguishable from known species based on several vegetative and reproductive characteristics presented here. A diagnostic key to the Ziziphus species known to occur in Maharashtra is provided.

Differentially expressed genes in Jojoba (Simmondsia chinensis) when subjected to water-stress

Jojoba (Simmondsia chinensis) is a desert shrub with an ability to survive in extremely arid environments. The exceptional drought tolerance of jojoba includes traits that could be useful in developing drought tolerant crop plants. This study characterized changes in gene expression in jojoba under water-stress during a controlled-environment experiment. A large number of transcripts (10,936) were identified as differentially expressed under contrasting water stress conditions. These included transcripts corresponding to antioxidant activity-related genes such as superoxide dismutase, defense response genes such as Pathogenesis-Related 4 (PR4), water molecule bio-channels such as aquaporins, cell membrane protectants such as Late Embryogenesis Abundant (LEA), and growth regulators such as 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC). A total of 880 novel transcripts were identified as representing possible novel genes associated with jojoba subjected to water stress. There were also many transcripts linked to transcriptional regulation that were expressed in response to water-stress in jojoba. Many male-specific transcripts corresponding to stress-related genes and transcription regulators were differentially expressed under water-stress with 1928 differentially expressed transcripts that aligned to the two Y chromosome-specific regions Y1 and Y2. The water-stress related genes detected may help explain the drought tolerance of jojoba and provide a valuable source of genes for exploitation in providing tolerance to water stress in other species.

Location of Mountain Photovoltaic Power Station Based on Fuzzy Analytic Hierarchy Process—Taking Longyang District, Baoshan City, Yunnan Province as an Example

Site selection is a key link in the early stage of constructing a photovoltaic power station and providing accurate guidance for the development of such stations. Taking Longyang District, Baoshan City, Yunnan Province, as an example, this article utilizes land-use status data from the third national land survey. The study focuses on five land-use types: idle land, bare land, shrub land, forest land, and another grassland, while excluding interfering land types such as construction land, ecological conservation areas, and cultivated land. Thirteen factors including terrain, weather, environment, and neighboring resources are considered. By employing the fuzzy analytic hierarchy process, a site selection model is constructed to analyze the suitability of photovoltaic power station locations. This study emphasizes the influence of geological disaster factors when selecting environmental factors. Given the high frequency of geological disasters in mountainous areas, these factors significantly affect the safety of later-stage photovoltaic power station operations. Previous research has paid less attention to this factor. The results indicate a high level of suitability for photovoltaic site selection in Longyang District, Baoshan City, with suitable, moderately suitable, and unsuitable areas accounting for 20.09%, 34.14%, and 45.77%, respectively. Previous studies have lacked sufficient validation of site selection outcomes. In this research, validation is conducted using areas where photovoltaic power stations have already been established and are under construction within the region. The accuracy of this site selection method is found to be 92.78%. The aim is to provide a scientific reference for site selection in mountainous areas with photovoltaic power station construction needs.