Eastern Forests Research Articles

Physicochemical properties, nutritional value, and antioxidant potential of jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus) pulp and seeds from Cameroon eastern forests.

This work aimed to study the physicochemical, nutritional, and antioxidant characteristics of the pulp and seeds of the jackfruit collected in the East Cameroon region to reduce the malnutrition problems encountered in the said region. To achieve this work, we first administered a survey. We observed that 50 people from Bertoua knew the fruit among the 200 people surveyed. After that, the physicochemical characteristics and nutritional value of Artocarpus heterophyllus pulp and seeds from Bertoua were evaluated. Finally, the antioxidant compounds (total phenolic and flavonoid contents) and the antioxidant activities were evaluated through the DPPH free radical scavenging capacity, the ability to reduce ferric ions, and the hydroxyl radical scavenging ability using the aqueous, ethanolic, and hydro-ethanolic extracts of these samples (pulp and seeds). Results (means ± standard deviation) were obtained in triplicate and analyzed statistically by the analysis of variance (ANOVA) at the 0.05 probability level. The results revealed that the jackfruit pulp has a water content (89.85% ± 0.49) significantly higher than that of seeds (60.075% ± 0.12). The pH of jackfruit pulp (5 ± 0) is significantly lower than that of seeds (6 ± 0). Jackfruit pulp had a carbohydrate content (54.39% ± 0.47) significantly higher than that of seeds (49.01% ± 0.43). The protein content of jackfruit pulp (18.35% ± 0.04) is lower than that of the seeds (21.66% ± 0.31). For mineral content, the maximum contents of K (848 mg/100 g ± 10.34) and Na (69.53 mg/100 g ± 0) were identified in the jackfruit pulp while those of Ca (132 mg/100 g ± 9.42), Mg (43.73 mg/100 g ± 9.12), and P (101.51 mg/100 g ± 4.02) were found in the seeds. However, all extracts possessed both antioxidant compounds (phenols and flavonoids) and antioxidant activities. In conclusion, the jackfruit appears to be a fruit that can improve the nutritional status of the populations of eastern Cameroon.

Ефективність післясходових гербіцидів залежно від строків застосування в посівах сої в Східному Лісостепу України

Goal. To determine the influence of the timing of application of multi-component postemergence herbicides on crop weediness, yield, and quality of soybean seeds in the conditions of the Eastern Forest Steppe of Ukraine. Methods. Field, weighing, statistical, analytical. Results. According to the results of research in 2017–2019, 15 types of weeds, represented by 4 agrobiological groups — early spring weeds, late spring weeds, biennials, and rhizomes — were found in soybean crops in the conditions of the Eastern Forest Steppe of Ukraine. Cereal annual weeds were dominated by number, and dicotyledonous annual weeds by raw mass. It was established that against the background of the use of anti-dicotyledons drug with the active substance bentazon + acifluorfen (in the phases of primordial leaves, 2 and 4 ternate leaves of soybeans) with a graminicide based on hyzalofop-P-ethyl (in the phase of 5 ternate leaves of soybeans), the technical efficiency of these combinations concerning the total weediness of soybean crops was, respectively: in terms of quantity at the beginning of the growing season — 65.7; 65.0 and 48.8%; by the amount at the end of vegetation — 88.6; 88.0 and 67.5%; by raw mass at the end of the growing season — 86.3; 83.9 and 62.4%. When applying the herbicide with the active substance imazetapir + propakhizafop in the phase of primordial leaves and 2-3 ternate leaves of soybean, the technical effectiveness of the effect on the total weediness of the crops was 81.7 and 58.9%, respectively, at the beginning of the growing season, and 82, 1 and 58.8% — at the end, by raw mass at the end of the growing season — 68.3 and 55.2%. The greatest increase in the yield of soybean seeds was provided by the combination of the herbicide with the active substance bentazon + acifluorfen (primordial soybean leaves) with the drug based on hyzalofop-P-ethyl (5 ternate soybean leaves) — 0.29 t/ha, or 33%, the smallest was provided by the application of the drug with the active substance imazetapir + propakhizafop in the phase of 2–3 ternate soybean leaves (0.12 t/ha, or 13%). In almost all options, with the application of herbicides, the increased collection of protein (by 0.06–0.08 t/ha) and oil (by 0.03–0.04 t/ha) was fixed. Conclusions. The use of anti-dicotyledons herbicide with the active ingredient bentazon + acifluorfen (in the phase of primordial soybean leaves) with a graminicide based on hyzalofop-P-ethyl (in the phase of 5 ternate soybean leaves) is promising for effective control of weeds in crops and ensuring an increase in the yield of soybean seeds in the conditions of the Eastern Forest Steppe of Ukraine.

Nature as a symbiotic edge of humanity: eco-critical reading of Armah’s The Healers

In his historical novel, The Healers, Ayi Kwei Armah correlates elements of the fictional settings of Esuano and the Eastern Forest, with different phases of social communication. The binary settings and their elements mirror the symbiotic character of the relationship that ought to exist between humans and nature. Armah employs symbolic, temporal and cultural codes reflective of African tradition and indigenous values through natural representation in the text as communicative properties. Eco-critical theory guides this study to explore the relationship that exists between humans and the natural world. Principles from eco-criticism are explored with a focus on Armah’s creation of groups in the Eastern Forest and rivers as emblems of the divine with particular powers, in contrast to what Esuano represents to these groups. In this novel, Esuano is associated with manipulation, while the Eastern Forest is the site for inspiration and healing.

Soil herbicides in sunflower crops in the Eastern Forest-Steppe of Ukraine

Goal. To determine the influence of soil herbicides with different active substances on crop weediness and sunflower seed yield in the conditions of the Eastern Forest Steppe of Ukraine.
 Methods. Field, measuring and weighting, and statistical.
 Results. In 2019, with 13 mm of precipitation in the first period after applying soil herbicides, the effectiveness of herbicides in reducing the number and raw mass of weeds in sunflower crops was 60% and 45%, respectively, and in 2021 with 81 mm of precipitation, it was 89% and 95%. In 2021, there was phytotoxic suppression of culture plants by Kharnes, e.c. (acetochlor, 900 g/l), 2.5 l/ha. Despite this, Kharnes was the most effective in controlling the total number of weeds (91% and 96% for the first and second counts, respectively) and their raw mass (95%). Other preparations provided the following indicators: Proponit 720, EC (propisochlor, 720 g/l), 3.0 l/ ha (by quantity — 84% and 90%, by weight — 84%); Selefit, SC (promethrin, 500 g/l), 4.0 l/ha (by quantity — 79% and 81%, by weight — 70%); Prymekstra TZ Hold 500 SC (S-metolachlor, 312.5 g/l + terbuthylazine, 187.5 g/l), 4.5 l/ha (by quantity — 68% and 73%, by weight — 66%); Stomp 330, e.c. (pendimethalin, 330 g/l), 5.0 l/ha (by quantity — 51% and 63%, by weight — 60%); Komandyr, EC (clomazon, 480 g/l), 0.15 l/ha (26% and 52% by quantity, 37% by weight). Ambrosia artemisiifolia L. was resistant to the above soil herbicides. It was established that sunflower is a powerful competitor in agrophytocenosis. Its share in the total raw mass of agrophytocenosis, depending on the period of accounting, was from 65.8 to 82.0%, and in dry mass — from 61.8 to 80.2%. In addition, it was established that losses of the sunflower crop from weeds coincide with the specific share of weeds in the total mass of the agrophytocenosis. Soil herbicides provided the following increases in the yield of sunflower seeds (t/ha): Kharnes — 0.53; Proponit 720 — 0.46; Stomp 330 — 0.44; Prymekstra TZ Hold 500 SC and Selefit — 0.39; Komandyr — 0.17. It was found that sunflower was the most tolerant to Stomp 330, and the least — to Komandyr.
 Conclusions. In terms of the level of weed death in sunflower crops and the increase in the yield of its seeds, Kharnes was the best among soil herbicides, and Komandyr was the worst.

Forgotten forest relics: Apple trees (Malus spp.) in eastern U.S. forests

One potential legacy of the widespread deforestation of the 1700-1800s and subsequent agricultural abandonment and reforestation across the eastern United States (U.S.) during the 1900s is the establishment of introduced apple trees (Malus domestica) exclusive of naturally occurring native crab apple species. As these apple trees might provide ecological services and a genetic reserve of long-forgotten apple cultivars, a region-wide forest inventory was used to estimate the current extent, condition, and changes in the population of apple trees across eastern forests of the U.S. It was found that hundreds of millions of apple trees currently exist in the forests of the northern U.S. with indications of population senescence as the abundance of seedlings and saplings decline while the abundance of the largest-sized trees and standing dead trees increase. The distribution of forest apple trees is only aligned with native crab apple distributions in limited areas, suggesting distinct feral apple populations derived from agricultural abandonment decades ago. As these extant apple trees are likely relics of former orchards and/or their naturally dispersed progeny, these populations may serve as an in-situ gene bank representing hundreds, if not thousands, of apple cultivars forgotten long ago but adapted to local conditions and perhaps of importance to ensuring the future resilience of domestic apple production in the context of global change.

Contribution to the valorization of Myrianthus arboreus fruits pulp from Cameroon: Physico-chemical characterization and Nutritional value

Due to important cases of malnutrition in Cameroon's Eastern région, it is necessary to develop food resources from the forests of this region to improve the nutritional status of populations. The fruits of Myrianthus arboreus are very abundant in Cameroon's eastern forest but there are not sufficiently consumed by populations. Thus, the study aimed at evaluating the physico-chemical and nutritional properties of Myrianthus arboreus pulp fruit from Cameroon's eastern forests. First, a survey on the knowledge of the fruit was carried out. We observed that fifty people from Belabo and Doume knew the fruit out of sixty-four surveyed. After that, physico-chemical analysis of Myrianthus arboreus pulp from Belabo and Doume forests revealed that: the mass of the fruits was 1091 ± 6 and 826 ± 3.5 g respectively; the mass of the seed was 0.41 ± 0.04 and 0.52 ± 0.05 g respectively; the moisture was 91.1% and 89.23% respectively, the ash was 3.25% and 2.55% respectively, the pH was 3 and 3.15 respectively and the total titrable activity was 88.54 and 82.3 meq/100 g respectively. The evaluation of the nutritional value of Myrianthus arboreus from Belabo and Doume forests revealed that the macronutrient composition was respectively 45.28 and 43.84% for carbohydrates; 19.74 and 30.67% for proteins; 15.8 and 10.8% for lipids and 7.03 and 11.58% for fibers respectively. It is important to note that mineral compounds such as K, Ca, Mg, Na, Fe, Zn and Cu were found in both Myrianthus arboreus fruit samples. The results obtained allow to consider that Myrianthus arboreus fruit could contribute to the improvement of the nutritional status of the populations from East Cameroon. Acceptable amounts of anti-nutritients were observed in Myrianthus arboreus pulp from Belabo and Doume.

Climatic Impact of Cross-Timber Production and Ecosystem Services on Profit Efficiency

The Cross-Timbers is a forested region that stretches from southern Kansas to central Oklahoma and into Texas. As an essential transitional ecotone between the eastern forest and Great Plains grassland biomes, this region is crucial for maintaining biological diversity. Much of this land is not actively managed for the critical ecosystem services that benefit people living in the region. The Cross-Timbers face threats from natural and anthropogenic factors, including climate variability. The lack of proper forest management (prescribed fires and thinning’s) has resulted in a reduction of wildlife habitats and water availability, and an increased risk of wildfires surrounding human development. These losses in ecosystem services are concerning given the high population pressure, with over 17 million people projected to be directly dependent on these services by 2040. Therefore, analyzing the economic capacity of the region to efficiently use and provide natural resources is critical for improving economic wealth. Efficient forest management practices can result in increased forest productivity and profitability, leading to the development of markets for other non-timber benefits, such as carbon sequestration, hunting, biodiversity, water production, and recreational activities. These practices can position the Cross-Timbers forests as a feasible commodity for emerging natural resource markets. To assess the economic efficiency of the region's forests, we applied stochastic frontier analysis, which measures profit efficiency. Using data from the USDA Forest Inventory and Analysis program at the forest plot level between 2004-2019, we examined the impacts of forest management practices, natural disturbances, and climatic variables on profit efficiency. Our results indicate that the Cross-Timbers forests are economically inefficient in the provision of ecosystem services. Damage caused by abiotic factors reduces profit efficiency by 3.4%, while damage caused by biological factors increases profit efficiency by 23%. The productivity of the site also increases profit efficiency by 17%. Overall, forests in this region generate negative profits when providing ecosystem services. Kansas forests generate higher and more stable profits over time than those in Oklahoma and Texas, and managing softwoods shows to be a more economically attractive alternative than managing oaks, which show the largest variability in profits across the three states.

Біогеохімічні засади розвитку садівництва України

There is considered the importance of biogeochemical research for improving the quality of fruit crops. A significant part of the Earth's population suffers from diseases associated with an imbalance of nutritional (essential) elements. Scientific directions for in-depth research into the quality of horticulture products, their comprehensive evaluation and forecasting of their impact on the health of the population are gaining relevance. Biogeochemical research is one of the newest trends in the development of horticulture in Ukraine, which can further declare the excellent quality of our fruits and berries on the European market It is noted that the theoretical basis of such studies are the works of V.I. Vernadskyi. The purpose of the presented research is to generalize the regional biogeochemical features of the fruit-growing zones of Ukraine and to determine the relevant directions for improving the quality of fruit and berry products due to the balance of essential traceelements. The biogeochemical subregion of balance Co, Mo, Mn, Zn, Cu, Sr prevaile in the territories of the Eastern Forest Steppe and Donbas, as well as in the northern part of the Southern Steppe and the central part of Crimea. In these territories, statistical estimates of the content of the studied essential microelements in the soils corresponded to biogeochemical norms (within threshold concentrations); medical statistics did not record an increased incidence of the corresponding endemic diseases among the children's population. Biogeochemical subregions of imbalance Co, Mo, Mn, Zn occupy about 80 % of the area of Ukraine and are spread over the territory of 9 fruit-growing zones - Polyssia, Western Forest-Steppe, Transnistria, Western and Central Steppe, North-Eastern Steppe, Southern Steppe, Prykarpattia, Transcarpathia, Crimea. Peculiarities of horticulture in the territories of biogeochemical subregions of imbalance Со, Мо, Мn, Zn are caused by the increased probability of manifestation of up to 16 phytopathologies of crops. Our regional medico-geochemical studies here have established an increased prevalence of diseases among the children's population endemic diseases - anemia, glomerulonephritis, diabetes, poisoning. Within the biogeochemical subregions of Co, Mo, Mn on the territory of 11 administrative regions of Ukraine, it is necessary to introduce special agrochemical technologies for feeding crops using appropriate agrochemical methods. It is advisable to take into account the relationship between the existing content of nutrient microelements in the soil and the physiological needs of agricultural crops when we planting new gardens. For example, planting apple orchards and vineyards is advisable on the territory of biogeochemical subregions with both an excess of zinc and a lack of molybdenum, because these crops have, respectively, very high needs of Zn and insignificant needs of Mo. Key words: micronutrients, product quality, biogeochemical provinces, non-infectious phytopathologies.

Energy productivity of common bicolour sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moenh) and soryz (Sorghum orysoidum) depending on seeding rates

Topicality. Recently, attention is being increasingly focused on the search for energy resources produced from renewable energy sources, namely from plant raw materials. There are increasingly relevant studies on the influence of elements of cultivation technology, in particular, seeding rates, on the formation of productivity of common bicolour sorghum and soryz used for biofuel production. There are increasingly relevant studies on the influence of elements of cultivation technology, in particular, seeding rates, on the formation of productivity of common bicolour sorghum and soryz used for biofuel production. In the eastern Forest-Steppe of Ukraine, the productivity of these crops largely depends on the variety, environmental conditions and elements of cultivation technology. Optimisation of seeding rates is one of the ways to increase grain and biomass yield and biofuel and energy output. Purpose. Our research aimed to determine the impact of sowing rates on the energy productivity of common bicolour sorghum and soryz in the conditions of the eastern Forest Steppe of Ukraine. Methods. In 2016–2020, the research was carried out at the Ivanivka Research and Breeding Station of the Institute of Bioenergy Crops and Sugar Beet of NAAS in the unstable moisture zone of the eastern Forest-Steppe of Ukraine The experimental design included: factor A – varieties Dniprovskyi 39 (common bicolour sorghum) and Samaran 6 (soryz); factor B - seeding rates: 1) 150 ths. pcs/ha; 2) 200 ths. pcs/ha; 250 ths. pcs/ha. Results. It was found that the different seeding rates have an impact on grain and biomass yield of sorghum and soryz, respectively, and on the estimated yield of bioethanol from grain, solid fuel yield from aboveground mass and total energy output. The maximum grain and biomass yield was obtained at a seeding rate of 200 ths. pcs/ha and was 6.8 and 39.2 t/ha for common bicoloured sorghum of Dniprovskyi 39 variety and 5.9 and 36.1 t/ha for soryz of Samaran 6 variety. Conclusions. Dneprovsky 39 variety provided the highest output of bioethanol (2.24 t/ha) and energy (56.04 GJ/ha), and Samaran 6 variety – 1.95 t/ha and 48.63 GJ/ha, respectively. Sorghum has the highest output of solid fuel and energy – 9.06 t/ha and 147.6 GJ/ha, and soryz – 8.34 t/ha and 135.93 GJ/ha, respectively. For the production of biofuel and energy resources, the cultivation of common bicolour sorghum with a seeding rate of 200 ths. pcs/ha is more efficient. Key words: variety, yield, grain, biomass, bioethanol, solid fuel, energy

Лесной комплекс Дальневосточного федерального округа: тенденции развития в 2022–2023 гг.

An assessment is made of the impact of ongoing sanctions shocks, as well as internal export restrictions on the national and Far Eastern forest complexes. It is shown that the crisis of 2022 only aggravated the situation previously formed by institutional innovations in the forest regions of the Far East. The crisis did not have a catastrophic impact on the state of timber industry enterprises, which managed to both partially maintain external demand and partially offset the ban on wood exports by supplying the domestic market. In 2023 compared to 2022, despite the increase in profitability from the supply of products to the foreign market as a result of the rising dollar exchange rate, improving conditions in the Chinese market due to the easing of covid restrictions, the negative effect of sanctions shocks (market closures, restrictions in logistics, reduction in imports of equipment and materials) have intensified. As a result, there was an increase in losses of enterprises due to delays in the transportation of timber cargo, an increase in transport costs, the cost and delivery time of imported spare parts, which led to a decrease in production activity in the main forest regions of the Far Eastern Federal District, which has negative social consequences, especially in remote settlements. In conditions of low population density, the development of domestic demand for timber products in the Far East, even with government support, is uncompetitive in comparison with external demand, which is increasingly oriented toward the monopsony Chinese market

Does Forest Soil Fungal Community Respond to Short-Term Simulated Nitrogen Deposition in Different Forests in Eastern China?

Nitrogen (N) deposition has changed plants and soil microbes remarkably, which deeply alters the structures and functions of terrestrial ecosystems. However, how forest fungal diversity, community compositions, and their potential functions respond to N deposition is still lacking in exploration at a large scale. In this study, we conducted a short-term (4-5 years) experiment of artificial N addition to simulated N deposition in five typical forest ecosystems across eastern China, which includes tropical montane rainforest, subtropical evergreen broadleaved forest, temperate deciduous broadleaved forest, temperate broadleaved and conifer mixed forest, and boreal forest along a latitudinal gradient from tropical to cold temperature zones. Fungal compositions were identified using high-throughput sequencing at the topsoil layer. The results showed that fungal diversity and fungal community compositions among forests varied apparently for both unfertilized and fertilized soils. Generally, soil fungal diversity, communities, and their potential functions responded sluggishly to short-term N addition, whereas the fungal Shannon index was increased in the tropical forest. In addition, environmental heterogeneity explained most of the variation among fungal communities along the latitudinal gradient. Specifically, soil C: N ratio and soil water content were the most important factors driving fungal diversity, whereas mean annual temperature and microbial nutrient limitation mainly shaped fungal community structure and functional compositions. Topsoil fungal communities in eastern forest ecosystems in China were more sensitive to environmental heterogeneity rather than short-term N addition. Our study further emphasized the importance of simultaneously evaluating soil fungal communities in different forest types in response to atmospheric N deposition.

Linking remotely sensed ecosystem resilience with forest mortality across the continental United States.

Episodes of forest mortality have been observed worldwide associated with climate change, impacting species composition and ecosystem services such as water resources and carbon sequestration. Yet our ability to predict forest mortality remains limited, especially across large scales. Time series of satellite imagery has been used to document ecosystem resilience globally, but it is not clear how well remotely sensed resilience can inform the prediction of forest mortality across continental, multi-biome scales. Here, we leverage forest inventories across the continental United States to systematically assess the potential of ecosystem resilience derived using different data sets and methods to predict forest mortality. We found high resilience was associated with low mortality in eastern forests but was associated with high mortality in western regions. The unexpected resilience-mortality relation in western United States may be due to several factors including plant trait acclimation, insect population dynamics, or resource competition. Overall, our results not only supported the opportunity to use remotely sensed ecosystem resilience to predict forest mortality but also highlighted that ecological factors may have crucial influences because they can reverse the sign of the resilience-mortality relationships.

Sexual and reproductive health and access: Results of a rapid epidemiological assessment among migrant peoples in transit through Darién, Panamá.

The foot transit of migrant peoples originating from the Caribbean, South America, Asia, and Sub-Saharan Africa through the Darién Forest (DF) in Eastern Panamá towards North America has increased in recent years from approximately 30,000 people/year to >133,000 in 2021. In the DF, there is no food/housing provision nor healthcare access. Very little is known of sexual and reproductive health (SRH) among this population. This study used rapid epidemiological methods to describe the SRH situation among migrant peoples in transit through the DF. This cross-sectional study randomly selected migrant people in transit (men and women) at a Migrant Reception Station in Darién, Panamá, between January 4-11, 2022. Data collection included a self-applied questionnaire (≥18 years); clinical screening (≥12 years); and HCG, treponemal antibodies, and HIV(I/II) lateral-flow tests with blood samples (≥12 years). Descriptive analyses were used to report findings. In all, 69 men and 55 women participated in the self-applied questionnaire, 70 men and 51 women in clinical screening; 78 men and 63 women in HCG, treponemal antibody and HIV testing. Overall, 26.1% (18/69) men and 36.4% (20/55) women reported sexual intercourse within the past month. The last sex partner was casual among 43.0% (21/49) of men and 27.8% (10/36) of women; of those, 42.9% (9/21) of men and 80.0% (8/10) of women reported this sex was condomless. Among women, 20.0% (11/55) tested positive for pregnancy; 5 of these pregnancies were planned. Of those screened, a reproductive tract infection symptom was reported by 5.7% (4/70) of men and 58.8% (30/51) of women. A total of 32.7% (18/55) of men and 18.2% (8/44) of women reported no prior HIV testing. Of 78 men, HIV and treponemal antibodies were found among 1.3% (n = 1) and 2.6% (n = 2), and among 63 women, 3.2% (n = 2) and 3.2% (n = 2), respectively. This rapid epidemiological assessment found high recent sexual activity, low condom use with casual partners, and a need for increased HIV and syphilis testing and treatment. There is a need for increased testing, condom provision, and SRH healthcare access at migrant reception stations that receive migrant peoples in transit through Panamá.

Survey of bats on the south coast and ranges of the Shoalhaven region in New South Wales

ABSTRACT Surveys for echolocating bats were conducted primarily by harp trapping and echolocation detection in the Shoalhaven region on the south coast region of New South Wales from 1989 to 2021. A total of 399 sites were surveyed by harp trapping and 175 sites through echolocation call detection. Mist nets were used to catch bats at one site in 1989. The survey covered a range of vegetation communities at altitudes that ranged from near sea level to 770m asl. One hundred and seventy-four harp trap sites were within conservation reserves/state forests and the rest were on freehold land. Each site was trapped from 1 - 4 nights for a total of 666 harp trap nights. Sites surveyed electronically were sampled between 1- 2 nights for a total of 230 samples of either 30 minutes duration or an entire night. A total of 18 species were captured in harp traps during the survey. The Yellow-bellied Sheath-tailed Bat Saccolaimus flaviventris was observed once during spotlight surveys and detected electronically. The White-striped Free-tailed Bat Austronomus australis was heard echolocating at night and detected electronically. The Little Bent-wing Bat Miniopterus australis was only detected electronically. The highest capture rate was in Jerrawangala National Park where 38 animals consisting of five species were trapped in one trap on a single night. The highest species richness and density was found in tall open forests, especially those along the Illawarra escarpment. Analysis of abundances found that the Little Forest Bat Vespadelus vulturnus was the most common species accounting for 45% of animals trapped. Seven species currently listed under the Biodiversity Conservation Act (2016) were caught and another detected electronically. Those trapped were the Large-eared Pied Bat Chalinolobus dwyeri, Eastern Falsistrelle Falsistrellus tasmaniensis, Golden-tipped Bat Phoniscus papuensis, Eastern Bent-wing Bat Miniopterus orianae oceanensis, Eastern Coastal Free-tailed Bat Micronomus norfolkensis, Large-footed Myotis Myotis macropus and Greater Broad-nosed Bat Scoteanax rueppellii. In addition, the regionally rare Ride’s Free-tailed Bat Ozimops ridei was trapped. The survey provided the first live specimens of Eastern Forest Bat V. pumilus in the south coast region, a range extension of some 260km south of the previous accepted records in the Watagan Mountains. The capture of a Large-eared Pied Bat at Meroo NP represents a southern range extension for this species. Morphometric data are presented plus comments on species habitat preference.

Linking environmental stability with genetic diversity and population structure in two Atlantic Forest palm trees

AbstractAimSpatial patterns of biodiversity in the Atlantic Forest are well characterized. However, there is no consensus on the biological processes underlying these patterns, and multiple competing hypotheses have been proposed, several of which centre on climatic stability. Here, we ask if Late Quaternary climatic stability predicts contemporary population structure and genomic‐level diversity in two palm species.LocationAtlantic Forest of Eastern Brazil.TaxaSyagrus botryophora and S. pseudococos (Arecaceae).MethodsWe first model the distribution of suitable environments in 62 time‐slice climate projections over the last 120 thousand years, and summarize stability over that period. We then use >25,000 RADseq‐generated SNPs to (i) describe the spatial patterns of genomic variation in both species, (ii) test how well genomic variation is explained by isolation by distance and by the environmental resistance imposed by historical instability (isolation by resistance) and (iii) test for a correlation between genetic diversity and historical stability.ResultsThe contemporary range of S. botryophora has been relatively stable over the last 30 thousand years and there are two isolated regions of high stability for S. pseudococos. The genomic data recover a clear pattern of isolation by distance in S. botryophora and two structured populations in S. pseudococos. Consequently, the contribution of isolation by resistance to overall genetic structure is much higher in S. pseudococos. Genetic diversity is not significantly correlated with historical stability in either species.Main ConclusionsBased on the concordance between historical stability and genetic structure, Late Quaternary climate stability may have maintained population connectivity within S. botryophora and promoted intraspecific divergence in S. pseudococos. Conversely, historical stability does not seem to be driving spatial patterns of genetic diversity. This study supports the primary role of climatic stability in determining spatial population structure, but not genetic diversity, in the Atlantic Forest.

Discovery of a fossil dwarf antelope outside of Africa and its implications for the late Miocene ecosystem in the northeast margin of the Tibetan Plateau

As a typical dwarf antelope, the extant Nesotragus is confined to shrub areas of open woodlands and forests in Eastern and Central Africa. Molecular phylogenetic reconstructions reveal that Nesotragus, along with Aepyceros (impala), represents the earliest crown group of Antilopinae. However, to our knowledge, fossils in relation to Nesotragus have to date not been found. Here, we report the recent discovery of a fossil dwarf antelope, Linxiatragus dengi gen. et sp. nov., from the early Late Miocene (10–9 Ma) of the Linxia Basin, adjoining the NE Tibetan Plateau. This is the first report of a fossil dwarf antelope outside of Africa and prior to Pliocene. Phylogenetic reconstructions confirm that L. dengi belongs to the clade of extant Nesotragus. Morphometric studies further suggest that the cranial morphology of Linxiatragus is intermediate between the extant Nesotragus and Gazella. A microwear study indicates that unlike extant Nesotragus, L. dengi was possibly a grazer rather than a browser, revealing that extant Nesotragus are secondarily small, an adaptation to a concealing habitat. l. dengi, as well as some other taxa (e.g., Diceros gansuensis) occurring in the NE margin of the Tibetan Plateau in the early Late Miocene, suggests a relatively arid and open regional paleoenvironmental condition, which mimicked the African Savannah woodlands ecosystem. This ecological implication is consistent with the relatively open lands in the Linxia Basin prior to the tectonic uplift of the NE Tibetan Plateau, as indicated by geological evidence. These findings might provide a new interpretation for the origin and migration of modern Sub-Saharan African Savannah mammalian assemblage through the land-bridge connecting Arabia and Asia after their hard-collision.

Evolutionary legacy of the extirpated red wolf clings to life in gulf-coast canids.

Before Europeans colonized North America, a uniquely American wolf roamed the eastern forests of southern Canada to Florida and west to the Great Plains. Known today as "red wolf" (Canis rufus) in the south and "eastern wolf" (Canis lycaon) in the north, evidence suggests that these indigenous forest wolves shared a common evolutionary history until only a few centuries ago when they were extirpated from the intervening majority of their historical range. While the eastern wolf persists today primarily as a small population in Algonquin Provincial Park, Canada, the red wolf was ostensibly driven from its last stronghold in gulf-coastal Louisiana and Texas by 1980. The last-known red wolves were taken captive for propagation and reintroduction. Today, the red wolf exists as ~250 descendants of 12 founders and are distributed among 42 captive breeding facilities and one reintroduced population in coastal North Carolina. As red and eastern wolves declined in the 20th century, coyotes expanded from the west into the eastern forests, replacing them. Along with human persecution, coyote hybridization has been blamed for the late 20th century demise of the red wolf. However, rather than helping to drive the red wolf to extinction, coyote hybridization may have instead helped to preserve it. In this issue of Molecular Ecology, vonHoldt and colleagues provide the most comprehensive description yet of the substantial quantity and distribution of red wolf ancestry sequestered in southeastern coyote populations. They find the highest frequency of red wolf genes in coyotes from the gulf-coastal sites where the last known wild red wolves occurred, but also present evidence for a high prevalence of red wolf genes in coyotes throughout the southeastern expansion zone. Given the significant reduction in genetic diversity in extant red wolves owing to their late 20th century population bottleneck, this coyote-sequestered reservoir of red wolf genes could prove an important resource for red wolf conservation.

Environmental Niche and Demographic Modeling of American Chestnut near its Southwestern Range Limit

The unintentional introduction and rapid spread of chestnut blight (caused by Cryphonectria parasitica (Murr.) Barr) in the early 20th century resulted in the demise of American chestnut (Castanea dentata (Marsh.) Borkh.; Fagaceae) as a major component of forest canopies resulting in negative impacts on eastern forest communities. Research efforts over the last century have documented the persistence of occasional trees and root crown/ stump sprouts throughout much of the species' historic range, providing the basis for ongoing breeding of blight-resistant trees and restoration efforts. Here we use environmental niche modeling to investigate whether environmentally suitable habitat remains for remnant trees throughout the southwestern historical range, and to evaluate the reintroduction potential of this relatively understudied part of the historical distribution. We also use stage-structured matrix projection models to investigate the potential demographic future of C. dentata near the historical southwestern range limit based on observations of American chestnut in these areas over the last several decades. We found suitable upland habitat with areas of high forest canopy cover occurs throughout much of the southwestern portion of the historical range and that populations of American chestnut in these areas are predicted to drastically decline over the coming decades. These results highlight the continued presence of suitable C. dentata habitat throughout the southwestern extent of its historical distribution, which should be incorporated into evaluations for future reintroduction, and emphasize the need for efforts to locate, conserve, and introduce genetic material from individuals with locally adapted genotypes into active restoration programs.

Non-native plant associations with wildfire, tree removals, and deer in the eastern United States

Wildfires, tree removals, and deer herbivory are potential pathways for spread of non-native plants. I modeled the number of recorded nonnative plant species by county compared to wildfire area, tree removals, and deer densities in the eastern United States and also eastern forests. Species richness of 1016 plant species in 780 primarily forested counties decreased with increased values of the three variables; models equally showed negative relationships. For model predictions, based on withheld samples of non-native species counts, percentage wildfire area alone had the greatest association (R2 value of 31%) for non-native species richness in eastern forests; non-native species richness decreased with wildfire area until stabilizing at >1% wildfire area to a neutral relationship. For 1581 species in 2431 counties in the eastern U.S., the three variables each had an overall negative relationship with non-native species richness (R2 value up to 14%), without a consensus by three regression types of most influential variables. These formal models suggest that wildfire, tree removals, and deer herbivory generally may be nominal pathways for non-native plant spread at landscape scales in the eastern United States.

Harvest and dispersal syndromes influence the probability of tree seedling establishment in the eastern United States

AbstractAimThe goal of this work was to investigate the influence of disturbance, in particular tree harvesting, on seedling establishment rates both within and beyond the range extent of individual species. In addition, we considered how disturbances differentially affect seedling establishment depending on the dispersal syndromes and shade tolerance of species.LocationThis project covers the eastern forests of the USA.Time periodData for this project extend from 1996 to 2019.Major taxa studiedTree species of the eastern USA.MethodsWe used the US Forest Service's Forest Inventory and Analysis (FIA) data for tree species of the eastern USA to investigate the influence of disturbance, the dispersal mechanism and shade tolerance of species on the establishment of seedlings. We ran generalized linear models for seedling presence/absence and the number of seedlings as the response variables. Disturbance categories were no disturbance, natural disturbance, harvest, and both harvest and natural disturbance.ResultsThe probability of seedling establishment increased in response to harvest within FIA plots but not in response to natural disturbances. Harvest increased the probability of seedling presence the most for shade‐intolerant species; however, intermediately shade‐tolerant and ‐intolerant species also increased in harvested plots. Additionally, bird‐dispersed species had a higher probability of colonizing new plots outside their range, in comparison to mammal‐dispersed or wind‐dispersed tree species.Main conclusionsOur results suggest that stand competition is an important limiting factor for seedling establishment in the dense, secondary forests of the eastern USA. Harvesting creates sizeable gaps that promote seedling establishment and species turnover. Harvesting especially facilitates the establishment of tree species with bird dispersal outside of their range. Thus, timber harvesting can be a useful management tool when the goal is to assist range shifts for certain species. We recommend that future research should include harvested plots when looking for evidence of recent tree migration.