Vegetation Elements Research Articles

The vegetal element and its impact according to the user’s perception. Case of Guelma city

The vegetation takes a primordial place in the reflection on our urbanity for the balance of the ecosystem. Guelma, attractive Mediterranean city, by the picturesque character of its site, incites to discover it from the inside to better understand its urban landscape. In this same regard our study focuses on the north land use plan of the city. Today, the city is characterized by accelerated urbanization, which leads to the consumption of natural resources. One of the consequences of these phenomena is the deterioration of green substrates, by fragmentation of natural environments and agricultural areas. The objective is to show the role of vegetation in the satisfaction of the users of north land use plan of Guelma city, This can only be done through a survey of the various users of this city. Finally, recommendations dedicated to the proposal of the implementation of ecological planning to the management.

Multidimensional Assessment of the Aesthetic Quality of Natural Landscapes in Mount Wuyi National Park, China

Natural landscapes are scenic complexes accessible to the public within national parks. Exploring their aesthetic quality can promote an emotional connection between the public and the landscape, which has a positive significance in enhancing human well-being. In this study, Mount Wuyi National Park in China was considered as the study area, and key dimensions tailored to individual and combined natural landscapes for aesthetic quality evaluation were proposed. Seventeen landscape metrics were selected to comprehensively measure the aesthetic quality level of the natural landscapes within the study area. The results indicated that (1) the spatial distribution of 341 individual natural landscapes exhibited a pattern of denser concentration in the south and east, with a relatively sparse distribution in the north and west. (2) Based on the elements of land cover, vegetation, topography, and landforms, 41 types of combined natural landscapes were identified in Mount Wuyi National Park. (3) Southeastern natural landscapes possess significant advantages in aesthetic service provision, uniqueness, diversity, combination, and coordination, and are concentrated in natural landscapes of high aesthetic quality. Natural landscapes of moderate aesthetic quality were distributed across the northern, southwestern, and some parts of the southeastern areas within the study region. The findings provide a reference for aesthetic quality assessment in natural landscapes at the micro-scale and serve as a basis for the scientific management of natural landscapes in national parks.

Perception of the Vegetation Elements of Urban Green Spaces with a Focus on Flower Beds.

Urban vegetation plays a crucial role in meeting the challenges posed by rapid urbanization and climate change. The presence of plants and green spaces in urban areas provides a variety of environmental, social, and economic benefits. Understanding how users perceive ornamental plants in public green spaces and what their preferences are for certain vegetation elements is extremely important for planning and designing functional and aesthetically interesting urban landscapes. Although landscape experts sometimes use their creativity to create new trends, it is important not to ignore the attitudes and preferences of the public, who sometimes have a different opinion from that of the experts. The aim of the study was to determine the perceptions and preferences of the public and landscape experts for different vegetation elements and the differences in attitudes between these two groups. The study was conducted in Croatia in April 2012 using an online survey (n = 348). The results showed that trees were the most preferred vegetation element and that the public preferred flower beds and lawns to a greater extent than the professionals. All respondents perceived vegetation elements as volumes (trees, shrubs, and hedges) and plains (flower beds and lawns). In addition, respondents perceived two basic types of flower beds according to the features that characterize them: conventional and sustainable. The results show that users perceive the functional and spatial characteristics of the different vegetation elements, which is very important for the design of functional and sustainable urban green spaces.

Assessment of potential toxic elements in soils, sediments, and vegetation in the surroundings of Anapa, Russia.

The study presented here reports the concentration of major, trace, and rare earth elements in soil, sediments, and vegetation samples collected from 13 locations around Anapa City located on the northern coast of the Black Sea in Russia. The neutron activation analysis technique has been used to fulfill this objective. Along with this, the bioconcentration and translocation factors were calculated. Overall, the content of 31 elements was detected in soil and sediments while 20 elements were determined in three types of vegetation: macroalgae (Cystoseira sp. and Ulva sp.), aquatic plants (Phragmites australis), and sea grass (Zostera sp.). The quantified concentration followed the order soil > sediment > vegetation. The phytotoxic levels for Zn, V, Mn, and Fe have been quantified as the highest. Bromine was the most abundant and accumulated in Phragmites australis. Based on the results obtained from this investigation, there is a possibility of contamination in the study area.

Composition of Paleocene forests from Antarctica based on fossil wood

A new assemblage of fossil wood of Paleocene age from Seymour Island, Antarctic Peninsula, is described. Conifer species have been identified, belonging to the fossil genera Agathoxylon, Phyllocladoxylon, Protophyllocladoxylon, and Podocarpoxylon. Angiosperm fossil wood species are assigned to Nothofagoxylon, Caldcluvioxylon, and Myrceugenellites. New wood types have been described with possible affinity to Atherospermataceae and Asteraceae (daisy family). A newly identified fossil angiosperm species, Aextoxicoxylon jacksius, has been recorded from Antarctica for the first time. It shares traits with modern Aextoxicon punctatum and other Aextoxicoxylon wood from South America but is considered a separate species due to significant differences in vessel density, ray height, and frequency. This study indicates, in accordance with previous studies that conifers were the most common elements in the Paleocene Antarctic vegetation. In particular, Agathoxylon being the most dominant wood type. Nothofagoxylon was the most common angiosperm wood type. Overall the composition of the Antarctic Paleocene vegetation deduced from the presence of fossil wood resembles that of the modern warm to cool temperate forests of Tasmania, New Zealand and southern South America. Possible upland and lowland forest types have been identified, with the lowland forests likely most similar to the modern mixed cool temperate forests on South Island, New Zealand, and Tasmania. The upland forests were similar to the modern open canopy Araucaria-Nothofagus forests on the high Andes today.

Bird Community Responses to Restoration along Las Vegas Wash, Nevada

In a 12-year study of seasonal bird use along Las Vegas Wash (Clark County, Nevada), an area undergoing intensive channel stabilization and riparian and wetland restoration, we found that total bird abundance and species richness significantly increased. In the late phase of the project, total bird abundance was greatest during the nonbreeding season and winter transition, and species richness was greatest during the fall transition. Species associated with riparian shrubs decreased, likely as a response to large-scale removal of non-native shrubs and the lag in recovery of a native shrub understory. Species associated with trees and the mid-story had a mixed response, with detections of those species previously most closely associated with non-native trees showing a negative trend, while those associated with native overstory plants showing an increasing or mixed trend. Detections of wetland and aquatic species increased significantly throughout the project. This study shows differential restoration responses of species based on their natural history, seasons of primary use of the site, and the lag time in recovery of particular vegetation elements that are used by various species assemblages.

Analysis of Driving Factors for Vegetation Ecological Quality Based on Bayesian Network

Vegetation is a crucial component of ecosystems, and understanding the drivers and spatial optimization patterns of its ecological quality is vital for environmental management in the middle reaches of the Yangtze River Urban Agglomeration. Traditional evaluations employing single indices may not fully capture the complexity of vegetation elements and require evaluation through various indicators. Therefore, this study introduced the Multi Criteria Vegetation Ecological Quality Index (VEQI), coupled with vegetation cover and vegetation ecological function indicators, to explore the driving factors of vegetation quality in the middle reaches of the Yangtze River and identify key areas where vegetation quality declines or improves. By constructing a Bayesian network for VEQI, we identified the driving variables that influence the index. Additionally, we delineated spatial optimization zones for VEQI. The results indicate that the VEQI exhibits a trend of transitioning from low values in urban centers to high values in suburban and rural areas. Over 20 years, the average VEQI of the study region ranged from 10.85% to 94.94%. Slope, DEM, and vegetation type were identified as significant drivers of VEQI, while precipitation, temperature, and nighttime light were considered secondary factors. Notably, areas in Hunan, Jiangxi, and Hubei provinces, especially the western part of Hunan, were pinpointed as spatial optimization regions. This research not only enhances the understanding of vegetation’s ecological quality in the urban agglomeration of the middle reaches of the Yangtze River but also provides scientific insights for the protection and management of vegetation.

A Semi-Automatic Approach for Tree Crown Competition Indices Assessment From UAV LiDAR

Understanding the spatial heterogeneity of forest structure is crucial for comprehending ecosystem dynamics and promoting sustainable forest management. Unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) LiDAR technology provides a promising method to capture detailed three-dimensional (3D) information about forest canopies, aiding in management and silvicultural practices. This study investigates the heterogeneity of forest structure in broadleaf forests using UAV LiDAR data, with a particular focus on tree crown features and their different information content compared to diameters. We explored a non-conventionally used method that emphasizes crown competition by employing a nearest neighbor selection technique based on metrics derived from UAV point cloud profiles at the tree level, rather than traditional DBH (diameter at breast height) spatial arrangement. About 300 vegetation elements within 10 plots collected in a managed Beech forest were used as reference data. We demonstrate that crown-based approaches, which are feasible with UAV LiDAR data at a reasonable cost and time, significantly enhances the understanding of forest heterogeneity, adding new information content for managers. Our findings underscore the utility of UAV LiDAR in characterizing the complexity and variability of forest structure at high resolution, offering valuable insights for carbon accounting and sustainable forest management.

The Influence of Road Distribution in Ambon City on the Availability of Access to Public Cemetery Routes

This research aims to reveal the system and management of the Batu Merah Public Cemetery (TPU) in Ambon City, assess the condition of the road distribution in the Batu Merah TPU, and formulate strategies for managing the Batu Merah TPU in Ambon City. The research uses a qualitative descriptive method. The research variables include the principles of public cemetery arrangement as explained by Hutauruk (2010), involving key components such as: 1) Burial Plots (Space Arrangement, Identification, and Numbering), 2) Vegetation Elements (Gardens, Trees, and Plant Selection), 3) Pedestrian Paths (Accessibility and Lighting). Data collection methods in this study are observation, interviews, and documentation. The population in this research context refers to all objects related to the research problem. The population includes all individual cases and various phenomena within the Kebun Cengkeh TPU area. This includes the TPU management structure, existing graves, and the surrounding community associated with the public cemetery. A well-managed Public Cemetery (TPU) will have a positive impact on the community by fulfilling the need for burial spaces. Conversely, if the TPU is not well-organized and managed, it can have negative impacts such as environmental pollution. In Ambon City, the TPU can no longer accommodate more burials. The Ambon City Government needs to immediately realize the provision of new land and manage the TPU well so that community needs are met and social issues do not arise. The Ambon City Government also needs to establish Regional Regulations on the Arrangement and Management of Public Cemeteries to serve as official guidelines in managing TPUs in the city

Comparing airborne and terrestrial LiDAR with ground-based inventory metrics of vegetation structural complexity in oil palm agroforests

Vegetation structural complexity is an important component of forest ecosystems, influencing biodiversity and functioning. Due to the heterogeneous distribution of vegetation elements, structural complexity underpins ecological dynamics, species composition, microclimate, and habitat diversity. Field measurements and Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) data, such as airborne (ALS) and terrestrial (TLS), can assess structural characteristics of forest and agroforestry systems at various spatial scales. This assessment is urgently needed for monitoring ecosystem restoration in degraded lands (e.g., in oil palm landscapes), where it is not well-known how structural measures derived from these different approaches relate to each other. Here, we compared the degree of correlation between individual and multivariate datasets of vegetation structural complexity metrics derived from ALS, TLS, and ground-based inventory approaches. The study was conducted in a 140 ha oil palm monoculture, enriched with 52 plots in the form of tree islands representing agroforestry systems of varying sizes and planted diversity levels in Sumatra, Indonesia. Our datasets comprised 25 ALS, five TLS, and nine ground-based inventory metrics. We studied correlations among metrics related to traditional stand summary, heterogeneity, and vertical and horizontal stand structure. We used principal component analysis for data dimensionality reduction, correlation analysis to quantify the strength of relationships between metrics, and Procrustes analysis to investigate the agreement between datasets. Significant correlations were found between ALS and TLS metrics for canopy density (r = 0.79) and maximum tree height (r = 0.58) and between ALS and ground-based inventory measures of stand heterogeneity and height diversity (r between 0.60 and −0.63). Further, we observed significant agreements between the ordinations of multivariate datasets (r = 0.56 for ALS − TLS; and r = 0.46 for ALS – ground-based inventory). Our findings underline the ability of ALS to capture structural complexity patterns, especially for canopy gap dynamics and vegetation height metrics, as captured by TLS, and for measures of heterogeneity and vertical structure as captured by ground-based inventories. Our study highlights the strength of each approach and underscores the potential of integrating ALS and TLS with ground-based inventories for a comprehensive characterization of vegetation structure in complex agroforestry systems, which can provide guidance for their management and support ecosystem restoration monitoring efforts.

Deformation of vegetated channel bed under ice-covered flow conditions

A common feature of cold regions is the presence of ice cover on water surface. In the presence of vegetation in the channel bed which is normally leafless in winter, interaction between river ice and vegetated channel bed becomes very complex. In the present study, the impacts of ice cover and submerged leafless vegetation on channel bed deformation and flow resistance have been investigated based on 144 experiments conducted in a large-scale outdoor flume. The independent variables associated with the maximum scour depth around vegetation elements have been assessed and equations have been developed. Results indicate that the most important variable affecting the maximum scour depth around vegetation under ice-covered flow conditions is the ratio of the ice cover roughness to the bed roughness (ni/nb). However, under open channel flow conditions, the flow Froude number is the most important variable influencing the maximum scour depth. The methods based on the law of the wall provide reliable Manning's coefficient for both smooth and rough ice covers in the presence of submerged vegetation in the channel bed. As the vegetation density increases, the size of scour holes becomes smaller. With the increase in vegetation density, the median grain size of the armour layer in scour holes decreases correspondingly. When vegetation elements are placed in a staggered configuration, the median grain size of the armour layer in scour holes is less than that of squared configuration of vegetation elements. Regardless of the roughness of ice cover on water surface and the grain size of sediment in the bed, the maximum depth of scour holes always occurs at the upstream front face of each vegetation element. Under the rough ice-covered flow condition, the maximum depth of scour holes is more than that under the smooth ice-covered and open flow conditions.

Risk assessment of trace elements in vegetables grown in river Yamuna floodplain in Delhi.

Urban agriculture is common in fertile river floodplains of many developing countries. However, there is a risk of contamination in highly polluted regions. This study quantifies health risks associated with the consumption of vegetables grown in the floodplain of the urban river 'Yamuna' in the highly polluted yet data-scarce megacity Delhi, India. Six trace elements are analyzed in five kinds of vegetable samples. Soil samples from the cultivation area are also analyzed for elemental contamination. Ni, Mn, and Co are observed to be higher in leafy vegetables than others. Fruit and inflorescence vegetables are found to have higher concentrations of Cr, Pb, and Zn as compared to root vegetables. Transfer Factor indicates that Cr and Co have the highest and least mobility, respectively. Vegetable Pollution Index indicates that contamination levels follow as Cr > Ni > Pb > Zn. Higher Metal Pollution Index of leafy and inflorescence vegetables than root and fruit vegetables indicate that atmospheric deposition is the predominant source. Principal Component Analysis indicates that Pb and Cr have similar sources and patterns in accumulation. Among the analyzed vegetables, radish may pose a non-carcinogenic risk to the age group of 1-5year. Carcinogenic risk is found to be potentially high due to Ni and Cr accumulation. Consumption of leafy vegetables was found to have relatively less risk than other vegetables due to lower Cr accumulation. Remediation of Cr and Ni in floodplain soil and regular monitoring of elemental contamination is a priority.

Wildfire response of forest species from multispectral LiDAR data. A deep learning approach with synthetic data

Forests play a crucial role as the lungs and life-support system of our planet, harbouring 80% of the Earth's biodiversity. However, we are witnessing an average loss of 480 ha of forest every hour because of destructive wildfires spreading across the globe. To effectively mitigate the threat of wildfires, it is crucial to devise precise and dependable approaches for forecasting fire dynamics and formulating efficient fire management strategies, such as the utilisation of fuel models.The objective of this study was to enhance forest fuel classification that considers only structural information, such as the Prometheus model, by integrating data on the fire responses of various tree species and other vegetation elements, such as ground litter and shrubs. This distinction can be achieved using multispectral (MS) Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) data in mixed forests. The methodology involves a novel approach in semantic classifications of forests by generating synthetic data with semantic labels regarding fire responses and reflectance information at different spectral bands, as a real MS scanner device would detect. Forests, which are highly intricate environments, present challenges in accurately classifying point clouds. To address this complexity, a deep learning (DL) model for semantic classification was trained on synthetic point clouds in different formats to achieve the best performance when leveraging MS data.Forest plots in the study region were scanned using different Terrestrial Laser Scanning sensors at wavelengths of 905 and 1550 nm. Subsequently, an interpolation process was applied to generate the MS point clouds of each plot, and the trained DL model was applied to classify them. These classifications surpassed the average thresholds of 90% and 75% for accuracy and intersection over union, respectively, resulting in a more precise categorisation of fuel models based on the distinct responses of forest elements to fire. The results of this study reveal the potential of MS LiDAR data and DL classification models for improving fuel model retrieval in forest ecosystems and enhancing wildfire management efforts.

Elemental composition and potential health risk of vegetable cultivated in residential area situated close to abandoned gold mine dump: Characteristics of soil quality on the vegetables

The presence of toxic metals in residential areas near abandoned gold mine tailings is a major environmental issue. This study mainly aimed to investigate the elemental distribution of both toxic and essential elements in soils and leafy vegetables (Brassica oleracea) collected from eight different sites around the Davidsonville residential area, located closer to the abandoned Princess gold mine dump, Johannesburg, South Africa. The nutritional value of vegetables in the human diet was determined to assess their value to their health. The vegetables contained metals in the following descending order: Ca > Mg > Ca > Sb > Pb > Fe > Mo > Cr > Se > As > V > Ni > Co > Cd. The bioaccumulation factor (BAF) revealed that vegetables tend to accumulate most metals even (toxic) during the transfer and translocation process. Based on the recommended daily allowance (%RDA) the vegetables showed to contribute 152%, 84% and 75% toward RDA for Se, V and Ca, respectively for most adults and these play a role in human metabolic activities. The vegetables were found to be a good source of essential elements (Ca, Mg, Ni, Na, Fe) but with some traces of toxic metals such as Pb, As and Sb. Based on the health risk assessment, the vegetable posed an adverse health hazard for human consumption due to metals with high HRI >1.

ANTROPOMETRIC ANALYSIS OF ATATÜRK UNIVERSITY CAMPUS

Anthropometry is an important parameter that should always be considered in the architecture and landscape architecture professions, helping designers determine the bare minimum space required to accommodate the human body when performing outdoor/indoor related activities. Anthropometric analogies focus on the human body and its relationship to the design goal. Within the scope of the study, the concept of anthropometry was explained in the literature, and the relationship between Landscape Architecture and Anthropometry and anthropometric standards were examined. Atatürk University campus was chosen as the research area, and current applications were investigated in line with anthropometric data. The evaluation of landscape construction elements regarding anthropometric standards has been examined under two headings. These; consist of 1. Floor elements (Stairs, Ramps, Roads, Sidewalks, Flooring elements), 2. Equipment Elements (Lighting elements, Trash cans, Seating elements, Sign boards, limiters, and Vegetative elements). In this study, the ergonomic and anthropometric correct and incorrect applications of landscape reinforcement elements in the example of Atatürk University Campus were revealed, and suggestions were made on correcting the inaccurate and incomplete applications.

Flow resistance law in channels with emergent rigid vegetation

AbstractFlow resistance estimate is a challenging topic for establishing flooding propensity of streams, designing river restoration works, and evaluating the use of soil bioengineering practices. In this paper, flume measurements with rigid cylinders set in two arrangements (aligned, staggered) were used to evaluate the effect of rigid emergent vegetation on flow resistance. A well‐known theoretical flow resistance equation was firstly reviewed. Then, it was calibrated and tested by measurements performed for these arrangements with six concentrations (0.53–11.62 stems dm−2). The analysis was conducted using three approaches: (i) distinguishing the experimental runs corresponding to different arrangements and stem concentrations; (ii) using only a scale factor representing the effect of the stem concentration; and (iii) joining all available data. The results demonstrated that the flow resistance equation gives an accurate estimate of the Darcy–Weisbach friction factor f, characterized, for the best approach among the tested ones, by errors less than or equal to ±5% for 95.9% of the examined cases for the aligned arrangement and for the staggered arrangement less than or equal to ±5% for 94.2% of the examined cases. For both arrangements, the measurements demonstrated that, for a given longitudinal distance between vegetation elements, flow resistance increases for decreasing values of the transverse distance and, for a given transverse distance, f decreases for increasing values of the longitudinal distance between elements. Finally, in the range of the investigated stem concentrations, the influence of the arrangement on flow resistance resulted negligible.

MEASURING TOURISTS’ VISUAL PERCEPTION OF GARDENS AROUND TAIHU LAKE RIM AREA BASED ON MULTI-SOURCE DATA

Tourists’ visual preferences are of paramount importance for the local garden environment assessment. However, the diversity of garden elements presents challenges in achieving uniform assessments. This study focuses on 65 modern gardens around Taihu Lake (太湖), utilizing image semantic segmentation and the Semantic Differential (SD) method to evaluate tourists’ visual perceptions, identifying 16 perceptual indicators associated with garden elements. The research findings indicate the following: (1) Modern gardens in different cities (Wuxi, Suzhou, Huzhou) offer distinct visual experiences to tourists. (2) Through quantitative analysis of garden elements and tourists’ visual perceptions, it is revealed that middle and high-rise vegetation, hydrology, architecture, and sketch elements enhance visual aesthetics, while main road and low-rise vegetation elements result in less pronounced perceptions. This study quantitatively explores the complexities in evaluating garden aesthetics and serves as a bridge between qualitative and quantitative aspects for future garden environmental impact assessments.

A paleoecological context for forest distribution and restoration in Grootbos Nature Reserve, Agulhas Plain, South Africa

Grootbos Nature Reserve falls within the Cape Floristic Region of South Africa and comprises fynbos and forest vegetation elements, which exist as alternate stable states and are naturally maintained by feedbacks between vegetation, fire, topography and climate. The objective of this study was to investigate changes in forest extent in the Baviaansfontein valley in Grootbos Nature Reserve in order to understand whether current forest coverage was greater or lesser prior to colonial settlement. Incorporating paleoecology has the potential to define historical ranges of landscape variability that can guide forest restoration programs that are aligned to historical forest occurrence. Not all landscapes are suited for tree planting initiatives as they harbor indigenous open vegetation, which is of conservation value. Historical and palaeoecological information is especially valuable as tree planting initiatives and reforestation programs are becoming more popular. Here we present a combined palynological (pollen, spores, charcoal) and geochemical approach (X-ray fluorescence elemental ratios, Loss-on-ignition), to evaluate the historic extent and distribution of forest and fynbos vegetation for the past ~250 years at Baviaansfontein in the Grootbos Nature Reserve. The start of the record was dominated by pollen typical of asteraceous fynbos, with evidence of forest elements also present, though in low abundance. After 200 years (c.1750 CE–1950 CE) of increased input of micro- and macrocharcoal, the subsequent decline in charcoal indicates a decrease in fire occurrence. This decline coincides with increased input of forest pollen taxa, suggesting that fire suppression most likely triggered forest expansion and perhaps initiated the beginning of a biome boundary shift. The continued decline in fire promoted the development of the present-day proteoid fynbos type around ~1980 CE and was responsible for the replacement of the previously more asteraceous-dominated fynbos type. The results show that changes in fire occurrence have driven compositional changes over time within fynbos but also contributed to the expansion of forest at the expense of fynbos. Considering the palaeoecological record and the expected warmer climate with more fires, forest expansion at Baviaansfontein is not recommended. The proteoid-dominated fynbos biome might be similarly negatively affected by warmer climate and a shift to an asteraceous fynbos community could occur in the future.

Characteristics of turbulent flow around bridge abutments in the presence of vegetation in channel bed under ice-covered flow conditions

During winter, ice cover frequently forms on the water surface of rivers with vegetated channel beds in cold regions. The investigation of the impacts of both ice cover and channel bed vegetation on flow structures around bridge abutments is essential for engineers to gain a comprehensive understanding of the complex interactions occurring in such a situation. In the present study, the flow structure around a rectangular bridge abutment in the presence of vegetation under ice-covered conditions has been studied. Considering different vegetation densities by arranging vegetation elements in square and staggered configurations, this study incorporates the influence of ice covers with different roughness, namely smooth and rough ice cover. Key turbulence parameters, including turbulence intensity, Reynolds shear stress (RSS), and turbulent kinetic energy (TKE), are also examined based on laboratory experiments. Results show that the shape of velocity profiles for flow over a vegetated channel bed changes from an S-shaped curve under an open flow condition to a convex shape under ice-covered conditions. The effects of an ice cover and vegetation on the flow around the bridge abutment create unpredictable turbulence intensity patterns. Under a rough-covered flow condition, there appears a larger area with negative Reynolds shear stress (RSS) downstream of the abutment. Turbulent kinetic energy (TKE) under ice-covered conditions has substantially lower magnitudes than in open flow conditions.

Exceptionally preserved subfossil woods from late Pleistocene volcanic deposits from the Northern Andes of Colombia

The recent geological history of the Northern Andes is characterized by the interaction of dynamic surface processes such as volcanic activity, fluvial erosion, mass movements, etc. that have shaped landscapes for millennia. Despite its great geological and biological importance, the long-term ecological history of middle-elevation tropical habitats (between 1000 and 2500 m.a.s.l.) is unknown, due to the scarcity of suitable paleo archives preserving the paleoecological signal, leading to a critical data gap. This manuscript reports well-preserved subfossil woods of the Pleistocene volcanoclastic deposits from the Central Cordillera of Colombia. Four wood specimens are described and identified as Terminalioxylon gumminae sp.nov., Andesanthus risaraldense sp.nov., Anacardium quindiuense sp.nov., and Chrysochlamys colombiana. This report demonstrates the potential of volcanic deposits in the Northern Andes as paleo archives, and contributes to the fossil record of the tropical Andes, as it contains elements of mid-altitude vegetation preserved in association with the Pleistocene volcanic activity of the Central Cordillera. The environments where these subfossil species lived resemble present environmental conditions. This is a baseline for future paleobotanical exploration and paleoenvironmental analyses.