Evenness Index Research Articles

Characterization of Bacterial Communities on Trout Skin and Eggs in Relation to Saprolegnia parasitica Infection Status.

We have investigated the changes in the microbial communities on the surface of trout eggs and the skin of adult trout in relation to the presence of Saprolegnia parasitica. This pathogen causes saprolegniosis, a disease responsible for significant losses in salmonid farms and hatcheries. It is known from other disease systems that the host-associated microbiome plays a crucial role in the defence against pathogens, but if the pathogen predominates, this can lead to dysbiosis. However, analyses of the effects of S. parasitica on the diversity, composition, and function of microbial communities on fish skin and eggs are scarce. Thus, we have collected skin swabs from injured and healthy trout (N = 12), which differed in S. parasitica load, from three different fish farms in Croatia (Kostanjevac, Radovan, and Solin), while trout egg samples (N = 12) were infected with S. parasitica in the laboratory. Illumina sequencing of the V4 region of the 16S rRNA marker gene showed that infection with S. parasitica reduced the microbial diversity on the surface of the eggs, as evidenced by decreased Pielou's evenness and Shannon's indices. We further determined whether the bacterial genera with a relative abundance of >5.0% in the egg/skin samples were present at significantly different abundances in relation to the presence of S. parasitica. The results have shown that some genera, such as Pseudomonas and Flavobacterium, decreased significantly in the presence of the pathogen on the egg surface. On the other hand, some bacterial taxa, such as Acinetobacter and Janthinobacterium, as well as Aeromonas, were more abundant on the diseased eggs and the injured trout skin, respectively. Finally, beta diversity analyses (weighted UniFrac, unweighted UniFrac, Bray-Curtis) have shown that the sampling location (i.e., fish farm), along with S. parasitica infection status, also has a significant influence on the microbial communities' composition on the trout skin and eggs, demonstrating the strong influence of the environment on the shaping of the host surface microbiome. Overall, we have shown that the presence of S. parasitica was associated with changes in the diversity and structure of the trout skin/egg microbiome. The results obtained could support the development of new strategies for the management of saprolegniosis in aquaculture.

Influence of wild ungulates on the secondary succession of an Apennine silver fir forest after windthrow

Windstorms are natural factors in vegetation dynamics, but their intensity is increasing and undermines the forest resilience. Post-event interventions depend on forest types and management purposes. To promote mixed stands that are less susceptible to windthrow than monocultures, natural tree regeneration is usually recommended. However, wild ungulates attracted by the increased food supply in the new clearings can influence the secondary succession and slow down vegetation recovery. The impact of ungulate pressure on secondary successions in blowdown areas is still poorly known, especially in Mediterranean areas, which is particularly vulnerable to climate stressors. We investigated this topic using a monospecific silver fir (Abies alba) forest of artificial origin in the Apennines as a model system. The forest was left to natural succession after a severe windthrow in 2015, offering the opportunity to establish an ungulate exclosure experiment to analyse vegetation changes over six years. For the whole plant community, cover and height, α-diversity (species richness, Shannon and evenness indexes), and species composition were recorded yearly, together with tree seedling density, in open and fenced plots at increasing distances from the forest edge. Ecological and functional traits (proportion of light-demanding and forest specialists, endo-/epi-zoochorous species), and life-forms of the community samples were also analysed. Overall, we found that ungulates significantly influenced the dynamic trajectories of secondary succession. The effects on plant cover and diversity were negative and increased with distance from the forest edge. The presence of ungulates favoured generalist species and endozoochorous taxa. However, distance from the forest edge strongly reduced the latter effect. The average density of tree seedlings was overall high (ca. 10,000/ha), but it was strongly reduced by ungulates for three deciduous species and A. alba, the most browsed species. Natural recolonization after windthrow in Apennine pure silver fir stands may favour the formation of mixed, less susceptible forests, but the current ungulate pressure slows down this process, especially in the areas furthest from the forest edge.

Keanekaragaman Kupu-Kupu (Lepidoptera: Rhopalocera) di Kawasan Ekowisata Dusun Kaliurang Timur, Yogyakarta

Butterflies act as bioindicators and pollinators of the environment. Ecotourism development poses a threat to butterfly life due to high human activity and land degradation. This study aims to determine the diversity of butterflies (Rhopalocera), diversity index, evenness index, dominance index, similarity index, and abiotic parameters at each sampling location. The data was collected at Tlogo Putri, settlements, and Tankaman Natural Park, whose location selection was based on purposive sampling and using the point count method. Based on the research obtained 55 species with a total of 294 individuals, diversity index (TP: 2.88; P: 2.51; TNP: 2.66), evenness index (TP: 0.86; P: 0.75; TNP: 0.84), dominance index (TP: 0.08; P: 0.14; TNP: 0.09), species similarity index (TP & P: 46.42; TP & TNP: 27.45). Abiotic parameters in the ecotourism area of Kaliurang Timur Hamlet are altitude of 814-889 meters above sea level, temperature of 26-28°C, air humidity of 10-45%, light intensity of 7571-4877x10 lux, wind speed of 0-1 m/s, and rainfall of 0-20. The conclusion of this study is that 55 species of Rhopalocera order were found, the diversity index is moderate, the evenness index is high, the dominance index and the similarity index are low at each sampling location. Abiotic parameters measured were in the normal range for Rhopalocera life in the ecotourism area of Kaliurang Timur Hamlet.

KEANEKARAGAMAN JENIS KUPU-KUPU DI DESA BOMBA KECAMATAN LORE SELATAN KABUPATEN POSO

The Sintuwu Maroso KPH area, which is located in Bomba Village, South Lore District, has quite high biodiversity, one of which is butterflies. Butterflies are insects that belong to the order Lepidoptera. Butterflies play an important role in the ecosystem and maintain balance and enrich natural biodiversity. These insects are also important in agriculture, art, culture and human civilization. The Sintuwu Maroso KPH area, Bomba Village, South Lore District, Poso Regency, is a primary forest with maintained sustainability. Primary forest is a good place for butterfly habitat, so it is necessary to protect these butterflies. And research on these butterflies in the Sintuwu Maroso KPH area is still rare, as butterflies play an important role in plant pollination. Therefore, it is necessary to research the diversity of butterfly types. This research was carried out for 2 (two) months from October 2023 to November 2023, which took place in the KPH Sintuwu Maroso area, Bomba Village, South Lore District, Poso Regency, Central Sulawesi. Data collection and the number of individual types of butterflies used the Point Count method with eleven points. Data analysis used in the research is: species diversity index, species richness index, and species evenness index.

DIVERSITY OF BATS IN HALABAN MONITORING POST AREA, SEI BETUNG, GUNUNG LEUSER NATIONAL PARK

Halaban Monitoring Post, Sei Betung Resort, Gunung Leuser National Park is a rehabilitated forest restoration location since 2017 after previously being diversified from oil palm land. The location has currently become a habitat for various types of animals, including bats. The identification of bat species at the Halaban Monitoring Post is conducted to assess the presence of fauna, with important ecological roles in pollination. Identification was conducted using mist nets installed at five observation points. Our observations showed that 87 individuals of Microchiroptera family bats were found, belonging to 4 species: Cynopterus brachyotis (38 individuals), Cynopterus minutus (15 individuals), Glischropus tylopus (1 individual), Hipposideros cervinus (33 individuals). Further analysis showed Shannon-Wiener diversity index ranges from 0.0 to 0.94 and Margalef species richness index ranges from 0.0 to 0.69. Bat abundance tends to be evenly distributed with an evenness index of 0.0 to 1.35. There is a dominant species at one of the locations with a dominance index value of 0.85.

Effects of the main media of wind and water on the biodiversity pattern of grassland and its driving mechanism in Poyang Lake

AbstractAs important media for species diffusion, water and wind are two important factors for grassland biodiversity conservation in lake areas. Exploring their driving mechanism on grassland biodiversity is crucial for maintaining the lake ecosystem's equilibrium. Our study utilizes the data of wind velocity and water level, which are significant performance factors for wind and water respectively in Poyang Lake from 2000 to 2020 to reveal their interannual time‐series fluctuation characteristics and their influence mechanism on the grassland biodiversity pattern. Landscape pattern indices and biodiversity indicators, such as the number of patches (NP), patch density (PD), landscape spreading index (CI), landscape fragmentation index (LSD), landscape aggregation index (AI), Simpson diversity index (MSIDI) and Simpson evenness index (MSIEI) were analysed, trend analysis, redundancy analysis and structural equation modelling were applied in this study. The main results were: (1) From 2000 to 2020, Poyang Lake's wind velocity decreased gradually, and the water level first decreased and then rose. NP in Poyang Lake fluctuated substantially, LSD fluctuated frequently and obvious temporal heterogeneity existed. (2) CI and AI increased from low to high value, facilitating species dispersal and migration. The dominant species with high aggregation gradually established stronger connectivity. Moderate spreading degree and aggregation degree maintained high biodiversity and evenness, whereas excessive spreading degree and aggregation degree led to homogenization of species, decrease in biodiversity, reduction in species evenness, and increase in dominance. (3) As the landscape transformed from having no obvious dominant species to being dominated by several dominant species, MSIEI and landscape dominance changed from high to low and low to high respectively. Moreover, the biodiversity shifted from high to low, and species distribution in the landscape shifted from balanced to unbalanced. (4) The effect of water level on PD, AI, LSD, MSIDI and MSIET was significantly higher than that of wind velocity. LSD was mainly regulated by the minimum wind velocity affecting the maximum and average water levels. MSIDI and MSIET were primarily governed by the minimum wind velocity affecting the minimum water level. The minimum water level decreased as the minimum wind velocity increased, and MSIDI and MSIET weakened as the minimum water level decreased.

Unveiling the effects of environmental factors and Yellow River inputs on the ichthyoplankton community structure in typical bays

To unravel the effects of environmental factors on fishery resources in the bay, we conducted six biological and environmental surveys in the Laizhou Bay between 2013 and 2020. The findings of our study illuminated several key aspects: (1) The annual discharge of water and sediment from the Yellow River to Laizhou Bay exhibited notable variations, while concurrently, environmental factors including temperature, salinity, and suspended particle matter underwent fluctuations, yet remained within a relatively stable range overall. (2) A total of 8318 eggs and larvae belonging to 10 orders, 16 families, and 19 genera were collected. Significant interannual fluctuations had been documented in the species composition, abundance, and biodiversity of ichthyoplankton. Notably, both Shannon-Wiener diversity index and Pielou evenness index were significantly negatively correlated with suspended particle matter concentration. (3) The water and sediment discharge significantly positively correlated with the number of cold-temperature species. However, the sediment input negatively correlated with the number of continental shelf benthopelagic fish. (4) Redundancy and correlation analyses confirmed the strong link between spatial and temporal distribution of fish communities and environmental factors, with salinity and dissolved oxygen key for ichthyoplankton abundance. Our research offers a scientific foundation for targeted fishery protection and management, which is crucial for preserving the ecological functions of spawning grounds in the bay.

Validation of the EQ-5D-Y-5L parent-proxy version among children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis

ObjectivesJuvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) is the most common type of arthritis among children. It can cause joint pain and permanent physical damage, which affects mobility and daily activities. The EQ-5D-Y-3L self-report version has been validated in JIA, but the validity of EQ-5D-Y-5L remains unknown. We examined the psychometric properties of the EQ-5D-Y-5L parent-proxy version among children with JIA.MethodsWe used data from the Understanding Childhood Arthritis Network Canadian-Dutch collaboration study cohort, including patients with new-onset JIA, and those starting or stopping biologics. Clinical data and the parent-proxy version of the childhood health assessment questionnaire (CHAQ) and EQ-5D-Y-5L were collected. We evaluated the ceiling and floor effect; convergent and divergent validity using Spearman’s rank correlation; known-group validity using one-way ANOVA (Analysis of Variance) and effect size; and informativity using Shannon’s evenness index.Results467 patient visits representing 407 patients were analyzed. The EQ-5D-Y-5L had no ceiling/floor effect. The EQ-5D-Y-5L showed good convergent (e.g., EQ-5D-Y-5L pain/discomfort dimension vs. CHAQ pain index (Spearman’s r = 0.74, 95% confidence interval (C.I.): 0.69–0.79)), divergent (e.g., EQ-5D-Y-5L pain/discomfort dimension vs. CHAQ eating dimension (Spearman’s r = 0.19, 95% C.I.: 0.09–0.29)) and known-group validity (e.g., mean EQ-5D-Y-5L level summary score for patients with inactive versus active disease status, 6.34 vs. 10.52 (p < 0.001, effect size = 1.20 (95% C.I.: 0.95–1.45)). Shannon’s evenness index ranged from 0.52 to 0.88, suggesting most dimensions had relatively even distributions.ConclusionsIn this patient sample, EQ-5D-Y-5L parent-proxy version exhibited construct validity and informativity, suggesting the EQ-5D-Y-5L can be used to measure the quality of life of children with JIA.

Decrease due to pollution in the rhizosphere microbial diversity can be amended by supplementation from adapted plants of another species

Manipulating the rhizosphere microbiome to enhance plant stress tolerance is an environmentally friendly technology and a renewable resource to restore degraded environments. Here we suggest a sustainable bioremediation strategy on the example of Stebnyk mine tailings storage. We consider Salicornia europaea rhizosphere community, and the ability of the phytoremediation plant Salix viminalis to recruit its beneficial microbiome to mediate the pollution stress at the Stebnyk mine tailings storage. The tailings contain large amounts of brine salts and heavy metals that contaminate the ground water and surrounding areas, changing soil biogeochemistry and causing increased erosion. The species richness of the endophytic bacterial community of S. viminalis roots was assessed based on observed OTUs, Shannon-InvSimpson, and evenness index. Our results obtained using the plant-based enrichment strategy show that biodiversity was decreased across the contamination zones and that S. europaea supplementation significantly increased the species richness. Our results also indicate that the number of dominating bacteria was not changed across zones in both S. europaea-treated and untreated bacterial populations, and that the decrease in richness was mainly caused by the low abundant bacterial OTUs. The importance of selecting the bioremediation strains that are likely to harbor a reservoir of genetic traits that aid in bioremediation function from the target environment is discussed

Species Composition and Diversity of Stored Grain Pests in Fortified Rice Collected from Different Districts of Telangana State, India

A study was conducted to measure the species composition and diversity of various stored grain insect pests in fortified rice collected from different districts of Telangana,India during 2023-2024. Theresults indicated that a total of six species of stored grain insects belonging to three orders viz., Coleoptera (3), Lepidoptera (2) and Psocoptera (1) were recorded in fortified rice. The six insect species were rice weevil, Sitophilus oryzae, Saw toothed beetle, Oryzaephilus surinamensis, redflour beetle, Tribolium castaneum, Angoumois grain moth, Sitotroga cerealella, rice moth, Corcyra cephalonica and pscocids. Among all these insects highest population of O. surinamensis was recorded in four districts of Telangana except in Ranga reddy and Nalgonda. The diversity indices indicated that Shannon-weiner diversity index (H) was high in Warangal district samples(H=1.426) while the Jagtial population recorded highest Margalef’s species richness index (R=1.27). The highest Pielou’s evenness index was reported from Nalgonda district (e=75), and Simpson diversity index of stored grain pests was found to be maximum (0.718) in Warangal district rice samples. The knowledge on species composition and diversity helps in planning timely management strategies for stored grain pests.

BIODIVERSITY OF CELLULOLYTIC BACTERIA ISOLATED FROM FERMETODEGE FOR RUMINANTS

ARTICLE HIGLIGHTS- Fermetodege as a source of cellulolytic bacteria that degrade cellulosic materials.- Enhances ruminant feed by improving palatability and digestibility.- Utilizes water hyacinth, reducing invasive plant spread and supporting ecosystems.- Bioprospecting reveals new bacteria for effective fermentation starter development.ABSTRACTFermetodege is a name of fermented ruminant feed produced from free heavy metals water hyacinth, rice bran, and corn cobs. Its quality, as well as the fermentation process, are affected by numerous factors, such as the diversity, evenness, and dominance of indigenous cellulolytic bacterial species. A proper understanding of these influential factors is needed to improve the quality of the fermented feed. Therefore, this study aims to evaluate the diversity, evenness, and dominance of cellulolytic bacteria isolated from fermetodege. The cellulolytic activity of the isolates was tested by observing their growth on the carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) media. Isolates with cellulolytic activity formed a clear zone after the colonies were soaked with 0.1% Congo red and rinsed with 1 M NaCl. The Shannon-Weiner's diversity and evenness indexes, as well as Simpson's species dominance, were then calculated. The result showed that the Shannon-Weiner’s diversity index ranged from 0.6849 to 1.8173, and it was categorized as medium. The evenness index was between 0.7778 and 0.9983, which indicates a stable distribution of species. Meanwhile, the Simpson’s species dominance ranged from 0.1835 to 0.5082, which implies that none of the species was dominant. These results show that fermetodege is potentially a source of bacterial isolates and can be used as a fermentation consortium starter.

The effect of the tidal cycle on the phytoplankton community assemblage in a mangrove-dominated tropical tidal creek.

A comparative assessment of phytoplankton dynamics during low tide (LT) and high tide (HT) was conducted from February 2022 to January 2023 in a tropical mesotidal creek, Manori, Mumbai, India. In total, 124 phytoplankton species were recorded. The HT resulted in greater species richness (124 species) and diversity indices (Shannon-Wiener's index) than the LT (102 species). The Pielou's evenness (J') and Simpson's dominance index (1-D) did not show significant fluctuations with the tides due to the marine phytoplankton species moving rhythmically in and out of the creek with the tides. Overall, the seasonal abundance was maximum during pre-monsoon at HT (5.79 × 103 u/L) and lowest in monsoon at LT (0.45 × 103 u/L), whereas spatial abundance was maximum at S1 (HT- 4.04 × 103 u/L) at HT and lowest at S3 (LT- 0.75 × 103 u/L) at LT. The diatoms dominated in their abundance (1.83 × 103 u/L and 3.82 × 103 u/L in HT) and diversity (77 in LT and 92 in HT). The species such as Coscinodiscus centralis, Coscinodiscus granii, Coscinodiscus radiatus, Triops furca, Melosira varians, Nitzchsia palea, Chaetoceros affinis, Skeletonema marinoi, Stephanocyclus meneghinianus, Planktoniella sol and Skeletonema costatumwere the dominant native residents in the creek. SIMPER analysis revealed that the maximum similarity was during the monsoon (47.65%), and the minimum was during the pre-monsoon (38.10%) at LT. However, in HT, the maximum similarity of phytoplankton shifted to post-monsoon (63.85%) and the minimum during the pre-monsoon (46.71%). The mean value of richness (d') and Shannon's diversity (H') showed a moderate phytoplankton diversity in the system. The environmental parameters (water temperature > pH > nitrate > salinity > DO > Alk > silicate) have a greater influence on the distribution of the phytoplankton community with tides as revealed by the Canonical correspondence analysis. Therefore, it has been found that tides play a significant role in the distribution and abundance of the phytoplankton community in a mesotidal creek environment.

The diversity and ecological roles of insects and arachnids in arabica coffee (Coffea arabica) plantation in Palasari, Bandung Regency

Keanekaragaman komunitas artropoda dapat dijadikan sebagai bioindikator perubahan lingkungan khususnya pada sistem budi daya kopi dengan sistem pengelolaan yang beragam. Sistem pengelolaan lahan yang beragam akan menimbulkan perubahan struktur komunitas dan fungsi ekologis artropoda. Tujuan dari penelitian ini untuk menganalisis keanekaragaman dan peranan serangga dan Arachnida pada perkebunan kopi Arabika di Kabupaten Bandung. Sampel diambil dari perkebunan kopi di Desa Legok Nyenang, Kabupaten Bandung dengan menetapkan lima plot sampel berukuran 100 m2 per plot dengan jarak antar plot sejauh 50 m. Serangga dan Arachnida terestrial diambil menggunakan jaring ayun, perangkap nampan kuning, dan beating sheet. Sampel yang diperoleh diidentifikasi berdasarkan karakter morfologi hingga tingkat morfospesies. Sebanyak 269 jenis serangga (11 ordo dan 98 famili, total 669 individu) dan 23 jenis Aachnida (satu ordo dan 13 famili, total 44 individu) berhasil dikumpulkan dari perkebunan kopi Arabika Palasari. Peran ekologi yang paling beragam adalah fitofag. Spesies fitofag yang dominan adalah Nysius sp. (Hemiptera: Lygaeidae). Musuh alami yang dominan, yaitu parasitoid Megacampsomeris prismatica (Hymenoptera: Scoliidae) dan predator, Tetragnatha sp. (Araneae: Tetragnathidae), sedangkan fungsi ekologis yang jumlahnya paling rendah adalah serangga penyerbuk (Hymenoptera: Apidae). Keanekaragaman jenis serangga dan Arachnida yang ditemukan pada pertanaman kopi di Kabupaten Bandung termasuk dalam kategori tinggi (H' = 5,10), meskipun indeks kemerataan dan dominansinya tergolong rendah. Hasil penelitian ini menunjukkan bahwa pertanaman kopi merupakan ekosistem yang potensial bagi konservasi keanekaragaman hayati serangga dan Arachnida predator sehingga praktik budi daya dan pengelolaan hama harus diarahkan untuk melindungi serangga menguntungkan, seperti musuh alami dan polinator.

Reduced Gut Bacterial Diversity in Early Life Predicts Feeding Intolerance in Preterm Neonates.

Microbiota plays a crucial role in intestinal maturation in preterm newborns. The clinical manifestation of the immaturity of the gastro-intestinal tract is called feeding intolerance (FI). This condition may resolve spontaneously or dramatically evolve into necrotizing enterocolitis. One of the most challenging tasks for the neonatologist is to identify those neonates that will develop the disease early in order to adequately provide nutrition to these patients, from the very first hours of life. A close interplay between the maturity of the gastro-intestinal tract and gut microbiota has been described; however, in preterm neonates, this relationship is still undefined. We analyzed the bacterial composition of stool samples, collected early in life, from 30 preterm newborns classified as intolerant or tolerant according to the degree of readiness of the gastro-intestinal tract to receive enteral nutrition. The Pielou evenness index was significantly increased in intolerant compared with tolerant newborns. Data corrected for confounding variables confirmed that the occurrence of gut maturation was independently influenced by Pielou evenness at birth. A lower bacterial diversity very early in life is associated with improved feeding tolerance in preterm newborns. The abundance analysis showed that neonates not ready to receive enteral nutrition for feeding intolerance show, after birth, an increased abundance of Proteobacteria, Lachnospiracae, Enterobacter and Acinetobacter. We can argue that those are the taxa that prevent the establishment of pioneer bacteria. A lower alpha-diversity, in the first days of life, may facilitate the seeding of beneficial pioneer bacteria that, in turn, drive healthy microbial colonization during neonatal life.

Assessment of Macro-Invertebrates of Gubi and Waya Dams in Bauchi State, Nigeria

This study assessed the diversity, abundance, and composition of macro-invertebrates in the Gubi and Waya Dams in Bauchi State. Macro-invertebrates were collected fortnightly from different locations in the upper and lower parts of the dams using a D-frame net with a mesh size of 250 µm. Samples were preserved in 10% formaldehyde and identified. In Gubi Dam, 62 individual macro-invertebrates belonging to 7 orders and 9 families were identified, while Waya Dam had 108 individuals from 8 orders and 10 families. Both dams had Coleoptera with three families, followed by Odonata with two families, and other orders with one family each. In Gubi Dam, the most abundant macro-invertebrates were Psephenus spp. (24.1%), Paragomphus genei (17.74%), and Phaon camerunensis (16.13%). In Waya Dam, Paragomphus genei (29.63%) and Phaon camerunensis (25.93%) were the most abundant. Gubi Dam had a Shannon-Wiener index of 2.00, a Margalef’s index of 1.99, Pielou’s evenness index of 0.91, and a Simpson’s index of 0.86. Waya Dam had a Shannon-Wiener index of 1.88, a Margalef’s index of 1.92, an evenness index of 0.82, and a Simpson’s index of 0.81. The study concluded that both dams provide stable and moderate aquatic environments for the growth and survival of macro-invertebrates as well as other aquatic organisms. Continuous monitoring of the water bodies, especially Waya Dam, using water indices and pollution indicator macro-invertebrates to obtain vital information on ecological status is recommended.

Diversity of Fish Species as Bioindicators of Water Quality in The Cikapundung River, Bandung City

Human activity along the river impacts the aquatic environment from biotic and abiotic factors. One indicator that can reflect the quality of the waters is fish diversity. Several studies have used fish diversity as a biological indicator to determine the quality of waters, such as lake and river waters. The purpose of this study was to determine the diversity of fish and also to determine the quality of water in the Cikapundung River, Bandung City. The method used in this study was a survey and exploration method, which involved collecting samples at five stations using umbrella traps, cast nets, and fishing gear in the morning and evening. The fish obtained were identified using the Fish Identification Guidebook, and the number of each type was calculated. The biotic data obtained were processed using the Shannon-Weiner diversity index (H'), Evenness index (E), Margalef Abundance index (Dmg), and Simpson Dominance index (C). In contrast, the abiotic data were sent to the water quality testing institution (LPKL). The study's results identified seven species from 5 families: Cyprinus sp., Ancistrus sp., Xiphophorus sp., Barbodes sp. According to the Shannon-Weiner index, the diversity of fish species in the Cikapundung River in Bandung City is relatively moderate, with a value (H') of 1.55. The results of water quality measurements of the Cikapundung River from LPKL based on the class II water quality standards of PP RI Number 22 of 2021 show that the condition of the river is in the moderately polluted category.

Linear relationships between aboveground biomass and plant species diversity during the initial stage of degraded grassland restoration projects.

The relationship between aboveground biomass and plant diversity has been extensively examined to understand the role of biodiversity in ecosystem functions and services. Degraded grassland restoration projects can enhance carbon sequestration. However, the relationship between biomass and diversity remains one of the most actively debated topics regarding grassland ecosystems in degraded grassland restoration projects. We speculated that establishing the linear relationships between aboveground biomass and plant species diversity could contribute to enhancing the efficacy of degraded grassland restoration projects. This study sought to determine whether these relationships were linear during the initial stages of the restoration projects of degraded grasslands in Xing'an League, China. The investigations were based on an examination of seventy-six 1 × 1 m2 plots distributed among 15 areas in which the degraded grassland was at the initial stages of restoration. To quantify the species diversity of the degraded grassland communities, we used the species richness, Shannon-Wiener, inverse Simpson's reciprocal, and Pielou's evenness indices. Our analyses revealed that aboveground biomass had clear positive linear relationships with species richness during the initial stages of degraded grassland restoration. However, there were less pronounced associations with species diversity as assessed using the Shannon and inverse Simpson indices, based on regression models. Furthermore, weed biomass was found to have significant negative effects on species richness and Pielou's evenness. The weak linear relationship between aboveground biomass and species richness could be ascribed to an increase in weed biomass. We concluded that aboveground biomass and plant species diversity could be enhanced during the initial stages of degraded grassland restoration projects and suggest that the extent of weed biomass could serve as a key indicator of the efficacy of restoration from the perspective of plant species diversity and aboveground biomass in carbon sequestration projects.

Contributions of Corporate Green Space In Conserving Plant Diversity and Its Potential Usefulness: Case Study Wikasatrian Pusat Kepemimpinan

Abstract Wikasatrian Pusat Kepemimpinan, under the PT Wijaya Karya Persero Tbk management, applies sustainability principles in managing its landscape. Wikasatrian Forest is a green-forested space in the Wikasatrian that is allowed to grow and develop naturally with no or lesser management. A study on plant diversity was conducted to strengthen its conservation value. The study aimed to identify the plant variety of the Wikasatrian Forest, assess the population, and its potential usefulness for people and nature in the landscape and other needs. Data were collected using the line transect method and quadrats analysis of 10 x 10 m squares for trees, 5 x 5 m squares for saplings, and 1 x 1 m squares for ground covers, with six plots of 10 x 100 m squares, in line with the forest track. Results showed that 26 tree species from 20 families were found. On all structure levels, the Shannon’s diversity index (H) was moderate (2.53 – 2.78), and the species evenness index (E) was high (0.7 – 0.82). These showed that this area has a good ecosystem balance with diverse plant species. Most species have multiple potential uses, which are used for medicinal purposes (14) and food sources (10). Some are for materials (9) and environmental improvement (6).

Anti-seasonal flooding drives substantial alterations in riparian plant diversity and niche characteristics in a unique hydro-fluctuation zone.

Human-induced disturbances such as dam construction and regulation have led to widespread alterations in hydrological processes and thus substantially influence plant characteristics in the hydro-fluctuation zones (HFZs). To reveal utilization of limited resources and mechanisms of inter-specific competition and species co-existence of plant communities based on niche breadth and overlap under the different HFZs of the Three Gorges Reservoir (TGR) in China, we conducted a field investigation with 368 quadrats on the effects of hydrological alterations on plant diversity and niche characteristics. The results showed anti-seasonal flooding precipitated the gradual disappearance of the original diverse niches, resulting in the reduction of plant species richness and functional diversity and more obvious competition among plant species with similar resource requirements. Annuals, perennials and shrubs accounted for 71.23%, 27.39% and 1.37%, respectively, suggesting that annuals and flood-tolerant riparian herbs were favored under such novel flooding conditions. A consistent increase in species number, Shannon-Wiener diversity index and Simpson dominance index with altitude was inconsistent with hump-shaped diversity-disturbance relationship of the intermediate disturbance hypothesis, while the opposite trend was observed for the Pielou evenness index. This species distribution pattern might be caused by several synergetic attributes (e.g., the submergence depth, plant tolerant capacity to flooding, life form, dispersal mode and inter-specific competition). Vegetation types shifted from xerophytes to mesophytes and eventually to hygrophytes with the increasing flooding time in the HFZs. Hydrological alterations proved to be the paramount driver of vegetation distribution in the different HFZs. The niche analysis provided the first insights on the mechanisms of resource utilization and inter-specific competition, of which annuals could germinate quickly after soil drainage to achieve the greatest competitive advantages and occupy a larger niche space than other plants. Vegetation was still in the early stage of primary succession in the novel riparian forests. Therefore, vegetation restoration strategies should be biased towards herbaceous plants, due to annuals with better environmental adaptability, supplemented by shrubs and small trees. To establish a complete reference system for vegetation restoration, natural vegetation monitory plots in the different succession stages should be established in the different HFZs of the TGR, and their environmental conditions, community structures and inter-specific relationships further analyzed.

Moraceae diversity in the Universitas Sumatera Utara’s arboretum

The arboretum of the Universitas Sumatera Utara (USU) is an area for collecting and conserving tree species in North Sumatra. One of dominant family found in USU Arboretum is Moraceae. The objective of this reserach was to determine Moraceae diversity in the USU Arboretum. The census approach of vegetation analysis was used to determine the identity and abundance of Moracea. The research found 9 (nine) Moraceae species belongs to two genera in the USU arboretum, those were Ficus microcarpa, Ficus elastic, Artocarpus heterophyllus, Ficus padana, Ficus fistulosa, Artocarpus altilis, Ficus benjamina, Ficus ampelas and Ficus hispida. The species with the highest density value (57.92%) is Ficus hispida. The diversity index, richness index, and species dominance index were all quite low in the research location, with values of 1.455, 1.226, and 0.370, respectively. Meanwhile, the species evenness index at the research location is 0.662, which is classified into moderate. To improve the diversity of Moraceae in the USU arboretum, species enrichment activities are needed.