Floristic Inventory Research Articles

Floristic and microclimatic features of the Sovljak doline (Mt. Velika Kapela, Croatia)

The relation between floristic composition, microclimate and geomorphology of a large-sized karst doline was analysed in the area of the Sovljak doline located on the Mt. Velika Kapela. Habitat conditions in various parts of the doline, due to its morphology, were described in this work. Geomorphological observations, microclimatic measurements (including air temperature, relative humidity and dew point temperature data) and flora inventory were carried out. Ellenberg’s indicator values, life forms, chorological and taxonomical analyses were performed, as well as the analysis of habitat similarity. The doline slopes (northern and southern) appeared to offer different habitat conditions than its bottom, due to their morphological and microclimatic differences, which resulted in high taxa variability along short distances in the doline. Furthermore, the presence of temperature inversion promoted the development of the vegetation inversion, which is common in such large dolines.

Quantitative analysis of plant species diversity in Kano zoological garden

The study was necessitated by the fact that quantitative floristic inventories provide necessary context for planning and interpreting long-term ecological research. It’s also needed in conservation biology more than ever as an increasing number of threatened species find theirway onto international and national “red lists”. Objective evaluation of population decline and extinction probability is required for sound decision making. Long-term studies of tree population dynamics are critical for our understanding of the conservation needs of tropical forest ecosystems. The study analyzed the present Phyto-sociological, primary and secondary ecological parameters, plant species richness, dominance, similarities and pattern of plant species diversity status in selected habitats in Kano zoological garden. The dominant plant species were found to be Azadirachta indica which have the highest frequency, low frequency were observed in Zizipus spina-christi, Magnifera indica and Adansonia digitata Keywords : Plant, Diversity, Azadirachta indica, Richness

Assessing the Floristic Biodiversity and Carbon Stock in a Republic of Congo’s Forest Ecosystem

Reforestation management goes through the knowledge of the tired out evolution after a forestry rest. The aim of this study was to assess biodi-versity concerning Terminalia superba Engl. & Diels and its undergrowth, and then quantify sequestered carbon stocks to appreciate the impact of reforestation on forest recovery and the enhancement of carbon stocks. The study was conducted at Bilala artificial forest in southeastern Republic of Congo, in Kouilou Department (Mayombe), close to Mvouti District with an altitude of 30 m. The floristic inventory was carried out in 9 rectangular sub-plots of 20 × 25 m each, installed in three blocks of Terminalia superba Engl. & Diels, for a total area of 0.5 ha. These blocks consisted of the 64, 31 and 20 years old plantations. Within ten sub-plots censuses, all trees with a DBH ≥5 cm were identified and measured. 51 trees of Terminalia superba Engl. & Diels and around 3007 trees in its undergrowth have been recorded belonging to 33 botanical families and 52 species. The results showed that the biomass recorded in this forest has been 275 t·ha﹣1 and the carbon stock was 129.6 t·ha﹣1. Terminalia superba Engl. Diels had for itself a biomass of 181.42 t·ha﹣1 out of the 275 t·ha﹣1 quantified. The amount of CO2 captured in the atmosphere by the recorded floristic procession deducted from this carbon stock was 475.89 tons of CO2, with an economic value equal to US$ 2379.45 or XAF 1,413,278. This study demonstrated that the forestry method of reforestation has a positive impact on biodiversity recovery and carbon sequestration.

Taxonomic structure of local floras in Sidinskiy and Pribaitakskiy steppes (Krasnoyarsk region)

Sidinskiy and Pribaitakskiy steppes are the part of the Minusinsk province of the Altai-Sayan mountain country. On the territory of steppes 12 local floras (LF) were marked and examined using the same method. Studies were carried out according to the recommendations of A.I. Tolmachev (1931): identification of different types of ecotypes of LF, the full species composition of ecotypes (flora inventory), tracking the completeness of detection in LF. In the Sidinskiy steppe the number of families in the LF varies from 25 (Syida) to 43 (v. Alha), in the Pribaitakskiy steppe there is a big difference in the number of families in the LF from 31 (Krasnoyarsk reservoir, Tuba) to 65 (Mayak, Idra). The leading families in the local steppe flora are Asteraceae, Poaceae, Fabaceae. The Fabaceae family ranks third in the top of ten families in 50 % of LF, determining the type of flora as the Mediterranean-Central Asian (Fabaceae-type). Different types of LF allow to determine the type of all steppe flora as mixed, combining features of boreal (Asteraceae-Poaceae- type) and steppes flora (Fabaceae-type) with close ties with Central European floras (Rosaceae-type). 4 distinct levels of species richness are determined: 1 − 496-544; 2 − 408-413; 3 − 319-374; 4 − 279-298 species.

Comparative study of the diet of Oedipoda miniata in two regions of Tlemcen, Algeria

The present study concerns with the diet of an Orthoptera species, Oedipoda miniata, in natural conditions within 02 sites located in the region of Tlemcen (Algeria): the first in Sebdou (south of the wilaya of Tlemcen), and the other at Moutas (South West of Tlemcen). A floristic inventory of the plant species encountered in the 02 sites under examination was carried out, which allowed to highlight the principal families. It revealed the presence of species belonging to the Acrididae family and to the Caelifera Order. The diet of Oedipoda miniata was performed by the determination of the faeces contents under microscopic analysis, which is the most objective method, so far. Moreover, it does not disturb the demographic balance of the populations. The study of the diet revealed a limited number of plant species, mainly consisting of Poaceae and Lamiaceae.

A Floristic Inventory of the John W. Nichols Scout Ranch, Canadian County, Oklahoma

We conducted a vascular plant survey of the John Nichols Scout Ranch in southeastern Canadian County, Oklahoma, during the growing seasons of 2017 to 2019. Vouchered specimens were collected for 152 species in 116 genera and 49 families. The largest families represented were the Asteraceae (37 species), Poaceae (19), and Fabaceae (17). No rare species currently being tracked by the Oklahoma Natural Heritage Inventory were encountered. Twenty of the species collected were not native to the United States, of which six ( Lonicera japonica , Lespedeza cuneata , Bothriochloa ischaemum , Bromus tectorum , Sorghum halepense , and Tamarix chinensis ) are considered invasive. Three tree species ( Pinus taeda, Pistacia chinensis , and Taxodium distichum ) were planted in developed areas of the ranch. Species richness appears to be low when compared to surveys of similar size. We suggest that the adjacent properties used for agriculture and housing development have influenced the number of species of this suburban wilderness.

Synopsis of Cyperaceae in the grasslands of Guartelá State Park, Paraná, Brazil

Abstract Cyperaceae is the third largest family among the monocotyledons and is highly represented in grassland environments. The aim of the present study was to conduct a floristic inventory of Cyperaceae in the grasslands of Guartelá State Park (GSP) and to elaborate keys to identify the species, the first for this family in this vegetation type in Paraná state. The GSP is home to relictual vegetation in Paraná, where grassland phytophysiognomies predominate, especially in open areas and rocky outcrops. The inventory was based on field collections and database searches. The family Cyperaceae is represented in the GSP by 32 taxa belonging to seven genera, with Rhynchospora (11 spp.), Bulbostylis (8 spp.), and Cyperus (7 spp.) being the genera with the greatest richness. It should be noted that all the species are native and two are endemic to Brazil. Species occurrence was recorded both in drylands and wetlands environments, emphasizing the importance of microenvironmental conservation in the park. The main literature sources for each genus, as well as information regarding distribution and habitat, are here provided.

An update on the knowledge of aquatic macrophytes in Northeast Brazil

Abstract We updated the first checklist of aquatic macrophytes from Northeast Brazil (First Flora), which included data collected up to 2010, with a new checklist based on data from works published between 2011 and 2017 (New Flora). Together, these checklists record 637 species of 89 families, with an emphasis on strictly amphibious or emergent species, with 392 and 115 species, respectively. We found differences in observed richness between New Flora and First Flora, with an increase of 106 species in the New Flora. The rarefaction curve shows that a considerable increase in collection effort is necessary to determine the aquatic flora of the studied region. From the compiled data, we suggest new perspectives for floristic inventories of aquatic macrophytes, highlighting the prioritization of poorly studied areas; the exploration of ecological information of the species (e.g., endemism, rarity, threat of extinction or invasive potential); and the promotion of projects on a regional scale.

Spatial Analysis of the Woody Flora of the Djoumouna Peri-urban Forest, Brazzaville (Congo)

The spatial analysis of the flora of the peri-urban forest of Djoumouna has been conducted in Brazzaville, Congo. Data collection, conducted from April to August 2017, is based on a floristic inventory of 75 plots of each 400 m2 (20 m x 20 m). The study shows 898 trees of dbh ≥ 10 cm corresponding to 106 species and 36 families. The number of individuals per plot averages 11.97 ± 0.42 feet/plot while the number of species per plot averages 7.37 ± 0.30. The land used by projecting the trunk sections is on average 0.74 ± 0.05 m2/plot. The Jaccard similarity coefficient between plots is between 0 and 75% while the average Skewness is 1.26 ± 0.11. The average Shannon index is 1.77 ± 0.05 per plot with an average maximum diversity of 1.93 ± 0.04. The average Pielou index is 0.91 ± 0.01. The absolute diversity index averages 6.54 ± 0.29 while α-Fisher averages 11.44 ± 1.39. The average value of the Green index is -0.04 ± 0.01 and finally 7.55% of taxa have a rarefaction index of species between 40 and 77% compared to 92.45% where this index varies from 81 to 99%. The upward hierarchical classification and the AFC highlight the presence of floristic subfacies resulting from taxa independence. Since most species have a density of less than 1 tree.ha-1, the floristic composition is heterogeneous, resulting in insufficient natural regeneration and low resilience of this ecosystem threatened with extinction in the very short term.

Floristic Inventory and Ethnobotany of Wild Edible Plants in Cebu Island, Philippines

The study discussed the  diversity, utilization, socio-economic value and threats associated to the wild edible plants (WEPs) in Cebu Island, Philippines. Semi-structured  interview, field observations and pairwise ranking were utilized to  generate responses from purposively-selected  informants living in  three mountain communities in Cebu: Mt. Kapayas, Catmon, Nug-as Forest Reserve, Alcoy and Cantabaco Forest, Toledo. The study recorded a total of 168 edible plant species belonging to 111 genera and 97 families. Majority of plant habits of the recorded plants were trees (42.94%), herbs (30%) and shrubs (14.71%). The recorded use of WEPs include food, medicine, construction/technology, beverage, forage, food coloring and condiments where 30% of the informants suggest the marketability of the WEPs and 14.7% of the WEPs were reported as alternative food source. Test for use diversity showed significant difference in the uses of WEPs in the three sites (X2 = 2.46, α = 0.05). Pairwise-ranking results indicated that selective cutting for construction and technology, natural disaster and agricultural expansion are key threats to WEPs in these areas. The study suggests 1) public awareness and community-based management at all levels to lessen threats, 2) further investigation on nutritive and socio-economic values;and 3) investigation of pharmacological profiles to evaluate medicinal benefits.  Keywords : wild edible plants, ethnobotany, alternative food source

Representatividad de plantas vasculares en los Parques Nacionales Naturales de Colombia: ¿cuántas especies alberga el sistema?

The floristic inventory of the 59 protected natural areas that make up the Natural National Park System (PNN for its initials in Spanish) of Colombia is not complete because the number of species and floristic composition are unknown. We compiled information available in herbarium collections and in the literature, to establish a preliminary list of vascular plant species found in the PNN. We compared this list with the Catalogue of Plants and Lichens of Colombia, and obtained percentage values for the number of species with respect to the national numbers. We estimate that the flora inventory of the PNN has advanced to 70 %. So far, the known species in PNN represent 39.1% of the vascular plant species known for the country, whereas 18.2% of Colombian endemics and 56% of those species categorized in some degree of threat are found in PNN. We propose the use of these results as indices of representativeness of the Colombian flora as a complement to other indices, such as the percentage of national territory that is protected. We emphasize that the national parks associated with the Andes are the most determinant in their contribution to the improvement of the proposed indicators.

The rediscovery of Lobelia macrocentron (Campanulaceae) after 169 years, with notes on the morphology, habitat and conservation status

Lobelia macrocentron (Campanulaceae) was rediscovered when conducting floristic sampling for the Flora inventory of Santuario El Palmito, a natural protected area in the municipality of Concordia, Sinaloa, Mexico. The species was discovered 169 years ago by B.C. Seemann between 1849 and 1850, as part of one of the inland explorations of the Herald’s voyage. Seemann’s specimens served as the type and only known collection of the species. The locality of Seemann’s collections is imprecisely described, so that any search attempt would require an extensive exploration in portions of the states of Durango, Nayarit and Sinaloa, covering more than 350 km of Seemann’s route. Also, morphological variation of L. macrocentron was poorly understood as restricted by the only two available specimens. Consequently, we provide an extended description of the species, color plates with the first available photographs, and discussions about relationships, habitat and conservation status.

Inventory of Flora in Urban Forests of Universiti Malaysia Sabah Campus, Sabah, Malaysia

Species diversity is one of the most important measures for estimating the sustainability of forest communities. This study aims to compare plant diversity between two secondary forest sites namely the UMS Hill and ODEC in Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) and to update the list of flora in UMS forests. A plot of 50 m x 50 m (0.25 ha) was set up at each forest site. Temperature, light intensity and relative humidity were measured in both study plots with HOBO data loggers. A total of 5,301 individuals, 84 species and 48 families were recorded in both plots. The family Zingiberaceae was represented by a single species Alpinia aquatica which dominated other families and species by having the highest abundance, contributing to 19.79% of the total density while the family Rubiaceae was the most speciose in both plots. There was no significant difference between plant species diversity in UMS Hill (H’= 3.355, Hill’s number=29) and ODEC (H’= 3.290, Hill’s number=27) (t=1.827; p = 0.0677). Species in UMS Hill (E = 0.792) was distributed more evenly compared to ODEC (E = 0.785). Measured climate parameters have slight variation in both plots which is attributed to microhabitat influence within each study plot. Similar environmental conditions in both study plots contribute to relatively similar plant diversity and composition in the study plots. The study added 26 species as new records to the existing flora checklist thus giving a total of 302 plant species for the UMS forest.

Nuevo registro del género Loxogramme (Polypodiaceae) para la flora de Honduras

Antecedentes y Objetivos: Loxogramme mexicana, la única especie mesoamericana del género Loxogramme, fue colectada en el Parque Nacional Montaña de Santa Bárbara (PANAMOSAB), siendo este el primer registro confirmado que se documenta para Honduras.Métodos: Durante inventarios florísticos en el PANAMOSAB se colectó una muestra de Loxogramme mexicana a 1385 m s.n.m. y durante el proceso de identificación de la muestra se encontró un error en la inclusión previa de la especie en el catálogo de pteridofitas del país.Resultados clave: Se presenta el registro del género Loxogramme para Honduras y se amplía la distribución desde México hasta Panamá de la especie L. mexicana, ilustrada con un mapa.Conclusiones: Con el fin de actualizar el catálogo de pteridofitas de Honduras, es necesario revisar las especies citadas en la literatura y ejecutar investigaciones de línea base para conocer la riqueza del grupo en el país.

An unusual new record of Baccharis (Asteraceae) from the Peruvian Andes and its relation with the northern limit of the dry puna

Background and Aims: The knowledge of the richness and distribution of the flora in the Peruvian Andes is scarce; about 70 taxonomic novelties have been reported for this area in the last decade, a large part belonging to the Asteraceae. The objective of this paper is to contribute to the knowledge of this flora through a new record of Baccharis acaulis. In addition, the distribution pattern of this species is examined.Methods: As part of floristic inventories in the high Andes of Peru, various field trips were carried out, several plant specimens were collected, among them a previously unreported species, which was identified by consulting some specialists and confirmed using taxonomic keys. Furthermore, predicting species distribution based on ecological niche modeling was made use the machine learning algorithm Maxent with the bioclimatic variables of the WorldClim database.Key results: A species of the genus Baccharis was registered for the first time for the flora of Peru. This species is recognized for its unique habit; it is a rhizomatous herb in which the aboveground part consists of small leaf rosettes surrounding a solitary capitulum. The species was collected in the south of the Peruvian Andes. This record extends the known distribution of the species considerably to the north.Conclusions: This record suggests the need to continue studying the Andean flora, as well as the links of their distribution patterns with the phytogeographical regions.

Árboles útiles del bosque tropical caducifolio secundario en la Reserva Forestal Villa Allende, Chiapas, México

Antecedentes y Objetivos: El bosque tropical caducifolio (BTC) destaca por su valor utilitario, pero la información sobre el uso de las plantas por la población mestiza es limitada. Este estudio describe el valor de uso e importancia ecológica de las especies arbóreas nativas del BTC secundario cercano a comunidades campesinas en la Reserva Forestal Villa Allende, Chiapas, México.Métodos: La información etnobotánica se obtuvo por la técnica de lista libre y se complementó con un inventario florístico a través del método de parcelas. Se calculó el índice de valor de uso como medida de la importancia cultural y se relacionó con la importancia ecológica de cada especie útil, usando valores relativos de frecuencia, densidad y dominancia.Resultados clave: Se registraron 103 especies útiles de angiospermas, 77% de ellas son de uso múltiple y corresponden a 10 categorías de uso, siendo los más destacados: combustible (73), postes (68) y construcción (63). Eysenhardtia adenostylis (1.36) y Acacia pennatula (1.29) fueron las especies con el valor de uso más alto, aunque la mayoría (84%) registró bajos valores de uso (≤0.3). Asimismo, las especies con mayor valor de uso poseen bajos valores de importancia ecológica (IVI ≤0.69). El valor de uso por especie no se relacionó con el valor de importancia ecológica, excepto porque la dominancia del bosque de 19 años de abandono se correlacionó positivamente con el valor de uso (rs=0.30, P=0.04) y la relación significativa entre la densidad con el valor de uso ornamental (rs=0.41, P=0.03). Con base en el valor de uso se recomendaron nueve especies potenciales para conservación y restauración del BTC en la zona estudiada.Conclusiones: El BTC secundario en la Reserva Forestal Villa Allende, Chiapas, provee de especies arbóreas útiles para satisfacer las necesidades básicas de las comunidades, aunque la importancia cultural de éstas no depende de su importancia ecológica.

Unfolding long‐term Late Pleistocene–Holocene disturbances of forest communities in the southwestern Amazonian lowlands

AbstractLinking the distribution of plant species to geology has generally been biased by the over‐simplification of landscape evolution and the lack of understanding of complex geological processes. The Amazonian lowlands have forests in different successional stages, and a growing perception is that such heterogeneity results from long‐term environmental changes. This hypothesis is investigated by designing an analytical model based on past and present‐day vegetation and successions of the plant communities, combined with an advanced understanding of geological history. An area of southwestern Amazonia was selected for floristic inventories, and we interpreted the paleovegetation based on C/N and δ13C analyses of sedimentary organic matter. These data were examined in the context of the geological evolution on the basis of new sedimentological and chronological data. The topographically high Late Pleistocene deposits had continuous and highly diversified late‐successional terra firme forests as well as local fluvial paleolandforms of younger ages with less diversified campinarana forests. Late Pleistocene–Holocene terrains in intermediate elevations had terra firme forests, but shorter trees with lower basal areas and ecotonal forests appeared near the confines of the forest–savanna, while Holocene deposits recorded only seasonally flooded varzea forests. Several deposits of Late Pleistocene and Late Pleistocene–Holocene age recorded an expansion of C4 terrestrial plants before the establishment of the forest from ~20,000 cal yr BP to 7578 cal yr BP, which is not related to past arid episodes. We recorded forests with onsets at 6130–3533 cal yr BP, 3402–2800 cal yr BP, and 1624–964 cal yr BP to terra firme, varzea, and ecotonal forests, respectively. However, not all forests have reached maturity stages due to their location on terrains with a diverse history of terrace downcutting and deposition, which had a direct impact on local hydrology with the interaction of topographic gradients. The hydrology of the study area was also controlled by the distance from the main river valley. Capturing long‐term disturbances over this region of still pristine forests may help elucidate the potential mechanisms that also determine trends in tree growth and forest diversity in other Neotropical regions.

DYNAMICS OF GROWTH OF ALBIZIA ADIANTHIFOLIA AND ALBIZIA ZYGIA (TWO LOCAL LEGUMINOUS PLANTS WITH RAPID GROWTH) DURING THE REGENERATION OF THE POST-FARMING FALLOW AND DEGRADED SPACES

The threat which is on the forests and wooded spaces of Africa and particularly those of Côte d'Ivoire is accentuated over the years. The quoted leading causes are the land pressure related to demography, the anarchistic exploitation of the forest woody plants and itinerant agriculture. In many cases, the afforestation is the recommended palliative measure. But with which woody plants does one retimber in Côte d'Ivoire? Which assessment are previous initiatives made? On several occasions the exotic woody plants with rapid growth were used without success. The main objective of this study is to identify local woody plants with rapid growths of which the use will contribute to a significant degree to fast regeneration of our forests, degraded spaces and the post-farming fallow. Floristic inventories and measurements were carried out on the stems of Albizia adianthifolia and Albizia zygia in elementary plots of 400 m ² (20m X 20m). Two local arborescent Leguminous plants with rapid growth were identified for this purpose. They were: Albizia adianthifolia and Albizia zygia. The experiments showed that these species reach the maximas of their growth in height and thickness as from nine (9) years. The sowing of the fallow and/or spaces degraded by these woody species supports the fast regeneration of these degraded spaces.

Above-ground woody biomass distribution in Amazonian floodplain forests: Effects of hydroperiod and substrate properties

The importance of tropical forests in regulating global carbon stocks is well known. However, the role of abiotic variables related to climate conditions and edaphic parameters for patterns of above-ground woody biomass (AGWB) are still under debate. For Amazonian forests subjected to periodic floods, these patterns are even more uncertain. This study aimed to evaluate AGWB stocks in Amazonian floodplain forest, and investigate the importance of forest structure, hydroperiod and edaphic parameters for AGWB. Results are based on floristic inventories conducted in twelve hectares of forest distributed across four floodplains. All trees ≥10 cm DBH were tagged, identified, and had their DBH and height measured. Allometric equations were applied for calculating AGWB. Hydroperiod was estimated for each sample plot, and soil samples were collected and chemical and physical components analyzed. Hierarchical partitioning was applied to determine importance of forest structure variables for AGWB, and GLMMs to evaluate the individual role of several edaphic parameters and hydroperiod for AGWB stocks. AGWB estimates varied substantially both between and within sites, as did the proportional contribution of forest structure variables to AGWB. Fabaceae contributed most to AGWB overall, and hydroperiod was more important than soil fertility in explaining variation in AGWB values. Amongst the edaphic variables, Iron (Fe) was the component that influenced AGWB the most, followed by Aluminium (Al) and Phosphorus (P). Overall, our results indicate that, on the investigated Amazonian floodplains, AGWB is mainly driven by hydroperiod rather than edaphic properties. This occurs despite a constant input of nutrients caused by flooding events. In addition, this is the first study to suggest that P appears to be of some importance in Amazonian várzea and paleo-várzea floodplains, where soil fertility is generally higher than in non-flooded terra firme forests.

Diversité Floristique Et Structurale De Deux Forêts Communautaires Sous Exploitation Au Cameroun: Cas De Kompia Et Nkolenyeng

The attribution of community forests to local populations has emerged as a new participative management system of plant biodiversity in Cameroon. Further to the intensification of anthropogenic activities in these forests, the logging impact on this biodiversity remains poorly known. This study was conducted in two different community forests located in the Kompia and Nkolenyeng villages, respectively. It aims to provide information on the state of the flora and plant structure of the community forests subjected to logging activities. Floristic inventories were carried out in nine biotope types using the variable-area sampling method. A total of 2772 individuals with dbh ≥ 10 cm were recorded in the community forests. In the whole biotopes, the species richness ranges from 19 to 98 species, the Shannon diversity index from 3.63 to 5.99 and the Pielou evenness from 0.65 to 0.93. The density of trees ranges from 73 ± 27 to 661 ± 119 stems ha-1 , the basal area from 15.68 ± 13.14 to 70.05 ± 28.76 m² ha-1 , the mean diameter of 18.85 ± 4.80 to 57.39 ± 20.70 cm and the canopy height from 12.26 ± 1.22 to 25.18 ± 1.02 m, on the average between biotopes. The two community forests showed decrease in tree density, a proliferation of the pioneer species, increase of small-diameter light-demanding species, a scarcity of large-diameter trees, and lowering of canopy height. These changes could compromise the sustainable management of these forests and their ability to ensure long-term local development. The large number of useful species identified in the two community forests is a reason to reinforce the preservation and management measures of the plant biodiversity of these forest areas.