Flowering Vegetation Research Articles

Rainforest transformation reduces parasitoid wasp diversity—Can the enrichment of flowering vegetation alleviate this?

Abstract In Indonesia, the rapid expansion of oil palm and rubber plantations replaces large areas of tropical rainforest. Rainforest transformation alters the diversity and composition of parasitoid wasp communities, but appropriate management strategies to buffer their decline in rainforest transformation landscapes are not yet developed. Here, we studied the effects of rainforest conversion to smallholder rubber and oil palm plantations on parasitoid wasp species richness, abundance and species composition. We also conducted a flowering vegetation enrichment experiment using the flowering weed Asystasia gangetica in all land‐uses to investigate potential mitigation effects on parasitoid wasp diversity and composition. Rainforest transformation to rubber plantations caused a large decrease in species richness (46%) and abundance (59%) of parasitoid wasps. Community structure of parasitoid wasps differed between forest and monoculture habitats with more habitat‐specialised species in forest and a higher proportion of common species in the monoculture. The experimental flowering vegetation enrichment increased parasitoid wasp species richness by 18% and abundance by 127%. Enrichment also enhanced the presence of unique parasitoid species in plantation and furthermore increased differences in community composition between rainforest and plantations. However, the enrichment experiment was confounded by time, meaning that a multi‐year experiment with targeted controls is necessary for statistically more reliable statements. Our study shows the effect of rainforest transformation to oil palm and rubber plantations on parasitoid wasp communities. Although providing additional flowering vegetation in plantations seems to potentially mitigate diversity loss, further research is needed to confirm and to investigate the mechanisms how flowering plants alleviate negative effects of rainforest transformation on parasitoid communities. Thereby, efficient conservation strategies for parasitoids wasps and their biological control services can be developed for rapidly changing tropical landscapes.

Flowering margins support natural enemies between cropping seasons

IntroductionPopulations of natural enemies of insect pests are declining owing to agricultural intensification and indiscriminate use of pesticides, and this may be exacerbated in agricultural systems that clear all margin plants after the cropping season for other uses such as fodder. Retaining a diversity of non-crop flowering vegetation outside the cropping season may support more resilient and effective natural pest regulation.MethodsWe tested the potential for non-crop vegetation to support natural enemies in fields across two locations after harvesting the primary crops of lablab and maize.ResultsA total of 54 plant species were recorded across the sites in Kenya with 59% of them being annuals and 41% perennials. There was a significant seasonal variation in plant species richness (ANOVA: F1, 16 = 33. 45; P< 0.0001) and diversity (ANOVA: F1, 16 = 7.20; P = 0.0511). While time since harvesting was a significant factor influencing the overall abundance of natural enemies (ANOVA: F2, 1,133 = 8.11; P< 0.0001), they were generally higher in abundance in locations with margin plants or where a diversity of margin plants was observed.DiscussionThese findings demonstrate that flowering plants in agricultural systems offer refuge and alternative food for natural enemies and potentially other beneficial insects between cropping seasons. The conservation of natural enemies between crops may lead to more effective natural pest regulation early in the following crop, thus reducing reliance on insecticides application.

Spontaneous flowering vegetation favours hoverflies and parasitoid wasps in apple orchards but has low cascading effects on biological pest control

Floral resources support several ecosystem services in agroecosystems, such as pollination or biological control. Many beneficial organisms feed on nectar or pollen for an important part of their life cycle. Providing adequate and sufficient floral resources through the conservation of spontaneous flowering vegetation may be a strategy to improve biological pest control. However, the role of spontaneous flowering plant species has mainly been evaluated in the recruitment of natural enemies. Cascading effects on pest regulation and damage reduction are rarely studied. Here we evaluated the effect of spontaneous flowering vegetation on pest regulation in 18 Mediterranean apple orchards. We focused on two main apple pests, Cydia pomonella and Dysaphis plantaginea, and on two groups of their natural enemies depending on floral resources: hoverflies and parasitoid wasps. We combined generalised linear mixed models and piecewise structural equation models to test for direct and indirect effects of spontaneous flowering plant species on beneficial insects (hoverflies, parasitoid wasps, wild bees and honeybees) and on pest regulation. We also tested for potential negative interactions between honeybees and hoverflies, parasitoid wasps or wild bees. There was a positive and significant effect of insect-pollinated flowers on hoverflies, parasitoid wasps and bees, but small cascading effects on D. plantaginea or C. pomonella density and associated damage. There was no significant relationship between honeybees and hoverflies, parasitoid wasps or wild bees. The reduction of D. plantaginea infestation was partially mediated by hoverfly abundance. Furthermore, we observed effects of spontaneous flowering vegetation on pest regulation and damage reduction independent of hoverfly and parasitoid wasp abundances. These results highlight the importance of conserving floral resources to support biological control of apple pests. Further studies are needed to better understand interactions between spontaneous flowering vegetation and crop management practices to promote sustainable pest regulation strategies.

Review on Shaka Varga w.s.r. to Bruhatrayee

The vegetables are grouped under Shaka Varga in Ayurvedic classics. The Bruhatrayees are the most important books of Ayurveda classics. They are Charaka Samhita, Sushruta Samhita and Astanga Hridaya/Astanga Sangraha. Most of the plants under Shaka Varga are of controversial botanical identity and some are unidentified. The Bruhatrayees included Shaka Varga under Ahara(food). The Shaka Varga includes Patra Shaka (leafy vegetables), Kanda Shaka (stem vegetables), Phala Shaka (vegetable fruits), Pushpa Shaka (flower vegetables) etc. Consumption of these vegetables helps to maintain the health in the healthy individual and helps in curing the diseases. Certain vegetables are Pathya (suitable) and Apathya (not suitable) for consumption. The vegetables are consumed for the nutrition and as the best calorie diet. The medicinal herbs are used in the small quantities and have huge medicinal properties. The present study is to review on the number of plants with their botanical identification and the Karma of Shaka Varga Dravyas (plants belonging to vegetable category) in Bruhatrayees.

KONTRIBUSI JENIS USAHATANI SAYURAN TERHADAP PENDAPATAN POLA USAHATANI DI KOTA MATARAM

The aims of the study were to determine the dominant types of vegetables cultivated in the city of Mataram, to determine the contribution of each vegetable to the total income of farming patterns in the city of Mataram, to analyze the efficiency of vegetable farming in the city of Mataram. This research uses a descriptive method. Data collection techniques use survey techniques. Types of quantitative and qualitative data, data sources are primary data and secondary data. This research was conducted in Pejarakan Karya Village, Ampenan District. Of the 4 neighborhoods in the Pejarakan Karya Village, the Moncok Karya neighborhood was determined as a sample by purposive sampling on the basis of the largest number of vegetable farmers. The number of respondents was determined by quota sampling, namely as many as 30 respondents selected by random sampling. The analysis used is the analysis of income and contributions. The results showed that there were six types of dominant lowland vegetable plants that were cultivated, namely: spinach vegetables, lettuce vegetables, flower vegetables, pakcoy vegetables, caisim vegetables, and sweet vegetables. The average contribution of plant income for each type of lowland vegetable plant to total agricultural pattern income is 29.64% pakcoy vegetables, 27.49% lettuce vegetables, 25.88% caisim vegetables, 7.40% sweet vegetables, 5.39 % flower vegetables, and 6.73% spinach vegetables, of the six dominant types of vegetable plants that are most efficient for cultivation, namely pakcoy vegetables with an R/C ratio of 3.82.

Optimalisasi Produksi Lebah Madu Galo-Galo dengan Penanaman Vegetasi Berbunga di Sungkai, Kelurahan Lambung Bukik, Padang

One of the things that can be done to increase production in Galo-Galo beekeeping is to plant flowering vegetation around the cultivation location. Some flower plants that are good for planting are Mexican Creeper, Xanthostemon, and Calliandra. These three plants can attract Galo-Galo honey bees to increase honey production. They will be able to improve the farmer's economy in Sungkai, Lambung Bukik Village, and Pauh Padang District. This community service activity aimed to provide understanding and flowering plant seeds to increase the production of Galo-Galo bee honey. The method used was counselling and practice. Planting flower vegetation was carried out in practice directly at the farm location. The activity resulted in 1) Increased partners' knowledge, interest, and skills in breeding Galo-Galo integrated with flowering vegetation. 2) Partners know and can increase the productivity of Galo-Galo bee honey. The activity ran smoothly, and the activity target was appropriately achieved. Farmers participating in the service have been able to cultivate stingless bees and optimize production by planting flowering vegetation.

Hot-air-assisted radio frequency blanching of broccoli: heating uniformity, physicochemical parameters, bioactive compounds, and microstructure.

Vegetables are often blanched before drying. The hot-water blanching (HWB) of broccoli reduces quality and is environmentally harmful. In this work, hot-air-assisted radio frequency heating blanching (HA-RFB) of broccoli was developed for use before further drying processes. Blanching sufficiency, heating uniformity, and heating rate during HA-RFB were investigated to improve the product's physicochemical properties and texture. Suitable heating conditions were achieved when HA-RFB was applied with hot air at 70 °C, with an electrode gap of 10.7 cm, using a cylindrical container for the broccoli. Under these conditions, the relative peroxidase activity in broccoli decreased to 3.26% within 117 s, with 13.45% of weight loss. In comparison with HWB broccoli, the products blanched by HA-RFB preserved their texture, bioactive compounds, and microstructure better. The ascorbic acid, sulforaphane, and total glucosinolate content in HA-RFB products were 251.1%, 131.9% and 36.7% higher than those in HWB broccoli, and HA-RFB treatment led to a greater weight loss (13.45 ± 0.50%) than HWB (8.70 ± 1.70%), which is very helpful for the subsequent drying process. This study demonstrated that HA-RFB could be a promising substitute for HWB to blanch broccoli and other flower vegetables, especially as a pretreatment in the drying process. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.

Effect of banana blossom vegetables for speed up recovery of perineal wounds

<p><strong><em>Background</em></strong><em>: The process of delivery through the birth canal has a risk of experiencing perineal tears, perineal tears can occur spontaneously or tear through episiotomy. The presence of perineal wounds can be one of the predisposing factors for infection during the puerperium. Based on the Indonesian Health Profile in 2018, post-partum wounds are still a common cause of infection, reaching 80-90%. Complementary therapy is the right solution to overcome health problems. One type of biodiversity that can be used as herbal therapy to speed up recovery process of perineal wounds is banana blossom which contains iron which is needed for hydroxylation of proline, lysine, vitamins, flavonoids, and proteins. antioxidant effect which is indispensable in the wound healing process</em></p><p><strong><em>Objectives: </em></strong><em>This study aims to determine the effectiveness of consuming banana flower vegetables to accelerate perineal wound healing.</em></p><p><strong><em>Methods</em></strong><em>: This research is a quasi-experimental study with a Posttest Only Control Group design and then analyzed using a non-parametric test, namely the Mann Whitney test and a significance level of 0.05, to see the difference in perineal wound healing time between the control group and the experimental group</em></p><p><strong><em>Results:</em></strong><em> Based on the results of statistical tests using the Mann Whitney U-Test, a p value of 0.000 <0.05 (α) was obtained which indicated that H1 was accepted and H0 was rejected, meaning that there was a difference in the duration of perineal wound healing between respondents who consumed banana flower vegetables and respondents who did not consume banana heart</em></p><p><strong><em>Conclusions:</em></strong><em> Banana flower has a high antioxidant content which makes the process of joining the tissues on both sides of the wound due to tearing to take place more quickly. With the results of this study, it is hoped that all postpartum women who experience perineal tears can continue to consume banana flower vegetables until the perineal wound heals.</em></p>

Health risk associated with heavy metal contamination of vegetables grown in agricultural soil of Siran valley, Mansehra, Pakistan-a case study.

Monitoring of heavy metals in agricultural soils and the crops grown in them is essential to design mitigation strategies to reduce toxic heavy metals in diet and food chains. We determined chromium (Cr), arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), and lead (Pb) concentrations in the soil-plant system from agricultural fields of Siran Valley, Mansehra, Pakistan, to assess their potential health risk. Although the concentrations of the heavy metals in soils were within the permissible limits for agricultural soils, heavy metal concentrations in many of the vegetables exceeded the recommended safe values. Among the six leafy vegetables tested, all had greater than safe limits for As, four also for Cr and two also for Cd. As level was greater than safe limits in all five fruit and flower vegetables, two had Cr, and one had Pb also at unsafe levels. Among the five tuber, bulb, and root vegetables, As was higher than safe limits in all and Cd in one. The transfer factor in all three categories of vegetables followed the descending order Cd > As > Cr > Pb. Daily intake of metals were within limit set by USEPA for all heavy metals except As. The health risk indices for Cr, As, Cd, and Pb indicated that values greater than 1 for As suggest that the vegetables studied here pose a risk of chronic arsenic poisoning, but other heavy metals do not pose such a risk. Our study reinforces the need for mitigation strategies to reduce unsafe levels of heavy metals in vegetables.

Self-reliant in year-round vegetable production through kitchen garden in Indo-Gangetic Plains

The government of India has long been striving to increase the food and nutritional security of rural and urban households. In this regard, kitchen/homestead gardens of limited available space can play an important role in fullfilling the demand for year-round diversified vegetable requirements. Considering the scope to self-reliant in year-round vegetable production and consumption through kitchen garden model, a field experiment was conducted for consecutive two years (2018–19) at the homestead garden of ICAR - IIFSR Modipuram Meerut. A total of 28 vegetables were selected for year-round vegetable cultivation and were planted in 15 beds varied from 2 to 8 m2. The year-round vegetable patterns under each bed were grown into 3 to 4 cropping seasons. The fifteen cropping patterns were arranged in 62 m2 net areas. The total year-round production of vegetables was 568.7 kg from 62 m2 net areas. Among the different groups of vegetables, 196 kg of root, bulb and tubers vegetables; 160.1 kg leafy and flower vegetables; 184.6 kg of fruit/vegetables and 25.8 kg of leguminous vegetables were obtained from 62 m2 net areas. In our finding, nearly 163 kg vegetable shortage to fullfills the demand of 5 members household. The shortage quantity of vegetables 163 kg can be obtained from increasing 18 m2 net areas in addition to exiting 62 m2. Notably, this model which fullfill the household demands of year-round vegetable requirements in a sustainable way as well as improve the food and nutritional security.

Distribution and harmfulness of Mordellistena parvuliformis Beetle in the left Bank Steppe of Ukraine

Harmfulness and spread of a new dangerous pest of Mordellistena parvuliformis Stshegol.-Bar, 1930 have been recorded in the north-east of Ukraine. The results of researches of the reasons of occurrence, harmfulness and distribution of this dangerous pest of sunflower are generalized.
 It was found that the larvae of the sunflower Mordellistena parvuliformis from the diapause occur from the end of the third decade of April after feeding on dead stem tissue. Depending on the time of hatching, the presence of pupae is observed until the end of May. From the third decade of May, you can see the flight of adults and after a short additional feeding on flowering vegetation — the beginning of mating. Adult flight lasts a little more than 1.5 months — until the second decade of July. Embryonic development lasts about two weeks. The last eggs laid were observed in early August. From the second decade of June there was a revival of larvae, which are in an active state inside the stems until mid-September until the end of feeding and transition to a state of rest for further wintering. Thus, the development of one complete generation of toadstools per year is established.

Can Solar Energy Fuel Pollinator Conservation?

As the expansion of solar power spreads through much of the United States, members of the solar industry are working to change how solar energy facilities are designed and presented to the public. This includes the addition of habitat to conserve pollinators. We highlight and discuss ongoing efforts to couple solar energy production with pollinator conservation, noting recent legal definitions of these practices. We summarize key studies from the field of ecology, bee conservation, and our experience working with members of the solar industry (e.g., contribution to legislation defining solar pollinator habitat). Several recently published studies that employed similar practices to those proposed for solar developments reveal features that should be replicated and encouraged by the industry. These results suggest the addition of native, perennial flowering vegetation will promote wild bee conservation and more sustainable honey beekeeping. Going forward, there is a need for oversight and future research to avoid the misapplication of this promising but as of yet untested practice of coupling solar energy production with pollinator-friendly habitat. We conclude with best practices for the implementation of these additions to realize conservation and agricultural benefits.

The suitability of native flowers as pollen sources for Chrysoperla lucasina (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae).

Green lacewings (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae) are key biological control agents found in a broad range of crops. Given the importance of enhancing their presence and conservation, in this study, we aim to identify and to determine the relative importance of the pollen consumed by Chrysoperla lucasina (Lacroix, 1936) from 29 pollen types offered by 51 native plant species sown in an experimental farm in Villarrubia in the south of Spain. For the purposes of this study, C. lucasina specimens were captured in the late spring of 2016 and 2017. The pollen types and other components in the alimentary canal of C. lucasina were microscopically identified using the transparency method, which is a novel technique applied to green lacewings captured in the field. The results show that (i) C. lucasina feeds on over half of the pollen types offered by the sown plant species, with no differences in behaviour by sex or year; (ii) Capsella bursa-pastoris was the most frequently identified pollen type in the alimentary canal; (iii) the majority of pollen types identified correspond to sown native plant species and not to surrounding plant species; and that (iv) most of the adults studied also consumed honeydew. Our feeding study has important implications for the selection of plant mixtures for ground cover restoration and flower vegetation strips in Mediterranean agroecosystems, which complements our previous findings on how C. lucasina use native plant species as host and reproduction sites. The plant species Capsella bursa-pastoris and Biscutella auriculata, which are best suited to provide pollen, host and reproduction sites for C. lucasina in late spring, should consequently be included in the proposed plant mixtures for Mediterranean agroecosystems.

A CONFORMAÇÃO DA PRAÇA MODERNISTA

O paisagismo brasileiro tem características marcantes, tributárias do trabalho pioneiro de Roberto Burle Marx, arquiteto de formação. Outros arquitetos modernistas também foram encarregados do projeto de espaços livres e este artigo questiona como a praça modernista foi projetada por eles. Recorrendo a um duplo estudo de caso no interior do país e considerando o panorama da arquitetura então vigente e o processo de circulação de ideias, são analisadas as praças Napoleão Moreira da Silva (1957-1962), projetada por José Augusto Bellucci, e Santos Dumont (1970), projetada por Ícaro de Castro Mello, em dois momentos distintos da história da arquitetura brasileira. Com base em documentos originais e registros fotográficos históricos, a análise formal desenvolvida considera a conformação e a composição de canteiros, passeios, vegetação e mobiliário. Como resultado, este trabalho aponta que os arquitetos adaptaram estratégias projetuais e repertório formal da arquitetura para o projeto de praças e que, através do compartilhamento de conhecimento técnico e afinidades estéticas, paisagismo e arquitetura consolidaram formas comuns e ideias afins.Palavras-chave: projeto arquitetônico, arquitetura brasileira, circulação de ideias, metodologia de projeto, arquitetura moderna.

ANALYSIS OF REGULATIONS REGARDING THE SETTLEMENT OF ISSUES ON THE REMOVAL AND RECOVERY OF PLANTATIONS IN THE RIGHT-OF-WAY OF PUBLIC ROADS

Greening of roads contributes to the protection of roads and their elements from influence of adverse weather and climatic factors; it includes the measures for improvement and landscaping of roads, ensures the protection of roadside areas from transport pollution, provides visual orientation of drivers. The solution of these issues will ensure creation and maintenance of safe and comfortable conditions for travelers. Green plantings in the right-of-way road area include woody, bushy, flower and grass vegetation of natural and artificial origin. For proper operation of public roads and satisfaction of other needs of the industry, there may be the need in removing the greenery. The reason for the removal of greenery in the right-of-way road area may be due to the following factors: construction of the architectural object, widening of the motor road, repair works in the security zone of overhead power lines, water supply, drainage, heating, telecommunications facilities, cutting of hazardous, dry and fautal trees, as well as self-grown and brushwood trees with a root neck diameter not exceeding 5 cm, elimination of the consequences of natural disasters and emergencies. The removal of plantations in the right-of-way area is executed in order to ensure traffic safety conditions and to improve the quality of plantations composition and their protective properties. Nowadays, in Ukraine there is no clear procedure for issuing permits for removing of such plantations. In order to resolve this issue, there is a need in determining the list of regulations in the area of forest resources of Ukraine and, if needed, the list of regulatory acts that have to be improved; to prepare a draft of the regulatory legal act that would establish the procedure of plantations cutting, the methodology of their condition determination, recovery costs determination, the features of cutting. Keywords: plantations, cutting, right-of-way, woodcutting permit, order.

Essential oil composition of Artemisia abrotanum L. during different vegetation stages in Lithuania

Artemisia abrotanum L. was introduced in the Middle of Lithuania Collection of Spice–Melliferous Plants of the Scientific Sector of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants of the Botanical Garden ex situ at Vytautas Magnus University since 1980. The object of investigation was Artemisiae abrotani herba of Artemisia abrotanum L. All samples were collected at different vegetation stages: growth and leaf production, flower bud development, the beginning of flowering, massive flowering and the end of flowering. Essential oils were obtained by hydrodistillation. The chemical composition of the essential oils of Artemisiae abrotani herba was studied by GC/MS in the Department of Analytical and Toxicological Chemistry at the Lithuanian University of Health Science in 2018–2019. Fifty-six compounds of the oil were identified, of which (+)-piperitone was the major component (20.38–38.48%). The data in this study showed a remarkable quantitative variation of constituents in the essential oils. The highest content and diversity of compounds was determined during the flower bud development stage. Sixty identified compounds in this stage reached 76.6% of the identified oil content. The highest concentration of this compound (38.48%) was detected at the end of the flowering vegetation stage and the lowest amount (20.38%) was found during the growth and leaf production. Among the other major compounds were (+)-piperitone, 1,4-cineole, lavandulyl butyrate, aromandendrene and isogermacrene D.

Birrarung Wilam: A Story from Aboriginal Australia

Birrarung Wilam:A Story from Aboriginal Australia Aunty Joy Murphy, Andrew Kelly, Lisa Kennedy, and Deborah Stevenson, Editor Murphy, Aunty Joy Birrarung Wilam: A Story from Aboriginal Australia; written by Aunty Joy Murphy and Andrew Kelly; illus. by Lisa Kennedy. Candlewick, 2020 [40p] Trade ed. ISBN 9781536209426 $17.99 Reviewed from galleys R* 4-9 yrs What's home, and how do you describe it? What's special about what lives there? Those are the questions answered about the great Australian river Birrarung, in English the river Yarra, by the partnership of Murphy (the Senior Aboriginal Elder of the Wurundjeri people, and a noted storyteller), Kelly (the Riverkeeper of the river Yarra), and Kennedy (descended from the Trawlwoolway people). Drawing on the Woiwurring language of the Wurundjeri, this gentle story chronicles a day in the life of the river and those who live in its habitat ("wilam" means "home"), traveling from its source to its mouth as the day goes on. Woiwurring terms for local flora, fauna, and geography combine seamlessly and unitalicized with English in what is essentially a bilingual text ("Deep in the yerin, wallert comes home. … Parnmin falls on djerang, flows down wirrup, and soaks into yeameneen beek"). It's a musical and well-crafted text that evinces Murphy's roots in storytelling, but the synthesis of languages immediately sharpens listener attention. Young audiences will enjoy scrutinizing the art and using their deductive skills to guess what the words mean (an appended glossary of the Woiwurrung words, keyed by thumbnail to each spread, offers a pronunciation guide as well as definitions for preparation of readers aloud and revelation of answers for those guessing youngsters). The text starts and ends with Bunjil, the wedge-tailed eagle that is the creator spirit of the Wurundjeri, in between noting birds, mammals, and fish, river, farmlands, and city. The result is an evocative depiction of an ecosystem that emphasizes the view of the people who have been there longest. The acrylic illustrations are intoxicatingly beautiful. Lush full-bleed doublepage spreads are packed with flora and fauna (including people) and they glow with saturated color. Kennedy's deft hand ensures that compositions are perfectly weighted, with white and light highlights lifting every page, patterned elements echoing traditional Aboriginal design, and easy visual rhythm suffusing every spread. Nor is it just the river that shapes the illustrations: in one, rhyming pale tree trunks provide vertical emphasis, in another, an underground burrow snakes across the page (a shape echoed by a bike trail on a subsequent spread); in all, plants grow and flower vigorously, bursting with life, and animals unusual to American eyes go about their riparian existence. There's an Edenic flavor to some scenes, like the one featuring kangaroos grazing alongside the winding river, knee deep in verdant flowering vegetation, but this is less Eden than a kindly post-industrial world with people biking alongside the river or rowing in it, and the gleaming city skyline is a geometric accent rather than an intrusion. [End Page 461] Kids who would normally snooze through a travelogue will find this inviting, and those already interested in in ecosystems may be encouraged to similarly document their own. It's also a book that offers many possible approaches. You can draw on it it for a discussion of place alongside books like Wheatley's My Place (BCCB 7/90), or as an introduction to Australian wildlife in partnership with Nic Bishop's photoessays such as Nic Bishop Marsupials (BCCB 11/09). Or bring it out as part of an exploration of rivers, alongside Cooper's River (BCCB 10/19) or even that old American classic, Holling's Paddle-to-the-Sea. However you use it, it's a dazzling literary journey. (See p. 489 for publication information.) Copyright © 2020 The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois

Sustainable vegetable production under changing climate: The impact of elevated CO2 on yield of vegetables and the interactions with environments-A review

High temperatures and drought that accompany climate changes decrease food production and threaten food security globally. On the other hand, elevated atmospheric CO2 (eCO2) can enhance the yield of vegetables that are more nutrient-demanding compared to grain crops. Therefore, it is expected that vegetables would respond in another way to eCO2 and interact with environmental changes differently. In this study, we reviewed the effect of eCO2 on yield and yield components of vegetables by a meta-analysis using 107 selected articles. Elevated CO2 (827 μmol mol−1) increased yield of vegetables as a whole by 34% (n = 8877) but did not affect the dry matter content. Elevated CO2 increased the harvest index by 23% whilst it increased the root to shoot biomass ratio by 8%. The increased vegetable yield was associated with increased vegetable number of the organs largely by 32% and vegetable mass to a lesser extent (11%). The least increases in the mass of fruit vegetables (10%) could be the reason for the least yield improvement (30%, n = 5778) when compared to leafy vegetables, stem vegetables, root vegetables and flower vegetables. In addition, the effect of eCO2 on yield tended to differ between the levels of temperature, light, water and N availability, with the differences being greater than those of salinity, O3 and N form. Drought stress appears to be a major constraint limiting the increases in number and yield of vegetables under eCO2. We conclude that environments have to be optimized to improve the yield benefit from high CO2 for a sustainable vegetable production. In scenarios of high CO2 environment, due to climate change, a “wise use” of atmospheric CO2, without implementing an extra source for CO2 is a good step for a cleaner vegetable production.

Environmental condition in British moorlands: quantifying the life cycle of Calluna vulgaris using UAV aerial imagery

ABSTRACT As the dominant vegetation species of most British moorlands, Calluna vulgarisis the focus of much scientific interest. While multiple approaches for quantifying the life cycle of the species have been tested, few, if any, have been successful. Given that British moorland environments are internationally valuable in terms of biogeography and carbon storage, but also inherently vulnerable to change, robust long-term monitoring is urgently needed. This study aimed to develop an original methodology, using UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle) aerial imagery to quantify both flowering and vegetation height at different C. vulgaris growth phases. The former has been previously investigated, although not using low-altitude UAV imagery. The latter has not been tested before. Flower coverage was successfully quantified using supervised pixel-based classification, with statistically significant differences found between percentage flower coverage at each growth phase. Findings from height analysis, using structure-from-motion point clouds, suggest that modelled vegetation height can also be used to distinguish between growth phases. These findings demonstrate that UAV imagery can improve data acquisition in field ecology. The novel approach developed here, based on flower coverage and vegetation height, has potential for use beyond the moorland environment, to improve understadning of spatial characteristics of ecological systems and processes.

Multiple crop bioaccumulation and human exposure of perfluoroalkyl substances around a mega fluorochemical industrial park, China: Implication for planting optimization and food safety

Perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) have become a recognized concern due to their mobility, persistence, ubiquity and health hazards in the environment. In this study, ten types of vegetables and three types of grain crops were collected in two open-air fields with different distances (0.3 km, 10 km) from a mega fluorochemical industrial park (FIP), China. Bioaccumulation characteristics of PFASs in light of crop types and organs were explored, followed by analyzing human exposure and risks to local residents with different age groups and dietary habits. Elevated levels of ∑PFASs were found nearby the FIP ranging from 79.9 ng/g to 200 ng/g in soils and from 58.8 ng/g to 8085 ng/g in crops. Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) was the predominant PFAS component in soil; while shorter-chain perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acids (PFCAs), especially perfluorobutanoic acid (PFBA), were the major PFAS contaminants in multiple crops, resulting from their bioaccumulation preference. Depending on the crop types, the bioaccumulation factors (BAFs) of ∑PFASs for edible parts varied from 0.36 to 48.0, and the highest values were found in shoot vegetables compared with those in fruit vegetables, flower vegetables, root vegetables and grain crops. For typical grains, the BAFs of ∑PFASs decreased in the order of soybean (Glycine max (Linn.) Merr.), wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and corn (Zea mays L.), possibly related to their protein and lipid content. Among specific organs in the whole plants, leaves exhibited the highest BAFs of ∑PFASs compared with corresponding roots, stems, husks or grains. With increasing carbon chain lengths of individual PFCAs (C4-C8), the logarithm of their BAFs for edible parts of various crops showed a linear decrease (0.1–1.16 log decrease per CF2 unit), and the largest decrease was observed in grains. Human exposure to PFOA via the consumption of contaminated crops represents a health risk for local residents, especially for low-age consumers or urban consumers with higher vegetable diet. Implications for planting optimization and food safety were provided aiming to reduce health hazards of PFASs.