High Diversity Of Native Species Research Articles

Traditional botanical knowledge: food plants from the Huni Kuĩ indigenous people, Acre, western Brazilian Amazon

Abstract The Kaxinawá indigenous people (auto-identified as the Huni Kuĩ) are native to the western Amazon, on the Brazilian border with Peru, and have an extensive biodiversity-related knowledge, which is parti of a coherent social-ecological system. Our study investigated native knowledge of edible forest plants, in three communities within the Kaxinawá Indigenous Land on the Lower Rio Jordão, Acre state, Brazil. The principal methods used were participant observation, open and semi-structured interviews and walk-in-the-woods. The study recorded 89 native food species. Some 60% are managed in food-production areas, with 56% of the recorded species have received little or no scientific study of their food potential. The role which natural systems play in Huni Kuĩ society is indicated by the management and use of a high diversity of native species, which contributes to food security and nutritional sovereignty. However, there is a progressive under-utilization and substitution of forest species, due to the introduction of cultivated exotic species and the increase in consumption of industrialized products. An enhancement of the value given to native food-plants is needed to encourage continuing autonomy of production, and diet diversification, as well as the conservation of sociobiodiversity of traditional peoples in the Amazon through sustainable management practices of the current social-ecological system.

History, landscape, and botanical report of a centenary square in Brazil

Abstract Historical research of public spaces provides a better understanding of the social formation and preserve cultural and landscaping heritage. José Bonifácio Square, located in Picacicaba, São Paulo State, Brazil, is an important public space. We carried out a historical survey in the archives of municipal public institutions and a landscape record was done by identifying tree species implanted in the square. We verified a strong church influence in the development of the square landscape project. The first landscaping work occurred in 1885, and it became known as City Public Garden. It presented naturalistic features, using exotic and native species, mainly trees, for landscaping composition. Several modifications and reforms were made from 1885 to 2005. José Bonifácio Square was considered highly diverse (H’ = 3.18) with 151 individuals, distributed in 36 species belonging to 14 botanical families. The native species from Atlantic Forest represented 82.6% of Bignoniaceae, Arecaceae, and Fabaceae species. The high diversity of native species found in José Bonifácio Square allowed us to infer a lower ecological fragility and a higher environmental balance than other Brazilian squares. The analysis of historical information from the years 1885 to 2019 and the analysis of the square’s floristic composition in contemporary times demonstrated José Bonifácio Square’s relevance in forming and conserving Piracicaba’s urban identity.

DArTseq-derived SNPs for the genus Psidium reveal the high diversity of native species

In this study, we characterized DArTseq-derived SNPs for species of Psidium, an important Neotropical genus within the family Myrtaceae. Nine Psidium species were used for the identification and characterization of an interspecific set of SNPs. The samples chosen represented a wide range of variation regarding agronomic traits and geographical origin. The samples were genotyped using the DarTseq methodology. This approach, associated with annotation analysis, generated a set of conserved, polymorphic, and possibly functional SNPs. Most of the SNPs in coding regions of Psidium were annotated for the gene ontology classes. We observed high interspecific diversity among species and considerable intraspecific genetic diversity in native species (P. cattleyanum, P. myrtoides, P. acidum, and P. oblongatum). Psidium guajava, a cultivated species, shows low diversity and shares genetic similarities with the tetraploid P. guineense. The group of markers selected in this study will contribute to the development of a panel of interspecific SNPs for Psidium. Our investigation will support further studies regarding genetic variability, diversity, phylogeny, cytogenetics, and other relationships among Psidium species, constituting essential information for the creation, conservation, management, and use of genetic resources in breeding programs.

Fire versus grazing as tools to restore serpentine grasslands under global change

Grassland restoration in a world of change—including nitrogen deposition and invasion—requires solutions that can be sustained and effective in the face of novel drivers. This challenge is amplified in systems characterized by high spatiotemporal variability, as management to address novel drivers may affect a system differently across its range of variability. California serpentine grasslands epitomize this challenge: they host a high diversity of native species, are characterized by temporal and spatial variability, and are experiencing atmospheric nitrogen deposition that leads to a conversion from native annual forbs to non‐native annual grasses. Here, we test the interactive effects of grazing and fire to restore native serpentine species following annual grass invasion and litter accumulation. We assess management outcomes (burned‐grazed, burned‐ungrazed, and unburned‐ungrazed) using a long‐term (2004–2012) monitoring dataset. A 2004 wildfire led to a reduction in annual grasses and a transient increase in native species (forb) richness. In 2008, cattle grazing was reintroduced and crossed with the burn legacy, which sustained post‐fire diversity and eventually led to native recovery in unburned areas, with a caveat that a period of high precipitation promoted the growth of annual grasses. Our study indicates that short‐term management, such as fire, can promote native forb recovery in invaded serpentine grassland communities, but that ongoing treatments like grazing are necessary to maintain restoration outcomes. We speculate that this recovery may be due to the presence of a robust native seed bank, which may persist despite a period of annual grass conversion.

Revegetation of degraded ecosystems into grasslands using biosolids as an organic amendment: A meta‐analysis

AbstractQuestionsBiosolids are a source of nutrient‐rich organic material that can be used to improve degraded or disturbed soils. Research on vegetation responses to the land application of biosolids has increased in the past 20 years, but there is no consensus on how plant communities respond to biosolids applications. What factors influence productivity and vegetative cover following biosolids application for grassland reclamation? How does the addition of biosolids impact plant community responses?LocationGlobal, but predominantly North America and Europe.MethodsTo explore vegetative responses following biosolids application, we used a global systematic review and meta‐analysis of 59 articles. Our meta‐analysis used the log response ratio (LRR) as an effect size for productivity, total cover, species richness, diversity and exotic species abundance and explored covariates addressing various site characteristics and reclamation strategies.ResultsWe found that across sites, the land application of biosolids significantly increased productivity and cover but had no significant overall effect on species richness, Shannon diversity or exotic species abundance on degraded lands. These increases in the LRR for productivity and vegetative cover were lower on sites that experienced a fire prior to biosolids application. Climatic variables like mean annual temperature were shown to alter the response of vegetative cover, where warmer sites tended to have more positive responses to biosolids. Seeding was found to increase plant cover but decrease species richness early in the reclamation process.ConclusionsThis area of research is growing; most of the publications we used come from the last 20 years and were mostly conducted in North America and Europe. While we can build on the present literature, there is clearly room for more research to ensure the process of reclaiming degraded ecosystems using biosolids results in desired plant communities, e.g. high native species diversity. Future research should consistently report biosolids chemical characteristics as well as application and processing methodologies.

Conifer tree plantations for land rehabilitation: an ecological‐functional evaluation

Plantations of exotic fast‐growing tree species have been widely used for maintaining or restoring ecosystem functions. Despite this, in tropical countries with high biodiversity, these plantations have been the subject of heated debate. We evaluated the long‐term effect of coniferous tree plantations (Cupressus lusitanica, Pinus patula, Pinus elliottii) on the ecological rehabilitation of the Andean highlands in Colombia. To determine degree of rehabilitation, we assessed whether there were differences in the structure or density of native understory vegetation or soil ecological properties between plots established within tree plantations and plots established within other vegetation cover types (secondary forests, ferns, pastures, and abandoned mining areas). Measured variables were combined to create an index of ecological rehabilitation (ERI). We found significant differences in the ERI values among vegetation cover types: secondary forest (11.78) > conifer plantations (P. elliottii: 6.23, P. patula: 5.33, C. lusitanica: 5.24) > ferns (4.16) > pasture (2.50) > abandoned mining areas (0.43). The results obtained showed that, from the structure of native understory vegetation and soil ecological properties, conifer plantations favored the rehabilitation process. However, among them, it was highlighted that the P. elliotii plantations showed significant differences in the density of native understory species, their values being 1.7 and 2.1 times higher than those corresponding to P. patula and C. lusitanica, respectively. Thus, unlike these plantations that could represent an ecological barrier over time, P. elliottii plantations have enabled the advancement of natural succession, showing a high diversity of native species.

IMPORTÂNCIA DAS CORES NO CRESCIMENTO, BEM-ESTAR E REPRODUÇÃO DE PEIXES

O Brasil possui alto potencial para piscicultura devido às suas condições ambientais favoráveis à elevada diversidade de espécies nativas com potencial para corte e para ornamentação e à vasta disponibilidade de recursos hídricos. Os estímulos ambientais são cruciais na modulação do ciclo de vida dos animais e, dessa forma, as modificações inerentes a cor do ambiente pode afetar o comportamento e o desenvolvimento dos peixes. Poucos estudos têm sido dedicados ao entendimento dos efeitos do fundo ou cor de luz sobre a biologia dos peixes. Objetivou-se fazer uma revisão bibliográfica sobre os efeitos das cores no bem-estar, na reprodução e no crescimento dos peixes. A luminosidade, por exemplo, é uma condição ambiental essencial para a sobrevivência dos peixes. A luz também é o principal fator responsável pelo controle do ritmo biológico dos animais. A resposta ao estresse corresponde a uma série de alterações fisiológicas. Os efeitos são divididos em primários, secundários e terciários. A manipulação deste sincronizador ambiente pode auxiliar na produção e na qualidade do pescado dentro da área de piscicultura. O efeito das cores sobre o desempenho produtivo e reprodutivo de peixes dependerá dentre outros fatores, da espécie a ser estudada, do sexo e do estágio de desenvolvimento dessa espécie, e é de suma importância para melhor o bem-estar dos animais e obter maiores rendimentos no setor de piscicultura.

An assessment of conflict areas between alien and native species richness of terrestrial vertebrates on a macro‐ecological scale in a Mediterranean hotspot

AbstractUnderstanding how the diversity of invasive species is geographically distributed and identifying the major drivers of that pattern is a relevant challenge as regards invasion biology. The aim of this paper was, therefore, to identify and characterize those areas colonized by a high number of alien species as a means to provide directional indications that can be used to minimize the potential negative effects that the alien species may have on host ecosystems. This is done by applying spatially explicit predictive modeling in order to explain the diversity of vertebrate alien species in Spain. The relative importance of the different factors was assessed using variation partitioning. Our results showed that the main factor as regards predicting the distribution of alien species was the anthropogenic variable, and that this was followed by abiotic variables. The other significant predictor of alien species was the number of native species, which had a positive relationship with the number of alien species. This accord with the ‘the rich get richer’ acceptance hypothesis, which predicts a higher number of alien species in areas with high native species diversity. In this study, we detected actual conflict areas (ACAs), which have high‐medium values for the number of both native and alien species. Many of the ACAs identified some overlap with protected areas, which further aggravate the problem as these areas are often the home to endangered species which may be adversely affected by the emergence of alien species. This signifies that eradication, control or mitigation programs should be carried out to reduce the undesirable impact of alien species in these areas. However, other areas of conflict also appeared in unprotected areas near to big cities, where monitoring and preventive measures are necessary to avoid the release of new species and their subsequent spread.

Native and non-native herbaceous species dependence on tree cover in grazing systems from northern Chilean Patagonia

Grazing systems that combine grasslands and woodlands represent changes in tree cover that influences herbaceous vegetation and may threaten the native forest flora. We studied these influences in Chilean Patagonia where recent colonization resulted in the fragmentation of the lenga (Nothofagus pumilio) forests leading to a mosaic-type landscape. The herbaceous vegetation, transmitted photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) and other forest structure characteristics were sampled in 15 (20m×20m) plots differing in tree cover for two years, while considering the relative position (below or beyond) of tree crowns. Herbaceous species were classified as forest, non-forest, and forest indifferent species according to their preference, rejection or indifference to the forest environment. Species richness decreased with increasing PAR but this was dependent on the response of non-natives. Species composition varied gradually from open grasslands to dense forests, according to transmitted PAR values. Native species were associated to either forests or open areas, but the number of native species did not vary along the tree cover gradient (beyond tree crowns) or even decreased (below tree crowns). Non-native species dominated in the open grasslands and beyond tree crowns and its richness increased with transmitted PAR. The occurrence of grasslands and dense forests within this grazing system is shown to promote higher species richness. Management will consider that dense forest patches are necessary for maintaining a high diversity of native species, since isolated trees or low wooded areas do not guarantee the persistence of all native species associated to the original forests.

Small-sized Fish Assemblages Do not Differ Between a Native and a Recently Established Non-indigenous Macrophyte in a Neotropical Ecosystem

Hydrilla verticillata recently invaded a protected area in the Upper Parana River floodplain. In a rare opportunity, when this non-indigenous species co-occurred with the native Egeria najas in a secondary channel of the river, we assessed its effects on assemblage of small-sized fish. Traps were used to catch fish inside macrophyte patches in periods of low and high water. We assessed fish abundance, biomass, diversity, richness and the community composition (using a DCA). The number of fish species did not differ between plants. Fish abundance and biomass were significantly higher during the low water period but plant species did not affect these attributes. Similarly, fish assemblage composition differed only between seasons. Our results indicate that the oscillations in the water level had a greater effect on the small-sized fish assemblage than the presence of the non-indigenous macrophyte. In addition, H. verticillata favors small fish assemblages such as the native does; however, we contend that our conclusions are valid only for habitats scarcely colonized by native plant species. The invasion of other habitats colonized by a high diversity of native species of macrophytes, which are key for small-sized fish, is a matter of concern.

Large-scale ecological restoration of high-diversity tropical forests in SE Brazil

The complex interactions among endangered ecosystems, landowners’ interests, and different models of land tenure and use, constitute an important series of challenges for those seeking to maintain and restore biodiversity and augment the flow of ecosystem services. Over the past 10 years, we have developed a data-based approach to address these challenges and to achieve medium and large-scale ecological restoration of riparian areas on private lands in the state of São Paulo, southeastern Brazil. Given varying motivations for ecological restoration, the location of riparian areas within landholdings, environmental zoning of different riparian areas, and best-practice restoration methods were developed for each situation. A total of 32 ongoing projects, covering 527,982 ha, were evaluated in large sugarcane farms and small mixed farms, and six different restoration techniques have been developed to help upscale the effort. Small mixed farms had higher portions of land requiring protection as riparian areas (13.3%), and lower forest cover of riparian areas (18.3%), than large sugarcane farms (10.0% and 36.9%, respectively for riparian areas and forest cover values). In both types of farms, forest fragments required some degree of restoration. Historical anthropogenic degradation has compromised forest ecosystem structure and functioning, despite their high-diversity of native tree and shrub species. Notably, land use patterns in riparian areas differed markedly. Large sugarcane farms had higher portions of riparian areas occupied by highly mechanized agriculture, abandoned fields, and anthropogenic wet fields created by siltation in water courses. In contrast, in small mixed crop farms, low or non-mechanized agriculture and pasturelands were predominant. Despite these differences, plantations of native tree species covering the entire area was by far the main restoration method needed both by large sugarcane farms (76.0%) and small mixed farms (92.4%), in view of the low resilience of target sites, reduced forest cover, and high fragmentation, all of which limit the potential for autogenic restoration. We propose that plantations should be carried out with a high-diversity of native species in order to create biologically viable restored forests, and to assist long-term biodiversity persistence at the landscape scale. Finally, we propose strategies to integrate the political, socio-economic and methodological aspects needed to upscale restoration efforts in tropical forest regions throughout Latin America and elsewhere.

Does diversity influence soil nitrate, light availability and productivity in the establishment phase of Australian temperate grassland reconstruction?

Summary The successful conservation and restoration of the temperate native grasslands of south‐eastern Australia is critical to reversing the decline in range and diversity of these threatened plant communities. Yet the goals of high native species diversity and weed management are difficult to achieve in grassland restoration projects. To increase our understanding of whether synergies exist between these goals (i.e. whether early introduction of a larger number of species might improve both outcomes in the reassembly of native grassland), we examined the relationships between plant species number, functional group number and resource use during the establishment phase of direct‐sown grassland. We did this by sowing a representative suite of species (at varying levels of species number and functional group number) into experimental plots and then measuring and analysing the extent to which the newly established assemblages captured available resources, i.e. used soil nitrate, absorbed light and produced biomass (vegetative cover). Statistically significant correlations were common between the predictor variables (species number, functional group number, percentage vegetative cover, plant number, presence of idiosyncratic (dominating) species) and responses (soil nitrate concentration, light reduction or ‘extinction’). Higher diversity was associated with lower soil nitrate, while percentage vegetative cover and the presence of idiosyncratic species best predicted light extinction. The relationship between diversity, and plant biomass (measured as vegetative cover) and plant number was positive in the first year of the study. The diversity/biomass relationship became negative in the second year due to the higher numbers and cover of ‘idiosyncratic’ species. The diversity/plant number relationship also became negative in the autumn of the second year and was reduced to a trend by the winter. We found that lower nitrate and increasing plant numbers and vegetative cover were most strongly linked to increasing species number in the early stages of this study. This suggests that introducing and maintaining high diversity early in a native grassland reassembly or enhancement project will improve the resistance (e.g. to weed) of these communities. At later stages of grassland development, this function may be provided by the more dominating idiosyncratic species. The maintenance of diversity, an important goal in its own right, will therefore necessitate managed disturbances to periodically reduce the vegetative dominance of idiosyncratic species, releasing resources for the diverse range of other species whose early introduction will have allowed them to persist in the soil seed bank or as suppressed rootstocks.

Edges of Connection: reconceptualising the human role in urban biogeography

The Sydney Basin Bioregion has high native species diversity, a large proportion of its land area under conservation tenure and over five million human residents. Environmental management strategies developed on the basis of an ecological and biogeographical literature that is either blind to the human presence or views it solely as a threat are unlikely to be effective in such a context. Humans will need to be re-imagined and co-opted as active co-constructors of this nature rather than solely as threats to it. We bring ethnographic and biogeographic evidence together to address this practical challenge, analysing the attitudes and practices of 38 backyarders who live adjacent to, or in close proximity to, bushland. Results are summarised along a continuum between restoration and gardening. Important themes are boundaries and boundedness between domestic and outside space, engagement and stewardship on public land, and nurturing and vigilance behaviours.

Conservation value of agricultural riparian strips in the Boyer River watershed, Québec (Canada)

Riparian habitats play a major role in biodiversity conservation in intensive agricultural landscapes because they represent remnants of both wetland and woody habitats available for wildlife. The importance of herbaceous, shrubby and wooded riparian habitats for the conservation of biodiversity (plants, amphibians, reptiles, birds, small mammals) is well documented for the Boyer River watershed (southern Quebec, Canada). This paper examines their conservation value for these different taxonomic groups at the watershed level and the possible effects on wildlife of various landscape modification scenarios. The overall species richness and insectivorous bird abundance in the watershed would increase markedly if there were more wooded strips in the landscape mainly due to additional plant and bird species. A scenario where all three types of riparian strips would be well-represented in the watershed is most likely to be implemented. This scenario would be the most beneficial to wildlife communities because of high native species diversity within wooded strips combined with the presence of unique species associated with each of the three types of strips. Encouraging landowners to protect existing wooded riparian habitats would be the most effective and cost-beneficial method to maintain current level of habitats distribution in the landscape, and to favour the establishment of new shrubby and wooded strips in the Boyer River watershed.

Effects of human population, area, and time on non-native plant and fish diversity in the United States

Non-native species diversity of plants and fishes in the contiguous 48 United States is analyzed to measure the influence of human population size, time of modern settlement, area and native species diversity. Besides exotic (from outside USA) plants, four types of non-native fishes are examined: established exotic fishes, reported exotic fishes, US fishes not native to a state, and native state fishes moved to new locations in a state. Human population size is most highly correlated with exotic plant diversity ( r>70%) but is still significantly correlated with most types of non-native fish diversity. Time of modern settlement significantly increases non-native plant (but not most fish) diversity, even after the effects of current population size are removed. These patterns occur because most non-native plants are imported for landscaping, farming and other uses intimately linked to human settlements whereas, almost half of non-native fishes were released by state agencies for sport, often into large western states with relatively few humans. This also explains why state area is significantly correlated with all types of non-native fish diversity, but not non-native plant diversity where smaller eastern states have more people and more years of settlement which increase non-native plant diversity. Positive correlation of non-native plant diversity with native plant diversity is found, as humans tend to settle in states with high native species diversity. In contrast, negative correlation between non-native fish and native fish diversity is found. These findings may help predict non-native species diversity if past trends continue. They also imply that the most cost-effective way to slow non-native species impact may be to focus where human population is still small, because rate of establishment of non-native species decreases with increasing human population.