Local Vegetation Research Articles

Local and landscape factors differentially influence predatory arthropods in urban agroecosystems

AbstractLike other urban green spaces, urban community gardens can act as biodiversity refugees, especially for small organisms like arthropods. In turn, arthropods can provide important ecosystem pest control services to these agroecosystems. Thus, an often‐asked question among urban gardeners is how to improve gardens and surrounding areas for natural enemies and associated pest control services. We examine how local vegetation and garden characteristics, as well as the surrounding landscape composition, affect ground‐dwelling beetles (Coleoptera: Carabidae and Staphylinidae), spiders (Araneae), opilionids (Opiliones), and ladybird beetles (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae), all of which are important predators. In the summer of 2019, we collected predators, vegetation, ground cover, and garden and landscape characteristic data from 10 community gardens in the city of Seattle, Washington. We found that different groups of natural enemies are associated with different environmental variables and at different scales; probably related to differences in their dispersal capabilities, habits, and diets. Floral variables (number of flowers and number of species in flower) had a negative effect on nonflying natural enemies (spiders, opilionids, and ground‐dwelling beetles), but not on flying ones (ladybird beetles). The only taxon that was significantly affected by a landscape‐scale variable was Opiliones, the only group examined that exclusively disperses by ground. Our results show contrasting results to similar studies in different regions and highlight the need to expand the taxa and regions of study.

Linking African herbivore community enamel isotopes and environments: challenges, opportunities, and paleoecological implications.

Paleoenvironmental reconstructions of fossil sites based on isotopic analyses of enamel typically rely on data from multiple herbivore taxa, with the assumption that this dietary spectrum represents the community's isotopic range and provides insights into local or regional vegetation patterns. However, it remains unclear how representative the sampled taxa are of the broader herbivore community and how well these data correspond to specific ecosystems. Verifying these underlying assumptions is essential to refining the utility of enamel isotopic values for paleoenvironmental reconstructions. This study explores potential links between modern herbivore community carbon isotopic enamel spectra, biome types, and climate in sub-Saharan Africa. This region is one of the most comprehensively isotopically sampled areas globally and is of particular relevance to hominin evolution. Our extensive data compilation reveals that published enamel isotopic data from sub-Saharan Africa typically sample only a small percentage of the taxa documented at most localities and that some biome types (e.g., subtropical savannas) are dramatically overrepresented relative to others (e.g., forests) in these modern data sets. Multiple statistical analyses, including linear models and cluster analyses, revealed weak relationships of associated mammalian herbivore enamel isotopic values, biome type, and climate parameters. These results confound any simple assumptions about how community isotopic profiles map onto specific environments, highlighting the need for more precise strategic approaches in extending isotopic frameworks into the past for paleoecological reconstructions. Developing more refined modern analogs will ultimately allow us to more accurately characterize the isotopic spectra of paleo-communities and link isotopic dietary signatures to specific ecosystems.

Assessing rainfall erosivity changes over China through a Bayesian averaged ensemble of high-resolution climate models

Spatiotemporal variation in rainfall erosivity resulting from changes in rainfall characteristics due to climate change has implications for soil erosion in developing countries. To promote soil and water conservation planning, it is essential to understand past and future changes in rainfall erosivity and their implications on a national scale. In this study, we present an approach that uses a Bayesian model averaging (BMA) method to merge multiple regional climate models (RCMs), thereby improving the reliability of climate-induced rainfall erosivity projections. Our multi-climate model and multi-emission scenario approach utilize five RCMs and two Representative Concentration Pathways (RCP4.5 and RCP8.5) scenarios for the baseline period (1986–2005) and future periods (2071–2090) to characterize the spatiotemporal projection of rainfall erosivity and assess variations in China. Our results indicate that the two models outperform other models in reproducing the spatial distribution and annual cycle of rainfall erosivity in China. Moreover, we found an increasing trend in the annual rainfall erosivity from the baseline climate up to the RCMs for all models, with an average change in erosivity of approximately 10.9% and 14.6% under RCP4.5 and RCP8.5, respectively. Our BMA results showed an increase in the absolute value of rainfall erosivity by 463.3 and 677.0 MJ·mm·hm−2·h−1, respectively, in the South China red soil region and the Southwest China karst region under the RCP8.5 scenario. This increase indicates that climate warming will significantly enhance the potential erosion capacity of rainfall in these regions. Additionally, our study revealed that the Southwest China karst region and the Northwest China Loess Plateau region are more sensitive to radiation forcing. To mitigate the risk of soil erosion caused by climate change, it is necessary to consider changes in rainfall erosivity, local soil conditions, vegetation coverage, and other factors in different regions and take appropriate soil and water conservation measures.

Urbanization reduces Orthoptera diversity and changes community structure towards mobile species

Abstract Urban land use is regarded as one major driver for insect declines worldwide. We investigated how Orthoptera diversity and traits respond to the urban matrix and local vegetation parameters. Orthoptera were collected using a combined method of box‐quadrat sampling and pitfall trapping. We sampled 42 dry grasslands in Berlin, Germany, along gradients of urbanization (measured as proportion of sealed surface in the surrounding of the sites) and connectivity. We further included patch size and local vegetation parameters (plant richness, total vegetation cover, herb cover, neophyte cover) in our models. Urbanization was the main driver explaining Orthoptera species richness, Simpson diversity and functional diversity (functional dispersion), which all decreased with increasing proportion of sealed surface in the surrounding. Urbanization also influenced the Orthoptera species composition. Thereby, functional trait analyses revealed that the urban matrix acted as a habitat filter sorting towards mobile species. However, responses of the most common species showed that the effects of the urban matrix and vegetation parameters were species specific. Our results demonstrate predominantly negative effects of urbanization on Orthoptera diversity. Nevertheless, urban environments can provide important habitats, in particular for mobile species. Even small and isolated patches of dry grasslands can contribute to Orthoptera conservation in cities.

First palynological results from Spila nad Procjepom cave, Mljet island (Croatia)

This paper presents the first results of palynological research from the Spila nad Procjepom cave, situated in the Mljet National Park, Croatia. The palynological data obtained, enables a partial insight into the local vegetation cover, temporal changes in the vegetation during the accumulation of studied deposits (at ca. 3500 cal years BP), and post-depositional processes that influenced the palynomorph assemblage. Results of palynofacies analysis indicate changes from fluvial (channel deposits), through palustrine to terrestrial environments. Although the interpretation of changes in plant cover, due to the lack of statistical significance, should be taken with caution, preserved pollen types confirm the dominance of the Mediterranean evergreen forest vegetation on Mljet island. Moreover, a high proportion of non-arboreal pollen (NAP) indicates some level of forest degradation, ranging from Mediterranean open forest to degraded maquis. Abundant charcoal additionaly confirms that the cave was inhabited by humans.

Forest or grassland? Late Pliocene vegetation and climate of the Yushe Basin, Northern China

The Pliocene warm period is regarded as an analogue of future warming, and quantitative reconstruction of palaeovegetation and palaeoclimate during this period is helpful for predicting vegetation and climate changes in the future. Here, we quantitatively reconstructed the late Pliocene vegetation and climate based on phytolith assemblages from the Upper Zhangcun Formation in the Yushe Basin, Northern China. The results show that the vegetation was dominated by grasses with few trees, which conflicts with the pollen assemblage results. The possible reason for this contradiction is that phytoliths tend to mirror local, shoreline vegetation (grasses with few aquatic plants), while pollen tend to mirror both local and regional vegetation (trees in surrounding mountains and piedmont, grasses on lakeshores and aquatic plants in wetlands) in a small structurally confined lake. The phytolith-based quantitative reconstruction of mean annual precipitation (812–1673 mm) and warm season precipitation (417–1197 mm) provides values that are higher than those at present, revealing an increase in Asian monsoon rainfall during the late Pliocene, which is consistent with the pollen results, although the reconstructed vegetation is different. This study highlights the usefulness of phytoliths in reconstructing Cenozoic vegetation and climate and underlines the importance of landforms in determining phytolith and pollen assemblages in sediments.

Resource partitioning in a novel herbivore assemblage in South America.

Human-induced species declines and extinctions have led to the downsizing of large-herbivore assemblages, with implications for many ecosystem processes. Active reintroduction of extirpated large herbivores or their functional equivalents may help to reverse this trend and restore diverse ecosystems and their processes. However, it is unclear whether resource competition between native and non-native herbivores could threaten restoration initiatives, or to what extent (re)introduced species may influence local vegetation dynamics. To answer these questions, we investigated the diets of a novel South American herbivore assemblage that includes resident native species, reintroduced native species and introduced non-native species. We examined plant composition, diet breadth and the overlap between species to describe the local herbivory profile and the potential for resource competition. Using DNA metabarcoding on faecal samples (n = 465), we analysed the diets of the herbivore assemblage in the Rincón del Socorro rewilding area of Iberá National Park, Argentina. We compared the species richness of faecal samples, the occurrence of plant families/growth forms and the compositional similarity of samples (inter- and intraspecifically). Our results indicate species-level taxonomic partitioning of plant resources by herbivores in this system. Differences in sample richness, composition and diet breadth reflected a diverse range of herbivory strategies, from grazers (capybara) to mixed feeders/browsers (brocket deer, lowland tapir). Differences in diet compositional similarity (Jaccard) revealed strong taxonomic resource partitioning. The two herbivores with the most similar diets (Pampas deer and brocket deer) still differed by more than 80%. Furthermore, all but one species (axis deer) had more similar diet composition intraspecifically than compared to the others. Overall, we found little evidence for resource competition between herbivore species. Instead, recently reintroduced native species and historically introduced non-natives are likely expanding the range of herbivory dynamics in the ecosystem. Further research will be needed to determine the full ecological impacts of these (re)introduced herbivores. In conclusion, we show clear differences in diet breadth and composition among native, reintroduced and non-native herbivore species that may be key to promoting resource partitioning, species coexistence and the restoration of ecological function.

Wind farms increase land surface temperature and reduce vegetation productivity in the Inner Mongolia

Wind power has been developing rapidly as a key measure to mitigate human-driven global warming. The understanding of the development and impacts of wind farms on local climate and vegetation is of great importance for their rational use but is still limited. In this study, we combined remote sensing and on-site investigations to identify wind farm locations in Inner Mongolia and performed landscape pattern analyses using Fragstats. We explored the impacts of wind farms on land surface temperature (LST) and vegetation net primary productivity (NPP) between 1990 and 2020 by contrasting these metrics in wind farms with those in non-wind farm areas. The results showed that the area of wind farms increased rapidly from 1.2 km2 in 1990 to 10,755 km2 in 2020. Spatially, wind farms are mainly clustered in three aggregation areas in the center. Further, wind farms increased nighttime LST, with a mean value of 0.23 °C, but had minor impacts on the daytime LST. Moreover, wind farms caused a decline in NPP, especially over forest areas, with an average reduction of 12.37 GC/m². Given the impact of wind farms on LST and NPP, we suggest that the development of wind farms should fully consider their direct and potential impacts. This study provides scientific guidance on the spatial pattern of future wind farms.

Edible plants as a complement to the diet of peasant farmers: a case study of the Totonacapan region of Puebla, Mexico

Peasant societies have traditionally produced food for themselves and for the market based on a diversity of plants that they grow and cultivate in their agroecosystems; however, these societies are modifying their agriculture, their consumption, the structure and composition of their plots and abandoning the consumption of these species, which are gradually ceasing to be part of their diets. This research aimed to analyze the contribution of local crop diversity to the peasant diet of the Totonacapan region of Puebla, Mexico. During 2020, 270 dietary surveys were applied, and in 2022, the richness of edible species in 146 peasant plots was recorded and 69 semi-structured interviews were conducted to document ethnobotanical information on edible species. A total of 102 edible species were identified in the plots; 65 are native and 37 are introduced. The milpas and the family garden are the main areas where food for self-consumption is grown: corn, beans, and some grean leaves (quelites). Meanwhile, coffee plantations and horticultural areas mainly contain food for sale; coffee, fat pepper, bananas, oranges, and chili peppers stand out. Half of the plants inventoried (53%) were not recorded in the diet surveys. Absent foods were fruit trees, roots and tubers, spices, quelites, and local vegetables. On the other hand, most of the 48 species recorded in the plots and the dietary surveys had a very low frequency of consumption. The limited consumption of this group of species is largely because they are no longer suitable for consumption, are difficult to cook, or require much time for collection and preparation. The reason villagers conserve these plants may be because they are emergency foods. After all, they consume them eventually or in times of scarcity, hence the importance of keeping them in the plots. Even though a great wealth of edible plants is grown in the campesino plots, it does not mean they have a relevant presence in the diets.

Harnessing Hyper-Accumulator Plants for an Innovative Green Technology to Recover Nickle from Serpentine Soils in Sri Lanka

Phyto-mining is an environmentally sound green technique that has been employed for metal recovery from low-grade sources using hyperaccumulator plants. Due to its economic viability and wide social acceptance, this technology has been favoured over many conventional mining applications. Nickel (Ni) phyto-mining was introduced to the world with the identification of many Ni hyperaccumulator species grown in Ni-enriched metalliferous soils like serpentine, where they accumulate more than 1,000 mg/kg of Ni. Along the boundary of Highland and Vijayan Complexes in Sri Lanka, Ginigalpelessa, Indikolapelessa, and Ussangoda serpentinite deposits are closely located by showing similar geographical features. According to previous studies, these deposits contain a high concentration of Ni in the soil causing the evolution of serpentinite flora unique to these areas. This study aimed to identify the diversity and the presence of hyperaccumulator species that can be employed in Ni phyto-mining. More importantly, the study focused on identifying annual or biannual crop species with short lifespans that can be used in phyto-mining. The plant diversity and abundance analysis were carried out using a grid sampling method (3×3 m), and the highly abundant species were harvested and subjected to aqua regia digestion to determine hyperaccumulator levels using Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometer (ICP-MS). Ginigalpelessa and Indikolapelessa showed similar diversity, abundant with grass and small herb species, such as Apluda mutica, Imperata cylindrica, Eupatorium odoratum, and Tephrosia villosa, where the A. mutica was dominant. In addition, plants like Morinda tinctoria, Vitex pinnata, and Azadirachta indica were dispersed throughout the deposit. Ussangoda deposit exhibited few herb species, including Hybanthus enneaspermus, Evolvulus alsinoides, and Desmodium triflorum, and localized thick vegetation patches. Diversity analysis of all the deposits showed very low plant diversity, ranging from 0.1 to 1.3. Moreover, the areas containing high Ni concentrations (6,000- 10,000 mg/kg) were abundant with stunted trees and grass species. The present study identified the Apluda grass species as a potential Ni hyperaccumulator for phytomining since it accumulates a high concentration of Ni (900-2,800 mg/kg) and can be grown biannually. Even though the grass species was dominant in both Ginigalpelessa and Indikolapelessa deposits, it was not observed in Ussangoda deposit, probably due to the arid climate and the deposition of salt spray from the coast. The findings of this study would be promising to establish phytomining in serpentine soils to support the increasing demand for Ni in the global market, especially for clean energy transition.
 
 Keywords: Low-grade soils, Clean energy transition, Ni phyto-mining, Serpentinite deposits
 
 Financial assistance from SR/LT/2021/15 grant from University of Moratuwa is acknowledged

Born of fire, borne by water – Review of paleo-environmental conditions, floristic assemblages and modes of preservation as evidence of distinct silicification pathways for silcrete floras in Australia

Fossil plants in sub-basaltic andfluvial silcretes differ in their geological setting, silica source, taphonomy, preservation and the plants and communities represented: these factors collectively indicate distinct silicification pathways. This review shows that the floras in sub-basaltic silcretes are mostly autochthonous, being derived from the local vegetation, whereas the floras in inland fluvial silcretes are transported andallochthonous. The floras in both are three-dimensionally preserved. The plantsin sub-basaltic silcretes areusually permineralised, preserving internal anatomy and cellular morphology, whereas the plants in inland fluvial silcretes occur as moulds/impressions that may preserve epidermal andsurface features. Both types of silcrete floras offer insights into past environments and ecological drivers. Terrestrial (ground-dwelling) ferns are frequently preservedin situin sub-basaltic silcretes whilst in the inland fluvial silcretes they are represented only by pinnule fragments or abscised pinnules. The extraordinary anatomical preservation of soft tissues in sub-basaltic silcretes, e.g., exocarps of fruits, bark on wood, actively growing vegetative shoots (fern croziers) and root nodules, is evidence of rapid burial by volcanogenic sediments and subsequent silicification by silica-richgroundwaters. The source of silica was hydrothermal fluids released at the time of eruption and/or the weathering of overlying volcanics, and the acidic (humic) conditions resulting from buried plant material provided ideal geochemical conditions for silica precipitation and plantpermineralisation. The sub-basaltic silcrete floras formed contemporaneously with Eocene–Miocene volcanism in eastern Australia, whereas the formation of inland pedogenic and fluvial silcretes was probably initiated during the Paleocene–Eocene Thermal Maximum (PETM). The fine surface preservation of plants in inland fluvial silcrete floras indicates rapid burial but no organic material is preserved, probably because oxidising groundwaters stripped out the organics before silicification occurred. The comparatively less silica-rich groundwaters associated withfluvial silcretes and the sandy substrates would have further contributed to the loss of plant material.

Development of encyclopedia based on local vegetables North Kayong Regency as biology learning media

The people of North Kayong Regency-West Kalimantan still uphold the culture of utilizing plants as food, known as North Kayong local vegetables. Preserving knowledge about existing local potential and its utilization can be done through education based on local wisdom or local potential. It can be employed as a tool to enhance the efficacy and significance of education while preserving the unique possibilities of every area. The K13 curriculum is a curriculum of change from conceptual learning to contextual learning. The education process according to regional potential can be done through encyclopaedia media that attracts readers because the encyclopedia contains explicit information and is accompanied by pictures with bright colours. analysis and development, the creation of a local vegetable-based encyclopedia of North Kayong Regency as a biology learning media using a development model (D&D) consisting of six stages, namely: problem identification, description of objectives, design and development, product trials, evaluation of trial results, and communication of trial outcomes. The outcomes of validation and students response trials to the encyclopedia media developed obtained perfect scores. Where the validation test received a value from media experts of 97.08% (very valid), material experts of 90.22% (very valid), and language experts of 88.14% (very valid). Students responded very well to the small-scale (78.83%) and large-scale (84.47%) trials.

滋賀県の遺跡花粉データベースからみる地域・局所スケールの植生変遷史

滋賀県における遺跡花粉データベースを用いて，地域・局所スケールでの植生変遷の復元を行った．滋賀県では，60遺跡において891層準の遺跡花粉データが存在していた．遺跡花粉データベースについて集成をした結果，地域スケールでは縄文時代中期以降には，アカガシ亜属を中心とした照葉樹林が優勢であり，縄文時代後期になるとスギも増加したことが示された．弥生以降には，マツ属花粉とイネ科花粉が増加しはじめるものの，それまで優勢であったアカガシ亜属花粉やスギ花粉も依然として高率で出現を続けた．しかし，中世以降には大きく花粉組成が変化し，マツ属花粉の顕著な増加が認められた．遺跡ごとの花粉出現率の時空間分布は，各遺跡近隣での植生景観を反映しており，集落生態系や人々の植物資源利用形態の違いを明らかにできる可能性がある．

Complexities of urban impacts on long-term seasonal trends in a mid-sized arid city

The variability of surface air temperature is of great importance for both society and the environment, is impacted by global warming and local-scale changes. In the arid eastern part of Washington state of USA, substantial urbanization has transformed the Tri-cities into the state’s third-largest urban cluster. This study utilizes a combination of in situ observations and reanalysis datasets to investigate the influence of land use changes on the region’s 2-meter temperature, revealing local effects that compensate for the background global warming. Within the urban fabric, distinct microclimates have emerged due to varying land use, establishing unique relationships between greenness and temperature alterations caused by land use transitions. Notably, our findings demonstrate that the observed compensating signal in the temperature of farmland locations is primarily attributed to local vegetation increases. Through these observations, this research highlights the urban impacts on local climate, offering valuable insights into the complexities surrounding land use and its consequences on the environment.

Keanekaragaman Tanaman Sayur Lokal Pekarangan dan Potensinya sebagai Sumber Nutrisi

Yards have a role in maintaining community food security with one of the food sources being local vegetables. This group of plants has advantages, including having adapted to the local environment, being easy to obtain, and containing substances that are beneficial to the body. This research aims to determine the diversity and nutritional potential of local garden vegetables in Bantul Regency. Data collection was carried out using survey methods and semi-structured interviews using questionnaire instruments. The location for data collection was determined purposively, covering areas in 7 sub-districts (kepanewon) in Bantul Regency. Plant samples are then documented and identified. Proximate, mineral and vitamin analyzes were carried out on kedi (Cnidoscolus chayamansa McVaugh), tayuman (Bauhinia purpurea L.), and mulberry (Morus sp.) plants. The research results showed that there were 71 species from 27 families of local vegetables in residents' yards. The types of local vegetable plants recorded are in the Fabaceae family. Meanwhile, the plants that are often found in residents' yards are chilies (Capsicum spp.), bananas (Musa paradisiaca L.), eggplant (Solanum melongena L.), cassava (Manihot utilissima Pohl.), spinach (Amaranthus sp.), and jackfruit ( Artocarpus heterophyllus Lam.). Comparison of the results of nutritional analysis of three vegetables shows that among the three plants in 100 grams of sample there is the highest value of sodium in kedi leaves, namely 22.73 mg; protein content 7.36%, vitamin A 209.88 mg, and potassium 441.78 mg in tayuman; and energy from total fat 24.57 Kcal, total energy 84.85 Kcal, and calcium 485.43 mg in mulberries.

Multimedia fate simulation of mercury in a coastal urban area based on the fugacity/aquivalence method

Due to intensive industrial production and living activities, urban areas are the main anthropogenic mercury (Hg) emission sources. After entering the environment through exhaust gases, wastewater or waste residues, Hg can migrate and transform among different environmental compartments in various species, such as elemental mercury (Hg0), divalent mercury (Hg2+) and methylmercury (MeHg). Studies have yet to report on the multimedia behaviors of Hg in urban areas due to the complexity of the processes involved. In this study, the atmospheric Hg emission in Dalian, a coastal city in Northeast China, was estimated by an anthropogenic emission inventory, and a Level III multimedia model was constructed based on the fugacity/aquivalence method to simulate the fate of Hg in air, water, soil, sediment, vegetation and film. The total annual atmospheric emission was 9.91 t, of which coal combustion and non-coal sources accounted for 70.1 % and 29.9 %, respectively. Atmospheric emission and advection were dominated by Hg0, and aquatic emission and advection were dominated by Hg2+. The migration of air–vegetation, vegetation–soil and soil–air were three important pathways of Hg in urban areas. The model was validated by collecting local soil and vegetation samples and regional air, seawater and sediment monitoring data. The scenario simulation indicated that the local load would decrease to different extents with a 21.0 % reduction in atmospheric Hg emission by implementing the “coal-to-gas” measures. Our developed model can characterize the fate of Hg in coastal urban areas and provide a reference for control strategies.

Flying to greener pastures: Spider ballooning in the city

Abstract Spider ballooning is a phenomenon in which spiders employ silk threads to travel through the air for dispersal. While this behaviour has been extensively studied in agricultural areas, limited research has been conducted in urban environments, where green spaces are highly fragmented. However, in cities, aerial dispersal can be advantageous for spiders as it allows them to move to suitable habitat patches. This study aimed to investigate how the urban landscape affects spider ballooning. We collected ballooning spider samples using sticky traps in 10 urban sites within different landscape contexts. By using generalised linear models, we analysed the influence of vegetation cover at both local and landscape scales on spider abundance and family richness. Family composition was similar across the city regardless of the landscape context. More individuals were collected dispersing aerially in areas with low landscape‐level green cover. However, a higher local percentage of vegetation cover led to a substantial increase in aerial dispersal in areas with high landscape‐level green cover. Our findings highlight the significance of the interaction between vegetation cover at these two scales on aerial spider abundance. Our results support the hypothesis that generalist spiders exhibit increased ballooning in highly fragmented landscapes, actively seeking suitable habitats despite the elevated associated risk. Higher aerial dispersal in areas with greater local vegetation cover suggests an increase in short‐distance dispersal, indicating spiders' active search for better habitats nearby upon arrival at a site with potentially greater habitat availability.

Plant Growth-Promoting Bacteria (PGPB): A Potent Source of Heavy Metal Stress Management in Plants

Heavy metals or metalloids are toxic elements found throughout the crust of the earth’s surface. The gradual increase of heavy metal concentration in soil and water due to some natural and anthropogenic activities like application of agrochemicals, waste disposal, industrial activities, mining, smelting, lead-based paints, etc cause stress to the local vegetation. Soil microorganisms play a critical part in the remediation of heavy metal contaminated soil and thereby exert direct or indirect promotion to plant growth. Plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB), specially the Plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR), are a natural, sustainable, and eco-friendly solution for mitigating stress challenges. They can boost plant growth by alleviating heavy metal toxicity through various mechanisms such as metal sequestration, metal immobilization, and production of metal chelating compounds, which reduce metal toxicity and enhance plant growth. This review summarizes the effect of heavy metal stress on plants, the response of plants to heavy metal stress, mechanisms involved in metal stress tolerance by soil bacteria, and their application in managing heavy metal stress in plants.

Kettle-hole peatlands as carbon hot spots: Unveiling controls of carbon accumulation rates during the last two millennia

Understanding carbon sequestration patterns in time and space is crucial for models and future projections of carbon uptake. However, their past provides an insight to this understanding, and peatlands play an essential role in the carbon cycle. Hence, peat carbon accumulation rates (PCAR) were reconstructed for the last ±1500 years in three Polish kettle-hole peatlands (Jaczno, Głęboczek and Pawski Ług bogs). Absolute chronologies, retrieved from the Bayesian age-depth models based on high-resolution 14C AMS dating, provided good time control, whereas the selected time interval spanned a broad spectrum of environmental changes and human activity. An additional variable was connected to climate, as the chosen sites are situated along the west-east gradient of northern Poland.The aim was to find factors responsible for changes in carbon accumulation, so the results of PCAR were combined with pollen, testate amoebae, plant macrofossil, and charcoal data. The research showed that the investigated peatlands varied regarding local environmental conditions (e.g. water level), peatland development, vegetation changes, and fire activity. Generally, the PCAR values were higher in the Sphagnum-dominated sections of the profiles with high shares of mixotrophic testate amoebae unless fire hampered the carbon sequestration. However, our research showed that the changes in carbon uptake resulted from various overlapping factors rather than just one. Nevertheless, high values of PCAR in Jaczno and Pawski Ług (mean 74.6 and 79.64 g C/m2/yr, respectively) point to kettle-hole peatlands being exceptionally efficient in carbon sequestration.

Enablers for accelerating biophilic design adoption in Australian buildings

Integrating biophilic design elements, such as green roofs and walls, has been proven to enhance the well-being of building occupants while boosting cities' ecological resilience. While many developed countries have acknowledged these benefits and are incorporating biophilic design principles into their new and refurbished buildings, Australia needs to catch up. This study aims to identify strategies to promote the integration of biophilic design in Australian buildings. To achieve this goal, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 24 architects and building sustainability consultants. The data was analysed using both manual and natural language processing techniques. The study uncovered nine strategies to accelerate the adoption of biophilic design, including making biophilic design a foundational subject in architectural and building sustainability education, enhancing building codes and regulations to mandate minimum biophilic features, demonstrating the business benefits of biophilic design to clients, embedding biophilic design as a core value in design organisations, and disseminating research and information on the cost-effective implementation of local vegetation for biophilic design. The study proposes a comprehensive framework for integrating nature into buildings, highlighting macro and micro enablers and their interactions. The findings offer practical strategies for stakeholders, including governments, design organisations, and professionals, to promote the adoption of biophilic design in Australia. Additionally, the study identifies opportunities to improve building design education and rating schemes to encourage the adoption of biophilic design.