Maintenance Of Vegetation Research Articles

SUBAK: Traditional ecological knowledge for sustainable biodiversity conservation

Abstract Subak is a customary law community with socio-agrarian-religious characteristics, a collection of farmers managing water in rice fields. Nevertheless, Bali’s intense tourism pressures have significantly changed the agricultural system. This study aims to document Subak’s traditional ecological knowledge (TEK) of sustainable biodiversity conservation. This research uses the literature method that emphasizes literature as an object of study. Data on Subak was collected from various online publication sources using several keywords, including ‘Subak’, traditional ecological knowledge’, ‘biodiversity’, ‘conservation’, ‘Tri Hita Karana’, and ‘ecotone’. Descriptive analysis through an ethnosystems approach is used as the main approach to examine the interdependence relationship between certain groups of ethnic and their perspective on nature. The results of the study have documented Subak’s TEK about biodiversity conservation contained in the Tri Hita Karana philosophy through three aspects, namely the spiritual aspect (Parahyangan), the social aspect (Pawongan), and the ecological aspect (Palemahan). The implementation of Parahyangan aspect is reflected in respect and responsibility for nature as a manifestation of divine creation, thus viewing nature as a sacred and precious entity. The Pawongan aspect is reflected in strong social cooperation and respect for local knowledge; and ensures that agricultural practices are not only productive but also sustainable and environmentally friendly, as well as contributing to the preservation of biodiversity and ecosystem balance. Meanwhile, Palemahan aspects are reflected through sustainable soil and water management practices, maintenance of native vegetation and natural habitats, as well as ecosystem conservation and restoration efforts. In conclusion, the Subak system with the Tri Hita Karana philosophy can be a unique model for sustainable biodiversity conservation. Biodiversity conservation not only supports ecosystem resilience but also strengthens social and culturalties.

QUANTITATIVE INVESTIGATION OF URBAN ARBORIZATION: A CASE STUDY IN AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IN IPAUMIRIM/CE

The changes observed in natural landscapes, resulting from population growth and urban expansion, represent alterations in environmental quality and the amount of remaining natural ecosystems, negatively impacting the life of flora, fauna, and, by extension, society. This occurs due to phenomena such as climate change and the depletion of essential resources. Therefore, it is crucial to develop alternatives that promote more sustainable growth, minimizing environmental damage. In this study, a quantitative survey of plant species was conducted through an inventory, investigating all arboreal individuals present in the arborization of José Alves de Oliveira School, in the municipality of Ipaumirim, Ceará, Brazil. A total of 26 individuals were recorded, distributed among three species: Azadirachta indica (Neem, 20 individuals - 76.90%) and Ficus benjamina (Ficus, 5 individuals - 19.20%), both of exotic origin, accounting for 96.10% of the total trees; and Carica papaya (Papaya, 1 individual - 3.90%), of native origin. The results reveal a tree planting process lacking technical standards and marked by randomness, as evidenced by the low diversity and the predominance of exotic species, especially Azadirachta indica, characterizing urban monoarborization. It was observed that the trees were introduced (planted) without technical-scientific knowledge, prioritizing species characterized by rapid growth and greater shade provision, which explains the predominance of the Neem species in the school’s arborization. This situation could harm the local flora and fauna. Through proper planning, issues such as local biodiversity could be considered, ensuring the maintenance, balance, and preservation of native vegetation. Therefore, the specific issue identified in this study highlights the importance of this investigation, pointing to the urgent need for strategic and effective interventions to manage urban arborization, including in large urban centers, where the impacts may reach even greater proportions.

Movements of adult and fledgling Carnaby’s Cockatoos (Zanda latirostris Carnaby, 1948) from eleven breeding areas throughout their range

Context Carnaby’s Cockatoo is an endangered species and the subject of a recovery plan. Aims Our study examined movements of adult and fledgling Carnaby’s Cockatoos from 11 breeding populations in southwestern Australia to establish where the cockatoos spent the non-breeding season (February–May) and sub-adult life-stage. Methods Data were collected on point-to-point movements from re-sightings and recoveries of cockatoos individually marked with patagial tags or leg bands. Sites were mostly located in the wheatbelt of Western Australia. Distribution patterns in the breeding and non-breeding seasons, including nesting sites were derived from location data from the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions’ Threatened and Priority Database. Key results After breeding, adults and their fledglings moved from breeding areas to higher rainfall areas closer to the west and south coasts of south-western Australia where the food supply is greater and more reliable. Sub-adult cockatoos roam much more widely than adults and utilize foraging habitat not previously recognized as being important to this species. Conclusions Important foraging habitat and locations have been identified for breeding populations in the north and south of the range of Carnaby’s Cockatoos. Implications More conservation attention needs to be focussed on locating additional breeding populations, assessing the viability of these populations, and the extent and condition of their nesting and foraging habitat used during their non-breeding season. Conservation of Carnaby’s Cockatoo depends on the maintenance of remnant native vegetation and revegetation of nesting and foraging habitat throughout its range.

Expert system as a tool for management of thermal comfort in heat environments in agribusiness

This study evaluated the environmental conditions of various microenvironments in an urbanized rural area, focusing on the analysis of the Kawamura's Discomfort Index (DIK) and the application of a mathematical model based on fuzzy logic to determine human well-being (HWB). Data were collected at the Federal University of Grande Dourados (UFGD), Dourados-MS, Brazil, during the summer of 2023-2024, in five different microenvironments: no shading with asphalt floor, no shading with grass floor, no shading with concrete floor, tree cover with grassy floor, and tree cover with asphalt floor. Temperature and relative humidity were recorded to calculate DIK and evaluate environmental comfort levels in each location. A mathematical model based on fuzzy logic was also built to see its efficiency in representing real scenarios. In this model, the input variables were DIK and type of land cover, and the output variable was HWB. The results indicated that paved areas without shading presented the highest levels of thermal stress, while areas with greater vegetation cover showed better thermal comfort conditions. The fuzzy model developed proved to be an effective tool for representing levels of human well-being as a function of DIK and the type of land cover, allowing an accurate simulation of environmental scenarios. This research contributes to academia by interacting fuzzy logic with complex variables to accurately study human thermal comfort. Through this study, it was possible to suggest that urban planning policies should prioritize the maintenance and incorporation of vegetation, especially the presence of trees, to promote more comfortable and sustainable environments.

Integrative assessment of in situ combined bioremediation strategies applied to remediate soils spilled with sewage sludges

Landfills and waste disposal sites in the Basque Country are summarized in the inventory of soils that either currently support or have supported potentially polluting activities or facilities (Law 4/2015). Notably, “Landfill 17,” located in Gernika-Lumo, has been receiving, for decades, sewage sludges from the local wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) as agricultural amendment. In order to decontaminate and recover soil functionality, a combination of bioremediation (which involved bioagumentation and phyto- and vermitechnologies) and complementary bioremediation strategy (i.e., promotion and maintenance of the native vegetation) was implemented in situ. Physicochemical and ecotoxicological characterization were achieved. Furthermore, an ecotoxicological assessment of the soils upon flora and fauna was carried out through the application of different bioassays and biomarkers. Additionally, an integrative biomarker response (IBR/n) index was calculated to provide a holistic view of the soil general status. Critical pollutants [Cd, Cr, Ni, Pb, benzo(a)pyrene, and dieldrin] were observed in most of the treated sites. Microbial parameters did not present remarkable differences among sites. However, plant indicators pointed the non-treated site (MN8) as the unhealthiest. This was also observed in earthworms’ immune system, where cytotoxicity appears when exposed to non-treated soils. In conclusion, this field study showed that the combination of bioaugmentation, phytoremediation with native species, and vermiremediation is highly useful in eliminating mixed contamination, improving soil health, and ultimately restoring ecosystem functionality and biodiversity.

Blue-green roofs as nature-based solutions for urban areas: hydrological performance and climatic index analyses.

The water-regulating capacity of nature-based solutions (NBSs) plays a crucial role in providing a full range of ecosystem services and enhancing the resilience of urban systems. This work focuses on the hydrological performance of a particular NBS, the so-called blue-green roof (BGR). The BGR is designed to collect infiltrated rainfall in a water storage layer beneath the soil to support vegetation maintenance, enhance evapotranspiration and cooling, and minimize runoff and drainage system load. The study aims to evaluate the hydrological performance of the BGR at global and event scale and, for the first time, to model climatic factors (easy to measure using common sensors) that affect its stormwater retention capacity. The data collected over 2years and 2months at a 5-min resolution from a pilot study in Central Italy were analysed. Additionally, a new climatic index called AWWP-x (Antecedent Wet Weather Period index) was introduced and calculated. Results show that the BGR has an overall relevant retention rate (67.1%), although the value depends on the rainfall of the observed period. Approximately 50% of the rainfall events did not produce any runoff, and during the dry season, all events were totally absorbed by the BGR. Four climatic variables were identified as significant factors for predicting BGR retention performance (R2 = 0.50). The results suggest that AWWP-130 (number of days to reach 130mm cumulative precipitation) could be a possible proxy for the BGR stormwater retention rate. In general, this study demonstrates the potential for evaluating, planning, and designing NBSs by considering the annual and interannual climatic variability of the investigated specific location.

Effects of fertilization practices and understory on soil health and oil palm performances in smallholdings: An Indonesian case study

CONTEXTSmallholders play a considerable role in oil palm production in Indonesia. Their specific constraints lead to contrasted plot management, especially for fertilization and understory vegetation. Studies disentangling the agro-environmental impacts of oil palm smallholders' management practices at the plot scale remain scarce. The extent to which smallholders' practices affect both agronomic and environmental performances is still to be investigated with robust in-field studies to provide improvement tracks. OBJECTIVEThis study aimed at investigating the effects of both fertilization and understory vegetation management on soil health and oil palm performances. It explored a gradient of management practices, within homogeneous soil and climate conditions and historical development. The objective was to isolate and decipher the specific effects of some key practices on the overall plantation performances. METHODSWe surveyed 16 ex-plasma oil palm smallholders' 25-year old plots, gathering detailed information on management and implementing field measurements (48 points). For soil health assessment, we applied Biofunctool® that consists of nine in-site indicators informing on the soil ability to transform carbon, recycle nutrient and maintain its structure. For the oil palm performances, we relied on conventional appraisal parameters, such as yields, leaf area and nutrient leaf analyses. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONSOur results highlighted that fertilization, especially potassium, played a significant role in sustaining oil palm performances. Understory vegetation had a direct and positive effect on soil structure maintenance indicators. Soil structure improvement was correlated with enhanced oil palm performances. Those results highlighted that, besides nutritional aspects, increasing plot biodiversity through understory vegetation maintenance was associated with enhanced soil health hence potential greater ecosystem functions. SIGNIFICANCEThe findings have implications in terms of better understanding the effects of combined farming practices on the soil-oil palm continuum. It especially highlighted the key role of understory vegetation to improve soil structure maintenance without competing with oil palms in the studied context.

Modelling faecal microbe dynamics within stormwater constructed wetlands

Modelling faecal microbe levels is performed widely in natural and wastewater wetlands, yet these predictions can be challening due to highly stochastic storm events. In our study, a coupled hydrodynamic and microorganism model was developed and tested to predict the long-term faecal microbial removal in stormwater constructed wetlands. The microorganism model simulates the fate and transport of the faecal indicator organism Escherichia coli (E. coli), resolving advection-dispersion, sedimentation, resuspension and die-off based on temperature and UV exposure. The model was tested using a two-year monitoring dataset collected from Troups Creek wetland, a multiple-inflow stormwater wetland in Melbourne, Australia. The model parameter values applied in the coupled model were based on a mixture of site-specific data and values obtained from literature. The only adjusted parameter in our microorganism model was the die-off rate in dark conditions in the stormwater wetlands. An urban stormwater microorganism model, MOPUS, was used to generate continuous catchment E. coli loading rates as input to the wetland. The hydrodynamic model was evaluated using flow rate monitored at the outlet weir, achieving Nash- Sutcliffe Efficiency (E) values of 0.86 over the two-year monitoring period. The E. coli model was tested using outflow E. coli concentration data and achieved an overall E of 0.37. The performance of the microbial model was variable across the 22 monitored events, with E ranging from <0 to 0.8. Sensitivity tests were performed to evaluate the model outputs and the results indicated that (a) the importance of collecting high-quality data for stormwater inputs into wetlands and (b) the importance of accurate estimation of the die-off rate in wetland microbial removal models. Our research showed that this model can be used to help design and rectify stormwater constructed wetlands for better faecal microbial removal, vegetation maintenance and support future real-time decision-making.

The heterogeneous geomorphological impact of an exceptional flood event and the role of floodplain vegetation

AbstractApplication of an integrated spatial approach combining several sources of remote sensing data to include both channel and floodplain morphological and sedimentological impacts has identified the geomorphological effects of three extreme flood events during a single flood season (2019–2020) along a 16‐km reach of the River Teme, UK. This combined approach allowed the assessment of in‐channel pattern development, incision and aggradation; lateral bank migration; and overbank sedimentation and scour by out‐of‐channel flows. Rates of change during the event period were compared with those in the previous 10 years. The approach also allowed the role of vegetation and cultivation, both bankside and out on floodplains, to be assessed with variations in the extent of riparian wood and channel slope driving contrasts in the extent of the response. The spatial impacts from such extreme events are highly localised, varied in kind, and can be considered for both rivers and floodplains together. Erosional effects were distinctively distributed and not simply contributions to ongoing meander development; channel aggradation was localised, and overbank sedimentation explicably patchy. In reaches without woody vegetation, differences in channel and floodplain slope, local floodplain relief as created by prior events, and the impact of man‐made structures were factors that drove variations in flood response. This study strongly underlines the role of continuous riparian vegetation in maintaining bank stability and constraining lateral channel migration, but also to the potential influence of floodplain vegetation and planting for ‘natural engineering’ in the context of floodplains as well as channels in comparable environments. Maintenance of riparian vegetation in the context of landowner and Natural England conflict and management of future flood risk is important, but also highlighted is the need to consider the role of hedgerows and wider planting for constraining soil and riverbank erosion during flood events.

Wildland–Urban Interface: Definition and Physical Fire Risk Mitigation Measures, a Systematic Review

Due to the associated fire risk, the wildland–urban interface (WUI) has drawn the attention of researchers and managers from a range of backgrounds. From a land management point of view, it is important to identify the WUI to determine areas to prioritise for fire risk prevention. It is also important to know the fire risk mitigation measures available to select the most appropriate for each specific context. In this systematic review, definitions of the WUI were investigated and physical mitigation measures for reducing the risk of fire were examined from a land management perspective. The PRISMA 2020 Statement was applied to records published until 31 December 2022 and retrieved from the Web of Science, Scopus, and other research engines. A total of 162 publications from scientific journals and the grey literature were scrutinised and selected for analysis. Only publications providing an original definition of the WUI or proposing physical measures to reduce fire risk at the interface were retained, while those relating to emergency management and social perception were not considered. The risk of bias was reduced by internal cross-assessment by the research team. Definitions of the WUI (n = 40 publications) changed according to the research objective, varying broadly in identification of the anthropogenic and the wildland components of the interface. Terminology varied according to the definition, and the term wildland–human interface (WHI) was found to be more comprehensive than WUI. Methodological definitions of the interface ranged from using aggregated data through to identification of the buildings at risk in the interface with considerable precision. Five categories of physical fire risk mitigation measures (n = 128 publications) were identified: clearance distances, landscaping, wildland fuel management, land planning, and buildings design and materials. The most effective measures were those applied at early stages of urban development, and maintenance of assets and vegetation is crucial for preparedness. This review represents an analysis of scientific evidence on which land managers can base their actions to reduce the fire hazard risk in the WUI. The number of studies investigating the WUI is considerable, but experimental studies and quantitative results are scarce, and better communication and coordination among research groups and land management agencies is advisable. This systematic review was not registered.

Biodiversity response to rapid successive land cover conversions in human-dominated landscapes

Much of the world’s formerly “intact” land cover has been modified by humans with major impacts on biodiversity. Extensive areas of already modified land are now being subjected to yet further land cover conversions. Indeed, in many places, land cover and land use are changing repeatedly and frequently. Here, we use ecological theory to develop a new conceptual framework with associated postulates about how biodiversity could respond to repeated and rapid changes in land cover (over timespans of years to decades). Our framework focuses on five drivers: (1) conversion completeness, (2) persistence of biological, chemical, and physical legacies from previous land cover type to a new kind of cover, (3) number of previous land cover conversions, (4) time elapsed since land cover change, and (5) levels of contrast between the previous and new land cover. We predicted that biodiversity responses to repeated conversions in human-generated land cover would be a function of the main effects of these five drivers, as well as complex interactions among them (e.g. each new land cover type may act as a filter for species assemblages and interact in complex spatio-temporal ways with the previous land cover). Biodiversity responses may therefore be species- and land cover type specific, and not be readily predictable from insights provided by studies of single landscape conversions from an intact to a human-dominated ecosystem. Ignoring the impacts of successive land cover conversions on biodiversity could lead to increased biodiversity loss with each land cover conversion. Therefore, impact assessments are needed each time a new land cover conversion is proposed. Policies and management actions need to focus on the maintenance and/or restoration of remnant vegetation and other kinds of natural features (like large trees and wetlands) with each land cover conversion.

Increased Riparian Vegetation Density and Its Effect on Flow Conditions

The physical and biological structure of riparian vegetation fundamentally influences floodplain roughness, and thus the flood velocity and flood levels of a river. The study aims to provide detailed spatial data on the vegetation density of a floodplain, and to model the effect of the actual vegetation and various scenarios on flow conditions. LiDAR data were applied to evaluate the density and roughness of the submerged understory vegetation over the densely vegetated floodplain of Lower Tisza, Hungary. Then, HEC–RAS 2D modelling was applied to analyse the effect of the actual vegetation on flow conditions. Further scenarios were also created to predict the effect of (i) invasive plant control, (ii) no maintenance, and (iii) riparian vegetation restoration (meadows). According to the results, since the 19th Century, the increased vegetation density is responsible for a 17-cm flood level increase, and if the vegetation grows even denser, a further 7 cm could be expected. As the vegetation density increases, the overbank flow velocity decreases, and the crevasses and flood conveyance zones gradually lose their function. Simultaneously, the flow velocity increases in the channel (from 1 m/s to 1.4 m/s), resulting in an incision. Applying LiDAR-based 2D flow modelling makes it possible to plan sustainable riparian vegetation maintenance (e.g., forestry, invasive species clearance) from both ecology and flood control perspectives.

Sensitivity of tropical montane birds to anthropogenic disturbance and management strategies for their conservation in agricultural landscapes.

Tropical montane bird communities are hypothesized to be highly sensitive to anthropogenic disturbance because species are adapted to a narrow range of environmental conditions and display high rates of endemism. We assessed avian sensitivity at regional and continental scales for a global epicenter of montane bird biodiversity, the tropical Andes. Using data from an intensive field study of cloud forest bird communities across 7 landscapes undergoing agricultural conversion in northern Peru (1800-3100m, 2016-2017) and a pan-Andean synthesis of forest bird sensitivity, we developed management strategies for maintaining avian biodiversity in tropical countrysides and examined how environmental specialization predicts species-specific sensitivity to disturbance. In Peru, bird communities occupying countryside habitats contained 29-93% fewer species compared with those in forests and were compositionally distinct due to high levels of species turnover. Fragments of mature forest acted as reservoirs for forest bird diversity, especially when large or surrounded by mixed successional vegetation. In high-intensity agricultural plots, an addition of 10 silvopasture trees or 10% more fencerows per hectare increased species richness by 18-20%. Insectivores and frugivores were most sensitive to disturbance: abundance of 40-70% of species declined in early successional vegetation and silvopasture. These results were supported by our synthesis of 816 montane bird species studied across the Andes. At least 25% of the species declined due to all forms of disturbance, and the percentage rose to 60% in agricultural landscapes. The most sensitive species were those with narrow elevational ranges and small global range sizes, insectivores and carnivores, and species with specialized trophic niches. We recommend protecting forest fragments, especially large ones, and increasing connectivity through the maintenance of early successional vegetation and silvopastoral trees that increase avian diversity in pastures. We provide lists of species-specific sensitivities to anthropogenic disturbance to inform conservation status assessments of Andean birds.

Nonnative plant invasion increases urban vegetation structure and influences arthropod communities

AbstractAimEcological theory and empirical evidence indicate that greater structural complexity and diversity in plant communities increases arthropod abundance and diversity. Nonnative plants are typically associated with low arthropod abundance and diversity due to lack of evolutionary history. However, nonnative plants increase the structural complexity of forests, as is common in urban forests. Therefore, urban forests are ideal ecosystems to determine whether structural complexity associated with nonnative plants will increase abundance and diversity of arthropods, as predicted by complexity literature, or whether structural complexity associated with nonnative plants will be depauperate of arthropods, as predicted by nonnative plant literature.LocationWe sampled 24 urban temperate deciduous and mixed forests in two cites, Raleigh, North Carolina and Newark, Delaware, in the eastern United States.MethodsWe quantified ground cover vegetation and shrub layer vegetation in each forest and created structural complexity metrics to represent total, nonnative and native understory vegetation structural complexity. We vacuum sampled arthropods from vegetation and quantified the abundance, biomass, richness and diversity of spiders and non‐spider arthropods.ResultsNonnative plants increase understory vegetation complexity in urban forests. In Raleigh and Newark, we found support for the hypotheses that dense vegetation will increase arthropod abundance and biomass, and against the hypothesis that nonnative vegetation will decrease arthropods. Urban forest arthropod abundance and biomass, but not diversity, increased with greater nonnative and native structural complexity.Main ConclusionsInvaded urban forests may provide adequate food in the form of arthropod biomass to transfer energy to the next trophic level, but likely fail to provide ecological services and functions offered by diverse species, like forest specialists. Urban land managers should survey urban forests for nonnative and native plant communities and prioritize replacing dense nonnative plants with native species when allocating vegetation maintenance resources.

Assembly Processes and Biogeographical Characteristics of Soil Bacterial Sub-communities of Different Habitats in Urban Green Spaces.

The process of urbanization is one of the most important human-driven activities that reshape the natural distribution of soil microorganisms. However, it is still unclear about the effects of urbanization on the different taxonomic soil bacterial community dynamics. In this study, we collected soil samples from highly urbanized the regions of Yangtze River Delta, Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei in China, to explore the bio-geographic patterns, assembly processes, and symbiotic patterns of abundant, moderate, and rare bacterial communities. We found that the number of moderate and rare taxa species were lower than that of abundant taxa, but their α-diversity index was higher than abundant taxa. Proteobacteria, Acidobacteria, Actinobacteria, Bacterioidetes, and Chloroflexi were the dominant phylum across all three sub-communities. And the β-diversity value of rare taxa was significantly higher than those of moderate and abundant taxa. Abundant, moderate, and rare sub-communities showed a weak distance-decay relationship, and the moderate taxa had the highest turnover rate of microbial geography in the context of urbanization. Diffusion limitation was the dominant process of soil bacterial community assembly. The co-occurrence networks of abundant, moderate, and rare taxa were dominated by positive correlations. The network of moderate taxa had the highest modularity, followed by abundant taxa. The main functions of the abundant, moderate, and rare taxa were related to Chemoheterotrophy and N transformations. Redundancy analysis showed that the dispersal limitation, climate, and soil properties were the main factors dominating bio-geographic differences in soil bacterial community diversity. We conclude that human-dominated urbanization processes have generated more uncertain survival pressures on soil bacteria, which resulted in a stronger linkage but weak bio-geographic variation for soil bacteria. In the future urban planning process, we suggest that such maintenance of native vegetation and soil types should be considered to maintain the long-term stability of local microbial ecosystem functions.

Anthropogenic activities affect forest structure and arthropod abundance in a Kenyan biodiversity hotspot

AbstractLand-use change remains the main threat to tropical forests and their dependent fauna and flora, and degradation of existing forest remnants will further accelerate species loss. Forest degradation may result directly from human forest use or through spatial effects of land-use change. Understanding the drivers of forest degradation and its effects on biodiversity is pivotal for formulating impactful forest management and monitoring protocols, but such knowledge is lacking for many biodiversity hotspots, such as the Taita Hills in southeast Kenya. Here we first quantify effects of social factors (human activity and presence) at plot and landscape level, forest management (gazetted vs. non-gazetted) and spatial factors (fragment size and distance to forest edge) on the vegetation structure of indigenous Taita forest fragments. Next, we quantify effects of degraded vegetation structure on arthropod abundance and diversity. We show that human presence and activity at both the plot and landscape level explain variation in vegetation structure. We particularly provide evidence that despite a national ban on cutting of indigenous trees, poaching of pole-sized trees for subsistence use may be simplifying vegetation structure, with the strongest effects in edge-dominated, small forest fragments. Furthermore, we found support for a positive effect of vegetation structure on arthropod abundance, although the effect of daily maximum temperature and yearly variation was more pronounced. Maintenance of multi-layered forest vegetation in addition to reforestation maybe a key to conservation of the endangered and endemic fauna of the Taita Hills.

Vegetation Management Cost and Maintenance Implications of Different Ground Covers at Utility-Scale Solar Sites

Utility-scale solar photovoltaics (PV) is the largest and fastest-growing sector of the solar energy market, and plays an important role in ensuring that state and local jurisdictions can meet renewable energy targets. Potential adverse environmental impacts of utility-scale solar PV are well-documented, and the effects of diverse mitigation and dual land use strategies under the banner of ’low-impact solar’ are justly receiving more attention; this article seeks to contribute to improving understanding of this topic. Capital costs for different PV configurations are well-documented; however, operation and maintenance (O&amp;M) costs for vegetation management at low-impact utility-scale solar PV sites are not as well-understood, particularly as they compare to costs for sites that use more conventional ground cover practices, such as turfgrass or gravel. After a literature review of different vegetation strategies and O&amp;M cost considerations, we collected data from utility-scale solar PV O&amp;M stakeholders, including site owners/operators, O&amp;M service providers, vegetation maintenance companies, and solar graziers, on costs and activities associated with vegetation management at low-impact, agrivoltaic, and conventional PV sites. In this paper, we perform data analysis to detail the per-activity and total O&amp;M costs for vegetation management at PV sites with different ground covers and management practices, providing the most comprehensive and detailed assessment of PV vegetation O&amp;M costs to date. For the 54 sites included in our analysis, we found that while the per-acre and per-kilowattdc (kWdc) costs for individual activities, such as mowing, trimming, and herbicide application at native or pollinator friendly ground covers, were lower than at turfgrass sites, the total combined vegetation O&amp;M costs were slightly higher; this is presumably because more individual activities are required for the first 3–5 years of vegetation establishment. Qualitative results include recommendations from data providers for site and system design, and ongoing vegetation management operations.

Influence of vegetation maintenance on flow and mixing: case study comparing fully cut with high-coverage conditions

Abstract. In temperate climates, agricultural ditches are generally bounded by seasonal vegetation, which affects the hydrodynamics and mixing processes within the channel and acts as a buffer strip to reduce a load of pollutants coming from the surrounding cultivated fields. However, even if the control of such vegetation represents a key strategy to support sediment and nutrient management, the studies that investigated the effect of different vegetation maintenance scenarios or vegetation coverage on the flow and mixing dynamics at the reach scale are very limited. To overcome these limitations and provide additional insights into the involved processes, tracer tests were conducted in an agricultural ditch roughly 500 m long close to Warsaw in Poland, focusing on two different vegetation scenarios: highly vegetated and fully cut. Under the highly vegetated scenario, sub-reaches differing in surficial vegetation coverage are analysed separately to better understand the influence of the vegetation conditions on the flow and mixing parameters. Special attention has been paid to the longitudinal dispersion coefficient in complex natural conditions and its dependency on vegetation coverage (V). The vegetation maintenance decreased the travel and residence times of the solute by 3–5 times, moderately increasing the peak concentrations. We found that the dispersion coefficient decreased approximately linearly with the increase of vegetation coverage at V&gt;68 %. Further research is needed at lower vegetation coverage values and different spatial plant distributions. The obtained longitudinal dispersion coefficient values complement dispersion value datasets previously published in the literature, which are barely available for small natural streams. The new process understanding supports the design of future investigations with more environmentally sound vegetation maintenance scenarios.

Control performance of bioretention system on non-point source pollution in typical Chinese rural areas of Southeastern China

Current work focused on analysis and implementation and of bioretention system in typical rural areas in Southeastern China. These areas are vigorously protected by the Chinese government due to their traditional farming and architectural characteristics that symbolize ancient Chinese civilization. Bioretention system with high pollutant removal capacity and strong environment adaptability might be a suitable technical solution for controlling non-point source pollution in ancient Chinese villages. In lab-scale study, the hydraulic characteristics of the media and the impacts of depth of media layer, depth of saturated zone (SZ), vegetation and extra carbon source (ECS) on pollutant removal efficiency of bioretention system against the current situation of NSP in typical Chinese rural areas (TCRA) were investigated. The results revealed that roots were conducive to maintain the hydraulic conductivity and pollutant removal efficiency of the filter media. The increasing depth of media layer and SZ, vegetation, and ECS could improve pollutant controlling performance of bioretention system. A field-scale bioretention system with optimal configuration determined by lab-scale study was implemented on the site. The average removal rates of TSS, COD, TN and TP of the bioretention system in field study were 81.34%, 41.88%, 37.33% and 71.64%, respectively. Bioretention system could combine with nearby farmland in rural areas without disturbing their original texture, furthermore, proper maintenance and replacement of media and vegetation could significantly improve the performance of bioretention system in TCRAs.

Consumption of fruits of Dimorphandra jorgei M.F.Silva by Tapirus terrestris (Linnaeus, 1758) in a Remnant of Atlantic Forest in Southeast Brazil

The Fabaceae family holds great ecological and economic importance. Some species contribute to increased nitrogen levels in the soil (association with mycorrhizae), benefiting the natural regeneration process. Other species have high therapeutic value, while another can be used for ornamentation and urbanization. This study reports the presence of seeds from a tree species in the Fabaceae family, Dimorphandra jorgei M.F.Silva, in the fecal sample of South American tapir, Tapirus terrestris (Linnaeus, 1758), in a remnant of the Atlantic Forest in Southeastern Brazil. The fecal sample was found on an unpaved road, between the forest edge and an area undergoing reforestation with native species. Our record corroborates that D. jorgei can be an important supplementary food item in the tapir’s diet in the region, with its consumption linked to dry periods. The fruits of D. jorgei are not morphologically attractive to vertebrate fauna in general, highlighting the importance of tapirs in the dispersal of this and other species with similar fruits. It is also emphasized that seed dispersal contributes to the maintenance and regeneration of vegetation, serving as an Ecosystem Service of Support.