Montane Forest Zone Research Articles

Phenotypic Performance Evaluation of the Coffee Variety Marsellesa® over 1400 meters a.s.l. as an Alternative for Coffee Growing

Most studies on coffee varieties have focused on resistance to several conditions, evaluating a maximum of two varieties at altitudes below 1,000 m a.s.l. To fill this gap, the present study aims to find phenotyping differences across Marsellesa, Red Caturra, and Catimor coffee crops evaluated over 1,400 m a.s.l. Experimentally, this work was divided into three plots (1,477., 1,548, and 1,797 m a.s.l.) with three treatments and three repetitions, totaling 27 experimental plots. We tested the resistance to rust and Cercospora, and the organoleptic quality was assessed by an expert coffee taster with a SCA Q-Grader Coffee Certificate. We found similar results in the three cultivars, with high production (around 1 t/ha of dry parchment coffee) in their first year. The Caturra variety showed a higher plant height. Marsellesa showed the best resistance to rust with a 0 % incidence; however, the three crops were susceptible to Cercospora. We concluded that Marsellesa coffee adapts to the humid montane forest zone over 1,400 m a.s.l. with good organoleptic properties and better rust resistance. Marsellesa has been used in the area for the last two years; therefore, this specialty coffee shows rust resistance and helps the small farmer meet the international market’s expectations.

Earthworms (Oligochaeta, Lumdricidae) in the Komi Republic

The article presents information about 11 species in 8 genera of earthworms (Oligochaeta, Lumbricidae) in the Komi Republic. They belong to three morpho-ecological groups inhabiting different soil horizons (litter, litter/soil, soil). The species distribution maps have been compiled. The density of each species and their habitat affiliations in different flatland subzones and altitudinal zones of the Ural Mountains are shown. The number of species tends to decline in a regular manner from southern taiga to shrub tundra, from the Northern to Polar Urals. Boreal zone soils are inhabited by members of the genera Aporrectodea, Dendrobaena, Bimastos, Eisenia, Eiseniella, Lumbricus, Octolasion. Four species: Aporrectodea caliginosa, A. rosea, Eisenia fetida, and Octolasion lacteum, prefer meadows and farmlands. The species Bimastos rubidus and Eiseniella tetraedra inhabit meadows, willow carrs and forests in southern and middle taiga; they are absent in the extremely northern taiga and forest tundra; their habitats in the tundra zone are hydrogen sulfide springs. Three species (Dendrobaena octaedra, Eisenia nordenskioldi, Lumbricus rubellus) have been found in all natural zones and subzones. They compose the Lumbricidae fauna in the tundra zone. Northern Urals harbored the same earthworm species as the boreal zone. Two more species, Rhiphaeodrilus diplotetrathecus and Eisenia atlavinyteae, are representatives of the montane Urals Lumbricidae complex. Five species: R. diplotetrathecus, D. octaedra, E. nordenskioldi, L. rubellus, and O. lacteum, are known for the Subpolar Urals. The species D. octaedra, E. nordenskioldi, L. rubellus have been detected in the Polar Urals as in the tundra zone. The altitudinal distribution of earthworms in the Urals is characterized by the presence of ‘soil’ species in the montane forest zone and a decline in the species diversity in the subalpine and alpine tundra zones, mostly at the expense of the litter/soil group

Distribution limits of forest-dwelling small mammals (Eulipotyphla, Rodentia) in the Crimean Mountains

Concluding data on distribution limits of small mammals that have isolated geographic ranges in the montane forest zone of the Crimean Peninsula are presented. The analysis is based on data collected for forty years of mammal research in the Crimea, with a total sampling effort of 600 000 trap-nights and more than 63 000 trapped specimens of small mammals. The article considers the geographic range of two insectivore species of the family Soricidae (Neomys anomalus and Sorex pusillus) and three rodent species that belong to the families Muridae (Sylvaemus tauricus and S. uralensis) and Cricetidae (Microtus obscurus). These are forest-dwelling species that find food, shelter and other favourable conditions necessary for full and permanent existence of their populations in forest communities. This group of Micromammalia is of the greatest interest from the viewpoint of zoogeography and evolution since they have been geographically isolated from their main range for thousands of years. Their gene pool therefore preserved both ancestral genetic material and new alleles that have been amassed during the entire period of isolation and have been filtered by natural selection. Range boundaries of these species have been affected by various environmental components that have been acting as main limiting factors. These are hydroclimatic factors (humidity and moisture that determine meso- and microclimatic parameters of biotopes), floristic factors (dominating flora composition that determine trophic and topic features of local animal populations), and landscape and edaphic factors. Neomys anomalus and Sorex pusillus are stenotopic and hygrophilous species that inhabit the wettest biotopes of mountain forests of the Crimea thus they have the smallest geographic ranges. The geographic range of Sylvaemus tauricus is wider and is related to the distribution of oak-beach forests. The species Sylvaemus uralensis and Microtus obscurus are the most eurytopic and their geographic range expands even to the Crimean Lowland in a north-eastern direction. Natural and climatic conditions that are present in the montane and piedmont zones are optimal for the species S. uralensis and M. obscurus, which are thus abundant and dominating here among small mammals.

Assessment of Cu, Zn, Mn, and Fe enrichment in Mt. Kenya soils: evidence for atmospheric deposition and contamination.

Mountains are the preferred sites for studying long-range atmospheric transportation and deposition of heavy metals, due to their isolation and steep temperature decrease that favors cold trapping and condensation of particulate forms of heavy metals. Any enrichment of heavy metals in mountains is presumed to primarily occur through atmospheric deposition. In this particular study, we assessed the status of 27 subsurface soils collected along two elevation gradients of Mt. Kenya using enrichment factors (EFs) as the ecological risk assessments. The collected soils were analyzed for total organic carbon, zinc (Zn), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), and copper (Cu). The mean concentration of Mn, Fe, Zn, and Cu was 0.376mg/kg, 47.6mg/kg, 12.3mg/kg, and 4.88mg/kg in Chogoria and 0.560mg/kg, 113mg/kg, 12.7mg/kg, and 2.70mg/kg in Naro Moru respectively. These concentrations were below the US-EPA maximum permissible levels for soils, implying that the levels recorded had low toxicity. Meanwhile, the mean enrichment factors for Mn, Cu, and Zn were 0.447, 131, and 78.8 in Chogoria and 0.463, 38.9, and 53.0 in Naro Moru respectively. This implied that Zn and Cu in Chogoria sites were extremely enriched, while in Naro Moru, enrichment levels ranged from significant to extreme. However, Mn was found to have minimal enrichment in all the sites. Lower montane forest and bamboo zone recorded relatively high enrichment due to distance from source of pollution. Ericaceous zone also had high mean enrichment due to influence of wind which favors higher deposition at mid-elevations.

Late Holocene transformations of lower montane forest in the Beskid Wyspowy Mountains (Western Carpathians, Central Europe): a case study from Mount Mogielica

This article presents a reconstruction of Late Holocene vegetation changes within the lower montane forest zone in the Beskid Wyspowy Mountains (Western Carpathians, Central Europe). Pollen, non-pollen palynomorphs, loss on ignition, and microscopic charcoal analyses were applied to a profile collected from the deposits of the rich fen which developed in the landslide depression. The results reveal that during the period between ca. 4800 ± 70 and 4160 ± 60 cal. BP, Picea abies dominated in the local forests. Between ca. 4800 ± 70 and 4660 ± 60 cal. BP, Acer was an important component in local woodlands, which distinguishes the study site from others in the Western Carpathians. At ca. 4100 ± 60 cal. BP, forests dominated by Abies alba and Fagus sylvatica expanded. Nowadays, this type of vegetation is characteristic of the lower montane zone in the Polish Western Carpathians. This expansion was probably a consequence of environmental disturbances related to the cold and wet ‘4.2 ka BP’ event. The spread of these forests was preceded by a short episode of expansion of Tilia (Tilia cordata and/or Tilia platyphyllos) which was a very local event. The area of the Beskid Wyspowy Mountains provided suitable habitats for the occurrence of T. baccata, which has not been recorded in pollen data spanning the Middle and beginning of the Late Holocene from this mountain range. A significant increase in the percentages of Kretzschmaria deusta, a parasitic fungus, reveals that A. alba–F. sylvatica forests provided an optimal habitat for such species during the period from 4070 ± 60 to 47 cal. BP. Since ca. 2640 ± 110 cal. BP, pollen of pioneer trees, such as Pinus sylvestris and Betula, as well as human activity indicators (Cerealia type and Plantago lanceolata) have become more frequent. Nonetheless, it is highly probable that this section of deposits also includes the presence of one or more sedimentary gaps.

Sustainability, Population and Structure of Woody Species Composition of Taraba State Forests

Sustainability, population and structure of woody species composition of Taraba state forests were studied for future management strategies that allow a more sustainable use of woody species and a better conservation of forest ecosystems. The objectives of the study were to study the woody species dominance, important value index and population structure in different ecological zones of Taraba State forests. Data were obtained through woody species survey and the study area was stratified into three ecological zones and two protected areas. Five plots each measuring 50×50 m were sampled in each protected area and two protected areas were also sampled from each ecological zone. A total of 30 plots and 6 protected areas were sampled and all the woody species that occurred in the plots were also sampled. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics such as Tables, percentages, frequency, ANOVA and LSD. A total of 3760 individual woody stands from 60, 34 and 32 species in Montane Forest, Southern and Northern Guinea Savanna respectively were recorded. Strombosia postulate, Pleiocarpa pycnantha, Pericopsis laxiflora, Hymenocardia acida and Ziziphus mauritiana were the dominance species while their corresponding rarest species were Goria sp, Afzelia africana, Elaesis guneensis, Combretum tomentosum and Ficus sur. Strombosia postulate and Pleiocarpa pycnantha were the dominant woody species with high important value indices in Montane forest zone as opposed to Pericopsis laxiflora and Ziziphus mauritiana which dominated the Southern and Northern guinea savanna respectively. The rarest species of Goria sp, Afzelia africana, Elaesis guneensis, Combretum tomentosum and Ficus sur in the study area could be connected to its usefulness as fodder species. The population structure of woody species was found to be very low in the middle diameter classes.The diameter class distribution resembles interrupted “U” shape indicating the removal of merchantable trees. There were no significant differences (p>0.05) among the protected areas and ecological zones due to the low dominance and important value indices. This needs appropriate management techniques to improve forest composition and structure in the study area for sustainability.

Forest structure and pattern vary by climate and landform across active-fire landscapes in the montane Sierra Nevada

Restoration of fire-dependent forests is often guided by reference conditions from forests with an active fire regime, thought to be resilient to current and future disturbances and stresses. Reference conditions are usually based on historical data or reconstruction, which greatly limits the scale and completeness of data that can be collected. In the Sierra Nevada of California, large areas with reintroduced active fire regimes coupled with extensive lidar data coverage provide the unique opportunity to develop a contemporary regional reference condition dataset across a wide gradient of biophysical conditions. We developed this dataset with a focus on three questions: (1) What is the geographic and environmental distribution of restored active-fire forest areas in the Sierra Nevada mixed-conifer zone? (2) What are the ranges of variation in forest structure and spatial patterns across reference areas? And (3) How do stand density, tree clumping, and canopy opening patterns vary by topography and climate in reference areas? We analyzed fire history and environmental conditions over 10.8 million ha, including 3.9 million ha in the Sierra Nevada mixed-conifer zone, and found 30,377 ha of restored active-fire areas. Although reference areas were distributed throughout the Sierra Nevada they were more abundant on National Park lands (81% of reference areas) than National Forest lands and were associated with higher lightning strike density. Lidar-measured ranges of variation in reference condition structure were broad, with tree densities of 6–320 trees ha−1 (median 107 trees ha−1), basal area of 0.01–113 m2 ha−1 (median 21 m2 ha−1), average size of closely associated clumps of trees from >1 to 207 trees (median 3.1 trees), and average percent of stand area >6 m from the nearest canopy ranging from 0% to 100% (median 5.1%). These ranges correspond well with past studies reporting density and spatial patterns of contemporary and historical active-fire reference stands in the Sierra Nevada, except this study observed greater total variation due to the much greater spatial extent of sampling. Within the montane forest zone, reference areas at middle elevations had lower density (86 vs. 121 trees ha−1), basal area, (13.7 vs. 31 m2 ha−1), and mean clump size (2.7 vs. 4.0 trees) compared to lower- and higher-elevation reference areas, while ridgetops had lower density (101 vs. 115 trees ha−1), basal area (19.6 vs. 24.1 m2 ha−1), and mean clump size (3.0 vs. 3.3 trees) and more open space (7.4% vs. 5.1%) than other landforms. Many of the relationships between physiography and reference structure were context-dependent, suggesting that management practices should create heterogeneous forest structure congruent with local climatic and topographic factors influencing stand conditions.

Climate Changes Record of Bandung Paleolake

The research was carried out on the sediment of Middle Bandung Basin. Samples were taken from a depth of 20 meters to 10 meters, each meter a taken sample for analysis. The characteristics of the sample are greenish grey clay deposits with remnant plant material. Research aims to identify climate change based on palynological data from the Pleistocene-Holocene Boundary. The resulting of radiocarbon dating (14C), shows that age of the sample from the 18 m depth around 11820 years BP. Separation of pollen from sediment used an acetolysis method. Palynomorphs are grouped according to their habitat that related to vegetation zone, i.e., lowland forest zone, submontane forest zone, lower montane forest zone, riparian/open herbaceous swamp vegetation, freshwater algae, and Aquatic plant. The composition of pollen shows a succession of vegetation that reflection of climate changes. From Pleistocene-Holocene boundary at least has been recorded seven times of the shift vegetation zone that is evidence of climate change. The oldest sample at 20 m depth is the coldest temperature occurred in zone one at a depth of 20-19 meters that was dominated by lower montane forest vegetation; the event was around Late Pleistocene. The opposite condition occurred in zone seven at 10 meters depth; temperature becomes warmer that indicated by disappears of pollen submontane forest and dominated by lowland forest pollen similar to the current condition. Climate change is also reflected by fluctuations the quantity pollen of open herbaceous swamp vegetation.

Mosses of southwest Ethiopian montane forests – notes on their occurrence pattern and many new country records

One hundred and thirty-nine taxa of mosses are reported from the montane forest zone of southwest Ethiopia. Of these, 53 taxa are new country records and Meteoriopsis reclinata (Müll.Hal.) M.Fleisch. ex Broth. is, in addition, new to Africa. Most of the new records are of species also found in Uganda, Kenya or Tanzania, but there are some surprises, such as Fabronia perciliata Müll.Hal. with the closest location in South Africa and Namibia, Entodontella cameruniae Broth. previously known only from West Africa and Bryomaltaea obtusifolia (Hook.) Goffinet, otherwise reported only from the Democratic Republic of the Congo. We list all taxa and give a short account of their frequency and in which habitat and on which substrate they grow. That such a large proportion of the species are new to the country suggests that Ethiopia is bryologically very under-explored, and that further exploration will reveal many additional species. In particular, the remnant forests of southwest Ethiopia are likely to be of great importance as bryophyte hotspots.

Changes in richness and community composition of ectomycorrhizal fungi among altitudinal vegetation types on Mount Kinabalu in Borneo.

The distribution patterns of tropical ectomycorrhizal (ECM) fungi along altitudinal gradients remain largely unknown. Furthermore, despite being an iconic site for biodiversity research, virtually nothing is known about the diversity and spatial patterns of fungi on Mt Kinabalu and neighbouring mountain ranges. We carried out deep DNA sequencing of soil samples collected between 425 and 4000m above sea level to compare richness and community composition of ECM fungi among altitudinal forest types in Borneo. In addition, we tested whether the observed patterns are driven by habitat or by geometric effect of overlapping ranges of species (mid-domain effect). Community composition of ECM fungi was strongly correlated with elevation. In most genera, richness peaked in the mid-elevation montane forest zone, with the exception of tomentelloid fungi, which showed monotonal decrease in richness with increasing altitude. Richness in lower-mid- and mid-elevations was significantly greater than predicted under the mid-domain effect model. We provide the first insight into the composition of ECM fungal communities and their strong altitudinal turnover in Borneo. The high richness and restricted distribution of many ECM fungi in the montane forests suggest that mid-elevation peak richness is primarily driven by environmental characteristics of this habitat and not by the mid-domain effect.

Species interactions in an Andean bird-flowering plant network: phenology is more important than abundance or morphology.

Biological constraints and neutral processes have been proposed to explain the properties of plant–pollinator networks. Using interactions between nectarivorous birds (hummingbirds and flowerpiercers) and flowering plants in high elevation forests (i.e., “elfin” forests) of the Andes, we explore the importance of biological constraints and neutral processes (random interactions) to explain the observed species interactions and network metrics, such as connectance, specialization, nestedness and asymmetry. In cold environments of elfin forests, which are located at the top of the tropical montane forest zone, many plants are adapted for pollination by birds, making this an ideal system to study plant–pollinator networks. To build the network of interactions between birds and plants, we used direct field observations. We measured abundance of birds using mist-nets and flower abundance using transects, and phenology by scoring presence of birds and flowers over time. We compared the length of birds’ bills to flower length to identify “forbidden interactions”—those interactions that could not result in legitimate floral visits based on mis-match in morphology. Diglossa flowerpiercers, which are characterized as “illegitimate” flower visitors, were relatively abundant. We found that the elfin forest network was nested with phenology being the factor that best explained interaction frequencies and nestedness, providing support for biological constraints hypothesis. We did not find morphological constraints to be important in explaining observed interaction frequencies and network metrics. Other network metrics (connectance, evenness and asymmetry), however, were better predicted by abundance (neutral process) models. Flowerpiercers, which cut holes and access flowers at their base and, consequently, facilitate nectar access for other hummingbirds, explain why morphological mis-matches were relatively unimportant in this system. Future work should focus on how changes in abundance and phenology, likely results of climate change and habitat fragmentation, and the role of nectar robbers impact ecological and evolutionary dynamics of plant–pollinator (or flower-visitor) interactions.

Plant communities and ecosystem processes in a succession-altitude matrix after shifting cultivation in the tropical montane forest zone of northern Borneo

Abstract:Plant communities and ecosystem processes in seres at multiple altitudes in the tropical montane forest zone of northern Borneo were studied to understand the patterns and mechanisms of the secondary succession after shifting cultivation. A total of 25 stands (and additional three stands) were sampled with stand ages ranging from 2 to 55 y after slash and burn at altitudes between 900 and 1400 m asl. Plant species composition, above-ground biomass (AGB), chemical properties of soils, litter and foliar samples were investigated in each stand. A TWINSPAN analysis classified five plant communities primarily as a sere but with two altitudinal communities in the later successional phase. AGB accumulated steadily at the rate of 2.42 Mg ha−1 y−1 during the succession for the first 55 y due to the ontogenetic development of plants as well as plant community shifts. At the onset of secondary succession, pool of soil NO3-N and soil total P was high probably because burning caused flushes of minerals originating from the burnt plant materials. Pool of soil NO3-N and soil total P decreased with increasing stand age during the succession. Leaf-litter N:P ratios of dominant species significantly increased with increasing stand age suggesting disproportionately greater P deficiency than N deficiency in the later successional phase. It is suggested that tree species shifted to those of greater P-use efficiency during succession in response to decreasing soil P availability. We conclude that the interaction of altitude with the reduction of soil N and P availability was related to the altitudinal split of plant communities in the later phase, while pioneer communities were wide-ranging across altitudes reflecting richer soil nutrients.

Using Remote Sensing to Detect Change in the Ndop Floodplain Wetlands of Cameroon

Using remote sensing and GIS technology to determine change in the Ndop floodplain wetland area from 1973 to 2010, six Landsat MSS, TM and Landsat ETM+ images were classified. Twelve different observed land cover and land use patterns were classified and grouped into four major categories based on the Supervised Maximum Likelihood Classification algorithm. These included the humid floodplain wetland area, agro-pastoral zones, montane forest zone and settlements. Within the wetland area in the floodplain, the reservoir shows evidence of significant fluctuations in surface area since the construction of the Bamendjin reservoir in 1975. Within the reservoir area, acute siltation has been observed since 1988 (1.3%) and this has increased in area by 4.07% in 2002 and by 4.4% in 2010. These increases account for the observed drop in the level of water in the reservoir. A significant drop has been registered in the area occupied by permanent flooded prairies of 11.19% in 1978 and 2.01% in 2010 as well as in that of seasonally flooded prairies of 12.2% in 1978 and 5% in 2010. Areas under irrigated farmland also show decreasing trends from 1988 to 2010. The swamp forest equally exhibits significant corresponding drops in area cover, which directly correlates with the draining of the flood plain for swamp rice cultivation and irrigation. Concerning the agropastoral landscape, the upland grazing areas are generally decreasing in area, while the mixed farming area contrarily increased from 1978 to 2010. This study thus provides base data for monitoring human impacts on the Ndop floodplain wetlands in the Upper Noun drainage basin and natural habitats, especially within and around the wetland area.

Arctic ground squirrel population collapse in the boreal forests of the Southern Yukon

Context The arctic ground squirrel (Urocitellus parryii) comprised 17% of the biomass of herbivores in the Yukon boreal forest during the summer months from 1987 to 1996 and was responsible for 23% of the energy flow at the herbivore level. By 2000, ground squirrel populations in this region collapsed to nearly zero and have remained there. Aims We summarise the population monitoring (since 1975) and recent experimental work that has been done on this key herbivore in the Kluane area of the southern Yukon to test one mechanistic hypothesis as the possible explanation for this population collapse and subsequent lack of recovery: predation. Methods Ground squirrels are the preferred summer prey of bird and mammal predators when snowshoe hare (Lepus americanus) populations are declining. We used translocations into formerly occupied habitat and radiotelemetry to determine movements and causes of death from 2009 to 2014. We surveyed 158 sites between 2008 and 2013 to measure the disappearance of colonies in alpine and forest habitats over 25 000 km2. Key results Ground squirrels from 2000 to 2013 comprised a small fraction of the herbivore biomass in the boreal forest zone, down from 17% earlier. Most forest populations (~95%) are currently extinct, whereas just over half (65%) of low-elevation meadow populations are locally extinct. One hypothesis is that ground squirrels in the forest have been driven into a predator pit from which they cannot recover. They remain abundant in alpine tundra (93% occupancy rate) and around airport runways and human habitations (97% occupancy), but there is no apparent dispersal from alpine areas down into the boreal forest. Conclusion The predator pit hypothesis is a likely explanation for the initial collapse and sustained decline in population size from 2000 to 2013. Recent attenuation of the hare cycle and milder winter climate have allowed shrubs to expand throughout the forest, thereby reducing visibility and increasing predation risk. This conclusion will be tested in further research using reintroductions to formerly occupied sites. Implication If the loss of this herbivore from the boreal forest is not reversed, predator pressure on the other major herbivores of the montane forest zone is likely to change significantly.

Historical, observed, and modeled wildfire severity in montane forests of the Colorado Front Range.

Large recent fires in the western U.S. have contributed to a perception that fire exclusion has caused an unprecedented occurrence of uncharacteristically severe fires, particularly in lower elevation dry pine forests. In the absence of long-term fire severity records, it is unknown how short-term trends compare to fire severity prior to 20th century fire exclusion. This study compares historical (i.e. pre-1920) fire severity with observed modern fire severity and modeled potential fire behavior across 564,413 ha of montane forests of the Colorado Front Range. We used forest structure and tree-ring fire history to characterize fire severity at 232 sites and then modeled historical fire-severity across the entire study area using biophysical variables. Eighteen (7.8%) sites were characterized by low-severity fires and 214 (92.2%) by mixed-severity fires (i.e. including moderate- or high-severity fires). Difference in area of historical versus observed low-severity fire within nine recent (post-1999) large fire perimeters was greatest in lower montane forests. Only 16% of the study area recorded a shift from historical low severity to a higher potential for crown fire today. An historical fire regime of more frequent and low-severity fires at low elevations (<2260 m) supports a convergence of management goals of ecological restoration and fire hazard mitigation in those habitats. In contrast, at higher elevations mixed-severity fires were predominant historically and continue to be so today. Thinning treatments at higher elevations of the montane zone will not return the fire regime to an historic low-severity regime, and are of questionable effectiveness in preventing severe wildfires. Based on present-day fuels, predicted fire behavior under extreme fire weather continues to indicate a mixed-severity fire regime throughout most of the montane forest zone. Recent large wildfires in the Front Range are not fundamentally different from similar events that occurred historically under extreme weather conditions.

Fungi of Mt. Babia Góra

In that part of elaboration the results of mycosociological investigation in the forests of the upper montane forest zone and synthetic characteristic of participation of macromycetes in the all forests studied is presented. Rogularities and distinct connections have been found in the occurrence of macromycetes on the background of various forest associations, differences in exposure, orography, climate and changes induced by man.

Fungi of Mt. Babia Góra. II. Indicative value of macromycetes in the forest associations

Mycosociological investigations were performed in the course of 8-year observations on 65 permanent plots, set by a phytosociologist in homogenous patches of 8 strictly definite forest associations, developed on Mt. Babia Góra on slopes of north and south exposure. In this part of the elaboration only preliminary remarks, methods of investigation and mycofloristic description of forests confined to the lower montane forest zone is comprised.

Climate change impact and adaptation pathways for forest dependent livelihood systems in Nigeria

Climate change is projected to adversely impact rural livelihoods; especially forest communities dependent on climate sensitive natural resources. Communities within five ecological regions (Mangrove, Rainforest, Guinea savanna, Sudan savanna and Montane forest) in Nigeria were assessed using structured questionnaires to gauge the impact of climate change and adaption responses. Households in the Mangrove, Rainforest, Montane forest, Guinea savanna and Sudan savanna derive 47, 34, 31, 19 and 14% of their livelihood from the forest respectively. More than 75% of households surveyed have experienced impacts of climate change on forest resources, except in the Montane forest zone where only 33% were impacted. In the mangrove and rainforest regions impacts were mostly manifest as excessive rainfall, in the montane forest, Sudan and Guinea savanna, impacts were due to reduced rainfall. Adaptation options in the mangrove and rainforest regions were mainly used for forest conservation and to reduce the impact of excessive rains, while in the montane forest, Guinea and Sudan savannas most strategies are aimed to reduce the impact of aridity such as irrigation, mulching, planting deep and the use of shades. Such community based information can provide a foundation to build an organized, systematic and mitigated approach needed for community-centered adaptive mechanism for sustainable forest resource management. Significantly, this can be used to ensure a steady flow of livelihood support services from a range of ecological regions in Nigeria and across the wider West African sub region. Keywords: Ecosystem, forest management, forest resources, poverty, sustainability.

Buried black soils on the slopes of Mt. Kilimanjaro as a regional carbon storage hotspot

Abstract Mt. Kilimanjaro attracts much scientific and public attention due to its dramatically shrinking ice caps, still known as “the white top” of Africa. In this mountain system forming a type of island within the surrounding savannah, a new phenomenon has recently been discovered. On the slopes of Mt. Kilimanjaro, Late Quaternary paleosol sequences, composed of dark or black buried soils, are widespread in the montane rainforest zone (1800–3000 m a.s.l.). In this study we investigated in detail the soil organic carbon (SOC) content and SOC stocks in soil profiles (mostly Andosols) along two altitudinal transects, situated on both the humid southern slopes and on the drier northern slopes of the mountain. In the montane forest zone, up to 3 m thick paleosol sequences are frequently found. SOC content is remarkably high, reaching values of up to more than 10%. This testifies to good preservation of soil organic matter (SOM) which may be due to such factors as rapid burial by dust, low temperatures alongside more resistant litter during glacial periods, formation of stable organo-mineral complexes and high black carbon (BC) content. The buried black soils are estimated to contain ~ 82 kg m − 2 mean SOC stocks in the montane rainforest. As compared to the SOC storage in the surrounding savannah soils of the Maasai Steppe, the buried black soils constitute a distinctive regional carbon storage hotspot.

Species Richness and Host Specificity among Caterpillar Ensembles on Shrubs in the Andes of Southern Ecuador

Caterpillar ensembles were sampled on 16 species of shrubs from the family Asteraceae and the genus Piper (Piperaceae) in open and forest habitats in the Andean montane forest zone of southern Ecuador between August 2007 and May 2009. Trophic affiliations of caterpillars to the host plants were confirmed in feeding trials. Overall, species richness of herbivorous caterpillars was high (191 species across all plants), but varied strongly between ensembles associated with different plant species (2-96 lepidopteran species per shrub species). Ensembles on Piper species were characterized by low effective species numbers and high dominance of one or two species of the Geometridae genus Eois Hübner. Low species number and high dominance were also found on latex-bearing Erato polymnioides, whereas ensembles on two other Asteraceae species were far more diverse and less strongly shaped by a few dominant species. The observed diversity patterns fit well to the concept that anti-herbivore defenses of plants are the major factors regulating associated insect ensembles. Local abundance and geographic range of host plants appear to have less influence. Lepidopteran species feeding on Asteraceae were found to be more generalistic than those feeding on Piper species. We conclude that caterpillar ensembles on most, but not all, studied plant species are defined by a small number of dominant species, which usually are narrow host specialists. This pattern was more distinct on Piper shrubs in forest understory, whereas Asteraceae in disturbed habitats had more open caterpillar ensembles.