Natural Resource Biodiversity Research Articles

Consumption of edible flowers in South Africa: nutritional benefits, stakeholders' views, policy and practice implications

PurposeEdible flowers have traditionally been consumed for their nutritional and medicinal properties. Aponogeton distachyos is an aquatic flowering plant native to the Western Cape of South Africa (SA) that used to be a wild plant gathered during the winter months, but it is now considered to be underutilised and endangered. This study aims at gaining insights from different stakeholders into the activities across the plant value chain and their impact on the consumption of Aponogeton distachyos.Design/methodology/approachThe study methodology involved the identification of different stakeholders in the plant value chain and conducting qualitative in-depth interviews during the data collection. Twelve study participants were selected via purposive sampling and interviewed using semi-structured interviews (face-to-face, telephone and online).FindingsNostalgic connection of the flower with local culture and heritage and its unique taste and flavour are key consumption drivers. Promotional and educational efforts by food advocates and at public events help raise consumer awareness, which is generally lacking. Limited geographic and seasonal availability, perishability, price and quality issues emerged, together with low awareness, as main barriers to more frequent and geographically spread consumption.Originality/valueAlthough wild edible flowers have been consumed for centuries, there has been little attention to their nutritional value and journey to their final consumers. The present study identifies important challenges emanating at different stages of the food value chain to consumption of one particular neglected and underutilised plant, with certain implications for people's dietary quality, environmental sustainability and biodiversity of natural resources beyond Aponogeton distachyos and SA.Highlights(1)Aponogeton distachyos is a neglected and underutilised aquatic flowering plant native to the Western Cape of South Africa (SA). (2)The plant offers benefits related to people's dietary quality, environmental sustainability and biodiversity of natural resources. (3)Flower's nostalgic connection with local culture and heritage emerge as a key consumption driver. (4)Its unique taste and flavour highly appeal to consumers. (5)Low awareness, limited availability, price and quality are main consumption barriers. (6)There is largely unexploited public policy potential for supporting dietary diversity through growing edible flowers.

Perilaku Pengguna Jasa Karantina Pertanian dalam Mendukung Perlindungan Sumberdaya Alam Hayati

Agricultural quarantine is the forefront of Indonesia’s natural biodiversity and technical barrier in agricultural commodities trade. This study aimed to analyze the user behavior of service users in utilizing agricultural quarantine services in relation to supporting the protection of natural resources biodiversity. This study used primary data, with purpossive random sampling as the sampling technique. Multiple regression analysis, Customer Satisfaction Index (CSI), and Structural Equation Modelling(SEM) were carried on this study. Through CSI calculation obtains the CSI value is 78.26% at satisfied range.The result of multiple re-gression analysis test indicated that emphaty, responsiveness, reliability, assurance, and tangible have significant influence to service user satisfaction. Hypothesis testing using SEM so that it is known that the perception and service quality have significant influence on user behavior characterized by participation and compliance level. By knowing the level of participation and compli-ance of service users is useful in determining and formulating strategies to increase protection of natural resources biodiversity through quarantine action.

Biodiversity Information System for Management of Medicinal Plants Data Tropical Rainforest Borneo

This paper is an effort to inform about the potential of medicinal plants in forest areas in the Borneo region. Given the high rate of destruction of rainforests on Borneo, literacy and conservation efforts of medicinal plants that are part of the forest ecosystem are important. This study developed BBIS, namely Borneo Biodiversity Information System. BBIS is the development of computer-based technology for managing information on Borneo's natural resource biodiversity in order to improve the knowledge management of medicinal plants. In particular, development of the Biodiversity Information System which can be used as an exploring media for exchange information society on Borneo's biodiversity. Profile biodiversity complete and well managed will be a reference in the process of monitoring the use of biological diversity, strategies, and plans related to the biodiversity of the medicinal plants on Borneo Island.

Trends and biases in the scientific literature on Brazilian watersheds

Brazilian watersheds have a high species and natural resources biodiversity. To know the features of scientific production on these regions is important to adjust study focus and to determine publication biases. This study aims at characterizing the scientific literature about Brazilian watersheds on scientometric grounds. For this purpose, we performed a search of articles in the ISI Web of Science database of the Institute for Scientific Information (ISI). The search returned 2,945 articles: 1,613 on the Amazon basin, 584 on the La Plata basin, 262 on the São Francisco basin, 190 on the Tocantins basin, 117 on the Southeast Coastal basin, 70 on the Eastern Northeast Coastal basin, 48 on the Parnaíba basin, 45 on the South Coastal basin, 14 on the North Coastal basin and two on the Western Northeast Coastal basin. The highest number of articles, journal diversity and impact factor was for the Amazon basin. Generally, the increase of the number of articles on the coastal basins over the years is lower. A keyword analysis shows that the study of most basins deals with similar subjects. However, researches on the Amazon and La Plata basins follow lines that are very different both from each other and from the other basins. In view of such results, incentives for new studies must focus on coastal basins. It is also recommended to submit works to good quality journals.

Caracterização e estoques de carbono de sistemas agroflorestaisno Cerrado de Minas Gerais

Os sistemas agroflorestais (SAFs) além de geração de renda e conservação da biodiversidade pode ser uma alternativa para a estocagem de carbono. O trabalho teve como objetivo caracterizar três sistemas agroflorestais (SAFs) e estimar os estoques de carbono na fitomassa aérea, na serapilheira e no solo. Os SAFs e suas respectivas vegetações nativas adjacentes foram caracterizados quanto ao número, classificação botânica,distribuição diamétrica e estratificação vertical dos indivíduos arbóreose. Em cada um dos sistemas, foram estimados os estoques de carbono na fitomassa aérea, na serapilheira e no solo. Os SAFs,implantados a partir do manejo da vegetação nativa, apresentaram uma biodiversidade vegetal e estoque de carbono na fitomassa, na serapilheira e no solo semelhantes à área de vegetação nativa adjacente. Por outro lado, os estoques de carbono no SAF implantado em área anteriormente cultivada com culturas anuais apresentou menor diversidade de espécies arbóreas e estoques de carbono na fitomassa, serapilheira e no solo, em relação à vegetação nativa adjacente. Sistemas agroflorestais bem manejados se assemelham à vegetação nativa em estoque de carbono e conservação da biodiversidade dos recursos naturais.

Integrated approaches towards drug development from Ayurveda and other Indian system of medicines

Biodiversity of natural resources has served not only for the primary human needs but also for health care, since time immemorial. The Indian subcontinent, with the history of one of the oldest civilization, harbors many traditional health care systems. Their development was supported by the diverse biodiversity in flora and fauna due to variations in geographical landscaping. Ayurveda, whose history goes back to 5000 b. c., is one of the ancient health care systems. The Ayurveda was developed through daily life experiences with the mutual relationship between mankind and nature. The ancient text of Ayurveda reports more than 2000 plant species for their therapeutic potentials. Besides Ayurveda, other traditional and folklore systems of health care were developed in the different time periods in Indian subcontinent, where more than 7500 plant species were used. According to a WHO estimate, about 80% of the world population relies on traditional systems of medicines for primary health care, where plants form the dominant component over other natural resources. Renewed interest of developing as well as developed countries in the natural resources has opened new horizons for the exploration of natural sources with the perspectives of safety and efficacy. The development of these traditional systems of medicines with the perspectives of safety, efficacy and quality will help not only to preserve this traditional heritage but also to rationalize the use of natural products in the health care. Until recent past, the nature was considered as a compendium for templates of new chemical entities (NCEs). The plant species mentioned in the ancient texts of these Ayurveda and other Indian systems of medicines may be explored with the modern scientific approaches for better leads in the health care.

BUTTERFLY COMMUNITIES IN TWO PENNSYLVANIA NATIONAL PARKS

Butterfly communities were inventoried at two national parks, Allegheny Portage Railroad National Historic Site (ALPO) and Johnstown Flood National Memorial (JOFL), Pennsylvania, in 1998. Information on presence, abundance, and distribution of butterflies is important to National Park Service personnel, who are mandated to manage the biodiversity of natural resources. As large tracts of public lands, such as national parks, become more insular with increased habitat fragmentation, they will become increasingly valuable for the long-term maintenance of faunal diversity and the functional integrity of ecosystems in the eastern United States. Surveys were conducted monthly from late spring to early fall along two transects in ALPO and one in JOFL. Twenty-eight butterfly species were noted in the study. At ALPO, most species and individuals were found along open (non-wooded) sectors of the transects, including Phyciodes tharos (Drury) (Pearl Crescent), Boloria bellona (F.) (Meadow Fritillary), and Thymelicus lineola (Ochs.) (European Skipper). At JOFL, the most abundant butterfly was T. lineola. We observed 27 of 110 flowering plant species being used as nectar sources by butterflies on 200 occasions in both parks combined. At both parks, an effort should be made to develop mowed lawns into unmowed grasslands to increase their use by butterfly species by providing habitat for wildflowers (nectar sources).