Open Patches Research Articles

The effectiveness of a nonalcoholic disinfectant containing metal ions, with broad antimicrobial activity

Disinfectants have different efficacies depending on their use and the target microorganism. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of our new nonalcoholic disinfectant, which consists mainly of metal ions. According to the 17th revised Japanese Pharmacopoeia and ASTM international E1052 method, the bactericidal and virucidal efficacy of this new disinfectant against 13 microorganisms was evaluated by the in vitro quantitative suspension test. Additionally, the disinfectant cytotoxicity against multiple cell lines was examined. Then, a safety test using a human open patch test was performed with 26 healthy volunteers. This disinfectant showed strong bactericidal and virucidal activities: all microorganisms except enterovirus were inactivated very quickly. The infectivity of 12 microbial strains was eliminated within 5 min of disinfectant exposure. Additionally, this disinfectant showed little acute cytotoxicity in vitro. All volunteers were negative in the human open patch test. Our new disinfectant has a broad spectrum of microbial targets, is safe for human skin, and demonstrates no cytotoxicity. This disinfectant could prevent common microbial infections.

Diversity and structure of plant assemblages in open scrub vegetation patches of Dachigam National Park at Kashmir Himalayas

Plant diversity and floristic composition of open scrub vegetation patches of Dachigam National Park, Kashmir in the Western Himalayas were assessed with an objective to develop a baseline data foundation for natural resource management plans and proper conservation strategies for the floristically rich ecosystem. The vegetation study was carried out by using standard sampling protocol of stratified random nested quadrats. The richness was observed with 190 species, representing 128 genera within 53 families. The species diversity index and concentration of dominance index of the area was 3.09 and 0.1207, respectively. Shannon-Wiener index and evenness indices were 5.42 and 1.034, respectively and the values of IVI ranged from 0.84 to 42.33. The diversity indices indicate the heterogeneity of the scrub area in its structure, composition, function and vegetation dynamics. The present study though preliminary in nature but the generated baseline information will be helpful to design conservation planning for the wildlife especially the Kashmir stag (Cervus elaphus hanglu) as these open scrubs vegetation patches are connective corridors of this endangered species of the Dachigam National Park.

How do adults of the critically endangered hermit butterfly (Chazara briseis) utilise their habitat? (Lepidoptera, Satyrinae)

Effective conservation of specialised, endangered species depends on the knowledge of all vital resources they require within species’ lifetime. The butterfly Chazara briseis is endangered throughout Europe, especially so in all states north from the Alps. It depends on large areas of open steppe grassland with short and sparse turf. To identify resource use by adult C. briseis butterflies in relation to vegetation structure within its sites. We re-analysed mark-recapture data from the last Czech metapopulation, inhabiting a chain of volcanic hills in Ceske Stredohori highlands and hosting 2000 adults in 2006. We related adult activities observed prior to captures to visually assessed vegetation structures and land cover types obtained from aerial photographs. Additionally, we used land cover types to explore the adults’ home ranges and to compare capture points with randomly selected points. The butterflies displayed clearly structured diurnal activity with nectaring from morning to noon and courtship activities and egg-laying in the afternoons. Both sexes used short-sward patches (egg laying, patrolling), but also patches with taller, flower-rich vegetation (mating, nectaring). These results were corroborated using land cover types, however, with much lower explanatory power. Lifetime utilisation of land cover types (home ranges) differed between sexes, females utilised more shrubby and longer-sward areas than males. Randomly selected points within the sites significantly differed from capture points, the latter contained more open, either short or tall grassland patches. Management of inhabited sites must provide open, short-sward patches alternating with flower-rich taller sward and shrubby patches.

Ebullition dominates methane fluxes from the water surface across different ecohydrological patches in a temperate freshwater marsh at the end of the growing season

Measurements of the spatial heterogeneity of methane fluxes in wetlands are critical to better understand and predict methane emissions at the ecosystem scale. However, the within-wetland spatial heterogeneity of fluxes is rarely assessed. Here, we use a spatially balanced rapid chamber-based survey of methane at different ecohydrological patches within a temperate freshwater marsh. We measured fluxes exclusively from the water surface without including vegetation. We further used the data from chamber measurements to partition diffusive and ebullitive fluxes. Three ecohydrological patches were distinguishable in the marsh, defined by the type and presence/absence of vegetation. These patches were emergent vegetation, floating-leaved, and open water. Net methane fluxes from the water surface (diffusion plus ebullition) in emergent vegetation patches were larger than in the floating-leaved vegetation and open water patches (p < 0.05). Diffusive fluxes, representing a sizable smaller fraction of net fluxes, were larger in vegetated than in unvegetated patches (p < 0.05), while ebullitive fluxes mirrored the magnitude and differences observed in the net fluxes. Moreover, pooled net and ebullitive fluxes across patches (but not diffusive fluxes) were negatively correlated with water levels, the primary variable affecting patch distribution. Altogether, our results indicate that the differences among ecohydrological patches are driven by ebullition, ultimately highlighting challenges faced by scientists and practitioners in the field and modelers seeking to improve the predictability and resolution of wetland biogeochemical models.

Evaluating forest restoration strategies after herbivore overbrowsing

The continued degradation of forests due to natural and anthropogenic disturbance has led to loss of ecosystem function, biodiversity change and in extreme cases, the extinction of endemic species. Within degraded landscapes, forests are failing to regenerate naturally, resulting in a loss of key species and producing persistent open canopied patches within previously closed canopied systems. Abundant ungulates can act as a disturbance and hinder natural forest regeneration when they severely overbrowse vegetation, and it is unclear how to restore natural forest communities in these cases. In Newfoundland (Canada), abundant non-native moose following natural disturbance have suppressed balsam fir advanced regeneration producing alternate stable states termed “spruce moose savannas”. Our objective was to evaluate several scenarios for restoring moose impacted boreal forests. To achieve this objective, we integrated data from field observations and experiments, aerial photographs and drone imagery to parameterize mathematical models of boreal understory and canopy regeneration in balsam fir dominated forest in eastern Newfoundland. We used simulations to evaluate the effect of reduced browsing pressure and seedling planting on boreal forest regeneration. Model outcomes suggest active restoration via planting birch and balsam fir seedlings is required to restore the understory and canopy vegetation to its natural state in large canopy gaps (>5 ha), and any planting should be done under low moose browsing pressure or within moose exclosures. In contrast, in medium canopy gaps (<5 ha), passive restoration via moose reduction is sufficient to restore balsam fir but birch seedling planting is the most effective for restoring birch in all canopy gap sizes. We propose that Markov models parameterized by aggregate data with simulated herbivory be used to support experimental studies and strengthen evidence for forest restoration planning. Our novel modelling approach can be used in other herbivore-disturbed systems or to simulate other disturbances to predict restoration success under various disturbance regimes.

Movement and Habitat Selection of Eastern Milksnakes (Lampropeltis triangulum) at Intact and Fragmented Sites

Habitat loss and fragmentation are among the greatest threats to wildlife and biodiversity. Reptiles are particularly susceptible to these threats due to high site fidelity, large home ranges, and slow movement rates. To understand behavioral responses of Eastern Milksnakes (Lampropeltis triangulum) to fragmentation, we compared home range size and movement rates between a fragmented habitat and an intact habitat. Additionally, we quantified road avoidance and habitat selection in the fragmented habitat. In 2015 and 2016, we collected 453 locations from 17 individuals from Rouge National Urban Park (RNUP), the fragmented study area, using radio-telemetry. We compared our results to a previous study with 1,001 locations from 30 individuals at Queen's University Biological Station (QUBS), our intact study area, collected from 2003 to 2004. We found that home ranges were smaller, but daily movement rate (DMD) and distance-per-move (DPM) were greater in the fragmented study area. We also observed that road crossings by snakes occurred less than expected, suggesting active avoidance of roads. Milksnakes in the fragmented habitat selected locations with a greater number of cover objects within open patches surrounded by high density vegetation, which is consistent with previous findings from the intact habitat. Our findings suggest that Eastern Milksnakes benefit from heterogeneous microhabitats and an abundance of available anthropogenic or natural cover.

Revealing the origin of wildcat reappearance after presumed long-term absence

Following severe population decline and local extinction due to massive habitat destruction and persecution, wildcats have recently reappeared in several parts of Germany’s low mountain region. It remains unknown how this reemergence occurred, specifically if local populations have been overlooked at low densities or if the species has successfully spread across the highly fragmented anthropogenic landscape. In the central German Rhön Mountains, for instance, wildcats were believed to be extinct during most of the twentieth century, however, the species was recently detected and subsequent genetic monitoring found the presence of a sizeable population. In this study, we used microsatellite and SNP genotypes from 146 wildcat individuals from 2008 to 2017 across a ~ 15,000 km2 area in the central German low mountain region to understand the population re-establishment of wildcats in the region. Bayesian clustering and subsequent analyses revealed that animals in the Rhön Mountains appear to be a mix from the two adjacent populations in the North and South of the area, suggesting a recent range expansion from two different directions. Both populations meet in the Rhön Biosphere Reserve, leading to an admixture of the northern, autochthonous, and the southern reintroduced wildcat population. While we cannot completely exclude the possibility of undetected population persistence, the high genetic homogeneity in the central German wildcat population and the lack of any signatures of past population decline in the Rhön favor a scenario of natural expansion. Our findings thus suggest that wildcats are well capable of rapid range expansion across richly structured landscape mosaics consisting of open land, settlements, and forest patches and document the potential of massive non-invasive genetic sampling when aiming to reconstruct the complex population and range dynamics of wildlife.

Laparoscopy: A Better Approach for Perforated Duodenal Ulcer.

BackgroundLaparoscopic surgery is becoming the gold standard for most abdominal surgeries in recent times. Laparoscopic repair of perforated duodenal ulcer (PDU), however, is still an area of debate. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of laparoscopic repair of PDU versus open repair.MethodsIn this cross-sectional study, patients were consecutively sampled. Out of 101 patients with clinically diagnosed PDU, 36 patients underwent laparoscopic Graham patch repair and 65 underwent open Graham patch repair in a tertiary care academic hospital. Open repair was via upper midline incision, and laparoscopic repair by the three-port technique. The following stages were calculated: operative time, duration of postoperative analgesia, time taken to mobilize, and patient length of stay after the operation.ResultsThe mean operative time was somewhat longer in the laparoscopy group compared to the open repair group (74.01 vs 56.17 minutes, respectively). Mean postoperative analgesia requirement, time taken to mobilize, and hospital stay were significantly shorter after laparoscopy than after open repair (1.21 days, 9.32 hours, and 3.12 days vs 3.83 days, 16.20 hours, and 4.85 days, respectively). Three patients (8%) in the laparoscopy group and 35 (54%) in the open repair group had postoperative complications.ConclusionsLaparoscopic repair of PDU is a safe approach and better than open repair in terms of operative time with the right level of expertise only, postoperative analgesia requirement, mobilization, duration of hospital stay, and incidence of postoperative respiratory and wound complications.

Do racket-tailed drongos make tree guards for their nest trees?

Abstract Greater racket-tailed drongos are renowned for their splendid mimicking abilities, and for their significant roles within mixed species flocks in the Old World tropics. Yet, we know little about their basic ecology and breeding behaviour. Here we describe a set of unique behaviours of these drongos during their nesting season. Racket-tailed drongos nested in trees in an open patch of forest, often returning to the same tree year after year. The nesting pair also smoothened the bark of the nest tree trunk with their beaks. These findings suggest that the nest tree is a crucial resource for this species, and have implications for the cognitive abilities of drongos, as well as for hitherto unknown interactions between an avian species and tropical forest trees.

Species differences in exhibit use by antelope: addax (Addax nasomaculatus) and sable (Hippotragus niger)

Some conservation breeding centres provide semi-natural conditions for hoofstock herds, to achieve the goal of maintaining genetic and behavioural resilience suitable for eventual reintroduction of conservation-reliant species. Little is known about mixed-species grazing by allopatric herbivores outside their native ranges (ex situ), although species and breed differences have been documented for domestic livestock as well as for sympatric wildlife species. The grazing and resting activities of two species of horse antelope (Hippotraginae) were examined in a central Texas ecoregion characterised by wooded and open grass patches. Theoretically, the mesic-adapted sable antelope Hippotragus niger, would prefer high productivity patches more than the desert-adapted addax Addax nasomaculatus. At three times of the day, behavioural activity and locations of sable (n=28) and addax (n=37) relative to three types of vegetation patches were recorded. It was predicted that sable would more likely (1) forage in locations with higher biomass and (2) rest in shade during midday. Ranked by decreasing forage biomass, the vegetation patch types included introduced exotic grass species (improved), forbs and grasses (native), and woody shrubs or trees (juniper). Shade was greatest in the juniper patches, and temperature was highest during midday. Sable were more likely to be in improved patches (overall and while foraging) and addax were more likely located in native patches. Both species rested in shady juniper patches, primarily during morning and midday. Based on hierarchical analyses using logistic regression models, individual use of patch types was a complex interaction of species, time of day and activity. Use of patches changed significantly during the day, species used patches differently, and foraging behaviour differed among the patches. Better understanding of species differences in use of an ex-situ landscape can contribute to maintaining herd health and behavioural resilience, as needed to meet goals of in-situ population restoration.

Carbon stock densities of semi-deciduous Atlantic forest and pine plantations in Argentina

Recent studies have shown the importance of subtropical forests as terrestrial carbon sinks and also their vulnerability to human disturbances and climate change. The Semi-deciduous Atlantic Forest presents large extensions replaced by productive uses, such as tree plantations, and forest remnants showing high levels of structural heterogeneity. No studies have performed carbon stock densities estimations in different pools in the region. We wonder how changes in forest structure and forest replacement by pine plantations affect ecosystem carbon stock densities in different pools and fluxes. We performed carbon estimates based on field data and compared closed (CF) and open (OF) canopy natural forest patches and Pinus taeda plantations at harvest age (PP). Structural changes in the natural forest had a profound effect on the ecosystem by halving the forest carbon stock while pulp-intended pine plantations reached the carbon stock of closed forest at harvest age. Main changes from CF to OF were a 55% decrease in the carbon of biomass and a 42% decrease in SOC. Instead, carbon stock density in biomass of PP was similar to CF but the carbon in fallen deadwood was 78% lower while in the litter layer was double; the SOC at 0–5 cm depth was 31% lower in PP than CF. Our study shows that structural changes in the natural forest halve the forest carbon stock while pulp-intended pine plantations can reach the closed forest carbon stock at harvest age. However, PP do not seem to be effective for carbon storage in the long term because of regular harvesting and clearing and their short-life products. Therefore, to effectively store the forest carbon, arresting deforestation, replacement and degradation of the original forest is crucial.

Woody species diversity from proposed ecologically sensitive area of northern Western Ghats: implications for biodiversity management

The Western Ghats of India support an array of tropical forests ranging from wet evergreen to scrub formations. Several endemic and threatened plant species are located in areas other than protected areas (PAs). There is an urgent need to understand species diversity in areas other than PAs, for effective management of tropical forests. In this context, reserve forests and informal PAs of Amboli from northern Western Ghats have been investigated. Woody species composition, diversity, and stand structure were assessed by laying quadrats and transects (n=46, area=2.575ha) in closed and open canopy forest patches covering habitat heterogeneity and environmental gradient of the area. A total of 2,224 individuals (of 87 species, 68 genera, and 35 families) was enumerated. Memecylon umbellatum, Syzygium cumini, and Diospyros nigrescens were found to be the most dominant species as per importance value index. Melastomataceae was the most dominant family as per family importance value, whereas Euphorbiaceae and Rutaceae were the most speciose. Fourteen IUCN Red List assessed species and 18 species endemic to the Western Ghats were encountered. Endemic species accounted for nearly 20% of the total number of individuals sampled. Demographic profile exhibited reverse ‘J’ pattern. Average basal area was 27.02m2 per hectare. Woody species diversity of Amboli forests was found comparable with other PAs from northern Western Ghats. Amboli and the adjoining area have been proposed as ecologically sensitive and in the wake of anthropogenic and developmental pressures they experience, it calls for urgent conservation attention.

Assessment of urban green space fragmentation using landscape metrics (case study: district 2, Tehran city)

Land cover changes caused by human activities have severe environmental effects on natural ecosystems. The presence of green spaces in cities is necessary to maintain the environmental health of cities as well as the natural conditions of the urban ecological context. On the other hand, the presence of open and green patches is associated with their combination and distribution, and the measure of this relationship and connection is very important. In recent years, the destruction and changing the green and open spaces are one of the most important physical-spatial effects of urban development. Considering the negative effects of inappropriate usage of lands and land-use change, knowledge, and understanding of the process of changeability is necessary in assessing environmental impacts from development in order to sustainable planning and management. This study aimed to investigate the trend of landscape changes in district 2 of Tehran. Satellite images of TM and ETM+ and NP, AREA_MN, PARA-MN, CONTIG_MN, SPLIT, LPI, PLAND, MESH, SHAPE_MN and DIVISION metrics were used to prepare land cover maps and analysis of changes. In order to analyze the fragmentation, different landscape metrics at the class level were calculated using FRAGSTATS software. The analysis of landscape metrics indicates the extensive replacement of green lands by build lands. The results showed that increasing the number of patches and reducing the mean area is an important index of decomposition also, the process of decomposition and destruction of the landscape is incremental. The results show the necessity to pay attention to the land use and land cover in the region to suitable and sustainable utilization of natural resources.

Woody vegetation remnants within pastures influence locust distribution: Testing bottom-up and top-down control

Agriculture is a major factor in landscape fragmentation, altering nutrient cycling and animal and plant populations through increasing habitat edge density. Most research on insect herbivores in agroecosystems has focused on the top-down effects of predators moving throughout the habitat mosaic. Few studies have focused on the top-down and bottom-up factors modulating the distribution of insect herbivore populations between natural and agricultural patches. For example, despite an understanding that Australian plague locusts (Chortoicetes terminifera) avoid tree patches, the underlying mechanisms remain unknown. Here, we explored how wooded remnants within pastures affect locust density and the potential top-down and bottom-up mechanistic explanations. We tested three hypotheses: 1) grasses near wooded areas are nutritionally suboptimal, 2) predator density is higher near wooded areas, and 3) temperatures are cooler underneath trees. We measured locust density, grass nutrient content, predator abundance, temperature, and ground cover along 50 m transects from wooded areas to open grassy areas. We ran those transects in three fields and had four transects per field. We confirmed locust avoidance for trees at a 20 m periphery, however none of the variables tested independently explained this trend. Grass nutrient content was similar underneath wooded areas and in open patches. Predator abundance did not differ between the two habitats. The ground was warmer under wooded areas than in grassy areas potentially due to woody vegetation negating windchill. Further, we found that locust density was negatively correlated with plant protein content and was highest in areas with approximately 20 % bare ground cover. Both plant protein and ground cover are important for grasshopper performance and reproduction. It is likely a complex interaction between these variables and others that drive the distribution of this species and other insect herbivores in agroecosystems. The small-scale mechanisms driving the response of insect herbivores to landscape changes is critical to understanding and predicting population dynamics at large-scales.

Rhizosphere bacteria are more strongly related to plant root traits than fungi in temperate montane forests: insights from closed and open forest patches along an elevational gradient

Heterogeneous canopies in temperate montane forests affect microclimate and soil characteristics, with important effects on soil microbial communities and related processes. Here, we studied the interactions between plant root traits and soil bacterial and fungal communities in closed forest and open gaps in a mixed forest along an elevational gradient in the French Alps (1400, 1700 and 2000 m). Samples were separated into three fractions (plant root, rhizosphere and bulk soil), to further investigate the influence of plant zones on microbial communities. Bacterial (16S) and fungal (ITS) biodiversity was determined using high throughput sequencing, along with standard measures of soil, litter and root traits. We found that (i) microbial community diversity was higher in gaps than in closed forest because of increased root trait diversity and density; (ii) open versus closed forest patches affected phylogenetic dispersion despite differences in elevations with phylogenetic clustering in closed forest; (iii) the interaction between root traits and microbial communities was stronger for rhizosphere and root fractions than for bulk soil and (iv) bacterial community composition was better explained by root traits than for fungi. Our findings highlight the importance of open gaps versus closed forest patches and associated root traits affecting microbial community structure, particularly for bacterial assemblages that exhibited a stronger interaction with root traits than for fungi.

When primary repair is not enough: a comparison of synthetic patch and muscle flap closure in congenital diaphragmatic hernia?

Primary closure is often inadequate for large congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) and necessitates repair by prosthetic patch or autologous muscle flap. Our aim was to evaluate outcomes of open patch versus flap repair, specifically diaphragmatic reherniation. A retrospective review (IRB #2017-6361) was performed on all CDH patients repaired from 2005 to 2016 at a single academic children's hospital. Patients were excluded from final analysis if they had primary or minimally invasive repair, expired, or were lost to follow-up. Of 171 patients, 151 (88.3%) survived to discharge, 9 expired after discharge and 11 were lost to follow up, leaving 131 (86.8%) long-term survivors. Median follow-up was 5years. Open repair was performed in 119 (90.8%) of which 28 (23.5%) underwent primary repair, 34 (28.6%) patch repair, and 57 (47.9%) flap repair. Overall, 6/119 (5%) patients reherniated, 1/28 (3.6%) in the primary group, 3/34 (8.8%) in the patch group, and 2/57 (3.5%) in the flap group. Comparing prosthetic patch to muscle flap repair, there was no significant difference in the number of patients who recurred nor time to reherniation (3 vs. 2, p = 0.295; 5.5 ± 0.00months vs. 53.75 ± 71.06months, p = 0.288). One patient in the patch group recurred twice. Both muscle flap and patch repair of large CDH are feasible and durable with a relatively low risk of recurrence.

The fertile island effect collapses under extreme overgrazing: evidence from a shrub-encroached grassland

Woody plant encroachment is a phenomenon of global concern in drylands due to demonstrated reductions in livestock carrying capacity. However, shrubs are known to contribute to the development of patches of enhanced fertility that might offset any negative effects of increasing grazing. We measured soil physical and chemical characteristics within shrub and open patches across a gradient in livestock grazing to explore how the relative effect of shrubs might change with increasing grazing-induced disturbance. Soil carbon, nitrogen phosphorus and bulk density were measured within 92 shrub patches and their paired interspaces at five sites ranging from long-grazed to long-ungrazed in a semiarid grassland encroached by the N-fixing shrub Caragana microphylla. We used a combination of linear and structural equation modelling to test whether shrubs might buffer any negative effects of overgrazing on soils. Shrub soils were more porous, and had more organic carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus than interspace soils. Within both microsites, however, soil bulk density increased, and soil organic carbon and nutrients declined, with increasing grazing intensity. Grazing reduced interspace plant cover and height and exacerbated the negative effects of bulk density on soil carbon, whereas shrubs had the opposite effect. The relative importance of shrubs for soil carbon and nutrients increased with increasing grazing intensity but collapsed under extreme overgrazing. These findings highlight the effect of grazing in promoting shrub dominance, which can also prevent grassland degradation. However, any positive effects of grazing collapsed when sites were severely overgrazed.

The role of semi‐open habitats as dispersal corridors for plant species of woodlands and open habitats

AbstractQuestionsEuropean pasture landscapes have been shaped by grazing and alternate husbandry. They are structurally characterised by mosaics of open habitat patches, individual trees and groups of trees or shrubs. We investigated whether these semi‐open habitats may act as stepping stones and thus as dispersal corridors for both plants from woodlands and open habitats to mitigate habitat fragmentation effects. We (a) contrasted the plant communities in semi‐open habitats with those of woodlands and open habitats, and (b) explored which life‐history traits or environmental requirements are associated with the presence or absence of species in semi‐open habitats.LocationSwabian Jura, South Germany; Lueneburg Heath, North Germany.MethodsWe selected four study sites in two contrasting landscapes and conducted vegetation surveys and analysed canopy closure and soil chemical properties in four different habitat types: woodlands, semi‐open habitats with high and low canopy closure and open habitats. We tested whether habitat type affected species composition, identified habitat‐specific indicator species and compared Ellenberg indicator values for light and moisture and species’ dispersal and establishment traits across these habitat types.ResultsPlant communities of woodlands were significantly different from those of all other habitat types, whereas open habitats showed some similarities to semi‐open habitats. On average, 73% of open habitat and 39% of woodland species were present in semi‐open habitats. Habitat requirements as well as dispersal and establishment traits of woodland species were often more specialised and differed from those of species of the other habitat types, making them less capable to disperse into semi‐open habitats.ConclusionsSemi‐open corridors have the potential to connect patches of open habitats and to a lesser extent also of woodlands without creating new barriers for either habitat type. Thus, semi‐open corridors may counteract habitat fragmentation effects and are a promising tool for biodiversity conservation, particularly in fragmented pasture landscapes.

Vegetation dynamics between an open patch and a forest edge

Vegetation dynamics between an open patch and a forest edge

Exploring the Medicinal Plant Diversity of Hassan District, Karnataka, India

Background: This study is about the importance of documenting locally available medicinal plants gaining attention worldwide. Locally available plant resources are the main sources of raw materials for the local primary healthcare system. Documentation of the local medicinal plant resources is very important to check the status and depletion situation of the existing resources. The worldwide scenario of increased activity in conservation and cultivation reflects the importance of documentation of medicinal plants. Objectives: Documentation of locally available medicinal plant diversity of Hassan District, Karnataka, India. Materials and methods: Team comprising a botanist, an Ayurvedic physician, and a field assistant conducted two medicoethno botanical survey tours of 7 days each during October 2017 and March 2018. The study was conducted in randomly selected forest sections/beats in Arsikere, Yeslur, Sakleshpur, Arakalagud, Hassan, Belur, Alur, Holenarasipura, and Channarayapatna forest ranges of Hassan district. Sampling was done by adopting the belt transact method at the randomly selected forest areas, and representative herbarium specimens were collected as reference samples at geographical location along with filed photographs. Observations: Medicinal plant wealth of Hassan district is rich due to its varied vegetation types such as wet evergreen tropical rain forest in western Malnad part and dry tropical scrub vegetation in plain lands in east, north, and southern regions of the district. During the survey tours, the survey team documented 317 plants from nine forest ranges in Hassan district. Of these 317 plant species, 106 species found with promising medicinal properties were presented with botanical name, family, Sanskrit and local names, habit, habitat, abundance, part used, medicinal uses, accession number, and GPS location. These plants are used in various diseases ranging from chronic diseases such as ulcers, arthritis, asthma, cardiovascular complaints, hepatitis, diabetes, skin diseases; general complaints such as digestive problems, urinary disorders, fever, headache, dysentery, diarrhea, cold, cough, hemorrhoids, inflammations, wounds, cuts, etc. Use of various parts such as root, tuber, leaf, fruit, seed, whole plant, bark (stem and root), resin, etc., have been mentioned for these plants. Among the dominant families, Leguminosae contributes 10 species, while Apocynaceae and Lamiaceae represent 7 and 5 species, respectively, and Malvaceae, Menispermaceae, and Rubiaceae 4 species each. Conclusion: Among the 106 medicinally important plants that spread in 55 families, about 61 species are distributed in dry deciduous forests while 40 are restricted to moist to wet forests of the district and rest of them are growing in open forest patches.