Plant Strata Research Articles

The diversity of soil-dwelling arthropods is significantly influenced by land use systems with tree cover in semiarid conditions

Seasonal changes in vegetation and climate exert significant influences on soil fauna in natural and agricultural ecosystems. Additionally, evidence indicates that interactions between different plant layers promote soil fauna diversity through the variety of resources available. The objective was to assess the edaphic fauna in traditional land use systems, agroforestry systems and natural vegetation, under the influence of rainfall seasonality and plant strata in the semiarid region of Brazil. For this purpose, six types of land use were selected: agroforestry; silvopastoral; slash and burn with intensive use without fallow; slash and burn with six years of fallow; slash and burn with nine years of fallow; and a system representing the natural vegetation of the Caatinga. Edaphic fauna was collected using pitfall traps in the dry and rainy seasons. A total of 43,363 individuals of the edaphic fauna were collected and grouped into taxa, determining abundance, diversity and functional groups. The results revealed higher abundance and diversity of edaphic fauna in the rainy season across all land use systems, but significantly higher numbers in systems with tree strata. The greater the abundance, richness and diversity of trees, the higher the diversity of edaphic fauna (Shannon Index - H: 0.7 < ‾H < 1) for the seasonal effect. Agroforestry systems were intermediate in the diversity of edaphic fauna (‾H < 0.8) compared to other systems. Systems with greater heterogeneity in tree and herbaceous strata were the ones that most increased the diversity and activity of functional groups of edaphic fauna (H < 0.8; 0.5 < r < 0.9). In semiarid conditions, more attention should be given to agricultural production systems with greater tree diversity and interaction between tree and herbaceous strata to conserve the biodiversity of edaphic fauna and improve the soil health.

Population structure, spatial aggregation, and sampling plan for the Texas citrus mite, Eutetranychus banksi (Acari: Tetranychidae) on citrus.

Eutetranychus banksi (McGregor) (Acari: Tetranychidae) is an invasive spider mite native to the Americas. In 2013 it invaded the main citrus-growing area in Spain producing significant damage and requiring chemical treatments. This work examines its population structure, spatial distribution and presents a sampling plan, which will assist in developing an integrated pest management (IPM) strategy. There were differences in the population structure on fruits and leaves, as well as between leaves from different flushes with fluctuations over time correlated with variations in sex ratio. No differences in aggregation at the different plant strata were found; however, immature stages showed a higher aggregation than adults, with females being the sex with the lowest aggregation. There was a high correlation between E. banksi motile forms and adult females with the total population, thus both were used as reference stages to develop sampling plans. We recommend binomial sampling of 100 leaves for female monitoring, sampling two leaves per tree on 25 trees per transect regularly spaced along two diagonal transects, the first oriented northeast to southwest and the second northwest to southeast. To be more accurate, it is possible to survey the presence/absence of motile forms. In this case, four leaves per tree in 50 trees per transect should be monitored. This study has resulted in the first sampling plan for E. banksi, one of the most damaging citrus mite species described so far. The binomial sampling plan involves monitoring reference developmental stages, as well as a reasonable sample size that makes it applicable in field sampling for decisions making based on a future intervention threshold. © 2024 The Author(s). Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.

How do different agricultural managements interfere with the Phytoseiidae mite (Acari: Phytoseiidae) community in apple trees?

In this study we performed the sampling of phytoseiid mites in different apple production orchards, and we evaluated the richness and abundance of these mites, as well as their distribution in the different strata of the plants. Furthermore, we studied how the different apple tree cultivars affect the diversity and distribution of these predatory mites. Collections were carried out in apple orchards in three different production areas: 1- organic agriculture (Antônio Prado, RS); 2- conventional agriculture (Muitos Capões, RS); 3- regenerative agriculture (São Joaquim, SC). In total, seven orchards were evaluated, in Muitos Capões and São Joaquim, two orchards of the Fuji and Gala, whereas in Antônio Prado, three cultivars (Eva, Fuji and Gala) were considered. In each orchard, 40 plants were evaluated, and from each plant a median branch was randomly chosen from which a leaf was removed from the apical, median and basal thirds. The collected leaves were taken to the laboratory, they were observed and the mites found mounted in Hoyer's medium and identified. A total of 695 phytoseiid specimens were collected. Greater abundance was noted in the apical stratum of plants of the Gala cultivar, demonstrating the effect of cultivar and stratum on phytoseiid richness, abundance and distribution. Neoseiulus californicus (McGregor) (Phytoseiidae) was the main species in areas of conventional and regenerative cultivation, being present in all evaluated orchards, but with low occurrence in areas of organic management. In organic orchards, species of the genus Euseius [Euseius mesembrinus (Dean) and Euseius inouei (Ehara and Moraes)] (Phytoseiidae) were more abundant. The results suggest that producers consider less intensive use of pesticides and herbicides in orchards in order to maintain populations of predatory mites due to their potential for biological control.

Dry matter distribution of banderita grass [Bouteloua curtipendula (Michx.) Torr.] at different plant strata

Objective: To evaluate the dry matter distribution of banderita grass [Bouteloua curtipendula (Michx.) Torr.] in different plant strata.&#x0D; Design/Methodology/Approach: A randomized block experimental design with five repetitions was used for the experiment. Each repetition consisted of three plants which were evaluated at different days after sowing (DAS), in three different plant strata: basal stratum (BS), middle stratum (MS), and upper or apical stratum (AS). The following variables were evaluated: dry matter yield (DMY), morphological composition (MC), leaf area (LA), plant height (PH), leaf:stem ratio (L:SR), and aerial part:root ratio (Ap:rR). An analysis of variance was performed, using the PROC GLM procedure of the SAS software; in addition, a comparison of means was carried out using Tukey’s test (α&lt;0.05).&#x0D; Results: SB made a greater contribution to DMY at 50 DAS, with a 16 g DMY plant-1 average, followed by MS, with 9 g DM plant-1, and AS with 3 g plant-1. The MC (g) in the BS registered that the stem made a greater contribution than the rest of the components (average: 12.3 g plant-1), while leaves from the MS and AS made the greatest contribution (2.6 g plant-1) up to 64 DAS. However, they were surpassed by the stem in the MS and by the inflorescence in the AS. In addition, BS registered the highest LA (173.4 cm2). The largest PH was recorded at 120 DAS (96 cm). The highest L:SR ratio reached 1.10 at 50 DAS, while Ap:rR recorded 3.82 at 92 DAS.&#x0D; Study Limitations/Implications: The experiment was carried out under greenhouse conditions. Therefore, any extrapolation or comparison with field conditions should be done with caution.&#x0D; Findings/Conclusions: The basal and middle part of a banderita grass (Bouteloua curtipendula) plant contains the highest forage accumulation (mainly in the leaves and the stem), while the highest biomass content in the apical part is produced by the inflorescence.

Selection and chemical composition of plant species consumed by goats under drought conditions in three microregions of the Comarca Lagunera, Mexico

Objective: To evaluate the plant selection of the diet of goats during the dry season and the chemical composition of the said plants in three microregions of the Comarca Lagunera, Mexico.&#x0D; Design/Methodology/Approach: Three microregions were identified within the Comarca Lagunera: 1) mountain slope, 2) plain, and 3) cultivation areas. The selection of the goat diet, the availability of forage, and the nutritional composition (CP, EE, DNF, AFD, NFC, TDN, and NEl) of plant species and strata were evaluated in the three microregions.&#x0D; Results: The shrubs and herbaceous in the Comarca Lagunera had the highest forage availability and a better nutritional profile during winter. On the one hand, these plant strata had an adequate protein content. On the other hand, the overall energy content reached &lt;1 Mcal kg-1 DM.&#x0D; Study Limitations/Implications: The plant strata have an adequate protein content; however, the energy content is not enough and limits growth. Consequently, supplementation programs for grazing dairy goats in the Comarca Lagunera must include sources of energy.&#x0D; Findings/Conclusions: Regardless of the microregion, the energy content of the species consumed by grazing dairy goats in the Comarca Lagunera is low.

Drought responses in Coffea arabica as affected by genotype and phenophase. I – leaf distribution and branching

Summary In Coffea arabica, there is a small genetic distance between wild and bred genotypes. However, coffee genotypes express differential acclimation to multiple drought cycles, allowing them to successfully deal with water-limiting conditions. We hypothesized that bred coffee cultivars have a plant structure less sensitive to drought than wild genotypes. Plant and leaf architecture were analyzed over the coffee strata of two cultivars (Iapar 59 and Catuaí 99) and two wild Ethiopia accessions (‘E083’ and ‘E027’) grown under rainfed conditions and irrigation. During two consecutive productive years, evaluations were taken at leaf and berry expansion (BE1 and BE2) and harvest (BH1 and BH2) phenophases. The plant canopy was divided into up to four strata of 40 cm of thickness. Topological and geometric coding of coffee trees was performed in three botanical scales – metamers, branches, and plants in multiscale tree graphs (MTGs), following the VPlants modeling platform. Leaf and branch area per plant increased with tree structure development, being always significantly higher in irrigated than in rainfed plants over all phenophases. The individual leaf area was the least sensitive to water regime in Catuaí 99, while the 2nd order axis elevation – angle in relation to horizontal plane, ranging from 0° to 90° – of bred cultivars was less sensitive to drought than in ‘E083’. This finding partially corroborated our hypothesis that orchestrated reprograming of leaf/branch responses over the vertical plant profile were less sensitive to water availability in cultivars than in wild accessions. Leaves of 2nd to 4th-order branching were roughly plagiophile, while the 1st-order leaves were classified as extremophiles. When the coffee leaves were planophile, irrespective of genotype, this pattern was found at the lowest, 1st plant stratum, and the newest developed 4th stratum. Such responses were not obligatorily related to water regime, similar to branch elevation – with exception of ‘E083’, very sensitive to drought. Taken together, our data suggest that the leaf and branch elevations in C. arabica were more influenced by light distribution through the canopy profile – i.e., self-shading – than by water availability.

Kajian Desain Healing Garden di RSUD Ahmad Yani sebagai Media Terapi Psikologis Berdasarkan Persepsi dan Preferensi Tenaga Kesehatan

In urban communities, the Covid-19 pandemic has caused psychological and mental disorders. Health workers are most affected and vulnerable to psychological disorders, especially those working at Covid-19 referral hospitals such as the Ahmad Yani Hospital. As a result, psychological therapy facilities or media that can improve the psychological health of health workers are needed. The research aimed to determine the urgency and need for healing gardens among health workers, to know about health workers' perceptions and preferences regarding healing garden design, and make recommendations on criteria and design concepts for healing gardens in the Ahmad Yani Hospital area. The study's methods included the distribution of questionnaires and interviews. Descriptive analysis with crosstabulation and frequency techniques is used. A healing garden in the Ahmad Yani Hospital area is regarded as necessary as a psychological therapy medium for improving the psychological health of health workers. During the Covid-19 pandemic in the hospital environment, 97.3% of participants said they needed a green open space that functions as a relaxation area to improve psychological health, and 94.6% said they needed a healing garden. Colour parameters, materials, concepts, space, plants, plant strata, plant functions, facilities, areas/locations, and healing garden criteria are all preferences for health workers. Health workers' preferences for healing garden design are generally relatively consistent across gender and age groups. A nature-oriented healing garden design is the recommended healing garden design for the Ahmad Yani Hospital area (biophilic design).

Effect of simulated heat waves on the behaviour of two mirid predators

AbstractExtreme climatic events, including heat waves with high‐temperature peaks during the day, are expected to occur more often in many parts of the world due to climate change and may exert negative effects on existing biological control strategies. To assess the effects of high‐temperature peaks on two commonly used, and naturally co‐occurring mirid predators, adults and nymphs of Nesidiocoris tenuis and Macrolophus pygmaeus were exposed either to constant 25°C or daily mean temperatures of 25°C with cycles rising up to 30 or 40°C. Preferred location of the two mirid species on different strata of tomato plants was investigated when they were exposed to the different temperature regimens alone or combined. Activity of mirids under the different temperature regimens was continuously monitored for 48 h using a Drosophila Activity Monitor system. Finally, the efficacy of the mirids preying on Tuta absoluta eggs was measured at the different temperature regimens in a Petri dish assay. Heat waves reaching 30 and 40°C in some instances affected the location of the mirids either when they were on the plant alone or under competition conditions. Locomotory activity of M. pygmaeus in the 40°C treatment was strongly reduced, whereas it remained high in N. tenuis. Effects of temperature peaks on prey consumption were visible in M. pygmaeus nymphs, N. tenuis females and males of both species. We suggest that the different responses of the two species to high‐temperature peaks may reduce their competition and support sustained control when both species are present simultaneously. Moreover, both species were found to be less susceptible to heat peaks when compared to previously reported results for their prey T. absoluta.

Natural aspect of the megalithic cultural heritage area of the Bada Valley (Central Sulawesi): Vegetation composition and biodiversity analyses

The Bada Valley is one of the Lore Lindu Megalithic Cultural Heritage areas, which is one of the first four biosphere reserves in Indonesia. The Bada Valley area offers cultural attractions that combine with nature in the form of cultural landscapes such as handicrafts from bark, hilly landscapes that offer panoramic beauty, and preserve dozens of megalithic sites from prehistoric times as well as tourist cruising areas. The area is surrounded by densely forested mountains and forms one of the most important water catchment areas for the Watershed. However, there is a lack of studies on the vascular flora. No data on plant diversity has been reported, including plant inventory, plant identification, vegetation composition, and biodiversity analyses (diversity index, evenness index, and plant species richness index). The study aimed to determine the diversity index, evenness index, and plant species richness index in the Bada Valley cultural area, Poso Regency, Central Sulawesi. This study used an exploring technique with purposive sampling. Additional information was recorded in the form of the collector’s name, collection number, collection date, location, and habitus, which were recorded in the observation sheet that had been prepared. Identification of plants was carried out using the procedure for observing plant morphological characters, which included special features in each class and family or genus down to the species level. The results of the study found the vegetation composition for herbaceous strata (555 individuals), trees (91 individuals), shrubs (64 individuals), and vines (57 individuals). The diversity index value of each stratum is different for trees (H’ = 1.20), herbs (H’ = 1.92), shrubs (H’ = 1.32), and vines (H’ = 0.62). The diversity of plants in the Bada Valley in the tree, herb, and shrub strata was moderate (1.0 &lt; H’ &lt; 3.0), and the encroaching plant stratum had low diversity (H’ &lt; 1.0). The evenness index at the level of shrubs, vines, herbs, and trees has values of 0.95, 0.90, 0.83, 0.61, respectively. The species richness index of plants in the Bada Valley is in a low category (R &lt; 3.5), with R values for herbaceous plants (1.42), trees (1.33), shrubs (0.72), and vines (0.24). Information on plant biodiversity is used as a database for ecotourism development in the Bada Valley Cultural Heritage area. Research data can be used to support the local government in regulating the utilization of the Bada Valley Cultural Heritage area.

Plant stratum corneum inspired high-strength hydrogel coating modified palm skin by freezing and salting out strategy for efficient gravity-driven oil/water separation

Oily wastewater treatment with sustainable, low energy consumption and low cost has attached great significance to aquatic ecosystems, environmental protection and economic demands. Inspired by the plant stratum corneum, a simple, facile and universal strategy for fabrication of green, efficient gravity-driven and brand-new oil/water separation membrane (named FSP-P-PS) was developed by using the freezing and salting out strategy to coat high-strength hydrogel on the palm skin membrane, which could improve the anti-fouling property of palm skin and increase the tensile property by 227 % compared with that of the pretreated palm skin membrane. Additionally, the as-obtained membrane of FSP-P-PS showed superior self-cleaning and superhydrophilic properties. Under the condition of gravity-driven, the FSP-P-PS possessed high permeation flux (1298.7 L m−2 h−1), excellent separation efficiency (99.91 %) and favorable reusability (10 cycles) for oil-in-water emulsion separation. More importantly, such a plant stratum corneum inspired strategy could be extended to modify other biomass material such as wood chips, leaves and so on. We thus envision that this bio-inspired mild and universal approach for high-strength hydrogel coating modification of biomass membrane will be of great potential use for oil–water separation.

Yield and Bioenergy Quality of Maralfalfa Biomass Obtained at Different Plant Strata and Cutting Dates

One viable option for meeting global energy demand is the creation of biofuels from plant species that demonstrate high biomass productivity and good energy characteristics. In this study, growth was evaluated using plant height (PH), the production of green (GB) and dry biomass (DB), and the energy quality of leaves, pods, and stems, considering apical and basal sections of maralfalfa plants at 28, 60, 90, and 140 days after applying a uniformity cut (AUC). The variables were analyzed with correlation tests and variance analyses (ANOVA) using a factorial array design; in addition, Tukey tests were performed. A steady increase in PH (72 to 239 cm) was found. The highest yield of stems was at 90 AUC (41,362 kg/ha) for GB and 140 days AUC (6331 kg/ha) for DB, and a high correlation was observed between PH and stem biomass production for both the GB (r = 0.91) and DB (r = 0.93). There was a strong correlation between higher heating value and DB from the apical stratum (r = 0.99) and the basal stratum (r = 0.97). Maralfalfa shows high biomass productivity and high energy production in short growth periods.

Distribution Of Phenacoccus Solenopsis Infesting Okra Plants: Evidence for Improving a Pest Scouting Method.

Understanding insect behavior is a prerequisite for establishing pest scouting tools for determining possible damage and implementing control measures for the cotton mealybug, Phenacoccus solenopsis (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) on okra plants. Field trials were conducted to estimate the distribution modalities of P. solenopsis on plants in different cardinal directions, plant strata, leaf surfaces, and field depth (spaces from field boundaries), in a private okra field (Balady cultivar) at Esna district, Luxor Governorate during two consecutive seasons (2021 and 2022). Results revealed that P. solenopsis attacked okra plants, were observed from the first week of March through the end of July during each season, and occurred on all okra field directions in all plant levels and on leaf surfaces, on all the dates of weekly inspections. During the two seasons, there were highly significant differences in population, as well as infestation percentages in various cardinal directions, and very significant changes between the various stratums of plant and on leaf surfaces, as well as between the various distances from field boarders. P. solenopsis favors the lower leaf surface of the top stratum of the plant, in the south and east aspects, where its population was constantly abundant throughout the season, and pests more highly attacked okra plants distant from the farm borders than close plants over each season. The current information can be used to help design mealybug monitoring and control programs on okra plants.

Relações de escala de artrópodes do solo e a estrutura da vegetação de fitofisionomias de Cerrado

ABSTRACT The objective of this study was to assess the scale relationships of soil arthropods and the vegetation structure of Cerrado phytophysiognomies. The experimental plots were set in areas with dense Cerrado (T1), typical Cerrado (T2), and sparse Cerrado (T3). The edaphic fauna was collected at 128 points through pitfall traps, and the vegetation was evaluated in subplots of 9 m2. The data were evaluated using descriptive statistics, geostatistics, multifractal analysis, and joint multifractal analysis. The soil arthropods and vegetation structure were adjusted to a geostatistical model, except for arborescent plants (T1) and arthropod abundance and arboreal plants (T2), which showed a pure nugget effect. The studied variables showed different degrees of multifractality. The graphs of joint multifractal dimension showed circular lines with high values of joint correlation for the pairs of arthropod richness versus the abundance of plant strata (r = -0.498), arthropod richness versus herbaceous plants (r = 0.323), and arthropod richness versus arboreal plants (r = 0.451) at T1. The soil fauna was influenced by the composition of the plant strata. The plots with dense Cerrado (T1) and sparse Cerrado (T3) showed the greatest spatial dependence between the samples. The multifractal analysis showed that the plot with sparse Cerrado (T3) had the greatest heterogeneity of measurement along the geometric support. In contrast, the greatest asymmetry of the singularity spectrum was described for the plot with dense Cerrado (T1). The use of geostatistical and multifractal analysis tools enabled us to characterize the scale relationships between the variables.

Dynamics of Aleurocanthus woglumi Ashby (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) in Tahiti acid lime (Citrus latifolia) orchards under different fertilizer applications

Citrus black fly Aleurocanthus woglumi Asbhy is an important citrus pest because it causes significant losses in production. The objective of this study was to evaluate the incidence and distribution of A. woglumi egg laying, eggs and nymphs on Citrus latifolia (Tahiti acid lime) plants grown under different fertilizer applications. The experiment was carried out in a citrus orchard in the municipality of Paço do Lumiar, MA, Brazil. A randomized block design in a 3×5×3 factorial arrangement (three evaluation times, five treatments, and three plant strata) was used with 4 replications. The experimental unit consisted of three plants and treatments with different fertilizations were applied to the soil: T1: control (no fertilizer application); T2: organic fertilizer (bovine manure); T3: organic fertilizer + potassium silicate (K2O3Si); T4: NPK; T5: NPK + K2O3Si. The number of egg laying, eggs and nymphs of A. woglumi was evaluated in the basal, mid and apical strata of C. latifolia plants at 30, 60 and 90 days after fertilizer application. Reductions in the number of eggs and nymphs were observed in treatments with organic fertilization + K2O3Si and NPK + K2O3Si. Citrus latifolia plants treated with K2O3Si were less susceptible to A. woglumi and plants fertilized with NPK present higher susceptibility (p&lt;0.05). There was a higher incidence of egg laying, eggs and 1st instar nymphs in the apical stratum and 2nd, 3rd and 4th instar nymphs in the basal and mid strata in C. latifolia (p&lt;0.05). The addition of K2O3Si to organic and mineral fertilization is recommended as a viable alternative to reduce the population level of A. woglumi in citrus plants

Integrated Fire Management as a Renewing Agent of Native Vegetation and Inhibitor of Invasive Plants in Vereda Habitats: Diagnosis by Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems

The Cerrado biome is being gradually reduced. Remote sensing has been widely used to investigate spatio-temporal changes in the landscape, which are frequently limited to mapping with orbital sensors, while the Remotely Piloted Aircraft System (RPAS) proved to be advantageous in terms of spatial resolution and the application of advanced digital processing techniques. In this study, we investigated a vereda (humid area) of a conservation unit in the state of Mato Grosso, Brazil. Object-Based Image Analysis (OBIA) was applied to images obtained by RPAS to distinguish the phytophysiognomies of plant strata from the vereda and to diagnose the recovery of native and invasive vegetation after prescribed burning. The study was carried out in the following five stages: biomass collection; quality analysis of the land cover; phytosociological survey; collection of control points using a GNSS receiver (type L1/L2); and the capture of aerial images with an RGB camera coupled to a DJI Phantom 4 Pro, which was performed through overflights in three different periods. Object–Based Image Analysis was subsequently performed using the Nearest Neighbor classifier combined with Feature Space Optimization, obtaining classifications with accuracy and Kappa indexes greater than 80% and 0.80, respectively. The results of image processing allowed us to infer that fire acted as a renewing agent for native vegetation and as an inhibiting agent for invasive vegetation. The classification analyses combined with the phytosociological analysis allowed us to infer that the vereda is in the process of maturation. Therefore, the study demonstrated the potential of data obtained by RPAS for the diagnosis and analysis of vegetation dynamics in small wetlands submitted to Integrated Fire Management (IFM).

Plant Stratum Corneum Inspired Hydrogel Coating Modified Palm Skin for Self-Cleaning and Efficient Gravity-Driven Oil/Water Separation

Plant Stratum Corneum Inspired Hydrogel Coating Modified Palm Skin for Self-Cleaning and Efficient Gravity-Driven Oil/Water Separation

Effects of Tourism on the Habitat Use by a Threatened Large Rodent at a World Heritage Site

Simple SummaryThe mara is a large endemic rodent, which major threats are habitat loss, hunting, and overgrazing. Maras live in arid and semiarid areas of Argentina. We studied the influence of environment variables and tourist activity on mara’s habitat use. We used different ecological approaches, from plant communities to floristic composition, in order to know at which level we can better detect the tourism effects on mara’s habitat use. We counted feces of maras as a habitat use index and recorded environmental variables along 80 samples in two plant communities, near and away-from the tourist circuit. To evaluate habitat use, we made statistical models using plant communities, plant strata, cover of trees, shrubs, and grasses, and plant species abundance as explaining factors. We detected the tourism effects on habitat use utilizing cover of trees, shrubs, and grasses, and cover of more abundant plant species, but not plant communities and plant strata, as explicative factors. Maras also selected areas with low bare soil with few pebbles on it. We found complex interactions between abiotic, biotic, and anthropic variables, studying maras’ preferred places near tourism activities, which they probably perceive as safer from predators.The mara is a large endemic rodent, which presents a marked decline in its populations, mainly because of habitat loss, hunting, and overgrazing. The Ischigualasto Provincial Park is a hyper-arid protected area at the Monte Desert of Argentina with an overall low plant cover. Our objective was to determine the influence of environmental variables and tourist activities on mara’s habitat use. We used different biological levels to explain it, from plant community to floristic composition, in order to know at which level we can better detect the effects of tourist activities. We registered fresh feces and habitat variables along 80 transects in two communities, near and far away from the tourist circuit. To evaluate habitat use, we fitted models at different biological levels: plant community, plant strata, plant biological forms, and floristic composition. At the community and plant strata levels, we could not detect any tourism effects on habitat use. However, we detected effects of tourist activities on mara’s habitat use at the plant strata and floristic composition levels. Maras also selected areas with a low proportion of both bare soil and pebbles cover. We found complex interactions between abiotic, biotic variables and tourism, studying mara’s places near tourism activities, probably because they perceive those places as predator-safe areas.

Low-Intensity, High-Frequency Grazing Positively Affects Defoliating Behavior, Nutrient Intake and Blood Indicators of Nutrition and Stress in Sheep.

The intensity and frequency of grazing affect the defoliating strategy of ruminants, their daily nutrient intake, thus nutrition and physiological status. Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.) pastures were grazed by sheep either under a low-intensity/high-frequency grazing strategy (Rotatinuous stocking; RN) with nominal pre- and post-grazing sward heights of 18 and 11 cm, respectively, or under a high-intensity/low-frequency strategy (traditional rotational stocking; RT) with nominal pre- and post-grazing sward heights of 25 and 5 cm, respectively. Treatments were arranged under a complete randomized design and evaluated over two periods, in different years. In 2017, the aim was to depict the type of bites that sheep perform during the grazing-down and associate them to the grazing management strategy according to their relative contribution to the diet ingested. In 2018 we estimated the total nutrient intake and evaluated blood indicators of the nutritional status and immune response to stress of sheep. The bite types accounting the most for the diet ingested by RN sheep were those performed on the “top stratum” of plants with around 20, 15, and 25 cm, whereas the type of bites accounting the most for the diet of RT sheep were those performed on “grazed plants” with around 10, 5, and ≤ 3 cm. In 2018, the RN sheep increased by 18% the total organic matter (OM) intake and by 20–25% the intake of soluble nutrients (i.e., crude protein, total soluble sugars, crude fat), digestible OM and of metabolizable energy, and had 17.5, 18, and 6.1% greater blood concentration of glucose, urea nitrogen (BUN) and albumin, respectively, but 17% lower blood neutrophil-to-lymphocyte (N:L) ratio. Sheep grazing vegetative Italian ryegrass pastures under the low-intensity/high-frequency grazing strategy (RN) ingested a diet of better quality from bites allocated on the top stratum of plants, had greater intake of soluble nutrients and blood parameters positively associated with nutritional status and immune response to stress.

Vertical Distribution of Euschistus heros in the Leaf Canopy of Soybean Plants

The occurrence of phytophagous stink bugs in soybeans can result in production losses, if this pest is not properly controlled. Our objective was to study the vertical distribution (intra-plant) of nymphs and adults of Euschistus heros (Fabricius, 1798) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) in the leaf canopy of soybean plants, during the day. For this, fourteen soybean plants located in one meter of row were evaluated in the field, every three hours between 5 am and 8 pm. The sampled plants were divided into three strata (upper, middle, and lower), where nymphs and adults observed were counted in each stratum and sampling period. The treatments consisted of the three strata of the soybean plants and the different sampling points performed at each time of the day represented the repetitions. An irregular distribution of E. heros nymphs and adults was observed in the three studied strata of soybean plants, during the day. At 11 am and 2 pm, when the ambient temperature and solar radiation were highest, both the E. heros adults and the nymphs positioned preferentially on the upper stratum of the soybean plants and later migrated to the middle and lower strata when the temperature and solar radiation decreased. This information about the distribution pattern of E. heros in the soybean leaf canopy, during the day, provides knowledge for more effective monitoring and control of this pest in soybean crop.

Grain, oil, and protein production on soybean stems and branches under reduced densities

The reduction of sowing density is a strategy that aims to reduce production costs with no losses in grain yield. This study aimed to evaluate the yield components and contents of protein and oil in grains from branches and stems of two soybean cultivars as a function of the reduction in sowing density. The experiments were conducted in two growing seasons (2016/17 and 2017/18) in Londrina, PR, Brazil. Two soybean cultivars were evaluated: BRS 1010 IPRO and NS 5959 IPRO. The experimental design was completely randomized blocks in a split-plot scheme, with five replications. Plots consisted of five sowing densities (100, 80, 60, 40, and 20% of that indicated by the cultivar breeder) and subplots consisted of two plant strata (branches and stems). The number of pods m?2 and grain, protein, and oil yield increased in the branches and decreased in the stems with a decrease in sowing density. The number of grains per pod is higher in the stems than in the branches, regardless of the cultivar. The protein content in the grains is higher in the branches than in the stems for the cultivar BRS 1010 IPRO and decreased with a reduction in sowing density. The thousand-grain weight of the cultivar NS 5959 IPRO decreased with a reduction in sowing density. The oil content in the grains was not influenced by the studied factors.