Plant Abundance Research Articles

The assembly of plant communities in relation to overlap in mycorrhizal and pathogenic root fungi

Abstract Plant species commonly associate with symbiotic arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) and pathogenic root fungi, with many plants overlapping in their fungal community compositions. Overlap in AM fungi could promote coexistence by favouring competitively inferior or rare plants, or through the establishment of common mycorrhizal networks. Coexistence could also, however, be impeded if shared AM fungi disproportionately benefit competitively superior or abundant plant species. Overlap in pathogenic root fungi among closely growing plant species should increase the likelihood that an uninfected plant becomes infected, leading to reduced coexistence. Using vegetation plot data from an old‐field plant community along with high‐throughput sequence data on AM and pathogenic root fungal associations, we conducted three specific evaluations. First, we used null models to determine whether estimated overlap in AM or pathogenic root fungi among coexisting plant species was higher or lower than expected by chance. Second, we assessed whether estimated overlap in AM and pathogenic fungi differed between positively co‐occurring and negatively co‐occurring plant species. Third, we examined whether variation in plot‐level plant species richness was explained by the degree of estimated overlap in AM and pathogenic root fungi among those species. We found no evidence that estimated overlap in AM or pathogenic root fungal communities was higher or lower than expected under our null model. Additionally, positively and negatively co‐occurring pairs of plant species did not differ in their estimated overlap in either group of fungi. However, plant species richness was significantly higher in plots where plants were estimated to overlap more in AM fungi and significantly lower in plots where plant species were estimated to overlap more in pathogenic root fungi. Our results suggest that overlap in root fungal associations among plant species appears to be predictive of plant species richness, and therefore the assembly of plant communities. Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog.

Seasonal Variations in Microplastic Abundance and Removal Efficiency in Wastewater Treatment Plants in Bangkok, Thailand

Seasonal Variations in Microplastic Abundance and Removal Efficiency in Wastewater Treatment Plants in Bangkok, Thailand

Functional leaf and plant use by leafcutter bees: Implications for management and conservation.

Wild solitary bees face a host of challenges from the simplification of landscapes and biodiversity loss to invasive species and urbanization. Pollinator researchers and restoration workers thus far gave much attention to increase flower cover to reduce the impact of these anthropogenic pressures. Over 30% of bee species need nonfloral resources such as leaves and resin for their survival and reproduction. However, the importance of leaves in bee ecology, particularly for leafcutter bees, has received very little attention. Leafcutter bees have global distribution and cut leaves for constructing brood chambers. We have very little information for (a) what bees use and do not use for foraging leaves and (b) what leaf and plant traits and plant community traits drive plant preference and plant usage. To fill this gap and recommend plants for leafcutter bee conservation, we examined 13,062 plants of 612 species and 107 families distributed in 165 plant communities of nine towns/cities of four south Indian states. The plant community of nine locations and four states was quite dissimilar, but had similar proportion of native and exotic plants. The probability of a plant foraged for leaf is governed by its clade, family, nativity, and leaf dimension, particularly the leaf width. Bees have a clear preference for plants of common families, such as Fabaceae, Phyllanthaceae, and Meliaceae for foraging leaves, but bees going to plants of distant lineages, including rare species and families is not rare. At the same time, bees also avoided plants of several cosmopolitan families, such as Apocynaceae, Moraceae, Sapotaceae, and Asteraceae, among others. Bees preferred exotic plants more to native plants. The plant usage in communities is predicted by species richness, proportion of Fabaceae plants in communities, and proportion of herbs; plant diversity and abundance are not crucial drivers. Our study suggests that the bees' preference for leaf-foraging plants is not random, but governed by leaf, plant, and plant community traits. The preference for exotic plants is helpful for planning urban and homestead greening projects as they are dominated by exotics.

Insights into bioactivity guided chemical profiling of Ziziphus jujuba Mill. fruits wild-growing in Montenegro.

Jujube (Ziziphus jujuba Mill.) is a highly abundant wild-growing plant in Montenegro. It has been utilized since old times for various bioactive properties by the natives, however its detailed chemical characterization, antimicrobial, antioxidant and cytotoxic potential have not been extensively explored. Herein, we used crud methanol extract and three fractions (methylene chloride, n-butanol and aqueous) to asses bioactive features of fruits from this wild growing edible plant, after which we performed the targeted analysis of phenolic compounds of n-butanol fraction by (UHPLC-DAD-MS/MS). Our antioxidant assays showed the highest radical scavenging potential for n-butanol fraction using DPPH and ABTS methods. As for the antimicrobial activity of extract and three fractions, generally aqueous showed the least promising antibacterial and antifungal properties, whereas methylene chloride, methanol and n-butanol fractions showed quite promising antimicrobial potential. E. coli and S. aureus strains were the most susceptible to the compounds present in the methylene chloride and n-butanol fractions with MIC of 0.01-0.025mg/mL, and MBC 0.025-0.05mg/mL, along with MRSA strain, which was the most susceptible to the effects of methanol extract with MIC of 0.10mg/mL and MBC 0.15mg/mL. The results of antifungal activity showed lower potential to inhibit growth of pathogenic fungi than bacteria, whereas cytotoxicity assay showed extracts have no effects towards HaCaT skin cell line.The n-butanol fraction had the overall most promising activity, and therefore was subjected to more in depth chemical analysis.

Hiking Trails Facilitate the Spread of a Native High-Arctic Species.

High-Arctic environments are facing an elevated pace of warming and increasing human activities, making them more susceptible to the introduction and spread of alien species. We investigated the role of human disturbance in facilitating the spread of a native plant (Papaver dahlianum) in a high-Arctic natural environment close to Isfjord Radio station and along adjacent hiking trails at Kapp Linné, Svalbard. We reconstructed the spatial pattern of the arrival and spread of P. dahlianum at Kapp Linné by combining historical records of the species occurrence (1928-2018) with a contemporary survey of the plant abundance along the main hiking trail (2023 survey) and tested the relative effects of altitude and proximity to hiking trails on the species density via a generalised linear model (GLM). We then compared historical records with the simulated annual spread of the species by assuming either only local spread or local spread plus spread from hiking trails. Finally, we used a fine-scale UAV-derived brightness index to test for terrain preference by applying a randomisation test. Distance from the station (56% explained variation) and minimum distance from the trail (28%) significantly explained the species density across the research area (best GLM R 2 = 0.755). The modelled species spread including the trail effect (fitted spread ~30 m yr.-1) managed to capture the maximum extent of the occupied area, whereas simulations assuming only local spread (~2 m yr.-1) underestimated the historical extent. A randomisation test showed that P. dahlianum has a significant preference for gravel soils with low vegetation cover due to either trail trampling and/or natural processes. Along with climate warming, human activities can increase the rate of species range shift by providing hot spots of introduction (human settlements) and spreading corridors (hiking trails). Our results show that spatially explicit models can be applied to accurately predict the potential spread of species, leading to a more efficient monitoring plan. Systematic monitoring of alien species and sanitisation measures should be prioritised in polar habitats with a high incidence of human disturbances.

The P-type ATPase gene AHA5 is involved in proanthocyanidins accumulation in Medicago truncatula.

Proanthocyanidins (PAs) are the second most abundant plant phenolic natural products. The proton membrane H+-ATPase (AHA) is required for PA transportation in vacuoles, but it remains unclear which AHA gene(s) encode tonoplast proton pump in M. truncatula. Here, we identified three Tnt1 mutant lines of MtAHA5, resulting in PAs deficit in seeds. MtAHA5 was preferentially expressed in developing seeds, exhibiting its highest transcript levels at early stages. Although MtAHA3, MtAHA4, and MtAHA9 shared similar transcript patterns with MtAHA5 and other structural genes involved in PA biosynthesis, their mutant lines did not exhibit any PA-deficit phenotypes. Subcellular localization analysis demonstrated that MtAHA5 is targeted to the tonoplast in tobacco leaves; conversely, MtAHA3 and MtAHA9 are localized to the cytoplasm, suggesting that MtAHA5 acts as a tonoplast proton pump but not MtAHA3 or MtAHA9. Further genetic analyses revealed that MtAHA5 could complement the PA-deficit phenotype in mtaha5 mutants and ataha10 mutants. Transient transcription assays indicated that MtAHA5 is activated by the MBW complex to regulate the PA accumulation. Collectively, our findings suggest that MtAHA5 serves as a tonoplast proton pump to generate the driving force for MATE1-mediated transport of PA precursors into vacuoles.

Ethnobotanical Study of Wild-Edible Plants in Simada District, South Gondar Zone, Amhara Region, Ethiopia

This study was conducted in the Simada district, South Gondar Zone, Ethiopia, to investigate the ethnobotanical properties of wild edible plant species. Ethnobotanical data were collected through individual interviews, focus group discussions, guided field walks, and semi-structured questionnaires at markets. The data were analyzed using Microsoft Excel and SPSS version 29.0.2.0. Data were further verified using preference ranking, direct matrix ranking, and informant consensus with buyers, sellers, cooks, and elderly users. A total of 45 edible wild plants from various families were recorded in this investigation. Among the identified wild edible plants, fruit was the most used part (60%), followed by leaves (13%). Most (82%) of the wild edible plants in the study area were consumed raw. There was a significant difference in the number of wild edible plants reported by different informant groups (p<0.05). Opuntia ficus indica was the most frequently used wild edible plant, reported by 69.6% of respondents. Simada District has abundant wild edible plants that poor residents consume and sell to supplement their needs. Strengthening conservation, value addition, and market linking methods will improve local livelihoods and promote sustainable wild edible plant resources management.

Chemoproteomic Profiling Reveals Chlorogenic Acid as a Covalent Inhibitor of Arabidopsis Dehydroascorbate Reductase 1.

Chlorogenic acid (CA) is an abundant plant secondary metabolite with promising allelopathic effects on weed growth. However, the molecular targets and mechanism of action of CA in plants remain elusive. Here, we report the employment of a clickable photoaffinity probe in identifying the protein targets of CA in Arabidopsis seedling proteomes. CA specifically binds Arabidopsis dehydroascorbate reductase 1 (AtDHAR1), an enzyme responsible for ascorbate regeneration in plants, by covalent alkylating Cys20 within the catalytic center, thereby inhibiting its activity. In vivo application of CA reduced the pool size and redox state of ascorbate, leading to H2O2 accumulation in Arabidopsis seedlings. In agreement with these results, CA significantly induced the upregulation of antioxidant enzymes and downregulation of proteins involved in water transport and photosynthesis, as evidenced by quantitative proteomics. Taken together, this study revealed DHAR1 as a functional target underlying CA's allelopathic activity in plants, which opens new opportunities for the development of novel herbicides from naturally existing resources.

Precipitation in July maximizes total above-ground productivity of the desert steppe in Inner Mongolia, China.

Precipitation distribution during the growing season and interannual precipitation variation may have significant impacts on grassland ecosystem productivity at the site level. To explore the effect of the distribution of precipitation on plant communities in the Inner Mongolian desert steppe dominated by Stipa breviflora, we analyzed monthly precipitation patterns during the growing season (May-October) over the past 60 years (1961-2020) and identified four major precipitation distribution patterns. These included the concentrated precipitation during July (TΛ7), August (TΛ8), and during the early and late growth stages. However, with precipitation being scarce during the boom (TM), the distribution resembled a normal distribution (T∩). Field experiments simulating the four distributions were conducted from May to October 2021. The results showed that the effects of the distribution of precipitation on plant species, diversity, and abundance were not significant; only the Pielou evenness showed a significant effect after July. The total above-ground net primary productivity (ANPP) of TΛ7 was 55.4% higher than those of the other three patterns, whereas the differences among the other three precipitation distributions were not significant. The annual forb Neopallasia pectinate was the primary contributor to the increased ANPP of TΛ7. These results suggest that the S. breviflora desert steppe achieved maximum productivity when the precipitation reached 41.6% of the annual average during July and satisfied the basic plant growth requirements during other months. This study emphasizes the implementation of management measures (irrigation or artificial precipitation) for maximizing forage yield and forecasting the plant composition in desert steppes.

Exploring the therapeutic potential of Ocimum gratissimum extracts against microbial infections: A Comprehensive review

The escalating challenge of microbial resistance to conventional antimicrobial drugs has spurred a quest for alternative treatments, with plant-based extracts emerging as promising candidates. Over recent decades, plants and their extracts have been harnessed for various purposes, including medicinal applications, flavoring agents, food preservation, and disease prevention. Ocimum gratissimum, a locally abundant plant, has garnered attention for its multifaceted therapeutic and nutritional properties. O. gratissimum, commonly known as clove basil, has a rich history of culinary and medicinal use. Its essential oils are prized for their diverse applications, from culinary flavorings to toiletries and cosmetics additives. Extracts derived from O. gratissimum leaves have demonstrated efficacy against various ailments. Water extracts of the leaves exhibit anti-malarial properties, alleviate catarrh and stomach pain, and possess anticonvulsant and antitussive effects. Conversely, oil leaf extracts showcase potent antibacterial, antiseptic, and antifungal activities. This comprehensive review explores the therapeutic potential of O. gratissimum extracts, shedding light on their diverse pharmacological properties and potential applications in combating microbial infections. By harnessing the bioactive compounds present in O. gratissimum, novel avenues for addressing the growing threat of antimicrobial resistance may be unveiled. Further research is warranted to elucidate the mechanisms underlying the observed effects and optimize the utilization of O. gratissimum extracts in clinical settings.

The Influence of Ultraviolet Irradiation on the Structure and Properties of Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene/Lignin Composites

ABS plastic is an inexpensive material with attractive physical and chemical properties. Unfortunately, it is susceptible to degradation under UV radiation, so it limits the use of this material outdoors. In this paper, we demonstrate a low-cost approach to reduce the photodegradation of ABS plastic by using additives of kraft lignin and dioxane lignin as UV absorbers. Lignin is an abundant plant polymer, which is a waste product of the pulp and paper industry. Non-regular structure of lignin hampers its use in industry. However, there is possible use of lignin as an addition to enhance the properties of resulting materials. In this study, we obtained composites of ABS and lignin with the hot extrusion method. Adding up to 15% of lignin to ABS plastic does not have a significant negative impact on tensile properties. We irradiated the resulting composites with UV and studied the UV effects on their mechanical properties and chemical structure. Oxidative degradation was characterized by FTIR and 2D NMR methods. The results showed that small lignin additions reduced the photodegradation of ABS. The previously undescribed product of the degradation of the obtained composites was detected with the use of the set of 2D NMR spectra of the composites. We proposed a scheme for the formation of this photodegradation product based on the obtained data.

Significant Shifts in Predominant Plant Dispersal Modes in Pine Forests of the Southern Urals (Russia): Responses to Technogenic Pollution and Ground Fires

The purpose of this work was to assess the functional diversity of herb–shrub layer com munities determined by their dispersal mode in pine boreal forests depending on two factors: (i) the degree of technogenic heavy metal pollution and (ii) the time passed since the last fire. We tested two hypotheses: (1) the functional diversity of communities determined by their diaspore dispersal mode decreases in polluted forests and in forests disturbed by recent fires; (2) the abundance, i.e., participation of anemochorous species in communities, is relatively greater in polluted forests and in forests disturbed by recent fires than in unpolluted or in forests that have not burned for a long time. We analyzed 77 vegetation relevés made in polluted and unpolluted pine forests to obtain the impact gradient of the Karabash copper smelter (South Urals, Russia). The studied forests also had different durations of time since the last ground fire—from 1 to 60 years. Two classifications of the diaspore dispersal modes were used. We found that community functional diversity and predominant dispersal modes changed significantly in response to technogenic pollution and, to a lesser extent, in response to ground fires. In polluted forests, the importance of species with a long diaspore dispersal distance—anemochores and zoochores—increased. This result suggests conducting a specific study of long-distance diaspore migration as a possibly underestimated factor of community formation under severe technogenic disturbances. The importance of zoochores in a broad sense, including species with diaspores dispersed by vertebrates and invertebrates, increased in post-fire succession. This result coincides with the known pattern of increasing abundance of zoochorous plants in regenerative successions in tropical forests. Therefore, the data on plant–animal interactions can possibly provide valuable information on succession mechanisms in taiga forests.

A Review of Studies on the Effects of Anthropogenic Disturbances on Plant–Soil–Microorganism Interactions in Grassland Ecosystems: Based on Grazing and Tourism Perspectives

As the most widely distributed and largest terrestrial ecosystem in the world, grasslands play an important role in supporting global livestock production and maintaining ecosystem services. In light of the accelerated global socio-economic development and sustained population growth, grassland ecosystems are increasingly subjected to anthropogenic disturbances. However, there is a paucity of research examining the impact of such disturbances on plant–soil–microorganism interactions in grassland systems, particularly from the perspectives of grazing and tourism. Accordingly, this study presents a comprehensive analysis of the impacts of anthropogenic disturbance on grassland ecosystems over the past two decades, employing a dual perspective of grazing and tourism and utilizing econometric analysis of the existing literature through software such as CiteSpace. The results of this study demonstrate the following: (1) The current research focus is primarily concentrated in the fields of ecology and environmental sciences, particularly on the topics of plant diversity, abundance, and diversity, as well as the intensity of grazing. These areas may represent key development direction of future research. (2) The impact of anthropogenic disturbances on grassland ecosystems is primarily associated with grazing activities. Moderate grazing disturbances can facilitate the healthy development of grassland ecosystems. However, the intermediate disturbance hypothesis (IDH) may not fully account for the effects of grazing intensity on grassland ecology. At present, there is still a paucity of systematic research to determine the ecological indicators of grassland under a dual-disturbance scenario. It is recommended that future research be carried out to investigate the compound effects of trampling by tourism activities on plant–soil–microorganism interactions in grassland ecosystems. (3) The mutual feedback mechanism may represent a potential mechanism by which anthropogenic disturbances affect the coupled relationship between the plant, soil, and microbial systems in grassland ecosystems. Furthermore, the interaction among these three systems has the potential to exert direct or indirect impacts on the structure and function of grassland ecosystems in the context of disturbances. The present study aims to provide an overview of the structure and function of grassland ecosystems under anthropogenic disturbances. The objective is to identify a balance between the rational use of grassland and ecological protection under anthropogenic disturbance and to provide scientific reference for the sustainable use of grassland worldwide.

Rainfall and Soil Moisture Jointly Drive Differences in Plant Community Composition in Desert Riparian Forests of Northwest China

Extreme rainfall and soil moisture play important roles in the survival, community composition, and ecosystem function of desert plants. This study focused on arid desert riparian forests ecosystems in the Ebinur Lake Basin of Xinjiang, China. We analyzed the effects of rainfall and soil moisture on species composition, indicator species, β diversity, species turnover, and nestedness using three consecutive years of community surveys. A zero-model combined with a Bayesian framework was used to explore the response of species turnover and nestedness to soil moisture and rainfall, and variance decomposition was used to quantify the relative importance of spatial distance, rainfall, and soil factors in determining species composition. The results indicated the following: (1) when rainfall was high, the richness and abundance of annual herbaceous plants increased. The proportion of the community based on richness (32%) and abundance (58.1%) of annual herbaceous plants in 2016 was higher than that in 2015 and 2017. The Jaccard, Bray–Curtis, and Chao indexes of the community in years with higher rainfall were significantly higher than in years with lower rainfall; however, a lag effect was also observed. (2) Soil factors explained 5% of the changes in community composition, rainfall explained 12% of the changes in community composition, and spatial distance, soil factors, and rainfall jointly explained 32% of the changes in community composition. (3) We also showed that high soil moisture leads to greater β diversity than low soil moisture. Rainfall had the greatest explanatory power on the measured values of β diversity (19.6%) and species turnover (38%), and the factor with the greatest explanatory power for species nestedness was the interaction between rainfall and soil moisture (26.2%). Our findings indicate that drought and rainfall drive differences in plant community composition, with rainfall playing a dominant role. These results provide a basis for understanding the impact of extreme rainfall events on arid ecosystem functions.

UV Light and Parafilm: Methods for inoculation and quantification with agave mites (Oziella sp.)

Abstract Agave mites can be damaging to ornamental agave, yet little research has been conducted on them. Our goal was to validate basic methods for quantifying and inoculating plants with agave mites. We compared white light to using UV light or washing mites off plants to quantify mite and egg abundance. We also tested using UV light to estimate agave mite abundance without magnification. Finally, we quantified the number of mites on symptomatic agave and compared methods for inoculating uninfected plants. Significantly more agave mites and eggs were found and counting took significantly less time using UV light compared to using white light or washing plants. For aloe mites, white light was more effective than UV light. Lesions caused by agave mite feeding damage correlated to the number of agave mites and eggs present. Symptomatic agave had high variation among plants in abundance of mites and eggs. Wrapping inoculated agave in parafilm significantly increased the number of mites and eggs found on plants compared to unwrapped plants and increased inoculation success rate. Overall, using UV light is an effective way to quantify agave mites and eggs, and parafilm-inoculated plants provide a more consistent abundance of agave mites and eggs. Species used in this study: Oziella sp., Aceria aloinis Keifer, ‘Blue Glow’ agave, Agave attenuata × Agave ocahui, Parry’s agave, Agave parryi Engelm, Aloe haworthioides Baker.

Invasive Characteristics and Impacts of Ambrosia trifida

Ambrosia trifida L. is native to North America, has been introduced into many countries in Europe and East Asia, and is also expanding its habitat in its native ranges. Ambrosia trifida grows in sunny and humid environments, such as grasslands, riverbanks, floodplains, abandoned places, and agricultural fields, as an invasive plant species. Ambrosia trifida has a strong adaptive ability to adverse conditions and shows great variation in seed germination phenology and plant morphology in response to environmental conditions. Effective natural enemies have not been found in its native or introduced ranges. The species is allelopathic and contains several allelochemicals. These characteristics may contribute to the competitive ability and invasiveness of this species. Ambrosia trifida significantly reduces species diversity and plant abundance in its infested plant communities. The species also causes significant yield loss in summer crop production, such as in maize, soybean, sunflower, and cotton production. Ambrosia trifida is capable of rapid evolution against herbicide pressure. Populations of Ambrosia trifida resistant to glyphosate, ALS-inhibiting herbicides, and PPO-inhibiting herbicides, as well as cross-resistant populations, have already appeared. An integrated weed management protocol with a more diverse combination of herbicide sites of action and other practices, such as tillage, the use of different crop species, crop rotation, smart decision tools, and innovative equipment, would be essential to mitigate herbicide-dependent weed control practices and may be one sustainable system for Ambrosia trifida management.

Tundra fires and surface subsidence increase spectral diversity on the Yukon–Kuskokwim Delta, Alaska

Abstract Tundra fires can dramatically influence plant species cover and abundance, organic layer depth, and the magnitude of seasonal permafrost thaw. However, knowledge of the impact of wildfire on short and long-term interactions between vegetation and permafrost thaw remains limited. Here, we evaluate the spatial and temporal interactions between wildfire disturbance and surface subsidence on a remotely derived proxy for species diversity (i.e. spectral diversity (SD)) of 16 fire scars within the Izaviknek and Kingaglia uplands of southwestern Alaska’s Yukon–Kuskokwim Delta with burn dates between 1971 and 2015. SD was calculated as the sum of squared spectral variance of pixel spectra from the mean spectra, within a plant community (analogous to alpha diversity), between plant communities (beta diversity), and across terrain composed of a mosaic of communities (gamma diversity). Surface subsidence was calculated from spaceborne interferometric synthetic aperture radar data from Sentinel-1. Results indicate the burn scars had consistently lower total gamma diversity and greater rates of subsidence than paired unburned reference areas, where both gamma diversity (R 2 = 0.74, p < 0.001) and relative subsidence (R 2 = 0.86, p < 0.001) decreased with the time since burn. Compared to older burn scars, young scars had higher gamma spectral diversities (0.013 and 0.005) and greater subsidence rates (−0.097 cm day−1 and −0.053 cm day−1). Communities subsiding at higher rates had higher gamma diversities (R 2 = 0.81, p < 0.001). Results indicate that rates of post-fire vegetation succession are amplified by the thickening of active layers and surface subsidence that increases both spectral and species diversity over 15 years following fire. These results support the idea that SD may be used as a remotely sensed analog of species diversity, used to advance knowledge of the trajectories of plant community change in response to interacting arctic disturbance regimes.

Harnessing Lignin Nanoparticles for Sustainable Enzyme Immobilization: Current Paradigms and Future Innovations.

Lignin, a vital plant component, is key in providing structural integrity and is the second most abundant biopolymer in nature. The growing interest in sustainable and efficient biocatalysis has driven the exploration of lignin nanoparticles (LNPs) as a promising platform for enzyme immobilization. Given lignin's abundance and structural role in plants, converting it into nanoparticles offers a potential eco-friendly alternative to traditional supports. This comprehensive review explores recent advancements in using LNPs for enzyme immobilization, focusing on loading techniques, immobilization efficiency, enzyme activity levels, and various factors that affect the performance of enzymes immobilized on LNPs. The review also addresses the primary challenges associated with enzyme immobilization on LNPs and discusses future innovations in this field. Adopting eco-friendly immobilization platforms based on LNPs is expected to have broad applications in industries like food, pharmaceuticals, animal feed, and detergents. However, there is still potential to customize LNPs further and develop novel immobilization techniques to leverage their benefits fully. By understanding the properties and advantages of these nanostructured lignin supports, researchers can design and create innovative nanocatalysts for various industrial applications.

The higher abundance of host plant and suitable management recommended as the important elements in the conservation of Phengaris (Maculinea) teleius (Bergsträser, 1779) (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae) in the Hradné lúky SAC meadows (Slovakia)

This article presents a study of the isolated population of the scarce large blue butterfly, which is facing a significant threat in the meadows of the central part of Slovakia. The main objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of management, the presence of great burnet (Sanguisorba officinalis (L.)), and the host ants on the abundance of Phengaris teleius in the Hradné lúky Special Area of Conservation (SAC) in Slovakia. The study area was divided into six study plots. The abundance of S. officinalis host plant and ant communities, with emphasis on host ants (Myrmica scabrinodis (Nylander, 1846) and M. rubra (Linnaeus, 1758)), were analysed at each study plot. A generalized linear model (GLM) identified the significant relationships among three variables. Specifically, a relationship was confirmed between the number of P. teleius individuals and the abundance of the host plant S. officinalis, as well as between the number of P. teleius individuals and the current type of management at the specific biotope. The most important conservation recommendations regarding this study have been presented. Implications for insect conservation: Our results indicate that in the protection of P. teleius, it is important to support the abundance of S. officinalis as highly as possible. In addition, we confirm that targeted management with the absence of mowing in the critical phase of the year, especially in the Molinia meadows, is important for maintaining a healthy butterfly population.

Vegetation-based Ecological Functions Sustainability Index (VEFSI) for optimizing ecosystem services in orchards

CONTEXTThe need to quantify sustainability in agriculture and the ecosystem services it provides is increasingly felt by the sector. Indicators and indices are useful tools for this purpose, but are currently scarce in the specialized fruit-growing sector. In addition, there is a need for a more holistic view of the orchard system, which also considers unproductive spaces, such as the inter-row, where techniques can be implemented to improve adaptation to climate change. OBJECTIVESTo help filling this gap, we developed VEFSI (Vegetation-based Ecological Functions Sustainability Index), a multifunctional index that can be used by technicians, researchers and farmers to establish the quality of grass cover in the orchard's inter-row in order to increase the ecosystem services performed by this. METHODSA dataset of field observation was collected during the year 2022–2023 in orchards located in South-West Piedmont (Northern Italy). Each record included observations on species richness, total vegetation cover and relative cover of each detected species. VEFSI was designed to include different ecological functions, such as nitrogen fixation, mechanical action performed by fascicled roots, soil cover performed by perennial organs, pollination service of the fruit crop and melliferous species for pollinator attraction. The index was calculated as a sum of scores attributed to single functions on the basis of the relative abundance of plants characterized by the corresponding functional traits. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONA positive relation has been found among VEFSI, vegetation cover (R2 = 0.419; P < 0.001) and number of species (R2 = 0.53; P < 0.001). Within the tested dataset the maximum theoretical value of 125 has not been reached, indicating trade-offs presence among functions. Despite this, the validation showed that VEFSI point out functional weaknesses and strengths of the vegetation covers, coherently with the real field situation. VEFSI proved to be a simple and reliable tool for estimating and evaluating ecological functions performed by orchard grassing.