Selected Plant Species Research Articles

Antibacterial and antibiofilm activities of Mayan medicinal plants against Methicillin-susceptible and -resistant strains of Staphylococcus aureus

Ethnopharmacological relevanceSeveral medicinal plants are used in Mayan Traditional Medicine to treat skin, urinary, respiratory, and gastrointestinal infectious diseases. However, scientific studies that have supported the bioactivity of these Mayan medicinal plants are limited. Aim of the studyTo assess the in-vitro anti-Staphylococcus aureus growth and biofilm-formation activities of 15 Mayan medicinal plants that were selected based on their traditional uses for the treatment of infectious diseases. Materials and methodsMayan medicinal plants used traditionally to treat infectious diseases were preselected. For each part of the plants, four extracts were prepared with different solvents (water, n-hexane, ethyl acetate, and methanol). These were tested against two reference strains: a Methicillin-susceptible and -resistant S. aureus, and two clinical isolates, including a susceptible and multidrug-resistant S. aureus using a Resazurin Microtiter Assay. In addition, the plant extracts were evaluated in biofilm-formation inhibition on S. aureus by means of the Crystal Violet method. ResultsA total of 120 extracts from 15 Mayan medicinal plant species belonging to 12 different families were selected according their ethnopharmacological uses to treat infectious diseases. Among the selected plant species, 26 extracts obtained from eight medicinal Mayan plants exhibited significant anti-S. aureus against the four strains tested. The most active extracts were the Aq (aqueous) leaf extract of Krugiodendron ferreum (Minimal Inhibitory Concentration [MIC] = 125–250 μg/mL), the MeOH bark extracts of Matayba oppositifolia, Clusia flava, Gymnopodium floribundum, the MeOH leaf extract of Spondias purpurea with MIC values of 250 μg/mL, and the MeOH leaf and Aq bark extracts of K. ferreum (MIC = 250–500 μg/mL). Among the active extracts, 12 exhibited a bactericidal effect on S. aureus strains (Minimal Bactericidal Concentration [MBC] = 250–1000 μg/mL). Forty extracts from 13 plants have an effect on the anti-formation of biofilm, the most active were the MeOH leaf extract of M. oppositifolia (one-half Inhibitory Concentration [IC50] = 10.4 μg/mL) and the MeOH (IC50 = 17.7 μg/mL) and Hex (18.2 μg/mL) leaf extracts from S. purpurea. ConclusionAqueous and organic extracts from Mayan medicinal plants showed bactericidal and anti-biofilm activities even against drug-resistant S. aureus strains. The present study supports the traditional usage of some plants employed in Mayan medicine for illnesses such as skin, gastrointestinal, and urinary infections and suggest that these plants could be a good source of antibacterial phytochemicals.

Using Constructed Floating Wetlands to Remove Nutrients from a Waste Stabilization Pond

This study reports the biomass accumulation, plant nutrient concentration, and nutrient uptake rates of plants in a constructed floating wetland (CFW) installed for a sewage treatment application in Australia. Plant biomass accumulation was estimated based on field samplings throughout the duration of the study. Analysis of samples of each plant species was also completed to estimate the mean plant tissue nutrient content. The plant biomass accumulation estimate and the mean plant tissue nutrient concentration were then used to estimate the total nutrient uptake for each species. Each of the species were found to differ in biomass accumulation and plant tissue nutrient concentration and the distribution of biomass and nutrients between the shoots and roots. The nutrient uptake rates varied between the species, with B. articulata having the greatest nutrient uptake rates (shoots: N, 104 ± 31.5 g/m2, P, 12.9 ± 3.87 g/m2; roots: N, 23.9 ± 7.23 g/m2, P, 5.54 ± 1.67 g/m2). Harvesting of the four CFW islands after 375 days of growth removed an estimated 23.2 kg of N and 2.97 kg of P. The results of this study indicate that the use of CFWs with carefully selected plant species can successfully remove significant amounts of nutrients from domestic wastewater.

Amending mine tailing cover with compost and biochar: effects on vegetation establishment and metal bioaccumulation in the Finnish subarctic

In the northern boreal zone, revegetation and landscaping of closed mine tailings are challenging due to the high concentrations of potentially toxic elements; the use of nutrient-poor, glacigenic cover material (till); cool temperatures; and short growing period. Recycled waste materials such as biochar (BC) and composted sewage sludge (CSS) have been suggested to improve soil forming process and revegetation success as well as decrease metal bioavailability in closed mine tailing areas. We conducted two field experiments in old iron mine tailings at Rautuvaara, northern Finland, where the native mine soil or transported cover till soil had not supported plant growth since the mining ended in 1989. The impacts of CSS and spruce (Picea abies)–derived BC application to till soil on the survival and growth of selected plant species (Pinus sylvestris, Salix myrsinifolia, and grass mixture containing Festuca rubra, Lolium perenne, and Trifolium repens) were investigated during two growing seasons. In addition, the potential of BC to reduce bioaccumulation of metals in plants was studied. We found that (1) organic amendment like CSS markedly enhanced the plant growth and is therefore needed for vegetation establishment in tailing sites that contained only transported till cover, and (2) BC application to till soil-CSS mixture further facilitated the success of grass mixtures resulting in 71–250% higher plant biomass. On the other hand, (3) no effects on P. sylvestris or S. myrsinifolia were recorded during the first growing seasons, and (4) accumulation of metals in cover plants was negligible and BC application to till further decreased the accumulation of Al, Cr, and Fe in the plant tissues.Graphical abstract

POSSIBILITIES AND LIMITATIONS OF THE USE OF ESSENTIAL OILS IN DOGS AND CATS

Essential oils have numerous medicinal properties which include antiseptic, antiinflammatory, anticancer but also antiviral, antimicrobial and antiparasitic effects. Although researches have highlighted different possible application of these oils, little is known about their use in animals including dogs and cats. Specifically, essential oils showed effects against various bacterial (Staphylococcus spp., Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Enterococcus spp.), fungal (Malassezia pachydermatis, Microsporum canis, Trichophyton mentagrophytes), endoparasitic (Giardia duodenalis, Echinococcus granulosus, Toxocara canis) and ectoparasitic (Otodectes cynotis, Demodex canis, Ctenocephalides felis, some ticks etc) pathogens in dogs and cats. In addition, essential oils exhibit numerous positive properties such as complex chemical composition (high efficacy, less susceptibility to resistance), their natural origin etc. Therefore, certain essential oils based formulations are already in use, such as different shampoos. However, the main limitation for the use of these plant products is the insufficiently tested safety of use. Thus, some essential oils are considered toxic to pets, especially when used on cats. The main reason for this is most likely the deficiency of some liver enzymes that are involved in metabolic processes (as UDP-glucuronosyltransferase in cats), which leads to the accumulation of some active ingredients in the organism and their toxicity. Therefore, caution and rational application are needed in terms of adequate selection of plant species, dosage, concentration and the methods of use. In addition, since essential oils are prone to evaporation and instability, the encapsulation technique can further increase their in vivo efficacy as well as enable controlled release. That can reduce the required dose and additionally increase safety of their application.

Genotyping single nucleotide polymorphisms and inferring ploidy by amplicon sequencing for polyploid, ploidy-variable organisms.

Whole genome duplication is hypothesized to have played a critical role in the evolution of several major taxa, including vertebrates, and while many lineages have rediploidized, some retain polyploid genomes. Additionally, variation in ploidy can occur naturally or be artificially induced within select plant and animal species. Modern genetic techniques have not been widely applied to polyploid or ploidy-variable species, in part due to the difficulty of obtaining genotype data from polyploids. In this study, we demonstrate a strategy for developing an amplicon sequencing panel of single nucleotide polymorphisms for high-throughput genotyping of polyploid organisms. We then develop a method to infer ploidy of individuals from amplicon sequencing data that is generalized to apply to any ploidy and does not require prior identification of heterozygous genotypes. Combining these two techniques will allow researchers to both infer ploidy and generate ploidy-aware genotypes with the same amplicon sequencing panel. We demonstrate this approach with white sturgeon Acipenser transmontanus, a ploidy-variable (octoploid, decaploid and dodecaploid) imperiled species under conservation management in the Pacific Northwest and obtained a panel of 325loci. These loci were validated by examining inheritance in known-cross families, and the ploidy inference method was validated with known ploidy samples. We provide scripts that adapt existing pipelines to genotype polyploids and an R package for application of the ploidy inference method. We expect that these techniques will empower studies of genetic variation and inheritance in polyploid organisms that vary in ploidy level, either naturally or as a result of artificial propagation practices.

Accelerated weathering of polyvinyl chloride-based wood-plastic composites: Effect of plant species

The effect of plant species on the accelerated weathering behaviors of polyvinyl chloride-based wood-plastic composites (WPCs) was studied. The selected plant species were eucalyptus, rice husk, and bamboo. The color and chemical compositional changes that occurred due to accelerated weathering were monitored using colorimetry and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The lignin and carbonyl contents of the WPCs were altered with exposure. The color change and lightness of the weathered WPCs increased with exposure time, and the degree of increase depended on the plant species. The water absorption and swelling ratio of the WPCs increased with an increase in exposure. The eucalyptus-based composite was the highest ranked in terms of mechanical properties, and the microstructure of the impact section showed that the interfacial bonding performance deteriorated after exposure. In conclusion, the selection of plant fibers is critical to the service performance of WPCs.

Analysis of Functional Leaf Trait Variation among the Dominant Understorey Species in the Pine Forest of Morni Hills, Panchkula, Haryana

The functional diversity is an essential concept in the field of ecology. It refers to the relative abundance, range, and value of the functional traits present in a given community or ecosystem. Plant functional traits (leaf traits, stem traits, root traits, etc.) create a link between an ecosystem processes and plant physiology and thus offer a powerful means to study the global change on vegetation dynamics and ecosystem processes. When plant species grown in different environments, their physiological and functional traits get modifed due to changes in site-specific conditions. In the present study, leaf functional traits (leaf size-LS, specific leaf areaSLA, leaf dry matter content-LDMC, leaf nitrogen content-LNC, leaf phosphorus content-LPC and leaf nitrogen to phosphorus ratio-N:P) of twelve dominant understorey species (6 shrubs and 6 herbs) were examined in the Pine forest of Morni Hills range of lower Shivaliks, Haryana, India. During the study, the maximum value of leaf size was obtained for Murraya koenigii and Cynoglossum zeylanicum, while the maximum value of LDMC was obtained for Toxicodendron parviflorum and Dicliptera chinensis among shrubs and herbs respectively. Other than this, highest value of SLA, LPC and LNC were calculated for Parthenium hysterophorus among shrubs and Oxalis corniculata among herbs. The calculated values were also found to be significantly correlated among the selected plant species. The SLA was found to be negatively correlated with, LDMC and LPC whereas positively correlated with LNC and N:P. The present study represents a step forward in the direction of functional ecology performed in the forest ecosystems of Haryana. This study is essential for predicting the patterns of community assembly as well as for describing species contributions to ecosystem processes.

Seasonal color matching method of ornamental plants in urban landscape construction

Abstract Traditional seasonal color matching methods of ornamental plants only study the color attributes of plants, but not through qualitative and quantitative research on seasonal color matching of plants, resulting in imperfect matching methods. Five landscape units were selected from five representative streets in Harbin, namely, Central Avenue, Gogoli, Zhongshan Road, Xinyang Road, and Huanghe Road. Seasonal periods of Harbin from 2014 to 2018 were defined using the difference in seasonal time division and duration characteristics by the method of climate temperature division, and the beginning time of each season in 2019 was deduced. Meanwhile, according to the NCS color value data of each species in different seasons and the length of each season, the seasonal color matching results of each landscape unit case were established. The results of seasonal color matching of each landscape unit case were evaluated by weighted method. The results showed that the richer the NCS color value of plant species ornamental traits in plant landscape, the more the color seasonal encounter of ornamental traits and the longer the duration, the better the matching results of plant seasonal color. Based on the research results, the NCS color value and its ornamental period of ornamental characters of plant species, the color matching scheme of landscape color, and the selection of plant species were proposed.

Phylogeny reveals non‐random medicinal plant organ selection by local people in Benin

Societal Impact StatementHumans rely on plants in their environment for food and medicine. Understanding how humans select plant species will help us anticipate what plant species will be valuable for society in the future. However, previous approaches to study the drivers of plant selection have been criticized. We explored medicinal plant selection using a refined methodology and corroborate that humans select plant species for medicine in a non‐random way. Furthermore, we found that selection of specific plant organs across similar species is also non‐random. Improved understanding of medicinal plant selection can help identify new medicinal plants and the particular organs of plant species that are most likely to contain bioactive compounds to help improve human health and well‐being.Summary Ethnobotany, the science of human–plant interactions, has for long focused on documenting the traditional knowledge that humans have developed and accumulated over centuries toward plant uses. However, how such knowledge is constructed remains poorly understood and some of the methodological approaches developed for this purpose have been criticized. Here, we combine negative binomial models and phylogenetic comparative methods to test whether selection of medicinal plant species and organs by local people are non‐random using data from Benin, a country in West Africa with roughly 3,000 plant species. We found evidence for taxonomic and phylogenetic non‐random selection of medicinal plants: some taxa are preferentially used for medicine. Our analysis uncovers that plant organs are also non‐randomly selected for medicine. Beyond plant taxonomy, similar plant organs of closely related species tended to be used for similar treatments because these organs are likely to have similar secondary chemistry. Such non‐random organ selection was more apparent for certain plant organs such as roots, bark, and leaves, which are predicted to be more vital for population fitness and species persistence. Collectively, our study suggests that the emerging non‐random pattern of medicinal plant selection may be a consequence of heterogeneous within‐plant distribution of secondary chemistry across different organs proportionally to their importance to plant fitness as predicted by the optimal defense theory.

Modelling of vertical greenery system with selected tropical plants in urban context to appraise plant thermal performance

Different growth parameters and thermal performances of selected plant species grown on vertical system modules in urban tropical climate have been investigated under the study. Further, outdoor thermal comfort simulation has been modeled by ENVI­met 4.4.5 to investigate the applicability of selected plant species in three different tropical conditions (Colombo Sethsiripaya administrative complex, Matara urban council building and Kandy Urban council building). Sample modular vertical green living wall panels were fabricated by using timber frames (60 × 40 × 5 cm) packed with cocopeat medium with a depth of 3.8 cm. Nine plant species; such as Desmodium triflorum, Roheo spathacea, Centella asiatica, Axonopus fissifoliu, Axonopus compressus, Elusine indica, Dieffenbachiae spp, Tectaria spp, and Bigonia spp were selected for the study. Plant survival percentages, plant height and leaf area index (LAI) were recorded for 8 weeks. Thermal performances were evaluated by considering temperatures at (a) 20 cm distance in front of the green wall, (b) substrate surface of the green wall modules and (c) inside the green wall compared to (d) adjacent bare wall (Control). The highest LAI was recorded from Roheo spp (3.99) followed by Axonopus f. (3.20) and Elusine spp (2.21). Axonopus f. exhibited the highest coverage on the living wall due to high LAI (>1). The highest temperature reduction (5.06 °C) was displayed by Axonopus f. compared to the other species as it covers large extent of the wall. The simulation study of the green walls developed with Axonopus f. signified a possible maximum temperature reduction of 2.07 °C, 3.29 °C and 2.03 °C in Colombo Sethsiripaya administrative complex, Matara urban council building and Kandy urban council building, respectively. Hence, modelling vertical greening with Axonopus f. can effectively enhance the thermal performance in urban context due to their LAI values and the thermal performances.

Selection of Habitat-Enhancing Plants Depends on Predator–Prey Interactions

Abstract Shallow areas of drawdown reservoirs are often devoid of adequate fish habitat due to degradation associated with unnatural and relatively invariable cycles of exposure and flooding. One method of enhancing fish habitat in these areas is to sow exposed shorelines with agricultural plants to provide structure once flooded. It remains unclear if some plants may be more suitable than others to provide effective fish habitat. To determine the fish habitat potential of various crops, we performed a replicated tank experiment evaluating the selection of agricultural plants by prey and predator fishes with and without the presence of the other. We submerged diverse treatments of potted plants in outdoor mesocosms stocked with prey and/or predator fish and monitored selection of plant species, stem density, and stem height over 0.5-h trials. Prey fish selected the densest vegetation, and selection was accentuated when a predator was present. Predators selected the second highest stem density and were more active when prey were present. Prey schooling was increased by predation risk, suggesting that cover was insufficient to outweigh the advantages of increased group size. Our data indicate that the perception of cover quality is reciprocally context dependent on predator–prey interactions for both predator and prey. Applications of the two most selected plant treatments in this study could enhance structural habitat for both predator and prey fishes in reservoirs, adding to their already reliable functionality as supplemental forage crops for terrestrial wildlife.

Efficient Extraction of Natural Dyes from Selected Plant Species

Efficient Extraction of Natural Dyes from Selected Plant Species

Phylogeny explains why less therapeutically redundant plant species are not necessarily facing greater use pressure

Abstract Understanding which factors influence medicinal plant species selection and harvest or use pressure can provide valuable insights for sustainable management of natural resources and conservation efforts. The utilitarian redundancy model, a theoretical framework in ethnobotany, suggests that species that are therapeutically redundant or fulfil similar therapeutic functions within traditional ethnomedicine are less likely to be under greater use pressure. However, species' evolutionary relatedness and the preference of certain species over others to treat a given illness can directly affect how use pressure is diffused across several groups of species. These factors may alter the strength of the therapeutic redundancy–use pressure relationship. Medicinal plant species that fulfil the same therapeutic functions may experience greater use pressure despite their level of therapeutic redundancy because they are preferred, where most people select these species preferably over other species that are equally available for a given treatment. Furthermore, species that are closely related evolutionarily may be more likely to be harvested not because they are therapeutically unique but because they share evolutionary traits such as secondary chemistry with other medicinally important species which may make them more prone to being harvested. We investigate the effects of species therapeutic redundancy, use value, preference and evolutionary relatedness on species use pressure in the Shipibo‐Konibo community of Paoyhan in the Peruvian Amazon region. We used phylogenetic generalized least squares models to identify significant predictors of species use pressure for 62 medicinal plant species cited by 30 participants and fulfilling 31 therapeutic functions in Shipibo‐Konibo ethnomedicine. Our model controlling for species' shared evolutionary history indicated that therapeutically redundant medicinal plants experienced greater levels of use pressure. However, as preference increased, the effect of therapeutic redundancy on species use pressure became less positive. Contrary to predictions, species preference by local people alone did not predict use pressure. Furthermore, when we control for species' shared evolutionary history, the effect of preference on species use pressure was dependent on therapeutic redundancy. Our study illustrates the importance of controlling for evolutionary relatedness between species in studying plant–human interactions and the complexity involved in employing the utilitarian redundancy model to inform management and conservation efforts. A free plain language summary can be found within the Supporting Information of this article.

Temporal Variations in Chemical Composition, In Vitro Digestibility, and Metabolizable Energy of Plant Species Browsed by Goats in Southern Mediterranean Forest Rangeland.

Simple SummaryMediterranean forest rangelands constitute essential feed resources for grazing goats. The objective of this study was to evaluate the temporal variations in chemical composition, in vitro digestibility, and metabolizable energy of browsed plant species by goats on forest rangelands of the Southern Mediterranean of northern Morocco. Overall, the nutritive value of the selected plant species was highest in spring and then steadily decreased through the summer and autumn. Most of the selected plant species present high levels of crude protein than the minimum required level for maintenance. This study provides a valuable and useful database to elaborate the seasonal grazing and feeding management plan for goat herds.Forest rangelands contribute largely to goat diets in the Mediterranean area. Information about browsed plant quality is essential for adequate feeding management. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the temporal changes in chemical composition and in vitro digestibility of the main plant species selected by goats in the Southern Mediterranean forest rangeland during two consecutive years; these were very contrasted (dry and wet). The browsed species were composed of herbaceous, eleven shrubs, and four tree species. Overall, large variability in chemical composition, in vitro organic matter digestibility (IVOMD), and metabolizable energy (ME) was observed among species, grazing season (spring, summer, and autumn), and years within each species. Crude protein (CP) content varied from 60 to 240 g/kg dry matter (DM). The fiber fractions, except for Quercus suber, increased significantly by advancing maturity. Due to the water stress, the lignin level presented a higher value during the spring of the dry year. Condensed tannin (CT) content varied from 2 to 184 g/kg DM. CP, IVOMD, and ME showed a negative correlation with lignin and CT. Based on the results presented herein, it is concluded that the nutritive value of the browsed plant species was highest in the spring and lowest during the summer and autumn of both studied years. With a good grazing management strategy, the selected plant species by goats could guarantee high-quality feeding resources throughout the year.

Modeling riparian species occurrence from historical surveys to guide restoration planning in northwestern USA

AbstractSuccessful restoration of riparian habitats and functions depends in part on selection of plant species that are suited to local geomorphic and climatic conditions, which often relies on contemporary reference sites to characterize target riparian vegetation communities. In heavily modified landscapes, a lack of undisturbed sites hinders the description of reference conditions to help guide planning efforts. In lieu of contemporary reference sites, we used historical Public Land Survey data from the late 1800s and early 1900s to document historical streamside vegetation at 1685 sites distributed throughout the Columbia River basin. We used those data to construct a random forest classification model using climatic and geomorphic variables to predict the probability of occurrence of riparian vegetation groups (conifer, deciduous, shrub, and willow) and individual taxa (fir, pine, cedar, cottonwood, alder, sagebrush) for all stream reaches with bankfull width >6 m in the interior Columbia River basin. The most common predictor variables included in the best models for vegetation groups or individual taxa were mean annual precipitation, minimum temperature, elevation, and bankfull width. For some taxa, temperature range and floodplain width were also important predictors. The probability maps indicate that riparian zones were likely dominated by willow species in semi‐desert regions and by conifer species in the humid mountain regions. Deciduous species dominated riparian areas in transition zones between conifer forests and semi‐deserts. Species distributions suggest that streams in the semi‐deserts were likely characterized by little shade and low wood abundance, whereas streams in the humid mountains would have been more heavily shaded with high wood abundance. The transitional deciduous areas were likely shaded with moderate wood abundance. Historical trends in air temperature and precipitation suggest relatively small changes in climate since the time of the surveys, indicating that current species ranges are likely similar to historical species ranges. Hence, these maps can be used to help identify suitable taxonomic groups and expected riparian functions for riparian restoration in the Columbia River basin, with appropriate adjustments made to site‐specific restoration designs to account for model uncertainty, future climate change, or land use constraints.

Rapid Decreasing of a Selected Plant Species Distribution Within Recent Decades as an Illustration of Gradual Local Extinction of Low-Productive Wet Meadow Species in Central Europe

Abstract This study provides an illustration of the contemporary extinction trend of a selected wet grassland species, Pedicularis sylvatica, within a region of the Bohemian-Moravian Highlands, Czech Republic. Historically, it was a relatively common species in the study region, but it has been severely reduced in recent decades due to the abandonment of the traditional management of the grasslands, or inappropriate management practices, including extensive drainage, fertilisation, and liming. Low precipitation in recent years, a depleted soil seed bank, inbreeding in small, isolated populations, the inability to germinate, and the emergence of seedlings can also play an important role. After personal resurvey, P. sylvatica was not confirmed on 28 % of the localities where it was documented between two and 20 years ago. In a selected south-eastern subregion, only one of 19 localities persist nowadays. A steep decrease of local subpopulations of P. sylvatica points to the holistic problem of both the low-productive wet meadow species’ extinctions and their habitat collapses in central Europe. Without proper protection and management, it is likely that low-productive wet meadows will continue to decline and, in the next few decades, only a fraction of today’s already faint frequency will remain within a few higher-elevated subregions.

Bioaccumulation and Translocation Factors of Lead in Mustard and Maize Plants in Soil Kurdistan Region _ Akre City

The aim of this study is to determine the Pb bioaccumulation and translocation factors in mustard (Brassica juncea) and maize (Zea mays L). growing in the pot experiment in Akre horticulture nursery soil. In present paper, about 1gm of root and shoot portions of the selected plant species that were growing in the site were separately collected. Besides, 10gm of soil samples were also collected from the pots at each sampling where the plants were previously sampled. The soil and plants were analyzed for Pb by atomic absorption spectrophotometer (AASP), type GBC 932AA. Bioaccumulation factor (BAF) was measured in the plant species and obtained from the ratio of Pb content in the plant root to that of extracted Pb content in the soil. And, Translocation factor (TF) was obtained from the ratio of Pb content in the plant shoots to that in the plant roots, from the results obtained, the two plant species had BAF and TF>1, suggesting their applicability in extraction of Pb polluted soil at the study site. Since Pb accumulation and translocation, factors in the two plants species were more than one so they regard as accumulator plants and suggest that the plants species having phytoextraction ability and could be used in restoring soil contaminated with Pb.

A Trait-Based Protocol for the Biological Control of Invasive Exotic Plant Species

Selecting appropriate native species for the biological control of invasive exotic plants is a recurring challenge for conservationists, ecologists, and land managers. Recently developed trait-based approaches may be an effective means of overcoming this challenge. However, we lack a protocol and software platform that can be used to quickly and effectively select potential native plant species for performing biological control of the invasive exotic plant species. Here, our study introduces a protocol and a software program that can be used for trait-based selection of appropriate native plant species for performing biocontrol of invasive exotic plant species. In particular, we illustrate the effectiveness of this software program and protocol by identifying native species that can be used for the biological control of Leucaena leucocephala (Lam.) de Wit, a highly invasive plant species found in many parts of the world. Bougainvillea spectabilis was the only native species selected by our software program as a potential biocontrol agent for L. leucocephala. When separately planting 4 seedlings of B. spectabilis and two unselected species (Bombax ceiba, and Ficus microcarpa) as neighbors of each individual of L. leucocephala for 3 years, we found that B. spectabilis, which was functionally similar to the invasive L. leucocephala, significantly limited the invasion of the latter, while the unselected native plant species could not. That was because all the seedling of B. spectabilis survived, while half seedlings of unselected species (B. ceiba and F. microcarpa) died, during the experimental period when planted with L. leucocephala seedlings. Moreover, the growth of L. leucocephala was restricted when planted with B. spectabilis, in contrast B. ceiba and F. microcarpa did not influence the growth of L. leucocephala. Overall, our software program and protocol can quickly and efficiently select native plant species for use in the biological control of invasive exotic plant species. We expect that this work will provide a general protocol to perform biological control of many different types of invasive exotic plant species.

Phytoextraction potential of halophyte plants under industrial multi-metal contaminated sites

The present research evaluated the phytoremediation potential of three selected plant species Tamarix. spp, Haloxylon. spp and Malcolmia Africana to remediate gold mine tailings in the center of Iran. To improve the ecological capability of the tailing dam and contaminated soil, two treatments of contaminated (tailing dam) and control (surrounding area of the gold mine) were chosen. The associated tailing and plants' shoot and root samples were collected and analyzed for total metal concentrations of Cobalt, Chromium, Strontium, Thorium, Titanium and Uranium. Translocation Factor (TF), BioAccumulation Coefficient (BAC) and Bioconcentration Factor (BCF) were estimated to assess the plant species potential for phytoremediation. Results indicated that Tamarix. spp showed the best growth on contaminated site (by height of 44.05 cm and weight of 105.3 mg) as compared to Haloxylon. spp and Malcolmia Africana. Metal accumulation rate was observed to be maximized in all three species; by 28.37%, 35.5% and 12.96% of Sr and 20.28%, 9.85% and 31.7% of Ti for Tamarix. Spp, Haloxylon. Spp and Malcolmia Africana, respectively. The study showed that Malcolmia Africana is the best accumulator of Strontium with TF, BAC and BCF of higher than one for both control and contaminated treatments. Also Tamarix. spp can translocate large amounts of Strontium, Thorium, Titanium and Uranium from roots to shoots as well as Strontium and Titanium for Haloxylon. spp.

Exploring and limiting the ecological impacts of urban wild food foraging in Vienna, Austria

Wild food foraging in urban areas can have considerable benefits, but concerns have been raised by public authorities about its potential negative ecological impacts. In this study, our aim was to explore experts’ perspectives on the foraging practices that prevent, limit, or cause negative ecological impacts in urban areas, and how different levels of local ecological knowledge among foragers translate into the (non-)adoption of preventive or limiting measures. We conducted twenty-one semi-structured expert interviews with urban foragers, environmental educators, managers of public urban green spaces, open space planners and representatives of research institutions and non-governmental institutions in Vienna, Austria, and analysed the data using qualitative content analysis. A range of preventive, limiting, and damaging practices were reported as taking place at the same time. The ecological impact of foraging practices related to the selection of plant species and foraging locations, the quantities foraged, the foraging techniques applied, foraging dates and the care taken when foraging. The experts suggested that two different types of impacts can be harmful: first, urban foragers can cause negative ecological impacts to plant populations if they are not familiar with the species being foraged or with foraging in public urban green spaces; second, urban foragers can harm the integrity of public urban green spaces in foraging hotspots in particular. The biospheric versus utilitarian mindsets of urban foragers and their nature relatedness were also associated with the ecological impacts. We argue that medium and long-term measures to limit damage to urban plant populations should include population studies of plant populations observed to be at risk, clear legal frameworks for wild plant foraging, and a revitalisation of the declining traditional transmission of local ecological knowledge combined with comprehensive and innovative educational measures.