Similarity Of Plant Species Research Articles

The structure and ecological function of the interactions between plants and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi through multilayer networks

Abstract Arbuscular mycorrhizas are one of the most frequent mutualisms in terrestrial ecosystems. Although studies on plant mutualistic interaction networks suggest that they may leave their imprint on plant community structure and dynamics, this has not been explicitly assessed. Thus, in the context of plant‐fungi interactions, studies explicitly linking plant‐mycorrhizal fungi interaction networks with key ecological functions of plant communities, such as recruitment, are lacking. In this study, we analyse, in two Mediterranean forest communities of southern Iberian Peninsula, how plant‐arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) networks modulate plant‐plant recruitment interaction networks. We use a new approach integrating plant‐AMF and plant recruitment networks into a single multilayer structure. We also develop a new metric (Interlayer Node Neighbourhood Integration, INNI) to explore the impact of a given node on the structure across layers. The similarity of plant species in their AMF communities is positively related to the observed frequency of recruitment interactions in the field. Results reveal that properties of plant‐AMF networks, such as plant degree and centrality, can explain about the properties of plant recruitment network, such as in‐ and out‐degree (i.e. sapling bank and canopy service) and its modular structure. However, these relationships differed between the two forest communities. Finally, we identify particular AMF that contribute to integrate the neighbourhood of recruitment interactions between plants. This multilayer network approach is useful to explore the role of plant‐AMF interactions on recruitment, a key ecosystem function enhanced by fungi. Results provide evidence that the complex structure of plant‐AMF interactions impacts functional and structurally plant‐plant interactions, which in turn may potentially influence plant community dynamics, through their effects on the structure of the recruitment network. Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog.

Sustentabilidade do cultivo de mandioca em comunidades indígenas do Pantanal Brasileiro

We aimed with this study to help maximizing cassava production for subsistence in indigenous communities at the Brazilian Pantanal, by introducing minimal changes to the usual indigenous way of cultivation aiming to reduce human labor in weed management in this crop. For that, we tested distinct intercrops and phosphate sources, taking the Babassu Indigenous Village, located in Miranda‑MS, Brazil, as a reference. The experiment involved the intercrop of cassava with pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan), jack‑bean (Canavalia ensiformis) and millet (Pennisetum americanum) and the source of phosphate fertilizer (mycorrhizal inoculants, P2O5 and without fertilization / mycorrhizal inoculum). Soil samples were collected to study the soil seed bank of spontaneous species. We adopted the phytosociological method to assess the absolute level of infestation, its composition density, frequency, dominance and importance value, and diversity coefficients of Simpson and Shannon-Weiner, as well as the Shannon Evenness Proportion (a sustainability coefficient) for all treatments. Areas were also grouped by similarity of plant species. Cultivation of cassava for subsistence in indigenous areas also selects certain spontaneous species, and management should focus in removing mostly by hand those established in the crop row; the damage to the crop may be higher in years of high abiotic stresses. There is no effect of phosphate supply source (P) in the level or composition of spontaneous species. There is clear evidence that the continued cultivation of cassava for subsistence in indigenous areas of the Brazilian Pantanal is sustainable over time, mainly when intercropped with other food species.

Analysis of land use change and its relation to land potential and elephant habitat at Besitang Watershed, North Sumatra, Indonesia

Kuswanda W, Sunandar AD. 2019. Analysis of land use change and its relation to land potential and elephant habitat at Besitang Watershed, North Sumatra, Indonesia. Biodiversitas 20: 350-358. Land use change from forest into plantation at a watershed could be detrimental both for humans and wildlife. This study was aimed to analyze land use change and its impact on the habitat potential of Sumatran elephant (Elephas maximus sumatranus Temminck, 1857) in the upstream of Besitang Watershed located at Gunung Leuser National Park (GLNP), North Sumatra, Indonesia. The study was conducted from April to November 2015. Data collection was made through land cover map analysis, ground check and vegetation analysis using strip transect method. Land use change was analyzed using ArcView 3.2 software, species diversity was calculated using Shannon-Weiner formula and community evenness indices. Based on map delineation, total extent of Besitang Watershed is about 95,428 hectares. The analysis results showed that, in the past 25 years, about 15,989 hectares of land was changed from forests and farms to monoculture plantations. These changes have caused conflicts and threatened elephant population. As many as 168 species of plants were identified during vegetation analysis in the three study locations, namely Bukit Mas primary forest (88 species), Sekundur mixed secondary forest (91 species) and Halaban secondary forest (68 species). Average Importance Value Index (IVI) was below 40% which indicates that there are no dominant plant species. Tree density was between 360 and 497,5 individual/ha, sapling density was between 2,640 and 4,680 individual/ha, and density of seedling and understory plants was between 27,750 and 38,500 individual/ha. Species diversity index for each plant growth stage was relatively high (H’>3) and the similarity of plant species across locations was generally low (IS = <50%). Analysis of the correlation between land cover differences and habitat features showed statistically significant effects on species density and frequency. The highest effect of land cover change is on species density with the correlation reaching 94.5%. Forests in GLNP will be able to regenerate naturally to reach a stable state if there is no more land clearing to raise plantations.

Medicinal Plant Diversity and Inter-Cultural Interactions between Indigenous Guarani, Criollos and Polish Migrants in the Subtropics of Argentina.

Numerous studies highlight the importance of phytotherapy for indigenous and non-indigenous people in different parts of the world. In this work we analyze the richness (number of species), diversity (plant identity and the number of illnesses for which it is used) and similarity of plant species and illnesses treated with them, in order to contribute new data and insight into the importance of plant medicines to the local medical systems of people living in Misiones province, in the subtropics of Argentina. Three sympatric groups were compared: Guarani Indians, Criollos (mestizos) and Polish migrants. Quantitative scrutiny was focused on both primary and secondary sources. The similarity and diversity of medicinal plants and uses between groups was calculated by applying the Sørensen quantitative coefficient and the Shannon-Wiener index, respectively. In order to identify the characteristic plant species used by each group, the Cultural Importance and Prevalence Value (CIPV) was calculated based on the species Indicator Value (IndVal), which combines a species relative abundance with its relative frequency of occurrence in the various groups, and modified according to the type of the analyzed data. The important finding is a great variation in the number of species used by the study groups. Altogether, 509 botanical species were registered: Guarani (397), Criollos (243) and Polish migrants (137). For all groups, the use of native medicinal plants prevailed. The Guarani appear to be the local experts in use of medicinal plants. There is the significant difference in the number of treated illnesses by each taxon among three groups. Criollos and Polish migrants exhibit the greatest similarity in illnesses treated with medicinal plants. These groups share a corpus of knowledge related to illness nosology, and have a symptomatic approach to illness treatment. The Guarani have an etiological approach to illness diagnosis and healing, which may be viewed as a barrier to the exchange of knowledge about home medicine with other ethnic groups of Misiones.

THE EFFECTS OF EXCLOSURE ON PLANTS IN THE SEMI-ARID RANGELAND OF NORTH KHORASAN PROVINCE, IRAN

Abstract Over the last fifty years, most of the semi-arid rangeland in Iran has been converted to cropland without an equivalent reduction in grazing animals. This shift has led to heavy grazing pressure on rangeland vegetation. The present study has been conducted in Sisab Research Station in the North Khorasan Province to evaluate effects of long-term grazing exclosures on biodiversity of range plants. The study was initiated in May 2008 using three transects within the exclosure and another three transects near exclosure, each with 100m length in the vicinity of exclosure has been established to determine differences in plant composition between areas that have not been grazed in 22 years with neighboring grazed plant communities. The sampling method was randomized systematic one comprised of 10 plots, each of 1m2 in area. A total of 53 plant species were identified in the study area with the ungrazed plots containing 18 plants more than the grazed plots. The major species were Festuca ovina, Centurea depressa, Stachys turkamanica, Stipa barbata, Astragalus sp and Phelomis cancellata. Grazing impacts on forbs were more pronounced than for grasses and shrubs. Based on Jaccard’s index, there was only a 45% similarity of plant species between the two treatments. Our study led to four generalizations about the current grazing regime and long-term exclosures in the semi-arid rangeland around the study area: (1) exclosures will increase species richness, (2) heavy grazing may have removed some plant species, (3) complete protection from grazing for a prolonged period of time after a long history of grazing disturbance may not lead to an increase in desirable plant species with a concomitant improvement in range condition, and (4) research needs to be conducted to determine how these rangelands can be improved.

The Effects of Long-Term Grazing Exclosures on Range Plants in the Central Anatolian Region of Turkey

Over the last fifty years, almost half of the steppe rangeland in the Central Anatolian Region of Turkey (CAR) has been converted to cropland without an equivalent reduction in grazing animals. This shift has led to heavy grazing pressure on rangeland vegetation. A study was initiated in June 2003 using 6 multiscale Modified-Whittaker plots to determine differences in plant composition between areas that have not been grazed in 27 years with neighboring grazed plant communities. A total of 113 plant species were identified in the study area with the ungrazed plots containing 32 plants more than the grazed plots. The major species were Astragalus acicularis, Bromus tomentellus, Festuca valesiaca, Genista albida, Globularia orientalis, Poa bulbosa, and Thymus spyleus ssp rosulans. Grazing impacts on forbs were more pronounced than for grasses and shrubs. Based on Jaccard's index, there was only a 37% similarity of plant species between the two treatments. Our study led to four generalizations about the current grazing regime and long-term exclosures in the steppe rangeland around the study area: (1) exclosures will increase species richness, (2) heavy grazing may have removed some plant species, (3) complete protection from grazing for a prolonged period of time after a long history of grazing disturbance may not lead to an increase in desirable plant species with a concomitant improvement in range condition, and (4) research needs to be conducted to determine how these rangelands can be improved.