Vegetation Species Diversity Research Articles

Ecological Functions of Autumn Olives for Improving Vegetation Species Diversity and Habitat Conditions Supporting Their Growth: A Study of Tedorigawa River, Japan

ABSTRACTThus far, no studies have quantitatively investigated the ecological functions of wood communities for increasing vegetation species diversity and promoting supportive habitat conditions for their growth. To fill this gap, this study investigates the ecological function of the autumn olive (Elaeagnus umbellata var. umbellata) community, a typical native wood community of Japan. We selected the Tedorigawa River, a representative rapid river of Japan, as a case‐study subject and conducted field surveys to investigate the relationships between the autumn olive, black locust, and oriental wormwood‐kawarahako communities (among six total vegetation communities) and their respective species compositions. Hydraulic simulations helped investigate significant differences in the cover ratio of native species that grow in rivers and alien species and, differences in the physical and environmental characteristics among the three typical vegetation communities in the river channel (native grass community, native wood community, and alien wood community). The results showed that autumn olives support the growth of native species that prefer wet conditions and control alien species' growth. This ecological function is supported by the characteristic hierarchical structure of autumn olives, including low‐density trunks and leaves and low height, which create bright light conditions in the community. The autumn olive community was also found to obstruct flood flow, which enhances the deposition of fine sediments and nutrients. These characteristics enhance wet conditions to support the growth of native species that prefer these conditions.

Diversity of primary vegetation species of lake shore impacts largely carbon emissions in thermokarst lakes on the Qinghai-Tibet plateau.

Terrestrial organic matter from surrounding primary vegetation is critical for carbon cycling in thermokarst lakes. However, the characteristics and contribution of this vegetation in shaping microbial community and affecting carbon emissions in thermokarst lakes remain poorly understood. This study quantifies the influence of lakeshore primary vegetation characteristics on microbial community and carbon emissions across lakes with different vegetation types on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau (QTP). Our findings indicate that methane (CH4) diffusion and ebullition emissions increase significantly from alpine desert (AD), alpine steppe (AS), alpine meadow (AM) to swamp meadow (SM). Specifically, diffusion fluxes in lakes averaged 1.7 mmol m‌‌-2 d-1 (ranging from 0.04 to 5.7 mmol m-2 d-1), and ebullition fluxes in lakes averaged 14.5 mmol m-2 d-1 (ranging from 0.18 to 99.1 mmol m-2 d-1). Carbon dioxide (CO2) diffusive emissions in SM, AM, AS were significantly higher than AD, with fluxes ranging from -14.12 mmol m-2 d-1 to 51.33 mmol m-2 d-1. The primary vegetation diversity also showed a significant increase from AD (3.17 ± 1.33), AS (5.33 ± 1.63), AM (4.5 ± 1.05) to SM (9.2 ± 1.40). Lake shore primary vegetation diversity indirectly enhances CH4 and CO2 emissions by altering water pH. Additionally, it influences methane-cycling microorganisms through pH regulation, further promoting CH4 emissions. Greater vegetation diversity also increases CH4 emissions by affecting sediment microbial carbon. These results underscore the importance of integrating vegetation diversity and microbial community patterns into carbon cycling models to improve the predictions of thermokarst lake carbon emissions in a warming and greening future, emphasizing the urgent requirement to protect the pristine environments of permafrost regions.

Lambs Grazing With Adult Ewes Prefer Forbs With High-Nutrient Content in Native Grasslands Dominated by Leymus chinensis and Stipa grandis.

Grazing livestock in grasslands face the challenge of obtaining sufficient nutrition due to uneven distribution of plant species and fluctuating vegetation productivity and nutrient levels. In northern China, Leymus chinensis and Stipa grandis are the dominant perennial species in native grasslands, but they provide limited nutrition compared to forbs with higher crude protein (CP) content. While dietary ingredients can affect the nutritional intake of grazing livestock, the influence of different grazing strategies on dietary selection remains unclear. In this study, three sheep grazing strategies (lambs alone, mixed lambs and ewes, and ewes alone) were used to explore dietary selection. We investigated the influence of vegetation characteristic (above-ground biomass production, height, and species diversity) and foraging behavior (feed intake, organic matter digestibility, and daily grazing time) on the mechanisms of dietary selection (taxonomic family richness and composition). Forage consumption across the grazing strategies revealed that species from Poaceae, Rosaceae, and Cyperaceae families were frequently consumed. Both ewes and lambs in the mixed-grazing strategy preferentially consumed forbs with diverse species composition (Jacob's D > 0), which contained higher CP than those available in the overall vegetation (p < 0.05). In addition, dietary richness was significantly (p < 0.05) influenced by vegetation species diversity except for animals in the lambs alone strategy. Compared to lambs in mixed-grazing, lambs alone had both greater daily grazing time and consumption of grass with lower digestibility (p < 0.05). Our study is the first to demonstrate that lambs can develop a similar dietary selection and behavioral pattern when grazing with adult ewes in temperate grasslands. Our study indicates that the conservation of species diversity in native grasslands is critically beneficial to livestock nutrition.

The Effects of Livestock Grazing on Species Diversity and Functional Indicators of Vegetation in Two Watersheds with Different Climates

The Effects of Livestock Grazing on Species Diversity and Functional Indicators of Vegetation in Two Watersheds with Different Climates

Response of Fuel Characteristics, Potential Fire Behavior, and Understory Vegetation Diversity to Thinning in Platycladus orientalis Forest in Beijing, China

Objective: Active fuel management operations, such as thinning, can minimize extreme wildfire conditions while preserving ecosystem services, including maintaining understory vegetation diversity. However, the appropriate thinning intensity for balancing the above two objectives has not been sufficiently studied. Methods: This study was conducted to assess the impact of various thinning intensities (light thinning, LT, 15%; moderate thinning, MT, 35%; heavy thinning, HT, 50%; and control treatment, CK) on fuel characteristics, potential fire behavior, and understory vegetation biodiversity in Platycladus orientalis forest in Beijing using a combination of field measurements and fire behavior simulations (BehavePlus 6.0.0). Results: A significant reduction in surface and canopy fuel loads with increasing thinning intensity, notably reducing CBD to below 0.1 kg/m3 under moderate thinning, effectively prevented the occurrence of active crown fires, even under extreme weather conditions. Additionally, moderate thinning enhanced understory species diversity, yielding the highest species diversity index compared to other treatments. Conclusions: These findings suggest that moderate thinning (35%) offers an optimal balance, substantially reducing the occurrence of active crown fires while promoting biodiversity. Therefore, it is recommended to carry out moderate thinning in the study area. Forest managers can leverage this information to devise technical strategies that simultaneously meet fire prevention objectives and enhance understory vegetation species diversity in areas suitable for thinning-only treatments.

Abundance, diversity and composition of understory plants along the altitudinal gradient and dominant overstory composition types in the temperate Himalayan region

IntroductionThe Indian Himalayan forests are remarkable landforms experiencing tremendous climatic variation, constituting complex and diversified ecosystems with prominent vegetation zones. Despite their global significance and substantial research efforts focused on plant diversity in the temperate Himalayan region, only a few studies have explicitly assessed the distribution patterns of understory vegetation in relation to forest compositional types along altitudinal gradients.MethodsTo cover a wide range of altitudes and diverse overstory compositions, stands were sampled across four altitudinal ranges from 1500 to 3500 meters above mean sea level with increments of 500 meters in elevation steps. The overstory compositions were classified on the basis of dominant tree species in each stand on the similar sites. Vegetation in the shrub and ground layers was surveyed by visually estimating the percentage coverage within circular plots.ResultsA total of 99 understory species including 37 species each in the shrub layer, 62 species in the herb layer vegetation were recorded. The abundance, species diversity and composition of understory vegetation differed significantly along the altitudinal gradient and dominant overstory composition types. Moreover, distinct understory vegetation communities were observed at lower elevations compared to higher elevations, with middle elevations exhibiting intermediate vegetation characteristics. The study also highlighted the importance of dominant overstory composition types in shaping the pattern of understory vegetation abundance, species diversity and composition in the temperate Himalayan region. The higher resource conditions associated with broadleaved stands supported higher understory species abundance at lower elevations, while the heterogeneous conditions induced by the mixedwood stands promoted higher understory species diversity.ConclusionThe hump shaped pattern along the altitudinal gradient appeared to be the most dominant pattern of plant abundance and species diversity and call for more conservation concern towards the middle elevation zones in the temperate Himalayan region. Furthermore, the management interventions should aim at maintaining diverse range of overstory composition types for conserving biodiversity and their ecological functions in the temperate Himalayan region.

Low-intensity urbanisation alters community composition across multiple trophic levels on Lipsi Island, Greece.

Urbanisation has reduced the abundance and diversity of many taxonomic groups, and the effects may be more pronounced on islands, which have a smaller regional species pool to compensate. Green spaces within urban environments may help to safeguard wildlife assemblages, and the associated habitat heterogeneity can even increase species diversity. Here, total abundance and species diversity of butterflies, birds, and vegetation at nine rural and nine urban locations were quantified on Lipsi Island, Greece. Sites were assessed using Pollard walks for butterflies, point-count surveys for birds, and quadrats for vegetation. There was no significant difference in the abundance or species diversity of butterflies or vegetation among rural and urban locations, which could pertain to the low building density within urbanised areas and the minimal extent of urbanisation on the island. However, urban areas hosted a significantly greater abundance, richness, and diversity of birds compared to rural sites. The community composition of butterflies, birds, and vegetation also differed significantly between urban and rural locations, highlighting the impact of urbanisation on species across a broad range of trophic groups. This study contributes to ecological knowledge on the impacts of urbanisation across multiple trophic levels in island ecosystems, with comparisons across a gradient of island size and urbanisation intensity needed in future research.

Topography influences the tree dynamics of a tropical dry forest in western Mexico

AbstractIn seasonally dry tropical forests (SDTF's) drought risk driven by topography‐related factors determines vegetation structure, functional composition, and species diversity; however, the effect of slope aspect and topographic position on tree community dynamics are still poorly explored. In this paper, we studied the dynamics and structural attributes of the tree community of a Mexican SDTF. Plots were established in a combination of two topographic conditions: slope aspect (north/south) and topographic position (upper/middle/lower). Differences among these conditions were assessed through (i) community dynamics´ parameters, (ii) species dynamics, (iii) vegetation structure, and (iv) species diversity. We analyzed community attributes for each of our study years (2012–2020) and rates of change between this period for the entire community (DBH ≥1 cm), small‐sized trees (DBH ≤3 cm), and large‐sized trees (DBH &gt;3 cm). Multivariate analyses were also used to examine the relationship between vegetation and topography. In upper positions, trees showed higher mortality (mean mr ± SE = 3.1 ± 0.2% yr − 1) and lower recruitment rates (mean rr ± SE = 6.3 ± 0.9% yr − 1) than those from the lower positions (mean mr ± SE = 1.7 ± 0.1% yr − 1; mean rr ± SE = 7.7 ± 0.7% yr − 1). The relative change (%) in the number of individuals for the entire community and small‐sized trees increased towards the lower positions. The entire community showed a temporary loss of stems on south‐facing slopes, but temporary gains in number of stems in lower positions for the small‐sized trees. We did not find any temporary changes in species diversity attributes. The drought risk gradient imposed by topographic position influences the tree dynamics with a higher mortality of stems/individuals towards upper positions, but species diversity was maintained.

Study On The Distribution Of Pongamia Pinnata Trees In The Coastal Forest Of Hatusua Village, Kairatu Subdistrict, West Seram Regency

Study on the Distribution of Pongamia Pinnata (Pongamia Pinnata) Wood Species on the Coastal Forest of Hatusua Village, Kairatu Subdistrict, West Seram Regency. The research objective is to determine the morphology and distribution pattern of Pongamia Pinnata wood, using data collection methods such as purposive sampling surveys, a combination of transect and quadrat line methods conducted along the observation paths on the coastal forest. The results of the study show that morphologically, Pongamia Pinnata wood is a tree with woody stems, grayish in color, round in shape with rough and protruding stem surfaces. The height of this tree ranges from 8 to 37.5 meters with a stem diameter reaching 84 cm. The vegetation species diversity for seedling level = H’=2.79, Sapling = 3.46, and tree level H’ =3.17, which is classified as experiencing moderate to high diversity with a clustered distribution pattern

Edge Effect on Bird Community in Ternate, North Maluku, Indonesia

The edge is a meeting place between two ecosystems, or it can also be interpreted as a boundary where two habitats meet and interact. The presence of edges can create an edge effect and increase richness and species abundance. In the present study, we analyzed how edge and vegetation diversity affect a) bird communities and b) how birds respond to edges. Observation plots were placed in jamblang stands and coconut plantations (edge and interior). Bird communities were observed using point counts with a fixed radius of 25 m, and the distance between plots was 50 m. A survey of vegetation diversity was conducted using a combination of the transect and plot methods. The research showed that the highest species richness and diversity of birds (128 individuals of 18 species) and vegetation (168 individuals of 20 species) were found at the edge, although there were only slight differences in the number of species in each habitat. This was influenced by the structure and composition of the vegetation at the observation site. Nevertheless, this proves that the edge effect shapes the composition of bird communities. There are 9 species of bird can be mapped into 4 response models: generalis neutral, generalist edge exploiter, specialist edge exploiter, and edge specialist.

Precipitation and plant community-weighted mean traits determine total transpirable soil water in a desert grassland

The desert grassland has low precipitation, high evaporation and a limited soil water supply. Thus the tension between water shortage and sustainable vegetation restoration is increasingly evident. Change in total transpirable soil water (TTSW) reflects the water utilization and extraction capacity of plant communities, which are the basis for maintaining productivity and stability in communities, as well as the key ecological processes alleviating the above tension. Change in TTSW is influenced by precipitation, vegetation and soil. Quantifying the relative contribution of these factors to change in TTSW is key to the sustainable restoration of desert grassland. However, the current understanding of such effects remains limited. This study examined four typical plant communities in the Ningxia desert grassland, monitoring soil water content and evaluating plant community characteristics and diversity over three consecutive years. Using redundancy analysis and hierarchical partitioning methods, the influence of annual precipitation, vegetation (functional and species diversity, community characteristics) and soil physical properties on TTSW variation were investigated. Findings revealed: (1) The factors contributing to TTSW variation were annual precipitation (41 %-68 %,), vegetation (29 %-45 %), and soil physical properties (0 %-6.7 %). Specifically, community-weighted mean traits (CWM) and functional diversity (FD) explained TTSW variation by 24–37 % and 0.25–11 % respectively. In Gramineae communities, the influence of annual precipitation and vegetation on TTSW variation was consistent across soil depths. However, in degraded Sophora alopecuroides + Artemisia scoparia (SA) communities, the influence of vegetation (CWM, FD, community composition and community function) on TTSW variation was more pronounced in shallow soils (45 %) than in deeper soils (33 %), while annual precipitation effects were more substantial in the deep soil layers (66 %) than in the shallow soil layers (42 %). (2) Annual precipitation and CWM were the main biological and abiotic factors affecting TTSW. Interestingly, increased annual precipitation was negatively correlated with TTSW. Similarly, the primary controlling factor, CWM, also showed a significant negative relationship with TTSW. This relationship varied across community types and could be linear or quadratic, highlighting the need to understand the selection effects mediated by CWM in ensuring sustainable vegetation restoration. This research offers insights into the relationship between plant functional diversity and soil water retention function.

Dynamics of desertification of arid ecosystems of Kizlyar pastures

The authors conducted research to identify the sources of formation of sand massifs, which then become the main cause of desertification of the territories of Kizlyar pastures, in order to carry out protective measures. In the article, the authors present materials confirming desertification and its ecological aspects. The ecological state of arid territories of Russia is one of the most acute problems that requires constant monitoring. Global changes in climatic conditions have a significant impact on the functioning of terrestrial ecosystems, including the soil cover. With the warming of the climate, the development of the processes of wind erosion and soil salinization increases. As a result, the pastures of Kizlyar were driven into extreme conditions. Pastures have come to an extremely critical state, and the degree of degradation of damage caused by these processes is much higher than other regions of the European South of Russia. The ecological situation of the territory is deteriorating rapidly. According to various estimates, large areas of them are occupied by open sands – 60.0 - 71.3 thousand hectares. As the analysis of the experience of the work carried out on the Kizlyar pastures shows, their effectiveness was extremely low, and in some places they contributed to the strengthening of the development of natural degradation processes. As a result, destabilizing factors have emerged that ensure the production of established phytocenoses, worsening conditions and progressing every year. At present, there are practically no improved pasture lands with natural vegetation in the Tersk-Kum lowland. In the current situation, the priority is to stop the activity of moving sands, as well as to improve the state of the species diversity of vegetation, otherwise, if these processes continue at the same pace, it may endanger the very existence of pastures and the basis of life in this territory.

Global response of different types of grasslands to precipitation and grazing, especially belowground biomass

Precipitation and grazing both modify the structure and function of grassland. Although the effects of site-scale precipitation and grazing on vegetation communities have been investigated, the differences between different grassland types at the global scale are still not clear. Therefore, we conducted a global-scale meta-analysis synthesizing 107 field studies with different grassland types (savanna grassland, temperate grassland, cold grassland, and alpine grassland) to quantify the effects of global changes in precipitation and grazing on community structure and function of grassland types. Results showed that regardless of grassland type, increased precipitation increased species richness by 7.8%, decreased belowground biomass (BGB) by 20.0%, and increased aboveground biomass (AGB) by 22.9%, but interestingly, decreased precipitation increased BGB by 17.7%, decreased AGB by 22.8%, and decreased species richness by 13.7%. Species richness of global grassland vegetation was positively correlated with grazing intensity. The total vegetation community biomass (TB) increased by 11.7% under moderate grazing intensity, while the species diversity of global grassland vegetation increased by 10.7% under heavy grazing intensity. Increased precipitation had negatively impacted BGB in temperate grassland, while increased precipitation significantly increased cool grassland BGB. In savanna grasslands, vegetation AGB decreased with increasing precipitation. Our results highlight the impact of altered precipitation on grassland vegetation under different climate types. We suggest that future studies of grassland management should consider incorporating grazing intensity and climate type, which will help to protect grassland vegetation species diversity and predict future carbon dynamics.

Developmental Dynamics and Driving Factors of Understory Vegetation: A Case Study of Three Typical Plantations in the Loess Plateau of China

Understory vegetation is one of the most important links for improving forest biodiversity, and its restoration is conducive to sustainable forest development, energy flow, and nutrient cycling. However, little is known about the developmental dynamics and main driving factors of the long-time series coverage, biomass, diversity, and species composition of plantation understory vegetation. In a case study of three typical plantations, with a natural secondary forest as reference in the Loess Plateau of China, we collected understory vegetation from a Robinia pseudoacacia Linn. deciduous broad-leaved plantation, Pinus tabulaeformis Carr. evergreen coniferous plantation, and mixed plantation with an age span of 10 to 50 years. (1) The understory plantation coverage and biomass results of stands with different ages showed the R. pseudoacacia plantation to be significantly higher than the P. tabulaeformis plantation, and the species diversity of the P. tabulaeformis plantation changed the most with the stand age. However, the growth resource imbalance, and drastic changes in the stands’ environment caused by excessive intraspecific competition in the early stage of the P. tabulaeformis plantation vegetation restoration, are the main reasons that make the species diversity of undergrowth vegetation of P. tabulaeformis plantation lower than that of other stand types. (2) The understory species composition of the plantations revealed their degree of community stability. Compared to the R. pseudoacacia plantation and P. tabulaeformis plantation, the mixed plantation had higher stability, and its species composition closely resembled a natural secondary forest. The community stability of the P. tabulaeformis plantation was the lowest because it had the lowest coverage, biomass, and species diversity of understory vegetation. However, the understory species composition of the three plantation types converged, which was due to atypical species contribution. (3) The dynamic changes of canopy and soil nutrients were the main driving factors affecting the R. pseudoacacia plantation understory vegetation species composition. Stand density and elevation limited the understory vegetation communities of P. tabulaeformis plantation restoration. Soil bulk density is the key factor affecting understory vegetation in mixed plantations, and this effect weakens with the stand age. In future studies, the focus should be on the converged action and further development trend of atypical species, choosing an appropriate recovery strategy (active or passive), and providing more possibilities for the intensive management of vegetation under different plantations.

Impacts of Grazing on Vegetation and Soil Physicochemical Properties in Northern Yinshan Mountain Grasslands

The grasslands at the northern foot of the Yinshan Mountains are an integral component of the northern grassland ecosystem in China. The ecosystem in this region has low stability and poor resistance to disturbance. In this study, experiments were conducted to evaluate the possible changes in vegetation community structure and soil physicochemical properties due to overgrazing in the grasslands. Completely randomized group experiments were designed with grazing intensity as the single-factor study was conducted using natural grassland located in Xilamuren (in Inner Mongolia, northern China) as the study area. Three blocks were created, each having four plots of different grazing intensities and each block having an area of 100 m × 100 m. The experiments were conducted to evaluate the possible variances both in the structure of the vegetation community and the soil physicochemical properties resulting from overgrazing in the grasslands at the northern foot of Yinshan Mountain. The results were as follows: The importance values of dominant species, such as Heteropappus altaicus and Artimisia gmelinii, exhibited varying degrees of change with an increase in the grazing intensity. The surface vegetation cover decreased significantly with an increase in the grazing intensity. The increasing grazing intensity led to a significant increase in the content of very coarse sand grains in the soil. Severe grazing increased the exposed surface area, intensified the effects of blowing wind and scouring action of water, and led to the coarsening of topsoil particles. At 0–5 cm depth, the bulk density of soil exhibited an increasing tendency with an increase in the grazing intensity. The organic matter content of the soil in the heavily grazed plots decreased by 11.74%, 11.00%, and 14.08%, respectively, when compared to that in the 0–40 cm soil layer with no grazing, light grazing, and moderate grazing. The results emphasized the importance of managing grazing intensity for soil and vegetation restoration. Thus, the effects of short-term grazing (for example, 5 years) on vegetation community composition and species diversity may be less pronounced. This study contributes to our understanding of pasture management and the restoration of grassland species diversity.

Effects of Long-Term Exclosure on Main Plant Functional Groups and Their Biochemical Properties in a Patchily Degraded Alpine Meadow in the Source Zone of the Yellow River, West China

This study aimed to understand the response of vegetation community characteristics in the degraded alpine meadow of the Source Zone of the Yellow River to exclosure of various lengths. Artificial fences were erected to prevent livestock grazing and let the degraded meadow recover naturally as a means of restoration. The research focused on a typical degraded alpine meadow in which four plots were fenced off for three periods of 1 year (E1), 4 years (E4), and 10 years (E10), plus a freely grazed plot as the control. The study compared and analyzed the differences in plant community characteristics, carbon (C), nitrogen (N), and phosphorus (P) reserves, as well as the stoichiometric characteristics of main functional groups in the alpine meadow over different exclosure durations. The results indicated that E10 long-term exclosure significantly increased the aboveground biomass of gramineous plants but reduced the aboveground biomass of miscellaneous grasses. However, when compared to E4 short-term exclosure, E10 resulted in a reduction in the aboveground biomass of Cyperaceae plants. On the other hand, E4 medium-term exclosure significantly increased the aboveground biomass of Gramineae and Cyperaceae. Exclosure significantly increased the nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) reserves of the aboveground plant communities. Among these communities, the plant communities in the E10 long-term exclosure had the highest N and P reserves. However, this exclosure length also led to a significant reduction in plant diversity. Furthermore, except for Cyperaceae, all functional groups were observed in E10 and E4 plots. The carbon–nitrogen ratio and carbon–phosphorus ratio of these groups were significantly lower than those of groups G and E1. Medium-term exclosure (E4) has a positive impact on the aboveground biomass as well as plants’ nitrogen and phosphorus reserves. However, long-term exclosure (E10) has been observed to decrease species diversity and nutrient utilization efficiency of alpine meadow vegetation, which can be detrimental to the sustainable development of the alpine meadow ecosystem. Therefore, it is not recommended to implement long-term exclosure. Instead, a moderate level of grazing should be adopted after 4 years of exclosure.

Effects of Artificial Restoration and Natural Recovery on Plant Communities and Soil Properties across Different Temporal Gradients after Landslides

Landslides cause significant disturbances to mountainous ecosystems and human activities. Due to climate change, the frequency of landslides as secondary disasters has notably increased compared to the past. Further exploration is needed to understand the effects of different restoration methods on post-landslide plant communities and soil properties over different periods of time. In this regard, we selected Lantian County in the northern foothills of the Qinling Mountains as our study area. We conducted surveys on artificially restored and naturally recovered plots at 1, 6, and 11 years after landslide events. Undamaged areas were chosen nearby as control plots. We identified vegetation types and species diversity after artificial and natural recovery and further analyzed the impact of different restoration strategies on vegetation patterns and soil properties. The research results indicate that, compared with natural recovery, artificial restoration can more quickly improve vegetation and soil. With the increasing time gradient, the average ground cover of the herbaceous layer in natural recovery decreased gradually from 47% at year one to 34% at year eleven. In contrast, in artificial restoration, the average ground cover of the herbaceous layer increased from 27% at year one to 44% at year eleven. For the shrub layer, in natural recovery, the average ground cover gradually increased to 39% over eleven years. While in artificial restoration, the average ground cover for the shrub layer gradually increased to 46% over the same period. In the artificial restoration plots, soil pH gradually increased (from 6.2 to 8.2), while TN content gradually decreased (from 1.7 g/kg to 0.9 g/kg). Similarly, TK content decreased (from 22.4 g/kg to 14.5 g/kg), and AP content showed a decreasing trend (from 20.7 mg/kg to 11.4 mg/kg). In the natural recovery plots, DNA content gradually increased (from 3.2 μg/g/d to 142.6 μg/g/d), and SC content gradually increased as well (from 2.4 mg/d/g to 23.1 mg/d/g). In contrast, on sites undergoing natural recovery, the short-term restoration rates of vegetation and soil are lower, but they show greater stability over a longer time. This study provides a new perspective on vegetation restoration strategies and is expected to offer insights for the optimization of post-landslide recovery in the future.

Комплексное управление лесной растительностью: этапы и перспективы развития

When enterprises of the timber industry complex form protective forest plantations along linear infrastructure facilities, the problem of subsequent spontaneous reproduction of tree and shrub vegetation arises, which leads to disorder in the territories of the above facilities and creates a threat to the safety of their operation. In many foreign countries, work to maintain the territories of linear infrastructure facilities in a standard state is carried out in strict accordance with certain methods of conceptual management of vegetation growth. At the same time, such management methods are practically unknown both to the domestic scientific community dealing with the issues of protective afforestation, and to those who make decisions on the need to influence unwanted trees and shrubs. The purpose of the study was to study and analyze systemic methods for managing unwanted tree and shrub vegetation growing on the territories of linear infrastructure facilities in order to improve the quality and efficiency of its removal, as well as to make recommendations for the proper maintenance of these territories. Cluster analysis of world research trends in forest vegetation management revealed 3 major areas associated with: a decrease or increase in species richness and diversity of vegetation, as well as the inadmissibility of its subsequent renewal; methods and means of influencing vegetation, including the benefits of vegetation management; ecological and aesthetic consequences of vegetation management, as well as public perception of the results of such management. The established principles for the application of the integrated vegetation management system (Integrated Vegetation Management: IVM), which is widespread in the world, are necessarily taken into account by organizations responsible for managing various protected zones and right-of-way. The most convenient for characterizing a selective approach to the management of unwanted vegetation growing in the territories of linear infrastructure facilities is the phrase «Integrated forest vegetation management». As the basic structure of the IVM system, the model proposed in 2005 by Nowak and Ballard is used, which provides for the implementation of a complete systems approach when influencing vegetation. It is inappropriate to combine in one step (the critical phase of this model) the monitoring of the potential effect of the impact on unwanted vegetation and the assessment of this impact. With further improvement of the IVM system, it is necessary to create a set of clearly defined and at the same time measurable indicators that fully reflect the achieved (or not achieved) effect from the impact on unwanted vegetation. It is shown that in order to introduce protective afforestation into domestic practice, IVM systems should not be a separate vegetation management tool, but a combination of management approaches, including not only the assessment of a plot of a linear infrastructure facility, but also subsequent control and determination of the quality of the normative maintenance of this plot.

AGROTECHNOLOGY FOR FEED CULTIVATION AND CREATION OF HAYFIELDS AND PASTURES IN THE FOREST AND STEPPE ZONE OF NORTHERN KAZAKHSTAN

A high-quality feed base is a must to ensure the growing of numerous animals via selecting promising high-yielding crops that can provide livestock with feeds at the entire production stage. This study purposed to develop new technologies for reinstating a balanced use of pastures in Kazakhstan’s steppe and forest-steppe zones. Several investigations succeeded in 2019–2022 at the Service-ZHARS Limited Liability Partnership (LLP) production fields of District Kyzylzhar, North Kazakhstan. Five chosen pasture combinations created multifactor pasture lands, as follows: common alfalfa + Festulolium; awnless brome + yellow sweet clover; common alfalfa + pasture ryegrass + Festulolium; white sweet clover + awnless brome + Timothy grass, and sainfoin + Festulolium + pasture ryegrass + Timothy grass. For haymaking and pasture chain construction, the following grass combinations selected comprised two-pasture grasses (previous years' brome and Timothy grass + common alfalfa + sainfoin) and seven hay grasses (vetch + oats, Sudan grass, sorghum-Sudan grass hybrid + sorghum, corn for silage, sorghum, peas + oats + barley + wheat, and peas). The use of droughtresistant legumes, cereals, and arable crops and their mixtures positively impacted intensifying the feed base and reducing the pasture areas’ degradation. Thus, in the first experiment, the green mass collection was higher than 3.33 t ha-1 , while in the second one, it was below 4.75 t ha-1 , which fully bestowed the physiological needs of animals. The species diversity of pasture vegetation has improved because of beans’ inclusion, possibly enhancing the protein ratio in green feed and hay as the main component of the farm animals' diet.

Long-Term Performance of Blue-Green Roof Systems—Results of a Building-Scale Monitoring Study in Hamburg, Germany

For the first time, a long-term monitoring study with different full-scale blue-green roof (BGR) types was conducted. Within a pilot project from Hamburg’s Rainwater InfraStructure Adaptation (RISA) framework, four different BGR types were built in 2015 for long-term evaluation and comparison with each other. The test site was created to find out to what extent BGRs are able to improve hydrological performance and if increased water supply affects vegetation development and species diversity. Therefore, the roofs were equipped with hydrologic monitoring systems, their retention performance was evaluated, and vegetation analysis was conducted. During 2017–2023, between 64 and 74% of the precipitation was retained on the roofs, and in the summer months there was hardly any outflow from the roofs. For single (heavy) rain events, high retention capacities, low outflow intensities, and high detention times were demonstrated. On the BGRs where rainwater is permanently stored on the roof, the vegetation species’ composition changed in the long term, resulting in an increase in biodiversity. The studied BGRs are effective in reducing flood risk from heavy rain events and can increase evaporative cooling and biodiversity. Therefore, such BGRs are a blue-green infrastructure with far-reaching positive effects.