Species Of Flora Research Articles

Narrating the state in miniature: philatelic representations of Kazakhstan, 1992–2021

ABSTRACT Postage stamps, despite being somewhat cloaked over time by both obscurity and sheer ubiquity, are important official, primary source state documents. The iconography and visual data on the stamp have been used by states to project an official narrative, at times crossing into propaganda. Scholars have analysed these data to access how a given state has sought to portray itself to both domestic and international audiences. Over the course of its first 30 years of post-Soviet independence, Kazakhstan has produced 1130 visually distinct postage stamps. Visual content analysis reveals that much (nearly 45%) of this state’s philatelic representation can be assigned to two thematic categories: Nature and Notable People. Iconographic representations found on Kazakhstan’s first stamp issue (and others featuring the Golden Man), selected representations of flora and fauna species, a selection of stamps displaying Nursultan Nazarbayev imagery, and other selected stamps displaying multiple themes are scrutinized. These representations additionally project a concretization of the state and its territory, as well as sovereignty. While the messaging medium is miniature, for Kazakhstan the narrative itself is monumental.

Mulching as a restoration method of revegetation at ash and slag dumps of Burshtyn TPP

The study of the effect of mulching to establish vegetation cover at industrial sites is promising and relevant in terms of environmental restoration and reduction of environmental risks in the area of influence of industrial facilities. The study aims to investigate and evaluate the effectiveness of mulching and sowing seed mixtures as a method of establishing vegetation cover at ash and slag dumps of thermal power plants. To conduct the study, the soil cover of ash and slag dumps was assessed, and experimental plots were laid out for mulching and sowing seed mixtures. The study revealed that ash and slag dumps ecotopes are characterised by a high concentration of pollutants, namely heavy metals, which makes it difficult for vegetation to grow there. In the course of studying the ecological features of the ecotopes and phytodiversity of the territory, a list of species of native flora for seed mixtures was proposed. Mulching was done on the experimental plots and seed mixtures were sown. Mulching has proven to be an effective method for accelerating the processes of natural regeneration of vegetation in areas affected by anthropogenic impact. The results of the study can be used in practice by ecologists, environmental organisations, and a wide range of specialists to develop and implement measures to restore the ecological balance of degraded and technologically transformed ecosystems

Conservation status of flora and fauna in the nickel mining area of PT Hengjaya Mineralindo

Indonesia is an archipelagic country with a high level of biodiversity from the sea to the mountains. Likewise, the island of Sulawesi has a variety of endemic flora and fauna with an extraordinary level of endemicity. This rich flora and fauna face various threats that cause ecosystem degradation. This research is intended to review the level of flora and fauna status in the Sulawesi region, especially in the PT Hengjaya Mineralindo mining area in Bungku Pesisir and Bahodopi District, Central Sulawesi. Based on observations in areas with code HA WD 06, HA Pit Central, HA Arboretum 1 and HA Arboretum 2 areas, it was found that some flora and fauna were categorized as being in conservation status by Minister of Environment and Forestry Regulation No. P 106 Concerning Protected Plants and Animals, International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), and the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). Thus, the company will always strive to encourage ecological succession to achieve ecosystem stability in the future through sustainable practices.

Paeoniflorin confers ferroptosis resistance by regulating the gut microbiota and its metabolites in diabetic cardiomyopathy.

Diabetic cardiomyopathy (DCM) is closely related to ferroptosis, a new type of cell death that mainly manifests as intracellular iron accumulation and lipid peroxidation. Paeoniflorin (PA) helps to improve impaired glucose tolerance, influences the distribution of the intestinal flora, and induces significant resistance to ferroptosis in several models. In this study, we found that PA improved cardiac dysfunction in mice with DCM by alleviating myocardial damage, resisting oxidative stress and ferroptosis, and changing the community composition and structure of the intestinal microbiota. Metabolomics analysis revealed that PA-treated fecal microbiota transplantation affected metabolites in DCM mice. Based on in vivo and in vitro experiments, 11,12-epoxyeicosatrienoic acid (11,12-EET) may serve as a key contributor that mediates the cardioprotective and antiferroptotic effects of PA-treated fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) in DCM mice.NEW & NOTEWORTHY This study demonstrated for the first time that paeoniflorin (PA) exerts protective effects in diabetic cardiomyopathy mice by alleviating myocardial damage, resisting ferroptosis, and changing the community composition and structure of the intestinal microbiota, and 11,12-epoxyeicosatrienoic acid (11,12-EET) may serve as a key contributor in its therapeutic efficacy.

Elevational and seasonal patterns of plant pollinator networks in two highland tropical ecosystems in Costa Rica.

Many plant species in high montane ecosystems rely on animal pollination for sexual reproduction, however, our understanding of plant-pollinator interactions in tropical montane habitats is still limited. We compared species diversity and composition of blooming plants and floral visitors, and the structure of plant-floral visitor networks between the Montane Forest and Paramo ecosystems in Costa Rica. We also studied the influence of seasonality on species composition and interaction structure. Given the severe climatic conditions experienced by organisms in habitats above treeline, we expected lower plant and insect richness, as well as less specialized and smaller pollination networks in the Paramo than in Montane Forest where climatic conditions are milder and understory plants are better protected. Accordingly, we found that blooming plants and floral visitor species richness was higher in the Montane Forest than in the Paramo, and in both ecosystems species richness of blooming plants and floral visitors was higher in the rainy season than in the dry season. Interaction networks in the Paramo were smaller and more nested, with lower levels of specialization and modularity than those in the Montane Forest, but there were no seasonal differences within either ecosystem. Beta diversity analyses indicate that differences between ecosystems are likely explained by species turnover, whereas within the Montane Forest differences between seasons are more likely explained by the rewiring of interactions. Results indicate that the decrease in species diversity with elevation affects network structure, increasing nestedness and reducing specialization and modularity.

Fruit and seed plumpness, germination and viability of rare plants in Yakutia

Background. With the increasing anthropogenic impact on nature, conservation and renewal of rare and endangered plants in natural cenoses is an urgent problem. Quality assessment, identification of full-fledged plump seeds, and determination of their viability is the way to develop reproduction technologies and provide a possibility of repatriating these species to their natural habitats. Collecting and studying natural flora species in botanical gardens helps to save biological resources of useful species and recommend them for urban landscaping.Materials and methods. X-ray techniques were used to analyze seed quality and viability of rare species in the flora of Yakutia: Adonis sibirica Patrin, Phlojodicarpus sibiricus (Steph. ex Spreng.) Koso-Pol., Iris laevigata Fisch. et C.A. Mey., Iris sanguinea Donn, and Paeonia anomala L. Methods developed for the application of microfocus radiography to fruits and seeds were used in the X-ray analysis.Results. Seed quality was assessed according to guidelines. It was shown that fruits and seeds of the studied species developed under the conditions of Yakutia were full-fledged (plump), but due to the presence of a morphophysiological type of dormancy in them, they could germinate only after a cold or multistage stratification.Conclusion. Assessment of reproductive diaspore quality and viability in rare and endangered plant species of Yakutia will make it possible to develop technologies for increasing their seed germination rates and restoring the natural populations of these species.

Effects of aerobic exercise or Tai Chi Chuan interventions on problematic mobile phone use and the potential role of intestinal flora: A multi-arm randomized controlled trial

BackgroundProblematic use of mobile phones (PMPU) has been described as a serious public health issue. MethodsThis study was a parallel three-arm randomized controlled trial and has completed registration (ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT05843591). Ninety college students with PMPU were randomly assigned to the aerobic exercise group (AE group, n = 30), the Tai Chi Chuan group (TCC group, n = 30), or the wait-list control group (WLC group, n = 30). At the end of the intervention, stool samples from the study participants were collected for biological analysis based on 16 S rDNA amplicon sequencing technology. The primary outcome was addiction symptoms assessed by the Smartphone Addiction Scale-Short Version (SAS-SV). The secondary outcomes are emotional symptoms, physical symptoms, and flora species. ResultsCompared with the WLC group, the AE and TCC groups showed reductions in PMPU levels, physical and mental fatigue, but there was no difference between the two groups. Moreover, the effect of increasing self-esteem embodied in the TCC group was not present in the AE group. Compared to the WLC group, the relative abundance of Bacteroidaceae and Bacteroides were lower in the AE group, while the relative abundance of Erysipelotrichaceae and Alistipes were lower in the TCC group. And the relative abundance of Bacteroidaceae, Bacteroides, and Alistipes were significantly and negatively correlated with the decline in PMPU scores. ConclusionAE or TCC is an effective, safe and efficient intervention for college students with PMPU, providing some physiological and psychological benefits and having some impact on their intestinal flora.

Effects of different orthodontic appliances on Actinomyces spp.

This study aims to identify the presence of Actinomyces species in the oral flora during orthodontic treatments using removable appliances and fixed wire technique, and to track changes throughout the treatment process. In this study, subgingival and supragingival plaque samples obtained from 48 patients undergoing orthodontic treatment at a dental facilities of Ataturk University, Türkiye were utilized as the primary material. The study groups comprised individuals undergoing fixed orthodontic treatment, those using removable appliances, and individuals who had not undergone any orthodontic treatment. Plaque samples were collected from the patients at the initiation of treatment and six months thereafter. After selective culturing in a specific medium, dental plaque samples were purified and subjected to microbial analysis using the VITEK 2 system (Biomerieux). The study aimed to identify and compare the microbial content of plaque samples from different orthodontic treatment groups. Actinomyces species were identified in all groups at both the initiation of treatment (T0) and six months later (T1) periods. At the beginning of treatment, Actinomyces species were found in 33 samples, while at six months, they were present in 18 samples. The curent study revealed similar microorganisms among the groups at both T0 and T1 periods. The Actinomyces species identified in this study include Actinomyces meyeri, Actinomyces naeslundii, and Actinomyces odontolyticus. It is evident that orthodontic treatments significantly impact oral health and that Actinomyces microorganisms are always likely to be present in the oral flora. Asian J. Med. Biol. Res. 2024, 10(1), 1-8

Unknown localities and new species of flora Chechen Republic (North-Eastern Caucasus)

The paper presents data on unknown localities and new species of flora of the Chechen Republic, which we discovered during expeditionary research in 2022-2023 on the territory of the Makazhoi semiarid basin. The study area belongs to arid ecosystems with unique species and coenotic diversity. Nearby there is a unique natural monument and tourist attraction - the alpine lake Kezenoy-Am. In recent years, the tourism industry has been actively developing here, which inevitably leads to anthropogenic transformation of the flora and increases the risk of losing the uniqueness, originality, and characteristic features of the flora and vegetation of mountain landscapes. For the first time, we provide information about the discovery of 11 new species, previously unknown for the republic, belonging to 9 genera and 8 families. In our research, we strive to emphasize the need for in-depth study and conservation of the biodiversity of these ecosystems for future generations.

A deep mapping prospect: the grounds of the Fort England Psychiatric Hospital as an urban greenspace

Urbanisation in South Africa is expanding at an alarming rate. With the ever-expanding growth of urban areas, it is essential to understand how urban sites can function as greenspaces that provide wildlife habitats, biodiversity hotspots, as well as act as movement corridors for birds and mammals. In this study, I investigate the grounds of the Fort England Psychiatric Hospital as a small-scale greenspace. The hospital is located in Makhanda (formerly Grahamstown), in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. I propose an investigation of the site that is informed by a branch of digital environmental humanities that uses digital technologies to mobilise collective action in the conservation and stewardship of a greenspace. To this end, the article calls for a deep mapping of the site to achieve a twofold research objective. First, to study the biodiversity of the site and explore the possibility that it could offer a refuge for threatened species. Second, to call for an inclusive management plan for the greening and conservation of the site. To substantiate, the site is of importance for human use, environmental history, as well as for fauna and flora species. Accordingly, the site’s management plan must engage, accommodate and negotiate a diverse set of interests, as well as mobilise action from various members of the community.

When the specialization is a curse: distribution of Lolium remotum Schrank in Slovakia

Distribution of Lolium remotum in Slovakia, a typical linicolous weed, is presented in this paper. The species was recorded in 30 quadrants of the Central European mapping grid; the most of localities were found in the Carpathians which is related to the areas of flax cultivation for the linen industry. While in the 19th century it was relatively common in flax fields, after the First World War it began to decline (flax sown areas decreased by three quarters in former Czechoslovakia during the world economic crisis of 1929-1933). In the second half of 20th century, the synergistic effect of several agrotechnical measures (precise cleaning of the seed, simplification of crop rotation, deep autumn plowing and application of herbicides) manifested; only single locality was documented. At present, it belongs to the extinct species of Slovak flora (RE), it has not been detected for over 60 years.

Auritidibacter ignavus, an Emerging Pathogen Associated with Chronic Ear Infections.

We describe detection of the previously rarely reported gram-positive bacterium Auritidibacter ignavus in 3 cases of chronic ear infections in Germany. In all 3 cases, the patients had refractory otorrhea. Although their additional symptoms varied, all patients had an ear canal stenosis and A. ignavus detected in microbiologic swab specimens. A correct identification of A. ignavus in the clinical microbiology laboratory is hampered by the inability to identify it by using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry. Also, the bacterium might easily be overlooked because of its morphologic similarity to bacterial species of the resident skin flora. We conclude that a high index of suspicion is warranted to identify A. ignavus and that it should be particularly considered in patients with chronic external otitis who do not respond clinically to quinolone ear drop therapy.

Preservation of ex-situ gene pool of rare medicinal plant species in Kazakhstan

The approved “List of Medicinal Plants” consists of 278 medicinal plants used in official or traditional medicine. At the same time, 65 species have been listed in the Red Book of Kazakhstan. In the experimental medicinal plant collections located in the foothills of Zailiyskiy Alatau (in the Main Botanical Garden, Almaty), a total of 48 (74%) are indigenous medicinal herbs of Kazakhstan’s flora were grown over different years. A significant number of rare medicinal plant species of Kazakhstan (37 species), which is more than half of all tested ones, can be successfully grown. Eight of them are blooming and bearing fruit regularly and tree crops give real yields. Thirteen species of trees and shrubs have high adaptive abilities and were introduced at the expositions of the botanical garden. Sixteen species could bloom but not all of them produced seeds consistently. Introduction of 13 species are very difficult or unsuccessful, 17 species (26%) of the medicinal flora have not been tested in culture, mainly due to the known futility of cultivation in the open ground.

The Trade of Porcupines in Malaysia With International Trade Links

Background and Research Aims Porcupines are frequently traded in Asia but evidence of this remains undocumented. This study was undertaken to address the dearth of information on porcupine trade dynamics using Malaysia as a case study. Methods To accomplish this, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) outlets throughout the country were surveyed, the existence of porcupine farms were determined and porcupine seizures in Malaysia from 2011 – 2019 were analysed. Results The data revealed that porcupines are coveted predominantly for bezoars used in TCM and for breeding stock. Porcupine bezoars were found in 90% of TCM outlets surveyed though it is likely that the market consists of genuine and fake products. Porcupine farming appears to be gaining popularity and predominantly caters to a demand for breeding pairs. There were 47 seizures amounting to 110 porcupines of at least three species. Seizures included mostly live animals but also meat and quills. Conclusion The harvesting and consumption of porcupines is legally permitted in Malaysia. However, it is evident that illegal hunting of porcupines is also occurring. Captive breeding is unlikely to reduce poaching of porcupines considering the high value associated with wild-sourced bezoars. Local use is also driving international trade of bezoars particularly from Indonesia. Implications for Conservation Research on porcupine trade dynamics in Southeast Asia is limited. This is a conservation concern particularly as porcupines are valued as commercial commodities. As Asian porcupines face a multitude of synergistic threats ( i.e., habitat loss, human conflict and illegal hunting), understanding these cumulative impacts on wild populations is a conservation priority. More research on international trade dynamics is also warranted as it is currently occurring without any regulation or monitoring. Listing porcupines in the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) could potentially mitigate this.

Phytochemical analysis, toxicity and evaluation of antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of leaves of Dipteryx alata Vogel.

In this study, our objective was to conduct a comprehensive phytochemical analysis, determine toxicity levels, and assess the antioxidant and antimicrobial properties of extracts derived from the leaves of Dipteryx alata Vogel, a native species of the Brazilian cerrado flora. Three distinct extracts were prepared utilizing assisted ultrasound and the Soxhlet apparatus, namely, Ultrasound Crude Extract (UCE), Soxhlet Crude Extract (SCE), and the Soxhlet Ethanol Extract (SEE). The phytochemical analysis revealed the presence of flavonoids, tannins, phytosterols, and saponins in all extracts. Additionally, alkaloids were specifically identified in the SCE and SEE extracts. In the analysis using LC-DAD, the compounds gallic acid, rutin, quercetin, luteolin and kampefrol were determined in higher concentrations in the SCE, followed by the SEE and UCE, respectively. The GC-MS analysis revealed the presence of campesterol, stigmasterol and β-sitosterol in all extracts, with UCE and SCE showing a higher concentration of β-sitosterol. SCE showed the highest concentration of all identified compounds. In the analysis of antioxidant activity by DPPH• and ABTS•+, SEE showed greater efficiency (IC50 = 2.98 ± 2.92 and 6.57 ± 0.89 μg/mL, respectively). In the toxicity test with Allium cepa, all extracts stimulated root growth at 50 g/mL; UCE and SEE stimulated root growth at 250 g/mL; and SEE inhibited root growth at 750 g/mL. In the Artemia salina toxicity, all extracts were non-toxic. Antibacterial activity was identified in the microorganisms S. aureus and S. mutans; however, the extracts did not show antifungal action against the strain of C. albicans. The extracts of D. alata have therapeutic potential for applicability in dentistry.

Preservation of some rare species of natural flora in the Subtropical Scientific Centre of the Russian Academy of Sciences

Conservation issues related to biological diversity, especially rare and endangered plant species, remain among the most pressing challenges. Scientific institutions and botanical gardens play a crucial role in addressing this problem. The Federal Research Centre "Subtropical Scientific Centre of the Russian Academy of Sciences" (FRC SSC RAS) has been actively involved in the study of natural flora, including rare species, since the mid-1990s. The objective of these studies was to explore 48 rare plant species belonging to 34 genera from the families Boraginaceae, Ranunculaceae, Asparagaceae, Amaryllidaceae, Asteraceae, Orchidaceae, and Iridaceae in the conditions of the humid subtropics of Russia. The research revealed that the studied species are perennial herbaceous plants with high decorative qualities. Among them, 29 % are rhizomatous, 23 % are bulbous, 21 % are cormous, 19 % are short-rhizomatous, and 8% are tree-like. Phenological observations indicated that all species flowered, and almost all bore fruits. Winter-flowering species constituted 10% of the collection, spring-flowering species – 48 %, summer-flowering species – 31 %, and autumn-flowering species – 10 %. The studied plant species have various conservation statuses, with 16 species listed in the Red Books of the Russian Federation, 24 in the Krasnodar region, 20 in Sochi, 36 in other regions of the Russian Federation, and 20 on the IUCN Red List. Fourteen species are identified as rare and endemic.

How to discriminate wood of CITES-listed tree species from their look-alikes: using an attention mechanism with the ResNet model on an enhanced macroscopic image dataset.

Global illegal trade in timbers is a major cause of the loss of tree species diversity. The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) has been developed to combat the illegal international timber trade. Its implementation relies on accurate wood identification techniques for field screening. However, meeting the demand for timber field screening at the species level using the traditional wood identification method depending on wood anatomy is complicated, time-consuming, and challenging for enforcement officials who did not major in wood science. This study constructed a CITES-28 macroscopic image dataset, including 9,437 original images of 279 xylarium wood specimens from 14 CITES-listed commonly traded tree species and 14 look-alike species. We evaluated a suitable wood image preprocessing method and developed a highly effective computer vision classification model, SE-ResNet, on the enhanced image dataset. The model incorporated attention mechanism modules [squeeze-and-excitation networks (SENet)] into a convolutional neural network (ResNet) to identify 28 wood species. The results showed that the SE-ResNet model achieved a remarkable 99.65% accuracy. Additionally, image cropping and rotation were proven effective image preprocessing methods for data enhancement. This study also conducted real-world identification using images of new specimens from the timber market to test the model and achieved 82.3% accuracy. This study presents a convolutional neural network model coupled with the SENet module to discriminate CITES-listed species with their look-alikes and investigates a standard guideline for enhancing wood transverse image data, providing a practical computer vision method tool to protect endangered tree species and highlighting its substantial potential for CITES implementation.

Effectiveness of small-scale marine ornamental fish rearing and community-based coral transplantation technique in Tanjung Tiram, Tondonggeu and Mekar village, Indonesia

Indonesia is the second largest exporter of ornamental fish in the world, with the value more than USD 20.5 million in the first semester of 2023. Ornamental corals are also being traded under strict supervision since several coral species are listed in Appendix II of the CITES (the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora). To harvest these high-value commodities in sustainable manner, we designed a small scale of marine ornamental fish rearing and community-based coral transplantation techniques in coastal waters of Tanjung Tiram village, Tondonggeu village and Mekar village by utilizing its suitable natural habitat and involving coastal communities. A study then carried out to analyse the growth rate of 480 fragments of transplanted ornamental coral and survival rate of 200 reared Banggai cardinalfish (Pterapogon kauderni) using fixed net cage in each site. This study reveals that the growth rate of ornamental corals in Mekar Village is better than in other sites. The survival rate (SR) of ornamental corals in Mekar Village is also higher than in Tanjung Tiram Village. This result indicates that the water quality conditions in Mekar Village are better for ornamental coral transplantation, then transplantation activities should be focused surround this island. This initiative looks promising and can also be developed further as marine tourism site that generate additional income for coastal communities.

Forest land management and the role of ecological silviculture on the sustainability of Greek forests

One of the challenges faced by current forestry practice is how to effectively respond to the great environmental and global changes to achieve biodiversity conservation and the demands for timber and other non-wood forest products. Worldwide forestry suggests that the approach of ecological silviculture can provide efficient tools for facing these challenges. The applied forest land management during the last seven decades in Greece relies on the principles of sustainability set by ecological silviculture through time. Greek silviculturists adopted these principles many years ago by setting the following priorities and perspectives for applied Greek forestry: the protection of all Greek forests, the systematic rehabilitation of degraded forests (e.g., conversion of coppices to high forest), the promotion of tree species mixture, the improvement of the horizontal and vertical structure of all forest ecosystems, the exclusive use of species natural regeneration, the application of selective felling prohibiting any of clear-cutting, the extensive use of low impact harvesting practices, the retention of a small number of old trees for promoting biodiversity, the protection of all rare and endangered flora and fauna species, and establishment forest protected areas. In this study, three modern indicators were used to evaluate the results of the above silvicultural ecological approach to Greek forests after a period of seven years of forestry practice based on these principles.

Riverine forest as a significant habitat to harbor a wide range of bird species.

Riverine forests are unique and highly significant ecosystems that are globally important for diverse and threatened avian species. Apart from being a cradle of life, it also serves as a gene pool that harbors a variety of flora and fauna species (repeated below). Despite the fact, this fragile ecosystem harbored avian assemblages; it is now disappearing daily as a result of human activity. Determining habitat productivity using bird species is critical for conservation and better management in the future. Multiple surveys were conducted over a 15-month period, from January to March 2019, using the distance sampling point count method. A total of 250 point count stations were fixed systematically at 300 m intervals. In total, 9929 bird individuals were recorded, representing 57 species and 34 families. Out of 57 bird species, two were vulnerable, one was data deficient, one was nearly threatened, and the remaining 53 species were of least concern. The Eurasian Collard Dove - Streptopelia decaocto (14.641 ± 2.532/ha), White-eared Bulbul - Pycnonotus leucotis (13.398 ± 4.342/ha) and Common Babbler - Turdoides caudata (10.244 ± 2.345/ha) were the three first plenteous species having higher densities. However, the densities of three species, i.e., Lesser Whitethroat - Sylvia curruca, Gray Heron - Ardea cinerea and Pallas Fish Eagle - Haliaeetus leucoryphus, were not analyzed due to the small sample size. The findings of diversity indices revealed that riverine forest has harbored the diverse avian species that are uniformly dispersed across the forest. Moreover, recording the ten foraging guilds indicated that riverine forest is rich in food resources. In addition, the floristic structure importance value index results indicated that riverine forest is diverse and rich in flora, i.e. trees, shrubs, weeds and grass, making it an attractive and productive habitat for bird species.