Synecological Approach Research Articles

Forest shelter belts in organic agricultural landscape: structure of biodiversity and their ecological role

Abstract The aim of this article is to assess the structure of biodiversity of field protective forest shelter belts to determine the directions of increasing their reclamation and conservation potential in the organic agricultural landscape. Methods of comparative ecology (synecological approach, assessment of α-diversity), forestry, geobotany, ornithology and statistical analysis are used. Changes in species diversity of plants and birds in forest shelter belts around organic fields are characterized. It is established that plantations with developed undergrowth and under-storey are transformed due to the loss of up to 43.5% of trees, liquefaction of the edificatory tier. Transformer species with a wide phytocenotic range predominate in the tree stands. The grass tier is dominated by ruderants (36.5%) and adventive species (24.5%). The share (60%) of species with a mixed life strategy indicates changes in moisture conditions and soil trophism. A 2.4% of shade-loving plants and the presence of 14.7% nitrophils indicate an imbalance in the structure of forest shelter belts. Depletion of species composition, ecological and trophic structure of bird groups testify to the decrease in the capacity of forest shelter belts and their statio diversity, reduction of protective, environment-creating functions and other ecosystem services. In the three-tiered dense forest shelter belts with developed undergrowth and understorey, 10–27 species of birds nest. In general, avifauna is represented by 2 ecological groups (93.1% dendrophiles, 6.9% sclerophiles), divided into 5 types of nesting strategy (with a predominance of hollow-nests 37.0–53.3%), and 5 types of feeding (with a predominance of entomophagous 70.4–90.0%). Twenty-nine species have been identified on nesting, 27 of which are subject to protection at the level of international agreements. There are no adventive species, the index of synanthropization of avifauna is high – 0.85–1.0. For organic technologies to increase the potential of biological protection of fields from entomological pests by attracting insectivorous birds is relevant.

IMPLEMENTATION OF MODERN TECHNOLOGIES TO ALLEVIATE

Introduction. Urban perennial plantations are exposed to numerous anthropogenic pollutants, recreational load, etc. As a result, the physical and chemical properties of the soil deteriorate, the development of useful soil microflora is inhibited, the phytosanitary properties of soil ecosystems worsen, the intensity of mineralization processes and availability of macro- and micronutrients for plants drops down, and the concentration of toxic substances increases, which leads to soil sickness. Problem Statement. Today, in Ukraine, the causes and features of soil sickness manifestation in urban ecosystems have been virtually unexplored, and there has been no environmentally sound approach to overcoming negative consequences of this phenomenon. Purpose. To implement environmentally sound technology for overcoming soil sickness in urban green areas through the integrated use of the natural silicon containing mineral analcite and a synthetic analog of allelochemical (salicylic acid). Materials and Methods. The experimental sites have been established in the most polluted and anthropogenically disturbed green areas of the Obolon District in Kyiv. The content of micro- and macro-elements, the main ecological-trophic groups of microorganisms have been evaluated, the directions of microbiological processes have been assessed with the use of mineralization and immobilization coefficients. Plant vitality has been determined by the degree of foliar injury, crown defoliation, photosynthetic pigment content, and activity of enzymatic antioxidants in leaves. Soil allelopathic activity has been determined by the bioassay technique. Results. Physical, chemical, and biological processes related to soil-sickness in urban areas have been studied and approaches to control these processes have been determined. The innovative technology to alleviate soil sickness in urban green areas has been tested. Conclusions. The advantage of the proposed technology is a complex synecological approach that which provides optimization of agrophysical, agrochemical, and biological characteristics of soil (optimal pH level, balanced content of mineral nutrients, elimination of toxicity), enhances the adaptive potential of cultivated plants to negative biotic and abiotic factors including phytopathogens.

ALLOCATION OF LEVELS OF PHYTOSANITARY ZONING OF THE TERRITORY CONCERNING WEEDS USING LENINGRAD REGION AS AN EXAMPLE

Cultural and weed plants are similar in their distribution governed by natural climatic factors. However, the distribution of weed species is not correlated to the zones of cultivation of cultured plants, and assignment of agricultural zones cannot serve as the basis for phytosanitary zoning of the territory in relation to weeds. The regional pool of plant species associated with secondary habitats is the basis of the regional weed flora. These species are most adapted to rapid settlement and survival in agroecosystems that are subject to periodic intense anthropogenic impacts during economic activity. The weed flora of the region is an object of study and the basis for allocating the macro-level of phytosanitary zoning of the territory in relation to weeds. It is conditioned primarily by climatic features and corresponds administratively to regions. The basis for selecting the meso-level is the weed flora of agro-climatic regions (differing in soil and climate conditions), and the weed flora of the agroecosystem is the basis for selecting the micro-level. The weed flora is referred to as an object that is linked to a specific territory in terms of geography and ecology, with its specific a structure and interactions with objects of different types (being not just a territorial complex of weed species). This referral fits into the framework of the synecological approach to the study of weeds.

Palaeoenvironmental analysis of the Aragonian (middle Miocene) mammalian faunas from the Madrid Basin based on body-size structure

As a consequence of the growth of the Antarctic ice-sheet during the middle Miocene, a global decrease of temperatures and an associa ted increase in aridity provoked several environmental changes all around the world. Such environmental variations can be detected in the continental record of the mammalian prey community structure using a synecological approach. Because of the good quality of its faunas, the rich Aragonian vertebrate fossil record from the Madrid Basin (Spain) appears as a good candidate to explore these environmental changes. In order to analyse the climatic evolution of the Iberian Peninsula associated to the Global Cooling Event, two classic palaeosynecological methodologies (cenograms and body size diversity), based on body-size community structure, were applied to 6 fossil sites from the Madrid Basin, ranging over 2 million years (15.5 – 13.5 Ma). To establish a comparative framework, we used the ecological faunal data from 100 modern localities uniformly distributed all around the world. Our palaeoenvironmental inference is based on multivariate discriminant analysis of the dataset containing both modern and fossil mammals. Finally, we can conclude that the Aragonian mammalian assemblage from the Madrid Basin showed a predominance of semiarid environments with pulses of higher aridity in biozones Dc, E and F associated with the Global Cooling Event of the middle Miocene.

A synecological framework for systematic conservation planning

Biodiversity conservation design, though difficult with fragmentary or insufficient biological data, can be planned and evaluated with several methods. One of them, the complementarity criterion, is commonly used nowadays to deal with the distribution of number of species (i.e., an autoecological approach). At the same time, the patchiness and spatial bias of available distribution data has also been dealt with through distribution modelling. However, both the uncertainty of the ranges estimated, and the changes in species distribution in response to changing climates, limit single-species the biodiversity attribute to be used in complementarity strategies. Several technical and theoretical advantages of composite biodiversity variables (i.e., a synecological approach) may, however, make them ideal biodiversity indicators for conservation area selection. The drawbacks associated with current biodiversity data are discussed herein, along with the possible advantages and disadvantages of conservation planning through a synecological or autoecological approach.

The synecological approach to the problem of eutrophication.

The synecological approach to the problem of eutrophication.

Lizard Assemblage Response to a Forest Ecotone in Northeastern Australia: A Synecological Approach

An ecotone between rainforest and wet sclerophyll forest on the western side of the Paluma Range, northeastern Australia, incorporates substantial vegetational change. While the entire ecotone extends over several hundred meters, most of the structural and floristic change occurs at an abrupt vegetation discontinuity only a few meters wide. The aim of this study was to assess the influence of the ecotone on the lizard community. Pitfall traps were used to sample the lizard fauna across the ecotone. Twelve species in five families were captured: Agamidae, Gekkonidae, Pygopodidae, Scincidae, and Varanidae. The abrupt vegetation discontinuity represents a barrier to the distribution of many lizard species, and on this basis it is possible to define closed and open forest 'assemblages'. However, there appears to be no predictive relationship between variation in the habitat and lizard assemblages across the ecotone as a whole. The closed and open forest assemblages seem to be largely artificially defined, representing aggregations of species responding individualistically to different aspects of the habitat.

Monitoring watercourse vegetation, a synecological approach to dynamic gradients

Monitoring watercourse vegetation, a synecological approach to dynamic gradients

Une banque de données sur les systèmes trophiques «rapaces-petits mammifères terrestres»

Abstract A data-base on the «Small terrestrial mammals - birds of prey» trophic systems. In the perspective of a quantitative syneco-logical approach, a data - base was built on the long-studied trophic systems between raptorial birds and their mammalian prey. With the aid of the by now quite reliable TAXIR system, a number of descriptors have been implemented about prey and predatory species, bioclimate, geography, vegetation, behaviour, time and numerical prey-predator relations in an attempt to answer many funistical, biogeographical and ecological questions. A few examples of some of these problems are given and briefly discussed.

Recent Trends in Forest Entomology

the classic population dynamics studies on the spruce budworm reviewed by Morris (75), the newly recognized importance and application of behavioral differ­ ences in population dynamics studies (131), and new application of computer techniques (75, 127, 128) were based on forest entomological work, and forest entomologists have had considerable influence on their development. The wid ening scope of forest entomology is also reflected in other recent reviews and major publications. The fields of ecology (35, 94), sampling (74), biological control (5, 61), chemical control (7, 30), systematics (46, 47, 137), physiology and behavior (31, 132), and various forestry techniques such as photogrammetry (39, 40, 129), mensuration, and tree growth studies (76), have all been advanced through the efforts of scientists working on forest insect problems. One of the most monumental surveys of pests of a particular crop is moving into its third volume-The Forest Lepidoptera of CanadaL-which, hopefully, wi11 lead to comparable lists for all forest insects. These various studies indicate a strong trend toward specialization and as pointed out by Balch (6) this emphasizes the need for more integrated studies. There are many such programs now in existence in forest entomo­ logical work and the need for the synecological approach is being recognized. The sheer volume of literature on forest entomology is, at times, positively frightening. However, it is of great interest to see the new names and locations now appearing in our abstracting journals. Not too long ago, the bulk of the literature on forest insects was confined to North America and Germany. Articles appearing from Israel, South America, and Africa were written largely by the perambul ating professors. Now, however, a casual survey of Forestry ·Abstracts yields references to workers from Argen­