Terrestrial Plant Species Research Articles

Characterisation (δ13C and δ15N isotopes) of the food webs in a New Zealand stream in the Waitakere Ranges, with emphasis on the trophic level of the endemic frog Leiopelma hochstetteri

Leiopelma hochstetteri, the most widespread of New Zealand's native frogs, is recognised as threatened, and is fully protected by legislation. As a first step to characterise the diet and trophic level of L. hochstetteri within streams in the Waitakere Ranges, Auckland, stable carbon and nitrogen isotope analyses were undertaken on a variety of sympatric terrestrial and aquatic plant and animal species, including adult frogs. These results show that: (1) aquatic and terrestrial food webs are linked by terrestrial inputs into the stream; (2) invertebrate and vertebrate predators separate well into distinct trophic groups, and (3) L. hochstetteri occupies an intermediate trophic position among predators, with a diet, at least as an adult, comprising terrestrial invertebrates. Shortfin eels and banded kokopu are identified as potential predators of L. hochstetteri, but data for rats are inconclusive. These results have important implications for the conservation of New Zealand native frog species and riparian stream habitat.

Germination requirements for 29 terrestrial and wetland wild plant species appropriate for phytotoxicity testing

Species selected for phytotoxicity testing have been limited to a few standard crop species owing to restrictive recommendations at the regulatory level. However, guidelines by the Organisation for Economic Development and Cooperation (OECD) were recently amended in 2006 to include a list of herbaceous non-crop plant species suitable for testing. The objective of this study was to outline the optimum germination requirements for a selection of wild species for which seeds were readily available from commercial suppliers. Of the 29 herbaceous terrestrial and wetland species included in this study, all achieved 50% germination and 23 reached > 70% germination to meet the criterion outlined in the OECD guidelines. Most species attained their maximum germination within 14 days or less. Cold stratification of imbibed seeds improved germination for 14 species. Increasing sowing soil depth did not improve seed germination. The variance attained in this experiment between replicates was low, especially for species with > 70% germination (standard error approximately 5%). The present study showed that 23 of the 29 species tested required minimal pretreatments and produced consistent, reliable and uniform germination reaching at least 70%. The inclusion of wild plant species in regulatory testing should be given real consideration.

Global response patterns of terrestrial plant species to nitrogen addition.

Better understanding of the responses of terrestrial plant species under global nitrogen (N) enrichment is critical for projection of changes in structure, functioning, and service of terrestrial ecosystems. Here, a meta-analysis of data from 304 studies was carried out to reveal the general response patterns of terrestrial plant species to the addition of N. Across 456 terrestrial plant species included in the analysis, biomass and N concentration were increased by 53.6 and 28.5%, respectively, under N enrichment. However, the N responses were dependent upon plant functional types, with significantly greater biomass increases in herbaceous than in woody species. Stimulation of plant biomass by the addition of N was enhanced when other resources were improved. In addition, the N responses of terrestrial plants decreased with increasing latitude and increased with annual precipitation. Dependence of the N responses of terrestrial plants on biological realms, functional types, tissues, other resources, and climatic factors revealed in this study can help to explain changes in species composition, diversity, community structure and ecosystem functioning under global N enrichment. These findings are critical in improving model simulation and projection of terrestrial carbon sequestration and its feedbacks to global climate change, especially when progressive N limitation is taken into consideration.

Changes in nitrogen resorption traits of six temperate grassland species along a multi-level N addition gradient

Nitrogen (N) resorption from senescing leaves is an important mechanism of N conservation for terrestrial plant species, but changes in N-resorption traits over wide-range and multi-level N addition gradients have not been well characterized. Here, a 3-year N addition experiment was conducted to determine the effects of N addition on N resorption of six temperate grassland species belonging to three different life-forms: Stipa krylovii Roshev. (grass), Cleistogenes squarrosa (T.) Keng (grass), Artemisia frigida Willd. (semishrub), Melissitus ruthenica C.W.Wang (semishrub and N-fixer), Potentilla acaulis L. (forb) and Allium bidentatum Fisch.ex Prokh. (forb). Generally, N concentrations in green leaves increased asymptotically for all species. N concentrations in senescent leaves for most species (5/6) also increased asymptotically, except that the N concentration in senescent leaves of A. bidentatum was independent of N addition. N-resorption efficiency decreased with increasing N addition level only for S. krylovii and A. frigida, while no clear responses were found for other species. These results suggest that long-term N fertilization increased N uptake and decreased N-resorption proficiency, but the effects on N-resorption efficiency were species-specific for different temperate grassland species in northern China. These inter-specific differences in N resorption may influence the positive feedback between species dominance and N availability and thus soil N cycling in the grassland ecosystem in this region.

The role of arbuscular mycorrhizas in improving plant zinc nutrition under low soil zinc concentrations: a review

Many of the world’s soils are zinc (Zn) deficient. Consequently, many crops experience reduced growth, yield and tissue Zn concentrations. Reduced concentrations of Zn in the edible portions of crops have important implications for human Zn nutrition; this is a cause of global concern. Most terrestrial plant species form arbuscular mycorrhizas (AM) with a relatively limited number of specialized soil fungi. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) can take up nutrients, including Zn, and transfer them to the plant, thereby enhancing plant nutrition. Under high soil Zn concentrations the formation of AM can also ‘protect’ against the accumulation of Zn in plant tissues to high concentrations. Here, a short review focusing on the role of AM in enhancing plant Zn nutrition, principally under low soil Zn concentrations, is presented. Effects of Zn on the colonisation of roots by AMF, direct uptake of Zn by AMF, the role of AM in the Zn nutrition of field grown plants, and emerging aspects of Zn molecular physiology of AM, are explored. Emergent knowledge gaps are identified and discussed in the context of potential future research.

Selecting and evaluating native plants for region‐specific phytotoxicity testing

In this study, we evaluated methodology to determine risks to terrestrial native plant species from potential herbecide drift, focusing on 1) selection of native species for testing, 2) growth of these species, and 3) variability in herbicide response among native species and compared with crop plants. Native plant species were selected for initial testing on the basis of spatial analysis, which indicated that species from Illinois, USA, were at potential risk for off-target effects of herbicide drift. On the basis of preliminary seed germination tests, 5 native plant species (Andropogon gerardi, Polygonum lapathifolium, Solidago canadensis, Symphyotrichum lateriflorum, and Tridens flavus) were selected for comparison with crops grown in Illinois, normally used in the US Environmental Protection Agency's (USEPA's) Vegetative Vigor Test (Avena sativa, Daucus carota, Glycine max, Solanum lycopersicon, and Zea mays), or both. When treated with low concentrations of a test herbicide, sulfometuron methyl, 2 native species, P. lapathifolium and S. canadensis, were as sensitive as the 5 crop species. The effective herbicide concentrations producing a 25% reduction in shoot dry weight (EC25) for these species, ranged from 0.00015 to 0.0014 times a field application concentration of 52 g/ha active ingredient of sulfometuron methyl. S. lateriflorum and T. flavus were less sensitive than the other native species, whereas A. gerardi was tolerant to sulfometuron methyl with no growth reduction at any herbicide concentration tested. This study indicated that native species can be successfully selected and grown, used in the suite of species used in the USEPA's phytotoxicity test to assess risks of chemical herbicides to nontarget plants. It also showed (with a limited number of species) that native species varied more in sensitivity to simulated herbicide drift than crop species often used in phytotoxicity testing and that a Weibull function was useful to calculate EC25 values when low concentrations of herbicides was used.

Predicting sublethal effects of herbicides on terrestrial non-crop plant species in the field from greenhouse data

Guidelines provided by OECD and EPPO allow the use of data obtained in greenhouse experiments in the risk assessment for pesticides to non-target terrestrial plants in the field. The present study was undertaken to investigate the predictability of effects on field-grown plants using greenhouse data. In addition, the influence of plant development stage on plant sensitivity and herbicide efficacy, the influence of the surrounding vegetation on individual plant sensitivity and of sublethal herbicide doses on the biomass, recovery and reproduction of non-crop plants was studied. Results show that in the future, it might well be possible to translate results from greenhouse experiments to field situations, given sufficient experimental data. The results also suggest consequences at the population level. Even when only marginal effects on the biomass of non-target plants are expected, their seed production and thereby survival at the population level may be negatively affected.

The Effectiveness of Iberian Protected Areas in Conserving Terrestrial Biodiversity

The Iberian Peninsula harbors about 50% of European plant and terrestrial vertebrate species and more than 30% of European endemic species. Despite the global recognition of its importance, the selection of protected areas has been ad hoc and the effectiveness of such choices has rarely been assessed. We compiled the most comprehensive distributional data set of Iberian terrestrial plant and vertebrate species available to date and used it to assess the degree of species representation within existing protected areas. Existing protected areas in Spain and Portugal reasonably represented the plant and animal species we considered (73-98%). Nevertheless, species of some groups (amphibians, reptiles, birds, and gymnosperms) did not accumulate in protected areas at a rate higher than expected by chance (p > 0.05). We determined that to conserve all vertebrate and plant species in the Iberian Peninsula, at least 36 additional areas are needed. Selection of additional areas for conservation would be facilitated if such areas coincided with sites of community importance (SCI) designated under the European Commission Habitats Directive. Additional areas required for full representation of the selected plant and animal species all coincide with SCI in Spain. Nevertheless, the degree of coincidence varies between 0.3% and 74.6%, and there is a possibility that important areas for conservation occur outside the SCI. Our results support the view that current SCI can be used for prioritization of areas for conservation, but a systematic reevaluation of conservation priorities in Spain and Portugal would be necessary to ensure that effective conservation of one of European's most important biodiversity regions is achieved.

Plant Functional Types and Plant Trait Measurements in the Eastern Ghats, South India

Classifying terrestrial plant species on the basis of function rather than on taxonomy facilitates addressing ecological questions at the scale of ecosystems, landscapes or Biomes. The concept of plant functional types (PFTs) helps handle taxonomic diversity, as it groups together species that share common attributes with respect to, e.g. life-form, phenology and bioclimatic limits. For some time now, large international efforts promoted by the IGBP-GCTE programme are underway to measure for a large number of species a shortlist of significant plant traits that would underlie such functional plant classification systems. The idea here is to help address vegetation responses to and vegetation effects on environmental changes such as climate changes, but also others such as landuse or other disturbances. A PFT classification obviously helps in the use of pollen assemblages to infer past ecosystem changes, especially ecosystem response to climate change, as this is more directly linked to changes in functional rather than taxonomic diversity of plants over temporal and spatial gradients. We present a comprehensive list of pollen taxa from our database of surface samples from Eastern Ghats, South India to which PFTs are assigned based on our field observations of the Ecology and Biology of individuals as well as the description of the flora and vegetation of the Eastern Ghats in standard published floras. Finally, we also present trait measurements such as specific leaf area (SLA) and thickness for a shortlist of the taxa listed above.

Plant Functional Types and Plant Trait Measurements in the Eastern Ghats, South India

AbstractClassifying terrestrial plant species on the basis of function rather than on taxonomy facilitates addressing ecological questions at the scale of ecosystems, landscapes or Biomes. The concept of plant functional types (PFTs) helps handle taxonomic diversity, as it groups together species that share common attributes with respect to, e.g. life-form, phenology and bioclimatic limits. For some time now, large international efforts promoted by the IGBP-GCTE programme are underway to measure for a large number of species a shortlist of significant plant traits that would underlie such functional plant classification systems. The idea here is to help address vegetation responses to and vegetation effects on environmental changes such as climate changes, but also others such as landuse or other disturbances.A PFT classification obviously helps in the use of pollen assemblages to infer past ecosystem changes, especially ecosystem response to climate change, as this is more directly linked to changes in functional rather than taxonomic diversity of plants over temporal and spatial gradients. We present a comprehensive list of pollen taxa from our database of surface samples from Eastern Ghats, South India to which PFTs are assigned based on our field observations of the Ecology and Biology of individuals as well as the description of the flora and vegetation of the Eastern Ghats in standard published floras. Finally, we also present trait measurements such as specific leaf area (SLA) and thickness for a shortlist of the taxa listed above.

Controlling Upland Invasive Exotic Plants on Public Conservation Land: a Strategic Plan

Abstract The Upland Invasive Exotic Plant Management Program is responsible for the control of terrestrial invasive plant species infesting public conservation land in Florida. To assist in achieving this long-term goal, the program drafted a Strategic Plan based upon the structural principles of: (1) leadership from the state level; (2) partnership amongst all levels of government agencies and other affected parties; (3) dedicated funding and implementation procedures for a statewide program; (4) a system of inventory and monitoring of invasive species; and (5) adoption of adaptive management strategies on public conservation land. Although the plan is written specifically for Florida, the core principles and implementation strategies are applicable to any state seeking to initiate a statewide invasive species control program.

Consequences of the evolution of C4photosynthesis for surface energy and water exchange

Although comprising less than 4% of all terrestrial plant species, C4plants are an essential component of low‐latitude ecosystems, and in recent modeling simulations have been shown to strongly influence the stable carbon isotope ratio of the atmosphere. We used a fully coupled Earth system model (HadCM3LC) to evaluate the contribution of C4plants to the exchange of energy and water between the biosphere and atmosphere. Our simulations indicate that the presence or absence of C4plants is important for understanding regional climate, specifically with respect to seasonal climate patterns. When C4plants are absent from simulated tropical ecosystems, the percentage of bare soil increases regionally, Amazonia becomes warmer during the dry season, South Africa becomes drier during the dry season, the African Sahara‐Sahel boundary becomes hotter during the dry season, and yet temperatures cool in central Australia during the Austral winter. Our modeling study provides the first insights into the potential climate feedbacks of late‐Miocene C4‐C3ecosystems on surface energy and water exchange.

The distribution and economic losses of alien species invasion to China

Invasive alien species have become one of the most serious environmental issues in the world. Data of taxon, origin, pathway, and environmental impacts of invasive alien microorganisms, invertebrates, amphibians and reptiles, fish, birds, mammals, herbs, trees, and, marine organisms in terrestrial, aquatic, and marine ecosystems of China were analyzed during 2001 and 2003, based on literature retrieval and field survey. There were 283 invasive alien species in China, and the number of species of invasive alien microorganisms, aquatic plants, terrestrial plants, aquatic invertebrates, terrestrial invertebrates, amphibians and reptiles, fish, and mammals were 19, 18, 170, 25, 33, 3, 10, and 5, respectively. The proportion of invasive alien species originated from America, Europe, Asia, Africa, and Oceania were 55.1, 21.7, 9.9, 8.1, and 0.6%, respectively. Methods for estimation of direct economic losses to agriculture, forestry, stockbreeding, fishery, road and water transportation, storage, water conservancy, environment and public facilities, and human health were established. Methods for estimation of indirect economic losses caused by invasive alien species to service functions of forest ecosystems, agricultural ecosystems, grassland ecosystems, and wetland ecosystems were also established. The total economic losses caused by invasive alien species to China were to the time of USD 14.45 billion, with direct and indirect economic losses accounting for 16.59% and 83.41% of total economic losses, respectively.

Terrestrial Plant-Derived Anticancer Agents and Plant Species Used in Anticancer Research

Cancer is a major cause of death and the number of new cases, as well as the number of individuals living with cancer, is expanding continuously. Due to the enormous propensity of plants that synthesize mixtures of structurally diverse bioactive compounds, the plant kingdom is potentially a very diverse source of chemical constituents with tumor cytotoxic activity. Despite the successful utilization of few phytochemicals, such as vincristine and taxol, into mainstream cancer chemotherapy, commercial plant-derived anticancer formulations represent only one-fourth of the total repertoire of the available treatment options. Though significant progress has been made towards the characterization of isolated compounds and their structure-related activities, the complex composition of plant extracts, along with the lack of reproducibility of activity and the synergy between different, even unidentified, components of an extract, prohibits the full utilization of plants in pharmaceutical research. In this review, the results of an extensive literature survey on the anticancer properties of terrestrial plants, covering a thirty-five-year-long span (1970–2005) are presented. A total of 187 plant species, belonging to 102 genera and 61 families have been identified as an active or promising source of phytochemicals with antitumor properties, corresponding to a 41 percent increase during the last five years. Among them, only 15 species (belonging to ten genera and nine families) have been utilized in cancer chemotherapy at a clinical level, whereas the rest of the identified species are either active against cancer cell lines or exhibit chemotherapeutic properties on tumor-bearing animals under experimental conditions. Phenylpropanoids are the most widely distributed compounds (18 families), followed by terpenoids (14 families), and alkaloids (13 families). Analytical, species-specific information on bioactive constituents and target cancers is provided. The outlook of phytochemistry-based cancer therapy is discussed, particularly in the perspective of identifying immunomodulatory anticancer agents with minimal toxicity on healthy tissues. Referees: Mikey Davey, University of Nottingham, School of Biological Sciences, University Park, Nottingham NG7 2RD, United Kingdom Athannasios Economou, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, School of Agriculture, Dept. of Horticulture, University Campus, 24124 Thessaloniki, Greece

Benzo(a)pyrene shows low toxicity to three species of terrestrial plants, two soil invertebrates, and soil-nitrifying bacteria

We examined the toxicity of benzo(a)pyrene (BaP) to several standard test organisms including the seed emergence and early life-stage growth of three terrestrial plants ( Trifolium pratense, Lolium perenne, and Brassica alba), the survival and reproduction of enchytraeids ( Enchytraeus crypticus), and the nitrifying ability of soil bacteria. To also have a look at possible food-chain effects, we included a two-species reproduction test with predatory mites ( Hypoaspis aculeifer) and collembolan ( Folsomia fimetaria) prey. No effect or only weak effects even at very high BaP concentrations were observed for all tests. None of the soil invertebrates were affected within the concentration range tested (up to 947 mg kg −1). For soil-nitrifying bacteria, significant effects were recorded at 977 mg kg −1, leaving a no observable effect concentration (NOEC) of 293 mg kg −1. BaP did not affect seed emergence for any of the plants, but the growth of B. alba was significantly reduced at the highest concentration tested (375 mg kg −1), leaving a NOEC of 69 mg kg −1. Compared to a number of other polycyclic aromatic compounds previously tested in the same soil type, BaP is generally less toxic.

Root anatomy of three carnivorous plant species

The aim of this paper is to present basic anatomical structure of roots of three terrestrial carnivorous plant species, Dionaea muscipula, Drosera adelae, and Sarracenia rubra, and to discuss whether the anatomical structure of their roots is related rather to carnivory or to an adaptation to soil anoxia.

Geothermal bryophyte habitats in the South Sandwich Islands, maritime Antarctic

AbstractQuestion: How does geothermal activity influence terrestrial plant colonization, species composition and community development in the Antarctic?Location: South Sandwich Islands, maritime Antarctic.Methods: Bryophytes were documented during a biological survey of the archipelago in January and February 1997. Particular attention was given to sites under current or recent influence of geothermal activity. Temperature profiles obtained across defined areas of activity on several islands were linked with the presence of specific bryophytes.Results: Greatest bryophyte richness was associated with geothermally influenced ground. Of 35 moss and nine liverwort species recorded, only four mosses were never associated with heated ground, while eight of the liverworts and 50% of the mosses were found only on actively or recently heated ground. Some species occur in unheated sites elsewhere in the maritime Antarctic, but were absent from such habitats on the South Sandwich Islands. Several species occurred in distinct zones around fumaroles. Maximum temperatures recorded within the upper 0.5 cm of the vegetation surface were 40 ‐ 47 °C, with only Campylopus introflexus tolerating such temperatures. Maximum temperatures 2.5 or 5 cm below the vegetation surface of this moss reached 75 °C. Other bryophytes regularly present in zoned vegetation included the mosses Dicranella hookeri, Sanionia georgico‐uncinata, Pohlia nutans and Notoligotrichum trichodon, and the liverworts Cryptochila grandiflora and Marchantia berteroana. Surface temperatures of 25 ‐ 35 °C and subsurface temperatures of 50 ‐ 60 °C were recorded in these species.Conclusions: These exceptional plant communities illustrate the transport of viable propagules into the Antarctic. Individually ephemeral in nature, the longer term existence of geothermal habitats on islands along the Scotia Arc may have provided refugia during periods of glacial expansion, facilitating subsequent recolonization of Antarctic terrestrial habitats.

Geothermal bryophyte habitats in the South Sandwich Islands, maritime Antarctic

Abstract Question: How does geothermal activity influence terrestrial plant colonization, species composition and community development in the Antarctic? Location: South Sandwich Islands, maritime Antarctic. Methods: Bryophytes were documented during a biological survey of the archipelago in January and February 1997. Particular attention was given to sites under current or recent influence of geothermal activity. Temperature profiles obtained across defined areas of activity on several islands were linked with the presence of specific bryophytes. Results: Greatest bryophyte richness was associated with geothermally influenced ground. Of 35 moss and nine liverwort species recorded, only four mosses were never associated with heated ground, while eight of the liverworts and 50% of the mosses were found only on actively or recently heated ground. Some species occur in unheated sites elsewhere in the maritime Antarctic, but were absent from such habitats on the South Sandwich Islands. Several species occurre...

INVENTORY OF THE INVASIVE ALIEN PLANT SPECIES IN INDONESIA

An inventory of the alien plant species in Indonesia based on the existing references and herbarium specimens concluded that 1936 alien plant species are found in Indonesia which belong to 187 families. Field studies should be done to get the complete figures of alien plant species in Indonesia. Based on the existing figures of the plant species, the invasive alien plant species can be identified, followed by studies on the assessment of losses, biology, management and their possible utilizations. Alien plant species are imported to Indonesia for cultivation, collection of the botanical garden, as experimental plants or other curiosities. Aside from plants purposely imported, there are also introduced plant propagules contaminating imported agricultural products. These alien plant species can be beneficial or have a potential of being invasive. The alien cultivated species consisted of 67% of the total number. More than half of the cultivated plants are ornamental plants. Some of the species are naturalized or escaped from cultivation and become wild and invasive. Some other naturalized species, adapted well without any problems of invasion. There are 339 species or 17% of the species recorded as weeds. The highest record of weeds is found in the family of Poaceae (57 species), followed by Asteraceae (53 species) and Cyperaceae (35 species). There are 6 families having more than 10 species of weeds: Amaranthaceae, Asteraceae, Cyperaceae, Euphorbiaceae, Poaceae, and Rubiaceae. Three families have more than 100 species: Asteraceae 162 species, Poaceae 120 species, and Papillionaceae 103 species. Five species of aquatic and 20 species of terrestrial plants considered as important alien plant species in Indonesia were identified and some of their distributions noted. Keywords: Alien plant species/Invasive alien plants/Weeds/Environmental weeds/Aquatic and terrestrial alien plants

Photosynthetic consequences of phenotypic plasticity in response to submergence: Rumex palustris as a case study

Survival and growth of terrestrial plants is negatively affected by complete submergence. This is mainly the result of hampered gas exchange between plants and their environment, since gas diffusion is severely reduced in water compared with air, resulting in O2 deficits which limit aerobic respiration. The continuation of photosynthesis could probably alleviate submergence-stress in terrestrial plants, but its potential under water will be limited as the availability of CO2 is hampered. Several submerged terrestrial plant species, however, express plastic responses of the shoot which may reduce gas diffusion resistance and enhance benefits from underwater photosynthesis. In particular, the plasticity of the flooding-tolerant terrestrial species Rumex palustris turned out to be remarkable, making it a model species suitable for the study of these responses. During submergence, the morphology and anatomy of newly developed leaves changed: 'aquatic' leaves were thinner and had thinner cuticles. As a consequence, internal O2 concentrations and underwater CO2 assimilation rates were higher at the prevailing low CO2 concentrations in water. Compared with heterophyllous amphibious plant species, underwater photosynthesis rates of terrestrial plants may be very limited, but the effects of underwater photosynthesis on underwater survival are impressive. A combination of recently published data allowed quantification of the magnitude of the acclimation response in this species. Gas diffusion resistance in terrestrial leaves underwater was about 15,000 times higher than in air. Strikingly, acclimation to submergence reduced this factor to 400, indicating that acclimated leaves of R. palustris had an approximately 40 times lower gas diffusion resistance than non-acclimated ones.