What Do Seedlings Like? The Relationship between Seedling Richness and Abundance with Abiotic Factors

Natural regeneration is the interaction of natural processes to restore the forest ecosystem. Its dynamics are influenced by the intensity and extent of a series of abiotic and biotic factors, which may be intrinsic or extrinsic. Knowing the importance of establishing natural regeneration within forest ecosystems, this work aimed to evaluate whether litter depth and trail distance influenced seedling abundance and richness in a forest fragment undergoing natural restoration. The hypothesis tested in this research was that abiotic factors influence the natural regeneration of this forest since they are factors that are directly linked to seed germination and seedling establishment. 30 plots of 1 m2 were randomly analyzed within the forest located on the brown trail. A millimeter ruler was used to diagnose the litter depth and a measuring tape to measure the distance from the plot to the edge. In each plot the seedlings were morpho-specified and each morphospecies had the number of individuals counted. Linear regression tests were performed to assess the relationships between species richness and trail distance and litter depth. The same was done for species abundance. All results showed that there is no relationship pattern between any of the variables. Other factors also influence the regeneration of a forest, such as luminosity and seed bank. Furthermore, litter depth is related to the successional stage of the forest. It was concluded that the abiotic factors tested do not influence the regeneration of the study area.

Abiotic factors in colony formation:effects of nutrition and light on extracellular polysaccharide production and cell aggregates of Microcystis aeruginosa

Colony morphology is important for Microcystis to sustain a competitive advantage in eutrophic lakes. The mechanism of colony formation in Microcystis is currently unclear. Extracellular polysaccharide （EPS） has been reported to play an important role in cell aggregate formation of some phytoplankton. Microcystis aeruginosa was cultivated under varied abiotic conditions, including different nutrient, light, and temperature conditions, to investigate their effects on EPS production and morphological change. The results show that nutrient concentration and light intensity have great effects on EPS production in M. aeruginosa. There was a considerable increase in EPS production after M. aeruginosa was cultivated in adjusted culture conditions similar to those present in the field （28.9 mg C/L, 1.98 mg N/L, 0.65 mg P/L, light intensity： 100 μtmol/（m2.s））. These results indicate that abiotic factors might be one of the triggers for colony formation in Microcystis.

Scale-dependent Spatial Relationships between NDVI and Abiotic Factors

本文通过多尺度分解途径分析了NDVI与环境因子如地形与气候之间的空间尺度依存关系。为了揭示两者关系的尺度效应,选取青藏高原北纬32.5度作为研究样带,应用小波变换分析了不同空间尺度下的小波一致性和相位关系。研究结果表明:在青藏高原小于80km空间尺度上,气候变量如降水和气温不是控制NDVI的主导因素;而大于这个尺度,在一些生态区可以发现NDVI和气候因子具有显著的小波一致性。作为一个分异因子,海拔高度在青藏高原东南缘的纵向岭谷区对NDVI有着显著影响。通过这一研究发现,小波变换是研究NDVI与影响因素之间多尺度关系的一个有力途径。

Responses of leaf stomatal and mesophyll conductance to abiotic stress factors

Plant photosynthesis assimilates CO_(2)from the atmosphere,and CO_(2)diffusion efficiency is mainly constrained by stomatal and mesophyll resistance.The stomatal and mesophyll conductance of plants are sensitive to abiotic stress factors,which affect the CO_(2)concentrations at carboxylation sites to control photosynthetic rates.Early studies conducted relevant reviews on the responses of stomatal conductance to the environment and the limitations of mesophyll conductance by internal structure and biochemical factors.However,reviews on the abiotic stress factors that systematically regulate plant CO_(2)diffusion are rare.Therefore,in this review,the rapid and long-term responses of stomatal and mesophyll conductance to abiotic stress factors(such as light intensity,drought,CO_(2)concentration and temperature)and their physiological mechanisms are summarized.Finally,future research trends are also investigated.

Biology of Flowering of Some Species of the Genus Phlomoides Moench

The article presents the biology of flowering and the daily dynamics of flowering of two species from the Lamiaceae family: ph. anisochila va ph. sogdiana of the distribution out in the Nuratau Mountains range.

Effects of vegetation patterns and environmental factors on woody regeneration in semi-arid oak-dominated forests of western Iran

This study assesses the effects of vegetation natural tree and shrub regeneration in semi-arid forests patterns and environmental factors on the abundance of of the Zagros Mountains, western Iran. We sampled 120 releves at different topographic positions in a protected area of the studied region. Floristic composition, slope, elevation and soil properties were recorded at each releve, and woody seedling density was measured. We have first discerned five floristic groups using two-way indicator species analysis （TWINSPAN）, detrended correspondence analysis （DCA）, and canonical correspondence analysis （CCA） and then explored the relationships among the floristic group compositions, environmental factors and seedling densities. The indicator species of the five groups were Quercus brangi, Acer monspessulanum, Cerasus microcarpa, Rhamnus arvensis and Astragalus licyoides. Our results indicated that these groups were significantly affected by elevation and soil properties and the soil properties refer to： EC （electrical conductivity）, N （nitrogen）, K （potassium）, OM （organic matter）, and bulk density. Woody regeneration was composed of Q. brangi, A. monqJessulanum, C microcarpa, Amygdalus scopada and Crataeguspongca seedlings. The highest density of seedlings was found for Q. brantii （97.14 （_＋48.00） plants/hm2） and the lowest for A. scoparia （2.28 （＋1.50） plants/hm2）. Quercus brantii was the dominant species and the seedling density was positively correlated with soil pH and P （phosphorus） values. Amygdalus scoparia regeneration was negatively correlated with elevation, and the seedling density peaked in C. microcarpa group. There was no significant variation in distribution of C. pongca seedlings among the groups, but the seedling density of this species was positively correlated with slope and K. Cerasus microcarpa seedlings were more abundant in the Q. brantii group than in other groups. This study showed that the regeneration of tree and shrub species was unequally distributed in different floristic groups for some species （A. scopada and C microcarpa） but not for other （Q. branlii and C. pongca） and was generally correlated with some environmental factors, particularly elevation, slope and soil nutrients （P and K）. These results are a first step to implement future management and restoration strategies for promoting forest regeneration.

Spatio-Temporal Variation of Dinoflagellates of the Genera Ceratium (Schrank 1793) and Protoperidinium (Bergh 1881) in Relationship with Some Abiotic Variables in the Atlantic Coast of Kribi (South Region—Cameroon)

A study to list Dinoflagellates species belonging to the genera Ceratium and Protoperidinium and some abiotic factors associated with them was carried out in the Kribi coast from February 2020 to February 2021 following a monthly sampling frequency. For the inventory, 60 L of water including 20 L on the surface, 20 L in the trophogen layer and 20 L in the tropholytic layer were filtered through a sieve of 20 μm and the retentate obtained was fixed whith lugol for identification and counting operations using an Olympus microscope. The morphotypes of the taxa were filmed using an Omax Toupvix eye camera. Physico-chemical results showed very good water oxygenation (89.35%), low Suspended Solid concentration (6.36 ± 4.71 mg/L), basic pH (8.53 ± 0.4 U.C), average salinity of 15.87 ± 3.1 g/L and conductivity around 26.73 ± 4.96 mS/cm. The average water temperature hovered around 29.51°C ± 1.28°C. The average values of nitrates and orthophosphates showed a progressive enrichment of the waters of the studied section with nitrate (1.52 ± 0.87 mg/L) and orthophosphate (1.84 ± 3.98 mg/L). This work allowed to identify 17 species of the genera Ceratium and 22 of Protoperidinium. The genera Protoperidinium was the most diverse while it was the taxa belonging to the genera Ceratium that had the highest densities. Ceratium furca was the only spatially and seasonally regular species with occurrence frequencies of 75.31% and 79.16% respectively. According to similar studies, 06 species reconized harmful were inventoried during this study. These are Ceratium furca, Ceratium fusus, Ceratium tripos, Protoperidinium divergens, Protoperidinium steinii, Protoperidinium crassipes. Temperature and oxygen are the abiotic factors that showed more affinities with the taxa inventoried in view of the significant correlations obtained. With a view to preventing blooms on the Cameroonian Atlantic coast, regular monitoring of the harmful species identified is desirable.

Plant functional trait diversity and structural diversity co-underpin ecosystem multifunctionality in subtropical forests

Tree species diversity is assumed to be an important component in managing forest ecosystems because of effects on multiple functions or ecosystem multifunctionality.However,the importance of tree diversity in determining multifunctionality in structurally complex subtropical forests relative to other regulators(e.g.,soil microbial diversity,stand structure,and environmental conditions)remains uncertain.In this study,effects of aboveground(species richness and functional and structural diversity)and belowground(bacterial and fungal diversity)biodiversity,functional composition(community-weighted means of species traits),stand structure(diameter at breast height and stand density),and soil factors(pH and bulk density)on multifunctionality(including biomass production,carbon stock,and nutrient cycling)were examined along a tree diversity gradient in subtropical forests.The community-weighted mean of tree maximum height was the best predictor of ecosystem multifunctionality.Functional diversity explained a higher proportion of the variation in multifunctionality than that of species richness and fungal diversity.Stand structure-played an important role in modulating the effects of tree diversity on multifunctionality.The work highlights that species composition and maximizing forest structural complexity are effective strategies to increase forest multifunctionality while also conserving biodiversity in the management of multifunctional forests under global environmental changes.

Unraveling the macroevolution of horseshoe bats(Chiroptera: Rhinolophidae: Rhinolophus)

Unraveling the diversification mechanisms of organisms is a fundamental and important macroevolutionary question regarding the diversity,ecological niche, and morphological divergence of life. However, many studies have only explored diversification mechanisms via isolated factors. Here,based on comparative phylogenetic analysis, we performed a macroevolutionary examination of horseshoe bats(Chiroptera: Rhinolophidae:Rhinolophus), to reveal the inter-relationships among diversification, intrinsic/extrinsic factors, and climatic ecological niche characteristics. Results showed a general slowing trajectory during diversification, with two dispersal events from Asia into Southeast Asia and Africa playing key roles in shaping regional heterogeneous diversity. Morphospace expansions of the investigated traits(e.g., body size,echolocation, and climate niche) revealed a decoupled pattern between diversification trajectory and trait divergence, suggesting that other factors(e.g., biotic interactions) potentially played a key role in recent diversification. Based on ancestral traits and pathway analyses, most Rhinolophus lineages belonging to the same region overlapped with each other geographically and were positively associated with the diversification rate, implying a competitive prelude to speciation. Overall, our study showed that multiple approaches need to be integrated to address diversification history. Rather than a single factor, the joint effects of multiple factors(biogeography, environmental drivers, and competition) are responsible for the current diversity patterns in horseshoe bats, and a corresponding multifaceted strategy is recommended to study these patterns in the future.

Ice storm damage to oak forests in subtropical China

Ice storms,as important sources of frequent and injurious disturbances,drive forest dynamics in the Northern Hemisphere.However,stand-level differential vulnerability to ice storms and the associated factors that predispose forest stands remain unclear.This is particularly concerning in the subtropics where the frequency of ice storms is predicted to increase with global warming.Here we assessed how the impact on three forest stands(early and late secondary-growth forests,and old-growth forests)differed after an extreme ice storm during 20–21 March 2022,and identified the abiotic and biotic factors that determine the damage intensity in the Shennongjia World Natural Heritage Site,a biodiversity conservation hotspot in central China.We found a stand-specific‘middomain effect’where the late secondary-growth forest sustained the most severe damage,the early secondarygrowth forest sustained the least,and the old-growth forest suffered an intermediate amount.‘Crown broken’was the most severe damage type across all three forest stands,although the proportion of‘branch broken’was also high in the old-growth forest.Topography played a significant role in determining the vulnerability of the early secondary-growth forest to severe ice storms whereas the forest structure and composition were important factors in explaining the damage rates in the old-growth forest,although they differed among the damage categories.In contrast,topography,forest structure and composition generally explain the intensity of damage in the late secondary-growth forests.Our results highlight that,in subtropical forests,the intensity of damage caused by severe ice storms and related determining factors are stand-level dependent.We also suggest exploring potential management strategies(e.g.,slow-growing hardwood species that can resist storms should be the main species for reforestation in early secondary-growth forests)to mitigate the risk of future severe ice storms,as well as other wind-related climatic extremes.

Variations in the biomass of Eucalyptus plantations at a regional scale in Southern China

We quantified deviations in regional forest biomass from simple extrapolation of plot data by the biomass expansion factor method（BEF） versus estimates obtained from a local biomass model,based on large-scale empirical field inventory sampling data.The sources and relative contributions of deviations between the two models were analyzed by the boosted regression trees method.Relative to the local model,BEF overestimated accumulative biomass by 22.12%.The predominant sources of the total deviation （70.94%） were stand-structure variables.Stand age and diameter at breast height are the major factors.Compared with biotic variables,abiotic variables had a smaller overall contribution （29.06%）,with elevation and soil depth being the most important among the examined abiotic factors.Large deviations in regional forest biomass and carbon stock estimates are likely to be obtained with BEF relative to estimates based on local data.To minimize deviations,stand age and elevation should be included in regional forest-biomass estimation.

Insect Diapause： A Review

Diapause is defined as a period of suspended development in insects and other invertebrates during unfavorable environmental conditions. Diapause is commonly confused with term ＂quiescence＂ as both are dormant development stages. Here this paper aimed to review the research work done on different aspects of diapause. Attempt was made to explain definitions of diapause, incidence, stages and termination of diapause, genetic control, factors affecting diapauses, including temperature, photoperiod, moisture and food, etc..

Effect of Diet,Photoperiod and Host Density on Parasitism of Anisopteromalus calandrae on the Tobacco Beetle and Biological Parameters of the Parasitoid

Lasioderma serricorne is known to be pest of tobacco, besides of attacking other products in storage. Anisopteromalus calandrae is an ectoparasitoid of coleopteran larvae also parasitizing the tobacco beetle. This study was aimed to evaluate the parasitism of A. calandrae on different densities of L. serricorne larvae grown in different diets and photoperiods, and to record the longevity and reproductive potential of A. calandrae. Individuals of L. serricorne were raised in three diets: wheat flour (F);wheat flour and brewer’s yeast (FY) and wheat flour and dried tobacco (FT). Different amounts of host larvae (10, 20, 50 and 100) for each diet were exposed to a couple of parasitoids. The same larval densities from diet F were exposed for 24 h to a couple of adult parasitoids maintained in three photoperiods (0:24, 12:12 and 24:0 - scotophase: photophase). The highest values of apparent parasitism were in the density of 50 larvae in the FY diet (96.34%) and 100 F (92.91%). There was no significant difference in the parameters in each photoperiod in all larval densities. However, the treatment in which hosts and parasitoids always remained in scotophase, was the one that had a significantly higher sex ratio. Females had longer longevity than males surviving for up to 25 days. On the fourth day of larvae exposure occurred, the maximum number of offspring generated. It is inferred that A. calandrae has potential to be used as a control agent for coleopterans that attack stored products.

Status,structure and environmental variations in semi-arid mangroves of India

The semi-arid mangroves of the Gulf of Kachchh,the largest ecosystems on the west coast of India,are poorly studied in terms of vegetation structure and environmental parameters in spite of their conservation significance.Therefore,it is necessary to document the structural features of these mangroves in view of ongoing coastal industrial development.Mangrove forest structure in 10 locations on the northern and southern coasts of the Gulf of Kachchh were assessed using the line intercept transect method.Descriptions included density of young and mature age classes,tree heights,diameters at breast height(DBH)and aboveground biomass,along with seven significant environmental variables.Mature tree densities ranged from 350 to 1567 ind.ha-1,while average height and girth at breast height ranged from 1.0 to 6.8 m and 3.0 to 137.0 cm,respectively.The majority of trees(55.6%)were in B 1.8 m height class followed by a 1.9 to 2.4 m class(25.1%).DBH was most often in class 2 cm or lower than that.Among the canopy index classes,more trees were recorded in class ≤2 cm.The regeneration density was greater than the recruitment class.This study indicates that the poor structural attributes of Avicennia marina Vierth.var.acutissima Stapf and Mold dominated mangroves are largely due to aridity induced by scarce and erratic rainfall and high soil and water salinities.The results should be valuable in conserving and sustainably managing these mangroves in the face of developmental activities.

Phenological study of congeneric Myrcia species and Clethra scabra in wetland and drained habitats in a Montane Forest

Although important,phenological studies comparing congeneric species or the same species growing in different habitats are still scarce for the tropics.Herein,we integrate phylogeny,ecology and biometeorology to verify whether the phenophases of congeneric species Myrcia laruotteana and Myrcia amazonica or Clethra scabra differ when their populations inhabit wetland and drained habitats and to determine what abiotic factors affect the vegetative and reproductive phenophases of these species in distinct habitat patches.We collected data on phenological events of 80 trees for 1 year in Itacolomi State Park,Brazil,and related them to abiotic local factors.Contrary to our expectation,the phenophases of the congeneric species did not differ between habitats,but the reproductive phenophases of C.scabra did and was greater in drained soil.Phenophases of C.scabra were affected by the depth of the water table and maximum temperature in the wetland soil.Insolation,precipitation,maximum temperature and relative humidity influenced Myrcia and Clethra in the drained soil.The differences between C.scabra populations suggest that this species is phenotypically plastic and can present distinct phenophases depending on the habitat it inhabits.On the other hand,the congeneric Myrcia species may have similar phenophases in distinct habitats because of their shared similarities during their evolution.This study provides a better understanding of the ecology of these species and their adaptations to different abiotic conditions.Data of this nature are important in a changing world and can inform strategies for adaptive management.

Comparative Data of Millipedes＇ Distribution in Southern Region of Albania

This is a study about the zoographical and taxonomy aspects of Diplopoda class in Albania. Based on the published studies of foreign and Albanian researchers, we have analyzed the current level of information about the distribution of this class in Albania. In this study we mainly focused in the Southern Region of Albania by assessing the biodiversity of the diplopods. The study area covers the Ionian coast and parts of Vjosa river valley. This study has made use of determination key of Mauries J. color, number of segments, number of paired limbs to distinguish the different species. The collected data are compared with previous findings by Verhoeff （1901）, Attems （1929）, Manfredi （1945）, Mauriès, Go lovatch, Stoev （1997） etc. The distribution range of the collected species is presented according to the national or Balkan level. Based on the recent studies and the geographical distribution of diplopods, we expect to find approximately 150 species of 50 genres in Albania.

Impact Analysis of Genetically Modified (Bt) Cotton Genotypes on Economically Important Natural Enemies under Field Conditions

Field studies were conducted at Hisar during Kharif, 2009-2010 and 2010-2011 under natural and unsprayed condition. RCH 134 Bt, HS 6 (non Bt), H 1117 and Ganganagar Ageti (non Bt) were selected for the studies. The experiment was laid down in Randomized Block Design replicated thrice having plant spacing 67.5 × 60 cm. Among the bollworms, Erias spp. exhibited positive correlation with rainfall, minimum temperature and relative humidity morning hours significantly at 5 percent level whereas Helicoverpa and Pectinophora displayed positive relations only with evening hours relative humidity significantly while Spodoptera were significantly positive correlated with relative humidity of morning and evening hours. Bollworm complex was negatively correlated with all the weather parameters employed to study although being non-significant in case of rainfall, maximum and minimum of temperature, morning and evening hours of relative humidity. Among the sucking pests, leafhoppers, whitefly, thrips and aphids population showed significantly negative correlation with weather parameters. The comparison of natural bio-agents in cotton hybrids under study revealed that overall mean population of natural enemies were higher in Bt cotton hybrid as compared to non-Bt. These results confirm that use of genetically modified (Bt) cotton in lieu of conventional genotypes could positively impact non-target and beneficial insect species by preserving their host populations.

A Comparative Study of Different Strains of Trichoderma under Different Conditions of Temperature and pH for the Control of Rhizoctonia solani

Severe damage caused by R. solani in the potato crop and the current limitations for its control justify the assessment of potential biocontrol agents and their relationship with abiotic factors to be successfully included in sustainable production systems. The aim of this study was to test the effect of temperature (10˚C, 15˚C, 25˚C, 35˚C) and pH (5.5, 7, 8.5) on the growth and antagonist mechanisms of 26 native strains of 11 species of Trichoderma for the control of R. solani. The response obtained was dependent on the isolation, rather than on the Trichoderma specie that was tested. Most of them showed greater growth at 25˚C and pH 5.5, with overgrowth values between 75% and 100% and greater percentage of radial growth inhibition (PRGI) at 50%. A greater ability to compete for the substrate is observed, enhanced by its higher growth rate. Hyphal interaction mechanisms were varied and, at least, 92% of the isolations showed a minimum of two different types. Knowledge of the behavior of the different strains in front of varied abiotic factors will enable an understanding of the population dynamic of Trichoderma and the identification of the most efficient strains for the control of R. solani.

Interactive effects of soils,local environmental conditions and herbivores on secondary chemicals in tallow tree

Plants produce secondary chemicals that may vary along with latitude due to changing abiotic and biotic stress gradients and local environmental conditions.Teasing apart the individual and combined effects of these different abiotic,such as soil nutrients,and biotic factors,such as soil biota and herbivores,on secondary chemicals is critical for understanding plant responses to changing environments.We conducted an experiment at different latitudes in China,using tallow tree(Triadica sebifera)seedlings sourced from a population at 31°N.These seedlings were cultivated in gardens located at low,middle and high latitudes,with either local soil or soil from the original seed collection site(origin soil).The seedlings were exposed to natural levels of aboveground herbivores or had them excluded.Plant secondary chemicals(both foliar and root),aboveground herbivores and soil characteristics were measured.Results showed that most leaf and root secondary metabolites depended on the interaction of the experimental site and soil type.Leaf and root phenolic and tannin concentrations were higher at the middle latitude site,especially in the origin soil.Root and foliar flavonoid concentrations increased when aboveground herbivores were excluded.Microbial communities depended strongly on soil treatment.The different responses of tannins versus flavonoids suggest that these two chemical classes differ in their responses to the varying abiotic and biotic factors in these sites along latitudes.Taken together,our results emphasize the importance of considering the interactive effects of local environmental conditions,soil properties and herbivory in regulating plant chemical defenses.

Parameterization of Tree and Shrub Stem Wood Density Adaptions to Multiple Climate and Soil Factor Gradients

Wood density(WD)is an important quality and functional trait of wood.However,despite the relationships between WD and abiotic factors being important to model or predict spatial distributions of functional traits,as well as responses of vegetation to climate changes,in current Earth system models or dynamic global vegetation models(ESMs/DGVMs),WD is often oversimplified,being defined as a globally uniform constant either for all plant functional types(PFTs)or for each individual PFT.Such oversimplifications may lead to simulation biases in the morphology of woody PFTs,as well as ecosystem transition and vegetation-atmosphere interactions.Moreover,existing conclusions about the relationships between WD and abiotic factors drawn from field observations remain mixed,making model parameterization improvements difficult.This study systematically investigated the influences of climate and soil factors on WD across various PFTs.Optimal fitting models for predicting WD within each PFT were then constructed by utilizing our collated global database of 138604 observations.For WDs of tree PFTs,climate emerges as a more influential factor than soil characteristics,whereas for shrub PFTs the effects of climate and soil are of equivalent significance.Across all six PFTs,correlation coefficients between predictions by fitting models and observed WD range from 0.49 to 0.93.The predicted and observed WD exhibit good agreement across climate space.It is expected that the incorporation of our research findings into DGVMs will improve the simulation of tree height and forest fractional coverage,particularly in the central forest areas and forest transition zones.