Dominant woody plant species recognition with a hierarchical model based on multimodal geospatial data for subtropical forests

Since the launch of the Google Earth Engine(GEE)cloud platform in 2010,it has been widely used,leading to a wealth of valuable information.However,the potential of GEE for forest resource management has not been fully exploited.To extract dominant woody plant species,GEE combined Sen-tinel-1(S1)and Sentinel-2(S2)data with the addition of the National Forest Resources Inventory(NFRI)and topographic data,resulting in a 10 m resolution multimodal geospatial dataset for subtropical forests in southeast China.Spectral and texture features,red-edge bands,and vegetation indices of S1 and S2 data were computed.A hierarchical model obtained information on forest distribution and area and the dominant woody plant species.The results suggest that combining data sources from the S1 winter and S2 yearly ranges enhances accuracy in forest distribution and area extraction compared to using either data source independently.Similarly,for dominant woody species recognition,using S1 winter and S2 data across all four seasons was accurate.Including terrain factors and removing spatial correlation from NFRI sample points further improved the recognition accuracy.The optimal forest extraction achieved an overall accuracy(OA)of 97.4%and a maplevel image classification efficacy(MICE)of 96.7%.OA and MICE were 83.6%and 80.7%for dominant species extraction,respectively.The high accuracy and efficacy values indicate that the hierarchical recognition model based on multimodal remote sensing data performed extremely well for extracting information about dominant woody plant species.Visualizing the results using the GEE application allows for an intuitive display of forest and species distribution,offering significant convenience for forest resource monitoring.

Species’ geographical range, environmental range and traits lead to specimen collection preference of dominant plant species of grasslands in Northern China

Many different factors,such as species traits,socio-economic factors,geographical and environmental factors,can lead to specimen collection preference.This study aims to determine whether grassland specimen collection in China is preferred by species traits(i.e.,plant height,flowering and fruiting period),environmental range(i.e.,the temperature and precipitation range)and geographical range(i.e.,distribution range and altitudinal range).Ordinary least squares models and phylogenetic generalized linear mixed models were used to analyze the relationships between specimen number and the explanatory variables.Random Forest models were then used to find the most parsimonious multivariate model.The results showed that interannual variation in specimen number between 1900 and 2020 was considerable.Specimen number of these species in southeast China was notably lower than that in northwest China.Environmental range and geographical range of species had significant positive correlations with specimen number.In addition,there were relatively weak but significant associations between specimen number and species trait(i.e.,plant height and flowering and fruiting period).Random Forest models indicated that distribution range was the most important variable,followed by flowering and fruiting period,and altitudinal range.These findings suggest that future floristic surveys should pay more attention to species with small geographical range,narrow environmental range,short plant height,and short flowering and fruiting period.The correction of specimen collection preference will also make the results of species distribution model,species evolution and other works based on specimen data more accurate.

A Hybrid Deep Learning Approach to Classify the Plant Leaf Species

Many plant species have a startling degree of morphological similarity,making it difficult to split and categorize them reliably.Unknown plant species can be challenging to classify and segment using deep learning.While using deep learning architectures has helped improve classification accuracy,the resulting models often need to be more flexible and require a large dataset to train.For the sake of taxonomy,this research proposes a hybrid method for categorizing guava,potato,and java plumleaves.Two new approaches are used to formthe hybridmodel suggested here.The guava,potato,and java plum plant species have been successfully segmented using the first model built on the MobileNetV2-UNET architecture.As a second model,we use a Plant Species Detection Stacking Ensemble Deep Learning Model(PSD-SE-DLM)to identify potatoes,java plums,and guava.The proposed models were trained using data collected in Punjab,Pakistan,consisting of images of healthy and sick leaves from guava,java plum,and potatoes.These datasets are known as PLSD and PLSSD.Accuracy levels of 99.84%and 96.38%were achieved for the suggested PSD-SE-DLM and MobileNetV2-UNET models,respectively.

Research Progress on Manglietia ventii,A Wild Plant Species with Extremely Small Populations

Manglietia ventii is a wild plant species with extremely small populations endemic to Yunnan,mainly distributed in southeast Yunnan.Due to the continuous deterioration of natural habitats,excessive felling and utilization of human beings,and the decline of breeding ability,the number of individuals in the population has decreased significantly.Through field investigation and literature review,the research status of M.ventii in systematics,conservation ecology,reproductive biology,genetic diversity,endangered mechanism and resource protection at home and abroad are systematically reviewed.And the future research direction is prospected.It is necessary to strengthen the research on the basic characteristics of M.ventii,explore the transmission route of M.ventii and deepen the development and utilization of resources,in order to provide a theoretical support for the protection and sustainable utilization of germplasm resources of M.ventii,and provide a reference for the protection of other wild plant species with extremely small populations.

Comparative population genetic analyses suggest hybrid origin of Rhododendron pubicostatum,an endangered plant species with extremely small populations endemic to Yunnan,China

Gene flow between sympatric congeneric plants is thought to be very common and may pose serious threats to endangered species.In the present study,we evaluate the genetic diversity and divergence of three sympatric Rhododendron species in Jiaozi Mountain using newly developed microsatellites through the Illumina MiSeq sequencing approach.Genetic diversity of all three Rhododendron species studied was moderate in comparison to genetic parameters previously reported from species of this genus.Interestingly,genetic structure analysis of the three species identified a possible hybrid origin of the threatened Rh.pubicostatum.This sympatry should be considered a unimodal hybrid zone,since Rh.pubicostatum is predominant here.Unimodal hybrid zones are uncommon in Rhododendron,despite the fact that hybridization frequently occurs in the genus.Issues pertaining to the conservation of Rh.pubicostatum resulting from admixture of genetic material from its parental species are discussed.

Changes of plant species diversity and biomass with reclaimed marshes restoration

Wetland restoration had been implemented for more than two decades in Sanjiang Plain,Northeast China.To assess the restoration effi ciency of wetland vegetation,we investigated plants composition of community,plant species diversity and aboveground biomass of restored sites in a chronosequence of restoration(1,2,3,6,8,11,15 and 25 years)in the Sanjiang Nature Reserve.As comparison,we also investigated the same factors in a cropland and a natural marsh adjacent to the restored sites.The results showed that wetland plant species can invade quickly after croplands were abandoned when there were suitable hydrology conditions.On the early stage of the restoration,weeds were main plant species in the restored sites.Wetland species appeared at the same time but diff ered from the dominant species from the adjacent natural marshes.Common native wetland species could dominance the community after 3-year restoration.Species richness and diversity increased on the early stage,and then decreased to the similar level of the natural marsh with the extension of restoration.Plant biomass could restore easier than the species composition and diversity.Our results indicated that plant species composition and diversity of abandoned reclaimed wetlands can restore gradually by natural succession in Sanjiang Plain.However,25-year restoration site had similarity index of only 56%with the natural marsh,which revealed that two decades are not enough for complete restoration of vegetation.

Relationship between diversity of forest plant species and environmental gradient in eastern mountainous area of Heilongjiang Province, China

Twenty-three secondary forest communities with different structure were selected in Mao＇er Mountain National Park of Heilongjiang Province, China to study the relationship between diversity of forest plant species and environmental gradient. The forest plant species diversity was analyzed by the diversity index, and the environmental factors was quantified by the method of Whittaker＇s quantification of environmental gradient. Meanwhile, β-diversity indexes of communities were calculated with similar measurements. The results showed that the Shannon-wiener diversity index of forest plant species increased with the increase of the environmental gradient, and the β-diversity indexes of communities showed a liner increase along with the change of environmental gradient.

Effect of UV Radiation and Other Abiotic Stress Factors on DNA of Different Wild Plant Species Grown in Three Successive Seasons in Alpine and Subalpine Regions

Plants in natural ecosystems are exposed to a combination of UV radiation,ionizing radiation(IR)and other abiotic factors.These factors change with the altitude.We investigated DNA alterations of some wild plants of different plant families in natural ecosystems at three altitudes in Rila Mountain,Bulgaria(1500,1782,and 2925 m above sea level(a.s.l.)exposed to UV radiation,IR and other abiotic stresses,to assess the tolerance of plant species to the changing environmental conditions in three successive growth seasons.For this purpose,physicochemical,cytogenetic,and molecular methods were applied.DNA damage was assessed by micronucleus test and molecular method comet assay adapted and applied by us to wild plant species from Onagraceae,Rosaceae,Boraginaceae,Saxifragaceae,Orobanchaceae,Asteraceae and Poaceae families,growing at three different altitudes.Variability in the DNA sensitivity and the level of tolerance was observed among the plant species in response to combined abiotic factors assessed by induced DNA damage and gross beta activity.The studied representatives of Poaceae were less susceptible than the other studied species at all three altitudes and showed close level of DNA injuries to that of unaffected control plant grown in laboratory conditions.The lower levels of DNA damage of these wild plant species corresponded to their lower ability to accumulate radionuclides.There was a particularly pronounced low level of DNA injuries in the plant species at the highest altitude.The level of DNA damage showed correlation with the values of some abiotic environmental factors.The results would contribute to the elucidation of the extent of adaptation of plant species to the continuously changing environment and would be useful in selecting sensitive herbaceous monitor species for environmental impact assessment at mountain and alpine sites.

Impact of Removal of Copper Leaf (<i>Acalypha fruticosa</i>Forssk.) on Plant Species Diversity and Abundance at Chemeron, Baringo County, Kenya

Invasive plant species may significantly alter plant species community composition and structure thereby negatively impacting on ecosystem services. Their impacts on plant communities may be both direct and indirect. The direct effects may include a reduction in the abundance and diversity of palatable plant species that constitute important forage for livestock, wildlife, and medicines for the local communities. Declines in ecosystem resilience are of the notable indirect effects of invasive species. The aim of this study was to assess the impacts of a plant species, copper leaf (Acalypha fruticosa) on floral diversity and abundance at Chemeron, Baringo County in Kenya. The study was guided by three questions: What is the plant composition in terms of grasses, herbs, shrubs, and trees in the study area? Are there any variations in plant abundance between the two sites (sites with and without Acalypha fruticosa)? Are there variations in plant species diversity between the two study sites? Two sites (one with A. fruticosa and another two without this invasive species) were selected within the Chemeron Research Centre. Two belt transects measuring 100 m × 20 m on each site were laid parallel to each other. Plant samples were collected from five 1 m × 1 m quadrats that were laid at intervals of 20 m. The plant species or specimens were identified to the species level using available taxonomic keys. Various indices including Shannon-Wiener (H’), Evenness Index, Richness Index and Simpson’s Index of Diversity Index (SDI) were calculated. All the diversity, richness and evenness indices were considerably higher in the site without A. fruticosa compared to that where this invasive species was present. Higher H’ (3.14 to 3.21) and SDI (0.93 to 0.94) values were noted in sites without the invasive species compared to H’ (2.11 to 2.20) and SDI (0.77 to 0.85) in sites with A. fruticosa present. Out of the 47 plant species identified, 39 and 20 of them occurred in the site without and with A. fruticosa, respectively. Further, there were more grasses (Aristida keniensis, Cynodon dactylon, Brachiaria lucrantha, Eragrostis racemosa, and Enteropogon macrostachyus) in the site without A. fruticosa compared to that with the invasive plant. The plants were also more evenly distributed in the site without A. fruticosa compared to that where the invasive plant was present. We conclude that A. fruticosa has a significant effect on plant species abundance and diversity as well as distribution. Its removal created a favourable environment for the growth of a variety of grasses. We therefore recommend to the agro-pastoralists and rangeland managers that A. fruticosa be mechanically removed by uprooting from grazing lands so as to increase forage availability and quality in the rangelands of South-Baringo.

Study on Resource Status and Protection Countermeasures of Wild Plant Species with Extremely Small Populations(PSESP)in Xinjiang

In recent years,the protection of PSESP has gradually become a hot issue in biodiversity research.Through the investigation and analysis of PSESP in Xinjiang,it is shown that:①there are 75 species of PSESP in Xinjiang,including 22 species of trees,18 species of shrubs and 35 species of herbs.The habitats are mainly in extremely cold,extremely dry or extremely narrow conditions such as snow line,desert,mountain,wetland and so on.②53 species(70.67%)are listed as national or autonomous region protected plants,and 22 species of PSESP are not listed in the protection;there are 70 species of PSESP listed in the red list,accounting for 93.33%.③The PSESP in Xinjiang are mainly distributed in the Altai Mountains,western Tianshan Mountains,Pamir Plateau and Karakoram Mountains;they are distributed in all kinds of nature reserves,forest parks,wetland parks and other natural ecological protection areas in Xinjiang.Ammopiptanthus nanus(M.Pop.)Cheng F.,Cistanche tubulosa(Schenk)Wight,Calligonum roborovskii A.Los.and Prunus cerasifera Ehrhart have not been found in the literature,indicating that they are distributed in protected areas.In order to provide a theoretical basis for the conservation of biodiversity in Xinjiang,this paper puts forward some suggestions on the protection of PSESP.

The RAPD techniques used to assess the genetic diversity in Draba dorneri,a critically endangered plant species

A successful management and preservation of the natural populations is depending on accurate assessment of genetic diversity. Knowledge of genetic diversity within a population is important for the conservation of the species. Our aim was to assess the genetic diversity in Draba dorneri Heuff. population (Brassicaceae family)—an endemic plant species of conservative interest using Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD) technique. The plant species is strictly protected at national level as well as at international level through “Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats”, Bern, 1979 European Council. In this study, a total of 52 primers were scored initially. A total of 77 repro- ducible bands with an average of 6.41 bands per primer were obtained from the 12 primers selected. A cluster analysis (UPGAMA) was used to generate a dendrogram based on Dice coefficient. We found 67% similarity between the samples from the two analyzed slopes. Comparing with other rare plants species, our data revealed a higher level of genetic diversity in D. dorneri population in Retezat Mountains.

Invasive Spartina alterniflora-induced factors affecting epibenthos distribution in coastal salt marsh, China

Artificially introduced cordgrass, Spartina alterniflora, rapidly colonized the intertidal flats of the Jiangsu coast, eastern China. The epibenthos on an intertidal flat invaded by S. alterniflorawere studied, to identify how local epibenthos species react to an altered environment. Epibenthic samples and surficial sediment samples were collected along a shore-normal profile in 50 quadrats at ten stations across the Spartina salt marsh; and five control quadrats for a station located on the barren sandy-mud flat. The grain size param- eters of the surficial sediments show that S. alterniflora altered the grain size gradient along the profile of the intertidal zone by trapping fine-grained sediments. Spartina alterniflora could inhabit lower elevation- s than indigenous salt marsh vegetation, thus creating larger areas of finer surficial sediments, which was suitable for not only native epibenthic species but also species which do not exist on the barren sandy-mud flat. Correlation analyses show that the epibenthos were sensitive to sediment grain size and type, on the invaded S. alterniflora salt marsh. Further, there was an interspecific relationship affecting the distribution of epibenthos. The results show that epibenthos preferred ecological niches, within the Spartina salt marsh, even in the same sampling station.

Responses of Plant Community and Soil Properties to Inter-Annual Precipitation Variability and Grazing Durations in a Desert Steppe in Inner Mongolia

Grazing can dramatically affect arid grassland communities that are very vulnerable to environmental changes due to its relatively short and sparse ground coverage, low biomass, sandy soil and inter-annual precipitation found in the desert steppe. The study investigates the effects of different grazing durations on vegetation and soil properties of a desert steppe community. The experiment was conducted in Xisu Banner in Inner Mongolia with ifve treatments：CG （continuous grazing）, 40UG （40 d ungrazed）, 50UG （50 d ungrazed）, 60UG （60 d ungrazed） and UG （ungrazed）. The biomass of both shrub and annual-biennial plant communities were signiifcantly decreased by CG. Continuous grazing and 40UG signiifcantly reduced the ANPP （aboveground net primary productivity） by the end of the three year study. 60UG treatment increased soil organic carbon （OC）, total nitrogen concentration （TN） and total phosphorus concentration （TP） concentrations and 50UG increased the TN and total phosphorus concentration （TK） concentrations, whereas CG, 40UG and 50UG decreased soil OC, TP and available phosphorus concentration （AP） concentrations. The perennial plant species of the desert steppe were generally tolerant for grazing. The annual-biennial plant species had large variability in ANPP because of the inter-annual precipitation. Our results highlight that inter-annual precipitation variations could strongly modify the community responses to grazing in arid ecosystems.

Curcumin and Apigenin – novel and promising therapeutics against chronic neuroinflammation in Alzheimer's disease

Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder, characterized by deposition of amyloid beta, neurofibrillary tangles, astrogliosis and microgliosis, leading to neuronal dysfunction and loss in the brain. Current treatments for Alzheimer’s disease primarily focus on enhancement of cholinergic transmission. However, these treatments are only symptomatic, and no disease-modifying drug is available for Alzheimer’s disease patients. This review will provide an overview of the proven antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-amyloidogenic, neuroprotective, and cognition-enhancing effects of curcumin and apigenin and discuss the potential of these compounds for Alzheimer’s disease prevention and treatment. We suggest that these compounds might delay the onset of Alzheimer’s disease or slow down its progression, and they should enter clinical trials as soon as possible.

The effects of fresh and rapid desiccated tissue on estimates of Ophiopogoneae genome size

Fresh plant material is usually used for genome size estimation by flow cytometry(FCM). Lack of fresh material is cited as one of the main reasons for the dearth of studies on plants from remote locations.Genome sizes in fresh versus desiccated tissue of 16 Ophiopogoneae species and five model plant species were estimated. Our results indicated that desiccated tissue was suitable for genome size estimation; this method enables broader geographic sampling of plants when fresh tissue collection is not feasible. To be useful, after dessication the Ophiopogoneae sample should be green without brown or yellow markings;it should be stored in deep freezer at à80C, and the storage time should be no more than 6 months.

Interactions between vegetation dynamic and edaphic factors in the Great Salt Desert of central Iran

Investigating the relationships between vegetation dynamic and edaphic factors provide management insights into factors affecting the growth and establishment of plant species and vegetation communities in saline areas.The aim of this study was to assess the spatial variability of various vegetation communities in relation to edaphic factors in the Great Salt Desert,central Iran.Fifteen vegetation communities were identified using the physiognomy-floristic method.Coverage and density of vegetation communities were determined using the transect plot method.Forty soil samples were collected from major horizons of fifteen profiles in vegetation communities,and analyzed in terms of following soil physical and chemical characteristics:soil texture,soluble Na+concentration,sodium adsorption ratio(SAR),electrical conductivity(EC),pH,organic matter content,soluble Mg2+and Ca2+concentrations,carbonate and gypsum contents,and spontaneously-and mechanically-dispersible clay contents.Redundancy analysis was used to investigate the relationships between vegetation dynamic and edaphic factors.The generalized linear method(GLM)was used to find the plant species response curves against edaphic factors.Results showed that plant species responded differently to edaphic factors,in which soluble sodium concentration,EC,SAR,gypsum content and soil texture were identified as the most discriminative edaphic factors.The studied plant species were also found to have different ecological requirements and tolerance to edaphic factors,in which Tamarix aphylla and Halocnemum strobilaceum were identified as the most salt-resistant species in the region.Furthermore,the presence of Artemisia sieberi was highly related to soil sand and gypsum contents.The results implied that exploring the plant species response curves against edaphic factors can assist managers to lay out more appropriate restoration plans in similar arid areas.

Uptake of Organic Contaminants by Plants from Oil Sands Fine Tailings

The objectives of this experiment were to evaluate the performance of different plant species growing in different kinds of oil sands fine tailings,and to estimate the uptake of organic contaminants by plants from the oil sands fine tailings.In general,total hydrocarbon in the plant could be ranked(beginning with the highest)as:unweathered plant 4 tailings (UWT),Freeze Thawtailings(FT),weathered plant 4 tailings(WT),and consolidated tailings(CT) for the willow,poplar and cattails.For grass,CT amended with tailings sand and muskeg had the highest hydrocarbon level in the field treatment,however,other three kinds of tailings(FT,WT and UWT) had lower but similar to each other hydrocarbon levels.

Identification and Selection of Regional Plants withPotential for Phytoremediation in Abandoned Open PitTailing Dams

The degree of adaptability and phytoremediation potential of the plant species, Zacate Garrapata, Zacate Banderita, Chivatillo, Oregano, Chamizo and Sotol were evaluated on different substrates (S) composed of tailing (JM) and agricultural land (TA) in different proportions in mass: S1 = 100% TA, S2 = 100% JM, S3 = 50% TA and 50 % JM, S4 = 25% JM and 75% TA, S5 = 75% JM and 25% TA. With the combination of species and substrates, 30 treatments were generated. The heavy metals evaluated were Pb, As, Cu. Fe, Cr and Zn, in root, leaf and stem. The results showed significant statistical differences (p < 0.05), with the Sotol and Zacate Garrapata species being the ones with the highest degree of adaptability and accumulation of heavy metals in interaction with S3. These two species can be used in the remediation of open pit tailing dam.

Glade and Forest-Edge Plant Community Attributes for Three Glade Types in Arusha National Park, Tanzania

The aim of the study was to compare glade and forest-glade edge plant community attributes for man-made, upper and lower natural glades. Two plots were set up in twelve glades at 2.5, 12.5 m and three plots in thirteen glades at 2.5, 12.5 and 22.5 m depending on the size of the glade. The results showed that plants total abundance, percentage basal cover, species richness and species diversity for upper and lower natural glades differed significantly p < 0.05 and p < 0.01 respectively and species diversity for man-made glades p < 0.001. Plant species abundance, richness and diversity were highest at the forest-glade edge and decreased towards the glade interior. Plant species composition of the three glades types differed significantly (MRPP: T = -4.51, p < 0.001 and A = 0.17). Grasses’ total abundance and species richness and forbs species diversity differed significantly for man-made glades p < 0.01. For upper natural glades, grasses species richness was highly significant p < 0.001 while for forbs species richness and diversity were significant P < 0.01. Lower natural glades grasses and forbs’ total abundance, species richness and species diversity differed significantly p < 0.01 and p < 0.001 respectively. Growth forms in the lower natural glades were associated with the forest-glade edge or glade interior χ2 = 15.95, df = 4, p Eleusine jaegeri, Heterogon contortus, Senna mimisoides, Digitaria scalarum, Clutia abyssinica) were habitat indicators for disturbed areas, wet humid grey/black clay soils for upper natural glades and three (Solanum incanum, Senna didymobotrya, and Pennistem mezianum, were indicators of overgrazed areas and black clay soils for man-made glades. In conclusion, plant species abundance, richness and diversity were highest at the forest-glade edge and decreased towards the glade interior, while plant species composition differed significantly between the three-glade types. The plant growth form for lower natural glades was associated with forest-glade edge and glade interior.

Distribution and Chemical Composition of Monocarpic Plants of the Apiaceae Family in Tien Shan Mountain

The article presents materials on the distribution and data on the chemical composition of monocarpic plants of the Apiaceae family in the Tien Shan Mountains.