Index of Atmospheric Purity reflects the ecological conditions better than the environmental pollution in the Carpathian forests

The Index of Atmospheric Purity(IAP)is a popular tool used for the assessment of air quality in polluted urban areas,on the basis of phytosociological data of epiphytic lichen communities.We hypothesized that this indicator could also be used in less polluted forest areas to determine the quality of ecological conditions for lichens.The aim of the present study was to verify the use of IAP method in the assessment of environmental pollution,and alternatively for the assessment of general ecological conditions in protected mountain forests of Gorce National Park(Polish Western Carpathians)based on the epiphytic lichen biota associated with Picea abies.The spatial distribution of IAP values on monitored sites in GNP was compared with:1)spatial distribution of accumulated sulfur,nitrogen,selected heavy metals,and total heavy metals in Hypogymnia physodes thalli in 1993 and 2018(30 sites),2)mean ecological indicator values characterizing species requirements for light(L),substrate reaction(R)and nutrients(N),in 1993,2013 and 2018(33 sites).Generalized linear model and redundancy analysis were performed for disclosing most influencing factors affecting lichen communities.The study revealed a few negligible relationships between IAP values and accumulation of such elements as Ni,Mn,Cd,and Cr in both monitoring periods.Simultaneously,IAP can be useful for the identification of forest areas with a high degree of naturalness.

Vascular Flora from Ecoton Zones of the Slatioara Secular Forest

The purpose of this study is to generate essential scientific information regarding the floristic composition and the structures of the ecotone vegetation in the natural forest Codrul Secular Slătioara, because so far no such studies have been carried out in this reserve. Also, the results of this study provide important data, which can be the basis for the development of strategies for the conservation and sustainable use of some herbaceous species, valuable due to genetic and socio-economic, respectively of a regular forest monitoring program. The floristic studies were carried out in the 2020 to 2021 vegetation season. Based on the specialized literature, plant species were identified and then processed from the point of view of bioforms, floristic elements and ecological indices. The economic categories in which the identified species fall were also analyzed. Thus, a total of 292 species belonging to 46 botanical families were identified and their distribution by ecosystems is as follows: in the forest, 90 species were identified, in the lands adjacent to the forest, in the meadows, 202 species were found and in the area of border, 120 species of vascular plants were identified. Most of the species identified in the study area are hemicryptophytes, heliophiles, and eurytherms, which grow on dry to moderately moist, eurytrophic soils. More than 50% of the identified species belong to several categories of useful plants (fodder, medicinal, melliferous, edible).

Determination of the Fish Community Structure of an Intertidal Rocky Zone of the Pacific Coast of Baja California Sur

The intertidal zone (also known as seashore) are transition areas between land and sea, that are greatly influenced by the tide cycle, therefore, environmental parameters, such as temperature and salinity, oscillate according to the periods in which these areas are exposed to air. Intertidal zones are highly diverse, which makes them key ecosystems for the development of sea life (both flora and fauna) exposed to drastic environmental change. The 59 visual censuses campaigns were carried out during the full moon of each month from 2015 to 2019. Temperature, salinity and dissolved oxygen were recorded during each visual census and showed variations between years. Temperature showed two distinct seasons, warm and cold. A total of 14,995 organisms were recorded, belonging to 30 species, 28 genera, 15 families, five orders and one class. Ecological indices like species richness (SR), Shannon-Wiener’s diversity (H') and Fisher’s alpha (α-Fisher) showed significant differences between years, 2015 and 2016 recorded as the most diverse years, while the lowest values were recorded in 2019. Therefore, fish communities of tide pools showed to be highly diverse, with 30 species recording similar relative abundances, and according to the BVI, only 11 species were dominant. Spatio-temporal variations of temperature, salinity and dissolved oxygen were highly correlated to changes in fish community structure, and the dominance of certain species, which are of great importance for the structure and dynamic of the tide pool communities. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to determine the fish community structure of tide pools during the low tide in the intertidal zone of a locality known as El Faro, on the west coast of La Paz, B. C. S., Mexico.

Evaluating the success of engineering disturbed slope eco-restoration in the alpine region, southeast Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, China

Slope eco-restoration has always received extensive attention as a positive way to reverse ecosystem deterioration derived from human interventions.A simplified frameworkis proposed to undertake a quantitative evaluation of the engineering disturbed slope eco-restoration success in the alpine region,southeast Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.The Daguhydropower project that disturbsthe local ecosystem to some certainwas selected as the study area.Since August 2018,six types of slope(soil,rock,soil-rock,spoil,construction site,hardened)were served as the demonstration test for the slope eco-restoration with two years monitoring in the study area.Meanwhile,the topography,erosion,soil quality,and vegetation were selected as assessment indicators of the methodology.Finally,combined with the weighting method and the expert panel,the slope eco-restoration quality index(SERQI)was established and applied in the six slopes.The results suggested that the frost-resistant ecological substrate performed well in alpine region,and the SERQI value is in accordance with the actual monitoring level with spoil slope>soil slope>construction site slope>soil-rock slope>rock slope>hardened slope.The proposed framework could support slope eco-restoration practitioners for making a more objective and quantitative evaluation easily for the post-implementation restoration.

Pollinator diversity benefits natural and agricultural ecosystems,environmental health,and human welfare

Biodiversity loss during the Anthropocene is a serious ecological challenge.Pollinators are important vectors that provide multiple essential ecosystem services but are declining rapidly in this changing world.However,several studies have argued that a high abundance of managed bee pollinators,such as honeybees(Apis mellifera),may be sufficient to provide pollination services for crop productivity,and sociological studies indicate that the majority of farmers worldwide do not recognize the contribution of wild pollinator diversity to agricultural yield.Here,we review the importance of pollinator diversity in natural and agricultural ecosystems that may be thwarted by the increase in abundance of managed pollinators such as honeybees.We also emphasize the additional roles diverse pollinator communities play in environmental safety,culture,and aesthetics.Research indicates that in natural ecosystems,pollinator diversity enhances pollination during environmental and climatic perturbations,thus alleviating pollen limitation.In agricultural ecosystems,pollinator diversity increases the quality and quantity of crop yield.Furthermore,studies indicate that many pollinator groups are useful in monitoring environmental pollution,aid in pest and disease control,and provide cultural and aesthetic value.During the uncertainties that may accompany rapid environmental changes in the Anthropocene,the conservation of pollinator diversity must expand beyond bee conservation.Similarly,the value of pollinator diversity maintenance extends beyond the provision of pollination services.Accordingly,conservation of pollinator diversity requires an interdisciplinary approach with contributions from environmentalists,taxonomists,and social scientists,including artists,who can shape opinions and behavior.

Attributes of stand-age-dependent forest determine technosol fertility of Atlantic forest re-growing on mining tailings in Mariana,Brazil

Understanding how soil fertility changes due to environmental conditions and stand-age-dependent forest attributes is important for local-scale forest restoration.We evaluated the effects of stand-age-dependent forest attributes(plant community composition and litter stock)on soil and technosol fertility across two second-growth Atlantic forests(SGF)after the deposition of mining tailings in Mariana,southeastern Brazil.We hypothesized that technosol fertility in the SGF tailings is positively affected by plant community composition variability,stand age,and litter stock.We used total exchangeable bases and organic matter as fertility indicators for technosol and soil,and species composition and litter stock as stand-age-dependent forest attributes.Our results showed significant differences in the stand-age-dependent forest attributes and soil chemical properties between the two forest patches(SGF tailing and SGF non-tailing)evaluated.Thus,there was a marked gradient of litter storage and fertility between soil and technosol that can be important forest recovery indicators for the affected plant communities.Furthermore,according to the tested models,we corroborated the hypothesis that technosol fertility is positively affected by stand age,plant community composition variability,and litter stock,which may contribute considerably to forest recovery on tailings.Our results demonstrate that the fertility predictors analyzed to explain the forest recovery on tailings can also be considered as ecological indicators for assessing forest restoration in areas impacted by mining tailings in Mariana.

Diversity of Saxicolous Lichens along an Aridity Gradient in Central México

Lichens are symbiotic organisms that comprise a fungus and a photosynthetic partner wich are recognized as a good indicator of climate change.However,our understanding of how aridity affects the diversity of saxicolous lichens in drylands is still limited.To evaluate the relationship between saxicolous lichen diversity and aridity in a central México dryland,a geographical transect was established of 100 km to build an aridity gradient in the semiarid zone of the State of Querétaro,Mexico,comprising ten sampling sites with a 10 km separation.Species richness,abundance and diversity of soil lichen species were recorded using two sampling methods:the quadrat-intercept and the line-intercept method,to compare their performance in assessing soil lichen diversity in drylands.The number of species and Shannon diversity of saxicolous lichens were higher at intermediate values of the aridity index(AI=0.10-0.34).Quadrat intercept and point intercept methods gave quite similar results,which means that the selected method does not influence the results in a significant way.This study confirms the role of saxicolous lichens as climate change indicators and reveals the importance of the sampling method selection in the evaluation of different parameters of soil lichen diversity in drylands.

Land Suitability of the Different Cultivars in the South Tyrol Wine Region (Italy)

The geology and geomorphology of the territory as well as microclimate are local geographical features that serve as natural ecological resources. These factors influence the biosynthetic activities of plants and their phenology, promoting biodiversity and the qualitative predispositions of grapes and wine. South Tyrol is one of the smallest wine-growing regions in Italy, but owing to its position amid the Alps, it is also one of the most multifaceted, a region of wide geographical diversity and remarkable ecological range, hosting a concentration of many different vine varieties and high quality wines. This applied territorial research investigates the particular environmental circumstances that favour this case. A data set describing approximately 26,000 vineyards and 5450 hectares has been employed to evaluate 18 subzones of wines and vines selected from 86 new geographical units defined within the DOC wine region. A new environmental mapping scheme called VHTG is proposed, based on the ecological indicators of grape variety, altitude, topoclimate and the geopedology of the vineyards. Using the VHTG method analyses, the comparisons between the territories of origin and their vine varieties can be rendered simpler and more direct, and it can distinguish the most suitable ecological conditions of wine production zones. It is now possible to examine more in detail the land suitability of the different cultivars, defined by the use of the ecological indicators summarized in the VHTG method. White grape varieties such as Sylvaner and Veltliner prefer high altitudes between 600 m and 900 m, a very high solar radiation SRI index from 80 to 95, and acidic sandy soils of silicate minerals. The most complete and intense tannic structure of regional Pinot Noir correlates to quite clayey soils with dolomite mineral, slightly alkaline, on vineyards at altitudes between 350 m and 410 m, with rather low SRI index from 60 to 75. Similar geopedological conditions favour Gewürztraminer, which, however, requests SRI from 75 to 85. Merlot and Cabernet vines are best expressed in the hottest regional sub-zones, on moderately clayey subalkaline soils at 250 - 350 m of altitudes and SRI around 80. The indigenous red grape variety Lagrein is mostly localized on alluvial cone at altitudes under 350 m, on soft and ventilated acid sands with volcanic silicate minerals.

Ecosystem health towards sustainability

Ecosystems are becoming damaged or degraded as a result of stresses especially associated with human activities.A healthy ecosystem is essential to provide the services that humans and the natural environment require and has tremendous social and economic value.Exploration of the definition of ecosystem health includes what constitutes health and what it means to be healthy.To evaluate ecosystem health,it is necessary to quantify ecosystem conditions using a variety of indicators.In this paper,the main principles and criteria for indicator selection,classification of indicators for different kinds of ecosystems,the most appropriate indicators for measuring ecosystem sustainability,and various methods and models for the assessment of ecosystem health are presented.Drivers,sustainability,and resilience are considered to be critical factors for ecosystem health and its assessment.Effective integration of ecological understanding with socioeconomic,biophysical,biogeochemical,and public-policy dimensions is still the primary challenge in this field,and devising workable strategies to achieve and maintain ecosystem health is a key future challenge.

Eocene to Oligocene nannofossils stratigraphy and environmental conditions in Izeh Province, Zagros Basin, East Tethys

Data obtained from the calcareous nannofossils, distributed in the upper part of the Pabdeh Formation(Priabonian–Rupelian) and the lower part of the Asmari Formation(Chattian) in the Bid-Zard section, were used to investigate the Eocene to Oligocene palaeoenvironmental conditions in the southwest of Izeh, southwestern Iran(eastern Tethys). The upper part of the Pabdeh Formation was composed of shale, thin-bedded pelagic limestone and dolostone, which is disconformably overlain by the Asmari Formation. For the first time, 29 species of calcareous nannofossils belonging to 13 genera were identified in the studied section. The calcareous nannofossils in the upper part of the Pabdeh Formation indicate the Isthmolithus recurvus Zone/Sphenolithus pseudoradians Zone(combined zone), Ericsonia subdisticha Zone, Helicosphaera reticulata Zone and Sphenolithus praedistentus Zone,from the Priabonian to the Rupelian. The Sphenolithus ciperoensis Zone of the Chattian was identified in the lower part of the Asmari Formation. Calcareous nannofossil stratigraphy across the upper Eocene–Oligocene interval also reveals a disconformity at the Rupelian/Chattian transition due to a bio-event. Shallowing of the basin and environmental changes in this part of the Tethyan domain could have led to the lithostratigraphic and biostratigraphic changes. In fact, during the late Eocene to late Oligocene, marine phytoplankton was sensitive to climate changes such as decreasing temperature, as well as possibly to a nutrient increase and changes in basin depth.