Patterns and drivers of natural regeneration on old-fields in semi-arid floodplain ecosystems

2021 ◽  
Vol 316 ◽  
pp. 107466
Author(s):  
Peta Zivec ◽  
Stephen Balcombe ◽  
James McBroom ◽  
Fran Sheldon ◽  
Samantha J. Capon
Keyword(s):  
Natural Regeneration ◽  
Old Fields ◽  
Floodplain Ecosystems ◽  
Semi Arid

Resilience of floodplain ecosystems in a semi-arid environment

2010 ◽  
Vol 32 (3) ◽  
pp. 305 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthew J. Colloff ◽  
Darren S. Baldwin
Keyword(s):  
Stable State ◽  
Arid Environment ◽  
Ecosystem Functions ◽  
Arid Environments ◽  
Ecosystem Resilience ◽  
Floodplain Ecosystems ◽  
Murray Darling Basin ◽  
Single State ◽  
Floods And Droughts ◽  
Semi Arid

Implicit to loss of ecosystem resilience is that systems can shift from one stable state to another as a result of disturbance. We present a conceptual model of ecosystem resilience of floodplains and wetlands in semi-arid environments like those of the Murray–Darling Basin. The model is based on a single state characterised by fluctuating wet and dry phases driven by episodic floods and droughts. It might appear that such a single state is inherently unstable, but stability, and the measure of resilience, is conferred by the capacity of floodplains and wetlands to undergo drought and yet return to a functioning wet phase following inundation as well as to undergo flooding and return to the dry phase following flood recession. Floodplains and wetlands are driven by strong, periodic abiotic disturbances and their ecosystem functions and biogeochemical processes are highly rate-limited, spatiotemporally variable and driven by relatively species-poor assemblages of plants and animals adapted to withstand drought and flooding. Extreme drying due to climatic change and over-allocation of water resources represents the primary mechanism via which resilience is lost.

scholarly journals Natural Regeneration of the Mangrove Vegetation on Abandoned Salt Ponds in Ceará, in the Semi-Arid Region of Northeastern Brazil

Diversity ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 27 ◽  
Author(s):  
Armando Reis-Neto ◽  
Antonio Meireles ◽  
Marília Cunha-Lignon
Keyword(s):  
Natural Regeneration ◽  
Arid Region ◽  
Ecosystem Dynamics ◽  
Shrimp Farming ◽  
Northeastern Brazil ◽  
Integrated Analysis ◽  
Technical Problems ◽  
Mangrove Vegetation ◽  
Semi Arid Region ◽  
Semi Arid

The development of the mangrove in Ceará state, northeastern Brazil, is limited by local environmental and climatic factors, associated with the variables that determine the region’s semi-arid climatic conditions. The same conditions also contribute to the installation of artisanal saltworks in estuarine environments. The artisanal production of salt peaked in the 20th century, but with the decline of this activity, the salt evaporation ponds were abandoned, and have been incorporated back into the natural marine-estuarine environment and colonized by mangrove forests. In the early 2000s, however, the expansion of shrimp farming operations impacted this same environment. The present study was based on a spatiotemporal analysis of the natural regeneration of the mangrove vegetation in abandoned salt pond areas in the Brazilian semi-arid region between 1968 and 2009. The integrated analysis of mangrove ecosystem dynamics and the legislation that regulates the licensing of these economic activities identified a number of technical problems in the formulation and execution of the COEMA resolution 02/2002, which permits the installation of shrimp farms in areas dominated by the mangrove. The findings of the present study reinforce the need for a careful reformulation of the Ceará state environmental legislation, in order to guarantee the maximum possible conservation of the coastal zone.

scholarly journals Evaluating riparian vegetation in semi-arid Mediterranean watercourses in the south-eastern Iberian Peninsula

2000 ◽  
Vol 27 (1) ◽  
pp. 24-35 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. JACOBA SALINAS ◽  
GABRIEL BLANCA ◽  
ANA T. ROMERO
Keyword(s):  
Natural Regeneration ◽  
Riparian Vegetation ◽  
Vegetation Indices ◽  
The State ◽  
Degradation Index ◽  
Percentage Cover ◽  
South Eastern ◽  
Quantitative Studies ◽  
High Degree ◽  
Semi Arid

Riparian vegetation is vulnerable to human impact worldwide, and this is especially so in arid areas, yet there have been few quantitative studies and this is especially so in Spain. The state of the riparian vegetation along three major rivers and seasonal watercourses of south-eastern Spain was evaluated during 1992–93, using the species composition and community structure in watercourses of different sizes under different management. Reaches of the watercourses were classified using five vegetation indices, namely percentage cover, species richness, degree of connectivity between patches of the plant communities, number of exotic species, and evidence of natural regeneration. With the integration of these into one index, the degradation state of the riparian vegetation in each reach was quantified. In addition, types of human activities exerting the greatest impact were noted, and a scale to evaluate the intensity of each impact was established. The indications are that agriculture has very substantially altered the natural vegetation, and this index has served to highlight the most altered zones, and thus those in most urgent need of restoration. Less-degraded zones could serve as models and sources of plant species for future restoration. The degradation index made it possible to establish quickly, easily, and with a high degree of accuracy, the state of conservation of the riparian vegetation in the study area.

scholarly journals TYPOLOGY, PRODUCTIVITY AND DYNAMICS OF ALEPPO PINE STANDS IN THE OUARSENIS MASSIF (ALGERIA)

AGROFOR ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohamed SARMOUM ◽  
Rafael NAVARRO-CIRRILLO ◽  
Frederic GUIBAL ◽  
Fatiha ABDOUN
Keyword(s):  
Natural Regeneration ◽  
Basal Area ◽  
Aleppo Pine ◽  
Direct Influence ◽  
Forest Species ◽  
Wood Production ◽  
Silvicultural Management ◽  
Long Time ◽  
Pine Stands ◽  
Semi Arid

Aleppo pine is the most important forest species in Algeria. This species has been used for a long time in reforestation programs, notably the “green dam” planted in the 1970s. Despite this importance, the Aleppo pine continues to undergo all kinds of degradation such as land clearing, illegal cutting and fire. This situation is causing reduction of potential wood production, also jeopardizing the vitality of the stands and their regeneration. This work aims to describe the typology, productivity and dynamics of Aleppo pine stands in the Ouarsenis massif (West of Algeria). 27 plots were installed to describe the stands (composition of forest species, dbh , total height, and basal area). Regeneration was estimated by the rate of juvenile individuals (dbh5cm). The results obtained shows that the Aleppo pine develops different conditions for altitude, climate and type of soil. These conditions have a direct influence on the structure of the Aleppo pine and its productivity. The best populations develop on an average altitude (500 to 1400 m), in subhumid and semi-arid climates, on southern exposures and on limestone soils. The stands are mostly young (age 70 years) with good natural regeneration. These results put focus on the factors of degradation of the Aleppo pine, in particular the recurring fires and the lack of silvicultural management which application can improve the productivity and the vitality of the stands.

Natural Regeneration of Ground Storey Vegetation in a Semi-Arid Woodland Following Mechanical Disturbance and Burning. 2. Response of Individual Species.

1995 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
pp. 59 ◽  
Author(s):  
PJ Walker ◽  
TB Koen ◽  
R Gittins
Keyword(s):  
Species Composition ◽  
Natural Regeneration ◽  
Perennial Grasses ◽  
Individual Species ◽  
Annual Plants ◽  
Clear Trend ◽  
Species Dominance ◽  
Burned Areas ◽  
Mechanical Disturbance ◽  
Semi Arid

A study was made over a period of 12 years of the natural regeneration of vegetation along a corridor cleared for the construction of a natural gas pipeline in a semi-arid woodland in central-western New South Wales. Total cover, proportion of grasses, and species composition were assessed on the infilled trench and areas from which topsoil had been bladed, as well as on adjacent undisturbed areas or areas burned by a wildfire. All areas were grazed continuously by sheep under normal station management. The effects of mechanical disturbance and of burning on individual species were measured in terms of species dominance and occurrence. Some insight was also gained in to the successional process on bared sites and in to the effects of the timing of seasonal rainfall on species composition. Of the 75 major species recorded, 15 were found to have greater occurrence on trenched sites, 46 decreased in occurrence and 14 showed no clear trend. Perennial grasses and small annual plants were the main decreasers, whilst Medicago spp., Erodium crinitum, Hordeum leporinum and certain 'weedy' annuals were the main increasers. Some of the early colonisers lasted only a few years or even less in any quantity, thereafter to be replaced by other increasers. Burning had little effect on the long-term occurrence of Stipa variabilis, Wahlenbergia spp., Helipterum spp., Calotis cuneifolia and some minor species. Eragrostis lacunaria appeared to decrease, while several annual plants were more common on burned areas.

Natural Regeneration of Ground Storey Vegetation in a Semi-Arid Woodland Following Mechanical Disturbance and Burning. 1. Ground Cover Levels and Composition.

1995 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
pp. 46 ◽  
Author(s):  
PJ Walker ◽  
TB Koen
Keyword(s):  
Species Composition ◽  
Natural Regeneration ◽  
Ground Cover ◽  
Natural Gas Pipeline ◽  
Total Cover ◽  
Mechanical Disturbance ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Disturbed Areas ◽  
Rainfall Seasonality ◽  
Semi Arid

A study was made over a period of 12 years of the natural regeneration of vegetation along a corridor corridor cleared for the construction of a natural gas pipeline in a semi-arid woodland in central- western New South Wales. Total cover, proportion of grasses, and species composition were assessed on the infilled trench and on areas from which topsoil had been bladed, as well as on adjacent undisturbed areas and areas burned by a wildfire. All areas were grazed continuously by sheep under normal station management, and by native animals. After four years of about average rainfall, total cover on disturbed areas had regained levels as high or higher than on adjacent areas, and was maintained thereafter. On many individual sites this period was as short as eighteen months. The proportion of grasses remained much lower on disturbed areas, except for some periods of annual grass dominance. Species composition remained very different between disturbed and undisturbed areas, the main difference being in perennial species. However, composition also varied markedly between years, according to rainfall seasonality and competition from previously established plants. Little difference was apparent between undisturbed areas and similar areas which had burned twelve months before the first measurements. Mechanical disturbance caused by trenching and blading had a much greater effect on vegetation than did fire, and the effects were still obvious after twelve years.

scholarly journals Plant Components of Agroforestry System Have Different Contributions to Soil Fertility

2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 381 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carla Danielle Vasconcelos Do Nascimento ◽  
Mirian Cristina Gomes Costa ◽  
Raul Shiso Toma ◽  
Miguel Cooper
Keyword(s):  
Soil Fertility ◽  
Natural Regeneration ◽  
Agroforestry System ◽  
Soil Samples ◽  
Agrosilvopastoral System ◽  
Chemical Attributes ◽  
Semi Arid Region ◽  
Tree Component ◽  
Semi Arid ◽  
Plant Components

The objective was to evaluate soil fertility in agrosilvopastoral system in an area influenced by plant components. The study was carried out in the semi-arid region, in the municipality of Sobral (Ceará State, Brazil). The studied treatments were three plant components: shrub (Leucaena leucocephala), tree (Poincianera pyramidalis), crop (Zea mays) and an area of natural regeneration, all at four soil depths. The main chemical attributes were evaluated in the soil samples. The plant components contribute differently to the chemical attributes, especially the tree component, promoting improvements even without the addition of inputs.

scholarly journals DYNAMICS OF BORDER VEGETATION AND EDAPHIC-CLIMATOLOGY OF CLEARINGS IN AN AREA OF CAATINGA IN THE SEMI-ARID REGION OF BRAZIL.

FLORESTA ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 49 (3) ◽  
pp. 523
Author(s):  
Azenate Campos Gomes ◽  
Jacob Silva Souto ◽  
Alecksandra Vieira de Lacerda
Keyword(s):  
Natural Regeneration ◽  
Arid Region ◽  
Climatic Factors ◽  
Floristic Composition ◽  
Ground Level ◽  
Climatic Parameters ◽  
Historical Process ◽  
Negative Impacts ◽  
Semi Arid Region ◽  
Semi Arid

The use and unsustainable occupation in the semi-arid areas have resulted throughout its historical process in strong negative impacts by opening clearings in the areas of Caatinga, which need to be identified and studied to reverse this situation. The objective of this work was to analyze the dynamics of border of vegetation and edaphic-climatological clearings in a Caatinga area in the municipality of Sumé, state of Paraíba, Brazil. The study was conducted in the Experimental Area Reserved for Ecology and Dynamic Studies of the Caatinga of LAEB/CDSA/UFCG (7°39'38.8'' S and 36°53'42.4'' W, with 538 m of altitude). The clearings were isolated, and monitored between 2013 and 2015, soil and agrometeorological data were collected. Shrubs and live trees with diameter at ground level and height >0.03 and >1.0 m respectively were considered as border individuals. The highest values of soil density were observed for the clearings that presented the lowest levels of organic matter. 62% of the clearings had an increase in their area due to the high mortality of Croton blanchetianus Baill. and 38% had their area reduced due to the colonization of young, mainly Jatropha mollissima (Pohl) Baill. The floristic composition of the border comprised six species distributed in six genera and four families, being Fabaceae and Euphorbiaceae the most representative. The number of border individuals and recorded mortality were fully correlated with climatic parameters. Therefore, although the clearings are in the process of natural regeneration, climatic factors have strongly influenced the delay of this process. 

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