Indicators of Ventenata (Ventenata dubia) Invasion in Sagebrush Steppe Rangelands

2018 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lisa C. Jones ◽  
Nicholas Norton ◽  
Timothy S. Prather

AbstractVentenata [Ventenata dubia (Leers) Coss.], an invasive winter annual grass, significantly reduces forage production in grassland systems and displaces species within both perennial- and annual-dominated grasslands within the Inland Northwest. The range of V. dubia is expanding into sagebrush steppe communities, an expansive habitat critical for forage production, wildlife, and recreation. Currently, there is limited knowledge of V. dubia’s distribution and abundance within sagebrush steppe communities. We performed field surveys at 15 locations in sagebrush steppe rangelands in southern Idaho and eastern Oregon to assess where V. dubia occurs, with the aim of providing insight about its niche in this new habitat. Specifically, we evaluated biotic and abiotic factors of the plant community as indicators of V. dubia presence. We also correlated species diversity measures with no, low (<12.5%), and high (>12.5%) V. dubia cover. Though widely distributed throughout the study region, V. dubia only appeared in 45% of the 225 plots, and foliar cover was typically less than 50%. It was primarily found in ephemerally wet microhabitats. Species richness and the Shannon diversity index were lowest in plots with high V. dubia cover. Nonmetric multidimensional scaling analysis revealed that V. dubia and medusahead [Taeniatherum caput-medusae (L.) Nevski] were closely associated. Furthermore, chi-square indicator analysis showed that T. caput-medusae was more prevalent, while mountain big sagebrush [Artemisia tridentata Nutt. spp. vaseyana (Rydb.) Beetle] was less prevalent, in plots containing V. dubia. Abiotic factors that explained variation in V. dubia abundance included rock cover, soil depth, and a north/south aspect. Higher V. dubia cover also correlated with higher clay content and lower phosphorus and potassium concentrations in the soil. We suggest that at this point, detection survey efforts to locate incipient infestations of V. dubia in sagebrush steppe communities should focus on moist areas and sites susceptible to invasion by T. caput-medusae.

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-13
Author(s):  
Lisa C. Jones ◽  
Cleve Davis ◽  
Timothy S. Prather

Abstract Ventenata [Ventenata dubia (Leers) Coss.], an invasive winter annual grass, negatively impacts grassland community composition and function in the Pacific Northwest. Ventenata dubia established in Palouse prairie (PP) and canyon grasslands (CG) of northern Idaho/eastern Washington in the mid-1980s to early 1990s. Understanding and comparing patterns of invasion can elucidate future trends as its range expands. We performed surveys in PP (2012 and 2013) and CG (2018) to assess V. dubia abundance. Specifically, we correlated species richness, Shannon diversity, rank abundance, and indicator species with no, low (<12.5%), and high (>12.5%) V. dubia cover. We used nonmetric multidimensional scaling analysis (NMDS) to visualize species similarities and associations with abiotic variables. In both ecoregions, V. dubia was very common, appearing in nearly 60% of 450 plots. When present, V. dubia cover averaged 26% (±2.3 SE) in PP and 19% (±1.8 SE) in CG. Indigenous plant species richness and diversity were lowest in plots with high V. dubia cover. In CG, this relationship held for nonindigenous species; in PP, nonindigenous plant richness and diversity were higher with high V. dubia cover. Ventenata dubia and other winter annual grasses (Bromus spp., medusahead [Taeniatherum caput-medusae (L.) Nevski]) were moderately associated according to the NMDS analysis. Indicator species analysis showed V. dubia was positively associated with nonindigenous winter annual grasses and negatively associated with indigenous low shrub species. Abiotic factors that explained V. dubia abundance included shallow soils and a south to west aspect. Overall, these findings indicate V. dubia can successfully invade both dry and relatively wet plant communities and is more abundant than other invasive annual grasses. We suggest these findings foreshadow what will happen in sagebrush steppe and Great Plains grasslands, regions where V. dubia recently became established.


2018 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 137
Author(s):  
Ragil Nur Cahyono ◽  
Agung Budiharjo ◽  
Sugiyarto Sugiyarto

The Cyprinidae fish family is a family of freshwater fish with the largest number of species and its presence is widespread almost all of the world. The main habitat of this family is the river's ecosystem, river damming changing the environmental conditions between the ecosystems before and after the dam's watergate. Such as Colo Dam that dammed Bengawan Solo River that allegedly affects the diversity of species of Cyprinidae fish. So this study was conducted in order to determine the diversity and kinship of the Cyprinidae fish family in the ecosystem before and after the Colo Dam watergate. Sampling was conducted September-October 2017 at Sukoharjo Colo Dam by Purposive sampling method. Identify fish species used Kottelat identification books. The diversity of fish species was calculated by Shannon Wiener's diversity index. The correlation between abiotic factor and fish diversity was analyzed by a regression test. The kinship of the fish was analyzed by the Ntsys cluster method (2.02i). The results showed that the Cyprinidae fish species that live in the Colo Dam ecosystem contain 10 species, the diversity of Cyprinidae fish in the fast-water ecosystem of station I is higher (0,96) then the slow-water ecosystem of station II, III, and IV (0,47; 0,73, and 0,58). Abiotic factors of current velocity affect the level of fish diversity reaches 91%. The Cyprinidae fish kinship rate has a coefficient of resemblance between 60% - 85%, fish with the same genus and many similarities in morphological characters and their behavior is categorized as having a close kinship.


PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. e0245087
Author(s):  
Leonardo Suveges Moreira Chaves ◽  
Eduardo Sterlino Bergo ◽  
Jan E. Conn ◽  
Gabriel Zorello Laporta ◽  
Paula Ribeiro Prist ◽  
...  

Inter-relationships among mosquito vectors, Plasmodium parasites, human ecology, and biotic and abiotic factors, drive malaria risk. Specifically, rural landscapes shaped by human activities have a great potential to increase the abundance of malaria vectors, putting many vulnerable people at risk. Understanding at which point the abundance of vectors increases in the landscape can help to design policies and interventions for effective and sustainable control. Using a dataset of adult female mosquitoes collected at 79 sites in malaria endemic areas in the Brazilian Amazon, this study aimed to (1) verify the association among forest cover percentage (PLAND), forest edge density (ED), and variation in mosquito diversity; and to (2) test the hypothesis of an association between landscape structure (i.e., PLAND and ED) and Nyssorhynchus darlingi (Root) dominance. Mosquito collections were performed employing human landing catch (HLC) (peridomestic habitat) and Shannon trap combined with HLC (forest fringe habitat). Nyssorhynchus darlingi abundance was used as the response variable in a generalized linear mixed model, and the Shannon diversity index (H’) of the Culicidae community, PLAND, and the distance house-water drainage were used as predictors. Three ED categories were also used as random effects. A path analysis was used to understand comparative strengths of direct and indirect relationships among Amazon vegetation classes, Culicidae community, and Ny. darlingi abundance. Our results demonstrate that Ny. darlingi is negatively affected by H´ and PLAND of peridomestic habitat, and that increasing these variables (one-unit value at β0 = 768) leads to a decrease of 226 (P < 0.001) and 533 (P = 0.003) individuals, respectively. At the forest fringe, a similar result was found for H’ (β1 = -218; P < 0.001) and PLAND (β1 = -337; P = 0.04). Anthropogenic changes in the Amazon vegetation classes decreased mosquito biodiversity, leading to increased Ny. darlingi abundance. Changes in landscape structure, specifically decreases in PLAND and increases in ED, led to Ny. darlingi becoming the dominant species, increasing malaria risk. Ecological mechanisms involving changes in landscape and mosquito species composition can help to understand changes in the epidemiology of malaria.


2015 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
pp. 33-40 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mira Delima ◽  
Abubakar Karim ◽  
M. Yunus

(The study of prospective forage production on existing and potential land use to support increasing livestock population in Aceh Besar) ABSTRACT. The purpose of this research was to find out the width and scattered location of existing land use which its land capability class suitable for pastures; forage production prospective, and land carrying capacity. The combination of survey and evaluation method was used in this study. The primary data were obtained by field observation and compiling documents, while the secondary data were obtained from various sources, including Bappeda Aceh, and Dinas Peternakan Aceh Besar. Land capability classification was defined based on a modified USDA method and land capability class mapping was prepared based on overlay method by geoprocessing of Geographic Information Systems. The attributes delineating land capability classification included slope, erosion potential and soil depth. Spatial and attributes data were processed using ArcGIS 9.3. Interpretation of land use map derived from satellite imagery analysis results. Brachiaria humidicola green production (tons/year) was determined by assumption-based on obtaining data from various sources. Present livestock population and increasing of population target up to 2017 were obtained from Dinas Peternakan Aceh Besar. The results showed that the existing land use area was 28,632.23 ha (59.03 %), whereas the potential land use area was 19,875.73 ha (40.97%). Land use area for pastures in the district of Aceh Besar, both existing and potential, were sufficient to support the achievement of livestock population increasing program.


2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 46-53
Author(s):  
Miftahul Mukarromah ◽  
Ari Hayati ◽  
Hasan Zayadi

Balekambang Beach is the most visited beach destination in Malang Regency until the end of 2015. One of the invasive pathways of invasive plants is Tourism. The purpose of this study was to identify invasive plant species, diversity and compare the value of the diversity index with abiotic factors.This research method is descriptive with systematic sampling techniques using Belt Transect, and measurements of abiotic factors include edafic factors and climatic micro factors. Invasive alien plant species found in the Balekambang coastal forest are identified as seventeen species namely (Hemighraphis glaucescens), (Oplismenus sp), (Amomum coccineum), (Arenga obtusifolia), (Leucaena leucochephana), (Mimosa sp), (Cassia siamea), (Eupatorium odoratum), (Hyptis capitata), (Cynodon dactylon), (Sida rhombifolia), (Synedrella nudiflora), (Chromolaena odorata),  (Leucaena leucochepala), (Mimosa pudica), and (Ruellia tuberosa) with the index value of invasive plant diversity in protected forests and production classified as high compared to mangroves. The results of the diversity index value with abiotic factors showed a positive (+) direction on soil sailinity where the R2 value was 0.5606 or 50%, which means it showed a relationship between soil salinity and an abundance of invasive plants in Balekambang coastal forest area of 50%.  Keywords:invasive plants, Balekambang beach, belt transect, diversity ABSTRAK Pantai Balekambang adalah destinasi wisata alam pantai di Kabupaten Malang yang paling banyak dikunjungi hingga akhir tahun 2015.Salah satu jalur invasi dari tumbuhan invasif adalah Tourism (Wisata). Tujuan dari penelitian ini adalah mengidentifikasi jenis tumbuhan invasif, keanekaragaman dan membandingkan nilai indeks keanekaragaman dengan faktor abiotik. Metode penelitian ini deskriptif dengan tehnik pengambilan sampling secara sistematis menggunakan Belt Transect, dan pengukuran faktor abiotik meliputi faktor edafik dan faktor mikro klimatik. Jenis spesies tumbuhan asing invasif yang terdapat di hutan pantai Balekambang diidentifikasi sebanyak tujuh belas spesies yaitu Hemighraphis glaucescens, Oplismenus sp, Amomum coccineum, Arenga obtusifolia, Leucaena leucochephana, Mimosa sp, Cassia siamea, Eupatorium odoratum, Hyptis capitata, Cynodon dactylon, Sida rhombifolia, Synedrella nudiflora.Chromolaena odorata, Leucaena leucochepala, Mimosa pudica, dan Ruellia tuberose dengan nilai indeks keanekaragaman tumbuhan invasif pada hutan lindung dan produksi tergolong tinggi dibanding mangrove. Hasil analisis uji korelasi nilai indeks keanekaragaman dengan faktor abiotik menunjukkan arah positif (+) pada salinitas tanah dimana nilai R2 sebesar 0.5606 atau 50%, yang artinya menunjukkan hubungan antara salinitas tanah dengan kelimpahan tumbuhan invasif di kawasan hutan pantai Balekambang sebesar 50%. Kata kunci: tumbuhan invasif, pantai Balekambang, belt transect, keanekaragaman


The microcredit sector in Bangladesh has flourished over the past few years by providing financial services to poor women who were previously unreachable, and it has been successful in meeting their fundamental needs, empowering them. This paper is an attempt to find out the role of microcredit on the empowerment of women borrowers in the context of some regions of the Chattogram district. These three Upazillas were surveyed cross-sectionally. A well-structured questionnaire was used to collect data during face-to-face interviews with 50 microcredit women borrowers and 50 non-borrowers from two major microcredit providers in Bangladesh. Participants were randomly selected. Data were summarized in tabular form. As a result of the chi-square test and ANOVA, significant results were observed. The paper analyzes the role of microcredit in women's empowerment from three perspectives: psychological, social, and economic. As a result of the study, BRAC and ASA microcredit have a significant role in reducing the vulnerability of poor women in the study region by generating income, improving the living standards of borrowers, and enabling these women to become more empowered by: (a) psychological empowerment by acquiring decision-making power in household activities, (b) economic empowerment by making a contribution to living standard & control over assets, (c) social empowerment by getting freedom of voice and mobility.


2021 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 91-97
Author(s):  
Sena Ardicli

Abstract This study aimed to investigate the genotypic distribution and population genetic parameters of the single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) located on exon 3 at the FSHB gene in East Anatolian Red (EAR), East Anatolian Red×Holstein (EAR×H), and Zavot (Z) bulls. A total of 68 cattle including EAR (n=34), EAR×H (n=20), and Z (n=14) bulls were used. Genomic DNA was isolated from blood samples using the phenol/chloroform method. The genotyping of the SNP was carried out by the PCR-RFLP using the PstI restriction enzyme. Deviation from Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium (HWE) was calculated by using the chi-square goodness-of-fit test. Population genetics evaluation was performed for effective allele numbers, the polymorphism information content, theoretical heterozygosity, the fixation index, level of possible variability realization, and the Shannon-Weaver diversity index. In the present study, the AA and the AB genotypes were predominant in EAR and EAR×H bulls, respectively. Zavot breed was found to be monomorphic. There was a deviation from HWE, concerning the total cattle population. The population genetics evaluation showed that the marker was moderately informative for EAR and the crossbreeds, as well as the total population. Consequently, the polymorphism (rs207774587) within exon 3 of the bovine FSHB can be interpreted as a genetic marker with reliable variability for EAR and the crossbreeds, but not in Zavot cattle.


Author(s):  
Matheus Castro ◽  
Renann Dias-Silva ◽  
Adrian Barnett

Ranging behaviors performed by animals are influenced by both biotic and abiotic factors. For herbivorous mammals, seasonality in forage production is considered to be the main driver of movement patterns. Here, we investigated the home range and movement in one of the most abundant herbivores in the Americas, and their relationship with plant phenology in an Amazon igapó - a seasonally-flooded riverine forests with strongly-pulsed leaf-production phenology. Using a combination of telemetry and phenological analysis, the study recorded movement patterns of five brown throated three toed sloths (Bradypus variegatus Schinz, 1825) over a six months period, and related these to seasonal and within-forest differences in food availability via monitoring young leaf production of 570 trees. All monitored animals were shown to be permanently resident within igapó flooded forest, maintaining their home range even during flood periods when most trees lacked leaves. We found that seasonal variation in leaf production had no effect on the extent of displacement of the sloths. Accordingly, for herbivores with low metabolism, variation in young leaves availability may not be the main driver of their ranging behavior. In addition, an arboreal habit and well-developed swimming capacity allow igapó sloths to occupy a niche ecologically inaccessible to other mammals.


Forests ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 262 ◽  
Author(s):  
Leszek Karliński ◽  
Sabine Ravnskov ◽  
Maria Rudawska

Poplars, known for their diversity, are trees that can develop symbiotic relationships with several groups of microorganisms. The genetic diversity of poplars and different abiotic factors influence the properties of the soil and may shape microbial communities. Our study aimed to analyse the impact of poplar genotype on the biomass and community composition of the microbiome of four poplar genotypes grown under different soil conditions and soil depths. Of the three study sites, established in the mid-1990s, one was near a copper smelter, whereas the two others were situated in unpolluted regions, but were differentiated according to the physicochemical traits of the soil. The whole-cell fatty acid analysis was used to determine the biomass and proportions of gram-positive, gram-negative and actinobacteria, arbuscular fungi (AMF), other soil fungi, and protozoa in the whole microbial community in the soil. The results showed that the biomass of microorganisms and their contributions to the community of organisms in the soil close to poplar roots were determined by both factors: the tree-host genotype and the soil environment. However, each group of microorganisms was influenced by these factors to a different degree. In general, the site effect played the main role in shaping the microbial biomass (excluding actinobacteria), whereas tree genotype determined the proportions of the fungal and bacterial groups in the microbial communities and the proportion of AMF in the fungal community. Bacterial biomass was influenced more by site factors, whereas fungal biomass more by tree genotype. With increasing soil depth, a decrease in the biomass of all microorganisms was observed; however, the proportions of the different microorganisms within the soil profile were the result of interactions between the host genotype and soil conditions. Despite the predominant impact of soil conditions, our results showed the important role of poplar genotype in shaping microorganism communities in the soil.


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