scholarly journals Pollinator-friendly flora in rangelands following control of cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum): a case study

Author(s):  
Arathi H. S. ◽  
Janet Hardin

Abstract Invasive winter annual grasses, such as cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum L.) are considered serious threats to regional biodiversity. Pollinator populations that depend on the native flora are likely to be negatively impacted as these native species may be displaced by the invasive grass species. Colonization by cheatgrass is also predicted to increase risk of wildfires, as dead plant parts provide fuel in the already dry and arid regions of the western United States. Biocontrol, grazing, prescribed burning, or use of broad-spectrum nonselective herbicides have been suggested as possible means to control B. tectorum. Efficient control may facilitate regrowth of native flora that could in turn support other ecosystem functions. Reporting our findings as a case study, we describe here the results of the application of a preemergent herbicide, indaziflam, that limits germination of B. tectorum seeds. Herbicide was applied to the study locations during the months of December 2016, January 2017, and February 2017. The data reported here on the diversity of flowering plants were collected between May through September 2018. Herbicide-treated plots showed an increase in diversity and abundance of flowering plants compared to the untreated control within two seasons after cheatgrass control was implemented, suggesting that effective reduction of the population of the invasive annual cheatgrass may help facilitate the growth of native forbs. Further studies are necessary to understand mechanisms that facilitate reestablishment of native flowering species, the long-term consequences of reducing invasive annual grasses and to document any residual effects of the herbicide on ground-nesting pollinators.

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-9
Author(s):  
Robert M. Anderson ◽  
Amy M. Lambert

The island marble butterfly (Euchloe ausonides insulanus), thought to be extinct throughout the 20th century until re-discovered on a single remote island in Puget Sound in 1998, has become the focus of a concerted protection effort to prevent its extinction. However, efforts to “restore” island marble habitat conflict with efforts to “restore” the prairie ecosystem where it lives, because of the butterfly’s use of a non-native “weedy” host plant. Through a case study of the island marble project, we examine the practice of ecological restoration as the enactment of particular norms that define which species are understood to belong in the place being restored. We contextualize this case study within ongoing debates over the value of “native” species, indicative of deep-seated uncertainties and anxieties about the role of human intervention to alter or manage landscapes and ecosystems, in the time commonly described as the “Anthropocene.” We interpret the question of “what plants and animals belong in a particular place?” as not a question of scientific truth, but a value-laden construct of environmental management in practice, and we argue for deeper reflexivity on the part of environmental scientists and managers about the social values that inform ecological restoration.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard P Bartlett ◽  
Alexandria Watkins

UNSTRUCTURED Background: This is an outpatient case study that examines two patients in the United States with unique cases that involve oncology, hypertension, Type II Diabetes Mellitus, and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), also known as COVID-19. This case study involves two patients in the outpatient setting - treated via telemedicine, with laboratory-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection in the West Texas region between March 29th, 2020, and May 14th, 2020. Case Report: The first patient is a 63-year-old female, non-smoker, who is diagnosed with Waldenstrom’s Macroglobulinemia (2012) and Primary Cutaneous Marginal Zone Lymphoma (2020) and the second patient is a 38-year-old male, non-smoker, who has the following comorbidities: Type II Diabetes Mellitus (DM), hypertension, and gout. Both patients were empirically started on budesonide 0.5mg nebulizer twice daily, clarithromycin (Biaxin) 500mg tab twice daily for ten days, Zinc 50mg tab twice daily, and aspirin 81mg tab daily. Both patients have fully recovered with no residual effects. Conclusion: The goal is to call attention to the success of proactive, early empirical treatment, combining a classic corticosteroid (budesonide) administered via a nebulizer and an oral macrolide antibiotic known as clarithromycin (Biaxin).


1990 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 245-249 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brenda S. Smith ◽  
Don S. Murray ◽  
J. D. Green ◽  
Wan M. Wanyahaya ◽  
David L. Weeks

Barnyardgrass, large crabgrass, and Texas panicum were evaluated in field experiments over 3 yr to measure their duration of interference and density on grain sorghum yield. When grain yield data were converted to a percentage of the weed-free control, linear regression predicted a 3.6% yield loss for each week of weed interference regardless of year or grass species. Grain sorghum grown in a narrow (61-cm) row spacing was affected little by full-season interference; however, in wide (91-cm) rows, interference increased as grass density increased. Data from the wide-row spacing were described by linear regression following conversion of grain yield to percentages and weed density to log10. A separate nonlinear model also was derived which could predict the effect of weed density on grain sorghum yield.


Insects ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (5) ◽  
pp. 462
Author(s):  
Enrico Ruzzier ◽  
Andrea Galli ◽  
Luciano Bani

Detecting and monitoring exotic and invasive Coleoptera is a complex activity to implement, and citizen science projects can provide significant contributions to such plans. Bottle traps are successfully used in wildlife surveys and can also be adapted for monitoring alien species; however, a sustainable, large scale trapping plan must take into account the collateral catches of native species and thus minimize its impact on local fauna. In the present paper, we tested the use of bottles baited with standard food products that can be purchased in every supermarket and immediately used (apple cider vinegar, red wine, and 80% ethyl alcohol) in capturing exotic and invasive beetles in the area surrounding Malpensa Airport (Italy). In particular, we reduced the exposition type of the traps in each sampling round to three days in order to minimize native species collecting. We found a significant effect of the environmental covariates (trap placement, temperature, humidity, and forest type) in affecting the efficiency in catching target beetles. Nearly all invasive Nitidulidae and Scarabaeidae known to be present in the area were captured in the traps, with apple cider vinegar usually being the most effective attractant, especially for the invasive Popillia japonica.


PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (3) ◽  
pp. e0237894
Author(s):  
Amy E. Kendig ◽  
Vida J. Svahnström ◽  
Ashish Adhikari ◽  
Philip F. Harmon ◽  
S. Luke Flory

Infectious diseases and invasive species can be strong drivers of biological systems that may interact to shift plant community composition. For example, disease can modify resource competition between invasive and native species. Invasive species tend to interact with a diversity of native species, and it is unclear how native species differ in response to disease-mediated competition with invasive species. Here, we quantified the biomass responses of three native North American grass species (Dichanthelium clandestinum, Elymus virginicus, and Eragrostis spectabilis) to disease-mediated competition with the non-native invasive grass Microstegium vimineum. The foliar fungal pathogen Bipolaris gigantea has recently emerged in Microstegium populations, causing a leaf spot disease that reduces Microstegium biomass and seed production. In a greenhouse experiment, we examined the effects of B. gigantea inoculation on two components of competitive ability for each native species: growth in the absence of competition and biomass responses to increasing densities of Microstegium. Bipolaris gigantea inoculation affected each of the three native species in unique ways, by increasing (Dichanthelium), decreasing (Elymus), or not changing (Eragrostis) their growth in the absence of competition relative to mock inoculation. Bipolaris gigantea inoculation did not, however, affect Microstegium biomass or mediate the effect of Microstegium density on native plant biomass. Thus, B. gigantea had species-specific effects on native plant competition with Microstegium through species-specific biomass responses to B. gigantea inoculation, but not through modified responses to Microstegium density. Our results suggest that disease may uniquely modify competitive interactions between invasive and native plants for different native plant species.


Author(s):  
Raj B. Patel ◽  
Ketan Tatu ◽  
R. D. Kamboj

The present study was conducted with an aim of documenting the diversity of flowering plants in selected localities in the estuarine and adjoining riparian zones of Sabarmati and Mahi rivers of Gujarat, India. The Sabarmati and Mahi rivers are west-flowing perennial rivers having considerable ecological and religious importance. A total of 40 species of flowering plants belonging to 26 different families were recorded in the study area which were dominated by herbaceous plants. Among the 40 species recorded 2 species were trees, 8 species were shrubs, 28 species were herbs and 2 species were grasses. Moreover, as far as ecological groups are concerned, 6 species were halophytes, 13 species were hydrophytes, 17 species were mesophytes and 4 species were xerophytes. In the study area of Sabarmati river, 28 species were recorded that included 2 tree species, 6 shrub species, 18 herb species and 2 grass species. From the view point of ecological groups 5 species were halophytes, 3 species were hydrophytes, 16 species were mesophytes and 4 species were xerophytes. In the study area of Mahi river, 24 species were recorded that included 2 tree species, 6 shrub species, 14 herb species and 2 grass species. From the view point of ecological groups 5 species were halophytes, 12 species were hydrophytes, 5 species were mesophytes and 2 species were xerophytes.


2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 63-75
Author(s):  
Muhammad Nauman Khan ◽  
Sajjad Ali ◽  
Tabassum Yaseen ◽  
Sami Ullah ◽  
Akhtar Zaman ◽  
...  

Background: The study of species diversity, its conservations and extinction can be done by using systematics in plant biodiversity. Poaceae is a very diverse grass family with great economic importance as it contains crops like rice, maize, oats, wheat, etc. Objectives: The current study was undertaken in district Charsadda during 2017-18 in flowering season to collect different grass species from the area. Methodology: Grass specimens were gathered, preserved, mounted and then identified from the available literature/native flora (Flora of Pakistan). Ecological parameters like habitat, class, life cycle and biological spectra were determined. A total of 51 taxa comprised of 34 genera, 5 subfamilies and 11 tribes of grasses were collected from the District Charsadda. The subfamily Panicoideae was the leading family with highest number of genera, taxa and tribes, followed by Pooideae. Results: The biological spectrum showed that in the life-form class, therophyte had the highest number of species 32 (62.74%), followed by hemicryptophyte having 13 species (25.49%). In the Leaf size class, microphylls were dominant with 24 species (47.05%) followed by nanophylls having 14 species (27.45%). The adaptational survival of plants showed that 32 species (62.74%) were terrestrial and 19 species (37.25%) were amphibious in our study. The Life-cycle class depicted that 33 species (64.70%) were annual, 17 species (33.33%) were perennial and 1 species (1.960%) was annual or perennial. The Palatability class showed that 35 species (68.62%) were highly palatable, followed by less-palatable 11 species (21.56%), non-palatable 2 species (3.921%) and moderately palatable 3 species (5.882%). The Abundant class were determined through species rating scale in ecology Acfor (Abundant Common Frequent Occasional Rare) scale to describe species abundance in a given area; 26 species (50.98%) were occasional, 12 species (23.52%) were frequent, 7 species (13.72%) were rare, 5 species (9.803%) were common and only 1 species cynodon dactylon (1.960%) was abundant in the whole area and present everywhere in the research area in every season. Conclusion: It has been concluded from the study that unwise collection, over-grazing, over-exploitation, over-consumption and overutilization are major biotic factors, which affect the diversity of the grasses in the area and affect the populations’ sustainability on the earth crust. Therefore, the study aims to document and explore wild grasses from the area, which might help in future researches. This survey will be helpful in identifying plant wealth and status for their exploitation on systematic approaches and scientific basis.


2021 ◽  
Vol 210 (07) ◽  
pp. 2-15
Author(s):  
Liliya Beksheneva ◽  
Antonina Reut

Abstract. The article presents the results of an experimental assessment of the peculiarities of the water regime of 9 species of the genus Iris L. growing in the South-Ural Botanical Garden-Institute UFRC RAS (I. sibirica L., I. pseudacorus L. ‒ species of native flora, I. aphylla L., I. biglumis Vahl., I. lacteal Pall., I. orientalis Mill., I. ruthenica Ker-Gawl., I. setosa Pall., I. spuria L. ‒ introduced species). The purpose is a comparative evaluation of the main parameters of the water regime within the generic complex and depending on the detection of meteorological factors in different phenological periods. Methods. Studies were performed in growing periods 2019–2020’s physiological using conventional techniques (artificial saturation method and wilting). Made a detailed analysis of daily and seasonal dynamics of the water regime of the three parameters: the total water content, water-holding capacity, water scarcity. Typical forest species Convallaria majalis L. was investigated for a comparative analysis of water regime indicators. Results. The similarities and differences in the peculiarities of the water regime were established between the studied species, the dependence of the indicators on meteorological conditions was revealed. According to the type of water regime cultivars were divided into four groups: a flexible water-quiet mode ‒ I. pseudacorus, flexible water-tight mode ‒ I. sibirica, I. ruthenica, stably-calm water mode ‒ I. aphylla, I. biglumis, I. setosa, stably-tight water mode ‒ I. spuria, I. lactea, I. orientalis. Among the studied parameters of water scarcity was the most dependent on meteorological factors. Scientific novelty. The study helps to identify ecological and physiological adaptations of exotic species in comparison with the native species that could become the basis for assessing the prospects of growing in the culture and conservation of rare and endangered species.


2019 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Dody Priosambodo ◽  
Khairul Amri ◽  
Mahatma Lanuru

Penelitian tentang inventarisasi spesies tumbuhan di pulau Barrangcaddi yang berpenduduk padat telah dilakukan. Tujuan penelitian ini adalah untuk mengetahui jenis-jenis tumbuhan asli, tumbuhan introduksi dan tumbuhan invasif di Pulau Barrangcaddi. Kegiatan sampling dilakukan dengan metode purposive sampling. Data diambil dengan mencatat semua spesies tumbuhan yang ditemukan selama penjelajahan di pulau Barrangcaddi. Seluruh sampel di foto. Sampel tumbuhan yang tidak diketahui namanya, di ambil bagian-bagiannya, kemudian dikoleksi dan diidentifikasi di laboratorium Ilmu Lingkungan dan Kelautan, Departemen Biologi, Fakultas MIPA, Universitas Hasanuddin. Identifikasi sampel menggunakan buku: An Annotated Check-List of The Vascular Plants of The South China Sea and Its Shores oleh Turner et al. (2000) dan Mangrove Guidebook for Southeast Asia oleh Wim Giesen et al. (2007) untuk spesies hutan pantai; Tropical flowering plants: a guide to identification and cultivation oleh Kirsten Albrecht Llamas (2003) untuk spesies tanaman hias dan tanaman budidaya/introduksi serta Nonnative Invasive Plants of Pacific Coast Forest. A Field Guide for Identification oleh Gray et al. (2011) dan Guide to The Naturalized and Invasive Plants of Southeast Asia oleh Arne Witt (2017) untuk spesies tumbuhan invasif. Dari hasil penelitian di pulau Barrangcaddi tercatat sebanyak 142 spesies tumbuhan dari 51 suku. Sebagian besar didominasi oleh tanaman hias dan budidaya (introduksi) dengan 103 spesies dari 42 suku diikuti spesies asli (native species) dengan jumlah 29 spesies dari 19 suku. Spesies invasif tercatat paling sedikit dengan jumlah 10 spesies dari 5 suku. Sebagian besar tutupan vegetasi dari spesies asli telah hilang akibat alih fungsi lahan menjadi permukiman.


1974 ◽  
Vol 22 (3) ◽  
pp. 195-206 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Hartmans

In pot and field experiments, N application somewhat increased the I content of the harvested crop, although I concentrations in the herbage decreased considerably (diluting effect of increased dry matter yields). Herbage I contents were not consistently affected by chemical fertilizers which produced no yield response. I contents were up to 13 times higher in dicotyledenous pasture species than in grasses. I contents varied between grass species and to less extent between varieties of a single species. Contrary to earlier New Zealand data, good quality grasses were lower in I content than medium-value and inferior grasses. Small I dressings were less effective than larger amounts in terms of percentage return in the harvested crop; residual effects in later cuts were always small. The effectiveness of I dressings depended on soil type and tended to be lowest on soils of low natural I content. ADDITIONAL ABSTRACT: Studies were with ryegrass in pots and pastures. N dressing increased I uptake by the crop but reduced the I content considerably because of the diluting effect of higher DM yields. Dressing with fertilizers which did increase yield did not affect herbage I content consistently. Dicotyledonous species in pasture had I contents up to 13 times that of grasses. The I content of grasses varied over a 2-fold range but variation was smaller in a given species. Good quality grasses had a lower I content than inferior grasses. Smaller I dressings gave a smaller percentage return in the crop than larger amounts; the efficiency depended on soil type and tended to be less for soils with the lowest natural I content. (Abstract retrieved from CAB Abstracts by CABI’s permission)


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