Extrafloral nectaries in an Australian rainforest: structure and distribution

Extrafloral nectaries (EFNs) are of ecological, evolutionary and taxonomic importance in many plants, but are often overlooked in botanical descriptions and have rarely been studied in humid Australian forests. We examined EFNs in a tropical rainforest in northern Queensland, Australia. A total of 29 plant species was found bearing EFNs within the 1-ha study plot at the Australian Canopy Crane Project and an additional 10 EFN species were found in rainforests and other habitats outside, but nearby, the plot. The records include 12 genera in which EFNs have not been previously reported (Ardisia, Bambusa, Castanospermum, Dysoxylum, Melicope, Flagellaria, Glochidion, Ichnocarpus, Merremia, Rockinghamia, Syzygium, Wrightia), including one new family (Flagellariaceae). In the study plot, 13 tree species (17% of tree species with dbh >10 cm), 10 climbing plant species (21%) and six shrubs had EFNs, a similar proportion compared with tropical forests on other continents. Morphology of most EFNs was studied by using scanning electron and light microscopy. Extrafloral nectaries were assigned to five different structural types (sensu Zimmermann 1932): flattened, elevated, pit, scale-like and formless nectaries. EFNs from all species were regularly visited by ants, allowing detection of many otherwise inconspicuous nectaries.

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Plant Diversity, Ethnobotany and Conservation Issues at Swoyambhu World Heritage, Kathmandu, Nepal

Nepal Journal of Science and Technology ◽

10.3126/njst.v7i0.583 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 7 ◽

pp. 123 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Keshab Shrestha

Keyword(s):

Tropical Forest ◽

Exotic Species ◽

Plant Species ◽

Plant Diversity ◽

Tree Species ◽

Human Population ◽

Northern Slope ◽

Pinus Roxburghii ◽

Total Plant ◽

Pristine Forest

Lying at western corner of the Kathmandu city, the Swoyambhu hillock (1403.76m) represents a surviving pristine forest in the metropolitan capital of Nepal. Once an extension of Jamaca (2096m) with luxuriant sub-tropical forest is now invaded by dense human population and other developmental activities. This hillock is still rich with a total plant species of 319. Of them, 65 are trees, 43 shrubs, 194 herbs and 17 climbers. Northern slope of the hillock is rich in tree species with scattered patches of under-growing bushes and ferns, whereas southern, western and eastern slopes are much disturbed with exotic species of plants, creating challenges to the norms of the heritage standard. Domination by Pinus roxburghii (chire pine) and Eucalyptus, Jacaranda and Callistemon, etc are altering the indigenous nature of the hillock. And also the forested hillock has been randomly utilized for refreshment, yoga, ayurbedic remedy and food. Due to growing constructions and exploitations, the forested hillock is now facing a threat to maintain its pristine ecosystem. <i>Nepal Journal of Science and Technology</i> Vol. 7, 2006

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Diversity of Tree Species in Rivers State University, Port Harcourt, Nigeria

Asian Journal of Research in Agriculture and Forestry ◽

10.9734/ajraf/2021/v7i430140 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 67-72

Author(s):

P. C. Nnadi ◽

B. B. Otene ◽

Nwiisator David-Sarogoro

Keyword(s):

Plant Species ◽

Tree Species ◽

Dominant Species ◽

Species Abundance ◽

State University ◽

University Campus ◽

Management Interventions ◽

Port Harcourt ◽

Pinus Spp ◽

Rivers State

This study was carried out to examine the distribution of plant species in Rivers State University campus at different locations at the Rivers State University Nkpolu-Oroworukwo Port Harcourt Nigeria. The general objective of this study was to examine the Ecological distribution of plant species in Rivers State University campus at different locations. The specific objective was to determine the species abundance of various plants in the study area and also to examine the ecological diversity of tree species in the various groups. The study area was divided into three groups (stations) with the various plants species identified and recorded. Data gotten from the field was analyzed using descriptive statistic and some ecological indices such as Margalef, Mehinick, Shannon diversity, Shannon Wiener, Evenness/Equitability and Simpson dominance. A total of one thousand Sixty-nine (1069) individual plant were identified with 16, 17 and 12 species in stations 1-3 respectively. The highest individual plants (561) were observed in station 1 while the least (87) were observed in station 3. The mean values of stations 1 and 2 were significantly and statistically different from site 3 at p<0.05. The results obtained showed some dominant species to include Elaeis guincensis, Polyaithia longifolia, Pinus spp, Gmelina arborea, Wodyetia bifareata, Citrus sinensis, Cocos nuciferia while others were the least dominant species found in the study area. The Margalef, Mehinicks and Shannon Wiener values were consistently highest in station 2 but lowest in station 3. Human disturbances had negative impact on tree species abundance especially in site 3. It is therefore recommended that management interventions are necessary in other to stop indiscriminate felling of the various trees species that made up the different groups.

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The Draft Genome Assembly of the Critically Endangered Nyssa yunnanensis, a Plant Species with Extremely Small Populations Endemic to Yunnan Province, China

10.20944/preprints202005.0417.v1 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Weixue Mu ◽

Jinpu Wei ◽

Ting Yang ◽

Yannan Fan ◽

Le Cheng ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Plant Species ◽

Tree Species ◽

Yunnan Province ◽

De Novo ◽

Higher Plants ◽

Draft Genome ◽

Critically Endangered ◽

Deciduous Tree ◽

Conservation Strategies ◽

Small Populations

Nyssa yunnanensis is a deciduous tree in family Nayssaceae within the order Cornales. As only 8 individuals in 2 sites recorded in Yunnan province of China, the species was listed as the China’s national grade-I protection species in 1999, and also as one of 120 PSESP(Plant Species with Extremely Small Populations) in Implementation Plan of Rescuing and Conserving China’s Plant Species with extremely Small Populations(PSESP) (2011-2-15). N. yunnanensis was also been evaluated as Critically Endangered in IUCN red list and Threatened Species List of China's Higher Plants. Hence understanding the genomic characteristics of this highly endangered Tertiary relict tree species is essential, especially for developing conservation strategies. Here we sequenced and annotated the genome of N. yunnanensis using 10X genomics linked-reads sequencing data. The de novo assembled genome is 1474Mb in length with a scaffold N50 length of 985.59kb. We identified 823.51Mb of non-redundant sequence as repetitive elements and annotated 39,803 protein-coding genes in the assembly. Our result provided the genomic characteristics of N. yunnanensis, which will provide valuable resources for future genomic and evolutionary studies, especially for conservation biology studies of this extremely threatened tree species.

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Plântulas de espécies arbóreas na floresta ciliar do rio Mogi Guaçu, Pirassununga, SP, Brasil

Hoehnea ◽

10.1590/2236-8906-112/2020 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 48 ◽

Author(s):

Israel Henrique Buttner Queiroz ◽

Ricardo Augusto Gorne Viani ◽

Renata Sebastiani

Keyword(s):

River Basin ◽

Plant Species ◽

Tree Species ◽

Riparian Forest ◽

The State ◽

Forest Area ◽

Forest Community ◽

Adult Individual ◽

Morphological Aspects ◽

Forest Remnant

RESUMO The permanence of a plant species in a forest community depends on its number of specimens and its distribution in the various sizes of individuals, including seedlings. Seedlings and seeds from a forest remnant in Pirassununga were collected and analyzed for the degree of threat, possible height of the adult individual, occurrence in phytophysiognomies and region and morphological aspects. 116 seedlings available in 39 morphospecies were collected, and the germination of collected seeds provided 40 species. The present study brought news regarding the morphological aspects, the identification and the distribution of seedlings of tree species in a riparian forest area in the Mogi Guaçu River Basin and in the State of São Paulo.

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Plant, fungal, bacterial, and nitrogen interactions in the litter layer of a native Patagonian forest

PeerJ ◽

10.7717/peerj.4754 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 6 ◽

pp. e4754 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Lucía Vivanco ◽

Nicolás Rascovan ◽

Amy T. Austin

Keyword(s):

Bacterial Community ◽

Litter Decomposition ◽

Plant Species ◽

Tree Species ◽

Microbial Interactions ◽

N Addition ◽

Litter Layer ◽

Species Identity ◽

Single Tree ◽

Stimulation Of

Plant–microbial interactions in the litter layer represent one of the most relevant interactions for biogeochemical cycling as litter decomposition is a key first step in carbon and nitrogen turnover. However, our understanding of these interactions in the litter layer remains elusive. In an old-growth mixed Nothofagus forest in Patagonia, we studied the effects of single tree species identity and the mixture of three tree species on the fungal and bacterial composition in the litter layer. We also evaluated the effects of nitrogen (N) addition on these plant–microbial interactions. In addition, we compared the magnitude of stimulation of litter decomposition due to home field advantage (HFA, decomposition occurs more rapidly when litter is placed beneath the plant species from which it had been derived than beneath a different plant species) and N addition that we previously demonstrated in this same forest, and used microbial information to interpret these results. Tree species identity had a strong and significant effect on the composition of fungal communities but not on the bacterial community of the litter layer. The microbial composition of the litter layer under the tree species mixture show an averaged contribution of each single tree species. N addition did not erase the plant species footprint on the fungal community, and neither altered the bacterial community. N addition stimulated litter decomposition as much as HFA for certain tree species, but the mechanisms behind N and HFA stimulation may have differed. Our results suggest that stimulation of decomposition from N addition might have occurred due to increased microbial activity without large changes in microbial community composition, while HFA may have resulted principally from plant species’ effects on the litter fungal community. Together, our results suggest that plant–microbial interactions can be an unconsidered driver of litter decomposition in temperate forests.

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Attraction of flower visitors to plants that express indirect defence can minimize ecological costs of ant–pollinator conflicts

Journal of Tropical Ecology ◽

10.1017/s0266467410000234 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 26 (5) ◽

pp. 555-557 ◽

Cited By ~ 16

Author(s):

Johnattan Hernández-Cumplido ◽

Betty Benrey ◽

Martin Heil

Keyword(s):

Plant Species ◽

Extrafloral Nectaries ◽

Food Sources ◽

Extrafloral Nectar ◽

Indirect Defence ◽

Flower Visitors ◽

Antagonistic Interactions

Thousands of plant species throughout tropical and temperate zones secrete extrafloral nectar (EFN) (see www.biosci.unl.edu/emeriti/keeler/extrafloral/worldlistfamilies.htm) to attract ants, whose presence leads to an indirect defence against herbivores (Chamberlain & Holland 2009, Heil 2008, Heil & McKey 2003, Rico-Gray & Oliveira 2007). Although termed ‘extrafloral’ because the nectar is not involved in pollination, EFN can also be secreted within the inflorescences (Bentley 1977, Holland et al. 2010, Martins 2009). Because ants tend to defend reliable food sources against all types of putative competitors, it has been hypothesized that the presence of extrafloral nectaries close to flowers may lead to competition among ants and pollinators, or even to direct ant–pollinator conflicts. Such antagonistic interactions would reduce the access of pollinators to flowers and, thereby, may cause significant ‘ecological costs’ of indirect, ant-mediated defences (Heil 2002).

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SHADING AND LIGHT INTERCEPTION IN THICKETS OF INVASIVE ACER NEGUNDO AND SORBARIA SORBIFOLIA

Russian Journal of Biological Invasions ◽

10.35885/1996-1499-2021-14-4-30-42 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 14 (4) ◽

pp. 30-42

Author(s):

D. V. Veselkin ◽

D. I. Dubrovin ◽

O. S. Rafikova ◽

Y. A. Lipikhina ◽

N. V. Zolotareva ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Plant Species ◽

Tree Species ◽

Invasive Plant ◽

Light Interception ◽

Rubus Idaeus ◽

Middle Urals ◽

Forest Edges ◽

Acer Negundo ◽

Invasive Shrub ◽

Forest Parks

The aim of the work is to establish how greatly the light conditions change under the leaf canopy of two invasive plant species in the Middle Urals - Acer negundo and Sorbaria sorbifolia . In June - August 2020, using a portable light meter, 8370 measurements of illumination were performed in forest parks (at a height of 1.5 and 0.5 m, i.e. above and below the canopy of the leaves of the invasive shrub S. sorbifolia and the native shrub Rubus idaeus ; in random points under the canopies of Pinus sylvestris ; on glades, paths and forest edges) and in urban habitats (at a height of 1.5 m and 0.5 m in dense thickets of the invasive tree A. negundo and other tree species). The average illumination intensity was as following: under S. sorbifolia - 4 ± 1 lux × 10; under R. idaeus - 7 ± 1 lux × 10; in A. negundo thickets - 13 ± 2 lux × 10; in thickets of other tree species - 25 ± 4 lux × 10; under the canopies of urban pine forests - 80 ± 10 lux × 10; in the forest edges - 96 ± 14 lux × 10. In dense thickets, A. negundo intercepts about 94% of the light falling on its canopies, S. sorbifolia - about 93%. This is significantly higher than the light interception level in habitats used as control: other tree species canopies of greatly urbanized habitats intercept about 89%, the thickets of R. idaeus - about 82%. Thus, invasive plants reduce the amount of light available to other plant species in communities significantly more than native plants.

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Preliminary ethnobotanical studies of the Rwenzori Mountain forest area in Bundibugyo District, Uganda

Bothalia ◽

10.4102/abc.v25i1.720 ◽

1995 ◽

Vol 25 (1) ◽

pp. 111-119 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

H. Oryem-Origa ◽

E. K. Z. Kakudidi ◽

A. B. Katande ◽

Z. R. Bukenya

Keyword(s):

Plant Species ◽

Fruits And Vegetables ◽

Local Population ◽

Local Communities ◽

Forest Resources ◽

Forest Area ◽

Mountain Forest ◽

Plant Biodiversity ◽

Toilet Paper ◽

Study Plot

Ethnobotanical studies of the Rwenzori Mountain forest area in Bundibugyo District in Uganda were carried out between May and December 1991, and covered the northern part of the Rwenzori Mountain slopes occupied by the Bakonjo people. The presence of a major footpath through the forest with numerous utility trails radiating from it showed that some forest resources are being sought by the local population. Plant biodiversity is high, as is indicated by the fact that in a study plot of only 4 250 m , a total of 115 plant species, 101 genera and 57 families were identified from a collection of 300 plant specimens. Seventy-seven plant species were found to be of some importance to the local communities. Out of the 77 useful plant species recorded: 22 species were used for medicinal purposes; 16 for firewood; 13 for construction, joinery and furniture; 12 for craftwork; 10 provided edible fruits and vegetables; and 27 were used for a variety of other purposes. These other purposes include construction of shrines, covering of granary floors, use as toilet paper, carry ing luggage, and fodder for goats, sheep and cattle. Arundinaria alpina K. Schum. (bamboo) is the species that is most extensively harvested from the forest.

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Suitability of Wild Host Plants and Firewood as Hosts of Prostephanus truncatus (Coleoptera: Bostrichidae) in Mozambique

Journal of Economic Entomology ◽

10.1093/jee/toz042 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 112 (4) ◽

pp. 1705-1712 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Bernardo L Muatinte ◽

Johnnie Van den Berg

Keyword(s):

Plant Species ◽

Tree Species ◽

Host Plants ◽

Crop Residues ◽

Grass Species ◽

Small Scale ◽

Prostephanus Truncatus ◽

Maize Crop ◽

Wild Host ◽

Brachystegia Spiciformis

Abstract Prostephanus truncatus (Horn) (Coleoptera: Bostrichidae) populations are maintained in wild host plants such as trees that act as pest reservoirs from where beetle infestation of maize granaries take place. In this study, we assessed the suitability of plant species sold and transported as firewood as well as other plant species in Mozambique as hosts for P. truncatus. Prostephanus truncatus was only recorded from three tree species, which are sold as firewood, i.e., Brachystegia spiciformis, Strychnos spinosa, and Colophospermum mopane. The pest survived and bred in 13 tree and 7 grass species. Dry wood of several tree species and the grasses Acroceras macrum and Hyparrhenia hirta were suitable hosts for pest development. Sale and transport of certain firewood species may be an important driver of the spread of this pest. The importance of dry maize stalks and several grass species in sustaining pest populations is described for the first time. Several grass species are used as thatch or fencing material and, together with maize crop residues close to small-scale granaries, may provide significant sources of beetle infestation.

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