Survival of transplanted terrestrial orchid seedlings in urban bushland habitats with high or low weed cover

2006 ◽  
Vol 54 (4) ◽  
pp. 383 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Scade ◽  
M. C. Brundrett ◽  
A. L. Batty ◽  
K. W. Dixon ◽  
K. Sivasithamparam
Keyword(s):  
Seedling Survival ◽  
Canopy Cover ◽  
Growing Season ◽  
Wire Mesh ◽  
Terrestrial Orchid ◽  
Natural Habitats ◽  
Orchid Species ◽  
Weed Cover ◽  
Orchid Seed ◽  
Adjacent Field

The conservation of wild orchid populations may depend on the establishment of propagated orchids to field sites to help sustain depleted populations if natural recruitment is not successful. However, very little is known about biotic factors which influence the establishment of terrestrial orchid seedlings in natural habitats. An experiment was established to measure the survival of six orchid species during their first growing season following transplantation to a West Australian urban bushland with a Banksia and Eucalyptus canopy and understorey dominated either by weeds or native vegetation. Symbiotically germinated orchid seedlings raised in the laboratory for 5 months before planting were established in adjacent field sites with high or low weed cover. There was a gradual mortality of seedlings at field sites throughout the growing season, primarily owing to insect grazing, and this was not affected by the enclosure of seedlings by wire mesh or shade cloth. Overall rates of survival varied from 49% for Microtis media R.Br., a species capable of growing in disturbed habitats, to 21% for Caladenia arenicola Hopper & A.P.Brown, the most common native orchid at these sites. However, not all surviving seedlings produced a tuber, so their expected rate of survival after the next dry season was reduced further. The factors having the greatest impact on seedling survival were site aspect (slope and canopy cover), weed cover and orchid species respectively. Orchid seedling survival was not well correlated with the presence of existing orchids of the same species at the same sites or the presence of compatible fungi in soil at these sites (simultaneously measured by orchid seed baiting).

scholarly journals Orchid conservation: the next ten years

Lankesteriana ◽  
2013 ◽  
Author(s):  
Philip Seaton ◽  
Jonathan P. Kendon ◽  
Hugh W. Pritchard ◽  
Dwi Murti Puspitaningtyas ◽  
Tim R. Marks
Keyword(s):  
Endangered Species ◽  
Action Plan ◽  
Sustainable Use ◽  
Rapid Decline ◽  
Conservation Action ◽  
Natural Habitats ◽  
Orchid Species ◽  
Orchid Conservation ◽  
Orchid Seed ◽  
Made In

In 1996 the IUCN/SSC Orchid Specialist Group published a Status Survey and Conservation Action Plan that included a number of recommendations designed to address the problem of a projected imminent and rapid decline of species. Orchids remain subject to a multiplicity of threats in their natural habitats and, in addition to the usual suspects of habitat loss and land conversion, climate change has exerted a measurable effect on some orchid populations. Collection of orchids for traditional medicine is having a significant effect both within China and surrounding countries. Some progress has been made in achieving the targets set for Red Listing of endangered species in some countries, but other countries are lagging behind. In addition to successful initiatives in preserving natural habitats, a number of projects around the world have demonstrated that it is possible both to bring endangered species into cultivation and successfully reintroduce them into the wild. Orchid Seed Stores for Sustainable Use, with its goal of storing seeds representing a minimum of 1000 orchid species in institutes in at least 30 countries over the next five years, provides an example of what can be achieved by a small, dedicated group determined to share their technical expertise and develop a deeper understanding of the underlying science. There is, however, also an urgent need to promote awareness in the wider community about the importance of all sorts of biodiversity (not only orchids) through educational programs and involve people from as wide a range of backgrounds as possible.

Distribution and habitat preference of protected reindeer lichen species (Cladonia arbuscula, C. mitis and C. rangiferina) in the Balaton Uplands (Hungary)

2021 ◽  
Vol 53 (3) ◽  
pp. 271-282
Author(s):  
Mónika Sinigla ◽  
Erzsébet Szurdoki ◽  
László Lőkös ◽  
Dénes Bartha ◽  
István Galambos ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Vascular Plants ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Soil Depth ◽  
Habitat Preferences ◽  
Habitat Type ◽  
Canopy Cover ◽  
Lichen Species ◽  
Oak Forests ◽  
Natural Habitats ◽  
Cladonia Rangiferina

AbstractThe maintenance of protected lichen species and their biodiversity in general depends on good management practices based on their distribution and habitat preferences. To date, 10 of the 17 protected lichen species of Hungary have been recorded in the Bakony Mts including the Balaton Uplands region. Habitat preferences of three protected Cladonia species (C. arbuscula, C. mitis and C. rangiferina) growing on underlying rocks of red sandstone, basalt, Pannonian sandstone and gravel were investigated by detailed sampling. We recorded aspect, underlying rock type, soil depth, pH and CaCO3 content, habitat type (as defined by the General National Habitat Classification System Á-NÉR), all species of lichen, bryophyte and vascular plants as well as percentage cover of exposed rock, total bryophytes, lichens, vascular plants and canopy, degree of disturbance and animal impacts. Sporadic populations of these species mostly exist at the top of hills and mountains in open acidofrequent oak forests, but they may occur in other habitats, such as closed acidofrequent oak forests, slope steppes on stony soils, siliceous open rocky grasslands, open sand steppes, wet and mesic pioneer scrub and dry Calluna heaths. Cladonia rangiferina was found to grow beneath higher canopy cover than either C. arbuscula or C. mitis in the Balaton Uplands. Furthermore, there were significant differences in canopy cover between occupied and unoccupied quadrats in the case of all three species. Cladonia rangiferina is a good indicator species of natural habitats in Hungary due to its restricted distribution and low ecological tolerance. These results may lead to the adoption of effective conservation methods (e.g. game exclusion, artificial dispersal) in the future.

scholarly journals Resource selection by Javan Slow Loris Nycticebus javanicus E. Geoffroy, 1812 (Mammalia: Primates: Lorisidae) in a lowland fragmented forest in Central Java, Indonesia

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (6) ◽  
pp. 13667-13679 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mahfut Sodik ◽  
Satyawan Pudyatmoko ◽  
Pujo Semedi Hargo Yuwono ◽  
Muhammad Ali Imron
Keyword(s):  
Resource Selection ◽  
Small Sample Size ◽  
Canopy Cover ◽  
Small Sample ◽  
Habitat Characteristics ◽  
Ratio Test ◽  
Natural Habitats ◽  
Slow Loris ◽  
Central Java ◽  
Habitat Variables

Habitat loss and forest fragmentation have negative impacts on Javan Slow Loris Nycticebus javanicus, a Critically Endangered nocturnal primate endemic to Java.  Reports confirmed that less than 9% of forest area remains on Java Island.  One of the remaining natural habitats of the Javan Slow Loris is the fragment of Kemuning Forest in Temanggung Regency, Central Java.  The purpose of this study was to determine resource selection and habitat variables that determine the presence of Javan Slow Loris.  Habitat variables measured were basal area, tree connectivity, crown coverage on tree stage, slope, elevation, and distance to river.  Data analysis performed was logistic regression, likelihood ratio test, and Akaike’s Information Criterion with a backward elimination procedure.  We also used direct observation and interviews with locals to collect data on environment and anthropogenic features of this forest.  The results showed that the Javan Slow Loris uses resources selectively on a microhabitat scale.  The habitat factors that influence the probability of resource selection by the species are canopy cover and slope.  Habitat characteristics preferred by the Javan Slow Loris in Kemuning Forest are secondary lowland tropical rainforest with dense canopy cover located on a steep slope with low level of habitat disturbances.  Although this study uses a small sample size, the expectation is that the results can be used as preliminary information for the habitat and population management of Javan Slow Loris in Kemuning Forest to guide conservation efforts and design management strategies.

scholarly journals Using Canopy Measurements to Predict Soybean Seed Yield

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (16) ◽  
pp. 3260
Author(s):  
Peder K. Schmitz ◽  
Hans J. Kandel
Keyword(s):  
Seed Yield ◽  
Prediction Models ◽  
Plant Density ◽  
Soybean Seed ◽  
Canopy Cover ◽  
Growing Season ◽  
Practical Method ◽  
Coefficient Of Determination ◽  
Planting Dates ◽  
The Individual

Predicting soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] seed yield is of interest for crop producers to make important agronomic and economic decisions. Evaluating the soybean canopy across a range of common agronomic practices, using canopy measurements, provides a large inference for soybean producers. The individual and synergistic relationships between fractional green canopy cover (FGCC), photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) interception, and a normalized difference vegetative index (NDVI) measurements taken throughout the growing season to predict soybean seed yield in North Dakota, USA, were investigated in 12 environments. Canopy measurements were evaluated across early and late planting dates, 407,000 and 457,000 seeds ha−1 seeding rates, 0.5 and 0.8 relative maturities, and 30.5 and 61 cm row spacings. The single best yield predictor was an NDVI measurement at R5 (beginning of seed development) with a coefficient of determination of 0.65 followed by an FGCC measurement at R5 (R2 = 0.52). Stepwise and Lasso multiple regression methods were used to select the best prediction models using the canopy measurements explaining 69% and 67% of the variation in yield, respectively. Including plant density, which can be easily measured by a producer, with an individual canopy measurement did not improve the explanation in yield. Using FGCC to estimate yield across the growing season explained a range of 49% to 56% of yield variation, and a single FGCC measurement at R5 (R2 = 0.52) being the most efficient and practical method for a soybean producer to estimate yield.

scholarly journals Impacts of Forest Thinning and White-Tailed Deer Herbivory on Translocation of the Rare Terrestrial Orchid Platanthera integrilabia

Diversity ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (11) ◽  
pp. 412
Author(s):  
Savanna Wooten ◽  
Geoff Call ◽  
Adam Dattilo ◽  
Jennifer Cruse-Sanders ◽  
Jennifer Nagel Boyd
Keyword(s):  
Habitat Management ◽  
Light Availability ◽  
Habitat Conditions ◽  
Viable Option ◽  
Terrestrial Orchid ◽  
Orchid Species ◽  
Deer Herbivory ◽  
Historical Distribution ◽  
New Occurrences ◽  
Growth And Reproduction

Translocation is increasingly being used to supplement existing occurrences and establish new occurrences of rare plant species, but translocation success is dependent on understanding responses to habitat conditions and management. Platanthera integrilabia (white fringeless orchid) is a rare terrestrial orchid species presently found in mostly small occurrences that comprise a fraction of its historical distribution and abundance in the southeastern United States. We investigated the influence of shade and white-tailed deer herbivory, as cited concerns for this species, on the early success of its translocation from tubers as determined through measures of emergence, survival, growth, and reproduction of two cohorts. Our findings suggest that translocation from tubers could be a viable option to assist the conservation of P. integrilabia relative to its propagation from seed, but that low early emergence, survival, and flowering rates should be considered in translocation plans. Our results also indicate that translocation and ongoing habitat management should consider the potential for light availability to differentially impact distinct plant life stages and influence deer herbivory. We recommend that additional translocation studies designed to investigate the influence of site conditions on outcomes could improve the success of such efforts as well as inform the management of extant occurrences.

Scientific approaches to Australian temperate terrestrial orchid conservation

2007 ◽  
Vol 55 (3) ◽  
pp. 293 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark C. Brundrett
Keyword(s):  
Mycorrhizal Fungi ◽  
Three Dimensions ◽  
Natural Habitats ◽  
Mycorrhizal Associations ◽  
Terrestrial Orchids ◽  
Key Factor ◽  
Orchid Seed ◽  
Declining Populations ◽  
Feral Animals ◽  
Sexually Deceptive Orchids

This review summarises scientific knowledge concerning the mycorrhizal associations, pollination, demographics, genetics and evolution of Australian terrestrial orchids relevant to conservation. The orchid family is highly diverse in Western Australia (WA), with over 400 recognised taxa of which 76 are Declared Rare or Priority Flora. Major threats to rare orchids in WA include habitat loss, salinity, feral animals and drought. These threats require science-based recovery actions resulting from collaborations between universities, government agencies and community groups. Fungal identification by DNA-based methods in combination with compatibility testing by germination assays has revealed a complex picture of orchid–fungus diversity and specificity. The majority of rare and common WA orchids studied have highly specific mycorrhizal associations with fungi in the Rhizoctonia alliance, but some associate with a wider diversity of fungi. These fungi may be a key factor influencing the distribution of orchids and their presence can be tested by orchid seed bait bioassays. These bioassays show that mycorrhizal fungi are concentrated in coarse organic matter that may be depleted in some habitats (e.g. by frequent fire). Mycorrhizal fungi also allow efficient propagation of terrestrial orchids for reintroduction into natural habitats and for bioassays to test habitat quality. Four categories of WA orchids are defined by the following pollination strategies: (i) nectar-producing flowers with diverse pollinators, (ii) non-rewarding flowers that mimic other plants, (iii) winter-flowering orchids that attract fungus-feeding insects and (iv) sexually deceptive orchids with relatively specific pollinators. An exceptionally high proportion of WA orchids have specific insect pollinators. Bioassays testing orchid-pollinator specificity can define habitats and separate closely related species. Other research has revealed the chemical basis for insect attraction to orchids and the ecological consequences of deceptive pollination. Genetic studies have revealed that the structure of orchid populations is influenced by pollination, seed dispersal, reproductive isolation and hybridisation. Long-term demographic studies determine the viability of orchid populations, estimate rates of transition between seedling, flowering, non-flowering and dormant states and reveal factors, such as grazing and competition, that result in declining populations. It is difficult to define potential new habitats for rare orchids because of their specific relationships with fungi and insects. An understanding of all three dimensions of orchid habitat requirements can be provided by bioassays with seed baits for fungi, flowers for insects and transplanted seedlings for orchid demography. The majority of both rare and common WA orchids have highly specific associations with pollinating insects and mycorrhizal fungi, suggesting that evolution has favoured increasing specificity in these relationships in the ancient landscapes of WA.

Seed-bank contributions to regeneration of shrub species after clear-cutting and burning

1988 ◽  
Vol 66 (1) ◽  
pp. 169-172 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. Morgan ◽  
L. F. Neuenschwander
Keyword(s):  
Seed Bank ◽  
Seedling Survival ◽  
Habitat Type ◽  
Canopy Cover ◽  
Abundant Species ◽  
Seed Banks ◽  
Thuja Plicata ◽  
Seed Density ◽  
Shrub Species ◽  
Clear Cutting

Seed banks contributed significantly to regeneration of early seral shrubs after clear-cutting and fall broadcast burning of dense coniferous forests of the Thuja plicata/Clintonia uniflora habitat type in northern Idaho. Seeds were separated from 36 samples of soil and surface organic matter from 15 uncut forest stands. Total seed density averaged 1151 ± 1896 seeds/m2, and seed density for individual shrub species ranged from 1 ± 3 to 690 ± 1728 seeds/m2. Canopy cover of the "obligate" seed bank species, such as Ceanothus sanguineus and Prunus emarginata, was low or nonexistent in uncut forests, seed constancy and density in seed bank were high, and seedling regeneration on 2-year-old burns was abundant. Species that were "non-reliant" on seed banks, including Symphoricarpos albus and Rosa gymnocarpa, resprouted and no seedlings were found after burning. Response of "opportunistic" seed-bank species such as Rubus parviflorus and Rubus ursinus was intermediate; both seedling and sprout regeneration occurred after cutting and burning. These species existed in uncut stands both in the seed bank and in the understory. Burn severity affected germination and (or) seedling survival of Ceanothus sanguineus. Its percent canopy cover was greater on high-severity than on low-severity 2-year-old burns.

scholarly journals Asymbiotic in vitro germination and seed quality assessment of Australian terrestrial orchids

2012 ◽  
Vol 60 (7) ◽  
pp. 592 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicole Dowling ◽  
Manfred Jusaitis
Keyword(s):  
Seed Quality ◽  
Culture Media ◽  
Vital Staining ◽  
Terrestrial Orchid ◽  
Triphenyltetrazolium Chloride ◽  
Asymbiotic Seed Germination ◽  
Orchid Species ◽  
Terrestrial Orchids ◽  
Asymbiotic Germination

Determining the seed quality and germination requirements for threatened orchid species in storage is vital for future conservation efforts. Seeds of many Australian terrestrial orchid species are held in conservation collections around the country, but few have been germinated in vitro, fuelling concerns over their long-term viability. This study tested three methods of assessing orchid seed quality; asymbiotic germination was compared with vital staining using triphenyltetrazolium chloride or fluorescein diacetate. Six culture media were examined for efficacy in promoting asymbiotic seed germination of four Australian terrestrial orchid species (Pterostylis nutans, Microtis arenaria, Thelymitra pauciflora and Prasophyllum pruinosum). Germination occurred on all media but germination rates were consistently highest on BM1 and development was most advanced on BM1, P723 and Malmgren media. Subsequent trials tested the efficacy of BM1 for asymbiotic germination of additional genera (Caladenia, Calochilus and Diuris), several congeneric species, and two species collected from several different provenances within each of their ranges. The results indicate that asymbiotic germination on BM1 medium is an effective technique for testing the performance of Australian terrestrial orchid seeds. The efficacy of vital stains to determine seed viability, however, remains uncertain, as significant disagreement between degree of staining and germinability was observed for some species.

scholarly journals Genomic diversity guides conservation strategies among rare terrestrial orchid species when taxonomy remains uncertain

2017 ◽  
Vol 119 (8) ◽  
pp. 1267-1277 ◽  
Author(s):  
Collin W. Ahrens ◽  
Megan A. Supple ◽  
Nicola C. Aitken ◽  
David J. Cantrill ◽  
Justin O. Borevitz ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Genomic Diversity ◽  
Conservation Strategies ◽  
Terrestrial Orchid ◽  
Orchid Species

scholarly journals Understanding the distribution of three species of epiphytic orchids in temperate Australian rainforest by investigation of their host and fungal associates

Lankesteriana ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 7 (1-2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kelli Gowland ◽  
Ulrike Mathesius ◽  
Mark Clements ◽  
Adrienne Nicotra
Keyword(s):  
Mycorrhizal Fungi ◽  
Local Environment ◽  
Direct Consequence ◽  
Environmental Constraints ◽  
Terrestrial Orchid ◽  
Orchid Species ◽  
Epiphytic Orchids ◽  
Carbon Transfer ◽  
Orchid Mycorrhizal Fungi ◽  
Fungal Associates

Understanding the environmental constraints that affect species distributions are critical to the mainte- nance of biodiversity. The abundance of epiphytic organisms, those that grow on another substrate, such as a tree or rock, is a direct consequence of the avail- ability and distribution of these substrates (Ackerman et al. 1989). In the case of epiphytic orchids it is also due to the presence of orchid mycorrhizal fungi (OMF). For an orchid, crucial to its germination and establishment, is its association with an OMF. The OMF provides a carbon source to the developing orchid embryo (Rasmussen 1995). Although recipro- cal carbon transfer has been demonstrated in mature plants of a green, terrestrial, orchid species, Goodyera repens (Cameron et al. 2006), it is generally believed that OMF receive no immediate benefit from their association with orchids. Therefore, it would appear intuitive that orchids would associate with all OMF available within their local environment and that they would actively seek this association. 

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