The European bison as seed dispersers: the effect on the species composition of a disturbed pine forest community

Botany ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 86 (5) ◽  
pp. 475-484 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bogdan Jaroszewicz ◽  
Ewa Pirożnikow ◽  
Ruth Sagehorn
Keyword(s):  
Species Composition ◽  
Plant Species ◽  
Vascular Plant ◽  
Forest Community ◽  
European Bison ◽  
Jaccard Coefficient ◽  
Long Distance ◽  
Process Of Change ◽  
Morphological Adaptations ◽  
Undisturbed Forest

We studied the process of change in plant species composition in a pine–spruce forest influenced by endozoochorous seed dispersal by the European bison Bison bonasus L. The intensity of endozoochory was 3.4 times higher in the open tree stand than in the surrounding undisturbed forest (t = –3.0836, df = 50, P = 0.003). Over 1578 individuals/ramets belonging to 23 vascular plant taxa developed on 114 bison dung piles. The process of colonization included two plant species that have never before been recorded in the studied forest community. Seven out of 14 species transferred by bison were small-seeded herbaceous plants without morphological adaptations for long-distance dispersal. The majority of plant species recorded on the bison dung (55.9%) occur in deciduous forests. In contrast, over 50% of the plants surrounding bison faeces represented species of coniferous forests. The PCA analysis revealed the existence of two distinct groups of plant species: within bison faeces and on random systematic samples. The Jaccard coefficient of species composition similarity between them was 0.28. Our results demonstrate that the European bison is an effective vector of plant propagules between plant communities. This fact could have great importance for the restoration of degraded habitats, and could also introduce the risk of invasion by alien species.

scholarly journals Floristic composition and phytodiversity status of Sitakunda Ecopark, Chittagong, Bangladesh

2016 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 29-45 ◽  
Author(s):  
Md Anwarul Islam ◽  
Mohammad Mahfuzur Rahman ◽  
Gazi Mosharof Hossain
Keyword(s):  
Species Composition ◽  
Plant Species ◽  
Monsoon Season ◽  
Vascular Plant ◽  
Floristic Composition ◽  
Diversity Indices ◽  
Vascular Plant Species ◽  
Plant Groups ◽  
Plant Families

The present study dealt with the exploration and documentation of the floristic composition and phyto-diversity of Sitakunda Eco-park, Chittagong, Bangladesh. A total of 412 vascular plant species under 315 genera belonging to 94 plant families have been recorded from the study area during February, 2013 to April, 2015. Out of these recorded taxa, 330 were dicotyledons, 62 were monocotyledons, 5 were gymnosperms and 15 were pteridophytes. Among those, the maximum 144 species belonged to herbs followed by 138, 75 and 55 species as trees, shrubs and climbers, respectively. The species composition among the plant families varied in plant groups. In dicotyledonous group, Euphorbiaceae appeared to be the largest family with 35 species, whereas Poaceae showed the largest family containing 30 species among monocotyledonous group. The highest values of both Shannon-Weiner and Simpson diversity indices have been observed as 3.82 and 0.98, respectively to site D during monsoon season, whereas the lowest values 3.19 and 0.95, respectively of these indices were recorded in site A during summer season.Jahangirnagar University J. Biol. Sci. 5(1): 29-45, 2016 (June)

scholarly journals Woody Species Composition Analysis of Shawo Sacred Forest, Ethiopia

2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 12-21
Author(s):  
Alemayehu Haiemicael Mezgebe ◽  
Alemayehu Hailemicael Mezgebe
Keyword(s):  
Species Composition ◽  
Plant Species ◽  
Basal Area ◽  
Woody Species ◽  
Indigenous Communities ◽  
Forest Community ◽  
Systematic Sampling ◽  
Composition Analysis ◽  
Sacred Forest ◽  
Syzygium Guineense

In sacred forests of indigenous communities, landscapes are deemed sacred and are protected through social norms and spiritual values. The main objective of this study was to analyze the woody species composition of Shawo forest and explore the traditional governing systems that safeguard the sacred forest up to the present. Systematic sampling method was used to collect data. Accordingly, 42 quadrats each with 400 m2 (20 m X 20 m)  was laid along the 14 transect lines. All woody plant species were collected and identified in each of these quadrats. Vegetation parameters such as DBH an Height of each quadrat were recorded. Interview and group discussion were held with local community to gather socio-cultural information. From the result,  16 plant species were found. The average plant density was  499 individual ha-1 with  DBH and H value of  9.21 cm and 10.43 m respecitively.. The  maximum mean plant height was 39.43 m (Syzygium guineense).The total basal area of all plant species was found to be 56.1 m2.ha-1. From the total plant species of Shawo forest Syzygium guineense has the largest basal area 35.77 m2.ha-1 (63.77%) occurring in all 42 plots. The most important plant species of Shawo forest was Syzygium guineense with important value index (IVI) of 151.7 contributing to  50.57% of  total IVI. For future sustainability of Shawo forest, community traditional conservation practices should be appreciated and supported.

scholarly journals Angiosperms in Narsingdi district of Bangladesh: Class Magnoliopsida

2020 ◽  
Vol 27 (1) ◽  
pp. 153-171
Author(s):  
Robayda Khanam ◽  
Saleh Ahammad Khan ◽  
Md Abdur Rahim
Keyword(s):  
Species Composition ◽  
Plant Species ◽  
Jaccard Coefficient ◽  
Rauvolfia Serpentina ◽  
Taxonomic Information ◽  
Plant Taxon

This study presents taxonomic information on 468 plant species belonging to 326 genera and 85 families of the angiospermic class Magnoliopsida (dicotyledones) from Narsingdi district of Bangladesh. In this area, Fabaceae with 53 species of 37 genera is the largest family, followed by Asteraceae with 25 species of 24 genera and Rubiaceae with 21 species of 17 genera. Ficus with eight species is appeared as the largest genus, which is followed by Persicaria and Solanum with seven species each, Lindernia with six species, Phyllanthus with five species, and Acacia, Amaranthus, Senna, Sida and Trichosanthes with four species each. Herbs are comprised of 230 (49.14%) species that are followed by trees of 120 (25.64%) species, and shrubs of 118 (25.21%) species. The similarity measured by Jaccard coefficient shows that the six upazilas of Narsingdi district are relatively more similar (75.47%) in their species composition if they are compared all together. However, the similarities vary from 9.03% to 50% if only two upazilas are compared. In this district, total 333 species have been distinguished as economically useful. The species Rauvolfia serpentina of Apocynaceae, Geophila repens of Rubiaceae and Acmella radicans of Asteraceae have been assessed as Endangered (E) in this district. Bangladesh J. Plant Taxon. 27(1): 153-171, 2020 (June)

scholarly journals Dependence of Weed Composition on Cultivated Plant Species and Varieties in Energy-Tree and -Grass Plantations

Agronomy ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (9) ◽  
pp. 1247
Author(s):  
Alexander Fehér ◽  
Eduard Pintér ◽  
Piotr Prus ◽  
Lýdia Končeková
Keyword(s):  
Species Composition ◽  
Plant Species ◽  
Vascular Plant ◽  
Agricultural Landscapes ◽  
Mineral Nitrogen ◽  
Grass Species ◽  
Soil Reaction ◽  
Weed Species ◽  
Miscanthus Giganteus ◽  
Energy Plantations

Energy plantations create new habitats in agricultural landscapes with species compositions different from those in forests or farmlands. The purpose of our nine-year research project (2010–2018) was to evaluate the dependence of weed-species richness and their selected ecological aspects on stands of energy-plant species, and varieties in energy-tree and -grass plantations in conditions of Central Europe, on the basis of a case study. The permanent research plots were established in plantations containing two varieties of willow (Tordis and Inger), one poplar variety (Pegaso), and one clone of Miscanthus × giganteus. This evaluation included the species composition of understory flora, habitat preferences of different species, life cycle, life forms, ecological demands, and the harmfulness of these weed-species. The ground flora of energy plantations is predominantly composed of synanthropic plants of a weedy character with differences in species composition among different energy-tree and -grass species and varieties. The total number of vascular plant species was 98. The highest number of species (58) was recorded in the Tordis and Inger willow varieties, and the lowest was observed in the Pegaso poplar variety (45). Perennial species prevailed by their share, 10 of which were found in all four research plots. Therophytes and hemicryptophytes prevailed. Most species have high light requirements and are typical for mild-to-warm suboceanic areas, demanding freshly moist alkalic soils that are medium-to-rich in mineral nitrogen. Fifty percent of all observed species are considered weeds in Slovakia. The “very dangerous” category represented 46.94% of weeds, the “less dangerous” category 51.02%, and the “nondangerous” category represented 2.04% out of 49 species. The biggest share of “very dangerous weeds” was found in the poplar stand (38.78%), less in willow (32.65% and 28.57%), and the least in miscanthus stands (26.53%). The weeds of the Tordis variety were relatively poorly influenced by specific environmental conditions, and the weeds of the Inger variety were mainly defined by the soil reaction. Weeds in the undergrowth of both Miscanthus × giganteus and poplar trees (Pegaso) had the greatest affinity to mineral nitrogen content and temperature requirements.

scholarly journals Variation in structure and composition of two pine forests in Kailash Sacred Landscape, Nepal

2018 ◽  
Vol 28 (1) ◽  
pp. 26-36
Author(s):  
C. K. Subedi ◽  
J. Gurung ◽  
S. K. Ghimire ◽  
N. Chettri ◽  
B. Pasakhala ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Species Composition ◽  
Plant Species ◽  
Common Species ◽  
Pine Forests ◽  
Forest Community ◽  
Community Characteristics ◽  
Pinus Roxburghii ◽  
Sacred Landscape ◽  
Kailash Sacred Landscape ◽  
The Relationship

Chir pine (Pinus roxburghii Sarg.) and blue pine (Pinus wallichiana A.B. Jacks.) are two common species found in mid-hill forests of Nepal where households largely depend on forest resources for their livelihoods and subsistence. The management of such forests is supported by our understanding of the dynamics in forest structure and species composition and the relationship between different forest community characteristics. This study was designed to determine the variation in species composition and the relationship between various forest community characteristics in two pine forests of Kailash Sacred Landscape, Nepal. Quadrat sampling was applied to collect information on forest species, forest community structure, and disturbance factors.Data was statistically analyzed using IBM SPSS. There were a total of 31 plant species under 28 genera and 20 families in the P. roxburghii forest, and 38 plant species under 37 genera and 19 families in the P. wallichiana forest. Mean DBH, height and canopy diameter of P. roxburghii was 23.98 cm, 12.77 m and 1.97 m, respectively, and that of P. wallichiana was 31.5 cm, 11.48 m and 2.79 m, respectively. The relationship between DBH and both height and crown diameter showed strong relationships in the two forest types. In both  forests, DBH and height class distribution showed a hump-shaped (unimodal type) distribution with a greater proportion of medium-sized individuals that indicated disruptive forest regeneration. Fire and tree cut were significant disturbance factors in P. roxburghii forest, while grazing and trampling were significant in P. wallichiana forest. The extent of these disturbance factors as determinants of regeneration and species recruitment is important to assess for effective forest management. Banko JanakariA Journal of Forestry Information for NepalVol. 28, No. 1, 2018, page: 26-36 

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