Substrate preference of eastern red-backed salamanders, Plethodon cinereus: A comparison of deciduous and coniferous substrates

2011 ◽  
Vol 32 (2) ◽  
pp. 266-269 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jessica Rettig ◽  
Kyle Renaldo ◽  
Geoffrey Smith ◽  
Brandon Helleman ◽  
Ja-Nell Riley ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Leaf Litter ◽  
Soil Type ◽  
Coniferous Forest ◽  
Forest Tree ◽  
Plethodon Cinereus ◽  
Substrate Preference ◽  
Litter Type ◽  
Substrate Choice ◽  
Tree Composition ◽  
Forest Habitats

AbstractForest tree composition can affect the distribution and abundance of terrestrial salamanders. We examined the effect of leaf litter type (deciduous or coniferous) and soil type (deciduous and coniferous) on red-backed salamander (Plethodon cinereus) substrate choice using a series of laboratory experiments. Salamanders preferred deciduous leaves over coniferous pine needles and the deciduous soil/deciduous leaf litter combination over all others. In addition, our results suggest that leaf litter type may be more important than soil type in influencing salamander substrate preference in our study. Our results suggest that behavioural avoidance may partially explain differences in P. cinereus abundances in deciduous and coniferous forest habitats.

EVALUATION OF GENETIC FIDELITY FOLLOWING LONG TERM CRYOPRESERVATION OF CONIFEROUS FOREST TREE SPECIES OF THE FAMILY PINACEAE

2014 ◽  
pp. 121-126
Author(s):  
H. Häggman ◽  
S. Sutela ◽  
J. Edesi ◽  
J. Krajňáková ◽  
A. Bertolini ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Tree Species ◽  
Coniferous Forest ◽  
Genetic Fidelity ◽  
Forest Tree ◽  
Forest Tree Species ◽  
The Family

Decomposition of Populustremuloides leaf litter accelerated by addition of Alnuscrispa litter

1989 ◽  
Vol 19 (5) ◽  
pp. 674-679 ◽  
Author(s):  
Barry R. Taylor ◽  
William F. J. Parsons ◽  
Dennis Parkinson
Keyword(s):  
Mass Loss ◽  
Leaf Litter ◽  
Loss Rate ◽  
Mass Loss Rate ◽  
Rocky Mountain ◽  
Litter Type ◽  
Litter Bags ◽  
Mass Losses ◽  
Mixed Litter ◽  
Aspen Forest

Decomposition of a slow-decaying litter type is expected to be faster in the presence of a nutrient-rich, fast-decaying litter type, but this effect has never been conclusively demonstrated for deciduous leaves. In a Rocky Mountain aspen forest, we followed decomposition of leaf litter of trembling aspen (Populustremuloides), a relatively slow-decomposing, nutrient-poor species, and green alder (Alnuscrispa), a nutrient-rich, faster-decomposing species, as well as a mixture of the two, for 2 years. Mass losses over the first winter were greatest for aspen alone, probably as a result of loss of solubles, but the mass loss rate overall was lowest for aspen (k = −0.191/year) and greatest for alder (k = −0.251/year). Mass loss rate for mixed litter (k = −0.245/year) was much closer to the rate for alder than for aspen, demonstrating a marked acceleration of mass loss rates in the mixed-litter bags. At these rates, 95% mass loss would be achieved by aspen, alder, and mixed litter in 14.5, 11.5, and 11.6 years, respectively.

scholarly journals Leaf litter amendment in forest soil and their effect on the yield quality of red amaranth

1970 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 221-226 ◽  
Author(s):  
UK Sarkar ◽  
BJ Saha ◽  
C Goswami ◽  
MAH Chowdhury
Keyword(s):  
Leaf Litter ◽  
Growth Yield ◽  
Forest Tree ◽  
Chemical Fertilizer ◽  
Control Treatment ◽  
Nutrient Contents ◽  
Sal Forest ◽  
Yield Quality ◽  
Surrounding Areas ◽  
Tree Leaf

A pot experiment was conducted at the open net house of the Department of Agricultural Chemistry, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh, during the period from March to June 2007 using soil collected from the surrounding areas of Gazni sal forest of Jhenaigati upazilla under Sherpur district to study the effect of different forest tree leaf litters on growth, yield, nutrient contents of red amaranth cv. Altapety. Plant height, number of leaves plant-1, dry weight plant-1 and moisture content (%) were significantly influenced by the addition of different forest tree leaf litters and highest values were obtained from the chemical fertilizer treatment which was identical with teak leaf litter in most of the parameters. The lowest values of most of the parameters were obtained from control treatment. Nutrient contents of red amaranth were significantly influenced by the addition of different leaf litters except Mg. The highest and lowest values of most of the nutrient contents and their uptake were recorded from chemical fertilizer and control treatment, respectively. It was also observed that addition of different leaf litters substantially decreased soil acidity and significantly increased the organic matter, total N, available P, exchangeable K, available Ca, Mg contents in the post harvest soil. The performance of these leaf litters with respect to growth, yield, nutrient contents and their uptake by red amaranth and the soil fertility was in the order teak >eucalyptus>acacia>sal. Overall results suggested that leaf litters can be used as an alternative of chemical fertilizer in the surrounding areas of Gazni sal forest for profitable production of leafy vegetables like red amaranth. Keywords: Leaf litter; Red amaranth; Forest soil; Yield quality DOI: 10.3329/jbau.v8i2.7929 J. Bangladesh Agril. Univ. 8(2): 221-226, 2010

Dung longevity influences the fate of endozoochorically dispersed seeds in forest ecosystems

Botany ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 89 (11) ◽  
pp. 779-785 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bogdan Jaroszewicz ◽  
Ewa Pirożnikow
Keyword(s):  
Plant Species ◽  
Deciduous Forest ◽  
Coniferous Forest ◽  
Light Availability ◽  
European Bison ◽  
Plant Establishment ◽  
Seed Content ◽  
Closed Canopy ◽  
Seedling Germination ◽  
Forest Habitats

Many studies show large discrepancies between the potential (studied in the greenhouse) and realized (studied in the field) effects of endozoochory. The influence of environmental conditions on the fate of endozoochorically dispersed seeds and subsequent plant establishment is still not well understood. We addressed this issue by studying the viable seed content of the dung of European bison ( Bison bonasus L.) by means of seedling germination in the greenhouse and in two forest habitats in Białowieża Primeval Forest. The number of seedlings and the number of plant species that emerged from 1 L of feces were positively correlated with dung longevity. Generative shoots were produced by plants only in coniferous forest. Their number was positively correlated with dung longevity and with light availability. Germination of seeds from bison feces was higher in coniferous forest than in deciduous forest but did not differ between open- and closed-canopy plots within the same habitat. We conclude that (i) seed germination and plant establishment after endozoochorous dispersal is influenced by dung longevity; (ii) the number of generative shoots produced by endozoochorously dispersed plants is influenced by dung longevity and light availability; (iii) seeds of some plant species, present in dung, stay viable for at least 3 years.

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