Impacts of Prescribed Fire, Glyphosate, and Seeding on Cogongrass, Species Richness, and Species Diversity in Longleaf Pine

2013 ◽  
Vol 6 (4) ◽  
pp. 536-544 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephen F. Enloe ◽  
Nancy J. Loewenstein ◽  
David W. Held ◽  
Lori Eckhardt ◽  
Dwight K. Lauer
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Species Diversity ◽  
Prescribed Fire ◽  
Longleaf Pine ◽  
Pine Forests ◽  
Herbaceous Species ◽  
Integrated Strategies ◽  
Species Richness And Diversity ◽  
Herbicide Treatments ◽  
Rhizome Biomass

AbstractCogongrass [Imperata cylindrica (L.) Beauv.] is a warm-season, rhizomatous grass native to southeast Asia that has invaded thousands of hectares in the southeastern United States. Its negative impacts on pine forests have been well documented, and aggressive control is widely recommended. Although repeated herbicide treatments are effective for suppression, integrated strategies of prescribed burning coupled with herbicide treatment and revegetation are lacking in pine systems. In particular, longleaf pine forests, which are typically open, fire-dependent, communities, are highly susceptible to cogongrass, which is a pyrogenic species. To address management goals for cogongrass control and herbaceous restoration in longleaf pine forests better, field studies were conducted in southwestern Alabama from 2010 to 2012. Two longleaf pine forests with near-monotypic stands of cogongrass in the understory were selected for study. Treatments included combinations of winter prescribed fire, spring and fall glyphosate herbicide treatments, and seeding a mix of native, herbaceous species. Data were collected for three growing seasons following study initiation, and included seasonal herbaceous species cover and final cogongrass shoot and rhizome biomass. Species richness and diversity were calculated and analyzed to ascertain treatment effects over the duration of the study. Burning slightly improved cogongrass control with glyphosate, but had no effect on total cover, species richness, or species diversity. Three glyphosate treatments reduced total vegetative cover and nearly eliminated cogongrass cover, shoot, and rhizome biomass. Glyphosate and glyphosate + seeding also increased herbaceous species richness and diversity. However, aboveground productivity in treated plots was significantly lower than productivity in the untreated control, which was almost exclusively cogongrass. These studies indicate that glyphosate and integrated strategies utilizing glyphosate and seeding are very useful for cogongrass management and increasing herbaceous species richness and diversity in longleaf pine.

scholarly journals Baseline Assessments of Wildlife Biodiversity Within Selected Areas of Central Visayas, Philippines

2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 27-34
Author(s):  
RP Jose ◽  
WA Aureo ◽  
CI Narido ◽  
TD Reyes Jr ◽  
MB Sarnowski
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Species Diversity ◽  
Diversity Index ◽  
Population Trends ◽  
Species Richness And Diversity ◽  
Natural Park ◽  
Biodiversity Inventories ◽  
Baseline Information ◽  
High Diversity ◽  
Areas Of Protection

A comprehensive inventory of faunal biodiversity was conducted within three Key Biodiversity Areas of Central Visayas. Mt. Bandilaan Natural Park (MBNP), Balinsasayao Twin Lakes Natural Park (BTLNP), and Rajah Sikatuna Protected Landscape (RSPL). Three primary wildlife groups were surveyed: bats, birds and amphibians. Species diversity and population trends were then analyzed to assess areas of biodiversity importance. RSPL generally had the highest species richness and diversity index while MBNP consistently had the lowest. When pooled. The surveyed areas resulted in a high diversity index and rate of endemicity showing the importance of multiple areas of protection. These findings can be utilized to prioritize habitat protection as well as to serve as a baseline information for future biodiversity inventories. J. Biodivers. Conserv. Bioresour. Manag. 2020, 6(2): 27-34

scholarly journals The vascular flora of the Lake Thoreau Environmental Center, Forrest and Lamar counties, Mississippi, with comments on compositional change after a decade of prescribed fire

2020 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 413-433
Author(s):  
William J. McFarland, ◽  
Danielle Cotton, ◽  
Mac H. Alford ◽  
Micheal A. Davis
Keyword(s):  
Species Diversity ◽  
Prescribed Fire ◽  
Longleaf Pine ◽  
Vascular Plant ◽  
Pinus Palustris ◽  
Woody Species ◽  
University Of Southern Mississippi ◽  
The North ◽  
Rich Diversity ◽  
North American Coastal Plain

Longleaf pine (Pinus palustris Mill.) ecosystems exhibit high species diversity and are major contributors to the extraordinary levels of regional biodiversity and endemism found in the North American Coastal Plain Province. These forests require frequent fire return intervals (every 2–3 years) to maintain this rich diversity. In 2009, a floristic inventory was conducted at the Lake Thoreau Environmental Center owned by the University of Southern Mississippi in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. The Center is located on 106 ha with approximately half covered by a 100+ year old longleaf pine forest. When the 2009 survey was conducted, fire had been excluded for over 20 years resulting in a dense understory dominated by woody species throughout most of the forest. The 2009 survey recorded 282 vascular plant species. Prescribed fire was reintroduced in 2009 and reapplied again in 2010, 2012, 2014, 2016, and 2018. A new survey was conducted in 2019 to assess the effects of prescribed fire on floristic diversity. The new survey found an additional 268 species bringing the total number of plants species to 550. This study highlights the changes in species diversity that occurs when fire is reintroduced into a previously fire-suppressed system and the need to monitor sensitive areas for changes in species composition.

scholarly journals Impacts of Different Tree Species of Different Sizes on Spatial Distribution of Herbaceous Plants in the Nigerian Guinea Savannah Ecological Zone

Scientifica ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 2015 ◽  
pp. 1-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Toma Buba
Keyword(s):  
Spatial Distribution ◽  
Species Richness ◽  
Open Field ◽  
Tree Species ◽  
Herbaceous Species ◽  
Ecological Zone ◽  
Vitellaria Paradoxa ◽  
Parkia Biglobosa ◽  
Species Richness And Diversity ◽  
Individual Trees

This study was aimed at finding the impacts of different tree species and individual trees of different sizes on species richness, diversity, and composition of the herbaceous layer. All the three tree species have greatly increased species richness and diversity both within and outside their crown zones compared with the open grassland. Both species richness and diversity were found to be higher under all the three tree species than outside their crowns, which was in turn higher than the open field.Daniella oliverihas the highest species richness and diversity both within and outside its crown zone followed byVitellaria paradoxaand thenParkia biglobosa. The result also revealed that the same tree species with different sizes leads to different herbaceous species richness, diversity, and composition under and around the trees’ crowns.P. biglobosaandV. paradoxatrees with smaller sizes showed higher species richness and diversity under their crowns than the bigger ones. The dissimilarity of species composition differs between the inside and outside crown zones of the individuals of the same tree species and among the different trees species and the open field.

scholarly journals Seasonality drives herbaceous community beta diversity in lithologically different rocky outcrops in Brazil

2020 ◽  
Vol 153 (2) ◽  
pp. 208-218 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jaquelina A. Nunes ◽  
Pedro M. Villa ◽  
Andreza V. Neri ◽  
Wesley A. Silva ◽  
Carlos E.G.R. Schaefer
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Species Diversity ◽  
Species Composition ◽  
Soil Properties ◽  
Beta Diversity ◽  
Control Process ◽  
Herbaceous Species ◽  
Herbaceous Communities ◽  
Rocky Outcrops ◽  
Richness Patterns

Background and aims – Seasonality exerts strong controlling forces on species diversity in herbaceous species communities, however, this control process remains poorly understood in tropical lithologically different rocky outcrops. We aim to investigate the effect of seasonality and the variability of soil properties on changes in the herbaceous species richness and species composition of two different herbaceous species communities on rocky outcrops in Brazil. We hypothesize that seasonality, determined by variation in precipitation, and soil fertility, determined by variability in nutrient-related soil properties, drives species diversity (i.e., richness and beta diversity) patterns of herbaceous communities at local scale.Methods – To investigate how the variation between dry and wet seasons affects species richness and beta diversity, we studied plots on rocky outcrops of Iron Quadrangle (40 plots, 1 × 1 m) and Carajás (20 plots, 1 × 1 m). Key results – We observed similar richness patterns between seasons, without significant differences between sites, using rarefaction and extrapolation curves. However, we observed significant differences in beta diversity between seasons. Our results indicate that seasonality determines the temporal variation of the herbaceous species composition, but not species richness. Likewise, our tested models indicated that seasonality shape beta diversity in the studied rocky outcrops. Conclusions – The predictable seasonal precipitation is closely related to the community composition on this type of rocky outcrop formation, where there typically is a marked seasonal water deficit pattern, with increased deficit during the dry season. We presume that seasonality is an important driver in determining plant community assembly at local scale on the studied rocky outcrops.

scholarly journals Herbaceous species diversity patterns across various treatments of herbivory and fire along the sodic zone of the Nkuhlu exclosures, Kruger National Park

Koedoe ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 55 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Helga Van Coller ◽  
Frances Siebert ◽  
Stefan J. Siebert
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Species Diversity ◽  
Plant Species ◽  
Significant Variation ◽  
National Park ◽  
Plant Species Richness ◽  
Kruger National Park ◽  
Riparian Zones ◽  
Herbaceous Plant ◽  
Herbaceous Species

Understanding relationships between large herbivores and plant species diversity in dynamic riparian zones is critical to biodiversity conservation. The Nkuhlu exclosures in the Kruger National Park (KNP) provided opportunity to investigate spatial heterogeneity patterns within riparian zones, as well as how these patterns are affected by fire and herbivory. A monitoring project was initiated to answer questions about the dynamics of the herbaceous layer and was aimed at determining, (1) whether there exists meaningful variance in herbaceous plant species richness and diversity across different treatments in the ecologically sensitive sodic zone and (2) whether an increase in herbaceous biomass, an artefact of herbivory and fire exclusion, suppresses herbaceous plant species diversity and richness. Herbaceous vegetation was sampled in two 1 m2 circular sub-plots in the eastern and western corners of 81 fixed plots. The biomass of each plot was estimated with a disc pasture meter (DPM) diagonally with the plot. DPM-readings were converted to kg/ha, according to the latest conversions for the Lowveld Savanna. Species richness and biomass showed significant variance across treatments, whereas no significant variation in herbaceous species diversity was perceived. Combined treatment of fire absence and herbivore presence contributed to higher forb species richness in the sodic zone. Biomass is significantly higher in fully fenced areas where herbivores are excluded, as opposed to the open and partially fenced areas. Although no significant variation was recorded for diversity across treatments, lowest diversity was recorded in the absence of all herbivores, especially in combination with fire treatment. Therefore herbivores are essential in sustaining herbaceous plant species richness in the sodic zone, whilst no significant results were found with regard to their effect on species diversity. Although statistically non-significant, fire seems to suppress species richness.Conservation implications: This study could be used as framework to advance and develop science-based management strategies for, at least, the sodic zones of the KNP. Research in these exclosures will create better understanding of these landscapes, benefit ecosystem conservation planning of national parks and also provide valuable long-term information on key ecological processes.

The helminth community of the skink Chalcides sexlineatus from Gran Canaria (Canary Islands)

2011 ◽  
Vol 86 (2) ◽  
pp. 237-240 ◽  
Author(s):  
V. Roca ◽  
M.A. Carretero ◽  
F. Jorge ◽  
A. Perera ◽  
A. Ferrero ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Species Diversity ◽  
Canary Islands ◽  
Parasite Species ◽  
Intestinal Parasites ◽  
Helminth Community ◽  
Gran Canaria ◽  
Species Richness And Diversity ◽  
Gastrointestinal Helminth ◽  
Helminth Communities

AbstractA survey of the gastrointestinal helminth communities of a population of Chalcides sexlineatus Steindachner, a small skink endemic to Gran Canaria island (Canary Archipelago, Spain), was conducted to determine the prevalence, abundance and species diversity of intestinal parasites in these reptiles. Only three parasite species were found, one cestode, Oochoristica agamae Baylis, 1919 and two nematodes, Parapharyngodon micipsae (Seurat, 1917) and Pharyngodonidae gen. sp. Helminth infracommunities of C. sexlineatus showed low values of abundance and species richness and diversity, being more similar to the helminth community of Tarentola boettgeri boettgeri (Steindachner) rather than those of Gallotia stehlini (Schenkel), both syntopic with the sampled host.

Short-Term Vegetation Response Following Mechanical Control of Saltcedar (Tamarix spp.) on the Virgin River, Nevada, USA

2014 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 310-319 ◽  
Author(s):  
Steven M. Ostoja ◽  
Matthew L. Brooks ◽  
Tom Dudley ◽  
Steven R. Lee
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Woody Species ◽  
Post Treatment ◽  
Nonnative Species ◽  
Ecosystem Structure ◽  
Herbaceous Species ◽  
Native Plant ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Species Richness And Diversity ◽  
Virgin River

AbstractTamarisk (a.k.a. saltcedar, Tamarix spp.) is an invasive plant species that occurs throughout western riparian and wetland ecosystems. It is implicated in alterations of ecosystem structure and function and is the subject of many local control projects, including removal using heavy equipment. We evaluated short-term vegetation responses to mechanical Tamarix spp. removal at sites ranging from 2 to 5 yr post-treatment along the Virgin River in Nevada, USA. Treatments resulted in lower density and cover (but not eradication) of Tamarix spp., increased cover of the native shrub Pluchea sericia (arrow weed), decreased density and cover of all woody species combined, increased density of both native annual forbs and the nonnative annual Salsola tragus (prickly Russian-thistle), and lower density of nonnative annual grasses. The treated plots had lower mean woody species richness, but greater herbaceous species richness and diversity. Among herbaceous species, native taxa increased in richness whereas nonnative species increased in both species richness and diversity. Thus, efforts to remove Tamarix spp. at the Virgin River reduced vegetative cover contributing to fuel loads and probability of fire, and resulted in positive effects for native plant diversity, with mixed effects on other nonnative species. However, absolute abundances of native species and species diversity were very low, suggesting that targets of restoring vegetation to pre-invasion conditions were not met. Longer evaluation periods are needed to adequately evaluate how short-term post-treatment patterns translate to long-term patterns of plant community dynamics.

Regeneration Success and Plant Species Diversity of Allegheny Hardwood Stands After Roundup Application and Shelterwood Cutting

1994 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 109-116 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephen B. Horsley
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Species Diversity ◽  
Plant Species ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Woody Species ◽  
Diversity Indices ◽  
Species Group ◽  
Plant Species Diversity ◽  
Herbaceous Species ◽  
Species Groups

Abstract The presence of desirable regeneration and plant species diversity was studied in five Allegheny hardwood stands before and for 7 yr after application of Roundup herbicide and shelterwood cutting to remove interfering understories of hayscented and New York fern, striped maple, and beech and to establish desirable hardwood regeneration. In each of five 20 ac stands, 10 ac were sprayed with 1 lb ai (active ingredient)/ac of Roundup in August 1979; the remaining 10 ac were unsprayed. The entire 20 ac stand received a shelterwood seed cut the following winter. On treated plots, fern was reduced from 57% stocking before treatment to 7% 1 yr after treatment; striped maple and beech stocking was reduced by 16% during the same time. By the fourth year after treatment, regeneration stocking of desirable hardwood species had doubled on treated plots but remained unchanged on untreated control plots. Species diversity was measured by species richness, three diversity indices--Berger-Parker, Margalef and Shannon, and index-free diversity ordering. Neither the herbicide treatment nor the shelterwood seed cut had a statistically significant effect on species richness of either woody species or herbaceous species groups. Nor was there a significant effect of treatments on woody species diversity as measured by the three diversity indices. Index-free diversity ordering showed. (1) a trend toward increase in less common species on Roundup-treated areas, and (2) the diversity of herbaceous species groups was higher in all 7 yr after treatment with Roundup. Values of the three diversity indices were higher for herbaceous species on Roundup-treated subplots for 2 to 7 yr after treatment. Much of this increase resulted from germination of seed bank grasses, sedges, and Rubus spp. With the qualification that long-term and current browsing by deer has impoverished the flora of the Allegheny hardwood forest, diminishing potential treatment effects, the study demonstrated that Roundup treatment aided desirable regeneration establishment, did not have a negative impact on woody species or herbaceous species group diversity, and may have increased diversity of herbaceous species. North. J. Appl. For. 11(4): 109-116.

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