scholarly journals Effects of Life-form and Plants Functional Traits on Carbon, Nitrogen and Sulfur Distributed in Different Parts in Dry Region of Western India

Author(s):  
Genda Singh ◽  
Bilas Singh

Abstract Background: Plants adapt to adverse environmental conditions accumulate varying concentrations of carbon (C), nitrogen (N) and sulfur (S) compounds to cope up with adverse climatic conditions. Carbon, N and S concentrations were determined in roots, stem and leaves of 33 species of trees/shrubs with objectives to observe the effects of life-form and plants functional traits, and select species with high concentration of these elements for their utilization in afforestation and medicinal uses. Results: Concentrations of C, N, and S and C: N and N: S ratio varied (P<0.05) between species, organs, life-forms and functional traits (legume vs non-legume). These variables were higher (except C in roots and stem) in trees than shrubs, and in leguminous than non-leguminous species. Non-leguminous species showed high S content and low N: S ratio. Antagonistic and synergistic relations were observed between C and N, and N and S concentration respectively. Species showed varying potential in assimilating carbon by regulating uptake and accumulation of these elements in different organs making them adapt to the habitats affected by drought and salinity. We observed strong plant size/life-form effects on C and N content and C: N and N: S ratios and of function on S content. Conclusions: Life-form/size and varying functions of the species determined C: nutrient ratio and elemental composition and helped adapting varying environmental stresses. This study assist in selecting species of high carbon, nitrogen and S content to utilize them in afforesting the areas affected by water and salt stresses, increased carbon storage and species with high S/N content in medicinal uses.

2011 ◽  
Vol 25 (2) ◽  
pp. 395-412 ◽  
Author(s):  
Claudia Maria Jacobi ◽  
Flávio Fonseca do Carmo

Rock outcrops play an important role in enhancing plant diversity in montane ecosystems. Ironstone outcrops (cangas) are among the lithotypes less known and most threatened in SE Brazil, due to mining activities. Besides species composition, a key feature to promote their conservation and restoration is the knowledge of the community prevalent life-forms, pollination and seed dispersal syndromes. The analyses were done based on published floristic surveys of cangas in SE Brazil. A total of 353 species of angiosperms (70 families) were assigned to one of the two predominant physiognomies (open areas and forest islands) on ironstone outcrops. Sixteen families responded for 70% of all species. Compared to Raunkiaer's spectrum, phanerophytes were over- and therophytes were under-represented. Phanerophytes were the predominant life-form in forest islands, while hemicryptophytes were outstanding in open areas. Entomophily was the dominant pollination syndrome in both habitats. Zoochory was dominant in forest islands and ranked last in open areas, where anemochory and autochory prevailed. Considering that both forest islands and open areas are subjected to the same climatic conditions, the results corroborate the influence of geoedaphic components in the three traits analysed.


2008 ◽  
Vol 24 (2) ◽  
pp. 121-133 ◽  
Author(s):  
Satomi Shiodera ◽  
Joeni S. Rahajoe ◽  
Takashi Kohyama

Abstract:The relationship between leaf longevity and other leaf traits was compared among different life-form categories (trees, herbs, climbers and epiphytes) of 101 plant species in a tropical montane forest on Mt. Halimun, West Java, Indonesia. We applied the Cox proportional hazards regression to estimate the leaf longevity of each species from 30 mo of census data. We examined whether estimated longevity was explained by either species life-form categories, taxonomic groupings (eudicots, monocots, magnoliids and chloranthales, and ferns) or such leaf traits as leaf area, leaf mass per area (LMA), mass-based leaf nitrogen, penetrometer reading, condensed-tannin-free total phenolics and condensed tannin. There was a wide-ranged interspecific variation in leaf longevity, mostly 10–50 mo, similarly across life-form categories. LMA showed a strong positive influence on leaf longevity. We found that relationships between leaf longevity and some leaf traits were different among various life forms. Trees tended to have high LMA, while climbers tended to have low LMA at the same leaf longevity. We hypothesize that such difference among life forms reflects shoot architecture characteristics. Multi-shoot trees with branching architecture need to have self-supporting leaves, whereas semi-epiphytic climbers can maintain relatively low biomass investment to leaves hanging or relying upon the mechanical support from host plants.


Author(s):  
E.N. Tyukhtina ◽  

The article deals with one of the most relevant topics of the modern city and ecology - the problem of landscaping in Volgograd. The city is characterized by an industrial urbanism, with a high concentration of population, saturation of production facilities and vehicles, which contributes to a high level of negative impact on the environment. The pace of greening of the city lags behind the pace of construction of the residential sector, and the existing green spaces do not meet the sanitary and hygienic, aesthetic requirements. The prospects of this problem are determined, the existing green spaces are considered, data on the climatic conditions of the city and the ecological situation are given. Improvement in the field of landscaping is associated with the scientifically sound placement of green spaces, taking into account all the factors that affect the growth and development of plants in the urban environment. Unfortunately, due to the uneven distribution of the assortment of trees and shrubs, the species composition of the central streets and squares of the city is extremely poor. The study focuses on the role of the botanical garden in urban landscaping and aims to create recommendations for the sorting of tree and shrub plants for urban landscaping. As a result of the analysis of the assortment of ornamental plants of the open ground of the botanical garden, the article proposed species and varieties of woody and shrubby plants that have passed the introduction tests for more than 5-10 years. Recommendations for sorting are aimed at improving the ecological situation of the city and greening the recreation areas of citizens. The proposed list of tree and shrub species cannot fully solve the problem of greening the city, but it will help to significantly enrich the composition of tree and shrub plants.


Author(s):  
Pavlova N.R. ◽  
Dzerkal V.M. ◽  
Ponomareva А.А.

In order to preserve, reproduce and effectively use the natural complexes and objects of the DniproDelta as one of the most valuable natural floodplain-littoral complexes in Europe, which have special environmental, recreational, historical and cultural, scientific, educational and aesthetic value, and ensurethe conservationof «DniproDelta»wetland of theinternational importance,the National Natural Park «Lower Dnipro»was created(Decree of the President of Ukraine of November 24, 2015 No 657/2015).The flora of the higher vascular plants of the Park contains 820 species, 40 species of which (4.9% of the total number) are woody plants. Rosaceae Juss. (14 species), Salicaceae Mirb. (7 species), Aceraceae Juss. (3 types) are leading families of the dendroflora of the Park.Biomorphological characteristics of tree plant species in the flora of the Lower Dnipro National Nature Park were carried out according to the following classifications: 1) K. Raunkiersystem of plant life forms; 2) ecological and morphological classification of life forms of I. G. Serebryakov; 3) architectural models of F. Alle, R. Oldeman and P. Tomlinson; 4) classification of the life forms of plants of the temperate zone, which takes into account the vegetative propagation by O. V. Smirnova, L. B. Zaugolnova.AnalysisoftypesofbiomorphsaccordingtotheclassificationofK. Raunkiershowedthatthevastmajorityofdendrofloraspeciesbelongtophanerophytes, amongthem, dependingontheheightoftheplant, therearedifferentgroups-megaphanerophytes(e.g., Populustremula), mesophanerophytes(Salixalba), microphaneorphytes, nanophanerophytes(Amygdalusnana) andhamephytes(Ephedradistachia).According to the ecological and morphological classification of I. G. Serebryakov life forms, the flora of the Park is dominated by forest-steppe trees and forest-type trees.The trees which belong to one life form often differ in the principles of growth and formation of the crown, branching, and general habitus, which is generally considered as an architectural model of a particular species. According to the classification of architectural models by F. Alle, R. Oldeman and P. Tomlinson, in the flora of the Park, there are five models among which the species formed by the model of Tomlinson have a significant representation, and the species formed by the models of Manzheno and Champagne have a smaller representation.Key words:flora, tree, classification, life form, bush. З метою збереження, відтворення і ефективного використання природних комплексів та об’єктів дельти річки Дніпро як одного з найцінніших природних заплавно-літоральних комплексів у Європі, які мають особливу природоохоронну, оздоровчу, історико-культурну, наукову, освітню та естетичну цінність, забезпечення збереження водно-болотного угіддя міжнародного значення «Дельта р. Дніпро» створено Національний природний парк «Нижньодніпровський» (Указ президента України від 24 листопада 2015 року No 657/2015).Флора вищих судинних рослин Парку попередньо складає 820 видів, з них 40 видів (4,9% від загальної кількості) –деревні рослини.Провідні родини дендрофлори Парку –Rosaceae Juss. (14 видів), SalicaceaeMirb. (7 видів), AceraceaeJuss. (3 види). Біоморфологічну характеристику видів деревних рослин у флорі національного природнього парку «Нижньодніпровський» проведено за класифікаціями: 1) система життєвих форм рослин К. Раункієра; 2) еколого-морфологічна класифікація життєвих форм І. Г. Сєрєбрякова; 3) архітектурні моделі Ф. Аллє, Р. Ольдемана і П. Томлінсона; 4)класифікація життєвих форм рослин помірної зони, яка враховує вегетативне розмноження О. В. Смирнової, Л. Б. Заугольнової.Аналіз типів біоморф за класифікацією К. Раункієра показав, що переважна більшість видів дендрофлори належить до фанерофітів, серед них, в залежності від висоти рослини, виділяють різні групи –мегафанерофіти (наприклад, Populus tremula), мезофанерофіти (Salix alba), мікрофанерофіти (Amorpha fruticosa), нанофанерофіти (Amygdalus nana) та хамефіти (Ephedra distachia).За еколого-морфологічною класифікацією життєвих форм І. Г. Сєрєбрякова у флорі Парку домінують дерева лісостепового типу та дерева лісового типу.Дерева, які відносяться до однієї життєвої форми, часто відрізняютьсяпринципами наростання та формування крони, галуженням, загальним габітусом, що загалом розглядається як архітектурна модель конкретного виду. За класифікацією архітектурних моделей Ф.Аллє, Р. Ольдемана і П. Томлінсона у флорі Парку виділено п’ять моделей, серед яких, значне представництво мають види, що формуються за моделлю Томлінсона, менше представництво мають види, що формуються за моделями Манжено та Шампанії.Ключові слова: флора, дерево, класифікація, життєва форма, кущ.


2004 ◽  
Vol 64 (2) ◽  
pp. 201-209 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. A. Batalha ◽  
F. R. Martins

We used Raunkiaer's system to classify in life-forms the vascular plants present in 12 random 25 m² quadrats of a cerrado site. The study area is covered by cerrado sensu stricto and is located in the Valério fragment, at about 22º13'S and 47º51'W, 760 m above sea level, in the Itirapina Ecological and Experimental Station, São Paulo State, southeastern Brazil. The floristic spectrum considers the life-form of each species, while in the frequency spectrum, each species is weighted by its frequency. The vegetation spectrum does not consider the species at all, but only the individuals in each life-form class. In the floristic spectrum, the most represented life-forms were the phanerophytes and the hemicryptophytes, as in other cerrado sites. This spectrum differed significantly from Raunkiaer's normal spectrum, mainly due to under-representation of therophytes and over-representation of phanerophytes. The floristic and frequency spectra were similar, but both differed from the vegetation spectrum. We recommend the floristic spectrum when working at larger scales and a description of the phytoclimate is wanted. The vegetation spectrum is preferable when working at smaller scales and wanting a quantitative description of the physiognomy. The frequency spectrum is not recommended at all.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tahira Aziz Mughal ◽  
Hamna Yasin ◽  
Zubaida Yousaf ◽  
Ismat Naeem Naeem

Abstract Background The chief aim of this study was to enlist the Ethnobotanical uses of plants in Dera Ghazi Khan, Punjab, Pakistan. Due to unique geographical and climatic conditions, Pakistan has a great floral diversity. Plants have been used by the indigenous people for treatment of different ailments since long. They are still dependent on the plants for their domestic purposes. Moreover, plants are used as first aid to treat diverse ailments such as hepatic disorders, cardiac diseases, neurological diseases, anticancer, respiratory diseases, ENT problems, gynecological problems etc. The traditional uses of medicinal plants lead to the discovery of natural drugs. This is first quantitative ethno medicinal documentation of medicinal plants in Dera Ghazi Khan. Punjab, Pakistan. Methods This ethno botanical information was collected from about 200 informants including male and female. Sample size was determined by statistical formula. The informative data was based on semi-structured interviews, group discussions, Questionnaire and field visits. Then the data was analyzed by applying different quantitative indices such as Informant Consent Factor (ICF), Use value (UV), Relative Frequency of Citation (RFC) and the Fidelity level (FL). Results Almost 185 plants belonging to 52 families were reported. Most-frequently cited families were Astreaceae (20 species) and Solanaceae (10 species). The most dominant life form was herbs (51%). The most-used plant parts were leaves (68%), followed by whole plant (65%), Most common mode of administration is extraction (50%). Generally herbal medicines were acquired from fresh plant material. Many species were reported with their different medicinal uses as has been reported in literature. Conclusions This ethno botanical documentation revealed that the plants are still used by natives of rural areas in their day-to-day lives. This study provides basis for the conservation of local flora. Plants with high ICF, UV and FL can be further used for phytochemical and pharmacological studies. This documentation could provide baseline information which can be used to develop new plant-based commercial drugs.


2018 ◽  
Vol 26 (4) ◽  
pp. 339-353
Author(s):  
I. V. Rabyk ◽  
O. V. Lobachevska ◽  
N. Y. Kyyak ◽  
O. I. Shcherbachenko

Bryophytes possess a wide ecological diapason allowing them to populate substrates of technogenic origins which are scarcely suitable or completely unsuitable for viability of vascular plants. 49 bryophyte species, which belong to 2 divisions, 3 classes, 8 orders, 17 families, and 33 genera have been found on the dump territory of sulphur extraction of the mining-chemical enterprise “Sirka” (Yavoriv district, Lviv region). Seven transects, three on the north slope (base, slope, top), three on the south slope and one on the plateau were laid for sample selections. 20 investigated 0.5 × 0.5 m plots located 2 m apart were analyzed within each 10 × 10 m transect. Specific composition, life forms, projective cover, biomass of bryophytes, numbers of male, female and sterile plants, moisture content in the turfs, pH and physiological investigation of mosses were determined on each plot. The quantitative analysis of the biomorphological structure allowed us to establish the dependence of the spread of life forms on exposition and slope height; essential variability of the projective cover and moss biomass. Bryophyte cover plays an essential part in optimization of the moisture regime and surface layer temperature of technogenic substrates, improving the conditions of growth localities. We established that on the dump the dominant moss species are dioecious with a high level of reproductive effort (sexual and sexless), with short ontogenesis and age of first reproduction, which provides the chance to produce the maximum number of progeny in the minimum period and to form a complete moss cover. The analysis of seasonal moss photosynthesis dynamics has demonstrated the adaptability of moss photosynthetic apparatus to contrasting climatic conditions and the ability to support the intensity of photosynthetic processes on a rather stable level during the vegetative period. Our research showed that bryophytes play an important role in productivity of plant cover on the post-technogenic territories of sulphur extraction. It was found that bryophytes play a role in accumulation of organic carbon and biogenic elements in the substrate of the sulphur extraction dump . Carrying out research of specific composition dynamics and species activity is the precondition for revealing the essence of the dynamic processes taking place in the structure of the bryophyte communities on devastated territories and the influence of these processes on the formation of vegetation on dump complexes.


2020 ◽  
Vol 125 (6) ◽  
pp. 969-980 ◽  
Author(s):  
Silvia Matesanz ◽  
Marina Ramos-Muñoz ◽  
Mario Blanco-Sánchez ◽  
Adrián Escudero

Abstract Background and Aims Plants experiencing contrasting environmental conditions may accommodate such heterogeneity by expressing phenotypic plasticity, evolving local adaptation or a combination of both. We investigated patterns of genetic differentiation and plasticity in response to drought in populations of the gypsum specialist Lepidium subulatum. Methods We created an outdoor common garden with rain exclusion structures using 60 maternal progenies from four distinct populations that substantially differ in climatic conditions. We characterized fitness, life history and functional plasticity in response to two contrasting treatments that realistically reflect soil moisture variation in gypsum habitats. We also assessed neutral genetic variation and population structure using microsatellite markers. Key Results In response to water stress, plants from all populations flowered earlier, increased allocation to root tissues and advanced leaf senescence, consistent with a drought escape strategy. Remarkably, these probably adaptive responses were common to all populations, as shown by the lack of population × environment interaction for almost all functional traits. This generally common pattern of response was consistent with substantial neutral genetic variation and large differences in population trait means. However, such population-level trait variation was not related to climatic conditions at the sites of origin. Conclusions Our results show that, rather than ecotypes specialized to local climatic conditions, these populations are composed of highly plastic, general-purpose genotypes in relation to climatic heterogeneity. The strikingly similar patterns of plasticity among populations, despite substantial site of origin differences in climate, suggest past selection on a common norm of reaction due to similarly high levels of variation within sites. It is thus likely that plasticity will have a prevalent role in the response of this soil specialist to further environmental change.


1958 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 116 ◽  
Author(s):  
W Hartley

From a study of the grass flora of some 300 regions, a world distribution map of the grass tribe, Andropogoneae, has been prepared. This map shows that the Indo-Malaysian region is relatively rich in species of the tribe, with zones of high concentration in western India and in southern Indonesia. The relative species density falls off rapidly in passing from the tropical to the temperate zones, and is lower in the western than in the eastern hemisphere. Climatic factors are of major importance in determining the distribution pattern. Winter temperatures are of special significance in temperate regions, while there is a striking relationship between high midsummer rainfall and relative abundance of species of Andropogoneae in the tropics and subtropics. In general, the geographical survey supports conclusions drawn from taxonomic and cytological evidence regarding the origin and evolution of the tribe, but with greater emphasis on climate as a significant factor. The Andropogoneae have had a long evolutionary history in the eastern hemisphere, but have spread more recently to the western hemisphere, where they have not yet attained their full development.


2018 ◽  
Vol 96 (1) ◽  
pp. 138 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tatiana Lobato-de Magalhães ◽  
Mahinda Martínez

<p><strong>Background: </strong>Mexico has a high diversity of aquatic and subaquatic plants that occur between 1,000 and 2,500 m of elevation, although a larger proportion of aquatic plants is concentrated at lower altitudes. Temporary wetlands harbor close to 73 % of the aquatic species in Mexico. These systems are under a strong anthropogenic pressure and suffer constant degradation.</p><p><strong>Questions:</strong> i) How many species grow in highland temporary wetlands? ii) Are they floristically similar? iii) Is there a latitudinal pattern of species richness?</p><p><strong>Studied groups: </strong>Charophyta, Pteridophyta, Angiosperms.</p><p><strong>Study site and years of study:</strong> Central Mexico (39 wetlands) from 2015 to 2016.<strong></strong></p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We collected in 39 temporary wetlands for two years. We made a presence/absence list of species per locality, and calculated floristic similarities and correlations between wetlands. We include data characterizing life form, plant use, and conservation status.</p><p><strong>Results:</strong> We found 126 species belonging to 80 genera and 38 families. The richest families were Cyperaceae, Asteraceae, and Poaceae. As to genera, <em>Eleocharis</em>, <em>Cyperus</em>, and <em>Juncus </em>had more species. Species with the widest distributions were <em>Persicaria mexicana</em>, <em>Marsilea mollis</em>, <em>Luziola fluitans</em>, <em>Heteranthera peduncularis</em>, and <em>Nymphoides fallax</em>.  We found five different life forms – all herbaceous, including 27 threatened species, 24 species with economic use, 48 endemic species, and 19 cosmopolitan species. In addition, we found 20 species recorded for the first time in some states included in our study, and two species of <em>Eleocharis</em> that might represent undescribed species. The richest wetland harbors 40 species, the poorest has only five. Wetlands were comparable to each other in species composition, and species richness increases towards the south.</p><p><strong>Conclusions:</strong> Temporary wetlands harbor a high floristic diversity and are similar to each other. Lower latitudes host higher numbers of species.</p>


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