scholarly journals Final Report: Mechanistic and predictive understanding of needle litter decay in semi-arid mountain ecosystems experiencing unprecedented vegetation mortality

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jonathan Sharp ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Final Report ◽  
Mountain Ecosystems ◽  
Litter Decay ◽  
Needle Litter ◽  
Predictive Understanding ◽  
Semi Arid

scholarly journals Floristic analysis of semi-arid mountain ecosystems of the Griqualand West centre of plant endemism, Northern Cape, South Africa

2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (5) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nanette Van Staden ◽  
STEFAN JOHN SIEBERT ◽  
DIRK PETRUS CILLIERS ◽  
DIAN WILSENACH ◽  
ARNOLD WALTER FRISBY
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Indicator Species ◽  
Habitat Specialization ◽  
Mean Annual Precipitation ◽  
Endemic Plant ◽  
Mountain Ecosystems ◽  
Floristic Analysis ◽  
Northern Cape ◽  
Plant Endemism ◽  
Semi Arid

Abstract. Van Staden N, Siebert SJ, Cilliers DP, Wilsenach D, Frisby AW. 2020. Floristic analysis of semi-arid mountain ecosystems of the Griqualand West centre of plant endemism, Northern Cape, South Africa. Biodiversitas 21: 1989-2002. The Griqualand West Centre (GWC) is one of 13 centres of plant endemism in South Africa. Despite its unique flora, it remains poorly conserved and studied. A recent study identified an extensive geographical core area for the GWC, but endemic plant species were found to be absent from certain parts within these borders. To address this, we refined the current GWC borders based on an ecological niche model, which predicted that endemic species are restricted to four mountain ranges within GWC. Mountain floras within these refined borders were then floristically compared to assess whether they are hotspots of endemicity. Floristically, the Asteraceae, Fabaceae, Malvaceae, and Poaceae were the dominant plant families. Mountain ecosystems differed from one another at species level, with indicator species explaining the compositional differences. Distribution patterns of indicator species were determined by mean annual precipitation, Ca: Mg ratios, soil pH, cation exchange capacity, iron, and sand content. These environmental factors are possible drivers of niche partitioning, environmental filtering and habitat specialization in each mountain ecosystem. Limestone and banded ironstone habitats were identified as conservation priority areas, since they contained the highest numbers of rare and threatened GWC restricted-range species, of which six were narrow endemics.

scholarly journals Screening Prosopis (mesquite) species for biofuel production on semi-arid lands. Final report, April 1, 1978-March 30, 1981

1985 ◽  
Author(s):  
P Felker ◽  
G H Cannell ◽  
P R Clark ◽  
J F Osborn ◽  
P Nash
Keyword(s):  
Arid Lands ◽  
Biofuel Production ◽  
Final Report ◽  
Semi Arid

Belowground biomass, production, and carbon cycling in mature Norway spruce, Maine, U.S.A.

2003 ◽  
Vol 33 (2) ◽  
pp. 339-350 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher S Cronan
Keyword(s):  
Soil Respiration ◽  
Carbon Cycling ◽  
Norway Spruce ◽  
Biomass Production ◽  
Growing Season ◽  
Belowground Biomass ◽  
Litter Production ◽  
Litter Decay ◽  
Needle Litter ◽  
Small Roots

Two 55-year-old stands of Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.) were sampled to determine belowground biomass, production and decomposition of fine and small roots, litterfall and litter decay rates, soil respiration rates, and carbon cycling patterns. Mean biomass of live fine (<1 mm) Norway spruce roots to a soil depth of 40 cm was 359 ash-free dry g·m–2, whereas biomass of live fine + small roots ([Formula: see text]3 mm) amounted to 561 g·m–2. Mean root production averaged 297 g·m–2·year–1 for roots <1 mm and 418 g·m–2·year–1 for roots [Formula: see text]3 mm. By comparison, needle litter production was 205 g·m–2·year–1. Norway spruce roots [Formula: see text]3 mm decomposed at a rate of 9.5% of total root mass per month during the growing season, compared with a needle litter annual decay rate of 22.3%·year–1. A partial carbon budget for Norway spruce indicated that annual needle litterfall mass was 98 g C·m–2·year–1, and annual carbon release from fresh litter decay was approximately 22 g·C·m–2·year–1. During the growing season, monthly CO2 flux from soil respiration was 69 g C·m–2·month–1, belowground C allocation to net production of roots [Formula: see text]3 mm was 33.5 g C·m–2·month–1, and C release from decomposition of roots [Formula: see text]3 mm was 31 g C·m–2·month–1. These values were also extrapolated to annual estimates of C fluxes.

Modifications of organic matter and enzymatic activities in response to change in soil use in semi-arid mountain ecosystems (southern Spain)

2012 ◽  
Vol 63 (2) ◽  
pp. 272-283 ◽  
Author(s):  
I. Miralles ◽  
R. Ortega ◽  
G. Almendros ◽  
F. Gil-Sotres ◽  
C. Trasar-Cepeda ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Enzymatic Activities ◽  
Southern Spain ◽  
Mountain Ecosystems ◽  
Response To Change ◽  
Semi Arid

Ferrihydrite dissolution at the root zone of crops under semi-arid condition controls the plant uptake of uranium and arsenic

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Arindam Malakar ◽  
Michael Kaiser ◽  
Daniel D. Snow ◽  
Harkamal Walia ◽  
Chittaranjan Ray
Keyword(s):  
Plant Uptake ◽  
Root Zone ◽  
Arid Condition ◽  
Semi Arid

Cultural Issues Affecting Domestic Violence Service Utilization in Ethnic and Hard to Reach Populations: Final Report

2000 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kirsten Snturia ◽  
Marianne Sullivan ◽  
Sandy Ciske ◽  
Sharyne Shiu Thornton
Keyword(s):  
Domestic Violence ◽  
Service Utilization ◽  
Final Report ◽  
Cultural Issues ◽  
Hard To Reach Populations

Nursing and Environmental Health Roundtable: August 26-27, 2002, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina: Final Report

2002 ◽  
Author(s):  
Teresa Nastoff ◽  
◽  
Diane M. Drew ◽  
Pamela S. Wigington ◽  
Julie Wakefield ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
North Carolina ◽  
Environmental Health ◽  
Final Report ◽  
Research Triangle
Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document