scholarly journals Biodiversity indices for the Futog park (Novi Sad, Serbia)

2021 ◽  
pp. 127-135
Author(s):  
Milena Lakicevic ◽  
Sasa Orlovic ◽  
Ksenija Hiel ◽  
Srdjan Seremesic ◽  
Radenka Kolarov ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Invasive Species ◽  
Green Infrastructure ◽  
Urban Ecosystems ◽  
R Package ◽  
Diversity Indices ◽  
Taxonomic Structure ◽  
Natural Habitats ◽  
Biodiversity Indices ◽  
R Program ◽  
Novi Sad

Biodiversity and biodiversity preservation are some of the most important topics in ecology. Protecting biodiversity in urban ecosystems is especially challenging. Urban parks are a valuable part of green infrastructure in cities, as they contribute to preserving natural habitats for many species. Biodiversity can be quantified by calculating different diversity indices, and in this paper, we have calculated alpha indices (Shannon, Simpson, Fisher, Berger-Parker and Margalef index) and beta indices (Sorensen index, Jaccard distance and Bray-Curtis index) for the Futog park in Novi Sad, Serbia, within two periods, 2005 and 2020. The goal of the paper is to analyze the current values of biodiversity indices in the park and compare them with the ones from 15 years ago. In addition to the analysis of biodiversity indices values, the paper provides the comparison of taxonomic structure of flora, and the abundance of native, endemic and invasive species in the park, in 2005 and 2020. The results show that the values of biodiversity indices have decreased in the indicated period of time, and one of the main causes can be related to the spread of invasive species within the park. For calculation purposes, we have used the R program and the R package ?vegan?.

Initial dispersal behavior and survival of non-native juvenile Burmese pythons (Python bivittatus) in South Florida

BMC Zoology ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Shannon E. Pittman ◽  
Ian A. Bartoszek
Keyword(s):  
Invasive Species ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
South Florida ◽  
Movement Behavior ◽  
Forested Wetland ◽  
Common Source ◽  
Vital Rates ◽  
Natural Habitats ◽  
Dispersal Behavior ◽  
Python Bivittatus

Abstract Background Dispersal behavior is a critical component of invasive species dynamics, impacting both spatial spread and population density. In South Florida, Burmese pythons (Python bivittatus) are an invasive species that disrupt ecosystems and have the potential to expand their range northward. Control of python populations is limited by a lack of information on movement behavior and vital rates, especially within the younger age classes. We radio-tracked 28 Burmese pythons from hatching until natural mortality for approximately 3 years. Pythons were chosen from 4 clutches deposited by adult females in 4 different habitats: forested wetland, urban interface, upland pine, and agricultural interface. Results Known-fate survival estimate was 35.7% (95% CI = 18% - 53%) in the first 6 months, and only 2 snakes survived 3 years post hatching. Snakes moving through ‘natural’ habitats had higher survival than snakes dispersing through ‘modified’ habitats in the first 6- months post-hatching. Predation was the most common source of mortality. Snakes from the agricultural interface utilized canals and displayed the largest net movements. Conclusions Our results suggest that pythons may have lower survival if clutches are deposited in or near urbanized areas. Alternatively, juvenile pythons could quickly disperse to new locations by utilizing canals that facilitate linear movement. This study provides critical information about behavioral and life history characteristics of juvenile Burmese pythons that will inform management practices.

scholarly journals Rapid Assessment and Ground Truthing of Habitat Composition and Analysis of Semi-Natural Habitat Diversity of Proposed Greenway Developments

2019 ◽  
Vol 77 ◽  
pp. 1-18
Author(s):  
Julien Carlier ◽  
James Moran
Keyword(s):  
Remote Sensing ◽  
Land Use ◽  
Green Infrastructure ◽  
Natural Habitat ◽  
Rapid Assessment ◽  
Habitat Diversity ◽  
Matrix Composition ◽  
Natural Habitats ◽  
Land Use Intensification ◽  
Ground Truthing

Across Europe, Greenways upcycle disused railway infrastructure into non-motorised public infrastructure, often with limited consideration to potential ecological synergies. Pre-development, disused transport corridors become relatively undisturbed and potentially host diverse semi-natural habitats. The study objectives were 1) to produce a highly detailed and accurate dataset using remote sensing with rapid assessment techniques for ground truthing and 2) subsequently examine habitat diversity existing along a proposed Greenway. A 7000 ha study corridor was based on a disused railway proposed as a transfrontier Greenway connecting the Republic of Ireland and the United Kingdom. The study applied a rapid-assessment virtual validation techniquealongside remote sensing and accuracy assessment. Inter-relationship between seminatural habitat diversity and land-use intensification was examined. Remote sensing accuracies of 89% and 99% for a real and linear habitat classification were obtained. Degrees of land-use intensification were observed throughout the corridor, highlighting the importance of maintaining and enhancing remaining semi-natural habitat that exists along the proposed Greenway route. Through understanding the landscape matrix composition and semi-natural habitat diversity, European Greenwayscan achieve multi-functionality for ecosystem conservation, forming integral components of Green Infrastructure.

scholarly journals Preliminary results of studies on the distribution of invasive alien vascular plant species occurring in semi-natural and natural habitats in NW Poland

2015 ◽  
Vol 37 (1) ◽  
pp. 21-35 ◽  
Author(s):  
Agnieszka Popiela ◽  
Andrzej Łysko ◽  
Zofia Sotek ◽  
Krzysztof Ziarnek
Keyword(s):  
Invasive Species ◽  
Alien Species ◽  
Lycium Barbarum ◽  
Natural Habitats ◽  
Lupinus Polyphyllus ◽  
Reynoutria Japonica ◽  
Acer Negundo ◽  
Bidens Frondosa ◽  
Clematis Vitalba ◽  
Nw Poland

Abstract In Western Pomerania, as in other areas of Europe, alien species play an increasingly important role. In particular, invasive plants tend to spread rapidly and in large numbers which may reduce diversity of native species, leading to the phenomenon of “trivialisation of flora”, and transform ecosystems. The list of invasive species (32 taxa) includes alien species occurring throughout Western Pomerania, and penetrating natural or semi-natural habitats. The second group consists of potentially invasive species (23 taxa), i.e. those distributed across the area under study and tending to increase the number of their localities in semi-natural and natural habitats, taxa invasive only locally, as well as species with missing data, which does not currently allow including them into the first group. Invasive weeds, as well as some epecophytes and archaeophytes occurring only on anthropogenic sites and tending to spread, were not taken into account. Among hemiagriophytes, the most common and troublesome ones are: Conyza canadensis, Erigeron annuus, Lolium multiflorum, Lupinus polyphyllus, Solidago canadensis, S. gigantea. Among holoagriophytes, i.e. the taxa which received the highest naturalisation status, very expansive species, successful in land colonisation, like Acer negundo, Bidens frondosa, B. connata, Clematis vitalba, Elodea canadensis, Epilobium ciliatum, Heracleum sosnowskyi, Impatiens glandulifera, I. parviflora, Padus serotina, Quercus rubra and Robinia pseudoacacia, should be given particular attention. Among the invasive and potentially invasive species, most taxa penetrate plant communities of the Artemisietea and Molinio-Arrhenatheretea class, followed by Querco-Fagetea, Vaccinio-Piceetea, Stellarietea mediae, Salicetea purpurae and Koelerio-Corynophoretea. The number of invasive species is twice as high when compared to the situation of these species in Poland; on the contrary, the number of species inhabiting anthropogenic, semi-natural and natural habitats is two times lower, while that of holoagriophytes and hemiagriophytes is 56.3% and 43.7%, respectively. It seems that in the case of some invasive and potentially invasive species, a decrease in the number of their locations may be observed from the west to the east (e.g. for Acer negundo, Bromus carinatus, Clematis vitalba, Helianthus tuberosus, Lycium barbarum, Reynoutria japonica, Rosa rugosa, Vicia grandiflora). Distribution patterns for some species (e.g. for Parthenocytisus inserta or Xanthium albinum) are indicative of a likely major role of the Odra River valley in the spreading of invasive species. It should be kept in mind that the area of the North-West Poland is poorly examined in terms of its flora, so the results provided in this paper are tentative. Nevertheless, the maps illustrate colonisation trends and directions and, moreover, have been so far the only attempt to synthesise this problem in NW Poland.

scholarly journals Exploring the linkage between spontaneous grass cover biodiversity and soil degradation in two olive orchard microcatchments with contrasting environmental and management conditions

SOIL ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 651-664 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. V. Taguas ◽  
C. Arroyo ◽  
A. Lora ◽  
G. Guzmán ◽  
K. Vanderlinden ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Soil Degradation ◽  
Control Measure ◽  
Diversity Indices ◽  
Temporal Variations ◽  
Site Conditions ◽  
Grass Cover ◽  
Biodiversity Indicators ◽  
Olive Orchard ◽  
Biodiversity Indices ◽  
Soil Losses

Abstract. Spontaneous grass covers are an inexpensive soil erosion control measure in olive orchards. Olive farmers allow grass to grow on sloping terrain to comply with the basic environmental standards derived from the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP, European Commission). However, to date there are few studies assessing the environmental quality considering such covers. In this study, we measured biodiversity indices for spontaneous grass cover in two olive orchards with contrasting site conditions and management regimes in order to evaluate the potential for biodiversity metrics to serve as an indicator of soil degradation. In addition, the differences and temporal variability of biodiversity indicators and their relationships with environmental factors such as soil type and properties, precipitation, topography and soil management were analysed. Different grass cover biodiversity indices were evaluated in two olive orchard catchments under conventional tillage and no tillage with grass cover, during 3 hydrological years (2011–2013). Seasonal samples of vegetal material and photographs in a permanent grid (4 samples ha−1) were taken to characterize the temporal variations of the number of species, frequency of life forms, diversity and modified Shannon and Pielou indices. Sorensen's index showed strong differences in species composition for the grass covers in the two olive orchard catchments, which are probably linked to the different site conditions. The catchment (CN) with the best site conditions (deeper soil and higher precipitation) and most intense management presented the highest biodiversity indices as well as the highest soil losses (over 10 t ha−1). In absolute terms, the diversity indices of vegetation were reasonably high for agricultural systems in both catchments, despite the fact that management activities usually severely limit the landscape and the variety of species. Finally, a significantly higher content of organic matter in the first 10 cm of soil was found in the catchment with worse site conditions in terms of water deficit, average annual soil losses of 2 t ha−1 and the least intense management. Therefore, the biodiversity indices considered in this study to evaluate spontaneous grass cover were not found to be suitable for describing the soil degradation in the study catchments.

scholarly journals Friendly Communities and Outdoor Spaces in Contexts of Urban Population Decline

Land ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (11) ◽  
pp. 439
Author(s):  
M. Francisca Lima ◽  
Catharine Ward Thompson ◽  
Peter Aspinall
Keyword(s):  
Green Infrastructure ◽  
Urban Population ◽  
Social Connectedness ◽  
Population Decline ◽  
Urban Ecosystems ◽  
Capital City ◽  
Metropolitan Region ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Public Parks ◽  
Outdoor Spaces

Urban population decline has been extensively described as a triggering factor for community segregation and fragmentation, as well as for land use vacancy and house/flat vacancies, resulting in rising interest in strategies of green infrastructure expansion aimed at citizens’ wellbeing and urban ecosystems. However, city-scaled green infrastructures can be formed by different typologies of outdoor spaces, providing diverse social affordances that can impact community cohesion and resilience differently. This study focuses on the relationship between preferences for particular outdoor space typologies and for community friendliness, under contexts of urban population decline as a migratory process. In the context of Lisbon, a European capital-city experiencing migration and immigration but also urban population shrinkage in some areas of its metropolitan region, the study used conjoint analysis to test participants’ preference for different attributes of their urban environment. The results showed a significant positive correlation, in the sample living in depopulating neighbourhoods, between preferences for friendlier communities and for outdoor spaces of an enclosed and protected character (r = 0.34), compared with no significant correlation in the studied non-depopulating neighbourhoods. These results do not deny the importance of public parks of wide dimensions as a strategy for shrinking cities’ green infrastructures but suggest that urban citizens living in depopulating neighbourhoods have a higher awareness of the importance of small-scale, enclosed outdoor/green spaces to give a stronger sense of social connectedness. This study contributes to the general literature on urban shrinkage by showing that these sensitive conditions can potentially change behaviour and use of public spaces in urban contexts.

Re-imagining urban coasts: a socio-geomorphology lens to enhance life in an era of extremes

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Larissa Naylor ◽  
Jim Hansom ◽  
Douglas Mitchell ◽  
James Fitton ◽  
Freya Muir ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Extreme Events ◽  
Green Infrastructure ◽  
Extreme Event ◽  
Physical Space ◽  
Urban Ecosystems ◽  
Urban Systems ◽  
Storm Events ◽  
Social Scientists ◽  
Accommodation Space ◽  
Anthropogenic Structures

<p>Geomorphology has much to contribute to the understanding of how geomorphic landscapes have responded to climatological extremes and will likely respond in the future. These contributions can be in terms of systems dynamics and their past, present and likely future responses to sudden events, tipping points or more gradual changes to natural landforms and anthropogenic structures. However, equally importantly, geomorphic contributions also include making proactive resilience and climate change adaptation decisions in order to create physical space for geomorphic systems to respond more naturally and dynamically to extremes – now or in the near (100 year) future. The choices society makes in the present – such as planning, infrastructure and engineering decisions – have a strong bearing on the physical space left to allow natural landforms to adjust to extreme events while minimizing social and economic impacts. This creates a new frontier for geomorphology science at the social, political and policy interface.  Interesting questions arise in this space, such as: <em>How much do we expect a geomorphic system to respond dynamically to extreme forcing? i.e. How much physical space do we [planners] need for the system to respond to an extreme event?</em> Should society see storms as catalysts for proactive adaptation? How much (physical space, i.e. geomorphic accommodation space) can we allow when realigning road or rail inland to reduce risk in future storm events? How do complex physical geomorphic systems interact with complex urban systems? Can we work with artists, landscape architects, geo-spatial, urban and social scientists to create transformative, systems-based adaptation scenarios to allow us to better live in an era of extremes? Geomorphologists are usefully contributing to improving the resilience and/or limiting deterioration or habitat loss (e.g. habitat squeeze due to sea level rise) in urban ecosystems and anthropogenic structures.  This includes geomorphic contributions to nature-based solutions, green infrastructure and the resilience of traditional engineering to extreme events.  This paper highlights some of the opportunities we have to influence and shape our future resilience to extreme events – in the present day – through interdisciplinary research and socio-geomorphology practice. We need to create windows of opportunity now for more dynamic and resilient geomorphic futures.  </p>

scholarly journals Analysing global economic costs of invasive alien species with the invacost R package

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Boris Leroy ◽  
Andrew M Kramer ◽  
Anne-Charlotte Vaissière ◽  
Franck Courchamp ◽  
Christophe Diagne
Keyword(s):  
Invasive Species ◽  
Alien Species ◽  
Open Source ◽  
Open Source Software ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Invasive Alien Species ◽  
Standard Procedure ◽  
R Package ◽  
Economic Costs ◽  
Global Database

Aim: Large-scale datasets are becoming increasingly available for macroecological research from different disciplines. However, learning their specific extraction and analytical requirements can become prohibitively time-consuming for researchers. We argue that this issue can be tackled with the provision of methodological frameworks published in open-source software. We illustrate this solution with the invacost R package, an open-source software designed to query and analyse the global database on reported economic costs of invasive alien species, InvaCost. Innovations: First, the invacost package provides updates of this dynamic database directly in the analytical environment R. Second, it helps understand the nature of economic cost data for invasive species, their harmonisation process, and the inherent biases associated with such data. Third, it readily provides complementary methods to query and analyse the costs of invasive species at the global scale, all the while accounting for econometric statistical issues. Main conclusions: This tool will be useful for scientists working on invasive alien species, by (i) facilitating access and use to this multi-disciplinary data resource and (ii) providing a standard procedure which will facilitate reproducibility and comparability of studies, one of the major critics of this topic until now. We discuss how the development of this R package was designed as an enforcement of general recommendations for transparency, reproducibility and comparability of science in the era of big data in ecology.

scholarly journals Pteris multifida (spider brake).

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeanine Velez-Gavilán
Keyword(s):  
Invasive Species ◽  
Native Species ◽  
Invasive Plant ◽  
Alien Invasive Species ◽  
Natural Habitats ◽  
High Dispersal ◽  
The Usa ◽  
Pteris Multifida ◽  
Negative Impacts ◽  
Noxious Weed

Abstract Pteris multifida is a herbaceous fern native to temperate and tropical eastern Asia and naturalized on many continents as a result of being widely cultivated. Although it is an urban weed, it is not considered by most countries as an invasive or noxious weed. There is no information available on the species affecting native species or natural habitats. Although one source lists P. multifida as an invasive species in many countries outside of Africa due to it being easily dispersed by spores, there are no references or further information to support this statement. It is reported as an alien invasive species in Germany, but only as occurring in sheltered sites, growing on light-vents in cellars and walls. A species assessment for Florida, USA indicates, P. multifida is neither a weed of natural habitats nor of agriculture. The species has not been listed as an invasive plant in any state or natural areas of the USA. However, P. multifida has been assigned a Tier II Invasive Species status (defined as having moderate negative impacts on wildlife or natural communities in Louisiana), but of limited concern and/or extent in Louisiana. Pteris multifida is recorded in Cuba as potentially invasive being categorized as a species with a tendency to proliferate in some areas and capable of producing vast amounts of diaspores with high dispersal potential. No further details are given about potential invasiveness.

scholarly journals Two Shades of Grey: Effect of Temperature on Seed Germination of the Escaping Ornamental Species Lychnis Coronaria and Stachys Byzantina

2022 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martin Vojík ◽  
Martina Kadlecová ◽  
Josef Kutlvašr ◽  
Jan Pergl ◽  
Kateřina Berchová Bímová
Keyword(s):  
Invasive Species ◽  
Germination Rate ◽  
Effect Of Temperature ◽  
Natural Habitats ◽  
Spreading Factor ◽  
Temperature Regimes ◽  
Species Invasiveness ◽  
Germination Success ◽  
Secondary Distribution ◽  
Ornamental Species

Abstract This paper describes germination and cytological variability in two popular ornamental and potentially invasive species, lamb’s ear Stachys byzantina and rose campion Lychnis coronaria. Both xerophytic species have the potential to invade natural habitats across Europe and create viable naturalised populations, with subsequent impacts on native vegetation. To assess the species’ invasiveness, seeds were collected from naturalised populations and germination rate recorded under different temperature regimes. Flow cytometry, used to record cytological variability, indicated that all populations of both species were cytologically homogeneous. Germination success, a key spreading factor in both species, was significantly influenced by temperature, with final germination of L. coronaria being extremely high at temperatures > 15/10 °C (98.5%) and extremely low at temperatures < 10/5 °C (2.9%). In comparison, final germination in S. byzantina highest at 22/15 °C (55.6%), reducing to 40.3% at 15/10 °C and just 0.3% at temperatures < 10/5 °C. No significant differences in germination rate were observed between escaping and non-escaping populations, though there were differences between particular populations. Our results indicate germination temperature limits between species consistent with sizes of primary distribution and distance between primary and secondary distribution borders. However, the observed germination rates allow for successful generative reproduction of both species over their secondary distribution areas, suggesting that these species are likely to become invasive species of European grasslands soon.

scholarly journals A synopsis of feral Agave and Furcraea (Agavaceae, Asparagaceae s. lat.) in the Canary Islands (Spain)

2019 ◽  
Vol 152 (3) ◽  
pp. 470-498 ◽  
Author(s):  
Filip Verloove ◽  
Joachim Thiede ◽  
Águedo Marrero Rodríguez ◽  
Marcos Salas-Pascual ◽  
Jorge Alfredo Reyes-Betancort ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Invasive Species ◽  
Species Identification ◽  
Canary Islands ◽  
Natural Habitats ◽  
Gran Canaria ◽  
Detailed Treatment ◽  
Agave Americana ◽  
Infraspecific Taxa ◽  
In The Wild

Background – Species of Agave and Furcraea (Agavaceae, Asparagaceae s. lat.) are widely cultivated as ornamentals in Mediterranean climates. An increasing number is escaping and naturalising, also in natural habitats in the Canary Islands (Spain). However, a detailed treatment of variously naturalised and invasive species found in the wild in the Canary Islands is not available and, as a result, species identification is often problematic.Methods – The present study is based on many years of fieldwork on the islands of Fuerteventura, Gran Canaria, Lanzarote and Tenerife. Results – Fourteen species and several additional infraspecific taxa of Agave have been identified. In addition to the widely naturalised and invasive Agave americana, A. fourcroydes and A. sisalana (incl. the not previously reported var. armata), the following species of Agave were observed: A. angustifolia (incl. var. marginata), A. attenuata, A. filifera, A. franzosinii, A. lechuguilla, A. macroacantha, A. murpheyi, A. oteroi, A. salmiana (var. ferox and var. salmiana), A. aff. tequilana and A. vivipara. From the genus Furcraea three species were found: F. foetida, F. hexapetala and F. selloana. Several of these newly detected species of Agave and Furcraea are at least locally naturalised. A key for the identification of the representatives of these genera in the study area is presented and all species are illustrated. Additional nomenclatural, taxonomic and ecological notes are also provided.

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