scholarly journals A digital photography protocol for the rapid assessment of herbaceous communities in riparian buffers

2014 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Laurianne Bonin ◽  
Raphaël Proulx ◽  
Guillaume Rheault
Keyword(s):  
Species Diversity ◽  
Plant Height ◽  
Rapid Assessment ◽  
Leaf Traits ◽  
Digital Photography ◽  
Image Texture ◽  
Functional Characteristics ◽  
Geometric Patterns ◽  
Herbaceous Communities ◽  
Close Range

AbstractClose-range digital photography is a promising tool for monitoring plant communities, yet this technology has not been used to indicate changes to the compositional and functional characteristics of riparian vegetation buffers in agro-ecosystems. We tested a photographic protocol using image indices to monitor differences in the compositional (species diversity) and functional characteristics (plant height, flowering and leaf traits) of 28 herbaceous communities repeatedly surveyed over an entire growing season. Specifically, we used known vegetation properties to predict image texture and geometric patterns. Our results revealed that image texture decreased with increasing plant height, leaf polyphenol content and species diversity. Low texture values in close-range digital images were typically found in tall, flowering, and functionally diversified assemblages consisting mostly of forbs species. In contrast, species assemblages dominated by grasses or sedges presented more random geometric patterns and images with higher texture values. Further tests of this photographic protocol will have to explore other image indices and extend its application to other ecosystems.

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 The role of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi on the early-stage restoration of seasonally dry tropical forest in Chamela, Mexico

2012 ◽  
Vol 36 (2) ◽  
pp. 279-289 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pilar Huante ◽  
Eliane Ceccon ◽  
Alma Orozco-Segovia ◽  
María Esther Sánchez-Coronado ◽  
Irma Acosta ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Plant Height ◽  
Ecological Restoration ◽  
Mycorrhizal Fungi ◽  
Arbuscular Mycorrhizae ◽  
Early Stage ◽  
Growing Season ◽  
Dry Forest ◽  
Individual Plant ◽  
Functional Characteristics ◽  
Leaf Production

It was evaluated the effect of two different sources of local inocula from two contrasting sites (mature forest, pasture) of arbuscular mycorrhizae fungi (AMF) and a non-mycorrhizal control on the plant growth of six woody species differing in functional characteristics (slow-, intermediate- and fast-growth), when introduced in a seasonally tropical dry forest (STDF) converted into abandoned pasture. Six plots (12 X 12m) were set as AMF inoculum source. Six replicates of six different species arranged in a Latin Square design were set in each plot. Plant height, cover area and the number of leaves produced by individual plant was measured monthly during the first growing season in each treatment. Species differed in their ability to benefit from AMF and the largest responsiveness in plant height and leaf production was exhibited by the slow-growing species Swietenia humilis, Hintonia latiflora and Cordia alliodora. At the end of the growing season (November), the plant height of the fast growing species Tabebuia donnel-smithii, Ceiba pentandra and Guazuma ulmifolia were not influenced by AMF. However, inocula of AMF increased leaf production of all plant species regardless the functional characteristics of the species, suggesting a better exploitation of above-ground space and generating a light limited environment under the canopy, which contributed to pasture suppression. Inoculation of seedlings planted in abandoned pasture areas is recommended for ecological restoration due to the high responsiveness of seedling growth in most of species. Use of forest inoculum with its higher diversity of AMF could accelerate the ecological restoration of the above and below-ground comunities.

Application of Multi-Baseline Digital Close-Range Photogrametry Technique in 3D Reconstruction of Underground Tomb

2011 ◽  
Vol 346 ◽  
pp. 847-851 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xing Wu ◽  
Wei Feng ◽  
Kai Wang
Keyword(s):  
3D Reconstruction ◽  
Production Efficiency ◽  
Field Work ◽  
Image Texture ◽  
Control Points ◽  
Database Technology ◽  
Close Range ◽  
Reconstruction Project ◽  
Color Control ◽  
Cultural Relics

The theory and characteristics of the multi-baseline digital close-range photogrametry were discussed to be used in cultural relics preservation. Take the 3D reconstruction project of the Yu Shan the 5th mural tomb in Ji-an as an example, two methods were put forward to measure the control points of the image without any harm to the object. Also, Tricolor cool tone electron energy conservation lamp was used to meet the strict color control of the mural images. Engineering tests show that the methods put forward could greatly reduce the field work and labor intensity with the characteristics of high accuracy, automation and efficiency. Production efficiency is improved as well. The precision of mapping and image texture satisfies the requirements of cultural relics preservation. In addition, how to manage and index such data through database technology needs further study.

Species diversity of herbaceous communities in the Yiluo River Basin

2012 ◽  
Vol 32 (10) ◽  
pp. 3021-3030 ◽  
Author(s):  
陈杰 CHEN Jie ◽  
郭屹立 GUO Yili ◽  
卢训令 LU Xunling ◽  
丁圣彦 DING Shengyan ◽  
苏思 SU Si ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Species Diversity ◽  
River Basin ◽  
Herbaceous Communities

scholarly journals Diversity and Distribution of Waterbirds across Wetlands of Eastern Uganda

2020 ◽  
pp. 167-182
Author(s):  
Nachuha Sarah ◽  
Fortunate Twagiramaria ◽  
Polycarp M. Mwima
Keyword(s):  
Species Diversity ◽  
Water Depth ◽  
Rapid Assessment ◽  
Rice Paddies ◽  
Wetland Area ◽  
Wetland Type ◽  
Positive Effects ◽  
Water Ph ◽  
Eastern Uganda ◽  
Wetland Types

Explaining patterns of diversity, and abundance across sites is a central aim of community ecology. Avian communities have been the focus of many studies on species diversity. To be able to explain patterns of waterbirds in wetlands of eastern Uganda, we conducted a rapid assessment in 48 wetlands (38 swamps, two rice paddies and eight lakes) using total counts. We examined waterbird assemblages in these wetlands in relation to wetland area, wetland type, water depth, water pH and the time of year/season. Statistical analysis were conducted using Genstat Version 8.1 (VSN Intl.2003, in which General Linear Mixed Models were used to examine the variations. In total, 9,410 birds from 64 species and 17 families were recorded. Species diversity and overall abundance varied significantly among wetland types and between seasons. Rice paddies were both more species-diverse than lakes and swamps. Wetland area had significant independent and positive effects on the waterbird community. In addition to explaining differences among wetland types in waterbird numbers, water depth had a positive effect on some aspects of the waterbird community with no significant effect of pH. These results imply that an interplay of factors is responsible for the pattern and structure of waterbird communities on wetlands in eastern Uganda.

scholarly journals A direct comparison of ecological theories for predicting the relationship between plant traits and growth

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ellie Goud ◽  
Anurag Agrawal ◽  
Jed Sparks
Keyword(s):  
Leaf Area ◽  
Plant Height ◽  
Growth Analysis ◽  
Plant Traits ◽  
Phylogenetic Analyses ◽  
Leaf Traits ◽  
Total Leaf Area ◽  
Leaf Economics Spectrum ◽  
Total Leaf ◽  
Whole Plant

Abstract Despite long-standing theory for classifying plant ecological strategies, limited data directly links organismal traits to whole-plant growth. We compared trait-growth relationships based on three prominent theories: growth analysis, Grime’s CSR triangle, and the leaf economics spectrum (LES). Under these schemes, growth is hypothesized to be predicted by traits related to biomass investments, leaf structure or gas exchange, respectively. In phylogenetic analyses of 30 diverse milkweeds (Asclepias spp.) and 21 morphological and ecophysiological traits, growth rate varied 50-fold and was best predicted by growth analysis and CSR traits, as well as total leaf area and plant height. Despite two LES traits correlating with growth, they contradicted predictions and leaf traits did not scale with root and stem characteristics. Thus, although combining leaf traits and whole-plant allocation best predicts growth, when destructive measures are not feasible, we suggest total leaf area and plant height, or easy-to-measure traits associated with the CSR classification.

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