scholarly journals Plant Diversity and Composition Changes along an Altitudinal Gradient in the Isolated Volcano Sumaco in the Ecuadorian Amazon

Diversity ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (6) ◽  
pp. 229
Author(s):  
Pablo Lozano ◽  
Omar Cabrera ◽  
Gwendolyn Peyre ◽  
Antoine Cleef ◽  
Theofilos Toulkeridis
Keyword(s):  
Vascular Plants ◽  
Amazon Basin ◽  
Life Form ◽  
Species Turnover ◽  
Elevational Gradient ◽  
Active Volcano ◽  
Life Forms ◽  
Ecuadorian Amazon ◽  
Nmds Analysis ◽  
Composition Changes

The paramo is a unique and severely threatened ecosystem scattered in the high northern Andes of South America. However, several further, extra-Andean paramos exist, of which a particular case is situated on the active volcano Sumaco, in the northwestern Amazon Basin of Ecuador. We have set an elevational gradient of 600 m (3200–3800 m a.s.l.) and sampled a total of 21 vegetation plots, using the phytosociological method. All vascular plants encountered were typified by their taxonomy, life form and phytogeographic origin. In order to determine if plots may be ensembled into vegetation units and understand what the main environmental factors shaping this pattern are, a non-metric multidimensional scaling (NMDS) analysis was performed. In addition, species turnover was quantified in order to appreciate the quantity and sort of species which are responsible for the similarity or dissimilarity between vegetation units. Therefore, a SIMPER similarity percentage analysis was conducted. We encountered 68 plant species belonging to 54 genera and 31 families, of which three are Ecuadorian endemics. The most frequent life forms were erect herbs, rosette and tussocks, whereas the least were cushions. At genus level, 44% of the Sumaco paramo flora was of tropical origin, followed by temperate (33%) and finally cosmopolitan (22%). The neotropical montane element was the most represented with 15 species, followed by the Austral-Antarctic with ten, wide temperate with another ten and cosmopolitan with seven. Regarding vegetation, four floristically distinct groups were segregated being lower gradient (3250–3500 m a.s.l.) and high altitude (3500–3800 m a.s.l.)

scholarly journals Floristic, frequency, and vegetation life-form spectra of a cerrado site

2004 ◽  
Vol 64 (2) ◽  
pp. 201-209 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. A. Batalha ◽  
F. R. Martins
Keyword(s):  
Frequency Spectrum ◽  
Vascular Plants ◽  
Life Form ◽  
Quantitative Description ◽  
Life Forms ◽  
Sensu Stricto ◽  
Southeastern Brazil ◽  
Frequency Spectra ◽  
Experimental Station ◽  
Normal Spectrum

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.

scholarly journals Floristic Diversity of Riparian Plants in Aswan Reservoir at the Extreme South of the River Nile, Upper Egypt: A Closed Ecological System

2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (3) ◽  
pp. 595-609
Author(s):  
Mohamed O. Badry ◽  
Tarek A. A. Radwan ◽  
Fatma A. A. Ayed ◽  
Mohamed G. Sheded
Keyword(s):  
Vascular Plants ◽  
Life Form ◽  
Floristic Composition ◽  
Life Forms ◽  
Floristic Diversity ◽  
River Nile ◽  
Mediterranean Species ◽  
Riparian Plants ◽  
Polygonum Aviculare ◽  
Aswan Reservoir

The present study was undertaken to survey the floristic composition in the islands and shorelines in Aswan Reservoir, south of the River Nile at Aswan Governorate, Egypt. Four elements of vegetation were analyzed: floristic composition, lifespan, life form, and phytogeographical affinities. A total of 165 species were recorded belonging to 134 genera in 45 families of vascular plants, of which six species were new to the flora of Aswan and Nubia (Amaranthus spinosus, Doellia bovei, Eleocharis parvula, Haematoxylum campechianum, Polygonum aviculare, and Pithecellobium dulce). The most represented families are Leguminosae, Poaceae, and Compositae. Species richness is highest in low-lying areas (shorelines) liable to flooding, compared to those of the islands in the river. The recorded flora consists of 50.91% perennials and 49.09% annuals. Therophytes and phanerophytes were the predominant life forms. Phytogeographical analysis revealed the prevalence of the pantropical (28.48%), palaeotropical (17.57%), and cosmopolitan (16.36%) plant species. Monoregional chorotype was represented by 29 species (17.58%) of the recorded flora with the Sudano-Zambezian species (11.52%) being the highest chorotype, while pure Mediterranean species were very poorly represented (3.63%). Biregional chorotype was represented by 25 species (15.15%), while the pluriregional chorotype was accounted for 2.43% of recorded species.

scholarly journals Montane seasonal wetlands: an inventory of its associated flora in Parque Estadual do Ibitipoca, southeast Brazil

Rodriguésia ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 71 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ludymila Viana Valadares Cruz ◽  
Marco Otávio Dias Pivari ◽  
Luiz Menini Neto ◽  
Fátima Regina Gonçalves Salimena
Keyword(s):  
Vascular Plants ◽  
Life Form ◽  
Floristic Composition ◽  
Life Forms ◽  
Seasonal Wetlands ◽  
Floristic Survey ◽  
Minas Gerais State ◽  
Floristic Analysis ◽  
One New Species ◽  
Wetland Types

Abstract The aim of the present study was to perform the floristic survey of the wetlands of the Parque Estadual do Ibitipoca (PEIB), comparing them regarding richness, floristic composition and life forms, based on monthly expeditions to collect vascular plants. Eighty-one (81) species were found in the moist grassland, most of them being endemic to Brazil and included in 55 genera and 21 families. The most representative families were Asteraceae (22 spp.), Melastomataceae (nine spp.), Xyridaceae (seven spp.), Poaceae and Orchidaceae (six spp. each), totalizing 62% of the sampled species. Twenty-seven (27) species were found in the seasonal pond, distributed in 23 genera and 11 families. Families with the highest specific richness were Poaceae (eight spp.), Cyperaceae and Asteraceae (five spp. each), totalizing 67% of the sampled species. There was a predominance of hemicryptophyte life form (nearly 43% of the moist grasslands and 63% of the seasonal pond) in both areas. The floristic analysis results showed great importance to conservation with 22% of species under some threatened category, 12 species endemics to Minas Gerais state and one new species of Cyperaceae. Furthermore, only five species occur in both wetland types (5.1% of the species richness).

scholarly journals The species range‐size patterns for vascular plants of Seorak Mountain (Korea): Relationship between group of life forms and phytogeography affinity along the elevational gradient

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (18) ◽  
pp. 12872-12881
Author(s):  
Mi‐Hyun Lee ◽  
Ju Hyeon Song ◽  
Seong Yeob Byeon ◽  
Jeong Eun Lee ◽  
Ho Jin Kim ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Vascular Plants ◽  
Elevational Gradient ◽  
Life Forms ◽  
Range Size ◽  
Species Range

Community characteristics of forest understory birds along an elevational gradient in the Horn of Africa: A multi-year baseline

The Condor ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kyle D Kittelberger ◽  
Montague H C Neate-Clegg ◽  
Evan R Buechley ◽  
Çağan Hakkı Şekercioğlu
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Species Turnover ◽  
Survival Rates ◽  
Elevational Gradient ◽  
Forest Understory ◽  
Bird Abundance ◽  
Tropical Mountains ◽  
Demographic Rates ◽  
Understory Birds ◽  
Over Time

Abstract Tropical mountains are global hotspots for birdlife. However, there is a dearth of baseline avifaunal data along elevational gradients, particularly in Africa, limiting our ability to observe and assess changes over time in tropical montane avian communities. In this study, we undertook a multi-year assessment of understory birds along a 1,750 m elevational gradient (1,430–3,186 m) in an Afrotropical moist evergreen montane forest within Ethiopia’s Bale Mountains. Analyzing 6 years of systematic bird-banding data from 5 sites, we describe the patterns of species richness, abundance, community composition, and demographic rates over space and time. We found bimodal patterns in observed and estimated species richness across the elevational gradient (peaking at 1,430 and 2,388 m), although no sites reached asymptotic species richness throughout the study. Species turnover was high across the gradient, though forested sites at mid-elevations resembled each other in species composition. We found significant variation across sites in bird abundance in some of the dietary and habitat guilds. However, we did not find any significant trends in species richness or guild abundances over time. For the majority of analyzed species, capture rates did not change over time and there were no changes in species’ mean elevations. Population growth rates, recruitment rates, and apparent survival rates averaged 1.02, 0.52, and 0.51 respectively, and there were no elevational patterns in demographic rates. This study establishes a multi-year baseline for Afrotropical birds along an elevational gradient in an under-studied international biodiversity hotspot. These data will be critical in assessing the long-term responses of tropical montane birdlife to climate change and habitat degradation.

Variation in longevity and traits of leaves among co-occurring understorey plants in a tropical montane forest

2008 ◽  
Vol 24 (2) ◽  
pp. 121-133 ◽  
Author(s):  
Satomi Shiodera ◽  
Joeni S. Rahajoe ◽  
Takashi Kohyama
Keyword(s):  
Life Form ◽  
Census Data ◽  
Condensed Tannin ◽  
Leaf Traits ◽  
Life Forms ◽  
Montane Forest ◽  
Cox Proportional Hazards ◽  
Leaf Longevity ◽  
Tropical Montane Forest ◽  
Leaf Mass Per Area

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.

BIOMORPHOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF DENDROFLORA OF NNP «NYZHNIODNIPROVSKYI»

2021 ◽  
pp. 84-96
Author(s):  
Pavlova N.R. ◽  
Dzerkal V.M. ◽  
Ponomareva А.А.
Keyword(s):  
Life Form ◽  
Forest Type ◽  
Life Forms ◽  
Forest Steppe ◽  
Morphological Classification ◽  
Salix Alba ◽  
Plant Life Forms ◽  
Nature Park ◽  
Architectural Models

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.

scholarly journals Changes of arthropod diversity across an altitudinal ecoregional zonation in Northwestern Argentina

PeerJ ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 5 ◽  
pp. e4117 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrea X. González-Reyes ◽  
Jose A. Corronca ◽  
Sandra M. Rodriguez-Artigas
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Polynomial Regression ◽  
Species Turnover ◽  
Predictor Variable ◽  
Elevational Gradient ◽  
Pitfall Trap ◽  
Northwestern Argentina ◽  
Higher Taxa ◽  
Total Species Richness ◽  
Wide Range

This study examined arthropod community patterns over an altitudinal ecoregional zonation that extended through three ecoregions (Yungas, Monte de Sierras y Bolsones, and Puna) and two ecotones (Yungas-Monte and Prepuna) of Northwestern Argentina (altitudinal range of 2,500 m), and evaluated the abiotic and biotic factors and the geographical distance that could influence them. Pitfall trap and suction samples were taken seasonally in 15 sampling sites (1,500–4,000 m a.s.l) during one year. In addition to climatic variables, several soil and vegetation variables were measured in the field. Values obtained for species richness between ecoregions and ecotones and by sampling sites were compared statistically and by interpolation–extrapolation analysis based on individuals at the same sample coverage level. Effects of predictor variables and the similarity of arthropods were shown using non-metric multidimensional scaling, and the resulting groups were evaluated using a multi-response permutation procedure. Polynomial regression was used to evaluate the relationship between altitude with total species richness and those of hyperdiverse/abundant higher taxa and the latter taxa with each predictor variable. The species richness pattern displayed a decrease in species diversity as the elevation increased at the bottom wet part (Yungas) of our altitudinal zonation until the Monte, and a unimodal pattern of diversity in the top dry part (Monte, Puna). Each ecoregion and ecotonal zone evidenced a particular species richness and assemblage of arthropods, but the latter ones displayed a high percentage of species shared with the adjacent ecoregions. The arthropod elevational pattern and the changes of the assemblages were explained by the environmental gradient (especially the climate) in addition to a geographic gradient (the distance of decay of similarity), demonstrating that the species turnover is important to explain the beta diversity along the elevational gradient. This suggests that patterns of diversity and distribution of arthropods are regulated by the dissimilarity of ecoregional environments that establish a wide range of geographic and environmental barriers, coupled with a limitation of species dispersal. Therefore, the arthropods of higher taxa respond differently to the altitudinal ecoregional zonation.

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

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Genda Singh ◽  
Bilas Singh
Keyword(s):  
Functional Traits ◽  
Life Form ◽  
Life Forms ◽  
Climatic Conditions ◽  
Western India ◽  
High Concentration ◽  
N Content ◽  
Medicinal Uses ◽  
Leguminous Species ◽  
C And N

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.

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