Status and life strategy of Orchis punctulata Steven ex Lindl. (Orchidaceae) in the South-Eastern Crimea

This article presents the results of the population studies of rare protected species Orchis punctulata (Orchidaceae). Based on analysis of local floras in eastern and southeastern Crimea and personal observations, we identified the three most numerous populations of O. punctulata: two in the steppe (on the Tepe-Oba mountain ridge) and one in forest communities (on the Kiziltash mountain ridge). The ontogenetic, demographic, and vitality structures of the populations were studied. We also assessed the life strategies of the species in different habitats. The populations in steppe communities were characterized by high number and density parameters. O. punctulate often formed large clusters and was dominated here. A small number and low density characterized the population in the forest community; the distribution of individuals within the population was scattered. The age spectra were also different. The populations in steppe communities had a left-sided spectrum with a maximum in immature individuals, while in forest communities, it had a bimodal spectrum with maximums in generative (with a predominance of mature and old generative) and immature individuals. Specimens from forest communities were more extensive than those of steppe communities, they had longer leaves and inflorescences, and their inflorescences had a more significant number of flowers. As a result, the population in the forest community had a higher vitality index. It included individuals of the highest and middle class of vitality. The populations in the steppe community consisted of all classes of vitality or only of middle and lower classes. Thus, optimal environmental conditions for the growth of species are in forests. At the same time, a low level of regeneration and competition from other plants hinder its wide distribution. As a result, the species exserts as a phytocenotic patient (S-strategy). In steppe communities, the species is characterized by a mixed patient-explerant-violant strategy (SRC strategy).

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COMPOSIÇÃO FLORÍSTICA E ESTRATÉGIAS DE DISPERSÃO E REGENERAÇÃO DE GRUPOS FLORÍSTICOS EM FLORESTAS ESTACIONAIS DECIDUAIS NO RIO GRANDE DO SUL

FLORESTA ◽

10.5380/rf.v43i2.27098 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 43 (2) ◽

pp. 241 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

Marcelo Callegari Scipioni ◽

Franklin Galvão ◽

Solon Jonas Longhi

Keyword(s):

Forest Ecology ◽

Woody Species ◽

Rio Grande ◽

Total Sample ◽

Wide Distribution ◽

Forest Community ◽

Forest Communities ◽

Rio Grande Do Sul ◽

Ecological Guilds ◽

Floristic Similarity

As Florestas Estacional Decidual Aluvial e Submontana encontram-se ao longo de um gradiente topográfico com variações geomorfológicas e pedológicas. Para entender as variações das guildas ecológicas e do contingente geográfico das comunidades florestais em uma microbacia do rio Jacuí, no Rio Grande do Sul, foram alocadas 200 parcelas de 100 m², distribuídas em 40 pontos amostrais, com 5 parcelas cada, desde as cabeceiras de drenagem até a planície de inundação do referido rio. Em cada unidade amostral foram medidos e identificados todos os indivíduos lenhosos com diâmetro à altura do peito de ≥5 cm. A partir da amostra total, foi realizada uma análise de agrupamento de similaridade florística, resultando em três comunidades florestais distintas. Elas foram nomeadas de formações aluvial e submontana e área dominada por ambas as formações. Para a amostra total e dos grupos obtidos, foram determinadas as porcentagens de contribuição das espécies e indivíduos, por meio da classificação de guildas ecológicas de dispersão de diásporos e grupos ecológicos, além dos contingentes fitogeográficos. O contingente geográfico de composição das comunidades florestais foi dominado por espécies de ampla distribuição. Os padrões das guildas ecológicas entre os grupos foram distintos. Entretanto, todos os grupos apresentaram maior contribuição de espécies zoocóricas.Palavras-chave: Comunidades florestais; fitogeografia; similaridades florísticas; ecologia florestal. AbstractFloristic composition and dispersal and regeneration strategies of woody species in Deciduous Seasonal Forests. The connected fragments of submontane and alluvial deciduous forests are present along the topographic gradient with large pedological and geomorphological variations. In order to understand the variations of ecological guilds and geographical contingent of forest community in a watershed, 200 plots of 100 m² divided into 40 sampling points with five plots each were distributed from the headwaters to the floodplain of the Jacuí River. In each sampling unit were identified and measured all woody plants with diameter at breast height ≥ 5 cm. From the total sample was performed a cluster analysis of floristic similarity, resulting in three forest communities. These were termed formation, submontane and alluvial, and the area dominated by both formations.For the total sample and the groups was determined the percentage contribution of species and individuals, by classification of ecological guilds of dispersal of seeds and regeneration and geographic quotas. The geographic contingent composition of forest communities was dominated by species of wide distribution. The patterns of ecological guilds were different between groups. However, all groups revealed higher contribution of zoocoric species. Keywords: Forest communities; phytogeography; floristic similarity; forest ecology.

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Forest communities: New frameworks for assessing sustainability

The Forestry Chronicle ◽

10.5558/tfc75747-5 ◽

1999 ◽

Vol 75 (5) ◽

pp. 747-754 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Solange Nadeau ◽

Bruce Shindler ◽

Christina Kakoyannis

Keyword(s):

Management Practices ◽

Well Being ◽

The United States ◽

Community Capacity ◽

Forest Community ◽

Forest Communities ◽

Community Stability ◽

Policy Makers ◽

Community Resiliency ◽

The Relationship

In both Canada and the United States, there has been a growing interest in the sustainability of forests and forest communities. Policy makers and scientists have attempted to understand how forest management practices can enhance or harm the future of such communities. Although many studies have historically used economic indicators as measures of community stability, more recently researchers have demonstrated that the relationship between communities and forests goes far beyond simple economic dependency. Thus, recent frameworks for assessing forest communities have also addressed the need for broader social and institutional components. In this article, we briefly review three of these recent concepts — community capacity, community well-being and community resiliency — and examine what each of these terms has to contribute to the assessment of forest communities. Key words: forest community, community stability, community capacity, community well-being, community resilience

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First syntaxonomical contribution to the invasive Ailanthus altissima (Mill.) Swingle forest communities at its southern limit in Europe

Plant Sociology ◽

10.3897/pls2020572/06 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 57 (2) ◽

pp. 145-160

Author(s):

Silvia Montecchiari ◽

Marina Allegrezza ◽

Veronica Pelliccia ◽

Giulio Tesei

Keyword(s):

Urban Areas ◽

Central Italy ◽

Forest Community ◽

Ailanthus Altissima ◽

Soil Conditions ◽

Southern Europe ◽

Forest Communities ◽

Southern Limit ◽

Canopy Density

Ailanthus altissima (tree of heaven), an invasive alien tree native to China, has become invasive all over the world and in Italy is present in all the administrative regions where it can form dense forest communities. Although there are several ecological studies on this species there is a lack of floristic-vegetational data for southern-Europe. The study presents the results of a floristic vegetational study on A. altissima forest communities of central Italy that aims to highlight the possible floristic-vegetational autonomy of these coenoses. The results have allowed the characterization of A. altissima coenoses at the ecological, biogeographic, syntaxonomic and landscape levels. These represent first A. altissima syntaxa described for the Italian peninsula and for southern-Europe. We propose two new sub-Mediterranean and Mediterranean associations comprised in the recently described alliance Lauro nobilis-Robinion pseudoaciae, in the Chelidonio-Robinietalia order and the Robinietea class: Asparago acutifolii-Ailanthetum altissimae: forest community with stratified structure and high canopy density on the warmer slopes of the hills in dry soil conditions and low anthropic disturbance and Aro italici-Ailanthetum altissimae: paucispecific forest communities with a monolayered structure typically found in agricultural, and peri-urban areas on pelitic, alluvial silty-sandy substrates, in conditions of edaphic humidity and high anthropogenic disturbance. The comparison with literature data highlights the autonomy of these associations of the sub-Mediterranean and Mediterranean alliance Lauro nobilis-Robinion pseudoacaciae alliance from the Balloto nigrae-Ailanthetum altissimae association of the Central and SE-European Balloto nigrae-Robinion pseudoacaciae alliance.

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Culturally Congruent Health Activities for the Prevention of Functional Disabilities Among Older Adults in Japan’s Forest Communities

Journal of Transcultural Nursing ◽

10.1177/10436596211042072 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 104365962110420

Author(s):

Yasuko Irie ◽

Naohiro Hohashi ◽

Shunji Suto ◽

Yu Fujimoto

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Cultural Values ◽

Forest Cover ◽

Community Identity ◽

Forest Community ◽

Forest Communities ◽

Community Members ◽

Culturally Congruent ◽

Functional Disabilities ◽

Gender Based

Introduction: In Japan’s forest areas, cultural capital and older adults play key roles in helping to sustain the community. The purpose was to explore cultural values/beliefs related to culturally congruent health activities among older adults in forest communities. Method: The qualitative ethnonursing research method was used. Data were collected through fieldwork and key informants’ interviews ( n = 14) over 1 year. The setting was a traditional village with 80% forest cover. Results: Findings included two universal cultural values/beliefs, which were “community identity as a community member” and “our cohesion and connection as community members.” Additionally, two diverse cultural values/beliefs were found: “gender-based differences” and “differences between those having experience working outside the forest community and those without this experience.” These were related to community-based health activities. Discussion: These values/beliefs were suggested to develop a multilayered network around health activities in order to prevent functional disabilities among older adults.

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Assessment of Seasonal and Vegetational Variations in the Airborne Bacterial Concentration of the Urban Forest Park: A Case Study in Hunan, China

10.21203/rs.3.rs-736043/v1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Zhenni Liao ◽

Huijuan Xu ◽

Jiaojiao Ma ◽

Maojuan Li ◽

Caisheng He ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Air Quality ◽

Urban Forest ◽

Multiple Linear Regression Model ◽

Forest Community ◽

Airborne Bacteria ◽

Distribution Analysis ◽

Forest Communities ◽

Bacterial Concentration ◽

Forest Park ◽

Mixed Community

Abstract It is important to investigate bacterial air quality in urban forest parks because tree bacteriostasis practices are being increasingly advocated as measures to improve the air quality and public-health in urban green spaces around the world. The aim of the present study was to quantitatively investigate airborne bacterial concentration levels based on field measurements in every season in five selected forest communities and the uncovered space in an urban forest park, as well as the effects of several factors on the culturability of airborne bacteria. Results suggested that the airborne bacterial levels of all forest communities reached the clean air quality standard with regard to the airborne bacteria content, with the highest bacteria concentrations in the uncovered space (1658 ± 1298 CFU/m3), and the lowest in the mixed community (907 ± 567 CFU/m3). The temporal distribution analysis showed that the most airborne bacteria were concentrated in summer, as well as in the morning and afternoon. The bacteriostatic rates of the mixed community were significantly different with seasonal variation (p < 0.05). Spearman’s correlations revealed that the bacterial concentration was significantly positively correlated with the season, wind speed (WS), temperature (T), ultraviolet light (UV), negative air ion (NAI) and total suspended particles (TSP) (p＜0.05), but significantly negatively correlated with the forest community type (p < 0.05). WS, UV, NAI, TSP and PM2.5 showed significant effect on airborne bacterial concentration in a multiple linear regression model (p < 0.05). Overall, the selection of tree species plays a key role in shaping the forest structure and improving air quality, and the urban forest highlights key priorities for future efforts towards a cleaner, healthier, and more diverse regional forest environment.

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Vegetation and ecoregion analysis at Sipirok Botanic Gardens, South Tapanuli, North Sumatra, Indonesia

Biodiversitas Journal of Biological Diversity ◽

10.13057/biodiv/d210626 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 21 (6) ◽

Author(s):

Mustaid Siregar ◽

DANANG W. PURNOMO ◽

HARTUTININGSIH M-SIREGAR ◽

JOKO RIDHO WITONO

Keyword(s):

Plant Species ◽

Tree Species ◽

Secondary Forest ◽

Natural Forest ◽

Forest Community ◽

Ex Situ ◽

Forest Communities ◽

Botanic Gardens ◽

Remnant Forest ◽

North Sumatra

Abstract. Siregar M, Purnomo DW, Siregar HM, Witono JR. 2020. Vegetation and ecoregion analysis at Sipirok Botanic Gardens, South Tapanuli, North Sumatra, Indonesia. Biodiversitas 21: 2526-2535. Botanic Gardens is an ex-situ plant conservation area. Enrichment of plant collections of Botanic Gardens in Indonesia is based on ecoregion types. To find out the type of ecoregion, the existing vegetation, main native species should be known. The research aimed to analyze the existing vegetation and ecoregion type at Sipirok Botanic Gardens. Existing vegetation has been carried out using a separate plot method 20x20 m which is placed on purposively in nine locations considered to have different vegetation types, namely remnant forest, young secondary forests and shrubs, rubber plantation, and grasslands. Around 66 species belonged to 45 genera and 27 families were found in vascular plants (dbh ≥ 10 cm). There were 66 species of sapling belonged to 54 genera and 35 families, and 110 seedlings belonged to 87 genera and 50 families. The tree species that have the highest Importance Value Index are Ficus sumatrana (PU-1), Myristica fatua (PU-3), Hevea brasiliensis (PU-4 and PU-7), Artocarpus elasticus (PU-8), and Knema cinerea (PU-9). No trees were found in young secondary forest/shrub plots and grasslands. Unlike the species dominance index, the species diversity index and species equitability index are higher in natural forest plots. Beta diversity based on Jaccard similarity index and Whittaker's index shows a relatively different species composition among plots. Cluster analysis shows the tendency of grouping in 2 types of communities, namely: a) remnant forest communities, and b) secondary communities. The natural forest community is further divided into two communities consisting of remnant forest tree species and industrial/plantation plant species also secondary tree species. Secondary communities are also further divided into secondary forest communities and grasslands. Based on ecoregion analysis using previous publications, altitude, and diversity of plant species in the study site, Sipirok Botanic Gardens is a transitional zone of the Sumatran lowland rainforest and mountain rainforest.

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Long-term effects of smelter pollution at Sudbury, Ontario, on forest community composition

Canadian Journal of Botany ◽

10.1139/b80-245 ◽

1980 ◽

Vol 58 (19) ◽

pp. 2123-2140 ◽

Cited By ~ 80

Author(s):

B. Freedman ◽

T. C. Hutchinson

Keyword(s):

Forest Canopy ◽

Woody Species ◽

Forest Community ◽

Soil Toxicity ◽

Residual Soil ◽

Forest Communities ◽

Long Term Effects ◽

Ground Flora ◽

Vigorous Growth ◽

Remnant Forest

Forest communities were quantitatively analyzed along a south-southeast transect from a large, 70- to 80-year-old smelter complex near Sudbury, Ontario. None currently exist within 3 km SSE of this smelter. At distances of up to 8 km, pockets of remnant forest communities of various sizes occur, mainly on protected slopes and in valley bottoms. Most hilltops are bare of vegetation, denuded of soil, and blackened from the effects of sulfur dioxide fumigations. Beyond this distance, the forests are more or less continuous, although there are still some bare hilltops as far as 15 km from the smelter. The forests which do occur are relatively depauperate in terms of tree diversity and biomass at the closer sites. Similar effects on the ground flora are also documented, although the forest canopy appears to be more greatly affected than the ground flora. Certain species are widely distributed in the inner polluted areas, while others, notably conifers and such ground flora components as bracken fern and most lichens and bryophytes, are absent from sites closer to the smelter.Some changes in the plant communities close to the Copper Cliff smelter have occurred subsequent to the building of a tall (380 m) smokestack in 1972. These have mainly occurred at sites where soils remain, where residual soil toxicity is not excessive, and where midsummer drought is not severe. Colonization has largely involved the spread of such pioneer grasses as Agrostis hyemalis var. tenuis, A. stolonifera var. major, and Deschampsia caespitosa, and more vigorous growth of certain surviving woody species. The recovery of denuded, blackened hilltops, essentially a primary succession on naked Precambrian bedrock, will be a much slower process.

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Composition and Specialization of the Lichen Functional Traits in a Primeval Forest—Does Ecosystem Organization Level Matter?

Forests ◽

10.3390/f12040485 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 (4) ◽

pp. 485

Author(s):

Anna Łubek ◽

Martin Kukwa ◽

Bogdan Jaroszewicz ◽

Patryk Czortek

Keyword(s):

Functional Traits ◽

Asexual Reproduction ◽

Community Assembly ◽

Tree Species ◽

Functional Trait ◽

Forest Community ◽

Forest Communities ◽

Niche Diversity ◽

Dark Pigmentation ◽

Ecosystem Organization

Current trends emphasize the importance of the examination of the functional composition of lichens, which may provide information on the species realized niche diversity and community assembly processes, thus enabling one to understand the specific adaptations of lichens and their interaction with the environment. We analyzed the distribution and specialization of diverse morphological, anatomical and chemical (lichen secondary metabolites) traits in lichen communities in a close-to-natural forest of lowland Europe. We considered these traits in relation to three levels of forest ecosystem organization: forest communities, phorophyte species and substrates, in order to recognize the specialization of functional traits to different levels of the forest complexity. Traits related to the sexual reproduction of mycobionts (i.e., ascomata types: lecanoroid apothecia, lecideoid apothecia, arthonioid apothecia, lirellate apothecia, stalked apothecia and perithecia) and asexual reproduction of mycobionts (pycnidia, hyphophores and sporodochia) demonstrated the highest specialization to type of substrate, tree species and forest community. Thallus type (foliose, fruticose, crustose and leprose thalli), ascospore dark pigmentation and asexual reproduction by lichenized diaspores (soredia and isidia) revealed the lowest specialization to tree species and substrate, as well as to forest community. Results indicate that lichen functional trait assemblage distribution should not only be considered at the level of differences in the internal structure of the analyzed forest communities (e.g., higher number of diverse substrates or tree species) but also studied in relation to specific habitat conditions (insolation, moisture, temperature, eutrophication) that are characteristic of a particular forest community. Our work contributes to the understanding of the role of the forest structure in shaping lichen functional trait composition, as well as enhancing our knowledge on community assembly rules of lichen species.

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When a foundation crumbles: forecasting forest community dynamics following the decline of the foundation speciesTsuga canadensis

10.1101/099333 ◽

2017 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Bradley S. Case ◽

Hannah L. Buckley ◽

Audrey A. Barker-Plotkin ◽

David A. Orwig ◽

Aaron M. Ellison

Keyword(s):

Tree Species ◽

Community Dynamics ◽

Initial Conditions ◽

Basal Area ◽

Adelges Tsugae ◽

Eastern Hemlock ◽

Forest Community ◽

Forest Communities ◽

Salvage Logging ◽

Hemlock Decline

AbstractIn the forests of northeastern North America, invasive insects and pathogens are causing major declines in some tree species and a subsequent reorganization of associated forest communities. Using observations and experiments to investigate the consequences of such declines are hampered because trees are long-lived. Simulation models can provide a means to forecast possible futures based on different scenarios of tree species decline, death, and removal. Such modeling is particularly urgent for species such as eastern hemlock (Tsuga canadensis), a foundation species in many northeast forest regions that is declining due to the hemlock woolly adelgid (Adelges tsugae). Here, we used an individual-based forest simulator, SORTIE-ND, to forecast changes in forest communities in central Massachusetts over the next 200 years under a range of scenarios: a no-adelgid, status-quo scenario; partial resistance of hemlock to the adelgid; adelgid irruption and total hemlock decline over 25 years, adelgid irruption and salvage logging of hemlock trees; and two scenarios of preemptive logging of hemlock and hemlock/white pine.We applied the model to six study plots comprising a range of initial species mixtures, abundances, and levels of hemlock dominance. Simulations indicated that eastern white pine, and to a lesser extent black birch and American beech, would gain most in relative abundance and basal area following hemlock decline. The relative dominance of these species depended on initial conditions and the amount of hemlock mortality, and their combined effect on neighborhood-scale community dynamics. Simulated outcomes were little different whether hemlock died out gradually due to the adelgid or disappeared rapidly following logging. However, if eastern hemlock were to become partially resistant to the adelgid, hemlock would be able to retain its dominance despite substantial losses of basal area. Our modeling highlights the complexities associated with secondary forest succession due to ongoing hemlock decline and loss. We emphasize the need both for a precautionary approach in deciding between management intervention or simply doing nothing in these declining hemlock forests, and for clear aims and understanding regarding desired community- and ecosystem-level outcomes.

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CRITIQUE OF SOME VEGETATIONAL CONCEPTS AS APPLIED TO FORESTS OF NORTHWESTERN ALBERTA

Canadian Journal of Botany ◽

10.1139/b61-086 ◽

1961 ◽

Vol 39 (5) ◽

pp. 1007-1017 ◽

Cited By ~ 36

Author(s):

J. S. Rowe

Keyword(s):

Forest Community ◽

Forest Communities ◽

Ecological Concepts ◽

Climax Forest

The application, by R. Plochmann, of certain European silvicultural and ecological concepts in the study and description of forests of northwestern Alberta is examined. His ideas of unidirectional succession to the single climax forest are criticized on the grounds that concepts such as succession and climax must always be related to specific terrain. Every forest community, and indeed every vegetational community, is the botanical part of a unique geographic ecosystem which gives it meaning, and it is neglect of the geographic framework which has led to the false assumptions that forest communities can be studied as things-in-themselves, and that vegetational concepts derived in one region can be transplanted unchanged to others.

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