Long-term research in Bosque Fray Jorge National Park: Twenty years studying the role of biotic and abiotic factors in a Chilean semiarid scrubland

The article gives a historical overview of expeditionary surveys of the Republic of Kazakhstan territory by the VIR employees with the aim of collecting local vegetable and melon crops from the first expedition in 1925 and to present days. A total of 13 expeditions of VIR were carried out across Kazakhstan, including cooperative surveys with employees of the Kazakh Research Institute of Potato and Vegetable Growing. The role of Vavilov and his associates in the formation of the Institute's collections, the continuity of ideas and traditions in the scientific work with plant genetic resources are emphasized. The analysis of the dynamics of receipt of expeditionary samples in the collection of VIR is given. The current state and significance of local vegetable resources of vegetable and melon crops of Kazakhstan for breeding use in the Russian Federation is shown. The botanical status of the collected seed material is reflected and the results of long-term comprehensive ecological and geographical study of the collection at VIR stations are presented. Genetic sources of valuable traits are identified in various directions of breeding in cabbage, tomato, carrot, radish, radish, watermelon, melon and pumpkin for use in breeding programs. It is emphasized that the creation of highly productive varieties and plant hybrids that combine high quality with resistance to a complex of biotic and abiotic factors can be successful in breeding with the wide use of wild species, semi-cultural and primitive forms and local varieties with a high degree of adaptation . Taking into account the exclusion of local varieties from production by highly productive varieties, the role of preserving their variability in gene banks is growing. Long-term international scientific cooperation contributes to the solution of the tasks of mobilizing plant resources by conducting expedition collections, conservation and rational use of plant genetic resources.

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Herbivores shape woody plant communities in the Kruger National Park: Lessons from three long-term exclosures

Koedoe ◽

10.4102/koedoe.v56i1.1165 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 56 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 27

Author(s):

Benjamin J. Wigley ◽

Herve Fritz ◽

Corli Coetsee ◽

William J. Bond

Keyword(s):

Soil Fertility ◽

Soil Nutrients ◽

Plant Communities ◽

National Park ◽

Woody Plant ◽

Kruger National Park ◽

Total Phenolic ◽

Population Structures

The role of grazers in determining vegetation community compositions and structuring plant communities is well recognised in grassy systems. The role of browsers in affecting savanna woody plant communities is less clear. We used three long-term exclosures in the Kruger National Park to determine the effect of browsers on species compositions and population structures of woody communities. Species assemblages, plant traits relating to browsing and soil nutrients were compared inside and outside of the exclosures. Our results showed that browsers directly impact plant species distributions, densities and population structures by actively selecting for species with traits which make them desirable to browsers. Species with high leaf nitrogen, low total phenolic content and low acid detergent lignin appeared to be favoured by herbivores and therefore tend to be rare outside of the exclosures. This study also suggested that browsers have important indirect effects on savanna functioning, as the reduction of woody cover can result in less litter of lower quality, which in turn can result in lower soil fertility. However, the magnitude of browser effects appeared to depend on inherent soil fertility and climate.Conservation implications: Browsers were shown to have significant impacts on plant communities. They have noticeable effects on local species diversity and population structure, as well as soil nutrients. These impacts are shown to be related to the underlying geology and climate. The effects of browsers on woody communities were shown to be greater in low rainfall, fertile areas compared to high rainfall, infertile soils.

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