scholarly journals Soil respiration and its relationship with litter contributions in a wooded mountain soil

2021 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 2382-2397
Author(s):  
Francisco Prieto García ◽  
Judith Prieto Méndez ◽  
Beatriz Valdes Prado ◽  
Eliazar Aquino Torres

ABSTRACT Soil respiration in forest ecosystems is considered to be the second most important carbon flux between the biosphere and the atmosphere. In tropical forests, the factor that most influences soil respiration is the temporal variation in temperature, and in water content or precipitation; the soil temperature is relatively constant. The behavior of the RS was established, and this ecological process was estimated and modeled for a tropical mountain forest in the State of Hidalgo, Mexico. It has contributed to strengthening the theoretical framework for the restoration and ecological conservation of this forest, considered a National Park, this has been the main objective of this work. Its relationship with the climatic parameters and factors that regulate CO2-soil-atmosphere fluxes in an annual cycle was analyzed. The daytime respiratory rate was slightly higher (average of 3.54 tmCO2/ha) than the nocturnal one (average of 3.35 tmCO2/ha), depending on the ambient temperature and the climatic conditions. The humic acid found in the soils was classified for the mountainous wooded area of the Chico National Park. Andosols are humic soils and humic acids were classified predominantly as type A. According to the results obtained, with only one year of evaluation, it should be noted that it is necessary to carry out a greater number of evaluations, at least during a period of 5 to 10 years and for different seasonal periods, in order to strengthen the responses found for this ecosystem.

Hacquetia ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
pp. 133-142
Author(s):  
Eleni T. Tsiobani ◽  
Maria D. Yiakoulaki ◽  
Nikolaos D. Hasanagas ◽  
Georgios Menexes ◽  
Konstantinos Papanikolaou

Abstract The monthly variation of Greek water buffaloes’ grazing behaviour was investigated at the Lake Kerkini National Park in Greece. Direct observations were carried out on six female buffaloes for two consecutive days every month for a one-year period, and the time spent (in minutes) on their grazing-related activities (feeding, moving, wallowing, standing, ruminating, drinking, and lying) was recorded. Moreover, social and aggressive interactions and self-grooming were recorded as number of events. Also, the daily distance travelled by buffaloes was recorded with a handheld GPS. Buffaloes travelled on average 6.9 km/day, and they walked their longest distance in June (10.7 km/day) and their shortest in September (2.9 km/day). They spent more time (P<0.05) on feeding (309.2 min/day) compared to moving (121.7 min/day), wallowing (27.9 min/day), standing (20.2 min/day), ruminating (15.4 min/day), drinking (4.7 min/day) and lying (4.2 min/day). Greek water buffaloes seem to be sociable rather than aggressive animals as they devote to these activities on average 18.2 vs 0.5 events/day. We can conclude that the animals adjust their grazing behaviour to climatic conditions and the availability of forage resources.


2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (7) ◽  
pp. 1837-1846
Author(s):  
Decky Indrawan Junaedi ◽  
Imawan Wahyu Hidayat ◽  
Muhammad Efendi ◽  
Zaenal Mutaqien ◽  
Musyarofah Zuhri ◽  
...  

Forests ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (8) ◽  
pp. 961
Author(s):  
Jiewei Hao ◽  
L. M. Chu

(1) Background: Detailed diversity information regarding terrestrial mosses in a tropical forest ecosystem and an understanding of the drivers behind moss distribution provide crucial data for the management and conservation of forest ecosystems. Mosses are critical components of tropical forest ecosystems due to their high diversity and biomass, and they also fulfill essential ecological functions. Here, we report the first study into the relative importance of vegetation types and elevational gradient for the diversity, distribution and community structure of terrestrial moss species in southern China. (2) Methods: Five elevations spaced 200 m apart in the tropical mountain forest on the northern aspect of Tai Mo Shan were selected. The diversity, distribution, and geographical patterns of terrestrial mosses in response to altitudinal changes were examined. Differences in the biotic variables of terrestrial mosses between elevations were tested using a one-way ANOVA. Curve estimation regression models were used to describe the responses of the biotic variables to the elevation gradient. Canonical correlation analysis (CCA) was performed to identify and measure the associations among biotic variables of terrestrial mosses and abiotic environmental factors. (3) Results: Fifty-three terrestrial moss species belonging to 20 families and 31 genera were recorded along the altitudinal gradient on Tai Mo Shan. Microclimate factors including dew point and rainfall were strongly associated with the cover and thickness of the ground moss species. There were no obvious richness changes of terrestrial mosses along the elevation gradient. In total, 33 of the 51 species were tropically distributed, 14 species were found across East Asia and the tropical regions, 10 species had an East Asian pattern and 8 were temperate species. (4) Conclusions: Vegetation types significantly affect the diversity and distribution of terrestrial moss species. Although they are influenced by the East Asian and temperate climate with frequent human activities, terrestrial mosses on Tai Mo Shan are primarily tropical in nature. Forest conservation and restoration should be implemented to sustain and improve the diversity of terrestrial mosses and understory plants on Tai Mo Shan, especially at higher elevations.


2021 ◽  
Vol 26 ◽  
pp. e01461
Author(s):  
Renee Sherna Laing ◽  
Kian Huat Ong ◽  
Roland Jui Heng Kueh ◽  
Nixon Girang Mang ◽  
Patricia Jie Hung King

2015 ◽  
Vol 2015 ◽  
pp. 1-9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rosana Silva Lana ◽  
Érika Monteiro Michalsky ◽  
Consuelo Latorre Fortes-Dias ◽  
João Carlos França-Silva ◽  
Fabiana de Oliveira Lara-Silva ◽  
...  

In the New World, the leishmaniases are primarily transmitted to humans through the bites ofLeishmania-infectedLutzomyia(Diptera: Psychodidae) phlebotomine sand flies. Any or both of two basic clinical forms of these diseases are endemic to several cities in Brazil—the American cutaneous leishmaniasis (ACL) and the American visceral leishmaniasis (AVL). The present study was conducted in the urban area of a small-sized Brazilian municipality (Jaboticatubas), in which three cases of AVL and nine of ACL have been reported in the last five years. Jaboticatubas is an important tourism hub, as it includes a major part of the Serra do Cipó National Park. Currently, no local data is available on the entomological fauna or circulatingLeishmania. During the one-year period of this study, we captured 3,104 phlebotomine sand flies belonging to sixteenLutzomyiaspecies. In addition to identifying incriminated or suspected vectors of ACL with DNA of the etiological agent of AVL and vice versa, we also detectedLeishmaniaDNA in unexpectedLutzomyiaspecies. The expressive presence of vectors and naturalLeishmaniainfection indicates favorable conditions for the spreading of leishmaniases in the vicinity of the Serra do Cipó National Park.


2002 ◽  
Vol 32 (11) ◽  
pp. 2010-2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeanine M Rhemtulla ◽  
Ronald J Hall ◽  
Eric S Higgs ◽  
S Ellen Macdonald

Repeat ground photographs (taken in 1915 and 1997) from a series of topographical survey stations and repeat aerial photographs (flown in 1949 and 1991) were analysed to assess changes in vegetation composition and distribution in the montane ecoregion of Jasper National Park, in the Rocky Mountains of Alberta, Canada. A quantitative approach for assessing relative vegetation change in repeat ground photographs was developed and tested. The results indicated a shift towards late-successional vegetation types and an increase in crown closure in coniferous stands. Grasslands, shrub, juvenile forest, and open forests decreased in extent, and closed-canopy forests became more prevalent. The majority of forest stands succeeded to dominance by coniferous species. Changes in vegetation patterns were likely largely attributable to shifts in the fire regime over the last century, although climatic conditions and human activity may also have been contributing factors. Implications of observed changes include decreased habitat diversity, increased possibility of insect outbreaks, and potential for future high-intensity fire events. Results of the study increase knowledge of historical reference conditions and may help to establish restoration goals for the montane ecoregion of the park.


Author(s):  
Ch. N. Sambyla ◽  
N. M. Bessonova ◽  
R. B. Chysyma

The Republic of Tyva is a region in the geographical center of Asia, which located at the junction of the Siberian taiga and Central Asian desert-steppe landscapes, in a wide band of mountains and intermountain plains. The mountain-forest area of Tyva has long been considered a natural habitat for antler deer, one of which is the maral (Cervus elaphus sibiricus). In order to restore maral breeding and increase the number of marals in the former limits, marals of the Altai-Sayan breed have been imported to the Republic of Tyva from the Republic of Altai. The preservation of productive traits, reproductive function and the realization of the genetic potential of animals introduced to new climatic conditions largely depends on the ability of these animals to adapt to existing environments. We have assessed in this paper the natural resistance of the marals of Altai-Sayan breed during introduction in the Tyva Republic in comparison with the indicators of the marals have been bred in the Altai Republic. The researches have been carried out in 2019. The research material was blood samples of marals of Altai-Sayan breed imported to the Republic of Tuva (n=27) and marals of the same breed bred in the Republic of Altai (n=17). Studies have shown some deviations in the blood leukogram of imported marals, such as a decrease in the number of eosinophils and rod nuclear neutrophils (P < 0,001), the increase in the number of segmented nuclear neutrophils and lymphocytes (P < 0,05). The number of monocytes have been increased in 18,6 times compared to the Altai marals. The change in the number of monocytes exceeded the physiological norm by 24,7 %. The indicator of adaptation evaluation in imported marals had higher values (6,8), which were in 1,7 times higher than in marals bred in the Altai Republic (4,1), which indicates the intensity of adaptive mechanisms in imported animals during adaptation. Analysis of phagocytic activity and phagocytic index revealed intensive phagocytosis in imported marals: phagocytic activity – by 12,4 % (P < 0,05), phagocytic index – by 5,1 %, and the increase in the content of lysosomal and cationic proteins by 12,8 % (P < 0,05). Analysis of the bactericidal activity of blood serum has shown its lower level in imported animals (45,97±1,36 %), compared with marals of the same breed bred in the Altai Republic (52,19±2,15 at P < 0,05). Thus, according to most indicators of natural resistance marals of Altai-Sayan breed imported to Tyva have a fairly high level of natural protection, which indicates that they can be adapted to the natural climatic and feeding conditions of the Republic of Tyva.


2013 ◽  
Vol 85 (4) ◽  
pp. 1449-1460 ◽  
Author(s):  
MAINARA F. CASCAES ◽  
VANILDE CITADINI-ZANETTE ◽  
BIRGIT HARTER-MARQUES

Phenological studies assist in forest ecosystems comprehension and evaluation of resource availability for wildlife, as well as in improving the understanding of relationships between plants and their pollinators and dispersers. This study aims to describe the reproductive phenophases of riparian plant species and correlate them with climatic variables. The reproductive phenology was analyzed biweekly throughout one year, recording the absence or presence of flowers/fruits. The flowering phenophase occurred throughout the year, with an increase in number of species in blossom in October, November, and December. The flowering peak of the community was observed in November. The fruiting phenophase also occurred throughout the year and showed an increase of species fruiting in June with a slight decrease in August and September. The data obtained in this study, when compared with other studies in different Atlantic Rainforest areas, indicates a seasonal pattern for the flowering phenophase and a variation in fruit availability throughout the year as well as in the fruiting peaks. Therefore, studies that observe flowering and fruiting events in loco are of main importance because they provide information on reproductive seasons of species for use in environmental restoration projects and thus alleviate the situation of degradation of riparian forests.


Koedoe ◽  
1989 ◽  
Vol 32 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ina Plug

Faunal remains obtained from archaeological sites in the Kruger National Park, provide valuable information on the distributions of animal species in the past. The relative abundances of some species are compared with animal population statistics of the present. The study of the faunal samples, which date from nearly 7 000 years before present until the nineteenth century, also provides insight into climatic conditions during prehistoric times.


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