scholarly journals Small-scale variation in a pristine montane cloud forest: evidence on high soil fungal diversity and biogeochemical heterogeneity

PeerJ ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
pp. e11956
Author(s):  
Patricia Velez ◽  
Yunuen Tapia-Torres ◽  
Felipe García-Oliva ◽  
Jaime Gasca-Pineda
Keyword(s):  
Fungal Diversity ◽  
Spatial Scales ◽  
Cloud Forest ◽  
Environmental Filtering ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Rrna Gene ◽  
Cloud Forests ◽  
Montane Cloud Forest ◽  
Ecological Patterns ◽  
Soil Fungal Diversity

Montane cloud forests are fragile biodiversity hotspots. To attain their conservation, disentangling diversity patterns at all levels of ecosystem organization is mandatory. Biotic communities are regularly structured by environmental factors even at small spatial scales. However, studies at this scale have received less attention with respect to larger macroscale explorations, hampering the robust view of ecosystem functioning. In this sense, fungal small-scale processes remain poorly understood in montane cloud forests, despite their relevance. Herein, we analyzed soil fungal diversity and ecological patterns at the small-scale (within a 10 m triangular transect) in a pristine montane cloud forest of Mexico, using ITS rRNA gene amplicon Illumina sequencing and biogeochemical profiling. We detected a taxonomically and functionally diverse fungal community, dominated by few taxa and a large majority of rare species (81%). Undefined saprotrophs represented the most abundant trophic guild. Moreover, soil biogeochemical data showed an environmentally heterogeneous setting with patchy clustering, where enzymatic activities suggest distinctive small-scale soil patterns. Our results revealed that in this system, deterministic processes largely drive the assemblage of fungal communities at the small-scale, through multifactorial environmental filtering.

Effect of heat shock on germination of 23 plant species in pine - oak and montane cloud forests in western Mexico

2010 ◽  
Vol 19 (6) ◽  
pp. 759 ◽  
Author(s):  
Susana Zuloaga-Aguilar ◽  
Oscar Briones ◽  
Alma Orozco-Segovia
Keyword(s):  
Heat Shock ◽  
Cloud Forest ◽  
Logistic Models ◽  
Forest Species ◽  
Cloud Forests ◽  
Prescribed Burns ◽  
Western Mexico ◽  
Moist Sand ◽  
Montane Cloud Forest ◽  
In Fire

We determined the effect of heat shock on seed germination of 23 species growing in fire-prone areas covered by pine–oak and montane cloud forests. Seeds of each species were exposed to 60, 80, 100 or 120°C for 5 or 60 min in dry and moist sand. Seeds of nine species were incubated for 15 h in moist sand and exposed to the temperature that best promoted germination. Eighteen species required heat shock for germination, and five tolerated it. Dry heat shock for 5 min promoted germination of these species; heat shock in moist sand at 100°C induced germination of 10 species. Exposure for 60 min to heat shock in dry and moist sand improved germination of 14 and 5 species respectively. Logistic models indicate that germination probabilities of most species are increased by temperatures of 70–120°C. Depending on substrate and seed hydration, heat shock increased or left unchanged the germination of most pine–oak and montane cloud forest species. Thus, montane cloud forest seeds can survive low-intensity surface fires. Most species with seeds hydrated before heat shock showed little or no germination. Prescribed burns at the end of the rainy season may therefore be harmful to pine–oak and montane cloud forest species.

scholarly journals Density estimates of birds inhabiting fragments of cloud forest in southern Ecuador

1999 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 73-79 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark D. Jacobs ◽  
Jon S. Walker
Keyword(s):  
Cloud Forest ◽  
Forest Birds ◽  
Species Assemblages ◽  
Population Densities ◽  
Cloud Forests ◽  
Density Estimates ◽  
Montane Cloud Forest ◽  
Southern Ecuador

SummaryBetween June and September 1995 estimates were made of the population densities of birds inhabiting fragments of unprotected montane cloud forests in southern Ecuador. The study focused on 10 species: Bearded Guan Penelope barbata, Golden-plumed Parakeet Leptosittaca branickii, Red-faced Parrot Hapalopsittaca pyrrhops, White-capped Parrot Pionus seniloides, Grey-breasted Mountain-Toucan Andigena hypoglauca, Barred Fruiteater Pipreola arcuata, Turquoise Jay Cyanolyca turcosa, Great Thrush Turdus fuscater, Hooded Mountain-tanager Buthraupis montana, and Mountain Cacique Cacicus leucoramphus. Species assemblages and population densities varied greatly between sites, despite the presence of similar habitats and altitudinal ranges. Substantial populations of the threatened Bearded Guan, Grey-breasted Mountain-Toucan and Golden-plumed Parakeet were found in areas previously unstudied, as well as in areas previously known to be important. Currently unprotected areas are important for the conservation of montane cloud forest birds.

scholarly journals Assessing trait driver theory along abiotic gradients in tropical plant communities

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jehová Lourenço ◽  
Erica A Newman ◽  
Camilla Rozindo Dias Milanez ◽  
Luciana Dias Thomaz ◽  
Brian J Enquist
Keyword(s):  
Intraspecific Variation ◽  
Water Availability ◽  
Environmental Gradients ◽  
Spatial Scales ◽  
Environmental Filtering ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Economic Traits ◽  
Tropical Plant ◽  
Environmental Matching ◽  
The Impact

Despite the many studies using trait-based approaches to assess the impact of environmental gradients in forest trait composition, the relative roles of (i) intraspecific variation in community assembly and (ii) microclimatic or fine scale abiotic variation in shaping local trait diversity remain poorly understood. To advance their understanding we tested several assumptions and predictions of trait driver theory (TDT). We quantified the shape of trait distributions related to tree carbon, nutrient economics and stem hydraulics across a small-scale but steep gradient of soil water availability. We utilized a unique and steep environmental gradient in the coastal Brazilian Atlantic forest (restinga) communities that spans a very short distance (207 +/-60 meters). We collected leaf and wood samples of tree species across 42 patches (or plots) of restinga forest. Furthermore, to detect if species directionally shift in niche space, we analyzed species composition in multidimensional hypervolume space. Despite short geographic distances, we observed large shifts in species replacement and intraspecific variation reflected by a directional shift in plant function. Consistent with TDT, we observe (i) trait distributions that are skewed in directions consistent with a forest responding to recent hotter and drier; (ii) peaked trait distributions, indicating strong functional convergence; and (iii) conditions decreasing means and variances of several leaf carbon and nutrient economic traits as well as stem hydraulic traits. Synthesis: Observed species replacements along the water table gradient and interspecific measures of functional diversity (community kurtosis and skewness) are consistent with strong phenotype/environmental matching of plant carbon, nutrient, and hydraulic strategies. We observe environmental filtering in both extremities of the gradient, selecting for acquisitive (wet) to conservative (dry) setup of traits. Similarly, species that span the entire water availability gradient are characterized by directional intraspecific shifts in multi-trait space that mirror interspecific shifts. Strong environmental gradients across short spatial scales provide unique systems to accurately assess assembly processes and address long-held assumptions and timely hypothesis predicted by trait driver theory.

scholarly journals Mountain cloud forest and grown-shade coffee plantations: A comparison of tree biodiversity in central Veracruz, Mexico

2016 ◽  
Vol 25 (1) ◽  
pp. 055 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alfredo González-Zamora ◽  
Manuel Esperón-Rodríguez ◽  
Víctor L. Barradas
Keyword(s):  
Tree Species ◽  
Potential Role ◽  
Cloud Forest ◽  
Tree Diversity ◽  
Coffee Plantation ◽  
Cloud Forests ◽  
Floristic Similarity ◽  
Shade Coffee ◽  
Coffee Plantations ◽  
Montane Cloud Forest

Aim of the study: The objective of this work is to compare tree diversity and richness among one grown-shade coffee plantation (CAE) and two sites of montane cloud forests, one preserved (MCF1) and other perturbed (MCF2). We also develop an analysis of the importance of coffee plantations as a refuge of tree species, holding a potential role for conservation.Area of study: Our study area is the coffee region of Coatepec-Xico, in the state of Veracruz, Mexico.Material and methods: We compiled a list of all tree species in each site to determine tree diversity and floristic similarity (dissimilarity). We used different similarity indices and a cluster analysis to show relations among sites.Main results: 2721 individuals from 154 species were registered in the montane cloud forests as a whole. In the grown-shade coffee plantation we registered 2947 individuals from 64 species. The most similar sites were the perturbed montane cloud forest and the grown-shade coffee plantation and the least similar were the preserved montane cloud forest and the grown-shade coffee plantation. The high biodiversity found in all sites and the differences in tree composition between the two montane cloud forests supports evidence of the ecosystems richness in the region.Research highlight: Diversity differences among sites determine that the grown-shade coffee plantation is not substitute for montane cloud forest. CAE’s are developed under similar environmental conditions than the MCF; therefore, coexistence and recombination (replacement) of species make them particularly complementary. CAE’s in Veracruz have a potential role as refuge for biodiversity.

New records of Ascomycetes from the Tropical Montane Cloud Forests of eastern Mexico

Phytotaxa ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 454 (3) ◽  
pp. 161-185
Author(s):  
TANIA RAYMUNDO ◽  
RICARDO VALENZUELA ◽  
JULIO CESAR RAMÍREZ-MARTÍNEZ ◽  
MICHELLE MARTÍNEZ-PINEDA ◽  
AURORA COBOS VILLAGRÁN ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
New Records ◽  
Vegetation Type ◽  
Cloud Forest ◽  
Tropical Montane Cloud Forest ◽  
Ecological Studies ◽  
Cloud Forests ◽  
Montane Cloud Forest ◽  
Tropical Montane Cloud Forests

The tropical montane cloud forest is an important reservoir of the diversity of Mexican ascomycetes. We cite and describe 17 species that had not been recorded in this vegetation type. Fifteen of them are new records for Mexico. Some of these species are associated with angiosperms and some with other fungi. Ongoing efforts are required to carry out floristic, taxonomic, phylogenetic and ecological studies of this group of fungi in such a diverse ecosystem that is cataloged as threatened.

Exophiala pseudooligosperma sp. nov., a novel black yeast from soil in southern China

2021 ◽  
Vol 71 (11) ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiao-qian Yang ◽  
Man-yao Feng ◽  
Ze-fen Yu
Keyword(s):  
Internal Transcribed Spacer ◽  
Fungal Diversity ◽  
Yunnan Province ◽  
Southern China ◽  
Phylogenetic Position ◽  
Rrna Gene ◽  
Aerial Hyphae ◽  
Molecular Phylogenetic ◽  
Pr China ◽  
Soil Fungal Diversity

Exophiala is an important genus, with several species associated with infections in humans and animals. In a survey of soil fungal diversity in Yunnan province, PR China, a novel taxon, Exophiala pseudooligosperma sp. nov., was identified based on combined morphological and molecular phylogenetic features. Morphologically, this species is characterized by having torulose, septate hyphae and swollen, terminal or intercalary conidiogenous cells arising at acute angles from aerial hyphae. Phylogenetic analysis of the combined sequences of the internal transcribed spacer, the small and large nuclear subunit of the rRNA gene and part of the β-tubulin gene confirmed the phylogenetic position of the new species within the genus Exophiala.

Ascomycetes from the relic forest of Oreomunnea mexicana, Oaxaca, Mexico

Phytotaxa ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 528 (1) ◽  
pp. 19-44
Author(s):  
RICARDO VALENZUELA ◽  
TANIA RAYMUNDO ◽  
PAMELA REYES ◽  
JORGE GUZMÁN-GUILLERMO ◽  
SALVADOR ACOSTA ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
New Records ◽  
Growth Habit ◽  
Cloud Forest ◽  
Taxonomic Diversity ◽  
Abundant Species ◽  
Tropical Montane Cloud Forest ◽  
Cloud Forests ◽  
Montane Cloud Forest ◽  
Tropical Montane Cloud Forests ◽  
Main Growth

La Esperanza is an Oaxacan relic area of the Tertiary, dominated by the big tree Oreomunnea mexicana (Juglandaceae). The forest is part of the priority region for the conservation of La Chinantla and constitutes one of the most conserved Mexican tropical montane cloud forests. We studied the Ascomycetes fungi and found 63 species, of which 32 are new records for Oaxaca. Ascocoryne inflata, Calyculosphaeria macrospora, Cercophora costaricensis, Chaetosphaeria ellisii, Coccomyces limitatus, Lasiosphaeria ovina, Leptogidium dendriscum, Marthamyces quadrifidus, Stereocaulon didymicum and Thelonectria lucida are new records for Mexico. Xylaria was the most diverse genus with 12 species. The most abundant species were Xylaria arbuscula and Lachnum apalum. The main growth habit was lignicolous. The tropical montane cloud forest of La Esperanza has unique characteristics allowing great taxonomic diversity of Ascomycetes.

scholarly journals Clusia nubium (Clusiaceae): a new species from cloud-forests of southwestern Ecuador

Phytotaxa ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 253 (3) ◽  
pp. 219 ◽  
Author(s):  
MATS H.G. GUSTAFSSON ◽  
FINN BORCHSENIUS
Keyword(s):  
New Species ◽  
Cloud Forest ◽  
Cloud Forests ◽  
Montane Cloud Forest ◽  
Andean Group ◽  
Male Flowers ◽  
A New Species

Clusia nubium from southwestern Ecuador is described as a species new to science. It grows as a hemiepiphyte in lower montane cloud forest. The species belongs to Clusia sect. Retinostemon, a largely Andean group characterized by male flowers with a resin-secreting synandrium of completely fused stamens and sometimes also anthers and staminodes. It differs from all other species in that section by the combination of creamy-white petals; male flowers with a dome-shaped synandrium with numerous fused stamens surrounding a group of resin secreting staminodia; and large fruits with 9–15 peltate stigmata forming a ring.

Präzisions-Forstwirtschaft – was ist das? | Precision forestry – what's that?

2007 ◽  
Vol 158 (8) ◽  
pp. 235-242 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hans Rudolf Heinimann
Keyword(s):  
Business Processes ◽  
Spatial Scales ◽  
Supply Chain Coordination ◽  
Sensor Technology ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Soil Physics ◽  
Coordination Problem ◽  
Precision Engineering ◽  
Precision Forestry ◽  
And Control

The term «precision forestry» was first introduced and discussed at a conference in 2001. The aims of this paper are to explore the scientific roots of the precision concept, define «precision forestry», and sketch the challenges that the implementation of this new concept may present to practitioners, educators, and researchers. The term «precision» does not mean accuracy on a small scale, but instead refers to the concurrent coordination and control of processes at spatial scales between 1 m and 100 km. Precision strives for an automatic control of processes. Precision land use differs from precision engineering by the requirements of gathering,storing and managing spatio-temporal variability of site and vegetation parameters. Practitioners will be facing the challenge of designing holistic, standardized business processes that are valid for whole networks of firms,and that follow available standards (e.g., SCOR, WoodX). There is a need to educate and train forestry professionals in the areas of business process re-engineering, computer supported management of business transactions,methods of remote sensing, sensor technology and control theory. Researchers will face the challenge of integrating plant physiology, soil physics and production sciences and solving the supply chain coordination problem (SCCP).

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document