scholarly journals A noteworthy case of rewilding Chinese yew from a garden population in eastern China

PeerJ ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
pp. e12341
Author(s):  
Kaidi Li ◽  
Guangfu Zhang ◽  
Ying Zhang ◽  
M. Patrick Griffith

Chinese yew (Taxus wallichiana var. mairei) is ranked as a rare and endangered plant of first-grade protection of China. It has been widely cultivated in 17 provinces of China over the past few decades. However, little is known about the dispersion, rewilding, and ecological influence of Chinese yew’s offspring during cultivation. Here, we report a noteworthy case of this species, via ex situ conservation, which has successfully spread into different secondary forests, thus forming a stable regenerating population in eastern China. The establishment of this yew population, which has > 900 individuals and 7 ha area, can be ascribed to two key ecological factors: (1) secondary forest near the parent yews that provided suitable microhabitats in which progeny yews could germinate and grow, and (2) seed-foraging and transportation by native birds. Thus, this case may offer a pathway for conserving endangered Chinese Taxus species, which can attract frugivorous birds to disperse their seeds. In addition, it is necessary to monitor the growth performance of progeny population in the field.

2021 ◽  
Vol 44 ◽  
pp. 99-115
Author(s):  
Jie Liu ◽  
Guang-Fu Zhang ◽  
Xue Li

Parrotia subaequalis (H. T. Chang) R.M. Hao & H.T. Wei is a rare and endangered Tertiary relict tree that is endemic to subtropical China. However, little is known about its growth condition and relationship with associated tree species. Here, for the first time we measured the structural diversity of P. subaequalis communities at three representative sites in eastern China using four structural indices, including mingling, tree-tree distance, and diameter and tree height differences. The results showed that: 1) Collectively, most P. subaequalis and associated tree species were small and mid-sized classes in tree height, and small-sized class in diameter; 2) There were two or more other tree species around most of P. subaequalis individuals across the three sites; 3) Overall, the mean distance between reference trees and their neighbors was mainly 1–2 m. Our results indicated that a strong interspecific competition existed between P. subaequalis and its associated tree species. Meanwhile, although the reference tree P. subaequalis had slight advantages in both horizontal and vertical planes, we think that it is necessary to take some effective measures to reduce the interspecific competition and thereby keep it at a proper successive stage. In addition, we also discuss the protection level of P. subaequalis in China, and propose to keep this species at the First-Grade State Protection.


Human Ecology ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adam Pain ◽  
Kristina Marquardt ◽  
Dil Khatri

AbstractWe provide an analytical contrast of the dynamics of secondary forest regeneration in Nepal and Peru framed by a set of common themes: land access, boundaries, territories, and rights, seemingly more secure in Nepal than Peru; processes of agrarian change and their consequences for forest-agriculture interactions and the role of secondary forest in the landscape, more marked in Peru, where San Martín is experiencing apparent agricultural intensification, than in Nepal; and finally processes of social differentiation that have consequences for different social groups, livelihood construction and their engagement with trees, common to both countries. These themes address the broader issue of the necessary conditions for secondary forest regeneration and the extent to which the rights and livelihood benefits of those actively managing it are secured.


Land ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (8) ◽  
pp. 817
Author(s):  
Marina Palmero-Iniesta ◽  
Josep Maria Espelta ◽  
Mario Padial-Iglesias ◽  
Òscar Gonzàlez-Guerrero ◽  
Lluís Pesquer ◽  
...  

Farmland abandonment has been a widespread land-use change in the Iberian Peninsula since the second half of the 20th century, leading to the establishment of secondary forests across the region. In this study, we aimed to address changes in the recent (1985–2014) emergence patterns of these forests and examine how environmental factors affected their growth by considering differences in leaf-habit types. We used a combination of Landsat-derived land-cover maps and aboveground biomass (AGB) maps from the European Space Agency to assess the secondary forest establishment and growth, respectively, in the study region. We also obtained a set of topographic, climatic and landscape variables from diverse GIS layers and used them for determining changes over time in the environmental drivers of forest establishment and AGB using general linear models. The results highlight that secondary forest cover was still increasing in the Iberian Peninsula at a rate above the European average. Yet, they also indicate a directional change in the emergence of secondary forests towards lower and less steep regions with higher water availability (mean rainfall and SPEI) and less forest cover but are subjected to greater drought events. In addition, these environmental factors differentially affect the growth of forests with different leaf-habit types: i.e., needleleaf secondary forests being less favoured by high temperature and precipitation, and broadleaf deciduous forests being most negatively affected by drought. Finally, these spatial patterns of forest emergence and the contrasting responses of forest leaf-habits to environmental factors explained the major development of broadleaf evergreen compared to broadleaf deciduous forests and, especially, needleleaf secondary forests. These results will improve the knowledge of forest dynamics that have occurred in the Iberian Peninsula in recent decades and provide an essential tool for understanding the potential effects of climate warming on secondary forest growth.


2002 ◽  
Vol 46 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Dietrich Schmidt-Vogt

AbstractManagement of secondary tropical forests: a new perspective for sustainable use of forests in Asia. The decline of primary forests in the tropics is leading to a reassessment of the role secondary forests might play within the context of tropical forest management. Recent research has shown that secondary forests in the tropics can be both rich in species and complex in terms of stand structure. There is, moreover, a growing recognition of the importance of secondary forests for traditional subsistence economies in the tropics and of their economic potential for land use systems in the future. Management of secondary forests in Asia as an alternative to the extraction of timber from primary forests but also as one among other options to intensify traditional land use systems has a potential for the future especially because of the existence of vast tracts of valuable secondary forest cover, and because of the store of traditional knowledge that can still be found in tropical Asia.


1995 ◽  
Vol 73 (6) ◽  
pp. 817-826 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. J. Metcalfe ◽  
P. J. Grubb

Seed mass values are given for 140 species of primary lowland rain forest and associated secondary forests in Singapore. Among shade-tolerant species of primary forest there is a trend for a decrease in mean seed mass with tall trees > woody climbers > small trees > shrubs > herbs; the differences between tall trees and small trees or shrubs or herbs, and between herbs and small trees or woody climbers are significant. There are a few light-demanding herbs or shrubs in the primary forest; among small trees, light demanders have significantly lower seed mass values than shade tolerators. In 9 out of 13 comparisons within taxa including both shade tolerants and light demanders the former had appreciably larger seeds than the latter. Two out of 13 comparisons involved very small seeded shade tolerators, and one a notably large-seed light demander. Many shade-tolerant herbs, shrubs, and trees have seed mass values much smaller than those of trees of secondary forest conventionally regarded as small seeded, and exploit moist, litter-free sites, e.g., steep microslopes. The trees of secondary forests on degraded soils do not differ significantly in seed mass from those on nondegraded soils. Key words: seed mass, light requirement, regeneration, tropical rain forest, phylogenetic analysis.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Madelon Lohbeck ◽  
Ben DeVries ◽  
Frans Bongers ◽  
Miguel Martinez-Ramos ◽  
Armando Navarrete-Segueda ◽  
...  

Forest regrowth is key to achieve restoration commitments, but we need to better understand under what circumstances it takes place and how long secondary forests persist. We studied a recently colonized agricultural frontier in southern Mexico. We quantified the spatiotemporal dynamics of forest loss and regrowth and tested how temporal variation in climate, and spatial variation in land availability, land quality and accessibility affect forest disturbance, regrowth and secondary forest persistence. Marqués de Comillas consistently exhibits more forest loss than regrowth, resulting in a net decrease of 30% forest cover (1991-2016). Secondary forest cover remained relatively constant while secondary forest persistence increased, suggesting that farmers are moving away from shifting cultivation. Temporal variation in disturbance and regrowth were explained by the annual variation in the Oceanic El Niño index combined with dry season rainfall and key policy and market interventions.Across communities the availability of high-quality soil overrules the effects of land availability and accessibility, but that at the pixel-level all three factors contributed to explaining forest conservation and restoration. Communities with more high-quality soils were able to spare land for forest conservation, and had less secondary forest that persisted for longer. Old forest and secondary forests were better represented on low-quality lands and on communal land. Both old and secondary forest were less common close to the main road, where secondary forests were also less persistent. Forest conservation and restoration can be explained by a complex interplay of biophysical and social drivers across time, space and scale. We warrant that stimulating private land ownership may cause remaining forest patches to be lost and that conservation initiatives should benefit the whole community. Forest regrowth and secondary forest persistence competes with agricultural production and ensuring farmers can access restoration benefits is key to success.


2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (11) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yupi ISNAINI ◽  
Titien Ngatinem Praptosuwiryo

Abstract. Isnaini Y, Praptosuwiryo TNg. 2020. In vitro spore germination and early gametophyte development of Cibotium barometz (L.) J. Sm. in different media. Biodiversitas 21: 5373-5381. Cibotium barometz (L.) J. Sm. is known as the golden chicken fern and included in Appendix II of CITES. It is an important export commodity for traditional and modern medicine. Globally, populations of this species are under significant pressure due to overexploitation in the wild. In vitro culture is one of the technologies used for ex-situ propagation and conservation of rare and endangered ferns and lycophytes. This study’s objectives were: (i) to observe in vitro spore germination and early gametophyte development of C. barometz, and (ii) to determine the best culture medium for rapid spore germination and early development of the gametophytes. The sterilized spores were sown in half-strength Murashige & Skoog (½MS) basal medium supplemented with combinations of 6-Benzylaminopurine (BAP) and α-Naphthalene acetic acid (NAA). A factorial combination of four BAP concentrations (0, 2, 4, and 6 mg L-1) with four concentrations of NAA (0; 0.01; 0.03 and 0.05 mg L-1) created 16 treatments replicated in a Completely Randomized Design. Spore germination of C. barometz was observed to be Vittaria-type, and its prothallial development was Drynaria-type. Spore germination started 7-14 days after sowing. Young heart-shape gametophytes consisting of 110-240 cells were formed in 45-61 days after sowing. The two best spore culture media for rapid spore germination and development of C. barometz gametophytes were ½ MS with or without 2 mg L-1 BAP.


2016 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 7
Author(s):  
MILENE DA ROCHA M. ◽  
CRISTIANO RIBEIRO F. ◽  
RANIERE GARCEZ C.S.

The Amazon has a great biodiversity, however in this regions some locations still without no research, showing the need for studies in this localities. The lack of information about the diversity of frogs and the speed of change in the landscape that have been taking place on the planet, demonstrates the urgent need to preserve the remaining resources. In this adverse scenario, live frogs that are sensitive to changes in natural forest areas, and are recognized as Bioindicator of environmental integrity. The present study had scoped to do a survey of the anuran species in a country area, near to the city of Porto Velho (RO). This land, is formed by two separate areas, one classified as secondary forests and the other as pasture area. The sampling was carried out from January to may 2012, using tools and techniques for catch in the night delimited by time, pitfall traps and frogs occasional meetings Were captured 63 specimens of Anurans, distributed in six families, where the richest in species were the Leptodactylidae (n = 6), Hylidae (n = 5), Bufonidae (n = 4), Microhylidae (n = 2), Brachycephalidae (n = 2) and Aromobatidae (n = 2), totaling 21 species identified.The most abundant species were the Leptodactylus chaquensis (n = 12) and Leptodactylus andreae (n = 8). The pasture area exhibited the greatest number of individuals captured with 65.07% of all frogs collected.


2008 ◽  
Vol 38 (12) ◽  
pp. 3033-3046 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas Knoke ◽  
Patrick Hildebrandt ◽  
Daniel Klein ◽  
Rodrigo Mujica ◽  
Martin Moog ◽  
...  

The expected opportunity costs of conserving a specific land use are usually considered adequate as financial compensation. However, a “conservation premium” is sometimes proposed as an added incentive, i.e., compensation greater than the expected opportunity costs. This paper discusses various methodological opportunities for deriving effective compensation under uncertainty. Based on cumulative distribution functions of possible opportunity costs (a Douglas-fir ( Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco) plantation was considered the alternative to conserving a Chilean secondary forest), generated through Monte Carlo simulations, we derived an inclusive range of possible compensations from 77 up to 375 US$·ha–1·year–1. If we assumed that the two land-use alternatives were mutually exclusive and independent from other risky investments, a compensation of 375 US$·ha–1·year–1 was necessary to convince every decision maker to maintain the secondary forest. However, only 77 US$·ha–1·year–1 was enough for a risk-averse decision maker (given average opportunity costs of 113 US$·ha–1·year–1). Yet, it turned out that the greatest possible opportunity costs would already be compensated for with 199 US$·ha–1·year–1, given an error probability of 0.05. Compensating for the last 5% of possible opportunity costs would thus require an additional 176 US$·ha–1·year–1. Our approach had two main limitations, namely we did not consider portfolio effects, which would allow diversifying away unsystematic risks, and we did not take into account the different systematic risks of the compared alternatives. These limitations may have led to an overestimation of effective compensation.


2003 ◽  
Vol 19 (4) ◽  
pp. 387-395 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tomoya Iwata ◽  
Mikio Inoue ◽  
Shigeru Nakano ◽  
Hitoshi Miyasaka ◽  
Atsushi Doi ◽  
...  

Microhabitat use and habitat-abundance relationships of four freshwater shrimps, Atyopsis moluccensis, Macrobrachium pilimanus, Macrobrachium trompii and Macrobrachium neglectum, were surveyed in tropical streams running through primary and secondary forests in Borneo, East Malaysia. Underwater observations revealed that A. moluccensis preferred relatively high water velocity and a boulder substrate. Macrobrachium pilimanus also preferred high water velocity and a cobble substrate, whereas M. trompii occupied stream margins with slow current and fine substrates (from POM (particulate organic matter) to pebbles). In contrast, M. neglectum was distributed relatively evenly through the stream channel. The abundance of A. moluccensis, M. pilimanus and M. trompii in the stream reaches was best explained by the abundance of boulders, cobbles and POM, respectively, suggesting that the amount of preferred microhabitat is an important factor affecting shrimp abundances in the tropical rain-forest streams. The primary-forest reaches were dominated by coarse substrates, such as cobbles and boulders, while a great proportion of the streambeds in the secondary-forest reaches were covered with sand. Owing probably to such habitat differences, the abundance of both A. moluccensis and M. pilimanus, which preferred coarse substrates, was less in the secondary- than in the primary-forest reaches. These suggested that loss of preferred habitat, namely decreased coarse substrate availability, by sedimentation resulting from riparian deforestation had altered the shrimp assemblage structures.


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