Potential ecosystem service delivery by endemic plants in New Zealand vineyards: successes and prospects

Vineyards worldwide occupy over 7 million hectares and are typically virtual monocultures, with high and costly inputs of water and agro-chemicals. Understanding and enhancing ecosystem services can reduce inputs and their costs and help satisfy market demands for evidence of more sustainable practices. In this New Zealand work, low-growing, endemic plant species were evaluated for their potential benefits as Service Providing Units (SPUs) or Ecosystem Service Providers (ESPs). The services provided were weed suppression, conservation of beneficial invertebrates, soil moisture retention and microbial activity. The potential Ecosystem Dis-services (EDS) from the selected plant species by hosting the larvae of a key vine moth pest, the light-brown apple moth (Epiphyas postvittana), was also quantified. Questionnaires were used to evaluate winegrowers’ perceptions of the value of and problems associated with such endemic plant species in their vineyards. Growth and survival rates of the 14 plant species, in eight families, were evaluated, withLeptinella dioica(Asteraceae) andAcaena inermis‘purpurea’ (Rosaceae) having the highest growth rates in terms of area covered and the highest survival rate after 12 months. All 14 plant species suppressed weeds, withLeptinella squalida, Geranium sessiliforum(Geraniaceae),Hebe chathamica(Plantaginaceae),Scleranthus uniflorus(Caryophyllaceae) andL. dioica, each reducing weed cover by >95%. Plant species also differed in the diversity of arthropods that they supported, with the Shannon Wiener diversity index (H′) for these taxa ranging from 0 to 1.3.G. sessiliforumandMuehlenbeckia axillaris(Polygonaceae) had the highest invertebrate diversity. Density of spiders was correlated with arthropod diversity andG. sessiliflorumandH. chathamicahad the highest densities of these arthropods. Several plant species associated with higher soil moisture content than in control plots. The best performing species in this context wereA. inermis‘purpurea’ andLobelia angulata(Lobeliaceae). Soil beneath all plant species had a higher microbial activity than in control plots, withL. dioicabeing highest in this respect. Survival proportion to the adult stage of the moth pest,E. postvittana, on all plant species was poor (<0.3). When judged by a ranking combining multiple criteria, the most promising plant species were (in decreasing order)G. sessiliflorum, A. inermis‘purpurea’,H. chathamica, M. axillaris, L. dioica, L. angulata, L. squalidaandS. uniflorus. Winegrowers surveyed said that they probably would deploy endemic plants around their vines. This research demonstrates that enhancing plant diversity in vineyards can deliver SPUs, harbour ESPs and therefore deliver ES. The data also shows that growers are willing to follow these protocols, with appropriate advice founded on sound research.

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Potential ecosystem service delivery by endemic plants in New Zealand vineyards: successes and prospects

10.7287/peerj.preprints.1995 ◽

2016 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Morgan Shields ◽

Jean-Marie Tompkins ◽

David J Saville ◽

Colin D Meurk ◽

Stephen Wratten

Keyword(s):

Soil Moisture ◽

New Zealand ◽

Microbial Activity ◽

Plant Species ◽

Ecosystem Service ◽

Service Providers ◽

Weed Suppression ◽

Endemic Plants ◽

Endemic Plant ◽

Endemic Plant Species

Vineyards worldwide occupy over 7 million hectares and are typically virtual monocultures, with high and costly inputs of water and agro-chemicals. Understanding and enhancing ecosystem services can reduce inputs and their costs and help satisfy market demands for evidence of more sustainable practices. In this New Zealand work, low-growing, endemic plant species were evaluated for their potential benefits as Service Providing Units (SPUs) or Ecosystem Service Providers (ESPs). The services provided were weed suppression, conservation of beneficial invertebrates, soil moisture retention and microbial activity. The potential Ecosystem Dis-services (EDS) from the selected plant species by hosting the larvae of a key vine moth pest, the light-brown apple moth (Epiphyas postvittana), was also quantified. Questionnaires were used to evaluate winegrowers’ perceptions of the value of and problems associated with such endemic plant species in their vineyards. Growth and survival rates of the 14 plant species, in eight families, were evaluated, with Leptinella dioica (Asteraceae) and Acaena inermis ‘purpurea’ (Rosaceae) having the highest growth rates in terms of area covered and the highest survival rate after 12 months. All 14 plant species suppressed weeds, with Leptinella squalida, Geranium sessiliforum (Geraniaceae), Hebe chathamica (Plantaginaceae), Scleranthus uniflorus (Caryophyllaceae) and L. dioica, each reducing weed cover by > 95%. Plant species also differed in the diversity of arthropod taxa that they supported, with the Shannon Wiener diversity index (H') for these arthropods ranging from 0 to 1.3. G. sessiliforum and Muehlenbeckia axillaris (Polygonaceae) had the highest invertebrate diversity. Density of spiders was correlated with arthropod diversity and G. sessiliflorum and H. chathamica had the highest densities of these arthropods. Several plant species led to higher soil moisture content than in control plots. The best performing species in this context were A. inermis ‘purpurea’ and Lobelia angulata (Lobeliaceae). Soil beneath all plant species had a higher microbial activity than in control plots, with L. dioica being highest in this respect. Survival proportion to the adult stage of the moth pest, E. postvittana, on all plant species was poor (<0.3). When judged by a ranking combining multiple criteria, the most promising plant species were (in decreasing order) G. sessiliflorum, A. inermis ‘purpurea’, H. chathamica, M. axillaris, L. dioica, L. angulata, L. squalida and S. uniflorus. Winegrowers surveyed said that they probably would deploy endemic plants around their vines. This research demonstrates that enhancing plant diversity in vineyards can deliver SPUs, harbour ESPs and therefore deliver ES. The data also shows that growers are willing to follow these protocols, with appropriate advice founded on sound research.

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Potential ecosystem service delivery by endemic plants in New Zealand vineyards: successes and prospects

10.7287/peerj.preprints.1995v1 ◽

2016 ◽

Author(s):

Morgan Shields ◽

Jean-Marie Tompkins ◽

David J Saville ◽

Colin D Meurk ◽

Stephen Wratten

Keyword(s):

Soil Moisture ◽

New Zealand ◽

Microbial Activity ◽

Plant Species ◽

Ecosystem Service ◽

Service Providers ◽

Weed Suppression ◽

Endemic Plants ◽

Endemic Plant ◽

Endemic Plant Species

Vineyards worldwide occupy over 7 million hectares and are typically virtual monocultures, with high and costly inputs of water and agro-chemicals. Understanding and enhancing ecosystem services can reduce inputs and their costs and help satisfy market demands for evidence of more sustainable practices. In this New Zealand work, low-growing, endemic plant species were evaluated for their potential benefits as Service Providing Units (SPUs) or Ecosystem Service Providers (ESPs). The services provided were weed suppression, conservation of beneficial invertebrates, soil moisture retention and microbial activity. The potential Ecosystem Dis-services (EDS) from the selected plant species by hosting the larvae of a key vine moth pest, the light-brown apple moth (Epiphyas postvittana), was also quantified. Questionnaires were used to evaluate winegrowers’ perceptions of the value of and problems associated with such endemic plant species in their vineyards. Growth and survival rates of the 14 plant species, in eight families, were evaluated, with Leptinella dioica (Asteraceae) and Acaena inermis ‘purpurea’ (Rosaceae) having the highest growth rates in terms of area covered and the highest survival rate after 12 months. All 14 plant species suppressed weeds, with Leptinella squalida, Geranium sessiliforum (Geraniaceae), Hebe chathamica (Plantaginaceae), Scleranthus uniflorus (Caryophyllaceae) and L. dioica, each reducing weed cover by > 95%. Plant species also differed in the diversity of arthropod taxa that they supported, with the Shannon Wiener diversity index (H') for these arthropods ranging from 0 to 1.3. G. sessiliforum and Muehlenbeckia axillaris (Polygonaceae) had the highest invertebrate diversity. Density of spiders was correlated with arthropod diversity and G. sessiliflorum and H. chathamica had the highest densities of these arthropods. Several plant species led to higher soil moisture content than in control plots. The best performing species in this context were A. inermis ‘purpurea’ and Lobelia angulata (Lobeliaceae). Soil beneath all plant species had a higher microbial activity than in control plots, with L. dioica being highest in this respect. Survival proportion to the adult stage of the moth pest, E. postvittana, on all plant species was poor (<0.3). When judged by a ranking combining multiple criteria, the most promising plant species were (in decreasing order) G. sessiliflorum, A. inermis ‘purpurea’, H. chathamica, M. axillaris, L. dioica, L. angulata, L. squalida and S. uniflorus. Winegrowers surveyed said that they probably would deploy endemic plants around their vines. This research demonstrates that enhancing plant diversity in vineyards can deliver SPUs, harbour ESPs and therefore deliver ES. The data also shows that growers are willing to follow these protocols, with appropriate advice founded on sound research.

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Conservation Priority Plants in Bukit Barisan Selatan National Park

Media Konservasi ◽

10.29244/medkon.24.2.134-140 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 24 (2) ◽

pp. 134-140

Author(s):

Syamsul Hidayat ◽

Esti Munawaroh

Keyword(s):

Plant Species ◽

National Park ◽

Endemic Plants ◽

Conservation Priority ◽

Target Species ◽

Endemic Plant ◽

Threatened Plant ◽

Threatened Plant Species ◽

Endemic Plant Species

Bukit Barisan Selatan National Park (BBSNP) has a fairly high biodiversity, including plant species which are categorized as threatened, protected and endemic plants in Sumatra. Information regarding the existence of these plant species is not yet widely available. The purpose of this study was to reveal the existence of threatened, protected and endemic plant species in BBSNP. The research was conducted by exploration methods in three BBSNP areas, namely Kubu Prahu (West Lampung Regency), Sukaraja Atas (Tanggamus Regency) and Rata Agung (Pesisir Barat Regency). A number of target species have been obtained, including 13 threatened plant species, 6 protected plant species, and 7 endemic Sumatran plant species. In addition, three plant species have been included in CITES Appendix 2. The results of the study can be used as a reference for future flora conservation efforts. Keywords: BBSNP, endemic plant, protected, threatened

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Predicting the potential threat of Casuarina equisetifolia to three endemic plant species on the Turks and Caicos Islands

Oryx ◽

10.1017/s0030605311000251 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 46 (2) ◽

pp. 204-212 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Chloe J. Hardman ◽

Sophie Williams ◽

Bryan Naqqi Manco ◽

Martin A. Hamilton

Keyword(s):

Plant Species ◽

Endemic Species ◽

Plant Species Richness ◽

Endemic Plants ◽

Casuarina Equisetifolia ◽

Native Plant ◽

Endemic Plant ◽

Potential Threat ◽

Turks And Caicos Islands ◽

Endemic Plant Species

AbstractInvasive species are one of the main threats to the loss of global biodiversity. Controlling such species requires a high input of effort and resources and therefore it is important to focus control on areas that will maximize gains for conservation. We present a spatial modelling approach that will help target control efforts. We used presence-only data to develop habitat suitability models for the invasive tree Casuarina equisetifolia and three endemic plant species on the Turks and Caicos Islands in the Caribbean. Substantial overlap was found between suitable areas for the endemics and C. equisetifolia. Evidence for the potential harm that C. equisetifolia could cause to native vegetation was assessed using paired areas with and without invasion. Areas with C. equisetifolia present had lower native plant species richness than areas where it was absent, which suggests a negative effect of invasion on the growth of native plants. No endemic plants were found in areas where C. equisetifolia was present. Based on the data collected we recommend that the three endemic species be categorized as Endangered on the IUCN Red List. By highlighting areas where the endemic plants are found and demonstrating a potential threat to these habitats, we provide a plan for the designation of six Important Plant Areas to promote conservation of these endemic species.

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Conserving Endemic Plant Species in Oceanic Island’s Protected Areas

10.5772/intechopen.100571 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Teresa Mouga

Keyword(s):

Protected Areas ◽

Plant Species ◽

Oceanic Islands ◽

Endemic Plants ◽

Endemic Plant ◽

Rapid Speciation ◽

Management Plans ◽

Limited Dispersal ◽

Main Factors ◽

Endemic Plant Species

Oceanic islands are known for their high levels of plant diversity, due to disjunct geographical distribution that leads to speciation. The main factors contributing to genetic speciation includes the creation of a barrier within a previously widely distributed taxon and the limited dispersal of seeds, which favours genetic differentiation and, thus, fosters rapid speciation. Plant survival and population fitness vary according to environmental factors and to human interference. This chapter depicts the importance of oceanic islands as biodiversity hotspots, discusses the threats to which endemic plants on islands are exposed, namely climate change, invasive alien species, urbanisation, touristic activities, fire, changes in agriculture practices and collecting pressure. The best practices worldwide to protect endemic plant species in protected areas are also addressed, namely the implementation of prevention and mitigation actions, the programs executed to protect endemic species, and management plans to avoid future threats.

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Mauritian coloured nectar no longer a mystery: a visual signal for lizard pollinators

Biology Letters ◽

10.1098/rsbl.2006.0458 ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 2 (2) ◽

pp. 165-168 ◽

Cited By ~ 32

Author(s):

Dennis M Hansen ◽

Karin Beer ◽

Christine B Müller

Keyword(s):

Experimental Evidence ◽

Plant Species ◽

Flowering Plants ◽

Visual Signal ◽

Honest Signal ◽

Endemic Plant ◽

Floral Trait ◽

Flower Visitation ◽

Artificial Flowers ◽

Endemic Plant Species

Most floral nectars are clear as water, and the enigmatic coloured nectar in three endemic plant species in Mauritius has puzzled scientists studying it. One hypothesis about the possible ecological function of coloured nectar is that it serves as a visual signal for pollinators. Recent studies have shown that at least two of the three Mauritian plant species with coloured nectar are visited and pollinated by endemic Phelsuma geckos. We here provide experimental evidence for the visual signal hypothesis by showing that Phelsuma ornata geckos prefer coloured over clear nectar in artificial flowers. In flowering plants, coloured nectar could additionally function as an honest signal that allows pollinators to assert the presence and judge the size of a reward prior to flower visitation, and to adjust their behaviour accordingly, leading to increased pollinator efficiency. Our study provides a first step in understanding this rare and intriguing floral trait.

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