Functional Role of Elephants in Maintaining Forest Ecosystem and Biodiversity: Lessons from Northwestern Elephant Range in India

Asian Journal of Environment & Ecology ◽

10.9734/ajee/2019/v9i230091 ◽

2019 ◽

pp. 1-8

Author(s):

Kanchan Puri ◽

Vishant Yadav ◽

Ritesh Joshi

Keyword(s):

Forest Ecosystem ◽

National Park ◽

Functional Role ◽

Trophic Structure ◽

Present Note ◽

Ecosystem Processes ◽

Ecological Communities ◽

Cascading Effects ◽

Rigorous Framework

This article focuses on the functional role of Asian elephant in maintaining forest ecosystem and biodiversity. Elephant performs different activities in forest which greatly influence ecosystem processes, plant communities and trophic structure of the community. Elephants have cascading effects in altering the vegetation regeneration and providing habitat, water and nutrients to other animals. Besides, elephants also have affirmative effects in controlling illegal poaching, promoting ecotourism and act as an indicator species to know about natural calamities. The information compiled in the present note is based on the literature available and field experience gained in the Rajaji National Park, India. Since elephants play a crucial role in ecological trajectories of ecological communities, developing a rigorous framework to evaluate the qualitative influence made by the elephants in ecosystem would be of paramount importance.

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Community Structure and Functional Role of Limber Pine (Pinus flexilis) in Treeline Communities in Rocky Mountain National Park

Forests ◽

10.3390/f11080838 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 11 (8) ◽

pp. 838

Author(s):

Laurel A. Sindewald ◽

Diana F. Tomback ◽

Eric R. Neumeyer

Keyword(s):

National Park ◽

Functional Role ◽

Rocky Mountain ◽

Rocky Mountain National Park ◽

Tree Islands ◽

Pinus Flexilis ◽

Tree Island ◽

Limber Pine ◽

Study Sites

Research Highlights: Limber pine (Pinus flexilis) is abundant in some alpine treeline ecotone (ATE) communities east of the Continental Divide in Rocky Mountain National Park (RMNP) and the Colorado Front Range. Limber pine may be able to colonize the ATE under changing climate aided by directed seed dispersal by Clark’s nutcrackers (Nucifraga columbiana). Cronartium ribicola, white pine blister rust, is a growing threat to limber pine and may affect its functional role within the ATE. Background and Objectives: The ATE is sensitive, worldwide, to increasing temperature. However, the predicted advance of treeline under a changing climate may be modified by tree species composition and interactions. We aimed to (1) examine the conifer species composition and relative abundances in treeline communities with limber pine; (2) assess which functional roles limber pine assumes in these communities—tree island initiator, tree island component, and/or solitary tree; and (3) determine whether limber pine’s occurrence as a tree island initiator can be predicted by its relative abundance as a solitary tree. Materials and Methods: We selected four study sites in RMNP above subalpine forest limber pine stands. We sampled the nearest tree island to each of forty random points in each study site as well as solitary tree plots. Results: Across study sites, limber pine comprised, on average, 76% of solitary trees and was significantly more abundant as a solitary tree than Engelmann spruce (Picea engelmannii) or subalpine fir (Abies lasiocarpa). Limber pine was a frequent component of multi-tree islands in three study sites, the major component in one study site, and dominated single-tree islands at two study sites. At three of four study sites, no species had significantly greater odds of being a tree island initiator. Limber pine was found less often as a tree island initiator than predicted from its relative abundance as a solitary tree, given the likely role of solitary trees in tree island formation.

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The role of ectomycorrhizal communities in forest ecosystem processes: New perspectives and emerging concepts

Soil Biology and Biochemistry ◽

10.1016/j.soilbio.2009.12.006 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 42 (5) ◽

pp. 679-698 ◽

Cited By ~ 279

Author(s):

Pierre-Emmanuel Courty ◽

Marc Buée ◽

Abdala Gamby Diedhiou ◽

Pascale Frey-Klett ◽

François Le Tacon ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Forest Ecosystem ◽

Ecosystem Processes ◽

Ectomycorrhizal Communities

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The Multifunctional Role of Ectomycorrhizal Associations in Forest Ecosystem Processes

The Botanical Review ◽

10.1007/s12229-013-9126-7 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 79 (3) ◽

pp. 371-400 ◽

Cited By ~ 17

Author(s):

Zahoor Ahmad Itoo ◽

Zaffar Ahmad Reshi

Keyword(s):

Forest Ecosystem ◽

Ecosystem Processes

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Calcium and Magnesium Dynamics in Litter in a Successional Forest Ecosystem, Under Hydroperiod

Journal of Agricultural Science ◽

10.5539/jas.v13n11p105 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (11) ◽

pp. 105

Author(s):

Amanda Maria de Sousa Diogenes Ferreira ◽

Francisco de Assis Oliveira ◽

Steel Silva Vasconcelos ◽

José Renan da Silva Guimarães ◽

Luciedi de Cassia Leôncio Tostes ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Forest Ecosystem ◽

Functional Role ◽

Dry Period ◽

Seasonal Influence ◽

Factors Associated ◽

Vismia Guianensis ◽

Calcium And Magnesium ◽

Floristic Structure ◽

Ecosystem Manipulation

This study was part of the Manipulation of Moisture and Nutrient Availability in Young Regrowth Forests in Eastern Amazonia Project (MANFLORA). The experiment was designed in completely randomized blocks containing control and irrigated treatments during the dry period (5 mm of water/day), with four repetitions each. The monthly mean litter values ranged from 316.10 to 997.90 kg ha-1 month-1. The magnitude of this phenomenon can be explained by the functional role of the floristic structure, represented by the species Myrcia sylvatica (G. mey) DC., Myrcia bracteata (Rich) DC., Miconia ciliata (Rich) DC., Lacistema pubescens Mart., Lacistema aggregatum (Berg.) Rusby, Vismia guianensis (Aubl.) Choisy, Cupania scrobiculata Rich. and Ocotea guianensis Aubl., which constituted the determinant factors, associated with the hydroperiodic effect and ecosystem manipulation. The monthly mean of the analytical results of mass treatments were significant (P < 0.05), however, when compared annually there was no significance, which indicates seasonal influence, since the period of greatest deposition is the dry one, regardless of the water manipulation along the period studied. Only in time the mass values of Ca and Mg were not significant for treatment (P < 0.05). The amount of Ca was significantly (P < 0.05) higher than that of Mg.

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