Metabolomic responses of indigenous and nonindigenous plants to deer exclosure fencing and deer herbivory in a suburban forest

Trees and shrubs in suburban forest understories can be subject to chronic herbivory from abundant white-tailed deer. An undocumented consequence of this stress may be shifts in secondary metabolite production associated with defense. We aimed to learn whether plants protected from deer exhibited different metabolomic profiles compared to those exposed to deer. We tested the indigenous species Nyssa sylvatica and Lindera benzoin and the invasive, nonindigenous species Rosa multiflora and Euonymus alatus within a suburban forest understory in New Jersey, USA, in unfenced plots and plots fenced for 5.3 years. We did untargeted metabolomics by sampling leaves from three plants of each species per 6-7 fenced and unfenced plots, conducting chloroform-methanol extractions followed by LC-MS/MS, and conducting statistical analysis on Metaboanalyst. We also scored each species for deer browse frequency over eight years, and compared their heights and percent cover between unfenced and fenced plots. The analysis identified 2,333 metabolites. The global metabolome diverged significantly between fenced and unfenced plots pooled across species, but for individual species only N. sylvatica exhibited a significant fencing effect. Nyssa sylvatica was one of the most browsed species and was the only one with both greater cover and height in fenced plots, suggesting greater susceptibility to deer browsing. The metabolites most responsible for the fenced/unfenced divergence also were affected by the species-fencing combination, with increases in certain species but decreases in others. The most significant metabolites that were upregulated in fenced plants include some involved in defense-related metabolic pathways, e.g. monoterpenoid biosynthesis. Further study of more species in multiple sites is needed to learn how common metabolomic responses to deer are among forest species, how the intensity of deer pressure influences the responses, which types of metabolites are most affected, and if there are ecological consequences at the physiological, population, and/or community levels.

Intra-Annual Variation in Mesophotic Benthic Assemblages on the Insular Slope of Southwest Puerto Rico as a Function of Depth and Geomorphology

There is limited information on the intra-annual variability of mesophotic coral ecosystems (MCEs), worldwide. The benthic communities, measured as % cover, of two geomorphologically different mesophotic sites (El Hoyo and Hole-in-the-Wall) were examined during 2009–2010 in southwest Puerto Rico. Depths sampled were 50 and 70 m. At each site/depth combination, two permanent transects, measuring 10-m long by 40-cm wide, were surveyed by successive photoquadrants, 0.24 m2 in area. Scleractinian corals, octocorals, macroalgae, crustose coralline algae (CCA), sponges and unconsolidated sediment were the main components along the transects. Significant community differences were observed both among sites and among depths. Differences among sites were greater at 50 m than at 70 m. The El Hoyo site at 50 m was the most divergent, and this was due to a lower coral and sponge cover and a higher algal cover (Amphiroa spp., Peyssonnelia iridescens, turf) relative to the other site/depth combinations. As a consequence, the differences in community structure with depth were larger at El Hoyo than at Hole-in-the-Wall. The communities at 70 m were distinguished from those at 50 m by the greater proportion of the corals Agaricia undata, Madracis pharensis and CCA, and a reduced cover of the cyanobacterium Schizothrix. Temporal variation in the benthic assemblages was documented throughout the year. For both mesophotic sites, the magnitude of change at 50 m was significantly greater than at 70 m. For both depths, the magnitude of change at El Hoyo was significantly greater than at Hole-in-the-Wall. All assemblages experienced almost the same temporal patterns, despite the differences in species composition across sites and depths. Changes in temporal patterns are driven by an increase in the percent cover of the macroalgae Dictyota spp., and a decrease in the percent cover of non-colonized substrata (sand, pavement or rubble). Relatively rapid, intra-annual changes are dictated by the negative correlation between cyclic Dictyota spp. cover and open substrata cover. Other observed mechanisms for rapid community changes in the photoquadrants were diseases and collapses of substrata along with their associated fauna indicating that small-scale disturbance processes may play an important role within MCEs.

Invasive exotic plant monitoring at Dinosaur National Monument: Results of the 2019 field season on the Green River, and the third completed monitoring rotation

Invasive exotic plant (IEP) species are a significant threat to natural ecosystem integrity and biodiversity, and controlling them is a high priority for the National Park Service. The Northern Colorado Plateau Network (NCPN) selected the early detection of IEPs as one of 11 monitoring protocols to be implemented as part of its long-term monitoring program. We also calculated a patch management index (PMI) to quantify the extent and density of invasive patches into a single value that helps identify the scale of the problem. Park managers can use this tool to help prioritize IEP treatment. At Dinosaur National Monument, the NCPN monitors IEPs in the Green and Yampa river corridors. This report summarizes data from monitoring on the Green River in 2019, and monitoring on the Yampa River in 2017, to represent the completion of the third monitoring rotation of the entire river corridor (2002–2005, 2010–2011, 2017–2019). During surveys conducted from June 26 to July 2, 2019, NCPN staff detected 12 priority IEP species and two non-priority species in a 84.6-hectare (209-acre) area along 74.4 kilometers of the Green River above (“upper”) and below (“low-er”) its confluence with the Yampa. A total of 2,535 IEP patches were detected. Of those patches, 24.2% and 15.6% were smaller than 40 m2 on the upper and lower Green River reaches, respectively. The patch management index (PMI) was low or very low for 95.7% of patches on the upper Green River and 90.9% of patches on the lower Green River. Tamarisk (Tamarix sp.), broad-leaf pepperwort (Lepidium latifolium), and yellow sweetclover (Meli-lotus officinalis) were the most widespread species. For the first time, NCPN monitoring detected teasel (Dipsacus sylvestris) on the upper Green River. Yellow sweetclover has increased on all three river reaches during the survey years. Musk thistle (Carduus nutans) was found at considerably lower levels than yellow sweetclover but has also increased on all three river reaches. Leafy spurge is increasing on the lower Green River and Yampa River. Cheatgrass was not monitored in the first rotation, but increased substantially in cover and percent frequency on all three river sections from 2010–2011 to 2017–2019. This increase may be due to a lack of recent high-flow scouring events. The highly regulated upper Green River generally has the highest number of IEPs, while the lower Green River has a moderate amount of IEPs. The largely unregulated flows of the Yampa River continue to result in a lower number of patches per kilometer, lower percent cover, and lower percent frequency than the upper or lower Green River. Network staff will return to the monument in 2022 to begin the fourth monitoring rotation.

Spatial distribution of halophytes and environment factors in salt marshes along the eastern Yellow Sea

Background Salt marshes provide a variety of ecosystem services; however, they are vulnerable to human activity, water level fluctuations, and climate change. Analyses of the relationships between plant communities and environmental conditions in salt marshes are expected to provide useful information for the prediction of changes during climate change. In this study, relationships between the current vegetation structure and environmental factors were evaluated in the tidal flat at the southern tip of Ganghwa, Korea, where salt marshes are well-developed. Results The vegetation structure in Ganghwa salt marshes was divided into three groups by cluster analysis: group A, dominated by Phragmites communis; group B, dominated by Suaeda japonica; and group C, dominated by other taxa. As determined by PERMANOVA, the groups showed significant differences with respect to altitude, soil moisture, soil organic matter, salinity, sand, clay, and silt ratios. A canonical correspondence analysis based on the percent cover of each species in the quadrats showed that the proportion of sand increased as the altitude increased and S. japonica appeared in soil with a relatively high silt proportion, while P. communis was distributed in soil with low salinity. Conclusions The distributions of three halophyte groups differed depending on the altitude, soil moisture, salinity, and soil organic matter, sand, silt, and clay contents. Pioneer species, such as S. japonica, appeared in soil with a relatively high silt content. The P. communis community survived under a wider range of soil textures than previously reported in the literature; the species was distributed in soils with relatively low salinity, with a range expansion toward the sea in areas with freshwater influx. The observed spatial distribution patterns may provide a basis for conservation under declining salt marshes.

Project to Establish Growth & Mortality Rates of Three Carex Species in Two Planting Types at Thomas Dairy Site, Tigard, Oregon

Clean Water Services (CWS) currently increases the diversity of their wetland restoration projects using a plug planting method utilizing juvenile herbaceous plants. They have planted most of their projects using this method and plan to continue until a better one is discovered. According to the literature reviewed in this paper, juvenile plants are smaller and weaker than more mature plants and therefore have higher mortality rates. This paper is the culmination of work completed of phase 1 of this two-phase project. The objective of this project (both phases) was to design and establish a study that would test, in the field, two common wetland planting methods: installation of plugs of juvenile plants at a relatively high density and installation of containerized, more mature plants at a lower density. This study will examine three species of Carex frequently used in wetland restoration (Carex stipata, C. obnupta, and C. unilateralis) and compare the growth and mortality of mature versus juveniles of these species within Thomas Dairy Site in the Tualatin River Watershed. For phase 2, at Thomas Dairy Site, 13 randomly selected plots will each containing six subplots including a subplot planted with monocultures of each of the three plants, and two sizes (i.e., mature C. stipata, juvenile C. stipata, mature C. obnupta, juvenile C. obnupta, mature C. unilateralis, and juvenile C. unilateralis). These will be monitored for five years, during which mortality rates will be recorded once a year and total percent cover recorded three times a year. I hypothesize that the mature plants will have a higher percent cover after five years because juvenile plants are more susceptible to die over that timeframe and may have slower growth rates overall. Answering these questions will allow CWS and other wetland restoration managers to achieve greater plant coverage, reduce waste, and reduce costs.

ANALYSIS OF FIELD SEAGRASS PERCENT COVER AND ABOVEGROUND CARBON STOCK DATA FOR NON-DESTRUCTIVE ABOVEGROUND SEAGRASS CARBON STOCK MAPPING USING WORLDVIEW-2 IMAGE

Remote sensing can make seagrass aboveground carbon stock (AGCseagrass) information spatially extensive and widely available. Therefore, it is necessary to develop a rapid approach to estimate AGCseagrass in the field to train and assess its remote sensing-based mapping. The aim of this research is to (1) analyze the Percent Cover (PCv)-AGCseagrass relationship in seagrass at the species and community levels to estimate AGCseagrass from PCv and (2) perform AGCseagrass mapping at both levels using WorldView-2 image and assess the accuracy of the resulting map. This research was conducted in Karimunjawa and Kemujan Islands, Indonesia. Support Vector Machine (SVM) classification was used to map seagrass species composition, and stepwise regression was used to model AGCseagrass using deglint, water column corrected, and principle component bands. The results were a rapid AGCseagrass estimation using an easily measured parameter, the seagrass PCv. At the community level, the AGCseagrass map had 58.79% accuracy (SEE = 5.41 g C m−2), whereas at the species level, the accuracy increased for the class Ea (64.73%, SEE = 6.86 g C m−2) and EaThCr (70.02%, SEE = 4.32 g C m−2) but decreased for ThCr (55.08%, SEE = 2.55 g C m−2). The results indicate that WorldView-2 image reflectance can accurately map AGCseagrass in the study area in the range of 15–20 g C m−2 for Ea, 10–15 g C m−2 for EaThCr, and 4–8 g C m−2 for ThCr. Based on our model, the AGCseagrass in the study area was estimated at 13.39 t C.

Presence of N-fixing neighbors increases leaf N and δ13C in Castilleja applegatei, a root hemiparasite

Parasitic plants are known for their high transpiration rates and low water use efficiency (WUE), which the N-parasitism hypothesis posits is driven by N limitation. Thus, availability of N-fixing hosts may affect parasite’s WUE and in turn impact the surrounding plant community. Here, I investigate how the availability of an N-fixing host affects the root hemiparasite, Castilleja applegatei, and examines host-mediated effects on community structure and soil moisture. I surveyed plant diversity and percent cover and measured soil moisture in 120 1 × 1 m plots within Sagehen Experimental Forest, CA. Fifty percent of the plots included C. applegatei. In a subset of plots, I measured leaf N, C/N, δ13C, and δ15N in C. applegatei and in one N-fixer (Ceanothus prostratus) and two non-N-fixing plants (Artemisia tridentata and Wyethia mollis). In C. applegatei availability of N-fixing hosts corresponded to a significant increase in leaf %N, a distinct δ15N signature, and an increase in δ13C (which typically signifies an increased WUE). The presence of parasites was associated with a marginally significant decrease in WUE in N-fixing neighbors, but had no effect on the two non-N-fixing species. The presence of parasites did not impact diversity, percent cover, or soil moisture. These results broadly support the N-parasitism hypothesis and indicate that host type can affect parasite’s physiology and therefore have the potential to mediate parasite’s effects in the community; however, community-level impacts were not found here.

Plant Community Diversity at Two Reclaimed Mine Tailing Storage Facilities in Québec, Canada

Mining activities generate residues during the ore concentration process. These wastes are placed into large tailing storage facilities, and upon mine closure, these tailings must be reclaimed. This study aimed to determine how different reclamation methods, involving combinations of planted boreal woody species and organic amendments application (paper mill sludge biosolids, chicken manure, and topsoil) affected plant community diversity at two tailing storage facilities in Québec, Canada. We recorded the composition of the plant communities using the percent cover of plant species within 1 m × 1 m quadrats. At the Niobec mine site, paper mill sludge mixed with topsoil enhanced total plant cover was compared with the use of topsoil only; the former amendment, however, reduced evenness (J′) and diversity (1−D) due to the increased growth of grasses and invasive forbs. At the Mont-Wright site, plots having received paper mill sludge mixed with a “Norco” treatment (a mixture of chicken manure, hay, and grass seeds) produced the highest total plant cover. The Norco treatment mixed with topsoil and the single application of topsoil and biosolids produced the highest evenness (J′) and diversity (1−D). Overall, organic amendment applications promoted vegetation cover on tailings and contributed to the colonization of diverse plant communities.

Status Terkini Tutupan Terumbu Karang di Perairan Dangkal Pulau Bedil, Desa Labuan Bajo, Kabupaten Sumbawa, NTB

Bedil Island is included in the Keramat, Bedil, and Temudong Small Island Park (TPK), which was approved by the Regent of Sumbawa. Administratively, this island is included in the Labuan Bajo Village area, Sumbawa, NTB. There is the existence of coral reef ecosystems in these waters that form a reef flat and reef slope profile, that stretches to the southwest and northeast. By its designation as a small island park, the coral reefs in Bedil Island are used as an underwater tourism object. This study aims to determine the current condition of coral reef cover in the waters around Bedil Island, especially in the eastern and southern parts of the island. Coral reefs in the north and west area are limited and there is the existence of seagrass beds. The line intercept transect method is carried out by spreading the roll meter as far as 50 meters on the east and south sides of the island with a depth of 2-3 meters. The coral lifeform that is tangent with the roll meter is then recorded and then analyzed for the average percent cover, clustering status, and coral mortality index. Coral reefs in the eastern and southern parts of Bedil Island are classified as very good/excellent because they have a percent cover value above 75%. In addition, the coral mortality index value is also relatively small which indicates that the corals are living well. Clearwater conditions and locations far from human settlements are thought to be factors that support coral survival. However, the presence of dead coral algae and rubble still indicates a threat of damage even though the value is small. Algae life on the surface of dead coral also indicates that the coral has been dead for a long time.

Limited natural regeneration of unique Scalesia forest following invasive plant removal in Galapagos

More than 60% of the flora of the Galapagos Islands is introduced and some of these species have become invasive, severely altering ecosystems. An example of an affected ecosystem is the Scalesia forest, originally dominated by the endemic giant daisy tree Scalesia pedunculata (Asteraceae). The remnant patches of this unique forest are increasingly being invaded by introduced plants, mainly by Rubus niveus (blackberry, Rosaceae). To help large-scale restoration of this ecologically important forest, we seek to better understand the natural regeneration of S. pedunculata after invasive plant control. We monitored naturally recruited S. pedunculata saplings and young trees over five years in an area where invasive plant species are continuously being removed by manual means. We measured survival, height and growth of S. pedunculata saplings and young trees along permanent transects. Percent cover of surrounding plant species and of canopy shade directly above each S. pedunculata individual were determined, as well as distance to the next mature S. pedunculata tree. We identified potential factors influencing initial sapling survival and growth by applying generalized linear models. Results showed a rapid growth of saplings and young trees of up to 0.45 cm per day and a high mortality rate, as is typical for pioneer species like S. pedunculata. Sapling survival, growth and mortality seemed to be influenced by light availability, surrounding vegetation and distance to the next adult S. pedunculata tree. We concluded that natural regeneration of S. pedunculata was high only five months after the last herbicide application but that 95% of these recruits had died over the 5-year period. Further studies are needed to corroborate whether the number of surviving trees is sufficient to replace the aging adult trees and this way maintain remnants of the Scalesia forest. Urgent action is needed to help improve future restoration strategies to prevent further degradation of this rapidly shrinking threatened forest ecosystem.