National Park and UNESCO Global Geopark of Chelmos-Vouraikos (Greece): Floristic Diversity, Ecosystem Services and Management Implications

This study highlights the importance of including detailed (local-scale) biodiversity and ecosystem services data for land-use management and promotion of protected areas using the National Park and UNESCO Global Geopark of Chelmos-Vouraikos (Greece) as a case study. Along with the conducted field surveys and literature review for the National Park’s flora documentation, ecosystem type mapping and assessment of ecosystem services have been performed, following National and European Union (EU) guidelines for the Mapping and Assessment of Ecosystems and their Services (MAES) implementation across EU Member States. Main results include floristic diversity indicators, ecosystem type mapping and assessment, and ecosystem services identification and assessment of their actual and potential supply. By this, a scientifically informed baseline dataset was developed to support management and policy needs towards a holistic National Park management and a sustainable spatial planning for protected areas. Additionally, local scale ecosystem type and ecosystem services data have been produced as input for the MAES implementation in Greece and the EU.

An annotated checklist of vascular plants in and around two major high-altitude wetlands of Lahaul-Spiti, Himachal Pradesh, India

We document for the first time the diversity of vascular plants of Chandra Tal and Suraj Tal, two high-altitude wetlands (HAWs) spanning the cold desert region of Lahaul-Spiti, showing the occurrence of 188 species and one variety distributed among 97 genera and 29 families. Only one species, Ephedra intermedia Schrenk & C.A. Mey. is a gymnosperm, and the other 187 species are angiosperms. Of the angiosperms, Asteraceae is the dominant family, consisting of 27 species and one variety in 17 genera. Among the species, six are classified as threatened, 17 species are native, and two species (Eritrichium nanum (L.) Gaudin and Ranunculus trivedii Aswal & Mehrotra) are endemic to the Himalayan region. We provide baseline data for future research on the floristic diversity of two major HAWs of Lahaul-Spiti. We also highlight the importance of HAWs for the conservation of species.

Floristic Diversity and Ethnobotanical Studies of Nandha Gopalasamy Hill Temple Sacred Grove of Western Ghats, Pollachi Taluk, Coimbatore

Background: The sacred groves are considered to be ecologically most important area as they are rich in plant diversity. It is considered to be repository of many important medicinal plantspecies including endangered and endemic and many valuable plant species. An ethanobotanical survey was carried out to assess the floristic diversity and it medicinal properties used by the indigenous peoples and local people. The floristic study conducted to understand the status of vegetation an it is important step towards conservation. Methods: The study was carried out for about one yearby frequent field visit and inperson interview with indigenous peoples to know the medicinal properties of the species. Result: The study showed presence of 54 medicinal plants out of which 22 are herbs, 12 shrubs, 2 climbers and 17 are tree habits. All the plants are found to be highly medicinal in treating many diseases. The survey reveals the conservation importance of the sacred grove to safe guard the ecosystem for sustainable development.

Contribution to the phytoecological study of the biodiversity of the dune cord of El-Mesrane in the Wilaya (Province) of Djelfa in Algeria

The various dune fixation actions began in 1982 in the study area (El Mesrane –Djelfa) at the level of the dune ridge with very interesting results, on the one hand for the control of desertification through the creation of a microclimate that ensures the ecological sustainability of fragile ecosystems. This work was carried out in the two projects (1) and (2) in the study area. The objective of the study is summarized in the floristic and ecological char-acterization of the vegetation subject to fixation and other left without fixa-tion or natural regeneration. These dunes have a poorer floristic diversity than those fixed by Retama Retam webb and Tamarix gallica. A significant diversity of 26 species was encountered on dunes naturally fixed by vegeta-tion.The Shannon-Weiner diversity index for the vegetation of natural fixa-tion was found to be H’= 2.05; however, this index for dunes naturally fixed by Retama retam and Tamarix gallicawas 2,61 and 2,5, respectively. In gen-eral, dicotyledonous plant families such as the Asteraceae, Fabaceae and Poaceae were mostly encountered. Moreover, the distribution of biologic types is mainly characterized by the predominance of Chamephytes and The-rophytes. The degradation of the environment due to the anthropogenic pressure favors the high presence of Therophytes. These findings allowed deducing that the degradation of vegetation is mainly attributed to climatic conditions and overgrazing.

Racocetra cromosomica sp. nov. from Oaxaca, Mexico

Analysis of soil samples collected in the rhizosphere of Agave karwinskii in the Central Valleys of Oaxaca, Mexico, revealed an undescribed species of Racocetra that possesses ornamented spores. The ornamentation on the outer layer of the external spore wall consisted of rounded and elongated processes, which are organized in such a way that they look like chromosomes. Therefore, the new species was named Racocetra cromosomica. It is the first species of Racocetraceae (Gigasporales) described from Oaxaca, one of the Mexican states having the greatest floristic diversity.

Effect of Climatic Gradient on Species Diversity and Structure of Faidherbia Albida Parkland in Burkina Faso (West Africa)

Background: Faidherbia albida parkland provide many ecosystem goods and services to people, ranging from provisioning to regulating services. Despite this importance, these parks are degraded due to overexploitation, which is accentuated by the adverse effects of climate change. In this context of climate change, little information exists on the state of these F. albida parkland, particularly their diversity and structure along the North-South climatic gradient. This study aims to determine the effect of climatic gradient of F. albida parklands in order to provide updated data for sustainable management. Floristic diversity and population structure were assessed through forest inventories in the three climatic zones of Burkina Faso. Thus, 99 circular plots of 1 ha were sampled in three zones, including 33 per climatic zone. The data processing concerned the calculation of diversity indices (Shannon, Piélou equitability, and species richness), importance value indices, and the calculation of the means of the dendrometric parameters. The analyses were based on the comparison of medians using the Kruskal-wallis test, and the effect of the climatic gradient on the different variables was tested using generalized linear models. All of these analyses were carried out using the R.4.0.5 software. Results: The dendrometric parameters and floristic diversity vary significantly (Pv˂0.05) according of climatic zone. Furthermore, based on ecological importance value indices and diameter class structure, the majority of dominant species (11) show a regressive dynamic in all three climatic zones characterized by abundance of old individuals at expense of young ones. This reflects an ageing and continuous destruction of these parklands. However, species such as V. tortilis (Sahelian zone) and A. indica (Sudano-Sahelian and Sudanian zones) show good dynamics. As for F. albida, its structure is regressive in all climatic zones.Conclusion: Although the climatic gradient has a significant effect on the diversity and species structure of F. albida parkland, their current dynamics are thought to be due to unsustainable management of local populations.

Floristic diversification of spreading liverseed grass pasture according to different cutting intensities, obtained by grazing simulation

This study aimed to evaluate the impacts of different forage cutting intensities, obtained by grazing simulation, on the floristic diversity and productivity of a pasture cultivated with spreading liverseed grass. The experiment was set up in a randomized block design, with four replications and treatments arranged in a 5 × 2 factorial scheme, with five levels of cutting intensity of the simulated grazing (0, 25, 50, 75, and 95% of the forage canopy) associated with two levels of weed coexistence (presence and absence). The evaluations of floristic diversity, number of individuals, and total dry matter of weeds were obtained at 15, 30, 45, 60, and 90 days after grazing simulation (DAGS). All plots were evaluated at the end of the experimental period (90 DAGS) for the amount of dry biomass produced by the pasture. The results showed that higher forage cutting intensities, obtained by grazing simulation, increased the floristic diversity, the number of individuals, and the dry matter accumulated by weeds in a pasture grown with spreading liverseed grass, reducing by up to 56% the production of total dry matter of the forage.