Riparian Vegetation Density Mapping of an Extremely Densely Vegetated Confined Floodplain

The most crucial function of lowland-confined floodplains with low slopes is to support flood conveyance and fasten floods; however, obstacles can hinder it. The management of riparian vegetation is often neglected, though woody species increase the vegetation roughness of floodplains and increase flood levels. The aims are (1) to determine the branch density of various riparian vegetation types in the flood conveyance zone up to the level of artificial levees (up to 5 m), and (2) to assess the spatial distribution of densely vegetated patches. Applying a decision tree and machine learning, six vegetation types were identified with an accuracy of 83%. The vegetation density was determined within each type by applying the normalized relative point density (NRD) method. Besides, vegetation density was calculated in each submerged vegetation zone (1–2 m, 2–3 m, etc.). Thus, the obstacles for floods with various frequencies were mapped. In the study area, young poplar plantations offer the most favorable flood conveyance conditions, whereas invasive Amorpha thickets and the dense stands of native willow forests provide the worst conditions for flood conveyance. Dense and very dense vegetation patches are common in all submerged vegetation zones; thus, vegetation could heavily influence floods.

Salt marsh width positively affects the occurrence of Least and Pectoral Sandpipers in the St. Lawrence River Estuary during fall migration

Salt marshes are vulnerable to climate change-associated sea-level rise and storm-induced surges. Their degradation will likely affect shorebirds relying on this ecosystem. Least Sandpiper (Calidris minutilla) and Pectoral Sandpiper (Calidris melanotos) migrating along coastline habitats typically use salt marshes to rest and replenish their body reserves. Our objective was to test if width of the different vegetation zones within salt marshes affects the occurrence of Least and Pectoral Sandpipers stopping along the St. Lawrence River Estuary, Quebec, Canada, during fall migration. We established 26 survey sites, each 600 m in length, along the shoreline. Shorebird surveys were conducted in 2011 and 2012. We characterized salt marshes by measuring the width of each vegetation zone (lower marsh and upper marsh). We analyzed shorebird presence/not detected data with generalized estimating equations to test the predictions that occurrence of Least Sandpipers and Pectoral Sandpipers increases with width of both the lower and upper marsh. Upper marsh width was positively associated with probability of occurrence in each species. Our results highlight the importance of protecting the integrity of salt marshes for these two species. In the St. Lawrence River Estuary, where landward migration of salt marshes is no longer possible (coastal squeeze), effective management of shorelines is much needed. Otherwise, salt marshes and these two species could be locally jeopardized.

Wild Edible Plants of Dhankuta, Eastern Nepal

The Dhankuta district, situated in the Eastern part of the country, is a hot spot for floral diversity. The vegetation zone ranges from sub tropical Sal forest to cool temperate alpine forest. The study of wild edible plant of this area was an attempt to highlight the types of wild edible plants found and their mode of use in local people. Present study records 132 species of wild edible plants belonging to 63 families and 103 genera. Fruits are the most common edible parts of the wild edible plants followed by leaves, young shoot, root or tuber, seeds, flower, whole plants, bark, nectar, nuts, inflorescence and buds.

Diversity and distribution of Finnish aphyllophoroid and heterobasidioid fungi (Basidiomycota): An update

Biogeographical and ecological knowledge of aphyllophoroid fungi has increased substantially after the publication of the Finnish aphyllophoroid checklist. In this paper, we describe the occurrence and distributions of both aphyllophoroid and heterobasidioid fungi in Finland. We introduce 13 species new to Finland: Hyphoderma lapponicum (Litsch.) Ryvarden, Mycostilla vermiformis (Berk. & Broome) Spirin & Malysheva, Proterochaete adusta (Burt) Spirin & V. Malysheva, Pseudotomentella alobata Svantesson, Pseudoxenasma verrucisporum K.H. Larss. & Hjortstam, Sistotrema subtrigonospermum D. P. Rogers, Spiculogloea minuta P. Roberts, Tomentella botryoides (Schwein.) Bourd. & Galz., Tomentella neobourdotii M.J. Larsen, Tomentella subtestacea Bourdot & Galzin, Tomentella subpilosa Litsch., Tulasnella anguifera P. Roberts, and Tulasnella interrogans P. Roberts. Proterochaete and Pseudoxenasma are new genera to Finland. We also present the record of Caudicicola gracilis Kotir., Kulju & Miettinen for only the second time globally. Furthermore, we present 115 new records (locations) of 53 rare or seldom collected species. In addition, we report 96 species considered new to a specific subzone of the boreal forest vegetation zone in Finland. The records contain notes on the substrata, and the ecology and distribution of nationally new species and are briefly discussed.

Investigation of the Factors Affecting the Treatment Performance of a Stormwater Horizontal Subsurface Flow Constructed Wetland Treating Road and Parking Lot Runoff

This study assessed the factors affecting the growth and survival of microorganisms in a small horizontal subsurface flow constructed wetland (HSSF CW) treating stormwater runoff from highly impervious road and parking lot through long-term monitoring from 2010 until present. The HSSF CW facility consisted of sedimentation or pre-treatment zone, vegetation zone, and effluent zone, and employed filter media including bio-ceramics, sand, gravel, and wood chips. Results showed that flow reduction in the wetland through filtration and sedimentation played an important part in the overall performance of the HSSF CW. In addition, vegetation growth was found to be affected by pollutant and stormwater inflow in the HSSF CW. Vegetation near the outflow port exhibited greater growth rates by about 6.5% to 64.2% compared to the vegetation near the inflow port due to the less stormwater pollutant concentrations via filtration mechanism in the plant or media zone of the HSSF CW. The pollutant inflow from road and parking lot played an important role in providing good environment for microbial growth especially for the dominant microbial phyla including Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria and Acidobacteria in the HSSF CW. The findings of this research are useful in understanding treatment mechanisms and identifying appropriate design considerations for HSSF CW.

Genome size, chromosome counts and distribution of Homogyne alpina (Asteraceae) in the Slovak Carpathians

Homogyne alpina (L.) Cass. represents the only species of the genus Homogyne Cass. in Slovakia. This study characterizes H. alpina in terms of chromosome counts, genome size, reproduction mode and distribution in Slovakia. Three known cytotypes of the species are known, of which the cytotype 2n = 160 is represented in the Slovak mountains and has not been documented from other countries yet. Flow cytometric analyses showed the genome size 2C = 21.30 pg for petioles and 2C = 21.82 pg for seeds. Sexual reproduction mode was confirmed by flow cytometric screening method based on embryo to endosperm genome size ratio. The centre of the species distribution is in high mountains of the Slovak Carpathians, where it is frequent in the altitude above 1000 m a. s. l. from mountane to alpine vegetation zone. The full list of the data of its distribution and the distribution map are also presented.

Discharge and velocity variation of flows in open channels partially covered with different layered vegetation

The role of vegetation in the natural environment has drawn great interest recently. The vegetation can change the velocity distribution due to its additional resistance on the flow, consequently affecting the nutrient and pollutant transport, and the habitats. Due to the complexity of flow and vegetation interaction, many previous researchers have studied the flow structure of channels with uniform vegetation. Few studies have been done on the flow of open channels partially covered vegetation of different heights on one side of the channel, which commonly exists in natural rivers. Through novel experiments for such a vegetated flow, this paper shows the influence of different layered vegetation on the velocity profile and discharge, which indicates that the velocity in the vegetation zone is significantly smaller than that in the free-flow zone and that the velocity profiles in the short and tall vegetation zones are very different. The flow through the free-flow zone is dominant (about 75%) despite its half width, and its discharge percentage slightly decreases as increasing flow depth.