Evergreen Abundance Drives Ground Beetle Diversity And Density In Eastern Temperate Forests

Purpose: Soil insects mediate plant-soil interactions by fragmenting and decomposing litter that forms the base of soil food webs and through predator-prey interactions. Plant communities, in turn, shape soil insect communities via the quality, availability, and diversity of their litters. However, these drivers have rarely been examined in concert even though describing soil insect community patterns is critical for mitigating the effects of global environmental changes. Methods: Here, we evaluated the effects of tree diversity, density, and functional groups on ground beetle (Carabidae) diversity, density, and community composition in four eastern temperate forest sites in the National Ecological Observatory Network. Results Though we expected that higher tree diversity and density would, respectively, lead to higher diversity and density ground beetle communities, we found little evidence to support this hypothesis. Instead, evergreen tree abundance strongly shaped ground beetle diversity, density, and community composition. Specifically, evergreen plots as defined by National Land Cover Database hosted lower density ground beetle communities than deciduous plots. Similarly, ground beetle Shannon diversity and density decreased as the relative abundance of evergreen tree species increased. Conclusions: Although further study is needed to explicitly link litter quality with soil insect communities, the resource environments created by trees with varying leaf habits appear to be a dominant force driving ground beetle community diversity and density patterns.

Pharmacological Importance of Saraca asoca: A Review

Ayurveda is a traditional medicinal system which has been used consistently. Asoka is one of India's most holy and legendary trees. Ashoka, also known as Saraca asoca (Roxb.) Wilde, is an indigenous plant that belongs to the Caesalpiniaceae subfamily of the Legume. It is an evergreen tree of medium size. The objective of this review is to provide detailed description of botany, phytochemicals, medicinal value and pharmacological activity. Saraca asoca was reported to be comprising phytoconstituents, such as Flavonoids, Steroids, Glycosides, Saponins, Carbohydrates, Proteins as well as many Pharmacologic activities such as anti-diabetic, CNS depressant, anti-helminthic, cardio protective, anti-bacterial, anti-menorrhagic, anti-hyperglycaemic and anti-oxidant activities, anti-cancer activities.

Sterculia apetala (Panama tree).

S. apetala is a large evergreen tree normally growing to 15-25 m tall, but it can reach 40 m tall and 1 m in diameter. It has a wide natural range from southern Mexico and Central America to Peru and Brazil. It is naturalized in Jamaica and Trinidad, and planted in many countries of the Caribbean.

Annona muricata (soursop).

A. muricata is a small evergreen tree up to 9 m tall. It is native to tropical America but is widely planted in home gardens in South-East Asia. In Brazil, several small commercial plantations are in operation (about 2000 hectares are planted) with more planned. It was one of the earliest fruit trees introduced to the old world, brought to the Philippines by the Spanish. It is valued chiefly for its edible fruits, which are large (> 1 kg), heart-shaped and dark green in colour. The flesh is tart, desirable for ice creams and drinks, fruit jellies and sweetcakes. In the Philippines, young fruits with seeds still soft are used as a vegetable.

Olea europaea subsp. cuspidata (wild olive).

A medium-sized, evergreen tree which is indigenous in western Himalaya in the Indo-Pakistan sub-continent, ascending to 2000 m. It is a slow growing, shade, drought and fire-tolerant tree, often lopped for fodder. It coppices well, produces root suckers and may also be grown from seed and cuttings. The stem is generally crooked. The wood is used for agricultural implements, turnery articles, tool handles and as a fuel. The root-stock of this species is sometimes used for grafting the European olive, O. europaea subsp. europaea. It is a useful tree for soil conservation and erosion control in its natural habitat.

Syzygium cumini (black plum).

S. cumini is a large evergreen tree 13 to 30 m tall. It is widely distributed in India, in all except the most arid regions, and its natural distribution probably includes Myanmar, Malaysia, Vietnam, Philippines, Indonesia and Australia. However, it is widely cultivated in the tropics and subtropics (including China, Africa, Brazil, Florida (USA) and the Caribbean).