Wetland Ecosystems and Their Relevance to the Environment

As compared to the tropical evergreen forest, wetlands are also one of the most productive ecosystems in the biosphere and make a major contribution to the ecological sustainability of a region. The wetlands maintain biologically diverse communities having both ecological and economic value. Based on the immense environmental and sustainability benefits, wetlands have been demarcated as essential for the future of human existence. The future challenges pertaining to food, clean water and energy security, well-being of humans, natural disaster risk reduction, and climate change resilience can be met by preserving the wetlands. The chapter has an aim to provide insight on the fundamentals like the classifications, major functions, as well as the various factors affecting the wetland ecosystem. Other important aspects like the major threats leading to the loss of the wetlands, consequences of the loss or degradation of wetlands, and ways to preserve the wetlands are discussed.

Ischaemum mistryi (Poaceae: Andropogoneae): A new remarkable species from Sub-Tropical Evergreen Forest, India

Ischaemum mistryi, a new species from the Sub-Tropical evergreen forest of Tilari Ghat, Maharashtra, India, is described and illustrated. This grass is unique with its leaves drooping, mostly congregated near the base, basal sheath villous, culms compressed at the base, lower glume of the sessile spikelet linear-lanceolate to oblongish tapering and slightly curled upwards, without a sub-apical ridge, nodules absent (if present 2–4 obscure) on its keels, and upper lemma of sessile spikelet bi-partite. Morphologically it is somewhat similar to I. mangaluricum, I. travancorense and I. barbatum. We provided a table of its detailed comparison with close species as mentioned above. According to IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria, we have assessed this new species as Critically Endangered (CR). The photo plates and illustration of the grass are given to facilitate its proper identification. A short discussion is also provided at the end.

A Modeling Application for GHG Fluxes Estimates in Betel Nuts Plantations in Taiwan

Perennial woody crops could have a positive impact on carbon balance, absorbing carbon during growing season and storing it for several years, whereas annual crops do not have this particular effect. Usually, techniques for GHG (greenhouse gases) flux measurements have limited spatial representativeness, with some difficulties to extend leaf measurements to field scale. Models, especially if supported by remote sensing data, allow for upscaling the monitoring of these fluxes. The aim of this work was to evaluate the carbon fluxes (gross primary production, GPP; net ecosystem production, NEP) of the betel nut cultivars in Taiwan by a vegetation photosynthesis model (VPM). The model permitted estimating seasonal dynamics of GPP in a moist tropical evergreen forest. These plantations are very common in Taiwan and their role could be significant in environmental and development policies even though, until now, the consumption of the fruit of this tree is at the center of controversy due to their use and effects on the population. To obtain estimates of carbon fluxes on a large area that would appreciate its spatial variability, a model based on physiological processes was used. This model incorporated a series of procedures and monthly mean meteorological data, light use efficiency, and satellite enhanced vegetation index (EVI) were used as inputs. An additional purpose of this work was to compare the carbon uptake of different cultivars in Taiwan and Italy. Using a different model, always based on light use efficiency, a similar project was carried on Italian vineyards, with other climate conditions and different agricultural practices.

Exploring the bacterial community composition of soil from a tropical dry evergreen forest in Tamil Nadu, India

Metagenomics is a cutting edge omics technology that has been employed in various fields including novel product discovery, diagnostics, and pollutant monitoring. 16S metagenome amplicon sequencing is used for understanding the microbial diversity from various environments. Forest ecosystems have been known for the discovery of novel bacteria and also bacteria that produces novel compounds that are pharmaceutically and industrially relevant. In this study we try to show the bacterial community structure of the soil obtained from a tropical evergreen forest in India. We use 16s metagenomics sequencing and then follow it up with various analysis like alpha diversity analysis, to find out the dominant bacterial species found in these soils. Actinobacteria was found to be the most copmmonly found bacterial phylum followed by proteobacteria, firmicutes, chloroflexi, acidobacteria, verrucomicrobia, bacteroidetes, gemmatimonadetes, nitospirae and other unclassified organisms. Further studies can elucidate on the discovery of novel compounds from these bacteria.

The Novel Microwave Temperature Vegetation Drought Index (MTVDI) Captures Canopy Seasonality across Amazonian Tropical Evergreen Forests

Despite its perennial canopy, the Amazonian tropical evergreen forest shows significant canopy growth seasonality, which has been represented by optical satellite-based observations. In this paper, a new Microwave Temperature–Vegetation Drought Index (MTVDI) based on Advanced Microwave Scanning Radiometer for the Earth Observing System (AMSR-E) sensors was used to capture the canopy seasonality from 2003 to 2010 in comparison with four climatic dryness indicators (Palmer Drought Severity Index (PDSI), Climatological Water Deficit (CWD), Terrestrial Water Storage (TWS), Vapor Pressure Deficit (VPD)) and two photosynthesis proxies (Enhanced Vegetation Index (EVI) and Solar-Induced chlorophyll Fluorescence (SIF)), respectively. Our results suggest that the MTVDI shows opposite seasonal variability with two photosynthesis proxies and performs better than the four climatic dryness indicators in reflecting the canopy photosynthesis seasonality of tropical forests in the Amazon. Besides, the MTVDI captures wet regions that show green-up during the dry season with mean annual precipitation higher than 2000 mm per year. The MTVDI provides a new way for monitoring the canopy seasonality of tropical forests from microwave signals.

Prey selection and food habits of the Tiger Panthera tigris (Mammalia: Carnivora: Felidae) in Kalakkad-Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve, southern Western Ghats, India

The Endangered Tiger Panthera tigris is the largest felid, distributed over 1.1 million km2 globally. Conservation of Tigers largely depends on the preservation of its natural prey base and habitats. Therefore, the availability of prey and its selection play a major role in the sustainable future of Tigers in the given landscape. The current study assesses the prey selection patterns by Tigers in tropical evergreen forest of the Kalakkad-Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve (KMTR), southern Western Ghats, India. Density of ungulates was assessed by distance sampling (line transect, N = 21) and diet composition of Tigers was evaluated by analysing their faecal samples (N = 66). The study estimated very low ungulate density (26.87 ± 7.41 individuals km-2) with highest density of Gaur Bos gaurus (9.04 individuals km-2) followed by Wild Boar Sus scrofa (8.79 ± 2.73 individuals km-2), whereas, primate density was quite high (45.89 ± 12.48 individuals km-2), with Nilgiri Langur Semnopithecus johnii having the highest density (38.05 ± 10.22 individuals km-2). About 74.62% of the biomass of Gaur constituted in the Tiger’s diet, consumed lesser than its availability, whereas Sambar constituted 16.73% of the Tiger diet consumed proportionally to its availability. Chital Axis axis, Muntjac Muntiacus muntjak, and Indian Chevrotain Moschiola indica were not represented in the Tiger’s diet. The current study is the first scientific information on prey selection of the Tiger in KMTR landscape, which will serve as a baseline for its conservation planning and management.

Nuevos registros de licofitas y helechos para el estado de Puebla, México

Resumen:Antecedentes y Objetivos: Son pocos los trabajos florísticos que se han publicado sobre licofitas y helechos (pteridofitas en conjunto) de Puebla, México, por lo que se considera muy probable que la riqueza de especies en el estado sea mayor a la que se tiene documentada hasta el momento.El objetivo de este trabajo es reportar nuevos registros de este grupo de plantas para la entidad, incluyendo su distribución municipal y altitudinal, así como el tipo de vegetación en que se presentan.Métodos: De 2010 a 2018 se efectuaron diversos viajes de recolección a distintas localidades de Puebla, durante los cuales se recolectaron y herborizaron ejemplares de licofitas y helechos, que fueron identificados y depositados en el Herbario de la Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana-Iztapalapa (UAMIZ). La información generada se confrontó con la lista de especies reportadas en la literatura para la entidad, lo que permitió reconocer los nuevos registros.Resultados clave: Se documenta por primera vez para Puebla la presencia de 32 especies y un híbrido de licofitas y helechos, la mayoría de las cuales pertenecen a las familias Pteridaceae, Dryopteridaceae y Aspleniaceae, crecen en bosque mesófilo de montaña y vegetación derivada de bosque tropical perennifolio, entre 250 y 2500 m de altura.Conclusiones: Los nuevos registros incrementan de 335 a 367 el número de especies de licofitas y helechos que habitan en el estado de Puebla y ponen en evidencia la necesidad de continuar con el trabajo de exploración en la entidad.Palabras clave: bosque mesófilo de montaña, bosque tropical perennifolio, pteridofitas, riqueza, tipo de vegetación.Abstract:Background and Aims: There are few published floristic contributions about the lycophytes and ferns (pteridophytes) from Puebla, so it is considered very likely that the specific richness of this group in the state is greater than what has been documented currently. The goal of this paper is to document the new records of this plant group for the state, including information about their municipal and altitudinal distribution and the type of vegetation they inhabit.Methods: Between 2010 and 2018, several collection trips to different localities of the state of Puebla were made to collect specimens of lycophytes and ferns. The material was identified and deposited in the Herbarium of the Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana-Iztapalapa (UAMIZ). The information obtained was compared with the list of species of Puebla reported in the literature, allowing recognition of the new records.Key results: The presence of 32 species and a hybrid of lycophytes and ferns was documented for the first time for Puebla, most of which belong to the families Pteridaceae, Dryopteridaceae and Aspleniaceae, growing in cloud forest and vegetation derived from tropical evergreen forest, betweenelevations of 250 and 2500 m.Conclusions: The new records increase the number of species of lycophytes and ferns reported for Puebla from 335 to 367 and highlight the need to continue with the exploration and field work in the state.Key words: cloud forest, pteridophytes, richness, tropical evergreen forest, vegetation type.