Short-Term Abandonment versus Mowing in a Mediterranean-Temperate Meadow: Effects on Floristic Composition, Plant Functionality, and Soil Properties—A Case Study

Hay meadows are secondary grasslands maintained by mowing, and their ecological importance resides in the inherent biodiversity and carbon stocking. We investigated the plant community and soil properties of a sub humid acid grassland near the Fucecchio marshes (Italy), managed as a hay meadow, mowed once a year, and not fertilized. Part of the meadow had been abandoned for three years. We analysed the soil properties (i.e., organic carbon and total nitrogen content, available phosphorus, pH, cation-exchange capacity, texture, and conductibility) and the plant community structure (composition, functionality, and species richness) of the two sides of the meadow (mowed and abandoned). Our aim was to highlight the changes in soil properties and vegetation community, and to find out to what extent abandonment can affect those dynamics. Our results showed that after short-term abandonment, soil pH, C and N increased; litter biomass and perennial forbs increased; and annual forbs decreased. New species colonising after abandonment, thus enriching the flora, may keep spreading and eventually hinder the growth of the specialists if mowing is not resumed. Certain valuable meadow habitats need constant human intervention to maintain their peculiar vegetation, most especially if they are a buffer zone in the proximity of natural protected areas.

Composition and community structure of mangroves distributed on the east coast of Marajó Island, Brazil

Mangroves in the Amazon are influenced by several environmental conditions that determine the composition and structural development of the arboreal flora, which results in different distribution patterns. In this study, we sought to answer two questions: (1) what is the composition and structure of the mangroves near the mouth of the Amazon River in Marajó Island? (2) Are the fringe and inland mangroves more similar or dissimilar in terms of floristic composition? For this, we delimited a fringe zone and an inland zone about 1 km apart from each other. In each zone, we distributed five 400-m2 plots. The individuals were grouped into diameter and height classes and structural and phytosociological parameters were calculated. Ten species were recorded in the mangroves, of which seven are typical of white-water (várzea) and black-water (igapó) flooded forest ecosystems. We believed the adjacent ecosystems and the hydrological network are inducing the establishment of such species. The composition and structure of mangroves did not differ statistically between zones, and the degree of similarity may be a result of similar environmental factors in these zones such as low relief and high frequency of macrotides. We conclude that the vegetation of the studied mangroves has a major influence of the fluvial-marine system of the great rivers of the Amazon associated with a diversity of ecosystems that, together, generate greater floristic richness when compared to mangroves in other regions.

Floristic Composition, Diversity and Plant Community Along Elevational Gradients in the Afro-alpine Vegetation of Abohoy Gara Mountain, northern Ethiopia

This research was conducted in Afro-alpine vegetation of Abohoy Gara Mountain in northern Ethiopia with the aim of analyzing floristic composition along elevational gradients, threats and conservation methods. Data were collected from 53 quadrats (15 m x 15 m) laid at 100 m interval along parallel vertical transects spaced at 500m to each other to record shrubs and trees, whereas 1 m x 1 m plots were used to record herbs. Cover abundance data were used to do community analysis using R version 3.1.2 software. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was employed to determine significant level of species richness; abundance and Shannon diversity index along elevational gradient, whereas pearson’s correlation test was applied to check the relationship between environmental variables with species richness, species abundance and Shannon diversity index (H’) using SPSS v20. Ninety-seven plant species composed of 82 genera under 40 families were recorded. The mean number of plant species showed significant difference along elevational gradient (P < 0.05). Besides, significant (P < 0.05) negative correlation of elevation with the plant richness, abundance as well as Shannon diversity index had been observed. Based on dominant species, a total of five plant communities were identified. The maximum plant diversity occurred in community type III (3.79), whereas the least plant diversity occurred in community type IV and community type V. Vegetation cover and species composition of Abohoy Gara Mountain is being endangered by agricultural expansion, over grazing and logging of wood for construction material. Hence, it needs application of complementary on-site and offsite conservation approaches. This calls for further joint management of the Abohoy Gara Mountain by the local people and administrative bodies in the overall conservation actions that can save and rehabilitate the plant resources and their habitats.

Results of the study of the weed-field flora of Primorsky Territory in 2016-2020

The results of the study of the weed component of soybean, early grain crops and maize agrocenoses in Primorsky Territory are presented. In total, 111 species of weeds belonging to 35 families were found during the period from 2016 to 2020. Compared with the results of crop surveys conducted in 2006-2015, the total number of species detected has increased by 23. The largest number of species belongs to the families Asteraceae (24), Poaceae (15), Polygonaceae (11), Fabaceae (9), Brassicaceae (8), Caryophyllaceae (7) and Lamiaceae (5). The remaining 26 families were represented by 1-3 species each. For the first time weeds-representatives of the families Scrophulariaceae, Violaceae, Lythraceae, Onagraceae, Asclepiadaceae and Boraginaceae have been discovered. The floristic composition of soybean agrocenoses was the highest with 108 weed species from 31 families. In cereal and maize crops, weed diversity was less significant, with 75 species in 22 families and 72 species in 25 families, respectively. Weed vegetation in all the above crops is represented by 62 species of 19 families. The main weed species that grew on 97-99% of the surveyed territory with a sufficiently high average density of standing (21-61pcs/m2) were Asian copperleaf, cockspur grass and common ragweed. Also, more than half of the surveyed crops of soybeans, cereals and corn were hairy cupgrass, perennial sow thistle, common couch-grass, common lamb’s quarters, wormwood species, field horsetail, yellow thistle, dayflower and yellow foxtail. Practical measures to protect against weeds on the Primorsky Territory should be primarily aimed at controlling these species.

Syntaxonomical and ecological diversity of the class Polygono-Poetea annuae in Bulgaria

Class Polygono-Poetea annuae Rivas-Mart. 1975 includes therophyte-rich vegetation on trampled habitats. The study presents the first analysis of the syntaxonomy of this class and its ecology in Bulgaria. One hundred seventy-five relevés from this class were collected and stored in the Balkan Vegetation Database during 2017–2020. Numerical classification (hierarchical divisive) and ordination were performed by JUICE and CANOCO software packages. Diagnostic species were determined by calculating the Phi-coefficient. Four associations, Sclerochloo durae-Polygonetum arenastri, Polygonetum arenastri, Lolio-Polygonetum arenastri and Poëtum annuae, were recognized. Their floristic composition has been shaped mainly by climatic and soil conditions. Sclerochloo durae-Polygonetum arenastri association has been found at lower altitudes, occurring in fully lighted habitats with high radiation, whereas Poëtum annuae has been found at higher altitudes in wetter and cooler areas. On the other hand, stands of Polygonetum arenastri have been found on nutrient-rich soils, whereas communities of Lolio-Polygonetum arenastri were distributed in warmer and nutrient-poor areas. The Polygono-Poetea annuae class is still poorly studied in Bulgaria and much more information from all regions of the country needs to be collected and analyzed.

UAV survey of sand knolls in the Tsasucheysky Bor Nature Reserve

The paper examines development of sand knolls under the influence of climatic and anthropogenic factors in Southern Zabaykalye within the territory of Tsasucheysky Bor nature reserve. The sand knolls were studied on-site with instruments and aerial surveying. Grain size distribution of the soil cover was studied. The floristic composition of the sand knolls represented by motley grass-grasses and herbs-grasses steppe communities with varying degrees of projective cover was investigated. The analysis of the field survey data from an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) made it possible to obtain the main morphometric parameters of the sand knolls, and overlaying aerial photographs on historic satellite images allowed to trace how they changed in time. The studies showed that the movement of the studied sand knolls with time as Aeolian formations under the influence of wind erosion is unlikely, as the sand knolls are currently mostly covered by steppe vegetation, and only about 20% of the areas are bare. The analysis of satellite images and aerial photographs showed that over the last twenty years the sand knolls had not moved or changed their size.

Flora of meadow communities of the Uryumkan Nature Reserve (Transbaikalia)

The floristic composition of meadow communities of the valley of the Uryumkan River at the territory of the Uryumkansky nature reserve in Zabaykalsky krai was studied. The flora of meadows is characterized by significant participation of species of the genus Sanguisorba and other medicinal plants used in medicine. The meadows are very attractive and can be used as an educational object for tourist excursions.

Floristic mosaics of the threatened Brazilian campo rupestre

The increase in rates of habitat loss requires an understanding of how biodiversity is distributed. Campo rupestre is an old, climatically buffered, and infertile landscape located in Brazil. Considered a biodiversity hotspot, the campo rupestre is mainly threatened by mining activity that requires a large operating area. Campo rupestre is known for its restricted distribution area and high abiotic heterogeneity, which modulates species coexistence and richness. To recognise the association between habitat type and plant communities, we propose to describe the floristic composition of herbaceous and shrub components in four habitats of the campo rupestre comprising quartzite and ferruginous substrate. We classified habitat types by the main surface soil features. In each habitat, we sampled ten 100-m2 plots to access information on the shrub and ten 1-m2 plots for the herbaceous component. Altogether we sampled 153 species, belonging to 38 families. The cluster analysis ordered by Sorensen metric indicates a clear distinction of species composition in the shrub component in the four habitats. However, the floristic composition of the herbaceous component was similar between the four habitats but showed a distinction when contrasting with the substrate type. Our results highlight the local taxonomic distinction between habitat types and substrates, indicating that the ecological distinction among substrate types of the campo rupestre cannot be overlooked in conservation and restoration actions.

FLORISTIC COMPOSITION AND BIOLOGICAL SPECTRUM OF BARA GALI, ABBOTTABAD

Floristic composition and Phytosociological studies on the flora of Bara Gali District Abbottabad, Pakistan was conducted. The altitudinal range of the Bara Gali is from 2100-2370 meter. From the study area 50 species belong to 33 families were recorded. Herbaceous flora was dominant with 35 species, shrubs with 10 species and tree with 5 species. Asteraceae was dominant having 6 species. Microphyll dominant leaf size spectra and hemicryptophytes were dominant life form in the study area. This study provide information about the floristic composition of Bara Gali.