Chewing insects, pollinators, and predators on Acacia auriculiformis A. Cunn. ex Beth (Fabales: Fabaceae) plants fertilized with dehydrated sewage sludge

Fertilization with dehydrated sewage sludge can speed up the recovery process of degraded areas due to nutrients concentration, favoring the development of pioneer plants such as Acacia auriculiformis A. Cunn. ex Beth (Fabales: Fabaceae) and the emergence of insects. This study aimed the evaluation of chewing, pollinating insects, predators, their ecological indices and relationships on A. auriculiformis plants fertilized with dehydrated sewage sludge. The experimental design was completely randomized with two treatments (with and without dehydrated sewage sludge) and 24 repetitions. The prevalence of chewing insects Parasyphraea sp. (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), Nasutitermes sp. (Blattodea: Termitidae), and Tropidacris collaris (Stoll, 1813) (Orthoptera: Romaleidae), defoliation, and ecological indices of abundance of Coleoptera and Orthoptera were observed on fertilized A. auriculiformis. Acacia auriculiformis plants, with a superior number of branches/tree, revealed greater abundance of Coleoptera and Orthoptera, species richness of pollinating insects, defoliation, numbers of Parasyphraea sp. and T. collaris. The ones with larger leaves/branches displayed greater abundance of species richness of Coleoptera and Diabrotica speciosa (Germar, 1824) (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae). Therefore, the use of A. auriculiformis plants, fertilized with dehydrated sewage sludge, is promising in the recovery of degraded areas due to the ecological indices increase of chewing and pollinators insects and spiders in the analyzed area.

Composition and Potential Functions of Rhizobacterial Communities in a Pioneer Plant from Andean Altiplano

Plant microbiota that associate with pioneer plants are essential to their growth and adaptation to harsh conditions found in the Central Volcanic Zone of the Andes. In this sense, the rhizosphere of pioneer species represents a unique opportunity to examine how bacterial communities are recruited and support the growth of plants under abiotic stress conditions, such low nutrient availability, high solar irradiation, water scarcity, soil salinity, etc. In this study, we explored the community composition and potential functions of rhizobacteria obtained from specimens of Parastrephia quadrangularis (Meyen) Cabrera, commonly called Tola, grown on the slopes of the Guallatiri, Isluga, and Lascar volcanoes in the Atacama Desert of Chile by using 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing. Sequence analysis showed that the Actinobacteria, Proteobacteria, Acidobacteria, and Bacteroidetes were the most abundant phyla of the rhizobacterial communities examined. A similar diversity, richness, and abundance of OTUs were also observed in rhizosphere samples obtained from different plants. However, most of OTUs were not shared, suggesting that each plant recruits a specific rhizobacterial communities independently of volcanoes slope. Analyses of predicted functional activity indicated that the functions were mostly attributed to chemoheterotrophy and aerobic chemoheterotrophy, followed by nitrogen cycling (nitrate reduction and denitrification), and animal parasites or symbionts. In addition, co-occurrence analysis revealed that complex rhizobacterial interactions occur in P. quadrangularis rhizosphere and that members of the Patulibacteraceae comprise a keystone taxon. This study extends our understanding on the composition and functions of the rhizobiome, which is pivotal for the adaptability and colonization of pioneer plant to harsh conditions of the Atacama Desert, widely recognized as the driest place on planet Earth.

Abundance of Associated Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi with Pioneer Plants in Affected Area by Mount Merapi Eruption

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) with mutualism symbiosis with plants are associated with the Fabaceae family's pioneer plants. This study aims to determine the percentage of AMF in the roots and the AMF spore's abundance in the rhizosphere of pioneer plants Calopogonium mucunoides Desv. and Vigna Unguiculata (L.) Walp in Mount Merapi National Park after the 2010 eruption. The methods used for root infection analysis were slide methods and root staining, while spore analysis was wet sieving methods. The results showed the highest percentage of AMF infection in C. mucunoides root was found in an area with moderate damage. The highest percentage of AMF infection in V. unguiculata was found in an area with minor damage. The highest number of spores in the two plants' rhizosphere soil was found in an area with minor damage with an average of 10.4 and 9. The levels of damage by Mount Merapi's eruption did not significantly affect the percentage of AMF infection and the number of spores. Glomus dominates all study sites in both plants. Soil organic carbon is one of the abiotic factors correlated with the number of spores in rhizosphere soil.

Peanut Pods (Arachis hypogaea L.) In Ex-Mining Limestone Soil Enriched with Indigenous Bacteria

Pioneer plants are found in the former limestone mining area, and there are bacteria in their root systems. These bacteria can be used as biofertilizers. This study aims to find out the use of indigenous PGPR in ex-mining limestone land to be able to increase the yield of pea (Arachis hypogaea L.) var. Tuban. This research was an experimental study with 5 treatments applying indigenous PGPR at concentrations of 0%, 25%, 50%, 75%, and 100% and consist of 5 replications. Stages of research include planting peanuts (Arachis hypogaea L.) var. Tuban by adding indigenous PGPR with the same dose and source in an environment with sufficient sunlight. The parameters observed were biomass, pithy weight, empty pod weight, wet weight, dry weight, pH, and temperature of the planting medium for peanuts. In this study, the results showed that the concentration of PGPR 25% had a significant effect on the dry weight of peanuts and doesn’t had significant effect on biomass. Meanwhile, the provision of PGPR with different concentrations did not have a significant effect on the temperature and pH of the lime mining soil planting media

The kinetics curve of nitrogen mineralization from perennial leaves litter decomposed by earthworm (Phretima californica)

The kinetics of N release during the process of decomposition of organic matter is influenced by organic matter quality, temperature, humidity, and decomposer. Acacia, coffee, salacca, and bamboo leaf litter are native plants and be the pioneer plants on the slopes of Mount Merapi after the eruption in 2010. However, there is a lack of information on the N mineralization process from the leaves litter of acacia, coffee, salacca, and bamboo. The study aimed to determine the kinetics of N release from the litter leaves of acacia (<em>Acacia decurrens</em>), coffee, salacca, and bamboo, which were tested with three approaches, namely zero order, first order, and second order. The experiment was carried out using 10 <em>Phretima californica </em>earthworms that were incubated with 35g of annual plant leaves at 25°C. The levels of NH₄⁺ and NO₃^- were measured at 0, 7, 15, 30, 45, 75, and 105 days after incubation by using the indophenol blue and derivative spectrophotometric method, respectively. Throughout the decomposition 105 days, the release of NO₃^- was higher than that of NH₄⁺ due to the nature of NH₄⁺ that was more easily immobilized than NO₃^-. The highest NO₃^-release in acacia litter (1.56 mg kg^-1) occurred 30 days after incubation, while in coffee, salacca, and bamboo occurred 105 days after incubation, reaching 1.92 mg kg^-1, 2.47 mg kg^-1, and 1.88 mg kg^-1, respectively. High N compound on the leaves litter unaffected to increasing total biomass earthworms in the end of incubation however promotes N mineralization rapidly. The kinetics of the second-order equation showed higher compatibility than the other equations to the N release with coefficient determination was higher. The kinetics of mineralization can be a strategy to use the leaves litter of perennial plants as sources of N nutrient input into soil.

Chemical Properties of Charcoal Briquette with Composition Types of Gerunggang (Cratoxylon Arborescens) and Tumih (Combretocarpus Rotundatus) Wood from Tropical Peatlands

Charcoal briquettes can be an alternative energy and can be produced from Gerunggang and Tumih types of wood. These two types of wood are commonly found in Kalampangan Village as pioneer plants on burned peatlands. The research objective was to determine the chemical properties of charcoal briquettes produced from biomass waste from land processing without burning with several compositions of Gerunggang wood and Tumih wood. The chemical properties of charcoal briquettes refer to the Indonesian National Standard (SNI 01-6235-2000) and Standard Permen ESDM No. 047 of 2006. The results showed that all composition treatments in the ash content test, fixed carbon content and calorific value met the standards, while the test for volatile content in all treatment compositions did not meet the Indonesian National Standard (SNI 01-6235-2000). The composition of the most potential chemical properties and following the two standards used is the composition of 100% Tumih with ash content of 7.67%, volatile matter content of 27.23%, fixed carbon of 55.00%, and heating value of 5902.18 cal/g.

Sturnira parvidens (Chiroptera: Phyllostomidae)

The little yellow-shouldered Mesoamerican bat, Sturnira parvidens Goldman, 1917, is a medium-sized yellow-shouldered bat with no tail, a vestigial uropatagium, and reddish or yellowish patches on the shoulders. It lives in tropical habitats associated with lower and mid-elevations from northern Costa Rica to Mexico, and it is one of 24 described species in the genus Sturnira. Although S. parvidens is more common in disturbed areas because it mainly feeds on pioneer plants, it uses day roosts located in mature forest or in areas with advanced successional stages. It is an abundant species and is listed as “Least Concern” by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources.

The effect of slope level and hydroseeding formula on the growth of Cyperus brevifolius and Pueraria javanica seedlings

Zairina A, Mondiana YQ. 2020. The effect of slope level and hydroseeding formula on the growth of Cyperus brevifolius and Pueraria javanica seedlings. Biodiversitas 21: 5008-5012. The aim of this study was to analyze the effect of the slope level on the growth of green kyllinga (Cyperus brevifolius) and puero (Pueraria javanica) seedling in a hydroseeding formula. The hydroseeding mixture consists of plant seeds, compost, soil conditioner, manure, and water. In addition, to all hydroseeding compositions, guar gum and a local microorganism mix were mixed until colloidal mulch was obtained. This study applied factorial design with slope level dan hydroseeding treatment as independent variables, while seed height, number of shoots, and number of leaves were the dependent variables. Data were replicated four times. The hydroseeding formula had a significant effect on all variables, except for the height of C. brevifolius seedlings. There was a significant interaction effect between the slope level and hydroseeding treatment on the germination rate of both species but the effect of this interaction was not significant on plant height and leaf number. The best germination rates were found in boxes with a slope of 100%. This situation was consistent for both species. This indicated that both species had the potential to be used as pioneer plants in post-landslide reclamation with a slope of 100%.

Alpine Pioneer Plants in Soil Bioengineering for Slope Stabilization and Restoration: Results of a Preliminary Analysis of Seed Germination and Future Perspectives

Stabilization of slopes subject to landslide by measures with low impact, such as those of bioengineering, is a topic of interest. The use of scarcely studied alpine pioneer plants could contribute to innovation in soil bioengineering and restoration ecology but to use them, knowledge of the ex situ germinability of their seeds is fundamental. This research analysed the germinability of seeds of nine alpine pioneer species (Papaver aurantiacum, Rumex scutatus, Tofieldia calyculata, Pulsatilla alpina, Silene glareosa, Adenostyles alpina, Dryas octopetala, Laserpitium peucedanoides and Laserpitium krapfii) treated with water, gibberellic acid (GA3) and/or calcium carbonate at room temperature. The seeds had different responses to the treatments: Laserpitium peucedanoides, L. krapfii and Silene glareosa showed difficulty in germinating (germination < 2.5%), while Dryas octopetala had good germination (39–61%) regardless of treatment. GA3 significantly increased the seed germination rate of Papaver aurantiacum, Pulsatilla alpina, Rumex scutatus and Tofieldia calyculata, while the addition of calcium carbonate made the seeds of Rumex scutatus and Tofieldia calyculata germinate more quickly. Results are discussed focusing on the perspectives of using alpine pioneer species in future soil bioengineering work for slopes stabilization and restoration, and on the actions that stakeholders should take to make this happen.

Early ecological succession patterns of bacterial, fungal and plant communities along a chronosequence in a recently deglaciated area of the Italian Alps

ABSTRACT In this study, the early ecological succession patterns of Forni Glacier (Ortles-Cevedale group, Italian Alps) forefield along an 18-year long chronosequence (with a temporal resolution of 1 year) has been reported. Bacterial and fungal community structures were inferred by high-throughput sequencing of 16S rRNA gene and ITS, respectively. In addition, the occurrence of both herbaceous and arboreous plants was also recorded at each plot. A significant decrease of alpha-diversity in more recently deglaciated areas was observed for both bacteria and plants. Time since deglaciation and pH affected the structure of both fungal and bacterial communities. Pioneer plants could be a major source of colonization for both bacterial and fungal communities. Consistently, some of the most abundant bacterial taxa and some of those significantly varying with pH along the chronosequence (Polaromonas, Granulicella, Thiobacillus, Acidiferrobacter) are known to be actively involved in rock-weathering processes due to their chemolithotrophic metabolism, thus suggesting that the early phase of the chronosequence could be mainly shaped by the biologically controlled bioavailability of metals and inorganic compounds. Fungal communities were dominated by ascomycetous filamentous fungi and basidiomycetous yeasts. Their role as cold-adapted organic matter decomposers, due to their heterotrophic metabolism, was suggested.