Hacquetia

Unveiling unique endemic associations: A contribution to the knowledge of chasmophytic vegetation on the Sorrento Peninsula and Picentini Mountains

Dario La Montagna — 2024-07-15

Sorrento Peninsula, together with an outpost at the top of the Picentini Mountains, is rich in local endemics and has been well studied from a taxonomical perspective. The vegetation is instead poorly known, particularly the plant assemblages of rock cliffs. In this paper, we present the phytosociological insights on cliff-dwelling communities of rocky ranges in the top of Sorrento Peninsula (600-1800 m a.s.l.). We carried out 28 relevés (8 already published) and conducted multivariate analyses to classify the vegetation. We analysed the bioclimatic context of the relevés with Rivas-Martínez indexes and carried out a comparison with other rock vegetation from the Central Mediterranean. We found three clusters that we classified into 2 associations, one of which is further divided into two sub-associations (Globulario neapolitanae-Loniceretum stabianae typicum Fanelli et al. 2020; Globulario neapolitanae-Loniceretum stabianae globularietosum neapolitanae subass. nova; Diantho virginei-Seselietum polyphylli ass. nova). We refer this vegetation to a new alliance, Lonicerion stabianae all. nova, distinguished from the other rock vegetation of the Central Mediterranean because develops in an intermediate range between the mediterranean, temperate and weakly continental climate. Sorrento Peninsula and the cliffs at the top of Picentini Mountains are characterised by endemic cliff vegetation, rich in exclusive taxa. We suggest that it represents a distinct phytogeographical sector in the context of the Italian Peninsula.

Plant biodiversity of Rosa damascena fields from Bulgaria's Rose Valley

Nikolay Velev — 2024-06-27

The growing human population's demand for food and organic materials has a severe impact on the environment as conventional agriculture expands, destroying habitats and wildlife. This highlights the need to balance provision security with biodiversity conservation through new agricultural practices. This study investigates how different agricultural practices affect the plant diversity found in rose fields located in Kazanlak region, Bulgaria. We compared conventional and organic farming methods, while also looking at how the management of spaces between the rose rows by mowing or ploughing affects their plant diversity. Our results show that mowing management, as opposed to ploughing, leads to greater plant diversity and a higher vegetation total cover. Additionally, organic farming practices combined with mowing management were found to support plant communities with higher diversity, compared to conventional farming under mowing. We conclude that organic farming combined with mowing management is the most beneficial practice for promoting plant diversity in Bulgarian rose fields.

Eco-coenotic analysis of pasture areas from the Danube Delta, Romania

Simona Dumitrița Chirilă — 2024-08-07

The study investigated the floristic composition of 12 pasture areas in the Danube Delta, and their neighbouring regions, and the relationships between the floristic composition and the environmental variables. The vegetation analysis was carried out based on the mean percentage values corresponding to the scale developed by the Braun-Blanquet. For the syntaxonomic assignment, 50 phytocoenological relevés were made. The relevés were analyzed using Agglomerative Hierarchical Clustering (flexible β algorithm and Bray-Curtis dissimilarity). The relationship between floristic composition and environmental variables was assessed using Detrended Correspondence Analysis (DCA) and Canonical Correlation Analysis (CCA) in CANOCO. Our results showed that the analyzed species are mostly mesoxerophilic, oligo-mesotrophic, and poorly exploited as fodder, with moderate tolerance to grazing and medium anthropogenic influence, predominantly urbanophobic. Numerical analysis identified eight well-defined communities, which correspond to associations described in the taxonomic literature, based on their diagnostic species. The predominant plant association is Hordeo murini-Cynodontetum dactyloni. The variation of the floristic composition is influenced by annual precipitation.

Importance of environmental factors and crop type on weed diversity associated with cereals in Egypt

Ethar A. Hussein — 2024-08-29

The research on arable weeds in relation to crops is attributed to the influence of weeds as competitors on crop productivity. It is hypothesised that region, crop type, crop seasonality and soil characteristics are the main factors affecting the diversity and distribution of weeds. In this study, the analysis of weed structure associated with cereals in the different bioclimatic regions of Egypt (Nile Delta, Nile Valley and Western Desert oases) was investigated. Two winter cereals (wheat; barley) and two summer cereals (maize; rice) as main crops were included, and thirteen soil parameters for 261 relevés were used to assess the diversity of weed vegetation. The influence of the explanatory factors on the weed communities was analysed using RDA. A total of 250 species constituted the flora of the studied cereal fields, belonging to 166 genera and 47 families, with therophytes (64.7%) dominating among life forms. One third of the recorded species is of Mediterranean and Saharo-Arabian chorotypes. The variation partitioning of the RDA model between explanatory variables revealed that the effect of bioclimatic regions had the greatest effect on weed composition, followed by crop type, while soil properties had lower effect, and crop seasonality was not significant.

Phytocenotic and ecological characteristics of the alien species Pistia stratiotes L. and Pontederia crassipes Mart. in urban river ecosystems (Ukraine)

Hanna Kazarinova — 2024-08-28

Pistia stratiotes L. and Pontederia crassipes Mart. are alien species used in aquarism and aquaculture with a high invasive capacity. The aim of the study was to establish phytocenotic and ecological features of populations of these species in urban river ecosystems. The research was conducted in 2014–2023 on water bodies of the Kharkiv city, Ukraine. Local populations of these species were found in three rivers and vegetation relevés were carried out according to standard phytosociological methods. Alien species occurred with high constancy in the communities of Lemnetea O. de Bolòs et Masclans 1955 and with a minor occurrence in fragments of communities of Phragmito-Magnocaricetea Klika in Klika et Novák 1941. The obtained results of phytoindication show a variability of humidity, aeration, and thermal regime in which the populations of these species occur. The environmental characteristics such as low temperatures, light, salt and nitrogen regime are limiting for occurrence of populations. Climatic and hydrological conditions of the city’s river ecosystems of the city are favorable for spread of communities with the present Pistia stratiotes L. and Pontederia crassipes Mart.

Pollen morphological study of some species of the genus Rubus L. (Rosaceae) of the flora of Armenia

Alla Hayrapetyan — 2024-08-26

Pollen morphology of 10 Armenian species of the genus Rubus L. was studied using both light microscopy (LM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), including the species R. candicans, R. cartalinicus and R. takhtadjanii investigated for the first time. The data received revealed the significant palynomorphological uniformity in the aperture type (mainly 3-zonocolp-orate, geniculate), occasionally 4-zonocolp-orate one. In some 4-zonocolp-orate pollen grains of the species R. armeniacus, additional slit-like or colpus-like areas were also noted at one or both poles. Exine ornamentation was predominantly finely striate-perforate (SEM), sometimes in combination with finely striate-microreticulate one (R. armeniacus and R. caesius). Pollen grains were small, sometimes of medium size also. The smallest pollen grains (according to polar axis length) were observed in the species R. takhtadjanii (on average 14,2 μm), and the largest ones in R. caucasicus (on average 26.3 μm). Our data support the previously held view that pollen grain morphology within the genus Rubus can only be used as an auxiliary feature for the diagnosis of individual species.

On the distribution and conservation status of some Mediterranean species new for the flora of Montenegro

Danijela Stešević — 2024-07-01

Investigations of dune habitats in Montenegro led to the discovery of 8 species and infraspecies taxa new for the country: Avellinia festucoides (Link) Valdés & H. Scholz, Corynephorus divaricatus (Pourr.) Breistr., Isoetes histrix Bor., Juncus tenuis Willd., Medicago doliata Carmign., Myosotis laxa Lehm. ssp. cespitosa (Schultz) Hyl. ex Nordh., Setaria parviflora (Poir.) Kerguélen, and Solenopsis laurentia ssp. gasparrinii (Tineo) Brullo. Of particular importance are Solenopsis laurentia ssp. gasparrinii and Isoetes histrix, the first of which has not yet been recorded in the southeastern part of the Adriatic, while the second is doubtfully reported for Albania. Since only one or a potentially small number of additional localities are expected in Montenegro, the following species are proposed as candidates for the national list of legally protected species: Isoetes histrix, Solenopsis laurentia ssp. gasparrinii, Avellinia festucoides and Corynephorus divaricatus. According to the IUCN criteria, the Isoetes histrix, Solenopsis laurentia ssp. gasparrinii and Corynephorus divaricatus are assessed as CR, while Avellinia festucoides as EN. Monitoring and eradication measures are proposed for alien species (Setaria parviflora and Juncus tenuis), especially for the second one, which is considered invasive in some countries.

An overview of internationally important plant taxa from Kosovo

Fadil Millaku — 2024-08-30

This study investigates internationally important plant taxa in Kosovo, using data from international lists and local records. The goals are to identify these taxa, outline their significance, and enhance understanding of their ecology, distribution, and conservation status. The analysis identified 59 internationally significant plant taxa in Kosovo, with the Orchidaceae family prominently represented by 33 taxa. This highlights global conservation concerns for orchids due to their vulnerability to habitat loss and illegal trade. Other important families include Amaryllidaceae, Liliaceae, and Lycopodiaceae. These taxa are listed under frameworks such as the Habitats Directive, CITES, and the Bern Convention, indicating the need for rigorous conservation efforts. Habitat loss and fragmentation are primary threats, impacting 26 taxa, followed by wild collection, grazing, agriculture, and urbanization. Effective conservation strategies should involve habitat protection, sustainable harvesting, and community engagement.

An Update to the Orchid Flora of Mounts Pelion and Mavrovouni, Greece, with Notes on Conservation

Argyrios Gerakis — 2024-10-13

A floristic survey was implemented during 2021-2022 largely within Natura sites GR1430008 and GR1420004 in the Region of Thessaly, altogether comprising 796 km². While both Natura sites were explored, the sampling effort was intensified within a narrow study area of 550 km² encompassing the N part of Mt Pelion and the whole of Mt Mavrovouni. Sampling within the narrow study area was one-third guided by previous findings and two-thirds random. In total, 129 square cells 1 km² wide were explored, of which 100 yielded orchid findings; 39 orchid taxa (species and subspecies) plus two nothotaxa were recorded. In the narrow study area, 33 orchid taxa and nothotaxa were recorded, of which 13 for the first time: Anacamptis papilionacea, A. pyramidalis, Himantoglossum robertianum, Ophrys × delphinensis, O. sicula, O. speculum, O. sphegodes subsp. sphegodes, O. tenthredinifera, O. tenthredinifera × O. sphegodes subsp. taurica (syn. O. mammosa), O. umbilicata, Orchis italica, O. simia, and Platanthera bifolia. The main threats facing orchids are rooting by feral pigs, overgrazing by ruminants, clearing of road verges, intensive arboriculture, and the encroachment of photovoltaic farms.

Data Collection Survey on Forest Conservation in Mahavir Swami Wildlife Sanctuary for Addressing Climate Change

Pankaj Lavania — 2024-06-19

Tropical forest serves as an important pivotal role in terrestrial biological diversity. The tropical forest acts as munificence for the life forms living in the tropics, by providing habitat conditions and natural resources. Tree parameter measurement is an important part of forest resource monitoring. The Data Collection Survey on Forest Conservation aims to provide a comprehensive analysis of the current state of forests and evaluate the effectiveness of conservation efforts. This survey integrates advanced data collection methods, including remote sensing and Geographic Information Systems (GIS), to monitor forest health, biodiversity, and threats. Key findings highlight critical areas of biodiversity that require targeted conservation, the pervasive threats from illegal logging and climate change, and the significance of community involvement in conservation initiatives. This study makes an attempt to data collection surveying methods to assess forest management in Mahavir Swami Wildlife Sanctuary (MSWS), Lalitpur, UP, India, using Sentinel-2A sensor data. We selected tree samples from thirty transects in MSWS through random sampling. A method of collecting tree measurement factors based on height and DBH with a variety of high-precision methods is proposed. The data collection survey used in this study can help forest managers, environmentalist, and conservationist for formulating policies for management of forest ecosystem at various scales.