This document evaluates six management strategies for an endangered population of Taxus baccata (English yew) in Austria using population viability risk management (PVRM) and the analytical hierarchy process (AHP). Strategy IV was found to best maintain viability by enhancing genetic variation, improving light availability, and reducing browsing pressure through fencing. A sensitivity analysis showed strategy IV had the highest priority across different scenarios, making it the overall best compromise solution.
Environmental determinants of plant associations and evaluation of the conser...Shujaul Mulk Khan
Hindu Kush is the largest mountain range of Central Asia that forms part of a vast alpine zone that stretches across the Eurasia from east towards the South Asia. We studied vegetation structure and the role of edaphic and topographic factors on distribution and formation of plant associations with specific emphais on Parrotiopsis species of the Districts Dir regions in the Hindu Kush Mountains. We also assessed the conservation status of Parrotiopsis jacquemontiana, an endemic species of the western Himalayan floristic province. We hypothesized that edaphic and climatic factors were responsible for the formation of different plant associations each with distinct indicators. A combination of transect and quadrat based methods were used for sampling. We used two way cluster analysis (TWCA), cluster analysis (CA), indicator species analysis, detrended correspondence analysis and canonical correspondence analysis to analyze and elaborate the vegetation pattern and formation. We used Google Earth Path software (V 1.4.6) for the calculation of extant of occurrence (EOO) and area of occupancy (AOO) for evaluation of conservation status of P. jacquemontiana. A total of 142 plant species were reported belonging to 62 families. CA and TWCA clustered four plant associations within altitudinal range of 1556–2313 m. Parrotiopsis jacquemontiana should be designated as endangered species under ‘EN A2acd; B1B2 bc (i, ii, iii) of IUCN red list categories and criteria in the region. We found that high phosphorous and potassium concentration, elevation, aspect, slope, lower pH, electrical conductivity and soil texture were significant environmental variables that play an important role in the determination of vegetation structure, formation of plant associations and its indicators in the region. This information will be useful for conservation and management practices for endemic and rare plant taxa, and evaluation of vegetation structure.
Seasonal Dynamics of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi, Glomalin and Soil Properti...ijtsrd
To understand the ecological significance of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal (AMF) associations in agroecosysytem, the host specific and seasonal dynamics of AMF and glomalin-related soil protein (GRSP) was investigated in agricultural fields of Nanded, Maharashtra State. Soil samples were collected from the rhizosphere of eight crop plants (Glycine max (L.) Merr., Saccharum officinarum L., Zea mays L., Cajanas cajan (L.) Millsp., Gossypium arboreum L., Triticum aestivum L., Sorghum vulgare Pers. and Cicer arietinum L.) in winter, summer and monsoon seasons respectively. Arbuscular mycorrhizal root infection and spore density of AMF peaked in monsoon and winter.The mean contents of total glomalin related soil proteins (T-GRSP) reached maximal values in summer. Spore density was highest in Zea mays L. Easily extractable glomalin related (EE-GRSP) and T-GRSP fractions were the highest in the rhizosphere of Cicer arietinum L. and Sorghum vulgare Pers. AMF root colonization and spore density was negatively correlated with K (P < 0.05; P < 0.01). T-GRSP fraction was positively correlated with edaphic factors (rhizosphere temperature, K and Fe content of soil) and negatively correlated with soil moisture (P < 0.01), AMF root colonization (P < 0.05) and spore density (P http://www.ijtsrd.com/biological-science/ecology/15727/seasonal-dynamics-of-arbuscular-mycorrhizal-fungi-glomalin-and-soil-properties-in-agroecosystems-of-nanded-district/ujwala-sheshrao-deepake
Phytogeographic classification using multivariate approachShujaul Mulk Khan
Phytogeography is concerned with the past and present distribution of vegetation on the earth surface. The distribution
of plants is neither even nor random on earth surface but follow a definite geographic pattern. The present study was aimed
to find out phytogeographic pattern of plants distribution and subsequent classification of plant species of the Jambil Valley,
District Swat Pakistan using multivariate statistic techniques. Sampling of vegetation was done using quadrats of 1 × 1 m2
for herbs, 5 × 5 m2 for shrubs and 10 × 10 m2 for trees. The data were analyzed by PCORD v. 5 and CANOCO 4.5. The
studies revealed that the vegetation of Jambil valley belongs to eighteen different phytogeographic elements. The highest percentage of elements (19.4%) belongs to Western-Himalayan region, followed by Cosmopolitan (13.9%), Eurasian (10.6%), Irano-turanian (10%), Paleotropical (9.4%), Eastern Asiatic and Mediterranean (6.7% each), Euro-Siberian (5.6%),
Holoarctic (3.9%), Pantropical (3.3%), Sub-cosmopolitan 2.8%), Saharo-Arabian (2.2%), Eastern-Himalayan (1.7%),
Central Asian and Neotropical (1.1% each), Pantemperate, Australian and Sudano-Zambezian (0.6% each). CANOCO correlated phytogeographical data with environmental factors, which showed significant effect of environmental variables on phytogeographical patterns. It is clear from our results that higher pH, electrical conductivity, moderate sand and silt, phosphorous and nitrogen have great impact on distribution of phytogeographical elements. The Western Himalayan elements having narrow geographic range require immediate attention and conservation efforts.
International Journal of Engineering Research and Applications (IJERA) is an open access online peer reviewed international journal that publishes research and review articles in the fields of Computer Science, Neural Networks, Electrical Engineering, Software Engineering, Information Technology, Mechanical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Plastic Engineering, Food Technology, Textile Engineering, Nano Technology & science, Power Electronics, Electronics & Communication Engineering, Computational mathematics, Image processing, Civil Engineering, Structural Engineering, Environmental Engineering, VLSI Testing & Low Power VLSI Design etc.
Environmental determinants of plant associations and evaluation of the conser...Shujaul Mulk Khan
Hindu Kush is the largest mountain range of Central Asia that forms part of a vast alpine zone that stretches across the Eurasia from east towards the South Asia. We studied vegetation structure and the role of edaphic and topographic factors on distribution and formation of plant associations with specific emphais on Parrotiopsis species of the Districts Dir regions in the Hindu Kush Mountains. We also assessed the conservation status of Parrotiopsis jacquemontiana, an endemic species of the western Himalayan floristic province. We hypothesized that edaphic and climatic factors were responsible for the formation of different plant associations each with distinct indicators. A combination of transect and quadrat based methods were used for sampling. We used two way cluster analysis (TWCA), cluster analysis (CA), indicator species analysis, detrended correspondence analysis and canonical correspondence analysis to analyze and elaborate the vegetation pattern and formation. We used Google Earth Path software (V 1.4.6) for the calculation of extant of occurrence (EOO) and area of occupancy (AOO) for evaluation of conservation status of P. jacquemontiana. A total of 142 plant species were reported belonging to 62 families. CA and TWCA clustered four plant associations within altitudinal range of 1556–2313 m. Parrotiopsis jacquemontiana should be designated as endangered species under ‘EN A2acd; B1B2 bc (i, ii, iii) of IUCN red list categories and criteria in the region. We found that high phosphorous and potassium concentration, elevation, aspect, slope, lower pH, electrical conductivity and soil texture were significant environmental variables that play an important role in the determination of vegetation structure, formation of plant associations and its indicators in the region. This information will be useful for conservation and management practices for endemic and rare plant taxa, and evaluation of vegetation structure.
Seasonal Dynamics of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi, Glomalin and Soil Properti...ijtsrd
To understand the ecological significance of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal (AMF) associations in agroecosysytem, the host specific and seasonal dynamics of AMF and glomalin-related soil protein (GRSP) was investigated in agricultural fields of Nanded, Maharashtra State. Soil samples were collected from the rhizosphere of eight crop plants (Glycine max (L.) Merr., Saccharum officinarum L., Zea mays L., Cajanas cajan (L.) Millsp., Gossypium arboreum L., Triticum aestivum L., Sorghum vulgare Pers. and Cicer arietinum L.) in winter, summer and monsoon seasons respectively. Arbuscular mycorrhizal root infection and spore density of AMF peaked in monsoon and winter.The mean contents of total glomalin related soil proteins (T-GRSP) reached maximal values in summer. Spore density was highest in Zea mays L. Easily extractable glomalin related (EE-GRSP) and T-GRSP fractions were the highest in the rhizosphere of Cicer arietinum L. and Sorghum vulgare Pers. AMF root colonization and spore density was negatively correlated with K (P < 0.05; P < 0.01). T-GRSP fraction was positively correlated with edaphic factors (rhizosphere temperature, K and Fe content of soil) and negatively correlated with soil moisture (P < 0.01), AMF root colonization (P < 0.05) and spore density (P http://www.ijtsrd.com/biological-science/ecology/15727/seasonal-dynamics-of-arbuscular-mycorrhizal-fungi-glomalin-and-soil-properties-in-agroecosystems-of-nanded-district/ujwala-sheshrao-deepake
Phytogeographic classification using multivariate approachShujaul Mulk Khan
Phytogeography is concerned with the past and present distribution of vegetation on the earth surface. The distribution
of plants is neither even nor random on earth surface but follow a definite geographic pattern. The present study was aimed
to find out phytogeographic pattern of plants distribution and subsequent classification of plant species of the Jambil Valley,
District Swat Pakistan using multivariate statistic techniques. Sampling of vegetation was done using quadrats of 1 × 1 m2
for herbs, 5 × 5 m2 for shrubs and 10 × 10 m2 for trees. The data were analyzed by PCORD v. 5 and CANOCO 4.5. The
studies revealed that the vegetation of Jambil valley belongs to eighteen different phytogeographic elements. The highest percentage of elements (19.4%) belongs to Western-Himalayan region, followed by Cosmopolitan (13.9%), Eurasian (10.6%), Irano-turanian (10%), Paleotropical (9.4%), Eastern Asiatic and Mediterranean (6.7% each), Euro-Siberian (5.6%),
Holoarctic (3.9%), Pantropical (3.3%), Sub-cosmopolitan 2.8%), Saharo-Arabian (2.2%), Eastern-Himalayan (1.7%),
Central Asian and Neotropical (1.1% each), Pantemperate, Australian and Sudano-Zambezian (0.6% each). CANOCO correlated phytogeographical data with environmental factors, which showed significant effect of environmental variables on phytogeographical patterns. It is clear from our results that higher pH, electrical conductivity, moderate sand and silt, phosphorous and nitrogen have great impact on distribution of phytogeographical elements. The Western Himalayan elements having narrow geographic range require immediate attention and conservation efforts.
International Journal of Engineering Research and Applications (IJERA) is an open access online peer reviewed international journal that publishes research and review articles in the fields of Computer Science, Neural Networks, Electrical Engineering, Software Engineering, Information Technology, Mechanical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Plastic Engineering, Food Technology, Textile Engineering, Nano Technology & science, Power Electronics, Electronics & Communication Engineering, Computational mathematics, Image processing, Civil Engineering, Structural Engineering, Environmental Engineering, VLSI Testing & Low Power VLSI Design etc.
Hassan Abdi1*, M. Taheri Mazandarani2
1, 2Research Instructor, Department of Seed and Plant Improvement, Agricultural and Natural Resources Research Center, Tehran, Iran
ABSTRACT- In order to study drought tolerance indices and identify drought tolerant genotypes in wheat, 40 improved
wheat varieties (three digits and thirty-seven new lines) in a randomized complete block design with three replications
under normal conditions and drought stress (50% flowering) in 2011-2012 on Agriculture and Natural Resources Research
Center of Tehran province were studied. Under normal grain yield and drought tolerance quantitative indicators such as
the average productivity, geometric mean productivity, stress tolerance, harmonic mean, sensitivity to stress, stress
tolerance index were calculated. 6, 37, 38 and 39 genotype with the highest values of mean productivity, geometric mean,
harmonic and stress tolerance index were average. 5, 19 and 40 genotypes maximum of sensitivity to stress and drought
tolerance and sensitivity respectively. Biplot analysis showed that genotype vectors in the vicinity of 37.38 and 39
indicators mean productivity, geometric mean productivity, stress tolerance index and harmonic mean as drought tolerant
genotypes. Evaluation shows that the studied genotypes 37.38, 39 and 27 were tolerant.
Key-words- Bread wheat, Stress tolerance indices
Evaluation of water deficient stress tolerance in spring wheat lines using ca...Innspub Net
Canonical discriminant analysis (CDA) in combination with cluster analysis was used to assess 296 spring wheat lines derived from a cross between Bam (drought tolerant) and Arta (drought sensitive) cultivars using stress tolerance indices, at two water regimes, well watered and cessation of irrigation at pollination. CDA results showed that the first two canonical variables explained 97% of the inter- group variation. The first canonical variable high canonical loadings for the indices Stress Tolerance Index, Harmonic Mean, Mean Productivity, Geometric Mean Productivity, Yield at normal condition, and yield at water deficit stress conditions. The second canonical variable consisted of Stress Susceptibility and Tolerance Indices. Therefore, the first canonical variable differentiated genotypes based on yield potential and stress tolerance and the second canonical variable distinguished stress tolerant genotypes from the sensitive types. Scatter plot of the first two canonical variables characterized five distinct groups and all pairwise Mahalanobis distances among groups were significant. The second group was recognized as the best group, because the genotypes of this group had the highest value in terms of the first canonical variable and most of these genotypes had negative values of the second canonical variable. Therefore, the genotypes of this group are suitable for both water stress and non-stress environments.
INDICATOR SPECIES ANALYSES OF WEED COMMUNITIES OF MAIZE CROP IN DISTRICT MARD...Shujaul Mulk Khan
Weeds are unwanted plant species growing in natural environment. Composition and abundance of weeds are influenced by number of environmental variables as well as farming practices in an ecosystem. Present study was formulated to measure the effect of environmental variables on weed species composition, abundance, distribution pattern and formation of various weeds communities in Union Council Shahbaz Ghari (total area 3956 ha, Agriculture land 1701 ha), District Mardan. Quantitative ecological techniques by adapting quadrat method were used to assess environmental variability and weed species distribution in the targeted region. Nine quadrats of 1×1 m2 size were placed randomly in 65 different fields of the UC. Phytosociological attributes such as density, frequency, relative density, relative frequency and Importance Values were measured for each field. Preliminary results showed that UC Shahbaz Ghari has 29 different weed species belong to 15 different families. Presence absence (1,0) data of 29 species and 65 fields were analyzed using Cluster and Two Way Cluster Analysesvia PC-ORD version 5 resulting four major weed communities. Dominant weed species of the area are Cyperus rotundus, Urochloa panicoides, Brachiaria ramosa, Dactyloctenium aegyptium, Commelina benghalensis and Canvolvulus arvensis while Cannabis sativa, Ipomea purpurea, Amaranthus blitoides, Xanthium strumarium, Lactuca dissecta and Cucurbita maxima are rare weed species. Indicator Species Analyses (ISA) of data identified indicators of each sort of micro environmental condition. Based on our findings, it is recommended that awareness can be created among farmers especially about their farming practices to minimize noxious weeds of maize crop
Key words: Cluster analyses, indicator species analyses, maize, PC-ORD, weeds and Weed communities.
Abstract— The aim of this study was to attempt to identify elite inbred lines resistant to tropical rust, southern rust, gray leaf spot, northern leaf blight, physoderma brown spot and phaeosphaeria leaf spot. Fifty inbred lines were evaluated, in two seasons, in randomized blocks with 3 replications for AUDPC (Area Under the Disease Progress Curve), obtained by evaluation of the disease at 45, 60, 75 and 90 days after planting. Rating of at 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9 corresponded to 0, 1, 10, 20, 30, 40, 60, 80 and > 80% of leaf symptoms, respectively. The joint analysis of variance had significant differences between inbred lines for tropical rust, southern rust, gray leaf spot and phaeosphaeria leaf spot. There was a significant interaction between inbred lines and seasons for both tropical rust and southern rust. In season 1, tropical rust, southern rust and gray leaf spot differed significantly. In season 2, significant differences occurred for southern rust and phaeosphaeria leaf spot. We found 12 inbred lines with improved levels of resistance to tropical rust, southern rust and gray leaf spot. For phaeosphaeria leaf spot, 38 inbred lines had satisfactory resistance.
Vegetation mapping and multivariate approach to indicator species of a forest...Shujaul Mulk Khan
Abstract
Questions
Does the plant species composition of Thandiani sub Forests Division (TsFD) correlate with edaphic, topographic and climatic variables? Is it possible to identify different plant communities in relation to environmental gradients with special emphasis on indicator species? Can this approach to vegetation classification support conservation planning?
Location
Thandiani sub Forests Division, Western Himalayas.
Methods
Quantitative and qualitative characteristics of species along with environmental variables were measured using a randomly stratified design to identify the major plant communities and indicator species of the Thandiani sub Forests Division. Species composition was recorded in 10 × 2.5 × 2 and 0.5 × 0.5 m square plots for trees, shrubs and herbs, respectively. GPS, edaphic and topographic data were also recorded for each sample plot. A total of 1500 quadrats were established in 50 sampling stations along eight altitudinal transects encompassing eastern, western, northern and southern aspects (slopes). The altitudinal range of the study area was 1290 m to 2626 m above sea level using. The relationships between species composition and environmental variables were analyzed using Two Way Cluster Analysis (TWCA) and Indicator Species Analysis (ISA) via PCORD version 5.
Results
A total of 252 plant species belonging to 97 families were identified. TWCA and ISA recognized five plant communities. ISA additionally revealed that mountain slope aspect, soil pH and soil electrical conductivity were the strongest environmental factors (p ≤ 0.05) determining plant community composition and indicator species in each habitat. The results also show the strength of the environment-species relationship using Monte Carlo procedures.
Conclusions
An analysis of vegetation along an environmental gradient in the Thandiani sub Forests Division using the Braun-Blanquet approach confirmed by robust tools of multivariate statistics identified indicators of each sort of microclimatic zones/vegetation communities which could further be used in conservation planning and management not only in the area studied but in the adjacent regions exhibit similar sort of environmental conditions.
Abstract— Forage availability, in quantity and quality, is essential for livestock development. In this context, the aim of this study was to characterize the macro and micro elements of Maralfalfa grass (Pennisetum sp) in function of different harvest frequencies under subsurface drip irrigation. The results showed that mineral concentration in plants depends on: (i) the retention in soil and/or elapsed time for nutrient to be available after a manure application. In this sense, due to the large P retention capacity of Andosols, soil P and Mg mineralization were very slow, in spite of root activity and its influence in the soil balance (ii) the age of the plant: all element concentrations decreased as the plant grew old, except Na. The concentration values between leaf and sheath showed significant differences for all elements except for P and Cu. Thus Ca, Mg, B, Fe and Mn contents were significantly higher in leaf than in sheath while K, Na and Zn were lower in leaf. B contents were also higher in leaves. The ratio K/ (Ca+Mg) for all ages of the plant was higher than 2.2, increasing the possibility of induced hypocalcaemia.
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Phytogeographic analysis and diversity of grasses and sedgesShujaul Mulk Khan
The monocot order Poales is one of the largest (ca. 20,000 species), and economically and ecologically most important group of flowering plants. Exploring this important component of the biodiversity is of paramount significance in conservation of species and developing climate change models. Northern Pakistan occupies a unique biogeographic position at the summit of the planet’s three highest mountain ranges i.e.Himalaya, Hindukush and Karakurum.These ranges contain the hot spots of floral and faunal diversity with high proportions of endemic and rare species.The studies revealed 117 species belonging to 30 genera in three families of the order Poales. Juncaceae is represented by single genus Juncuswith four species, Cyperaceae by 5 genera and 27 species, and Poaceae being the dominant family with 25 genera and 86 species. Carexand Poaare the largest genera having 21 and 16 species respectively. Phytogeographic analysis of the Poalesof temperate and alpine regions of Northern Pakistan shows twelve different phytogeographic elements. The highest percentage of species (30%) belongs to the western Himalayan floristic region (near endemics), with cosmopolitan elements (19%), Central Asian elements (17%) and Eurasian elements (12%) being the other significant elements. The proportion of Endemic species (8%) is less apparent, while the rest of the seven categories are poorly represented. The Two Way Cluster Analysis (TWCA) divided the sixteen districts into two major groups, and four subgroups based on environmental gradients of altitude, latitude and longitude. TWCA classified the data matrix including 114 species into seven clusters based on presence/absence data and elevation from mean sea level. Species in each cluster can be attributed to similar habitat conditions and altitudinal ranges. Hence it is clear that climatic characters associated with each category control the species distribution pattern.
Diversity and distribution of butterflies in the open and close canopy forest...Innspub Net
Butterflies were sampled in Cadaclan, San Fernando La Union Botanical Garden (LUBG) of North Luzon to provide information on species-level diversity trend and distribution of butterflies on the open and close canopy portion of the dipterocarp forest from 2012-2014 using field transect method Species accumulation curve shows that additional sampling is needed for the possible turnover of species. Butterfly abundance was higher in open canopy forest with a mean individual of 8.14 per 10 meters out of the 814 total individuals. The close canopy forest had only 4.57 mean individuals for the total of 457. Species level diversity was higher in open canopy forest (H’ = 1.957) compared with the closed canopy forest (H’ = 1.933). These results suggest that butterflies prefer open canopy forest or clearing for their plights. Butterfly spatial distribution was uneven in the dipterocarp forest of LUBG with only 6 species of aggregate assemblages and 98 species with random distribution. Get more articles at: http://www.innspub.net/volume-6-number-1-january-2015-jbes/
Livestock-Climate Change CRSP Annual Meeting 2011: RPRA Project Update (S. Mc...Colorado State University
An overview of the Livestock-Climate Change CRSP RPRA (Risk, perception, resilience and adaptation to climate change in Niger and Tanzania) Project and update on the project's current status. Presentation given by S. McKune (University of Florida) at the Livestock-Climate Change CRSP Annual Meeting, Golden, CO, April 26-27, 2011.
Residual value analyses of the medicinal flora of the western himalayasShujaul Mulk Khan
Statistical analyses of the medicinal flora of the Naran Valley in the Western Himalayas were performed using Moerman’s methods and Principal Components Analysis (PCA). The results demonstrate that the valley’s indigenous people utilize medicinal plants in a systematic way. Sixty-eight families of plants were identified during the study, of which 52 contained one or more species of medicinal value. The standard deviation for residual values of all the 68 families was 0.993 and the results of the residual analysis revealed that seven of these plant families were overused by the local people, indicated by residual values greater than the standard deviation. Residual values obtained from a regression analysis of plant species with their medicinal uses showed that the families with the highest rank were Polygonaceae, Gentianaceae, Lamiaceae, Rosaceae and Plantaginaceae, indicating their medicinal importance. By comparison, Poaceae, Boraginaceae, Primulaceae, Salicaceae, and Ranunculaceae were the lowest ranking families, containing few species of medicinal value. Although a few of the most species-rich families in the valley contained a high number of medicinal plants and hence displayed high residual values, some other species-rich families contained few or no species of medicinal value. For example, the third largest family, Poaceae, is the lowest in terms of its residual value, while the largest family, Asteraceae, contains only seven species noted as having medicinal uses. Sixteen plant families in the valley contained no species with reported medicinal use, while seven families contained only one species with medicinal value. In contrast, all of the species in several of the least species-rich families were recorded as having a medicinal use. The results of a Principal Components Analysis showed a gradient of medicinal plant use along the valley. Using robust statistical approaches, our study provides a clear indication that the indigenous people of this Western Himalayan valley utilize wild plants according to their traditional knowledge and not on the basis of plant abundance.
Growth and increase of a Pinuspatula plantation with fertilization and thinni...Agriculture Journal IJOEAR
Abstract— Thinning and fertilization of forest plantations are forestry practices that are necessary to obtain an increase in the annual volume growth, mean increment and periodic increment (AMI and API) which allow shortening the commercial shift maintaining the same volumes at the time of harvest. In this study, the effect of thinning and fertilization on the growth and increase in Pinuspatula plantations was evaluated, which were established in 1998 in Huayacocotla, Veracruz, Mexico. A 22 factorial experiment was set up in the plantation in order to evaluate the thinning and fertilization factors with two levels each. The experimental unit was a 10x10 m plot. Three repetitions were established per treatment. An residual basal area of 21m2 ha-1was obtained in the thinned plots of the plantation. The average basal area in the unthinned plots was 42 m2 ha-1. The fertilization doses were: 1.4; 0.4; 8.34 kg of urea, calcium triple superphosphate and potassium sulfate, respectively. Fertilization (treatment 3) increased the volume and the AMI 2012, 2013 and 2014. Thinning (treatment 2) tended to increase the API slightly.
Ethno-ecological importance of plant biodiversity in mountain ecosystems with...Shujaul Mulk Khan
Mountain ecosystems support a high biological diversity and a large number of endangered plant species
many of which are ecological indicators of those specific habitats. The Himalayas are the world’s youngest,
highest and largest mountain range and support a high plant biodiversity. People living in this region
use their traditional ecological knowledge to utilize local natural resources and hence have valuable
understanding about their surroundings. Many areas within this region still remain poorly known for
their floristic diversity, plant species distribution and vegetation ecosystem services, yet the indigenous
people depend heavily upon local plant resources and, through unsustainable use, can cause an
irreversible loss of plant species. The valley used in this study is typical of such areas and occupies
a distinctive geographical location on the edge of the western Himalayan range, close to the Hindu
Kush range to the west and the Karakorum Mountains to the north. It is also located on geological
and climatic divides, which further add to its ecological interest. This paper focuses on (i) identification
of ecological indicators at various elevation zones across an altitudinal range of 2450–4100 m and
(ii) recognition of social perceptions of plant species populations based on the ecosystem services that
they provide. We used robust approaches to identify the plant indicator species of various elevation
zones. Using phytosociological techniques, Importance Values (IVs) for each plant species were calculated.
The statistical package PCORDS was used to evaluate the species area curves and indicator species
for each elevation zone. Data attribute plots derived from Canonical Correspondence Analysis (CCA) using
CANOCO were deployed to illustrate the location of indicator species in each habitat type. Furthermore,
the social perceptions of the local inhabitants as to whether the populations of the recorded species
were increasing or decreasing over the recent past were recorded. We argue that the assessment of
ecological indicators combined with the ecological knowledge of the indigenous population can assist
in developing priorities for local and regional conservation strategies, especially for fragile mountain
ecosystems.
Hassan Abdi1*, M. Taheri Mazandarani2
1, 2Research Instructor, Department of Seed and Plant Improvement, Agricultural and Natural Resources Research Center, Tehran, Iran
ABSTRACT- In order to study drought tolerance indices and identify drought tolerant genotypes in wheat, 40 improved
wheat varieties (three digits and thirty-seven new lines) in a randomized complete block design with three replications
under normal conditions and drought stress (50% flowering) in 2011-2012 on Agriculture and Natural Resources Research
Center of Tehran province were studied. Under normal grain yield and drought tolerance quantitative indicators such as
the average productivity, geometric mean productivity, stress tolerance, harmonic mean, sensitivity to stress, stress
tolerance index were calculated. 6, 37, 38 and 39 genotype with the highest values of mean productivity, geometric mean,
harmonic and stress tolerance index were average. 5, 19 and 40 genotypes maximum of sensitivity to stress and drought
tolerance and sensitivity respectively. Biplot analysis showed that genotype vectors in the vicinity of 37.38 and 39
indicators mean productivity, geometric mean productivity, stress tolerance index and harmonic mean as drought tolerant
genotypes. Evaluation shows that the studied genotypes 37.38, 39 and 27 were tolerant.
Key-words- Bread wheat, Stress tolerance indices
Evaluation of water deficient stress tolerance in spring wheat lines using ca...Innspub Net
Canonical discriminant analysis (CDA) in combination with cluster analysis was used to assess 296 spring wheat lines derived from a cross between Bam (drought tolerant) and Arta (drought sensitive) cultivars using stress tolerance indices, at two water regimes, well watered and cessation of irrigation at pollination. CDA results showed that the first two canonical variables explained 97% of the inter- group variation. The first canonical variable high canonical loadings for the indices Stress Tolerance Index, Harmonic Mean, Mean Productivity, Geometric Mean Productivity, Yield at normal condition, and yield at water deficit stress conditions. The second canonical variable consisted of Stress Susceptibility and Tolerance Indices. Therefore, the first canonical variable differentiated genotypes based on yield potential and stress tolerance and the second canonical variable distinguished stress tolerant genotypes from the sensitive types. Scatter plot of the first two canonical variables characterized five distinct groups and all pairwise Mahalanobis distances among groups were significant. The second group was recognized as the best group, because the genotypes of this group had the highest value in terms of the first canonical variable and most of these genotypes had negative values of the second canonical variable. Therefore, the genotypes of this group are suitable for both water stress and non-stress environments.
INDICATOR SPECIES ANALYSES OF WEED COMMUNITIES OF MAIZE CROP IN DISTRICT MARD...Shujaul Mulk Khan
Weeds are unwanted plant species growing in natural environment. Composition and abundance of weeds are influenced by number of environmental variables as well as farming practices in an ecosystem. Present study was formulated to measure the effect of environmental variables on weed species composition, abundance, distribution pattern and formation of various weeds communities in Union Council Shahbaz Ghari (total area 3956 ha, Agriculture land 1701 ha), District Mardan. Quantitative ecological techniques by adapting quadrat method were used to assess environmental variability and weed species distribution in the targeted region. Nine quadrats of 1×1 m2 size were placed randomly in 65 different fields of the UC. Phytosociological attributes such as density, frequency, relative density, relative frequency and Importance Values were measured for each field. Preliminary results showed that UC Shahbaz Ghari has 29 different weed species belong to 15 different families. Presence absence (1,0) data of 29 species and 65 fields were analyzed using Cluster and Two Way Cluster Analysesvia PC-ORD version 5 resulting four major weed communities. Dominant weed species of the area are Cyperus rotundus, Urochloa panicoides, Brachiaria ramosa, Dactyloctenium aegyptium, Commelina benghalensis and Canvolvulus arvensis while Cannabis sativa, Ipomea purpurea, Amaranthus blitoides, Xanthium strumarium, Lactuca dissecta and Cucurbita maxima are rare weed species. Indicator Species Analyses (ISA) of data identified indicators of each sort of micro environmental condition. Based on our findings, it is recommended that awareness can be created among farmers especially about their farming practices to minimize noxious weeds of maize crop
Key words: Cluster analyses, indicator species analyses, maize, PC-ORD, weeds and Weed communities.
Abstract— The aim of this study was to attempt to identify elite inbred lines resistant to tropical rust, southern rust, gray leaf spot, northern leaf blight, physoderma brown spot and phaeosphaeria leaf spot. Fifty inbred lines were evaluated, in two seasons, in randomized blocks with 3 replications for AUDPC (Area Under the Disease Progress Curve), obtained by evaluation of the disease at 45, 60, 75 and 90 days after planting. Rating of at 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9 corresponded to 0, 1, 10, 20, 30, 40, 60, 80 and > 80% of leaf symptoms, respectively. The joint analysis of variance had significant differences between inbred lines for tropical rust, southern rust, gray leaf spot and phaeosphaeria leaf spot. There was a significant interaction between inbred lines and seasons for both tropical rust and southern rust. In season 1, tropical rust, southern rust and gray leaf spot differed significantly. In season 2, significant differences occurred for southern rust and phaeosphaeria leaf spot. We found 12 inbred lines with improved levels of resistance to tropical rust, southern rust and gray leaf spot. For phaeosphaeria leaf spot, 38 inbred lines had satisfactory resistance.
Vegetation mapping and multivariate approach to indicator species of a forest...Shujaul Mulk Khan
Abstract
Questions
Does the plant species composition of Thandiani sub Forests Division (TsFD) correlate with edaphic, topographic and climatic variables? Is it possible to identify different plant communities in relation to environmental gradients with special emphasis on indicator species? Can this approach to vegetation classification support conservation planning?
Location
Thandiani sub Forests Division, Western Himalayas.
Methods
Quantitative and qualitative characteristics of species along with environmental variables were measured using a randomly stratified design to identify the major plant communities and indicator species of the Thandiani sub Forests Division. Species composition was recorded in 10 × 2.5 × 2 and 0.5 × 0.5 m square plots for trees, shrubs and herbs, respectively. GPS, edaphic and topographic data were also recorded for each sample plot. A total of 1500 quadrats were established in 50 sampling stations along eight altitudinal transects encompassing eastern, western, northern and southern aspects (slopes). The altitudinal range of the study area was 1290 m to 2626 m above sea level using. The relationships between species composition and environmental variables were analyzed using Two Way Cluster Analysis (TWCA) and Indicator Species Analysis (ISA) via PCORD version 5.
Results
A total of 252 plant species belonging to 97 families were identified. TWCA and ISA recognized five plant communities. ISA additionally revealed that mountain slope aspect, soil pH and soil electrical conductivity were the strongest environmental factors (p ≤ 0.05) determining plant community composition and indicator species in each habitat. The results also show the strength of the environment-species relationship using Monte Carlo procedures.
Conclusions
An analysis of vegetation along an environmental gradient in the Thandiani sub Forests Division using the Braun-Blanquet approach confirmed by robust tools of multivariate statistics identified indicators of each sort of microclimatic zones/vegetation communities which could further be used in conservation planning and management not only in the area studied but in the adjacent regions exhibit similar sort of environmental conditions.
Abstract— Forage availability, in quantity and quality, is essential for livestock development. In this context, the aim of this study was to characterize the macro and micro elements of Maralfalfa grass (Pennisetum sp) in function of different harvest frequencies under subsurface drip irrigation. The results showed that mineral concentration in plants depends on: (i) the retention in soil and/or elapsed time for nutrient to be available after a manure application. In this sense, due to the large P retention capacity of Andosols, soil P and Mg mineralization were very slow, in spite of root activity and its influence in the soil balance (ii) the age of the plant: all element concentrations decreased as the plant grew old, except Na. The concentration values between leaf and sheath showed significant differences for all elements except for P and Cu. Thus Ca, Mg, B, Fe and Mn contents were significantly higher in leaf than in sheath while K, Na and Zn were lower in leaf. B contents were also higher in leaves. The ratio K/ (Ca+Mg) for all ages of the plant was higher than 2.2, increasing the possibility of induced hypocalcaemia.
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Phytogeographic analysis and diversity of grasses and sedgesShujaul Mulk Khan
The monocot order Poales is one of the largest (ca. 20,000 species), and economically and ecologically most important group of flowering plants. Exploring this important component of the biodiversity is of paramount significance in conservation of species and developing climate change models. Northern Pakistan occupies a unique biogeographic position at the summit of the planet’s three highest mountain ranges i.e.Himalaya, Hindukush and Karakurum.These ranges contain the hot spots of floral and faunal diversity with high proportions of endemic and rare species.The studies revealed 117 species belonging to 30 genera in three families of the order Poales. Juncaceae is represented by single genus Juncuswith four species, Cyperaceae by 5 genera and 27 species, and Poaceae being the dominant family with 25 genera and 86 species. Carexand Poaare the largest genera having 21 and 16 species respectively. Phytogeographic analysis of the Poalesof temperate and alpine regions of Northern Pakistan shows twelve different phytogeographic elements. The highest percentage of species (30%) belongs to the western Himalayan floristic region (near endemics), with cosmopolitan elements (19%), Central Asian elements (17%) and Eurasian elements (12%) being the other significant elements. The proportion of Endemic species (8%) is less apparent, while the rest of the seven categories are poorly represented. The Two Way Cluster Analysis (TWCA) divided the sixteen districts into two major groups, and four subgroups based on environmental gradients of altitude, latitude and longitude. TWCA classified the data matrix including 114 species into seven clusters based on presence/absence data and elevation from mean sea level. Species in each cluster can be attributed to similar habitat conditions and altitudinal ranges. Hence it is clear that climatic characters associated with each category control the species distribution pattern.
Diversity and distribution of butterflies in the open and close canopy forest...Innspub Net
Butterflies were sampled in Cadaclan, San Fernando La Union Botanical Garden (LUBG) of North Luzon to provide information on species-level diversity trend and distribution of butterflies on the open and close canopy portion of the dipterocarp forest from 2012-2014 using field transect method Species accumulation curve shows that additional sampling is needed for the possible turnover of species. Butterfly abundance was higher in open canopy forest with a mean individual of 8.14 per 10 meters out of the 814 total individuals. The close canopy forest had only 4.57 mean individuals for the total of 457. Species level diversity was higher in open canopy forest (H’ = 1.957) compared with the closed canopy forest (H’ = 1.933). These results suggest that butterflies prefer open canopy forest or clearing for their plights. Butterfly spatial distribution was uneven in the dipterocarp forest of LUBG with only 6 species of aggregate assemblages and 98 species with random distribution. Get more articles at: http://www.innspub.net/volume-6-number-1-january-2015-jbes/
Livestock-Climate Change CRSP Annual Meeting 2011: RPRA Project Update (S. Mc...Colorado State University
An overview of the Livestock-Climate Change CRSP RPRA (Risk, perception, resilience and adaptation to climate change in Niger and Tanzania) Project and update on the project's current status. Presentation given by S. McKune (University of Florida) at the Livestock-Climate Change CRSP Annual Meeting, Golden, CO, April 26-27, 2011.
Residual value analyses of the medicinal flora of the western himalayasShujaul Mulk Khan
Statistical analyses of the medicinal flora of the Naran Valley in the Western Himalayas were performed using Moerman’s methods and Principal Components Analysis (PCA). The results demonstrate that the valley’s indigenous people utilize medicinal plants in a systematic way. Sixty-eight families of plants were identified during the study, of which 52 contained one or more species of medicinal value. The standard deviation for residual values of all the 68 families was 0.993 and the results of the residual analysis revealed that seven of these plant families were overused by the local people, indicated by residual values greater than the standard deviation. Residual values obtained from a regression analysis of plant species with their medicinal uses showed that the families with the highest rank were Polygonaceae, Gentianaceae, Lamiaceae, Rosaceae and Plantaginaceae, indicating their medicinal importance. By comparison, Poaceae, Boraginaceae, Primulaceae, Salicaceae, and Ranunculaceae were the lowest ranking families, containing few species of medicinal value. Although a few of the most species-rich families in the valley contained a high number of medicinal plants and hence displayed high residual values, some other species-rich families contained few or no species of medicinal value. For example, the third largest family, Poaceae, is the lowest in terms of its residual value, while the largest family, Asteraceae, contains only seven species noted as having medicinal uses. Sixteen plant families in the valley contained no species with reported medicinal use, while seven families contained only one species with medicinal value. In contrast, all of the species in several of the least species-rich families were recorded as having a medicinal use. The results of a Principal Components Analysis showed a gradient of medicinal plant use along the valley. Using robust statistical approaches, our study provides a clear indication that the indigenous people of this Western Himalayan valley utilize wild plants according to their traditional knowledge and not on the basis of plant abundance.
Growth and increase of a Pinuspatula plantation with fertilization and thinni...Agriculture Journal IJOEAR
Abstract— Thinning and fertilization of forest plantations are forestry practices that are necessary to obtain an increase in the annual volume growth, mean increment and periodic increment (AMI and API) which allow shortening the commercial shift maintaining the same volumes at the time of harvest. In this study, the effect of thinning and fertilization on the growth and increase in Pinuspatula plantations was evaluated, which were established in 1998 in Huayacocotla, Veracruz, Mexico. A 22 factorial experiment was set up in the plantation in order to evaluate the thinning and fertilization factors with two levels each. The experimental unit was a 10x10 m plot. Three repetitions were established per treatment. An residual basal area of 21m2 ha-1was obtained in the thinned plots of the plantation. The average basal area in the unthinned plots was 42 m2 ha-1. The fertilization doses were: 1.4; 0.4; 8.34 kg of urea, calcium triple superphosphate and potassium sulfate, respectively. Fertilization (treatment 3) increased the volume and the AMI 2012, 2013 and 2014. Thinning (treatment 2) tended to increase the API slightly.
Ethno-ecological importance of plant biodiversity in mountain ecosystems with...Shujaul Mulk Khan
Mountain ecosystems support a high biological diversity and a large number of endangered plant species
many of which are ecological indicators of those specific habitats. The Himalayas are the world’s youngest,
highest and largest mountain range and support a high plant biodiversity. People living in this region
use their traditional ecological knowledge to utilize local natural resources and hence have valuable
understanding about their surroundings. Many areas within this region still remain poorly known for
their floristic diversity, plant species distribution and vegetation ecosystem services, yet the indigenous
people depend heavily upon local plant resources and, through unsustainable use, can cause an
irreversible loss of plant species. The valley used in this study is typical of such areas and occupies
a distinctive geographical location on the edge of the western Himalayan range, close to the Hindu
Kush range to the west and the Karakorum Mountains to the north. It is also located on geological
and climatic divides, which further add to its ecological interest. This paper focuses on (i) identification
of ecological indicators at various elevation zones across an altitudinal range of 2450–4100 m and
(ii) recognition of social perceptions of plant species populations based on the ecosystem services that
they provide. We used robust approaches to identify the plant indicator species of various elevation
zones. Using phytosociological techniques, Importance Values (IVs) for each plant species were calculated.
The statistical package PCORDS was used to evaluate the species area curves and indicator species
for each elevation zone. Data attribute plots derived from Canonical Correspondence Analysis (CCA) using
CANOCO were deployed to illustrate the location of indicator species in each habitat type. Furthermore,
the social perceptions of the local inhabitants as to whether the populations of the recorded species
were increasing or decreasing over the recent past were recorded. We argue that the assessment of
ecological indicators combined with the ecological knowledge of the indigenous population can assist
in developing priorities for local and regional conservation strategies, especially for fragile mountain
ecosystems.
Sustainable tourism and biodiversity conservationMarco Pautasso
Sustainable tourism and biodiversity conservation: are they both possible? Public understanding of biodiversity, biogeographic predictors of biodiversity threat, climate change and greenhouse gas emissions, temporal trends in green space visits and time spent travelling, sustainability
Assessing the sustainability of forest plantations in Mezam Division of the N...ijsrd.com
Objectives: The study examined the sustainability of plantation forestry in Mezam Division of the North West Region. Methodology and results: Respondents drawn from a cross-section of plantation owners in five (5) sub-divisions (i.e. Tubah, Bali, Bafut, Santa and Bemenda central) of Mezam Division. Fifty- (50) plantation owners selected through a system of random sampling. Data collected through the administered questionnaires were on social, economic, ecological, profitability, management strategies and constraints to plantation forestry in the study area. Structure questionnaires were instrument used for data collection. Analytical tools used were descriptive statistic including tables, means, and percentages to describe the socio-economic characteristic of respondents, while chi-square and Benefit Cost Ratio models were used to determined profitability and opinion of plantation owners respectively. The results reveal that majority of plantation owners were men 84.5% and widows make up 15.5% of the respondents. They all owned families. Benefit Cost Ratio B/C calculated was 0.7 (B/C . 1) this results implies that plantation business is not profitable compared to an alternative land use system, although they was a marginal profit of eight thousand five hundred francs 8500f ($ 17 USD) for the sale of one acre of plantation. Chi-square test of equal probability showed that they were no significant difference at 0.05% probability level for private plantation owners. The main constraints confronting plantation forestry business in the study area are access to finance, followed by wildfires, unfavorable government policies and finally bad road networks leading to their plantation. The Benefit Cost Ratio B/C calculated (B/C . 1) mean plantation business is not profitable compared to an alternative land use system, although they were marginal benefits. The study therefore recommend that private plantation be encourage to ensure less dependence on natural forest and to also mitigation climate change and through this jobs created and livelihood improved to the rural communities
Understanding Climate Change Resiliency of Oklahoma Forests using FVS and Con...Bijesh Mishra
The forest-grassland ecotone in the southcentral US is the tension zone between two major biomes and provides a number of important ecosystem services. Active management in the region using prescribed fire, forest thinning/harvesting, grazing, and herbicides can optimize desired benefits for landowners with a variety of management objectives. However, periodic severe droughts that plague this area and increasing climate variability have profoundly affected the productivity, resilience, and stability of ecosystems. We aim to facilitate sustainable
management of the forest-grassland ecotone for different combinations of objectives such as timber, grazing, and wildlife habitat based on recent conditions and to adapt management to mitigate the negative effects of future drought and potential climate change. To this end, we are assessing the value of timber, cattle forage, and deer habitat. Input and output variables involved in valuation of timber, wildlife and cattle
forage will be discussed. Tailoring research findings with the
appropriate outreach materials will help educate traditional and nontraditional forest stewards in the region.
Population Structure and Threats to Sustainable Management of Woody Plant Spe...Innspub Net
This study was conducted to assess population structure and threat to the sustainable management of woody species in the various ago-ecosystems in Dutsin-Ma Local Government Area (LGA) Katsina State, Nigeria. Purposive and stratified random sampling techniques were used to collect data from 21 randomly demarcated 100m × 100m sample plots. All woody plant species found in the sample plots with stem diameter >2 cm at 20cm above ground, were recorded. Population structure was summarized by diameter classes. For the identification of threats, field and questionnaire surveys were used. A total of 50 questionnaires were distributed at ten questionnaires per ward in five out of the 11 wards in the LGA. The highest numbers (350) of small diameter trees (0.1-1.0cm) were recorded in the agrosilvopastoral system. This was followed by silvopastoral and agrisilviculture systems with 89 and 85, respectively. However, the highest number of large diameter woody tree species was recorded in the silvopastoral system followed by agrosilvopastoral and agrisilviculture systems. The regular reverse J-shaped and fairly regular reverse J-shaped size class distribution observed for agrosilvopastoral and silvopastoral respectively, suggest a recuperating population. Over exploitation, debarking, de-branching, root- digging, leaf harvesting, seed harvesting, poor regeneration, slow rate of growth, wind effect and bush burning were the major threats to sustainable management of woody plant species in the study area. The implications of our findings for sustainable management of woody plant species in the study area are discussed and recommendations made.
The effect of flooded mine subsidence on thrips and forest biodiversity in th...EdytaSierka
Acta Phytopathologica et Entomologica Hungarica, 2008
At the end of the prosperity of the coal mining industry in Upper Silesia in Poland, new habitats were created in disturbed areas which, in the case of flooded mine subsidence, led to the formation of a type of ecological niche not encountered before. In the present work the authors describe the diversity of oak-hornbeam forest in the areas of flooded mine subsidence and the thrips communities connected with them. In 2006 and 2007, the thrips fauna of subsidence areas was sampled in biotopes directly associated with depressions (waterside, contact zones between aquatic and terrestrial-forest biotopes). In both ecosystems a total of 118 plant species and 56 thrips species were found. Disturbance of land resulting in flooded mine subsidence contributes to increased species diversity of both plants and thrips. Other kinds of disturbance such as traffic routes and its direct and indirect impact cause reduce numbers of plants and thrips species.
Long-term monitoring of diversity and structure of two stands of an Atlantic ...Écio Diniz
Characterised with its immense biodiversity and high levels of endemism, the Atlantic Tropical Forest has been facing serious anthropogenic threats over the last several decades, demanding for such activities and their effects to be closely studied and monitored as part of the forest dynamics.
Cattle farming, expanding agricultural land areas and mining have reduced the Atlantic Forest to many small patches of vegetation. As a result, important ecosystem services, such as carbon stock, are steadily diminishing as the biomass decreases.
Brazilian researchers, led by Dr. Écio Souza Diniz, Federal University of Viçosa, spent a decade monitoring a semi-deciduous forest located in an ecological park in Southeast Brazil. Their observations are published in the open access Biodiversity Data Journal.
The team surveyed two stands within the forest to present variations in the structure and diversity of the plants over time, along with their dynamics, including mortality and establishment rates. They based their findings on the most abundant tree species occurring within each stand.
At the forest stands, the most abundant and important species for biomass accumulation are concluded to be trees larger than 20 cm in diameter, which characterise advanced successional stage within the forest.
"It is fundamental that opportunities to monitor conserved sites of the Atlantic Forest are taken, so that studies about their dynamics are conducted in order to better understand how they work," note the scientists.
"The information from such surveys could improve the knowledge about the dynamics at anthropised and fragmented sites compared with protected areas."
Read more at: https://phys.org/news/2017-08-decade-dynamics-atlantic-tropical-forest.html#jCp
The Designation & Management of Threatened Species: is there any point?Mario Balzan
The management of threatened species is an important practical way in which conservationists can intervene with extinction process and reduce the loss of biodiversity by ensuring some (high) probability of long-term species survival (Young, 1994; Norris, 2004). Though maintaining the whole ecosystem is often the target of conservationists, if a population is severely threatened this may not be sufficient. A more direct population management may be required (Hunter, 1996). To conserve such rare species there is a critical need to assess the impacts of threats on the long term survival of an individual population. This requires detailed information about the biology of the species concerned, the habitat it prefers, and the factors that might affect both of these (Root, 1998). Natural resource agencies worldwide develop species recovery plans that specify threats, propose targets required for recovery, and evaluate the extent to which habitat alteration and restoration may influence species decline and recovery (Good et al. 2003)
Distribution and structure of conifers with special emphasis on taxus baccataShujaul Mulk Khan
Coniferous forests play important role in sustaining biodiversity and providing ecological services. Present study was conducted in Pir Panjal range, Western Himalayas to assess the present status of the conifers, in particular Taxus baccata population. Field data was obtained systematically using quadrate method. Environmental data including coordinates, altitude, slope gradient, aspect and intensity of anthropogenic disturbance was recorded by field survey method. The quantity of fuel wood consumption was measured using weight survey method. Three conifer species viz., Abies pindrow, Pinus wallichiana and Taxus baccata were found in 5 communities at different aspects in 1800 to 3000 m altitudinal range. Conifer stands showed an average tree density of 306 trees/ha with a regeneration value of 76 seedlings and saplings/ha and deforestation intensity of 82 stumps/ha respectively. T. baccata showed zero regeneration having no seedling or sapling in the whole study area. The stem to stump value was calculated as 4.08. A. pindrow was dominant in all the 5 communities with an Importance value percentage of 72.8% followed by P. wallichiana (19.5%). T. baccata was recorded sporadically throughout the altitudinal range having an IVI value of 7.9%. The T. baccata tree density was 26/ha whereas dead tree and stumps density was 27/ha with a stem/stump value of 0.98.The average fuel wood consumption recorded for the area was 4.08kg/capita/day. Pressure is increasing on conifers due to high level of fuel wood consumption as well as overgrazing due to limited available grazing area. The conifer species, especially T. baccata, demand immediate attention of forest management and policy makers for the conservation of these under pressure species.
G27. Tagung der Arbeitsgemeinschaft Forstgenetik, Austria 2007Dr. Amalesh Dhar
On the genetic variation of English yew (Taxus baccata L.) throughout the Eastern Alps [Untersuchungen zur genetischen Variation der Eibe (Taxus baccata L.) im Ostalpenraum]
G27. Tagung der Arbeitsgemeinschaft Forstgenetik, Austria 2007
1st European Congress of Conservation Biology, Hungary 2006
1. POPULATION VIABILITY RISK MANAGEMENT (PVRM) FOR IN-SITU MANAGEMENT OF A TAXUS BACCATA L. POPULATION IN AUSTRIA Amalesh Dhar , H erwig Ruprecht and Harald Vacik Institute of Silviculture, Department of Forest and Soil Sciences, University of Natural Resources and Applied Life Sciences , Vienna Table 1 : Strategic options for the management of Taxus baccata L . Table 4 : Ranks and average ranks for management strategies 0 to V with respect to scenarios 3. Present status of the yew population The yew population of the gene conservation forest in Stiwollgraben is one of the most important sites in Austria as it consists of 2236 individuals within 4.5 ha. The vitality condition of the pole stand (DBH ≥ 5 cm) is very good compared to other studies (compare Vacik et al. 2001), more than 79% trees were assessed as very vital to vital. As a consequence of the current environmental situation the main problems are competition to the other main tree species, illegal cutting of yew and no successful development of natural regeneration. In a recent study there were not any saplings found higher then 30 cm although 13019 one-year-old seedling ha -1 were counted (Dhar et al. 2006). The main reasons for a reduction of yew seedlings are 1) selective browsing by deer, 2) light competition and 3) probably the lack of genetic variation. The area is under supervision of the district forest authority of Graz. The local foresters have carried out several small experiments in order to examine the effects of different thinning treatments. There were intensive thinning (T I) with a removal of 55 % of the stocking volume, a moderate thinning (T II) with a removal of 27 % of the stocking volume and a third variant with no thinning (T III). To identify the negative effects of selective browsing a fence was established on a part of the area. For a description on the current environmentral situation please refer to Figure 1 and 2. Figure 2 : Natural regeneration of yew according to height and treatment (log scale) Figure 1 : Classification of vitality of yew according to diameter distribution . 4. Selection of Management strategies PVRM allows to evaluate the potential effects on viability of populations from alternative courses of action. According to the analysis of the current environmental condition the major threats for the yew population at the gene conservation forest in Stillwollgraben are heavy grazing by deer, browsing by wild animals, light competition, loss of genetic variation, illegal cutting and adverse soil condition. However, the second major contributor to decline of yew population has been illegal logging. The management strategies (Table 1 .) are based on the result of personal field experience and different research activities on this tree species through out the World (Thomas and Polwart 2003, Czatoryski 1978, Mitchell, 1988, Elizabeth and Alison 1995). The idea was to develop different strategies by altering the main characteristics driving the viability of the population. In our study we selected six different combinations of management strategies (Table 1 ), which will cover the major threats on yew population. It also includes activities according to hunting, rising people awareness, wildlife management in general and economic aspects, which might help to enhance the acceptability of the local people. 5. Evaluation of Management strategies Marcot and Murphy (1996) developed a general procedure to evaluate the viability of endangered populations. This approach requires the identification of key conservation management decision sequences that affect environments and populations as well as estimation of various responses of species to each management decision. Unfortunately such data normally are not available; extrapolation from available quantitative data or using qualitative expert knowledge might be used initially to select outcome probabilities and predict uncertainties (Vacik et al ., 2001). In this approach the AHP is used to evaluate the conservation strategies with regard to viability of the yew population. The criteria used to evaluate the viability of the population are “genetic sustainability”, “vitality of pole stand”, “viability of seedlings” and “socio economic factors” which are based on the description of the environmental condition and reasons for the population decline. The management strategies are at the lowest level of the hierarchy and they are evaluated against all criteria and sub criteria which influence the viability of the population (Figure 3 ). According to Saaty (1980) pairwise comparisons were made on a scale of relatives importance where the conservation manager expressed the preferences between two elements on a ratio scale from equal important to absolute priority of one element over another (Table 2 ). References: Abiyu A., Vacik H., Glatzel G., 2006: Population Viability Risk Management applied Boswellia papyrifera (Del.) Hochst in North-eastern Ethiopia, Journal of the Dryland 1(2), Czatoryski, A. 1978. Protection and conservation of yw. In the yew taxus baccata L. In: Bailobok, S. (Ed.), Foerign Scientific ublications Department of the National Centre for Scientific, Technical, and Economic Information (For the Department of Agriculture and National Science Foundation, Washington D.C), Warsaw, Poland, pp. 116-138. Dhar, A., Ruprecht, H., Klumpp, R., Vacik, H., 2006: Stand structure and natural regeneration of English yew ( Taxus baccata L.) in Stiwollgraben, Austria, in print Dendrobiolog. Elizabeth, C. and Alison, N. (1995). A summary of Western Yew Biology with Recommendations for its Management in British Columbia. Land management hand book, Ministry of Forest Research Program. Iszkulo G. and Boratyàski A. 2006: Analysis of the relationship between photosynthetic photon flux density and natural Taxus baccata seedlings occurrence.Acta Oecologica 29 (1) 78-84. Kangas, J., Kangas, A., 2002. Multi criteria decision support methods in forest management. In: Pukkala, T. (ed.), Multi-objective Forest Planning, Kluwer Academic, Dordrecht, pp. 37-70. Kangas, J., Kuusipalo, J., 1993. Integrating biodiversity into forest management planning and decision-making. Forest Ecology Management 61, 1-15. Kelly, D.L. 1981. The native forest vegetation of Killarney, southwest Ireland – an ecological account. Journal of Ecology 69: 437–472. Maguire.L.A.1986.Using decision analysis to manage endengered species populations. Journal of Environment management 22:345-360 Marcot, B. B. und Murphy, D. D., 1996: On Population Viability Analysis and Management. In Szaro, R. C. und Johnston, D. W., 1996: Biodiversity in Managed Landscapes – Theory and Practice. Oxford University Press, New York, Oxford: S 58-76. Mendoza, G.A., Prabhu, R., 2000b. Multiple criteria decision making approaches to assessing forest sustainability using criteria and indicators: a case study. Forest Ecology Management 131, 107-126. Menges, Eric S. (1990). Population viability analysis for an endangered plant. Conservation Biology Vol. 4, No.1, March 1990. Mitchell, F.J.G., 1988. The vegetation history of Killarney oak woods, SW Ireland: Evidence from fine spatial resolution pollen analysis. Journal of Ecology 76, 415-436. Niklfeld H. 1999 [ed.]. Rote Listen gefährdeter Pflanzen Österreichs. Grüne Reihe des Bundesministeriums für Umwelt, Jugend und Familie, 10. Russ, W. 2005. Verbreitung seltener Holzgewächse nach der Österreichischen Waldinventur. BFW Praxis Information 6: 3-5. Sarmaja-Korjonen, K., Vasari, Y., Haeggström, C. A. 1991. Taxus baccata and influnce of Iron Age on the vegetation in land S.W. Finland. Acta Botanica Fennici 8.143-159. Saaty, T.L., 1980. The Analytic Hierarchy Process, McGraw-Hill, New York. Schadauer K., Hauk E., Starlinger F. 2003. Daten zur Eibe aus der Österreichischen Waldinventur. Der Eibenfreund 10:15-18. Thomas, P.A. and Polwart, A., 2003. Taxus baccata L. Biological flora of the British Isles 229. Journal of Ecology. 91, 489-524. Vacik, H., Oitzinger, G. and Georg, F.(2001). Evaluation of in-situ conservation strategies for English yew ( Taxus bacata L.) in Bad Bleiberg by the use of population viability risk management (PVRM). Forstw. Cbl. 120 (2001), 390-405. 6. Scenarios In order to select a suitable management strategy with the highest viability for the yew population, different environmental scenarios have been evaluated with regard to overall objective. The scenarios are characterized by different combinations of priorities for the decision criteria. Scenarios A reflect the actual situation of the criteria influencing the viability of the population. Scenarios B, C, D and E indicate different priorities for the decision criteria genetic sustainability, vitality of pole stand, viability of seedlings and socio economic factors. In each of the scenarios one of the criteria is set to a maximum ( Table 3 .) Figure 4 : Overall priorities of management strategies for different scenarios Table 3: Priorities of criteria for different scenarios 7. Results and Discussion A population viability risk management (PVRM) framework was used for the design and evaluation of in-situ conservation strategies of Taxus baccata L. population in Austria. Applying the priorities for each criteria in five different scenarios allowed to evaluate the viability of the yew population according to each management strategy. Management strategy IV achieved almost the highest priorities in all scenarios except scenario E (Figure 4 ). Strategy V is the second best alternative with regards to scenario A, B, and E which is followed by strategy III which is best in Scenario C and D. Strategy I has the lowest priority among the management strategies with respect of scenario A, B and E. Indicating the ranks and average ranks for all management strategies as a result of sensitivity analysis it is evident that strategy IV dominates all other strategies independently from the preferences given to the main decision criteria genetic sustainability, vitality of pole stand and viability of seedlings (Table 4 ). Management strategy IV maintains the viability of the yew population as its best because it effects the genetic variation positively, enhances the light availability and reduces browsing pressure by building a fence. Genetic sustainability is enhanced by an increased genetic variation within the species according to artificial regeneration. The thinning operation will lead to a better environmental condition of the mature yews and will increase the seed production additionally. A balanced structure according to vertical, spatial and dbh-distribution provides a good vigour for the pole stand and increases the light availability on the forest floor additionally. According to Iszulko and Boratynski (2006) insufficient amount light under the canopy trees can reduce the number of seedlings. The risk factor browsing is considered as important influence on the viability of yew populations as Kelly (1981) and Sarmaja-Korjonen et al. (1991) noted that yew is very susceptible to browsing effects. On the other hand the management strategy rises people awareness about illegal cuttings as well as increases the knowledge about the management of this tree species, which is a very important for conservation practices. Many authors reported that appropriate silvicultural practices decreasing interspecific compe ti tion as well as activities to increase public awareness are the most effective way for conservation of yew populations (e.g. Elizabeth and Alison, 1995; Vacik et al., 2001). Genetic sustainability Vitality of pole Stands Survivility of Seedlings Viability Socio economic Condition Maintenance Enhance Balanced structure Compitition Risk Know how Acceptibility Disturbance of soil Light compitition Risk Diseases Harvesting Damage Browsing Cont.Prod. of Seeds Inter Intra Damage during cutting Diseases Bark peeling Illegal cutting Management strategies Do Nothing Minimum Conservation Timber production Wildlife Single tree selection Vertical st. Sp.St. Dristibution DBH structure Investment Figure 3 : Evaluation hierarchy for viability assessment of management strategies Table 2: Priorities of criteria and sub criteria Acknowledgement We would like to thank Ing. Schuster from local forest authority and the Forest Province Office of Styria for financial support. We also thank the Austrain foreign exchange service ( ÖAD ) for financial support with the North South Dialogue Scholarship Program and the Österreichische Orient-Gesellschaft (OOG) for the One-World Scholarship. 2. Objectives In this study the AHP is used as part of a PVRM to evaluate six different conservation management strategies for an English yew population. The viability for the yew population is assessed based on the results of an analysis of the current environmental, social and economical state of the current population. Sensitivity analysis allowed us to discuss and select a compromise solution for this tree species. The specific objectives are given below: 1.Evaluation of six in-situ conservation strategies for a yew population by the use of PVRM framework 2.Qualitative assessment of the viability of the Yew population by the use of the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) 3. Performing a sensitivity analysis to select an overall compromise solution 1. Introduction English yew ( Taxus baccata L.) is an endangered tree species in Austria (Niklfe l d 1999, Schadauer et.al. 2003 and Russ 2005) and declining shapely from its places. The reasons for declining of the yew are refer to the over use in the past centuries as well as unsuccessful regeneration, browsing pressure, illegal cutting and lack of appropriate management strategies. The gene conservation forest network in Austria is used to maintain the biodiversity of endangered populations. The primary focus of these forests is the in-situ conservation of rare tree species by silvicultural treatments. Decision making about how to manage this endangered species is often difficult for forest managers. Decision analysis methods, which have been originally developed for guiding business decisions under uncertainty, can be used for the management of endangered species. Decision analysis offers a framework where political, financial, and scientific information can be combined in a structured manner. Ecological theory, objective data, subjective judgments, and financial concerns can be used to support the management process (Maguire, 1986). Population Viability Risk Management (PVRM) is a concept familiar to conservation biologist for the management of endangered wild life population but recently this method are applying in the conservation of endangered trees species (Menges, 1990; Vacik, et al. 2001). The analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) is a MCDM (Multi Criteria Decision Making) method, which allows the pair wise comparison of management alternatives with respect of single decision criteria based on a ratio scale. Now a days AHP is applied in multi-objective forest management Mendoza and Prabhu (2000), Kangas and Kangas (2002) and conservation management (Kangas and Kuusipalo, 1993; Abiyu et al., 2006). Scenario Management Strategies 0 I II III IV V A 5 6 4 3 1 2 B 5 6 4 3 1 2 C 5 4 4 2 1 3 D 6 4 5 2 1 3 E 2 6 3 5 4 1 Average 4.6 5.2 4.0 3.0 1.6 2.2 Characteristics Strategies 0 I II III IV V Wild Life Management no Fence + game control no Fence Fence no Intensity of Thinning no 0 % 10 % no 30 % 50 % Public awareness - Information no yes no no yes no Site preparation no no no yes no no Regeneration Natural Natural Natural Natural Natural + Artificial Natural + Artificial Criteria Priority 1st level sub criteria Priorit ies 2nd level sub criteria Priorit ies Genetic Sustainability 0.250 maintenance of GS 0.500 enhance of GS 0.500 Vitality of Stand pole 0.250 risk factors 0.250 damage during cutting 0.234 diseases 0.072 bark peeling 0.164 illegal cutting 0.530 competition 0.250 intraspecific 0.500 tnterspecific 0.500 continuous production of s eeds 0.250 balanced Structure 0.250 vertical structure 0.333 spatial structure 0.570 DBH structure 0.097 Viability of seedlings 0.250 light availability 0.455 risk factors 0.455 browsing 0.682 harvesting damage 0.236 diseases 0.082 soil disturbances 0.091 Socio economic factors 0.250 know how 0.100 public acceptability 0.300 investment 0.600 Scenario Criteria Genetic sustainability Vitality of pole Stand Survival rate of Seedlings Socio Economic Condition A 0.250 0.250 0.250 0.250 B 0.700 0.100 0.100 0.100 C 0.100 0.700 0.100 0.100 D 0.100 0.100 0.700 0.100 E 0.100 0.100 0.100 0.700 2.2 1.6 3.0 4.0 5.2 4.6 Average 1 4 5 3 6 2 E 3 1 2 5 4 6 D 3 1 2 4 4 5 C 2 1 3 4 6 5 B 2 1 3 4 6 5 A V IV III II I 0 Management Strategies Scenarios Natural + artificial Natural + artificial natural natural natural natural Regeneration no no yes no no no Site Preparation no yes no no yes no Public Awareness-Information 50 % 30 % no 10 % 0 % no Intensity of Thinning no fence fence no fance + game control no Wild Life Management V IV III II I 0 Strategies Characteristic 0.700 0.100 0.100 0.100 E 0.100 0.700 0.100 0.100 D 0.100 0.100 0.700 0.100 C 0.100 0.100 0.100 0.700 B 0.250 0.250 0.250 0.250 A Socio-Economic Factors Survival rate of seedlings Vitality of pole Stand Genetic Sustainability Criteria Scenarios 0.600 investment 0.300 public acceptebility 0.100 know how 0.250 Socio-Economic factors 0.091 soil disturbances 0.082 diseases 0.236 harvesting damage 0.682 browsing 0.455 risk factor 0.455 light availability 0.250 Vitality of Seedlings 0.097 DBH structure 0.570 spatial structure 0.333 vertical structure 0.250 balanced structure 0.250 continuous production of seeds 0.500 interspecific 0.500 intraspecific 0.250 competition 0.530 illegal cutting 0.164 bark peeling 0.072 diseases 0.234 damage during cutting 0.250 risk factors 0.250 Vitality of Pole Stand 0.500 enhance of GS 0.500 maintenance of GS 0.250 Genetic Sustainability Priorities 2nd level sub criteria Priorities 1 st level sub criteria Priorities Criteria