Lecture from ENVT3363: Ecological Processes, third-year course at the University of Western Australia (UWA).
Lecture on long-term ecosystem development, patterns of plant diversity along soil chronosequences, and potential controls over plant diversity
Presentation by Yvane Marblé and Birgit Boogaard at a training course for extension officers on sustainable management of communal pasture areas, Vilanculos, Mozambique, 8 November 2012.
Presentation by Yvane Marblé and Birgit Boogaard at a training course for extension officers on sustainable management of communal pasture areas, Vilanculos, Mozambique, 8 November 2012.
Professor Andrew Lowe poses the question 'How can we help biodiversity adapt to the ravages of climate change?'. Andrew is the director of the Australian Centre of Evolutionary Biology and Biodiversity at the University of Adelaide, to find out more about the Centre and its many research activities visit http://www.adelaide.edu.au/environment/acebb/.
Needingworth Quarry is the location for an exciting wetland restoration project arising from a collaboration between Hanson and the RSPB. As gravel extraction is completed in sections of Needingworth these areas are being restored into wetland habitats, including large areas of reedbed and associated rough grassland, which has been named Ouse Fen Nature Reserve. Reedbed restoration sites, typified by Needingworth also include areas of wet or dry rough grassland, with varying degrees of management through grazing, mowing and fencing. These grasslands in themselves potentially provide a valuable habitat for biodiversity, especially given the context of the considerable intensification of agricultural and other grasslands that has taken place over recent decades.
In this project we propose to investigate the insect biodiversity of grasslands surrounding the reedbed restoration units at Needingworth/Ouse Fen. The focus of our work will be the leafhoppers (Auchenorrhyncha), which are common in grassland and have been found to be useful indicators of management intensity effects. In particular we are interested in how leafhoppper communities are affected by the level of grazing by cattle and how they vary with distance from the reedbeds and open water. The principal objective is to increase our knowledge of insect communities in these habitats at Needingworth/Ouse Fen and to inform management practice decisions in relation to these grasslands, which it is hoped will help to further enhance the biodiversity value of the restoration.
The project won the 1st Prize in National Quarry Life Award in 2014 in the United Kingdom.
Read more: http://www.quarrylifeaward.com/project/investigation-insect-biodiversity-grasslands-surrounding-reedbed-restoration-needingworth
Diversity of Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi associated to Acacia seyal (Delile)...Premier Publishers
Acacia seyal (Del.) is a multi-purpose leguminous tree growing in diverse habitats including saline areas and plays an important ecological role in semi-arid ecosystem in Senegal. In spite of that, the diversity of the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi associated with this tree remains little known. In order to remediate to this lack of knowledge, studies were conducted at three locations characterized by differences in salt content to assess the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi diversity. Rhizospheric soil samples and roots taken from adult A. seyal tree on each site were used to trap fungal cultures and isolated spores. This resulted in a morphological identification of the spores after five months of trap culture in greenhouse. A total of eight species of fungi were isolated, reflecting the low diversity of the species of arbuscular fungi associated with A. seyal. The isolated species belong to the family Glomeraceae, Claroideo glomeraceae and Acaulosporaceae and may represent the main species of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi associated to the growth and development of A. seyal in a semi-arid environment.
Professor Andrew Lowe poses the question 'How can we help biodiversity adapt to the ravages of climate change?'. Andrew is the director of the Australian Centre of Evolutionary Biology and Biodiversity at the University of Adelaide, to find out more about the Centre and its many research activities visit http://www.adelaide.edu.au/environment/acebb/.
Needingworth Quarry is the location for an exciting wetland restoration project arising from a collaboration between Hanson and the RSPB. As gravel extraction is completed in sections of Needingworth these areas are being restored into wetland habitats, including large areas of reedbed and associated rough grassland, which has been named Ouse Fen Nature Reserve. Reedbed restoration sites, typified by Needingworth also include areas of wet or dry rough grassland, with varying degrees of management through grazing, mowing and fencing. These grasslands in themselves potentially provide a valuable habitat for biodiversity, especially given the context of the considerable intensification of agricultural and other grasslands that has taken place over recent decades.
In this project we propose to investigate the insect biodiversity of grasslands surrounding the reedbed restoration units at Needingworth/Ouse Fen. The focus of our work will be the leafhoppers (Auchenorrhyncha), which are common in grassland and have been found to be useful indicators of management intensity effects. In particular we are interested in how leafhoppper communities are affected by the level of grazing by cattle and how they vary with distance from the reedbeds and open water. The principal objective is to increase our knowledge of insect communities in these habitats at Needingworth/Ouse Fen and to inform management practice decisions in relation to these grasslands, which it is hoped will help to further enhance the biodiversity value of the restoration.
The project won the 1st Prize in National Quarry Life Award in 2014 in the United Kingdom.
Read more: http://www.quarrylifeaward.com/project/investigation-insect-biodiversity-grasslands-surrounding-reedbed-restoration-needingworth
Diversity of Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi associated to Acacia seyal (Delile)...Premier Publishers
Acacia seyal (Del.) is a multi-purpose leguminous tree growing in diverse habitats including saline areas and plays an important ecological role in semi-arid ecosystem in Senegal. In spite of that, the diversity of the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi associated with this tree remains little known. In order to remediate to this lack of knowledge, studies were conducted at three locations characterized by differences in salt content to assess the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi diversity. Rhizospheric soil samples and roots taken from adult A. seyal tree on each site were used to trap fungal cultures and isolated spores. This resulted in a morphological identification of the spores after five months of trap culture in greenhouse. A total of eight species of fungi were isolated, reflecting the low diversity of the species of arbuscular fungi associated with A. seyal. The isolated species belong to the family Glomeraceae, Claroideo glomeraceae and Acaulosporaceae and may represent the main species of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi associated to the growth and development of A. seyal in a semi-arid environment.
STRI talk, long-term ecosystem development and plant diversityelalib
Presentation of research programme on long-term soil/ecosystem development and patterns of plant species diversity. Tupper Seminar, Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute (STRI), Panama. Jan 8, 2013.
Seminar by Etienne Laliberté about his research program on edaphic drivers of plant diversity, and presentation of the Canadian Airborne Biodiversity Observatory (CABO)
Concept of an ecosystem, 2.Types of ecosystem, 3.Structure and function of an ecosystem, Producers, consumers and decomposers.
4.Energy flow in the ecosystem, Food chains, food webs and ecological pyramids. 5.Ecological succession. 6. Introduction, types,
characteristic features, structure and function of Forest ecosystem, Grassland ecosystem and Desert ecosystem, Aquatic ecosystems
(ponds, streams, lakes, rivers, ocean estuaries)
PHILIPPINE BIODIVERSITY: Ecological Roles, Uses, and Conservation StatusNo to mining in Palawan
PHILIPPINE BIODIVERSITY:
Ecological Roles, Uses, and Conservation Status
A.C. Alcala, E.L. Alcala, I.E. Buot Jr.,
A. Diesmos, M.L. Dolar
E.S. Fernando, J.C. Gonzalez and
B. Tabaranza
SEEING THE WOOD FOR THE TREES:beyond bio-forfication: nutrion, cooking &...World Agroforestry (ICRAF)
Presentation by Professor Tony Cunningham at CBD COP11 Event in Hyderabad, 17October2012. World Agroforestry Centre/ICRAF. Title: "Seeing the Wood for the Trees.".
Comparative study on Population of Earthworms in Different Habitat Types alon...AI Publications
Earthworms are one of the very diverse organisms in the environment. The abundance of the earthworms relates to the different land use, human activity, biotic and abiotic factors on nature. The diversity and abundance of earthworms was studied in different habitats; broadleaved forest, chirpine forest, residential area and agriculture land with the aim to understand the variation in earthworm species in those habitats. Between the altitude 650-1450masl. a total of 20 major plots and 100 sub-plots was made to assess the earthworm diversity in selectedhabitat. Physio-chemical analysis of soil was done to know the diversity, abundance and density of earthworms. The result of study does find two orders, five families and seven species of earthworms. They were Amynthasalexandri, Metaphirehoulleti, Perionyx excavatus, Aporrectodeacalciginosa, Dichogastersp., Pontoscolexcorethrurus and Darwidasp. Broadleaved had the highest diversity with Shannon index of 2.04 and the lowest diversity was found in chirpine forest with Shannon index of 1.6. The highest richness was in the broadleaved forest with index of 0.827. Amynthasalexandri was present in all the habitats and it had the highest relative abundance of 28.12%, relative density of 32.80 per m2 and frequency of 25%. The lowest relative density, abundance and frequency was found in Darwida sp. The analysis of variance showed thatthe NPK content in the soil has effect on the density of earthworm along the altitude. In lower altitude at 650 masl. The density of earthworms was more with a high amount of NPK in soil and in higher altitude at 1450masl. the decrease in NPK showed low earthworm density. Pearson correlation showed a positive correlation with soil Physico-chemical parameters and an abundance of earthworms.
Instructions for Submissions thorugh G- Classroom.pptxJheel Barad
This presentation provides a briefing on how to upload submissions and documents in Google Classroom. It was prepared as part of an orientation for new Sainik School in-service teacher trainees. As a training officer, my goal is to ensure that you are comfortable and proficient with this essential tool for managing assignments and fostering student engagement.
Francesca Gottschalk - How can education support child empowerment.pptxEduSkills OECD
Francesca Gottschalk from the OECD’s Centre for Educational Research and Innovation presents at the Ask an Expert Webinar: How can education support child empowerment?
Biological screening of herbal drugs: Introduction and Need for
Phyto-Pharmacological Screening, New Strategies for evaluating
Natural Products, In vitro evaluation techniques for Antioxidants, Antimicrobial and Anticancer drugs. In vivo evaluation techniques
for Anti-inflammatory, Antiulcer, Anticancer, Wound healing, Antidiabetic, Hepatoprotective, Cardio protective, Diuretics and
Antifertility, Toxicity studies as per OECD guidelines
Introduction to AI for Nonprofits with Tapp NetworkTechSoup
Dive into the world of AI! Experts Jon Hill and Tareq Monaur will guide you through AI's role in enhancing nonprofit websites and basic marketing strategies, making it easy to understand and apply.
Embracing GenAI - A Strategic ImperativePeter Windle
Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies such as Generative AI, Image Generators and Large Language Models have had a dramatic impact on teaching, learning and assessment over the past 18 months. The most immediate threat AI posed was to Academic Integrity with Higher Education Institutes (HEIs) focusing their efforts on combating the use of GenAI in assessment. Guidelines were developed for staff and students, policies put in place too. Innovative educators have forged paths in the use of Generative AI for teaching, learning and assessments leading to pockets of transformation springing up across HEIs, often with little or no top-down guidance, support or direction.
This Gasta posits a strategic approach to integrating AI into HEIs to prepare staff, students and the curriculum for an evolving world and workplace. We will highlight the advantages of working with these technologies beyond the realm of teaching, learning and assessment by considering prompt engineering skills, industry impact, curriculum changes, and the need for staff upskilling. In contrast, not engaging strategically with Generative AI poses risks, including falling behind peers, missed opportunities and failing to ensure our graduates remain employable. The rapid evolution of AI technologies necessitates a proactive and strategic approach if we are to remain relevant.
Honest Reviews of Tim Han LMA Course Program.pptxtimhan337
Personal development courses are widely available today, with each one promising life-changing outcomes. Tim Han’s Life Mastery Achievers (LMA) Course has drawn a lot of interest. In addition to offering my frank assessment of Success Insider’s LMA Course, this piece examines the course’s effects via a variety of Tim Han LMA course reviews and Success Insider comments.
Macroeconomics- Movie Location
This will be used as part of your Personal Professional Portfolio once graded.
Objective:
Prepare a presentation or a paper using research, basic comparative analysis, data organization and application of economic information. You will make an informed assessment of an economic climate outside of the United States to accomplish an entertainment industry objective.
How to Make a Field invisible in Odoo 17Celine George
It is possible to hide or invisible some fields in odoo. Commonly using “invisible” attribute in the field definition to invisible the fields. This slide will show how to make a field invisible in odoo 17.
Palestine last event orientationfvgnh .pptxRaedMohamed3
An EFL lesson about the current events in Palestine. It is intended to be for intermediate students who wish to increase their listening skills through a short lesson in power point.
A Strategic Approach: GenAI in EducationPeter Windle
Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies such as Generative AI, Image Generators and Large Language Models have had a dramatic impact on teaching, learning and assessment over the past 18 months. The most immediate threat AI posed was to Academic Integrity with Higher Education Institutes (HEIs) focusing their efforts on combating the use of GenAI in assessment. Guidelines were developed for staff and students, policies put in place too. Innovative educators have forged paths in the use of Generative AI for teaching, learning and assessments leading to pockets of transformation springing up across HEIs, often with little or no top-down guidance, support or direction.
This Gasta posits a strategic approach to integrating AI into HEIs to prepare staff, students and the curriculum for an evolving world and workplace. We will highlight the advantages of working with these technologies beyond the realm of teaching, learning and assessment by considering prompt engineering skills, industry impact, curriculum changes, and the need for staff upskilling. In contrast, not engaging strategically with Generative AI poses risks, including falling behind peers, missed opportunities and failing to ensure our graduates remain employable. The rapid evolution of AI technologies necessitates a proactive and strategic approach if we are to remain relevant.
2024.06.01 Introducing a competency framework for languag learning materials ...Sandy Millin
http://sandymillin.wordpress.com/iateflwebinar2024
Published classroom materials form the basis of syllabuses, drive teacher professional development, and have a potentially huge influence on learners, teachers and education systems. All teachers also create their own materials, whether a few sentences on a blackboard, a highly-structured fully-realised online course, or anything in between. Despite this, the knowledge and skills needed to create effective language learning materials are rarely part of teacher training, and are mostly learnt by trial and error.
Knowledge and skills frameworks, generally called competency frameworks, for ELT teachers, trainers and managers have existed for a few years now. However, until I created one for my MA dissertation, there wasn’t one drawing together what we need to know and do to be able to effectively produce language learning materials.
This webinar will introduce you to my framework, highlighting the key competencies I identified from my research. It will also show how anybody involved in language teaching (any language, not just English!), teacher training, managing schools or developing language learning materials can benefit from using the framework.
2024.06.01 Introducing a competency framework for languag learning materials ...
Long-term ecosystem development and plant diversity
1. Long-term ecosystem development
and belowground controls over
terrestrial plant diversity
Etienne Laliberté
School of Plant Biology, UWA
ENVT3363 Ecological Processes
Sept 11, 2012
2. Organisms Climate Parent material Topography Time
Ecosystem
processes
Soils Soil abiotic Soil biotic
properties properties
Community
processes
Terrestrial plant
diversity
9. Maximum standing biomass
(‘climax’) does not persist
in the in the absence of
major disturbances:
• landslide
• glaciation
• volcanic eruption
Ecosystem decline or
retrogression
Wardle et al (2004) Science
12. Pedogenesis – Jurien Bay dunes
Ecosystem progression
Very young dune
(10’s—100’s years)
A
C
Very low N
High P
13. Pedogenesis – Jurien Bay dunes
Ecosystem progression
Very young dune Young dune
(10’s—100’s years) (~1000’s years)
A
A
C
C Highest N
Very low N High P
High P Peak fertility/productivity
14. Pedogenesis – Jurien Bay dunes
Ecosystem progression
Very young dune Young dune
(10’s—100’s years) (~1000’s years)
A
A
C
C Highest N
Very low N High P
High P Peak fertility/productivity
Ecosystem retrogression
Old dune
(~500,000 years)
A
low N
Ae low P
E
B1
B2
15. Pedogenesis – Jurien Bay dunes
Ecosystem progression
Very young dune Young dune
(10’s—100’s years) (~1000’s years)
A
A
C
C Highest N
Very low N High P
High P Peak fertility/productivity
Ecosystem retrogression
Old dune Very old dune
(~500,000 years) (>2,000,000 years)
A
low N O
Ae very low P A
E
B1 Ea
B2
E low N
extremely low P
‘terminal state’
16. Implications for Australia
Most
ecologists
work here Mt Michaud, Lesueur National Park
Productivity
Most of Australian
terrestrial ecosystems
are here
Soil age
18. Ancient soils, high plant diversity
Kwongan shrublands, SWA
Yasuní, Ecuador >70 species in 10x10-m plot
>1,100 tree species in 25-ha plot little dominance
weathered silty clay soils strongly leached sandy soils
Source: http://katerva.org
Valencia et al (2004) J Ecol Lamont et al (1977) Nature
19. Plant diversity along soil
chronosequences
Graham Zemunik
Laliberté et al (in preparation)
20. Nutrient availability and stoichiometry
Time
Pedogenic stage
Nutrient
availability and
stoichiometry
resource-ratio
model, productivity-
diversity (+/-)
Plant
diversity
21. ‘Humped-back’ model
• Low diversity at
high fertility
• Low diversity at
very low fertility
• Highest
diversity at
intermediate
fertility
Grime (1973) Nature
26. High diversity under strong P limitation
Strong P
N limitation Co-limitation Co-limitation P limitation limitation
Laliberté et al. (2012) J Ecol
27. Nutrient availability and stoichiometry
Time
Pedogenic stage
Nutrient • a role for productivity?
availability and • data inconsistent with resource-ratio model
stoichiometry
resource-ratio
model, productivity-
diversity (+/-)
Plant
diversity
28. Resource partitioning
Time
Pedogenic stage
Diversity
of N and Diversity of N and P forms
P forms
tend to increase in older soils
Plant
resource diversity
partitioning (+)
29. Nitrogen uptake and partitioning
Bever et al (2010) TREE
Hill et al (2011) Nature
Climate Change
30.
31. Phosphorus-acquisition strategies
P ‘miners’ = non-mycorrhizal/cluster roots
P ‘scavengers’ = AM fungi
Lambers et al (2008) Trends Ecol Evol
36. Soil spatial heterogeneity does not explain plant diversity
Smaller islands burn less often:
• last fire ~5000 years ago
• accumulate humus
• slower nutrient cycling
• lower productivity
• LOWER soil spatial heterogeneity
• HIGHER plant species richness
Arjeplog
island area
gradient,
Sweden
Gundale et al (2011) Ecography
37. Soil spatial heterogeneity
Time
Pedogenic stage
Soil spatial
Niche theory = classical
heterogeneity explanation, but does not
seem to actually be
important (at least in this
island system)
Plant
diversity
40. Mount St-Helens, USA
• volcanic eruption
1980
• high P, low N
• Lupinus lepidus = N2-
fixing legume
• Pathogens/herbivores
less abundant?
• Positive feedback =
high dominance?
Photo: John Bishop
42. Belowground heterotrophs
Time
Pedogenic stage
• Positive feedback may
Belowground
explain lower species heterotrophs
richness in young soils
• Negative feedback occurs
in old soils: a role for plant Plant
diversity
species coexistence?
• More data needed
43. Species pool hypothesis
Abiotic environmental
Time
conditions filtering (-)
Pedogenic stage Stage-
specific
species
pool size
Plant
diversity species pool
hypothesis (+)
46. Species pool hypothesis
Abiotic environmental
Time
conditions filtering (-)
Pedogenic stage Stage-
specific
species
pool size
Probably important in most systems
Plant
diversity species pool
hypothesis (+)
47. Multivariate controls over plant
diversity
Abiotic environmental
Organisms Climate Parent material Topography Time
conditions filtering (-)
time-area
Pedogenic stage Commonness hypothesis (+) Stage-
of habitat specific
species
pool size
Diversity Nutrient Soil spatial Belowground
of N and availability and heterogeneity heterotrophs
P forms stoichiometry
niche negative plant-
resource-ratio
theory (+) soil feedback (+)
model, productivity-
diversity (+/-)
Plant
resource diversity species pool
partitioning (+) hypothesis (+)
48. Conclusions
• Ecosystem ‘build-up’ followed by
ecosystem ‘decline
• Driven by loss of nutrients (e.g. P)
• Plant diversity often increases with soil
age
• Multivariate controls over plant
diversity:
– productivity
– resource partitioning (N and P forms)
– plant-soil feedback
– species pools
lecturer in plant biologysmall teaching loadi get to choose what i want to teachthe topic of thislecture is essentially the main theme of my current research
one of the key outcomes of this Unit is for you to gain a comprehensive understanding of ecosystems, including the links between its different aspectsthis lecture fits well with this outcome because it first starts with a description of ecosystem processes – how soils formand then explores the consequences this has on terrestrial plant diversity – community processesthe rationale is that you cannot understand how plant diversity changes during long-term ecosystem development if you do not have a basic understanding of soil and ecosystem development in the first place
How soils forms, and how plant communities respond to changes in soil conditions during soil formation, is one of the oldest and most-studied themes in plant ecologywhy? because it’s inherently interestingalso because it understanding how communities develop in time is the first step towards predictionHenry Cowles classic studies on vegetation succession along Lake Michigan dunesthis process is generally called ‘succession’
Equilibrium‘Self-perpetuating’
This view of a ‘climax’ or equilibrium also influenced ecosystem ecologyEugene Odum was one of the first and most influential ecosystem ecologistthis figure from his classic 1969 paper on ecosystem development in Science reinforces this view that ecosystems eventually reach a ‘climax’ or an ‘equilibrium’initially lots of resources or nutrients, therefore production rises rapidly (and so does respiration).but gross production rises more rapidly than respiration, therefore net production increases and biomass accumulateseventually resources get taken up so gross production declineshowever, as you accumulate biomass, you need to maintain that biomasstherefore net production starts to declinenot much biomass accumulates – peak standing biomass -> equilibrium or ‘climax’this was an important model, but it’s only dealing with relatively short-term changes – does the equilibrium state persists over longer time scales?
to answer questions like this you need soil age gradients much longer than what Lake Michigan can give youone of the most well-known system are the Hawaiian islandshot spot that leads to volcanic eruptionsas islands move away from the hotspot, volcanic eruption ceaseshave not been glaciated for a long time, no major disturbancetherefore you can find soils and ecosystems from very young (a few 100’s years) to very old (4 million years)Sequence has been widely used to improve our understanding of nutrient cycling and nutrient limitation in terrestrial ecosystems
you don’t need to go as far as Hawaii to find similar long-term soil age sequencesin fact you’re sitting on one right nowall across the Swan Coastal Plain you find systems of dune that range from very young to very old, around 2 million yearsthis is what I use in my current research
there are a number of other long-term sequences like this around the world, around 10in different biomes and climatesforest biomass -- does it follow Odum’s model?
causes are pretty clear and are due to nutrient limitationyou start with low nitrogen because that comes from the atmospherehowever you start with all the phosphorus you’ll ever have because phosphorus comes mostly from minerals