Knowledge about plant diversity along disturbance gradients is essential for conservation and management of fragmented coastal habitats.This study examined the effects of human disturbance intensity in coastal habitat...Knowledge about plant diversity along disturbance gradients is essential for conservation and management of fragmented coastal habitats.This study examined the effects of human disturbance intensity in coastal habitats of Kuwait on diversity,composition,identity and assemblage of vascular plant species.Plant survey data from 113 plots （5m×5m each） were randomly selected in 51 sites at coastal fragmented habitats at three levels of disturbance intensities （high,moderate and low） and were statistically analyzed.The results revealed that about 76% of the recorded species are considered threatened species in Kuwait,most of which are being lost in high disturbed habitats.Disturbance led to the dominance of Zygophyllum qatarense,Cornulaca aucheri and Salsola imbricata,which are species of disturbance indicators.Richness,total plant cover and species diversity were higher in moderate and low disturbed habitats than in high disturbed habitats.Beta diversity between high and low disturbed habitats was higher than either between high and moderate,or between moderate and low disturbed habitats.Cluster analyses showed statistically significant differences in composition of plant assemblages,which indicate high beta diversity between the habitat types.Intensive urbanization and industrialization are among the most serious threats that contribute to declines in biological diversity and rapid fragmentation of coastal habitats in Kuwait.Establishing protective enclosures in the disturbed habitats,planting endangered and vulnerable species,and establishing a natural reserve at Nuwaiseeb are recommended conservation actions to avoid loss of the fragmented coastal habitats and to facilitate restoration of native plants.展开更多
Background:In West African semi-arid areas,grazing ecosystems are exposed to severe anthropogenic and climatic pressures.However,little is known about the contribution of local land management practices to increasing ...Background:In West African semi-arid areas,grazing ecosystems are exposed to severe anthropogenic and climatic pressures.However,little is known about the contribution of local land management practices to increasing herbaceous forage in semi-arid environments.To recommend sustainable practices,this study therefore assessed the effect of three land management types on the diversity,functional structure and forage provision of the herbaceous vegetation in the Great Green Wall in Burkina Faso.Methods:Floristic diversity,functional structure and the aboveground biomass of the herbaceous vegetation were assessed in 60 plots across three land management types,including fenced land(less disturbed),community forest(moderately disturbed)and fallow land(highly disturbed).Results:The herbaceous vegetation species richness increased with disturbance,where fenced land(71 species)had lower richness than community forest(95 species)and fallow land(103 species).The dominant life forms in each land management type were therophytes(fenced land:75.73%,community forest:78.87%and fallow land:77.89%).The average cover of grasses(p<0.001)and forbs(p=0.049)varied significantly and showed a trend opposite to that of anthropogenic pressure.However,the net pastoral value(p=0.002)and the total biomass(p<0.001)decreased significantly according to the disturbance gradient.The net pastoral value ranged from 32.83%in fenced land to 27.69%in fallow land.The total biomass was higher in fenced land(1317 kg ha^(-1))than in community forest(1205 kg ha^(-1))and fallow land(1009 kg ha^(-1)).Conclusions:This study highlights an increase in herbaceous vegetation diversity,which is offset by a decline in the pastoral value of the grazing lands across the disturbance gradient.展开更多
Soil bacterial and fungal communities play fundamental roles in biogeochemical cycles and ecosystem stability.Urbanization alters soil properties and microbial habitats,driving shifts in community composition,yet the ...Soil bacterial and fungal communities play fundamental roles in biogeochemical cycles and ecosystem stability.Urbanization alters soil properties and microbial habitats,driving shifts in community composition,yet the divergent responses of bacteria and fungi and their ecological consequences remain inadequately understood.To elucidate these differential responses,we investigated soil bacterial and fungal communities along an urbanization gradient,ranging from undisturbed reference forests to urban parks,across three distinct climatic regions.To capture different disturbance intensities,urban parks were classified by tree age into old parks(>60-year-old trees)and young parks(10-20-year-old trees).Climate had a strong influence on soil microbiota,yet urbanization still significantly altered both bacterial and fungal communities in all regions.Urban disturbances homogenized soil microbial communities:average similarity among bacterial communities increased from~79%in forests to~85%in young urban parks,indicating substantial homogenization,whereas fungal communities showed little homogenization.Urbanization also homogenized microbial functional traits,with a greater reduction in trait dissimilarity for bacteria than for fungi.Bacterial communities exhibited high adjustability to urban conditions,dominated by generalist taxa(~90%),whereas fungal communities consisted mostly of specialists(~83%).Despite these asynchronous responsesdbacteria adjusting and homogenizing more than fungidoverlapping functional traits between bacteria and fungi help maintain functional resilience in urban ecosystems.展开更多
文摘Knowledge about plant diversity along disturbance gradients is essential for conservation and management of fragmented coastal habitats.This study examined the effects of human disturbance intensity in coastal habitats of Kuwait on diversity,composition,identity and assemblage of vascular plant species.Plant survey data from 113 plots （5m×5m each） were randomly selected in 51 sites at coastal fragmented habitats at three levels of disturbance intensities （high,moderate and low） and were statistically analyzed.The results revealed that about 76% of the recorded species are considered threatened species in Kuwait,most of which are being lost in high disturbed habitats.Disturbance led to the dominance of Zygophyllum qatarense,Cornulaca aucheri and Salsola imbricata,which are species of disturbance indicators.Richness,total plant cover and species diversity were higher in moderate and low disturbed habitats than in high disturbed habitats.Beta diversity between high and low disturbed habitats was higher than either between high and moderate,or between moderate and low disturbed habitats.Cluster analyses showed statistically significant differences in composition of plant assemblages,which indicate high beta diversity between the habitat types.Intensive urbanization and industrialization are among the most serious threats that contribute to declines in biological diversity and rapid fragmentation of coastal habitats in Kuwait.Establishing protective enclosures in the disturbed habitats,planting endangered and vulnerable species,and establishing a natural reserve at Nuwaiseeb are recommended conservation actions to avoid loss of the fragmented coastal habitats and to facilitate restoration of native plants.
文摘Background:In West African semi-arid areas,grazing ecosystems are exposed to severe anthropogenic and climatic pressures.However,little is known about the contribution of local land management practices to increasing herbaceous forage in semi-arid environments.To recommend sustainable practices,this study therefore assessed the effect of three land management types on the diversity,functional structure and forage provision of the herbaceous vegetation in the Great Green Wall in Burkina Faso.Methods:Floristic diversity,functional structure and the aboveground biomass of the herbaceous vegetation were assessed in 60 plots across three land management types,including fenced land(less disturbed),community forest(moderately disturbed)and fallow land(highly disturbed).Results:The herbaceous vegetation species richness increased with disturbance,where fenced land(71 species)had lower richness than community forest(95 species)and fallow land(103 species).The dominant life forms in each land management type were therophytes(fenced land:75.73%,community forest:78.87%and fallow land:77.89%).The average cover of grasses(p<0.001)and forbs(p=0.049)varied significantly and showed a trend opposite to that of anthropogenic pressure.However,the net pastoral value(p=0.002)and the total biomass(p<0.001)decreased significantly according to the disturbance gradient.The net pastoral value ranged from 32.83%in fenced land to 27.69%in fallow land.The total biomass was higher in fenced land(1317 kg ha^(-1))than in community forest(1205 kg ha^(-1))and fallow land(1009 kg ha^(-1)).Conclusions:This study highlights an increase in herbaceous vegetation diversity,which is offset by a decline in the pastoral value of the grazing lands across the disturbance gradient.
基金financially supported by the National Key R&D Program of China(no.2023YFE0112000)the National Science Foundation of China(no.32371843)which were originated from the PARKTRAITS project(Academy of Finland,no.1315987).
文摘Soil bacterial and fungal communities play fundamental roles in biogeochemical cycles and ecosystem stability.Urbanization alters soil properties and microbial habitats,driving shifts in community composition,yet the divergent responses of bacteria and fungi and their ecological consequences remain inadequately understood.To elucidate these differential responses,we investigated soil bacterial and fungal communities along an urbanization gradient,ranging from undisturbed reference forests to urban parks,across three distinct climatic regions.To capture different disturbance intensities,urban parks were classified by tree age into old parks(>60-year-old trees)and young parks(10-20-year-old trees).Climate had a strong influence on soil microbiota,yet urbanization still significantly altered both bacterial and fungal communities in all regions.Urban disturbances homogenized soil microbial communities:average similarity among bacterial communities increased from~79%in forests to~85%in young urban parks,indicating substantial homogenization,whereas fungal communities showed little homogenization.Urbanization also homogenized microbial functional traits,with a greater reduction in trait dissimilarity for bacteria than for fungi.Bacterial communities exhibited high adjustability to urban conditions,dominated by generalist taxa(~90%),whereas fungal communities consisted mostly of specialists(~83%).Despite these asynchronous responsesdbacteria adjusting and homogenizing more than fungidoverlapping functional traits between bacteria and fungi help maintain functional resilience in urban ecosystems.
