Both abiotic conditions and management influence the success of forest restoration.Despite growing interest and practical effort in restoring degraded forest landscapes,understanding of how disparate factors,such as t...Both abiotic conditions and management influence the success of forest restoration.Despite growing interest and practical effort in restoring degraded forest landscapes,understanding of how disparate factors,such as terrain,soil conditions,climate and silvicultural treatments,directly or collectively control species performance and shape community recovery remains limited.In this study,we assessed how topography and management intervention affect seedling survival and growth in the early stages of restoration.To do so,we established seven experimental plots,each measuring 20 m×20 m(400 m2)subdivided into 48 subplots,in coarse,anthropogenic grassland on a mid-elevation mountain slope in Hong Kong,and planted a total of 3975 native tree seedlings belonging to 12 tree species within them.To characterise topography,we modelled the elevation,slope,convexity and aspect of each subplot.Two types of tree guard(enclosed blue plastic sleeve and open yellow mesh),two types of fertiliser(organic and inorganic)and cardboard weeding mats were used to assess the impact of management interventions on the establishment of the seedlings.Survivorship,height and basal diameter were measured at 1,2 and 4 years after planting.We used generalised linear models to examine the effect of these factors and their interactions on seedling survival,and we applied linear models and hierarchical partitioning to explore their relative importance in determining the relative growth rate(RGR)of each species.The most parsimonious models were selected using the Akaike Information Criterion.Survivorship was 98.1%,95.2%and 86.4%across all plots in the first,second and fourth year,respectively.On average,topographic and management variables explained 1.48–3.34%of total variation in RGR,respectively,for all species.The models revealed that type of tree guard,aspect and elevation were the most important factors explaining RGR and survival.Results of hierarchical partitioning by species and growth period showed that the key determinants of performance vary by species and shift over the course of early seedling establishment,emphasising the importance of both spatial and temporal scales in the restoration of degraded tropical forests.Our findings support the use of enclosed tree guards and fertiliser to improve survivorship and growth across a range of broadleaved Asiatic species.All potential limiting factors pertaining to both site factors and management,as well as their interactions,should be considered in restoration planning to maximise restoration success.展开更多
In floristic research,the grid mapping method is a crucial and highly effective tool for investigating the flora of specific regions.This methodology aids in the collection of comprehensive data,thereby promoting a th...In floristic research,the grid mapping method is a crucial and highly effective tool for investigating the flora of specific regions.This methodology aids in the collection of comprehensive data,thereby promoting a thorough understanding of regional plant diversity.This paper presents findings from a grid mapping study conducted in the Surkhan-Sherabad botanical-geographic region(SShBGR),acknowledged as one of the major floristic areas in southwestern Uzbekistan.Using an expansive dataset of 14,317 records comprised of herbarium specimens and field diary entries collected from 1897 to 2023,we evaluated the stages and seasonal dynamics of data accumulation,species richness(SR),and collection density(CD)within 5 km×5 km grid cells.We further examined the taxonomic and life form composition of the region's flora.Our analysis revealed that the grid mapping phase(2021–2023)produced a significantly greater volume of specimens and taxonomic diversity compared with other periods(1897–1940,1941–1993,and 1994–2020).Field research spanned 206 grid cells during 2021–2023,resulting in 11,883 samples,including 6469 herbarium specimens and 5414 field records.Overall,fieldwork covered 251 of the 253 grid cells within the SShBGR.Notably,the highest species diversity was documented in the B198 grid cell,recording 160 species.In terms of collection density,the E198 grid cell produced 475 samples.Overall,we identified 1053 species distributed across 439 genera and 78 families in the SShBGR.The flora of this region aligned significantly with the dominant families commonly found in the Holarctic,highlighting vital ecological connections.Among our findings,the Asteraceae family was the most polymorphic,with 147 species,followed by the continually stable and diverse Poaceae,Fabaceae,Brassicaceae,and Amaranthaceae.Besides,our analysis revealed a predominance of therophyte life forms,which constituted 52%(552 species)of the total flora.The findings underscore the necessity for continual data collection efforts to further enhance our understanding of the biodiversity in the SShBGR.The results of this study demonstrated that the application of grid-based mapping in floristic studies proves to be an effective tool for assessing biodiversity and identifying key taxonomic groups.展开更多
Adaptation to different environments can lead to local adaptations that facilitate morphological divergence between closely related taxa,potentially leading to speciation.Quantifying habitat variation can thus provide...Adaptation to different environments can lead to local adaptations that facilitate morphological divergence between closely related taxa,potentially leading to speciation.Quantifying habitat variation can thus provide valuable insights into evolutionary processes.Arboreal dwarf chameleons of the genus Bradypodion exhibit 3 distinct ecomorphological forms:forest,shrub,and“little brown chameleons”(LBCs).It is assumed these ecomorphs are the result of convergence among species that are in similar habitats regardless of ancestry,or in some cases,morphological conservatism and retention of an ancestral form that is adapted to a shared habitat type.If so,then the habitat of different ecomorphs would differ in vegetation structure.Our results show that vegetation structure in fynbos/grassy habitats is characterized by significantly narrower perches than shrubby habitats,but both have a largely vertical perch orientation.In contrast,forests have significantly fewer vertical perches than fynbos/grassy habitats with significantly thicker diameter perches.Accordingly,LBC and shrub species used more vertically oriented perches than forest species,suggesting that perch use corresponds with the most widely available perch angles.Although LBC chameleons used the smallest diameter perches,when corrected for body size,there was no difference in perch diameter among ecomorphs.These results suggest that the body size of LBC chameleons is constrained by the prevalence of small-diameter perches in their habitat.Species in habitats with wider perches attain larger body size.These findings support the notion that variation in perch structure is critical for phenotypic convergence that has resulted in the 3 Bradypodion ecomorphs.展开更多
Grassland shrub encroachment is a phenomenon that is prevalent in arid and semi-arid regions worldwide,impacting grassland ecosystems in several ways.In the context of escalating climate change and human activities,ex...Grassland shrub encroachment is a phenomenon that is prevalent in arid and semi-arid regions worldwide,impacting grassland ecosystems in several ways.In the context of escalating climate change and human activities,examining the nutrient and stoichiometric characteristics of Spiraea shrubs in grassland ecosystems,along with their relationships with environmental factors,can yield valuable insights into the nutrient utilization and survival strategies of these shrubs.This,in turn,offers a scientific foundation for developing future conservation measures.This study was conducted in July 2023 in the Altay Mountains,Northwest China,where Spiraea shrubs thrive across five grassland types:temperate steppe desert,temperate desert steppe,temperate steppe,temperate meadow steppe,and mountain meadow.Leaf and soil samples were collected from each grassland type to analyze the concentrations of carbon(C),nitrogen(N),and phosphorus(P),as well as the stoichiometric characteristics of both the leaves and soil.Subsequently,correlation analysis and redundancy analysis(RDA)were conducted to investigate the variations in leaf C,N,and P concentrations and leaf stoichiometry of Spiraea shrubs as well as their influencing factors.The results indicated the presence of significant or highly significant differences(P<0.050)in the leaf C,N,and P concentrations and leaf stoichiometry(C:N,C:P,and N:P ratios)of Spiraea shrubs across the five grassland types.The N:P ratios of Spiraea shrub leaves in the five grassland types ranged from 7.37 to 11.77,suggesting that N availability generally limits the growth of Spiraea shrubs.Results of RDA revealed that the most significant contributors to the C,N,and P concentrations and stoichiometric characteristics of Spiraea shrub leaves were in the following order:soil total N>mean annual precipitation>elevation>soil pH>soil organic C>mean annual temperature.These factors had contribution rates of 35.32%,13.19%,10.20%,8.82%,8.34%,and 6.48%,respectively.It was determined that soil nutrients have a greater impact on the growth and nutrient accumulation of Spiraea shrubs compared to climatic factors.This study makes an important contribution to the theoretical basis and data support,enabling a deeper understanding of the response mechanisms of shrub species in the grassland ecosystems of the Altay Mountains to climate change.展开更多
Subgenus Melanocrommyum is the second largest subgenus of Allium,with a wide distribution ranging from the Canary Islands to northwestern India.This study investigates the phylogeny,biogeographic patterns,and morpholo...Subgenus Melanocrommyum is the second largest subgenus of Allium,with a wide distribution ranging from the Canary Islands to northwestern India.This study investigates the phylogeny,biogeographic patterns,and morphological character evolution of the subgenus using 117 accessions representing 107taxa across the 19 currently recognized sections within Allium subgenus Melanocrommyum.Although the subgenus is monophyletic,significant incongruence exists between morphological and molecular data.Our plastome-based phylogenetic analysis identified five distinct lineages(A-E),corresponding to the geographic distributions of the species.However,plastome lineages(A-E)and ITS clusters(A-G)were incongruent.Biogeographic and molecular dating analyses suggest that Melanocrommyum evolved in association with tectonic uplift events in Central Asia during the Late Miocene or Oligocene.Our finding that Melanocrommyum plastomes have lost inf A and one copy rps19 gene indicate that the subgenus has undergone a relatively recent diversification.We also found that narrow leaves and fasciculate to semiglobose inflorescences may represent ancestral traits within the subgenus.This study provides new insights into the biogeographic history and trait evolution of Melanocrommyum,suggesting recent diversification influenced by tectonic events and climate change,while highlighting the complexity of molecular and morphological data integration.展开更多
中国香港位于热带北缘,其植被在历史上曾遭到大规模破坏,近几十年来逐渐恢复。香港植物标本采集有很长的历史,迄今为止已记录的维管植物超过2 170种,然而新种和新分布仍在不断增加。在最近的野外工作中,作者发现10种在香港新记录到的维...中国香港位于热带北缘,其植被在历史上曾遭到大规模破坏,近几十年来逐渐恢复。香港植物标本采集有很长的历史,迄今为止已记录的维管植物超过2 170种,然而新种和新分布仍在不断增加。在最近的野外工作中,作者发现10种在香港新记录到的维管植物,分别是唇边书带蕨[Haplopteris elongata (Swartz) E. H.Crane]、雷公连[Amydrium sinense (Engl.) H. Li]、百足藤[Pothos repens (Lour.) Druce]、四川轮环藤(Cycleasutchuenensis Gagnep.)、山黑豆(Dumasia truncata Siebold&Zucc.)、倒心叶珊瑚[Aucuba obcordata (Rehder) Fu ex W. K. Hu et Soong]、竹叶榕(Ficus stenophylla Hemsl.)、长叶冠毛榕[F. gasparriniana var. esquirolii (H. Lév.&Vaniot) Corner]、硬叶冬青(Ilex ficifolia C. J. Tseng ex S. K. Chen et Y. X. Feng)、假福王草[Paraprenanthes sororia(Miq.) C. Shih.]。雷公连属(Amydrium Schott)、山黑豆属(Dumasia DC.)和假福王草属(Paraprenanthes C. C.Chang ex C. Shih)为香港的新记录属。以上的发现不仅丰富了香港的植物区系,而且表明保护残存植被非常重要,且极小种群的保护也值得特别关注。展开更多
Botanically, the Mayoko district is known only through anecdotal descriptions made in the colonial era. The present study was undertaken as part of the prerequisite for a mining feasibility study where a benchmark of ...Botanically, the Mayoko district is known only through anecdotal descriptions made in the colonial era. The present study was undertaken as part of the prerequisite for a mining feasibility study where a benchmark of the floristic composition, diversity and structure of the vegetation was needed to evaluate potential biodiversity offset areas and to guide species selection for post-mining re-vegetation. The study area comprised approximately 160,000 ha and 235 sample sites were surveyed using the Braun-Blanquet method of phytosociology. Diversity of each plant association was expressed in terms of various diversity parameters. Twelve associations were described and mapped. The associations ranged from highly disturbed and degraded to fairly intact forest associations. A wet to dry gradient and permanently inundated to temporary inundated gradient could also be distinguished. The approach followed here proved remarkably robust in illustrating the complexity in a topographically complex region of the Chaillu Massif. The data provided a high level of insight into the possible dynamics of the rainforest and indications as to possible successional pathways. This information provides a better level of understanding of forest structure and evolution potential than studies limited to trees, remote sensing carbon assessments, or time change series.展开更多
基金The financial support of CLP Holdings Limited is acknowledged for supporting KFBG's ongoing applied forest restoration research.
文摘Both abiotic conditions and management influence the success of forest restoration.Despite growing interest and practical effort in restoring degraded forest landscapes,understanding of how disparate factors,such as terrain,soil conditions,climate and silvicultural treatments,directly or collectively control species performance and shape community recovery remains limited.In this study,we assessed how topography and management intervention affect seedling survival and growth in the early stages of restoration.To do so,we established seven experimental plots,each measuring 20 m×20 m(400 m2)subdivided into 48 subplots,in coarse,anthropogenic grassland on a mid-elevation mountain slope in Hong Kong,and planted a total of 3975 native tree seedlings belonging to 12 tree species within them.To characterise topography,we modelled the elevation,slope,convexity and aspect of each subplot.Two types of tree guard(enclosed blue plastic sleeve and open yellow mesh),two types of fertiliser(organic and inorganic)and cardboard weeding mats were used to assess the impact of management interventions on the establishment of the seedlings.Survivorship,height and basal diameter were measured at 1,2 and 4 years after planting.We used generalised linear models to examine the effect of these factors and their interactions on seedling survival,and we applied linear models and hierarchical partitioning to explore their relative importance in determining the relative growth rate(RGR)of each species.The most parsimonious models were selected using the Akaike Information Criterion.Survivorship was 98.1%,95.2%and 86.4%across all plots in the first,second and fourth year,respectively.On average,topographic and management variables explained 1.48–3.34%of total variation in RGR,respectively,for all species.The models revealed that type of tree guard,aspect and elevation were the most important factors explaining RGR and survival.Results of hierarchical partitioning by species and growth period showed that the key determinants of performance vary by species and shift over the course of early seedling establishment,emphasising the importance of both spatial and temporal scales in the restoration of degraded tropical forests.Our findings support the use of enclosed tree guards and fertiliser to improve survivorship and growth across a range of broadleaved Asiatic species.All potential limiting factors pertaining to both site factors and management,as well as their interactions,should be considered in restoration planning to maximise restoration success.
基金supported by the grant from the State Programs"Grid Mapping of the Flora of Uzbekistan'during 2020–2024"the grant from the State Programs"Creation of the Digital Platform of the Plant World of Central Uzbekistan"during 2025–2029the State Research Project"Taxonomic Revision of Polymorphic Plant Families of the Flora of Uzbekistan"from the Institute of Botany,Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Uzbekistan (A-FA-2021-427)
文摘In floristic research,the grid mapping method is a crucial and highly effective tool for investigating the flora of specific regions.This methodology aids in the collection of comprehensive data,thereby promoting a thorough understanding of regional plant diversity.This paper presents findings from a grid mapping study conducted in the Surkhan-Sherabad botanical-geographic region(SShBGR),acknowledged as one of the major floristic areas in southwestern Uzbekistan.Using an expansive dataset of 14,317 records comprised of herbarium specimens and field diary entries collected from 1897 to 2023,we evaluated the stages and seasonal dynamics of data accumulation,species richness(SR),and collection density(CD)within 5 km×5 km grid cells.We further examined the taxonomic and life form composition of the region's flora.Our analysis revealed that the grid mapping phase(2021–2023)produced a significantly greater volume of specimens and taxonomic diversity compared with other periods(1897–1940,1941–1993,and 1994–2020).Field research spanned 206 grid cells during 2021–2023,resulting in 11,883 samples,including 6469 herbarium specimens and 5414 field records.Overall,fieldwork covered 251 of the 253 grid cells within the SShBGR.Notably,the highest species diversity was documented in the B198 grid cell,recording 160 species.In terms of collection density,the E198 grid cell produced 475 samples.Overall,we identified 1053 species distributed across 439 genera and 78 families in the SShBGR.The flora of this region aligned significantly with the dominant families commonly found in the Holarctic,highlighting vital ecological connections.Among our findings,the Asteraceae family was the most polymorphic,with 147 species,followed by the continually stable and diverse Poaceae,Fabaceae,Brassicaceae,and Amaranthaceae.Besides,our analysis revealed a predominance of therophyte life forms,which constituted 52%(552 species)of the total flora.The findings underscore the necessity for continual data collection efforts to further enhance our understanding of the biodiversity in the SShBGR.The results of this study demonstrated that the application of grid-based mapping in floristic studies proves to be an effective tool for assessing biodiversity and identifying key taxonomic groups.
基金funded by the National Research Foundation of South Africa,Dimensions of Biodiversity Program(Grant no.136381).
文摘Adaptation to different environments can lead to local adaptations that facilitate morphological divergence between closely related taxa,potentially leading to speciation.Quantifying habitat variation can thus provide valuable insights into evolutionary processes.Arboreal dwarf chameleons of the genus Bradypodion exhibit 3 distinct ecomorphological forms:forest,shrub,and“little brown chameleons”(LBCs).It is assumed these ecomorphs are the result of convergence among species that are in similar habitats regardless of ancestry,or in some cases,morphological conservatism and retention of an ancestral form that is adapted to a shared habitat type.If so,then the habitat of different ecomorphs would differ in vegetation structure.Our results show that vegetation structure in fynbos/grassy habitats is characterized by significantly narrower perches than shrubby habitats,but both have a largely vertical perch orientation.In contrast,forests have significantly fewer vertical perches than fynbos/grassy habitats with significantly thicker diameter perches.Accordingly,LBC and shrub species used more vertically oriented perches than forest species,suggesting that perch use corresponds with the most widely available perch angles.Although LBC chameleons used the smallest diameter perches,when corrected for body size,there was no difference in perch diameter among ecomorphs.These results suggest that the body size of LBC chameleons is constrained by the prevalence of small-diameter perches in their habitat.Species in habitats with wider perches attain larger body size.These findings support the notion that variation in perch structure is critical for phenotypic convergence that has resulted in the 3 Bradypodion ecomorphs.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(W2412123)the Youth Top Talents Project of"Tianshan Talent"Training Plan of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region,China(2022TSYCCX0011)+1 种基金the Tianshan Talents Project of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region,China(2022TSYCLJ0056)the Self-deployment Program of Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography,Chinese Academy of Sciences(E350030401).
文摘Grassland shrub encroachment is a phenomenon that is prevalent in arid and semi-arid regions worldwide,impacting grassland ecosystems in several ways.In the context of escalating climate change and human activities,examining the nutrient and stoichiometric characteristics of Spiraea shrubs in grassland ecosystems,along with their relationships with environmental factors,can yield valuable insights into the nutrient utilization and survival strategies of these shrubs.This,in turn,offers a scientific foundation for developing future conservation measures.This study was conducted in July 2023 in the Altay Mountains,Northwest China,where Spiraea shrubs thrive across five grassland types:temperate steppe desert,temperate desert steppe,temperate steppe,temperate meadow steppe,and mountain meadow.Leaf and soil samples were collected from each grassland type to analyze the concentrations of carbon(C),nitrogen(N),and phosphorus(P),as well as the stoichiometric characteristics of both the leaves and soil.Subsequently,correlation analysis and redundancy analysis(RDA)were conducted to investigate the variations in leaf C,N,and P concentrations and leaf stoichiometry of Spiraea shrubs as well as their influencing factors.The results indicated the presence of significant or highly significant differences(P<0.050)in the leaf C,N,and P concentrations and leaf stoichiometry(C:N,C:P,and N:P ratios)of Spiraea shrubs across the five grassland types.The N:P ratios of Spiraea shrub leaves in the five grassland types ranged from 7.37 to 11.77,suggesting that N availability generally limits the growth of Spiraea shrubs.Results of RDA revealed that the most significant contributors to the C,N,and P concentrations and stoichiometric characteristics of Spiraea shrub leaves were in the following order:soil total N>mean annual precipitation>elevation>soil pH>soil organic C>mean annual temperature.These factors had contribution rates of 35.32%,13.19%,10.20%,8.82%,8.34%,and 6.48%,respectively.It was determined that soil nutrients have a greater impact on the growth and nutrient accumulation of Spiraea shrubs compared to climatic factors.This study makes an important contribution to the theoretical basis and data support,enabling a deeper understanding of the response mechanisms of shrub species in the grassland ecosystems of the Altay Mountains to climate change.
基金supported by grants from the Second Tibetan Plateau Scientific Expedition and Research(STEP)program(2019QZKK0502)the state research project‘Taxonomic Revision of Polymorphic Plant Families of the Flora of Uzbekistan’(FZ20200929321)+3 种基金the State Programs for 2021-2025‘Grid mapping of the flora of Uzbekistan’and the‘Digital Nature.Development of a digital platform for the flora of Central Uzbekistan’,implemented by the Institute of Botany of the Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Uzbekistan for the period 2025-2029National Natural Science Foundation of China(32322006)the Key Projects of the Joint Fund of the National Natural Science Foundation of China(U23A20149)the R&D Program of Yunnan Province(202103AF140005).
文摘Subgenus Melanocrommyum is the second largest subgenus of Allium,with a wide distribution ranging from the Canary Islands to northwestern India.This study investigates the phylogeny,biogeographic patterns,and morphological character evolution of the subgenus using 117 accessions representing 107taxa across the 19 currently recognized sections within Allium subgenus Melanocrommyum.Although the subgenus is monophyletic,significant incongruence exists between morphological and molecular data.Our plastome-based phylogenetic analysis identified five distinct lineages(A-E),corresponding to the geographic distributions of the species.However,plastome lineages(A-E)and ITS clusters(A-G)were incongruent.Biogeographic and molecular dating analyses suggest that Melanocrommyum evolved in association with tectonic uplift events in Central Asia during the Late Miocene or Oligocene.Our finding that Melanocrommyum plastomes have lost inf A and one copy rps19 gene indicate that the subgenus has undergone a relatively recent diversification.We also found that narrow leaves and fasciculate to semiglobose inflorescences may represent ancestral traits within the subgenus.This study provides new insights into the biogeographic history and trait evolution of Melanocrommyum,suggesting recent diversification influenced by tectonic events and climate change,while highlighting the complexity of molecular and morphological data integration.
文摘中国香港位于热带北缘,其植被在历史上曾遭到大规模破坏,近几十年来逐渐恢复。香港植物标本采集有很长的历史,迄今为止已记录的维管植物超过2 170种,然而新种和新分布仍在不断增加。在最近的野外工作中,作者发现10种在香港新记录到的维管植物,分别是唇边书带蕨[Haplopteris elongata (Swartz) E. H.Crane]、雷公连[Amydrium sinense (Engl.) H. Li]、百足藤[Pothos repens (Lour.) Druce]、四川轮环藤(Cycleasutchuenensis Gagnep.)、山黑豆(Dumasia truncata Siebold&Zucc.)、倒心叶珊瑚[Aucuba obcordata (Rehder) Fu ex W. K. Hu et Soong]、竹叶榕(Ficus stenophylla Hemsl.)、长叶冠毛榕[F. gasparriniana var. esquirolii (H. Lév.&Vaniot) Corner]、硬叶冬青(Ilex ficifolia C. J. Tseng ex S. K. Chen et Y. X. Feng)、假福王草[Paraprenanthes sororia(Miq.) C. Shih.]。雷公连属(Amydrium Schott)、山黑豆属(Dumasia DC.)和假福王草属(Paraprenanthes C. C.Chang ex C. Shih)为香港的新记录属。以上的发现不仅丰富了香港的植物区系,而且表明保护残存植被非常重要,且极小种群的保护也值得特别关注。
文摘Botanically, the Mayoko district is known only through anecdotal descriptions made in the colonial era. The present study was undertaken as part of the prerequisite for a mining feasibility study where a benchmark of the floristic composition, diversity and structure of the vegetation was needed to evaluate potential biodiversity offset areas and to guide species selection for post-mining re-vegetation. The study area comprised approximately 160,000 ha and 235 sample sites were surveyed using the Braun-Blanquet method of phytosociology. Diversity of each plant association was expressed in terms of various diversity parameters. Twelve associations were described and mapped. The associations ranged from highly disturbed and degraded to fairly intact forest associations. A wet to dry gradient and permanently inundated to temporary inundated gradient could also be distinguished. The approach followed here proved remarkably robust in illustrating the complexity in a topographically complex region of the Chaillu Massif. The data provided a high level of insight into the possible dynamics of the rainforest and indications as to possible successional pathways. This information provides a better level of understanding of forest structure and evolution potential than studies limited to trees, remote sensing carbon assessments, or time change series.
