Species–area relationship has been widely addressed on many plant communities, but very few have conducted on epiphytic communities. Epiphytic plants are plentiful on ancient tea trees (Camelia sinensis var. assamica) in the well-known Jingmai tea plantation area, Langcang region of Yunnan Province, SW China, and add to the plant community biodiversity. We investigated 343 tea trees with various ground diameter, canopy area, under branch height, and tree height. A total of 146 vascular epiphytic plants, belonging to 19 species in seven families were recorded from the trunk or branches of 93 (27.11%) investigated trees. We examined in situ abundance, richness, and diversity (Shannon–Weiner index) of the recorded vascular epiphytes, and their relationships to tree variables. Our results showed that the distribution (abundance, richness, and diversity) of epiphytic plants are significantly related to the canopy area (p<0.05) and basal diameter (p<0.0001) of tea trees, supporting their use as key factors and good predictor for the epiphyte’s appearance in this type of agro-ecosystems. We also concluded that the species–area relationship is a useful epiphytic species community research tool.
Tag: plants
Novel endophytic pestalotioid species associated with Itea in Thailand
Endophytic fungi are an intriguing group of host-associated microorganisms that enhance plant growth and fitness by producing bioactive secondary metabolites. These fungi serve as valuable sources of industrial enzymes for secondary metabolite synthesis, benefiting green agriculture, biotechnology, and pharmaceuticals. Despite the economic and ecological significance of the Itea genus—known for its rare sugar content—its associated endophytic fungi remain undocumented. This study isolated and characterized 11 strains of endophytic fungi, primarily identified as pestalotioid taxa, from the leaves, stems, and roots of Itea japonica and I. riparia in Chiang Mai Province, Thailand. Using morphological analysis, multiloci phylogeny (ITS, tub2, tef1-α), and nucleotide polymorphism studies, researchers proposed Neopestalotiopsis iteae and Pseudopestalotiopsis iteae as new species inhabiting I. japonica and I. riparia, respectively. Additionally, Neopestalotiopsis chrysea, N. haikouensis, and Pestalotiopsis jinchanghensis were identified as new records on I. riparia.
The interface of timber and non-timber resources: declining resources for subsistance livelihoods – a southern case study from Brazilian Amazonia
Given the importance of non-timber forest resources to subsistence livelihoods, the increased rate of logging in Amazonia, and the pronounced overlap of timber and non-timber species, it is important to evaluate the altered composition and abundance of NTFPs. In this changing landscape, it is vital to understand which species are widely utilized for their non-timber value, which NTFPs species are extracted for timber and what their comparative timber and non-timber value is. To answer these questions, quantitative and qualitative results of a seven-year study are provided on the use of plant and animal forest resources by 30 households residing in an area of terra firme (upland dry) forest undergoing selective logging.
Evolutionary time drives global tetrapod diversity
New approaches for delineating n-dimensional hypervolumes
Guidelines to Produce Quality Planting Material of Agroforestry Species
Agroforestry—an effective, traditional land management system of integrating trees and shrubs into various crops and croplivestock production systems—has been practiced in India for centuries. Covered under the umbrella of agriculture before, it was only recently that agroforestry emerged as a distinct branch of science. The past three decades have witnessed a tremendous boost to agroforestry across the world, and India is among those pioneer countries which are taking major actions to step up the research, education, and policy level support to agroforestry.
Agroforestry and the development of tropical forestry
This paper is divided into three parts. Part one deals specifically with deforestation. Deforestation is caused mainly by 1) conversion of forest lands into agricultural lands, 2) the quest for fuelwood and building poles, and 3) social and economic deprivation. The author warns of the dangers of confusing symptoms with cause of deforestation. Before embarking on the subject of agroforestry, the author, in the second part of this paper, gives a broad view of the ecological requirements of various plant species. The final, well detailed and comprehensive section deals specifically with agroforestry related aspects. A list of suitable agroforestry trees, shrubs and fodder crops is included.
Relating plant diversity to biomass and soil erosion in a cultivated landscape of the eastern seaboard of Thailand
Plant diversity can affect ecological processes through effects on biomass and soil condition. A study was carried out in an agricultural watershed of Thailand to document plant species richness of different agricultural land uses and to assess its relationship with biomass and soil erosion. A nested sampling design of 20 x 20 m, 10 x 10 m, 5 x 5 m and 1 x 1 m quadrats was employed to study species richness of three categories of plants: herbaceous plants, shrubs and trees. Interviews were conducted with farmers who owned the cultivated fields where sampling plots were located. Plant diversity was assessed by computing Shannon index, Simpson index, and Species richness. Species utility index, which is the percentage of species identified as useful, was also estimated for each land use. Biomass was estimated using methodology recommended by FAO and soil erosionwas estimated using the universal soil loss equation (USLE). From among the different land use types, mixed orchard ranked first in terms of plant diversity while paddy ranked last. Land uses with monocropping of shrubs, such as cassava, pineapple and sugarcane had lower plant diversity than land uses with monocropping of trees, such as coconut and para rubber. Monocropping of eucalyptus was an exception. Rotations of monocrops, namely pineapplecassava and sugarcanecassava, or intercropping, namely coconutcassava, also had a higher plant diversity as compared to monocropping of shrubs. The highest species utility index of 61 was found in orchards, the lowest of 9 was found in Eucalyptus plantations. Plant diversity was found to have a significant positive correlation with biomass and a negative, though non-significant, correlation with soil erosion.
Kaliyandra: okutandika n’okulabirira nasale
Kaliyandra (Caliandra calothyrsus) kati katono nga kamulisa ebimuli imyufu. Kakula bulungi mubulimbeera z’obudde, kumbalama zenyanja, kunsozi, naye kasinga kukola bulungi mubifo omulimibwa emwanyi. Ettaka eritaddako mmere, ebifo amazzi mwegakunganilra, n’obunyogovu Obungi bukosa okukula kwa Kaliyandra. Akati Kano kakula mangu nnyo era otandika okuganyulwa mumuti guno mubbanga Iya mwaka ggumu nga kamaze okusimbibwa. Omuti guno gusobola okuvaako emmere yebisolo okussuka emyaka kumi. Omuti guno gusobola okusimbibwa awantu wonna munimiro/ faamu engeri gyegutavuganya nabimera birala ebigulirannaye, kasita guba nga gulabiriddwa bulungi okukendeeza kukisikirize kyaagwo okubikka ebimera ebirala.
African plum: Dacryodes edulis
BOTANIC DESCRIPTIONDacryodes edulis is a medium-sized, evergreen tree attaining a height of 18-40 m in the forest but not exceeding 12 m in plantations. It is generally branched from low down, with a deep, dense crown. The bole is rather short, slightly fluted, 50-170 cm in diameter and more or less sinuous. The scented, pale grey, rough bark exudes a whitish resin. Buttresses are absent.Leaves compound, imparipinnate, with 5-8 pairs of leaflets; glossy above, pubescent, the pubescence disappearing with age.Flowers subtended, 3 lobed, conspicuous, caducous brow bracts, fragrant, about 5 mm across, trimerous except for the ovary, arranged in dense, ferruginous, stellate-tomentose inflorescence; sepals 3, brown; petals 3, cream-yellow; stamens 6, white; disc 6 lobed, surrounding the 2-celled, glabrous ovary; inflorescence axis 10-42 cm long or longer, deeply grooved.Fruits ellipsoidal drupes rather variable in size, 4-12 x 3-6 cm, resembling olives; exocarp thin, pink, becoming dark blue to violet at maturity; pulp firm and thin.