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Gillani SW, Ahmad M, Ali MA, Zafar M, Alkahtani J, Makhkamov T, Yuldashev A, Mamarakhimov O, Khaydarov K, Botirova L, Kilic O, Shaheen H, Idrees M, Sultana S, Manzoor M, Majeed S. Phyto-ecological studies and distribution patterns of subfamily Polygonoideae in relation to edaphic factors across diverse ecological zones. Heliyon 2024; 10:e36571. [PMID: 39263057 PMCID: PMC11387361 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e36571] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2023] [Revised: 08/17/2024] [Accepted: 08/19/2024] [Indexed: 09/13/2024] Open
Abstract
The species of the subfamily Polygonoideae is an essential component of temperate forests as well as the flora of the western Himalayan region. The aim of this research was to explore the taxonomic diversity, distribution patterns, and associated flora of Polygonoideae in relation to edaphic factors in various ecological zones in the Muzaffarabad division of the Kashmir Western Himalayan Region. We applied a random sampling approach for data collection from 10 different sites with a cumulative 780 quadrats to record the diversity of wild Polygonoideae species across the Muzaffarabad division between 2021 and 2022. This study revealed 279 plant species from 192 genera and 75 families associated with Polygonoideae, with the dominant families being Asteraceae, Poaceae, Lamiaceae, and Rosaceae. Herbs were predominant in the investigated area, with a proportion of 72.40 %, followed by shrubs (9.68 %) and pteridophytes (8.24 %). The flora was dominated by therophytes (37.35 %), whereas nanophylls (37.28 %) were the most dominant leaf form. Persicaria, Rumex, and Polygonum genera were observed and collected from various ecological zones, while Bistorta, Fagopyrum, Oxyria, and Rheum were only collected from a single zone, representing a restricted niche. A total of 28 taxa from 8 genera were studied in the investigative subfamily Polygonoideae, with the majority being therophytes (57.14 %), followed by hemicryptophytes (28.57 %), and leaf form dominated by microphylls (50 %) and nanophylls (17.85 %). The average values for Shannon and Simpson's diversity for the reported plant communities were 0.96 and 3.53, respectively, whereas species richness averaged 2.43 and species evenness 0.92. The vegetation exhibited a relatively lower (<50) maturity, averaging 32.08. Deforestation, overexploitation for medicinal purposes, soil erosion, overgrazing, forest fires, and the expansion of agricultural fields were identified as major threats to floral diversity. A significant correlation was observed between elevation and soil nutrient parameters, where moisture content, SOC, SOM, TK, and TN ratios showed a positive correlation, while pH and TP showed a negative correlation. Polygonum paronychioides and Rumex alpinus were the least observed of Polygonoideae taxa, whereas 39 species were found to be threatened, having low (<0.2) IVI values and seeking immediate conservation efforts. Climate change and anthropogenic pressure may lead to a change in the composition patterns and threaten the Polygonoidae species. We suggest community-based initiatives and sustainable conservation measures to safeguard the floral wealth of the Western Himalaya.
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Affiliation(s)
- Syed Waseem Gillani
- Department of Plant Sciences, Quaid-i-Azam University, 45320, Islamabad, Pakistan
| | - Mushtaq Ahmad
- Department of Plant Sciences, Quaid-i-Azam University, 45320, Islamabad, Pakistan
- Pakistan Academy of Sciences, Islamabad, Pakistan
| | - M Ajmal Ali
- Department of Botany and Microbiology, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh, 11451, Saudi Arabia
| | - Muhammad Zafar
- Department of Plant Sciences, Quaid-i-Azam University, 45320, Islamabad, Pakistan
| | - Jawaher Alkahtani
- Department of Botany and Microbiology, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh, 11451, Saudi Arabia
| | - Trobjon Makhkamov
- Department of Forestry and Landscape Design, Tashkent State Agrarian University, 2 A., Universitet Str., Kibray District, 100700, Tashkent Region, Uzbekistan
| | - Akramjon Yuldashev
- Department of Ecology and Botany, Andijan State University, 129, Universitet Str., 170100, Andijan, Uzbekistan
| | - Oybek Mamarakhimov
- Department of Ecological Monitoring, National University of Uzbekistan, University Street, Tashkent, 100174, Uzbekistan
| | - Khislat Khaydarov
- Institute of Biochemistry, Samarkand State University Faculty of Biology, Universitetsty Bulvvar Street-15, Smarkand, 140104, Uzbekistan
| | - Laziza Botirova
- Department of Medicinal Plants and Botany, Gulistan State University, 4, Micro-district, Gulistan, 120100, Sir- Darya Region, Uzbekistan
| | - Omer Kilic
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmacy Vocational Sciences, Adiyaman University, Turkiye
| | - Hamayun Shaheen
- Department of Botany, University of Azad Jammu & Kashmir, Muzaffarabad, 13100, Pakistan
| | - Muhammad Idrees
- College of Life Sciences, Neijiang Normal University, Neijiang, 641000, Sichuan, China
| | - Shazia Sultana
- Department of Plant Sciences, Quaid-i-Azam University, 45320, Islamabad, Pakistan
| | - Muhammad Manzoor
- Department of Plant Sciences, Quaid-i-Azam University, 45320, Islamabad, Pakistan
| | - Salman Majeed
- Department of Plant Sciences, Quaid-i-Azam University, 45320, Islamabad, Pakistan
- Department of Botany, University of Mianwali, Mianwali, 42200, Pakistan
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Pellikka P, Luotamo M, Sädekoski N, Hietanen J, Vuorinne I, Räsänen M, Heiskanen J, Siljander M, Karhu K, Klami A. Tropical altitudinal gradient soil organic carbon and nitrogen estimation using Specim IQ portable imaging spectrometer. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 883:163677. [PMID: 37105488 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.163677] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2023] [Revised: 03/25/2023] [Accepted: 04/19/2023] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
The largest actively cycling terrestrial carbon pool, soil, has been disturbed during latest centuries by human actions through reduction of woody land cover. Soil organic carbon (SOC) content can reliably be estimated in laboratory conditions, but more cost-efficient and mobile techniques are needed for large-scale monitoring of SOC e.g. in remote areas. We demonstrate the capability of a mobile hyperspectral camera operating in the visible-near infrared wavelength range for practical estimation of soil organic carbon (SOC) and nitrogen content, to support efficient monitoring of soil properties. The 191 soil samples were collected in Taita Taveta County, Kenya representing an altitudinal gradient comprising five typical land use types: agroforestry, cropland, forest, shrubland and sisal estate. The soil samples were imaged using a Specim IQ hyperspectral camera under controlled laboratory conditions, and their carbon and nitrogen content was determined with a combustion analyzer. We use machine learning for estimating SOC and N content based on the spectral images, studying also automatic selection of informative wavelengths and quantification of prediction uncertainty. Five alternative methods were all found to perform well with a cross-validated R2 of approximately 0.8 and an RMSE of one percentage point, demonstrating feasibility of the proposed imaging setup and computational pipeline.
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Affiliation(s)
- Petri Pellikka
- University of Helsinki, Department of Geosciences and Geography, Helsinki, Finland; State Key Laboratory of Information Engineering in Surveying, Mapping and Remote Sensing, Wuhan University, PR China
| | - Markku Luotamo
- University of Helsinki, Department of Computer Science, Helsinki, Finland.
| | - Niklas Sädekoski
- University of Helsinki, Department of Geosciences and Geography, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Jesse Hietanen
- University of Helsinki, Department of Geosciences and Geography, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Ilja Vuorinne
- University of Helsinki, Department of Geosciences and Geography, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Matti Räsänen
- University of Helsinki, Department of Geosciences and Geography, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Janne Heiskanen
- University of Helsinki, Department of Geosciences and Geography, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Mika Siljander
- University of Helsinki, Department of Geosciences and Geography, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Kristiina Karhu
- University of Helsinki, Department of Forest Sciences, Helsinki, Finland; Helsinki Institute of Life Science (HiLIFE), Helsinki, Finland
| | - Arto Klami
- University of Helsinki, Department of Computer Science, Helsinki, Finland
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3
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Dar AA, Parthasarathy N. Ecological drivers of soil carbon in Kashmir Himalayan forests: Application of machine learning combined with structural equation modelling. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2023; 330:117147. [PMID: 36610192 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2022.117147] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2022] [Revised: 12/06/2022] [Accepted: 12/22/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Soil carbon (SC) heterogeneity in mountain ecosystems is ascertained by a complex interdependency of topography, climate, edaphic features, and biotic elements, which may incite uncertainties in regional SC estimation. However, quantitative evaluations of the interplay between SC and these determinants as well as underlying possible link networks, are uncommon. Using the data set of SC along with soil properties at 0-10 and 10-20 cm depths from 135 plots under three coniferous forests, we aimed to ascertain SC heterogeneity and to elucidate how these interactions affect the SC storage, operating data-driven models (Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator [LASSO] regression and structural equation modeling [SEM]) to identify the dominant explanatory factors affecting the distribution of SC in Kashmir Himalayan forests. Average SC stocks at 0-10 cm and 10-20 cm depth intervals range from 32.41 Mg ha-1 in sub-alpine (SA) forest to 48.50 Mg ha-1 in mixed conifer (MC) forest. The findings show that SC declines significantly from 0 - 10 cm to 10-20 cm strata, consistent with other soil physico-chemical determinants other than bulk density. SEM renders better model fit (0-10 cm: R2 = 0.61; 10-20cm: R2 = 0.46) with lesser uncertainties compared to LASSO (0-10 cm: R2 = 0.55; 10-20cm: R2 = 0.37). Soil properties and topography play a key role in modulating SC stocks, with total nitrogen (TN), soil moisture (SM), and elevation being principal drivers with contrasting effects on SC storage, while climate and vegetation parameters are of lesser influence. The relative effect of majority of explanatory drivers reduces with depth while that of temperature increases. Our analyses indicate that shifts in floristic composition could have long-lasting implications on soil structure and C storage, providing valuable data for C sink management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashaq Ahmad Dar
- Department of Ecology and Environmental Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Pondicherry University, Puducherry, 605 014, India
| | - Narayanaswamy Parthasarathy
- Department of Ecology and Environmental Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Pondicherry University, Puducherry, 605 014, India.
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Liu S, Xu G, Chen H, Zhang M, Cao X, Chen M, Chen J, Feng Q, Shi Z. Contrasting responses of soil microbial biomass and extracellular enzyme activity along an elevation gradient on the eastern Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. Front Microbiol 2023; 14:974316. [PMID: 36744094 PMCID: PMC9889656 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.974316] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2022] [Accepted: 01/02/2023] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Soil microbial community composition and extracellular enzyme activity are two main drivers of biogeochemical cycling. Knowledge about their elevational patterns is of great importance for predicting ecosystem functioning in response to climate change. Nevertheless, there is no consensus on how soil microbial community composition and extracellular enzyme activity vary with elevation, and little is known about their elevational variations on the eastern Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau, a region sensitive to global change. We therefore investigated the soil microbial community composition using phospholipid fatty acids (PLFAs) analysis, and enzyme activities at 2,820 m (coniferous and broadleaved mixed forest), 3,160 m (dark coniferous forest), 3,420 m (alpine dwarf forest), and 4,280 m (alpine shrubland) above sea level. Our results showed that soil microbial community composition and extracellular enzyme activities changed significantly along the elevational gradient. Biomass of total microbes, bacteria, and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi at the highest elevation were the significantly lowest among the four elevations. In contrast, extracellular enzyme activities involved in carbon (C)-, nitrogen (N)-, and phosphorus (P)- acquiring exhibited the maximum values at the highest elevation. Total nutrients and available nutrients, especially P availability jointly explained the elevational pattern of soil microbial community, while the elevational variation of extracellular enzyme activities was dependent on total nutrients. Microbial metabolism was mainly C- and P-limited with an increasing C limitation but a decreasing P limitation along the elevational gradient, which was related significantly to mean annual temperature and total P. These results indicated a vital role of soil P in driving the elevational patterns of soil microbial community and metabolism. Overall, the study highlighted the contrasting responses of soil microbial biomass and extracellular enzyme activities to elevation, possibly suggesting the differences in adaption strategy between population growth and resource acquisition responding to elevation. The results provide essential information for understanding and predicting the response of belowground community and function to climate change on the eastern Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shun Liu
- Key Laboratory of Forest Ecology and Environment of National Forestry and Grassland Administration, Ecology and Nature Conservation Institute, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing, China
- Miyaluo Research Station of Alpine Forest Ecosystem, Lixian County, China
| | - Gexi Xu
- Key Laboratory of Forest Ecology and Environment of National Forestry and Grassland Administration, Ecology and Nature Conservation Institute, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing, China
- Miyaluo Research Station of Alpine Forest Ecosystem, Lixian County, China
| | - Huanhuan Chen
- Key Laboratory of Forest Ecology and Environment of National Forestry and Grassland Administration, Ecology and Nature Conservation Institute, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing, China
- Miyaluo Research Station of Alpine Forest Ecosystem, Lixian County, China
| | - Miaomiao Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Forest Ecology and Environment of National Forestry and Grassland Administration, Ecology and Nature Conservation Institute, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing, China
- Miyaluo Research Station of Alpine Forest Ecosystem, Lixian County, China
| | - Xiangwen Cao
- Key Laboratory of Forest Ecology and Environment of National Forestry and Grassland Administration, Ecology and Nature Conservation Institute, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing, China
- Miyaluo Research Station of Alpine Forest Ecosystem, Lixian County, China
| | - Miao Chen
- Key Laboratory of Forest Ecology and Environment of National Forestry and Grassland Administration, Ecology and Nature Conservation Institute, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing, China
- Miyaluo Research Station of Alpine Forest Ecosystem, Lixian County, China
| | - Jian Chen
- Key Laboratory of Forest Ecology and Environment of National Forestry and Grassland Administration, Ecology and Nature Conservation Institute, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing, China
- Miyaluo Research Station of Alpine Forest Ecosystem, Lixian County, China
| | - Qiuhong Feng
- Ecological Restoration and Conservation on Forest and Wetland Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Wolong Forest Ecosystem Research Station, Sichuan Academy of Forestry, Chengdu, China
| | - Zuomin Shi
- Key Laboratory of Forest Ecology and Environment of National Forestry and Grassland Administration, Ecology and Nature Conservation Institute, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing, China
- Miyaluo Research Station of Alpine Forest Ecosystem, Lixian County, China
- Co-Innovation Center for Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, China
- Institute for Sustainable Plant Protection, National Research Council of Italy, Turino, Italy
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Kumar SS, Mir SA, Wani OA, Babu S, Yeasin M, Bhat MA, Hussain N, Ali Wani AI, Kumar R, Yadav D, Dar SR. Land-use systems regulate carbon geochemistry in the temperate Himalayas, India. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2022; 320:115811. [PMID: 36056479 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2022.115811] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2022] [Revised: 07/06/2022] [Accepted: 07/18/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
The Himalayan ecosystem is critical for ecological security and environmental sustainability. However, continuous deforestation is posing a serious threat to Himalayan sustainability. Changing land-use systems exert a tenacious impact on soil carbon (C) dynamics and regulate C emissions from Himalayan ecosystem. Therefore, this study was conducted to determine the changes in different C pools and associated soil properties under diverse land-use systems, viz. natural forest, natural grassland, maize field converted from the forest, plantation, and paddy field of temperate Himalaya in the surface (0-20 cm) and subsurface (20-40 cm) soils. The highest total organic carbon (24.24 g kg-1) and Walkley-black carbon contents (18.23 g kg-1), total organic carbon (45.88 Mg ha-1), and Walkley-black carbon stocks (34.50 Mg ha-1) were recorded in natural forest in surface soil (0-20 cm depth), while soil under paddy field had least total organic carbon (36.45 Mg ha-1) and Walkley-black carbon stocks (27.40 Mg ha-1) in surface soil (0-20 cm depth). The conversion of natural forest into paddy land results in 47.36% C losses. Among the cultivated land-use system, minimum C losses (29.0%) from different pools over natural forest system were reported under maize-filed converted from forest system. Land conversion causes more C losses (21.0%) in surface soil (0-20 cm depth) as compared to subsurface soil. Furthermore, conversion of forest land into paddy fields increased soil pH by 5.9% and reduced total nitrogen contents and microbial population by 28.0% and 7.0%, respectively. However, the intensity of total nitrogen and microbial population reduction was the lowest under maize fields converted from the forest system. The study suggested that the conversion of natural forest to agricultural land must be discouraged in the temperate Himalayan region. However, to feed the growing population, converted forest land can be brought under conservation effective maize-based systems to reduce C loss from the intensive land use and contribute to soil quality improvements and climate change mitigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shamal Shasang Kumar
- Division of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry, Faculty of Agriculture, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir, 193201, India
| | - Shakeel Ahmad Mir
- Division of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry, Faculty of Agriculture, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir, 193201, India
| | - Owais Ali Wani
- Division of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry, Faculty of Agriculture, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir, 193201, India; Division of Agronomy, ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, 110 012, India.
| | - Subhash Babu
- Division of Agronomy, ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, 110 012, India.
| | - Md Yeasin
- ICAR-Indian Agricultural Statistics Research Institute, New Delhi, 110 012, India
| | - M A Bhat
- Division of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry, Faculty of Agriculture, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir, 193201, India
| | - Nazir Hussain
- Division of Agronomy, Faculty of Agriculture, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir, 193201, India
| | | | - Rajesh Kumar
- Division of Agronomy, ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, 110 012, India
| | - Devideen Yadav
- ICAR- Indian Institute of Soil & Water Conservation, Dehradun, UK, 248 195, India
| | - S R Dar
- RCRQA, Directorate of Research, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir, 190 025, India
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Sharma S, Arunachalam K, Arunachalam A. Morphology and physiology of Perilla frutescens (Linn.) Britt in relation to micro-climate and edaphic characteristics. Trop Ecol 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s42965-021-00195-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
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Soil Biological Responses under Different Vegetation Types in Mediterranean Area. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:ijerph19020903. [PMID: 35055725 PMCID: PMC8775506 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19020903] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2021] [Revised: 01/13/2022] [Accepted: 01/13/2022] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
The knowledge of the effects of fire on soil properties is of particular concern in Mediterranean areas, where the effects of vegetation type are still scarce also. This research aimed: to assess the properties of burnt soils under different vegetation types; to highlight the soil abiotic properties driving the soil microbial biomass and activity under each vegetation type; to compare the biological response in unburnt and burnt soils under the same vegetation type, and between unburnt and burnt soils under different vegetation types. The soils were collected at a Mediterranean area where a large wildfire caused a 50% loss of the previous vegetation types (holm oak: HO, pine: P, black locust: BL, and herbs: H), and were characterized by abiotic (pH, water, and organic matter contents; N concentrations; and C/N ratios) and biotic (microbial and fungal biomasses, microbial respiration, soil metabolic quotient, and hydrolase and dehydrogenase activities) properties. The biological response was evaluated by the Integrative Biological Responses (IBR) index. Before the fire, organic matter and N contents were significantly higher in P than H soils. After the fire, significant increases of pH, organic matter, C/N ratio, microbial biomass and respiration, and hydrolase and dehydrogenase activities were observed in all the soils, especially under HO. In conclusion, the post-fire soil conditions were less favorable for microorganisms, as the IBR index decreased when compared to the pre-fire conditions.
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Patterns of livestock depredation and Human-wildlife conflict in Misgar valley of Hunza, Pakistan. Sci Rep 2021; 11:23516. [PMID: 34876595 PMCID: PMC8651803 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-02205-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2021] [Accepted: 10/07/2021] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Throughout the world, livestock predation by mammalian carnivores causes significant economic losses to poor farmers, and leads to human-wildlife conflicts. These conflicts result in a negative attitude towards carnivore conservation and often trigger retaliatory killing. In northern Pakistan, we investigated livestock depredation by large carnivores between 2014 and 2019, and subsequent Human-wildlife conflict, through questionnaire-based surveys (n = 100 households). We used a semi-structured questionnaire to collect data on livestock population, depredation patterns, predation count, and conservation approaches. We found a statistically significant increasing pattern of predation with influential factors such as age, gender, occupation, education of respondents, population of predators, threats index for predators and conservation efforts. Some 310 livestock heads with an average of 51 animals per year out of the total 9273 heads were killed by predators, and among them 168 (54%) were attributed to the wolf and 142 (45.8%) to snow leopard. Major threats to carnivores in the area included retaliatory killing, habitat destruction and climate change. Incentivization against depredation losses, guarded grazing and construction of predator-proof corral may reduce Human-wildlife conflict and both livelihood and predator can be safeguarded in the study area.
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Jiang W, Gong L, Yang L, He S, Liu X. Dynamics in C, N, and P stoichiometry and microbial biomass following soil depth and vegetation types in low mountain and hill region of China. Sci Rep 2021; 11:19631. [PMID: 34608213 PMCID: PMC8490400 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-99075-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2021] [Accepted: 09/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Changes in soil carbon (C):nitrogen (N):phosphorus (P) stoichiometry have great significance on understand regulatory mechanism and restoration of ecosystem functions. However, the responses of C, N and P stoichiometry to soil depth and different vegetation types remains elusive. To address this problem, the study aims to explore the effects of soil depth and vegetation types on soil C, N, and P stoichiometry, and their relationships with microbial biomass in low mountain and hill region of China. The results indicated that soil SOC and TN concentrations in oak forest were markedly higher than those in grassland, and the vertical distribution of SOC and TN concentration showed an inverted triangle trend as the soil deepens. However, there was no significant change in soil TP concentration among 0–20 cm, 20–40 cm, and 40–60 cm. Soil C/N among different layers (0–20, 20–40, and 40–60 cm) is narrower fluctuation margin, and its value is basically stable within a certain range (11–14.5). Both soil C/P and N/P showed significant variability in different vegetation types, and soil N/P decreased with soil layers deepen. Both the microbial biomass C (MBC) and N (MBN) showed a decreasing trend with the increase of soil depth, and three soil layers from high to low was: oak forest > pine forest > grassland. Our results will potentially provide useful information for the vegetation restoration and forest management and great significance to enrich the scientific theory of ecological stoichiometry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenting Jiang
- College of Life Science, Yan'an University, Yan'an, 716000, Shaanxi, China.
| | - Lei Gong
- College of Life Science, Yan'an University, Yan'an, 716000, Shaanxi, China
| | - Lihui Yang
- College of Land and Environmental, Shenyang Agriculture University, Shenyang, 110866, China
| | - Shuping He
- College of Land and Environmental, Shenyang Agriculture University, Shenyang, 110866, China
| | - Xiaohu Liu
- College of Land and Environmental, Shenyang Agriculture University, Shenyang, 110866, China
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Impacts of slope aspects on altitudinal species richness and species composition of Narapani-Masina landscape, Arghakhanchi, West Nepal. JOURNAL OF ASIA-PACIFIC BIODIVERSITY 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.japb.2021.04.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
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Badraghi A, Ventura M, Polo A, Borruso L, Giammarchi F, Montagnani L. Soil respiration variation along an altitudinal gradient in the Italian Alps: Disentangling forest structure and temperature effects. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0247893. [PMID: 34403412 PMCID: PMC8370607 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0247893] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2021] [Accepted: 07/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
On the mountains, along an elevation gradient, we generally observe an ample variation in temperature, with the associated difference in vegetation structure and composition and soil properties. With the aim of quantifying the relative importance of temperature, vegetation and edaphic properties on soil respiration (SR), we investigated changes in SR along an elevation gradient (404 to 2101 m a.s.l) in the southern slopes of the Alps in Northern Italy. We also analysed soil physicochemical properties, including soil organic carbon (SOC) and nitrogen (N) stocks, fine root C and N, litter C and N, soil bulk densities and soil pH at five forest sites, and also stand structural properties, including vegetation height, age and basal area. Our results indicated that SR rates increased with temperature in all sites, and 55–76% of SR variability was explained by temperature. Annual cumulative SR, ranging between 0.65–1.40 kg C m-2 yr-1, decreased along the elevation gradient, while temperature sensitivity (Q10) of SR increased with elevation. However, a high SR rate (1.27 kg C m-2 yr-1) and low Q10 were recorded in the mature conifer forest stand at 1731 m a.s.l., characterized by an uneven-aged structure and high dominant tree height, resulting in a nonlinear relationship between elevation and temperature. Reference SR at 10°C (SRref) was unrelated to elevation, but was related to tree height. A significant negative linear relationship was found between bulk density and elevation. Conversely, SOC, root C and N stock, pH, and litter mass were best fitted by nonlinear relationships with elevation. However, these parameters were not significantly correlated with SR when the effect of temperature was removed (SRref). These results demonstrate that the main factor affecting SR in forest ecosystems along this Alpine elevation gradient is temperature, but its regulating role can be strongly influenced by site biological characteristics, particularly vegetation type and structure, affecting litter quality and microclimate. This study also confirms that high elevation sites are rich in SOC and more sensitive to climate change, being prone to high C losses as CO2. Furthermore, our data indicate a positive relationship between Q10 and dominant tree height, suggesting that mature forest ecosystems characterized by an uneven-age structure, high SRref and moderate Q10, may be more resilient.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aysan Badraghi
- Faculty of Science and Technology, Free University of Bozen-Bolzano, Bolzano, Italy
| | - Maurizio Ventura
- Faculty of Science and Technology, Free University of Bozen-Bolzano, Bolzano, Italy
| | - Andrea Polo
- Faculty of Science and Technology, Free University of Bozen-Bolzano, Bolzano, Italy
| | - Luigimaria Borruso
- Faculty of Science and Technology, Free University of Bozen-Bolzano, Bolzano, Italy
| | - Francesco Giammarchi
- Faculty of Science and Technology, Free University of Bozen-Bolzano, Bolzano, Italy
| | - Leonardo Montagnani
- Faculty of Science and Technology, Free University of Bozen-Bolzano, Bolzano, Italy
- Forest Services, Autonomous Province of Bolzano, Bolzano, Italy
- * E-mail:
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12
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Modeling Soil Nitrogen Content in South Patagonia across a Climate Gradient, Vegetation Type, and Grazing. SUSTAINABILITY 2019. [DOI: 10.3390/su11092707] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Soil total nitrogen (N) stock in rangelands, shrublands, and forests support key ecological functions such as the capacity of the land to sustain plant and animal productivity and ecosystem services. The objective of this study was to model soil total N stocks and soil C/N ratio from 0–30 cm depth across the region using freely accessible information on topography, climate, and vegetation with a view to establishing a baseline against which sustainable land management practices can be evaluated in Southern Patagonia. We used stepwise multiple regression to determine which independent variables best explained soil total N variation across the landscape in Southern Patagonia. We then used multiple regression models to upscale and produce maps of soil total N and C/N across the Santa Cruz province. Soil total N stock to 30 cm ranged from 0.13 to 2.21 kg N m−2, and soil C/N ratios ranged from 4.5 to 26.8. The model for variation of soil total N stock explained 88% of the variance on the data and the most powerful predictor variables were: isothermality, elevation, and vegetation cover (normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI)). Soil total N and soil C/N ratios were allocated to three categories (low, medium, high) and these three levels were used to map the variation of soil total N and soil C/N ratios across Southern Patagonia. The results demonstrate that soil total N decreases as desertification increases, probably due to erosional processes, and that soil C/N is lower at low temperatures and increased with increasing precipitation. Soil total N and soil C/N ratios are critical variables that determine system capacity for productivity, especially the provisioning ecosystem services, and can serve as baselines against which efforts to adopt more sustainable land management practices in Patagonia can be assessed.
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Kumar S, Suyal DC, Yadav A, Shouche Y, Goel R. Microbial diversity and soil physiochemical characteristic of higher altitude. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0213844. [PMID: 30875404 PMCID: PMC6419999 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0213844] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2018] [Accepted: 03/02/2019] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Altitude is the major factor affecting both biodiversity and soil physiochemical properties of soil ecosystems. In order to understand the effect of altitude on soil physiochemical properties and bacterial diversity across the Himalayan cold desert, high altitude Gangotri soil ecosystem was studied and compared with the moderate altitude Kandakhal soil. Soil physiochemical analysis showed that altitude was positively correlated with soil pH, organic matter and total nitrogen content. However soil mineral nutrients and soil phosphorus were negatively correlated to the altitude. RT-PCR based analysis revealed the decreased bacterial and diazotrophic abundance at high altitude. Metagenomic study showed that Proteobacteria, Acidobacteria and Actinobacteria were dominant bacteria phyla at high altitude soil while Bacteroidetes and Fermicutes were found dominant at low altitude. High ratio of Gram-negative to Gram positive bacteria at Gangotri suggests the selective proliferation of Gram negative bacteria at high altitude with decrease in Gram positive bacteria. Moreover, Alphaproteobacteria was found more abundant at high altitude while the opposite was true for Betaproteobacteria. Abundance of Cytophaga, Flavobacterium and Bacteroides (CFB) were also found comparatively high at high altitude. Presence of many taxonomically unclassified sequences in Gangotri soil indicates the presence of novel bacterial diversity at high altitude. Further, isolation of bacteria through indigenously designed diffusion chamber revealed the existence of bacteria which has been documented in unculturable study of WIH (Western Indian Himalaya) but never been cultivated from WIH. Nevertheless, diverse functional free-living psychrotrophic diazotrophs were isolated only from the high altitude Gangotri soil. Molecular characterization revealed them as Arthrobacter humicola, Brevibacillus invocatus, Pseudomonas mandelii and Pseudomonas helmanticensis. Thus, this study documented the bacterial and psychrophilic diazotrophic diversity at high altitude and is an effort for exploration of low temperature bacteria in agricultural productivity with the target for sustainable hill agriculture.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saurabh Kumar
- Department of Microbiology, College of Basic Sciences and Humanities; Govind Ballabh Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar, Uttarakhand, India
| | - Deep Chandra Suyal
- Department of Microbiology, College of Basic Sciences and Humanities; Govind Ballabh Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar, Uttarakhand, India
| | - Amit Yadav
- National Centre for Microbial Resource, National Centre for Cell Science, Sutarwadi, Pashan, Pune, Maharashtra, India
| | - Yogesh Shouche
- National Centre for Microbial Resource, National Centre for Cell Science, Sutarwadi, Pashan, Pune, Maharashtra, India
| | - Reeta Goel
- Department of Microbiology, College of Basic Sciences and Humanities; Govind Ballabh Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar, Uttarakhand, India
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Zhou J, Du B, Wang Z, Zhang W, Xu L, Fan X, Liu X, Zhou J. Distributions and pools of lead (Pb) in a terrestrial forest ecosystem with highly elevated atmospheric Pb deposition and ecological risks to insects. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2019; 647:932-941. [PMID: 30096681 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.08.091] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2018] [Revised: 08/02/2018] [Accepted: 08/06/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
There is growing interest in how heavy metals in remote ecosystems are elevated and affect environmental health. However, no studies have investigated atmospheric lead (Pb) deposition influences on the Pb bioaccumulation in insects in forests. Here we measure Pb concentrations and pools in forest vegetation, litterfall, organic soil, mineral soil, as well as litterfall deposition fluxes in a region severely affected by atmospheric deposition. We also analyzed Pb in insects which feed in the polluted forest vegetation and litter. Assessment of high Pb loads causing potential ecological risk to insects was also studied. Total Pb pool in the vegetation was 0.12 g m-2 and annual litterfall deposition flux of Pb was 13.42 mg m-2, which was much higher than those in the background areas. Pools of Pb from litter to mineral topsoil averaged 4.3 g m-2, which accounted for 97.3% of total pools (biomass + soil) in the forest ecosystem. Pools of Pb in surface soils were correlated significantly with the pools of total organic matter and elevation. Atmospheric deposition was inferred the major source of Pb in the forest ecosystem, which can be supported by the highest Pb concentrations in the moss and overstory foliage. The maximum Pb concentration was showed in the dung beetle (12.1 mg kg-1) residing in the soils compared that in the longicorn and of cicada, which would potentially pose negatively influence to predators along food chains.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jun Zhou
- Key Laboratory of Soil Environment and Pollution Remediation, Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing 210008, China; College of Resource and Environment, Anhui Science and Technology University, Fengyang, Anhui 233100, China; National Engineering and Technology Research Center for Red Soil Improvement, Red Soil Ecological Experiment Station, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Yingtan 335211, China.
| | - Buyun Du
- Nanjing Institute of Environmental Sciences, Ministry of Environmental Protection, No. 8 Jiang-wang-miao Street, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210042, China
| | - Zhangwei Wang
- Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Wantong Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Soil Environment and Pollution Remediation, Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing 210008, China; National Engineering and Technology Research Center for Red Soil Improvement, Red Soil Ecological Experiment Station, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Yingtan 335211, China
| | - Lei Xu
- Henan Key Laboratory of Ecological Security for Water Source Region of Mid-line of South-to-North Diversion Project, Nanyang Normal University, Nanyang, 473000, China
| | - Xingjun Fan
- College of Resource and Environment, Anhui Science and Technology University, Fengyang, Anhui 233100, China
| | - Xiaoli Liu
- National Engineering and Technology Research Center for Red Soil Improvement, Red Soil Ecological Experiment Station, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Yingtan 335211, China
| | - Jing Zhou
- Key Laboratory of Soil Environment and Pollution Remediation, Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing 210008, China; National Engineering and Technology Research Center for Red Soil Improvement, Red Soil Ecological Experiment Station, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Yingtan 335211, China; Jiangxi Engineering Research Center of Eco-Remediation of Heavy Metal Pollution, Jiangxi Academy of Science, Nanchang, 330096, China.
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Sahle M, Saito O, Fürst C, Yeshitela K. Quantification and mapping of the supply of and demand for carbon storage and sequestration service in woody biomass and soil to mitigate climate change in the socio-ecological environment. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2018; 624:342-354. [PMID: 29258035 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.12.033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2017] [Revised: 12/02/2017] [Accepted: 12/04/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
In this study, the supply of and demand for carbon storage and sequestration of woody biomass in the socio-ecological environment of the Wabe River catchment in Gurage Mountains, Ethiopia, were estimated. This information was subsequently integrated into a map that showed the balance between supply capacities and demand in a spatially explicit manner to inform planners and decision makers on methods used to manage local climate change. Field data for wood biomass and soil were collected, satellite images for land use and land cover (LULC) were classified, and secondary data from statistics and studies for estimation were obtained. Carbon storage, the rate of carbon sequestration and the rate of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from diverse sources at different LULCs, was estimated accordingly by several methods. Even though a large amount of carbon was stored in the catchment, the current yearly sequestration was less than the CO2-eq. GHG emissions. Forest and Enset-based agroforestry emissions exhibited the highest amount of woody biomass, and cereal crop and wetland exhibited the highest decrease in soil carbon sequestration. CO2-eq. GHG emissions are mainly caused by livestock, nitrogenous fertilizer consumption, and urban activities. The net negative emissions were estimated for the LULC classes of cereal crop, grazing land, and urban areas. In conclusion, without any high-emission industries, GHG emissions can be greater than the regulatory capacity of ecosystems in the socio-ecological environment. This quantification approach can provide information to policy and decision makers to enable them to tackle climate change at the root level. Thus, measures to decrease emission levels and enhance the sequestration capacity are crucial to mitigate the globally delivered service in a specific area. Further studies on the effects of land use alternatives on net emissions are recommended to obtain in-depth knowledge on sustainable land use planning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mesfin Sahle
- Ethiopian Institute of Architecture, Building Construction and City Development (EiABC), Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Department of Natural Resource Management, Wolkite University, Wolkite, Ethiopia.
| | - Osamu Saito
- United Nations University Institute for the Advanced Study of Sustainability, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Christine Fürst
- Institute of Geosciences and Geography, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle, Germany
| | - Kumelachew Yeshitela
- Ethiopian Institute of Architecture, Building Construction and City Development (EiABC), Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
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16
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Tan Q, Wang G. Decoupling of nutrient element cycles in soil and plants across an altitude gradient. Sci Rep 2016; 6:34875. [PMID: 27725725 PMCID: PMC5057141 DOI: 10.1038/srep34875] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2016] [Accepted: 09/19/2016] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Previous studies have examined the decoupling of C, N, and P under rapid changes in climate. While this may occur in different environment types, such climactic changes have been reported over short distances in mountainous terrain. We hypothesized that the decoupling of C, N, and P could also occur in response to increases in altitude. We sampled soil and plants from Mount Gongga, Sichuan Province, China. Soil C and N were not related to altitude, whereas soil P increased with altitude. Soil N did not change with mean annual temperature (MAT), mean annual precipitation (MAP), vegetation and soil types, whereas soil P varied with MAT and vegetation type. Plant C remained constant with increasing altitude; plant N exhibited a quadratic change trend along the altitude gradient, with a turning point at 2350 m above average sea level; and plant P decreased with altitude. MAP mostly accounted for the variation in plant P. MAT was responsible for the variation of plant N at elevations below 2350 m, whereas MAT and vegetation type were the dominant influential factors of plants growing above 2350 m. Thus, the decoupling of C, N, and P in both soil and plants was significantly affected by altitude.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiqi Tan
- College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Guoan Wang
- College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
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