Functional Diversity and Invasive Species Influence Soil Fertility in Experimental Grasslands

A combined bibliometric and sustainable approach of phytostabilization towards eco-restoration of coal mine overburden dumps

Extraction of coal through opencast mining leads to the buildup of heaps of overburden (OB) material, which poses a significant risk to production safety and environmental stability. A systematic bibliometric analysis to identify research trends and gaps, and evaluate the impact of studies and authors in the field related to coal OB phytostabilization was conducted. Key issues associated with coal extraction include land degradation, surface and groundwater contamination, slope instability, erosion and biodiversity loss. Handling coal OB material intensifies such issues, initiating additional environmental and physical challenges. The conventional approach such as topsoiling for OB restoration fails to restore essential soil properties crucial for sustainable vegetation cover. Phytostabilization approach involves establishing a self-sustaining plant cover over OB dump surfaces emerges as a viable strategy for OB restoration. This method enhanced by the supplement of organic amendments boosts the restoration of OB dumps by improving rhizosphere properties conducive to plant growth and contaminant uptake. Criteria essential for plant selection in phytostabilization are critically evaluated. Native plant species adapted to local climatic and ecological conditions are identified as key agents in stabilizing contaminants, reducing soil erosion, and enhancing ecosystem functions. Applicable case studies of successful phytostabilization of coal mines using native plants, offering practical recommendations for species selection in coal mine reclamation projects are provided. This review contributes to sustainable approaches for mitigating the environmental consequences of coal mining and facilitates the ecological recovery of degraded landscapes.

Examination of the Effects of Domestic Water Buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) Grazing on Wetland and Dry Grassland Habitats

In nature conservation today, there is a global problem with the aggressive expansion of invasive plant species and the conservation of valuable grassland vegetation. Based on this, the following question has been formed: Is the domestic water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) appropriate for managing various habitat types? How does grazing by water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) affect on grassland vegetation? This study was carried out in four areas of Hungary. One of the sample areas was in the Mátra Mountains, on dry grassland areas where grazing had been applied for two, four and six years. The other sample areas were in the Zámolyi Basin, where wet fens with a high risk of Solidago gigantea and in a typic Pannonian dry grassland were investigated. In all areas, grazing was carried out with domestic water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis). During the study, we carried out a coenological survey, examining the change of cover of plant species, their feed values and the biomass of the grassland. According to the results, both the number and cover of economically important grasses (from 28% to 34.6%) and legumes (from 3.4% to 25.4%) increased in Mátra as well as the high proportion of shrubs (from 41.8% to 4.4%) shifted toward grassland species. In the areas of the Zámolyi Basin, invasive Solidago has been suppressed completely, the pasture has been converted completely (from 16% to 1%) and the dominant species has become Sesleria uliginosa. Thus, we have found that grazing with buffalo is suitable as a habitat management method in both dry grasslands and wet grasslands. Therefore, in addition to its effectiveness in the control of Solidago gigantea, grazing with buffalo is successful in both nature conservation and economic aspects of grassland vegetation.

The relationship between Invasive Alien Solanum elaeagnifolium Cav. characters and impacts in different habitats

Invasive alien plants are one of the most serious threats to agriculture. The growth traits of Solanum elaeagnifolium Cav. in crops and their demographics in invaded vs non-invaded communities were examined. The majority of S. elaeagnifolium germination was observed in the spring compared to the summer. Five stages were distinguished, which started with a short time of seedling and juvenile stages, extended flowering, and fruiting stages, and seed dispersion in the winter season. An increase in shoots/roots ratio, leaf area ratio and leaf mass fraction during growth with the varied rate was proved. The accumulation coefficient of dry mass exceeded 0.93 and was significant (P > 0.001) with great variability within plant parts, and stage intervals. While the high growth rate is influenced by the stages and habitats. The recipient communities are affected negatively by S. elaeagnifolium invasion which is associated with lower diversity, richness, and evenness vs non-invaded communities. High similarities were found in the invaded area and communities. Finally, high and varied growth and plasticity of S. elaeagnifolium characterized their invasion behavior via different habitats. There were suitable determinants indices of diversity that can be used in the comparison between invaded and non-invaded communities. This knowledge may be useful for use in agro-environment protection and to improve the management methods of invasive alien species.

Novel chemicals engender myriad invasion mechanisms

Non-native invasive species (NIS) release chemicals into the environment that are unique to the invaded communities, defined as novel chemicals. Novel chemicals impact competitors, soil microbial communities, mutualists, plant enemies, and soil nutrients differently than in the species' native range. Ecological functions of novel chemicals and differences in functions between the native and non-native ranges of NIS are of immense interest to ecologists. Novel chemicals can mediate different ecological, physiological, and evolutionary mechanisms underlying invasion hypotheses. Interactions amongst the NIS and resident species including competitors, soil microbes, and plant enemies, as well as abiotic factors in the invaded community are linked to novel chemicals. However, we poorly understand how these interactions might enhance NIS performance. New empirical data and analyses of how novel chemicals act in the invaded community will fill major gaps in our understanding of the chemistry of biological invasions. A novel chemical-invasion mechanism framework shows how novel chemicals engender invasion mechanisms beyond plant-plant or plant-microorganism interactions.

Suppression of an Invasive Native Plant Species by Designed Grassland Communities

Grassland biodiversity is declining due to climatic change, land-use intensification, and establishment of invasive plant species. Excluding or suppressing invasive species is a challenge for grassland management. An example is Jacobaea aquatica, an invasive native plant in wet grasslands of Central Europe, that is causing problems to farmers by being poisonous, overabundant, and fast spreading. This study aimed at testing designed grassland communities in a greenhouse experiment, to determine key drivers of initial J. aquatica suppression, thus dismissing the use of pesticides. We used two base communities (mesic and wet grasslands) with three plant traits (plant height, leaf area, seed mass), that were constrained and diversified based on the invader traits. Native biomass, community-weighted mean trait values, and phylogenetic diversity (PD) were used as explanatory variables to understand variation in invasive biomass. The diversified traits leaf area and seed mass, PD, and native biomass significantly affected the invader. High native biomass permanently suppressed the invader, while functional traits needed time to develop effects; PD effects were significant at the beginning of the experiment but disappeared over time. Due to complexity and temporal effects, community weighted mean traits proved to be moderately successful for increasing invasion resistance of designed grassland communities.