Páramos are high-elevation ecosystems in the Tropics, characterized by unique biodiversity with high levels of endemism. The vegetation cover exhibits a typical heterogeneous, patchy pattern, indicating spatial variation associated with local environmental conditions. This study aims to analyze plant community types in relation to species assembly and their associations with environmental variables within a páramo ecosystem in Los Nevados National Park, in the Central Cordillera of Colombia. A total of 58 species-abundance plots were used to identify clustering based on Bray-Curtis dissimilarity, and Non-Metric Multidimensional Scaling was employed to visualize variation in plant communities relative to species. Differences in floristic composition, growth-form abundance, and diversity indices were examined across plant communities. Additionally, community dissimilarities were analyzed in relation to environmental variables. Results are consistent with previous descriptions in the zone and reveal the differentiation of five plant communities in the proper zonal páramo (Cushions, Tussock grasses, Tussock grasses with Stem Rosettes, Mixed, and Shrubs with Tussock grasses), determined by species assembly and the dominance of specific growth forms. Among plant communities, richness, diversity (Simpson) and evenness (Pielou) differ significantly. For terrain and soil variables, only radiation and slope significantly influenced community composition. Previous anthropogenic disturbances in the area (mainly cattle grazing and fire) might have significantly affected the current distribution of vegetation cover, resulting in plant communities at different successional stages. The findings of this study emphasize the importance of quantitative analyses of species assembly for understanding spatial variation in páramo vegetation and for supporting monitoring and conservation efforts.
This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of technosol, composed of clay cake and organic compost, as a substrate for seed balls using native species from the Atlantic Forest. We investigated how different substrate compositions and the addition of NPK fertilizer influence the emergence, survival, and growth of four native tree species: Senna macranthera, Enterolobium contortisiliquum, Pterogyne nitens, and Anadenanthera peregrina. Seedling emergence and survival were monitored continuously over 190 days, and growth performance was evaluated using logistic growth models. The results showed that, in terms of emergence and survival, treatments without NPK addition yielded the best outcomes, regardless of the proportion of clay cake and organic compost. Growth models revealed that non-pioneer species (P. nitens and A. peregrina) performed better under treatments without NPK, while pioneer species (S. macranthera and E. contortisiliquum) exhibited higher growth rates in treatments with NPK. These findings emphasize the importance of aligning substrate composition and fertilization with the ecological strategies of different species to optimize restoration outcomes. The use of technosol-based seed balls derived from bauxite mining represents a viable alternative for forest restoration, promoting biodiversity recovery, reducing waste disposal in tailings dams, and contributing to circular economy principles in the mining sector. Seed balls with bauxite waste technosol enhance native tree establishment and offer a circular, sustainable solution for forest restoration.
Tropical canopy giants operating within narrow thermal envelopes are exceptionally vulnerable to climate change velocity. This study evaluates the spatiotemporal habitat dynamics of Ficus beddomei, an endangered keystone canopy fig endemic to the Western Ghats biodiversity hotspot. By coupling macroclimatic Grinnellian parameters, edaphic factors (soil organic carbon and pH), and Eltonian vegetation structural refinement layers, we modeled the species’ niche dynamics across the 21st century under CMIP6 SSP2-4.5. Using 56 spatially thinned presence nodes (from 61 verified coordinates across 30 arc-second cells), MaxEnt modeling demonstrated high predictive performance (AUC > 0.90, TSS ≥ 0.925). Analysis revealed a projected late-century niche-driver transition toward acute dependency on winter precipitation (BIO19 > 50
Fire severity in Mediterranean shrublands is well documented through remote sensing, but direct in situ measurements linking plant structural traits to fire effects remain limited. This study investigates whether Mediterranean shrubland species with different structural traits differ in fuel consumption as a severity measure, and whether temperature residence times at the soil surface relate to post-fire branch diameters. We conducted three experimental burns in Mediterranean shrublands in Valencia province (eastern Spain), measuring soil-surface temperatures, fuel consumption and post-fire terminal branch diameters in five dominant species. Results revealed significant and species-dependent relationships, demonstrating that coexisting species within the same plant community experience different severity levels under identical fire conditions. Resprouting species with longer life spans showed lower severity and fuel consumption, requiring longer residence times at higher temperatures to consume fuel amounts similar to those of shorter-lived seeder species. These findings suggest that structural fuel traits associated with different functional strategies not only help explain fire severity but may also contribute to understanding fire behaviour across plant communities. This study provides novel empirical evidence on the link between plant functional traits and fire severity, contributing to a better understanding of fire effects in Mediterranean ecosystems.
Allelopathy is commonly proposed as a mechanism of plant invasion success, yet many studies test whether non-native species suppress native competitors without examining reciprocal effects. We used a reciprocal design to compare leaf-material-mediated effects of an invasive shrub, Rhamnus cathartica, and a native shrub, Cornus racemosa, on seed germination and seedling growth in a bioassay and on growth in a greenhouse experiment. In the bioassays, C. racemosa leaf amendment reduced Lactuca sativa (model species) germination to 80
