Young leaves of two wild ferns ( Diplazium esculentum and Stenochlaena palutris ) are uniquely eaten among local peoples in Kalimantan Island. These edible ferns are regarded as important sources of Fe and other trace elements essential for human body. In order to investigate the effect of soil environments on the metal content, we analyzed eight elements (Al, Fe, Cr, Cu, Mn, Zn, Cs, and Pb) in the edible ferns collected from five different sites (riverside of Kahayan River near Bukit Rawi, farming area in Tangkiling, natural forest near Kasongan, and two peat soils at campus of The University of Palangkaraya and residential area in Palangkaraya city) in Central Kalimantan with distinguishable soil conditions. At the five sampling locations, we also collected an aluminum accumulator bush tree ( Melastoma malabathricum ) as a reference plant. The underground parts of S. palutris and D. esculentum accumulated higher concentration of Al and Fe than their leaf parts, whereas M. malabathricum was rich in Al and Mn in the leaves rather than the roots. Although Fe contents in the edible parts of D. esculentum (3.1–3.3 µg/g-dry weight of young leaves) and S. palutris (1.0–2.1 µg/g dw leaves) from the samples collected at the riverside and the farming area were not so high, Al contents in their edible parts (3.9–6.3 and 7.8–7.9 µg/g-dry weight, respectively) were not excessive. Other trace elements, including Mn, was not the levels to be concerned. Thus, utilizing young leaves and shoots of the ferns as wild vegetable seemed to cover chronical deficiency of trace elements necessary for human nutrition, without any excessive intake of Al and other toxic metals, unless collected at urban area. We further found relatively high Cs-absorbable cropping plants in this study.
Located in the Himalayas, and situated at the highest altitude worldwide, the subalpine forests have come under human pressure through means of timber logging, livestock farming and tourism, which has brought about the progress of degradation. Thus, it is essential to quantify how forest structure is determined by environmental factors over the range of subalpine zone for better management planning. We investigated the subalpine forest dominated by Abies spectabilis in Langtang National Park, Nepal Himalaya, by setting 80 plots of 10-by-10 m scattered over the range of subalpine forest from 3170 to 3810 m a.s.l. on a north-facing slope, and examined the relationship between topographic factors (e.g. altitude and slope inclination), anthropogenic factors (e.g. number of cut stumps and trampling intensity), and forest stand variables (e.g. woody species richness and composition, tree and juvenile density, basal area, and topsoil C/N content). Species richness decreased with altitude, number of fallen logs, and trampling intensity while at the same time, it increased with slope inclination and cut stump density. Stands in higher altitude showed lower tree density and basal area, while higher juvenile density of A. spectabilis. Juvenile density decreased with high basal area. Stands on steeper slopes had higher tree density with smaller maximum size on poorer soil. With increasing cut stumps, basal area and soil carbon content decreased while woody species richness and tree density increased, suggesting enhanced stand recovery in response to canopy removal. We conclude that Abies population is vulnerable to topsoil removal by trampling and cutting, and that altitude-dependent management is needed.
Larch plantations cover approximately 4700km of the island of Hokkaido and have become the principle forest ecosystem in northern Japan. This study focused on how the environmental and biological factors affect the regeneration of Japanese larch (JL: Larix kaempferi) and hybrid larches F1 (HL: Larix gmelinii x L. kaempferi) by comparing their ecophysiological characteristics of growth patterns (carbon balance, nutrient balance, the source of CO2), especially relative to their root growth. Based on the review, we could forecast which larch species will have dominancy if they co-exist under the same environmental conditions in nature. In all, under relatively good growth conditions (for example full sunlight, 15°C soil temperature etc.), JL seedlings have a greater growth rate (allocate more biomass and nutrients) than that of HL. Thus, relative higher soil nutrient environment and above 7°C soil temperature are necessary for the growth of JL. Otherwise, HL will be more competitive than JL for example in cold regions or higher regions since HL will be better able to grow under a low or wide variation in soil temperature, or low nutrient soil conditions. Given the slightly shade conditionsuch as at a gap in the forest, or fertile soil condition, HL may also be dominate since the growth of JL was clearly suppressed under such situation. Moreover, HL allocated more photosynthates than JL under roots inoculated by ectomycorrhizae. But the ectomycorrhizae benefited the growth of both larch species. In this perspective, we should learn more about their interactions in regard to the establishment of regenerated larch seedlings and symbiotic microorganisms.
Tropospheric ozone (O 3 ) occurs in high concentrations nowadays and affects a many plant species in Northern hemisphere. Numerous wild plant species are known to be negatively affected by O 3 , and this may impact biodiversity and ecosystems in near future. Given the importance of O 3 research with wild plants, we provide a list of 473 relevant taxa - that have been used as a subject of O 3 research - as a research material, under various controlled-environment facilities, along with information about their response to O 3 . In addition, we include species which have been reported that they had developed ozone-like (but not confirmed) symptoms. This list of taxa along with the references is considered an important database, useful to researchers when planning their relevant investigations.
Ethylenediurea (EDU) is an anti-ozonant substance that is recognized as a versatile research tool, and recently attracts increasing interest. As many wild plant species are forced into complex responses by tropospheric ozone (O 3 ), these responses are crucial for the functioning of ecosystems and consequently for the biosphere; thus, countermeasures are required. A plethora of substances have been evaluated as to their effectiveness in protecting plants against O 3 . EDU is the most widely-used substance in O 3 research, in order to moderate O 3 effects on plant growth. We present a synoptic table with recent literature on EDU applications to plants as a protectant against O 3 . This table summarizes important information on these publications, and we hope to be usefull to researchers intended to employ EDU in their research with wild plants, but also to researchers working with air pollution control and other scientists.
This research is a part of the long term research on sandalwood improvement strategy based on gene conservation approaches, focused on gene diversity and flowering characteristics of seven sandalwood provenances planted on ex-situ gene conservation in Wanagama Forest Research Station, Yogyakarta Province, Indonesia, and its effect on pollination mechanisms. Juvenile leaves sampled from any individual of each provenance where isozyme analyses then conducted with vertical polyacrilamide gel electrophoresis procedures based on David-Ornstein method with 3 enzyme systems: SHD, EST and DIA. Standard genetic distance measured following Nei and dendrogram then made following cluster analyses based on UPGMA. Parameters of flowering measured daily on each of 10 selected individual based on Ghazoul and Owens methods. Pollination mechanisms investigated by observing the attractant availability provided by 10 marked individual of each provenance. Observation was then made on plant pollinator interactions: stigmatic contact, pollen load, interplant movement, feeding behavior and visitation rate; that were measured daily based on Ghazoul and Jones and Little methods. Provenances originated from same site performed similar genotypes as well as flowering characters. All of provenances were both protandry dichogamy and heterostyly. Variation on size and color of perigonium were found among provenances between times. Generally, provenances originated from Eastern parts of Indonesia flowered earlier compared to those of central parts of Java, with shorter period as well; while those of Bromo was the latest to flower with the longest period. There were 6 types of 3 orders of insect found to visit flowers: moths, butterflies (Lepidoptera), flies (Diptera), ants, bees and wasps (Hymenoptera). Type of insect and visitation rate depended on flowering phases in term of primary (pollen and nectar) and secondary (color of perigonium and mature anthers) attractants availability. Meanwhile, preference of visitors to visit certain provenances was affected more by secondary attractant.
Bombus terrestris Linnaeus is an exotic bumblebee species that has recently been naturalized in Hokkaido, Japan. Some studies have suggested that the naturalization of this species has caused a decline in the native bumblebee populations. The present study focuses on differences in plant resource usage between coexisting exotic (B. terrestris) and native (B. pseudobaicalensis and B. hypocrita subsp. sapporoensis) bumblebee species in the Ishikari lowland region of Hokkaido. We observed the workers of the three species that came to forage in the investigation area during an approximately five-month period. In addition, we captured some of the bees carrying pollen to analyze the pollen grains attached to their body surfaces. The pollen grains were identified at the genus or species level. Compared with the two native species, B. terrestris workers were relatively abundant during the investigation period. This species also exhibited a relatively long duration of foraging activity and a larger foraging range than the other two native species. The patterns of pollen resource usage were generally different among the three species, suggesting that these species have different flower preferences. Cluster analysis based on use of pollen species by each worker revealed that the cluster compositions overlapped among the three species in July, but this overlap disappeared in August. The usage in pollen species tended to differ through the season.
The objective of this study was to determine the variation of seed and cone characteristics of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) from different seed collection sites in the Tujiin nars region of the Selenge province in Northern Mongolia. The cones and seeds of P. sylvestris showed significant differences in size and color. There were three major groups in seed coat color, black, brown and light, respectively, that were tested for seed quality. Seed quality was examined by the weight of 1000 seeds, germination energy, and germination capacity. Study results showed considerable disparities in seed quality among the seed color groups. At 92.3 percent, germination of black colored seeds was higher than brown (81.2 percent) and light (60.7 percent) colored seeds. Based on weight of 1000 seeds, average weight of black colored seed was 7.2 g while the weight of brown and light colored seed was 6.4 g and 5.7 g. The highest seed germination energy was observed in the black colored seeds 78.7 percent, and then brown colored seeds 74.3 percent, the lowest germination energy were in light colored seed 46.0 percent, respectively. These findings suggest that seed color group can be considered as one of the crucial indicators for selecting qualified seeds.
Yield of bulk collected provenances of Larix sukaczewii was compared to first generation Russian larch hybrids and three other tree species native to Scandinavia. The hybrids were full sib families of selected European and Russian larch (L. decidua x L. sukaczewii) or Japanese and Russian larch (L. kaempferii x L. sukaczewii). Two provenances of L. sukaczewii were compared. The results after 50 years show that the provenance from Arkhangelsk produced more volume and had better height growth on five of six sites in northern Sweden compared to a provenance from the central Ural Mountains, Sverdlovsk. The hybrid L. decidua x L. sukaczewii which is present in two of the sites have produced 24-71% more stem volume than the best growing pure Russian larch provenance. The dominant height was between 29 and 30.5 meter at the age 51 in the two best growing hybrids. This is between 5 and 6.5 m taller than the expected dominant height for Norway spruce (Picea abies) grown on farm land at the same age. The volume production could be overestimated due to edge effects but indicate a very high production potential in these hybrids. In a 40 year old species trial in central Sweden yield of L. sukaczewii was compared to four other species (Larix decidua, Pinus sylvestris, Picea abies, and Betula pendula). L. decidua showed best volume production of the compared species. L. sukaczewii was second best with a mean growth that was significantly higher than that of Norway spruce and silver birch. A comparison of the yield of the Raivola larch provenance (L. sukaczewii) growing at two sites, one with a strong maritime influence at Lat. 67°04´ N and the other site located in a local continental climate at Lat. 60°54´ N, reveal a very wide ecological niche in this provenance.
Methanol extracts from Artocarpus heterophyllus, which is a tropical polyphenol-rich tree species, were separated by column chromatography and six fractions were obtained as powder. Raman and infrared (IR) spectra of all the fractions were recorded, and it was found that cyanomaclurin, which was one of the fractions and a flavonoid available for biomedical research, showed two characteristic Raman and IR bands in the 750-700 cm -1 wavenumber region. These spectroscopic results show the high potential of these vibrational bands as a marker for rapid detection of cyanomaclurin.
Myricaria is a shrub. it grows on pebble, and rocky banks of the mountainous rivers in the southern regions of Siberia. The academician P.S. Pallas was the first who became interested in Myricaria plants when traveling in the mountains of South Siberia. C.L. Willdenow (1816), C.G. Ehrenberg (1827), A.A. Bunge (1835), K.J. Maximovich (1889), S.G. Gorshkova (1949) and other scientists studied the species of this genus. E.G. Bobrov (1967) made the first review of this genus. A detailed analysis of literature and herbarium specimens of the Siberian species of the genus Myricaria was performed. There is no consensus on taxonomy of Siberian species of this genus in botanical literature. Therefore, study of moot points in taxonomy of these species on the basis of an analysis of characters for treatment of the genus Myricaria is of great importance. The features are: size and shape of leaves, peculiarities of structure and size of inflorescences. The author collected plants in the southern Siberia: in the Altay Mountains, Tyva, Pribaikalye and Zabaikalye during expeditions from 1990 to 2006. Also we collected seeds and cuttings of species of Myricaria and grew up them in the nursery of the Laboratory of Dendrology, SB CSBG RAS. When studying of morphological features forming the basis for description of the species, it has been established that only two species: M. bracteata and M. longifolia, instead of four from the botanical literature, grow in Siberia. Differences in the biological peculiarities and areas also are characteristic of the two species. The author does the critical overview and offers system of the Siberian species of the genus Myricaria.
Global environmental change and its causes and effects in relation to natural and anthropogenic activity have been the recent focus of concern. An important component of this issue is the role management of soils plays in contributing as a source or sink of greenhouse gases (GHGs), e.g. carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O), etc. In forest ecosystems, especially, the production and consumption of these three GHGs are biologically mediated, but also strongly controlled by natural or man-made disturbances and other climate changes influenced environmental variables, e.g. elevated atmospheric CO2 concentrations (Chapter 2), nitrogen (N) deposition (Chapter 3) and fire (Chapter 4). In this study, such environmental changes in forest ecosystems had the potential impacts to change the soil-atmosphere exchange of GHGs. Changes in soil GHG fluxes, furthermore, is that it varied with the environmental changes. Firstly, reduced CH4 consumption with CO2 enrichment was observed with increased levels of soil moisture as a result of increased leaf stomatal closure and evaporative water loss from the forest floor. Secondly, simulated N addition, which was conducted to evaluate the effects of elevated atmospheric N deposition on soil GHG fluxes, inhibited soil CH4 uptake and stimulated soil N2O emission in response to increased inorganic-N concentration. Finally, our low-intensity surface fire reduced soil CO2 flux by the combustion of understory vegetation and litter layer. Especially, soil N2O flux was represented different seasonal pattern, depending on the existence of charcoal. We considered that although increased inorganic-N levels in the burned area as a result of the fire influence preferentially the soil N2O emission, it might be suppressed through net immobilization of NH4 + or interfere with nitrification by fire-produced charcoal.
Comparing the difference in forest community structure between a reforested area and a nearby old growth forest is one way to evaluate the ability of a disturbed forest to recover. Here, we show how a high altitude reforested area in Mt. Apo, Philippines is recovering relative to a nearby old growth forest. The species richness of understory vegetation in the old growth forest did not differ significantly from the 11 year-old reforested area, suggesting fast recovery in this aspect. However, the tree assemblage and sizes (i.e., Diameter at Breast Height) in the old growth forest had significantly higher tree diversity as well as larger trees than the reforested area, suggesting slower recovery in this aspect. In addition, the dominant species in terms of understory vegetation cover, tree abundance, and sizes differed significantly between the old growth forest and the 11 year-old reforested area. In general, the composition and structure of vegetation communities (understory and trees) in the old growth forest and the 11 year-old reforested area were about 13-29% similar. This means that, without management interventions (e.g., assisted recovery), it would probably take much longer time (than 11 years) for the reforested area to get to same condition as the nearby old growth forest. More importantly, results showed which aspects of the reforested area could be adjusted to potentially hasten its recovery towards the old growth forest status.
This study was conducted to determine the impact of fire on the physical and chemical characteristics of soil as well as on the distribution of soil organic and black carbon stocks in ice-rich permafrost regions in eastern Siberia. Three intact and four burnt forest sites with different ignition years were selected. Volumetric water content did not increase in any of the burnt forests in the top soil layer but moisture accumulated at the bottom of the active layer of older burnt sites. Salt content increased in the active layer following forest fires, but a decade later, the salt increase disappeared, indicating the temporal characteristic of this change. The concentration of Na + and SO4 2- in the active layer of the 4-year-old burnt forest site increased 70% and 49% respectively, while other salts (Mg 2+ and Ca 2+ ) did not show any variation in the other burnt forest sites compared to the intact forest sites. The organic carbon stock in the top 200 cm of soil in the intact forest site (44.0 kg m -2 ) was similar to that in burnt forest sites (41.4-43.7 kg m -2 ). On average, 37% of organic carbon was found in the upper 30 cm of the soil profile for intact and burnt forests. The organic carbon distribution in the top 200 cm soil layer in Central Yakutia was higher than previously reported for other Siberian sites. The highest concentrations of black carbon were found in the upper soil layers (20-40 mg g -1 organic carbon) but concentrations of 10-20 mg g -1 organic carbon were also found in the permafrost (120-200 cm depth) of the intact and burnt forests. There was no variation in black carbon concentration among the sites. The presence of black carbon in the permafrost suggests that the active layer was deeper before and that black carbon accumulated because of fires that occurred at that time.
Both of water and soil are the most essential factors for the establishment and growth of plants. This study firstly investigated the sexual reproduction of two stages of Populus euphratica, seed germination and seedling growth. We focused on the various screening effects of nine combinations (three moisture gradients × three normal soil types) on seed and seedling of Populus euphratica. With the water content rising (from 10% to 20%), seeds and seedlings on all the soil substrates showed higher germination rate, germination speed or germination index and survival rate and better growth conditions, respectively. Besides, higher moisture could guarantee seeds to germinate 4-8 hours earlier and greater germination rate. In the comparison among the soil substrates, seeds and seedlings favored the lower-salinity and richer-nutrient river bank soil, which impelled a 4-hour earlier and higher germination peak period and ensured the greatest seedling quality. Therefore, the combination of '20%, river bank soil' was the most suitable condition for P. euphratica seeds and seedlings, which highly consisted with its riparian sexual regeneration phenomenon. Finally, by analyzing the unsteady river flow and river bank status, we concluded that the reason for the failure of P. euphratica sexual reproduction was that the time and quantity of water supply should be adjusted to create more suitable and stable habitat for P. euphratica seeds and seedlings.
