Ecology of Angola

Springer eBooks, Год журнала: 2023, Номер unknown

Опубликована: Янв. 1, 2023

Язык: Английский

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Plant Strategies

Oxford University Press eBooks, Год журнала: 2023, Номер unknown

Опубликована: Июль 27, 2023

Abstract Plants have evolved a remarkable array of adaptive solutions to the existential problem survival and reproduction in world where disturbances can be deadly, resources are scarce, competition is cutthroat. inherited phenotypic traits that increased their chance success, these indicators strategies for establishment survival. A plant strategy thought as “how species sustains population” (Westoby, 1998, p. 214) because all successful must positive demographic outcomes habitats which they adapted. This book aims articulate coherent framework studying unifies demography with functional ecology advance prediction ecology. Central this traits: heritable morphological, physiological, phenological attributes plants influence therefore drive fitness differences among species.

Язык: Английский

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The grassy ecosystems of Madagascar in context: Ecology, evolution, and conservation

Plants People Planet, Год журнала: 2023, Номер 6(1), С. 94 - 115

Опубликована: Авг. 21, 2023

Societal Impact Statement Madagascar is famous for its unique forests and their fauna. Most of the island covered by flammable grassy ecosystems long considered to be human origin threatening remaining forests. Yet new studies show that many plants animals systems are restricted these open habitats. Open have markedly different management requirements from bring contributions society. We argue can benefit if understood managed wisely using expanded knowledge bases also include collaboration with locals. Summary Until recently, nearly all research interests in focused on forested To help place Madagascar's context, we provide a summary origin, development, evolution tropical, C4 elsewhere, especially those Africa; summarize similarities differences distribution C3 grasses Malagasy landscape, plant traits, inferences evolutionary legacy grasses. discuss animal communities use coevolved systems; resolve controversies over pre‐settlement extent ecosystems, suggest variety complementary geochemical, palaeobotanical, molecular genetic tools been effectively used elsewhere untangle forest/grassy ecosystem mosaics ecological processes influence them. Many should employed fully understand spatio‐temporal dynamics open, grassy, closed forest across island; as regards conservation, services provided systems, which too often ignored general, not only biome, vis‐à‐vis forests, but global importance carbon sink role they play water providing goods local villagers. conclude outlining necessary better manage without endangered ecosystems.

Язык: Английский

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Fire facilitates ground layer plant diversity in a Miombo ecosystem

Annals of Botany, Год журнала: 2024, Номер 133(5-6), С. 743 - 756

Опубликована: Март 4, 2024

Abstract Background and Aims Little is known about the response of ground layer plant communities to fire in Miombo ecosystems, which a global blind spot ecological understanding. We aimed: (1) assess impact three experimentally imposed treatments on species composition compare it with patterns observed for trees; (2) analyse effect richness how responses differ among functional groups. Methods At 60-year-long experiment Zambia, we quantified diversity plants terms taxa groups across experimental late dry-season fire, early exclusion. Data were collected five repeat surveys from onset wet season dry season. Key Results Of 140 recorded treatments, fire-maintained contributed most diversity, least number unique found no-fire treatment. The early-fire treatment was more similar than late-fire C4 grass geoxyle highest treatment, there no shared sedge between other treatments. plot level, average twice that exclusion Conclusions Heterogeneity seasonality intensity supports flora by providing local environments. African ecosystems face rapid expansion land- fire-management schemes carbon offsetting sequestration. demonstrate analyses impacts such predicated tree alone are highly likely underestimate biodiversity. A research priority must be new understanding integrated into policy land management.

Язык: Английский

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Florida’s fiery subtropical grasslands: Growth forms, belowground organs, and post-fire recovery strategies

Folia Geobotanica, Год журнала: 2024, Номер 58(3-4), С. 209 - 230

Опубликована: Фев. 3, 2024

Abstract Fire-adaptive traits in plants of tropical and subtropical grassy ecosystems have been the subject considerable global research, but only recently studied pyrogenic Florida grasslands. Plant growth forms, belowground organs, post-fire recovery strategies were for 198 grassland specialists peninsular Florida. Community types (dry-mesic, mesic, wet-mesic, wet) sampled with 1m 2 plots along edaphic-hydrologic gradient association between these variables fire-related plant was tested using fourth-corner analysis. Caulescent herbs (43), cespitose graminoids (27), rosette (31) are most common forms among species sampled. Plants epigeogenous hypogeogenous rhizomes dominate sample plots, including matrix graminoids, shrub geoxyles, an acaulescent rhizomatous fire-resilient palm ( Serenoa repens ). Most (163; 82%) exhibit resprouting, 30 facultative resprouters 133 obligate resprouters. All woody resprouters, 35 ephemeral herbaceous reseeders. type a better predictor abundances than hydrology, however, hydrology significantly associated measured, particularly rhizome texture, prevalent all wet sites. Belowground organs (xylopodia, geoxylic suffructices) form frequent fire phylogeny, suggesting regime as driver community phylogenetic diversity. Persistence, rapid resilience co-occurrence geoxyles align grasslands other geoxyle The old-growth, center diversification on southeastern US coastal plain.

Язык: Английский

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The underestimated global importance of plant belowground coarse organs in open biomes for ecosystem functioning and conservation

Perspectives in Ecology and Conservation, Год журнала: 2024, Номер 22(2), С. 118 - 121

Опубликована: Фев. 5, 2024

Open biomes such as grasslands, savannas, shrublands are associated with many global biodiversity hotspots, and cover ∼60% of land globally. Yet, extensive increasing anthropogenic activities threaten their functioning biodiversity. Here, we argue that, in open biomes, researchers stakeholders (e.g., policy-makers, practitioners) should more comprehensively acknowledge that than half a plant's biomass is typically located belowground. Not only fine roots but different belowground coarse organs plants thick roots, rhizomes) play key ecosystem functions have been largely neglected basic applied ecology. By accurately accounting for the distribution these along ecological gradients, turnover decomposition rate, would improve estimates carbon cycling (core climate change mitigation policies) well ameliorating conservation efforts focused on worldwide.

Язык: Английский

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Past, Present, and Future of Forbs in Old-Growth Tropical and Subtropical Grasslands

Annual Review of Ecology Evolution and Systematics, Год журнала: 2024, Номер 55(1), С. 395 - 421

Опубликована: Ноя. 4, 2024

Forbs are important contributors to species diversity and ecosystem functions in low-latitude grasslands, where they support diverse herbivore communities millions of people. Native forb assemblages tolerate disturbances physiological stressors (fire, herbivory, drought, frost) that together have shaped their exceptional functional diversity. Yet, compared trees grasses, forbs received much less attention grassland studies until recently. Here, we review forb-centric literature illustrate land conversion responsible management fire herbivory crucial maintaining Management practices promoting offer (a) high-quality food items medicinal resources rural livelihoods animal (from wild ungulates livestock fossorial rodents insects), including adaptive foraging patterns, (b) carbon nutrient inputs regulate belowground processes. Improved understanding the above- regeneration strategies is critical for restoration conservation secure services future old-growth tropical subtropical grasslands.

Язык: Английский

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Allometric scaling and allocation patterns: Implications for predicting productivity across plant communities

Frontiers in Forests and Global Change, Год журнала: 2023, Номер 5

Опубликована: Янв. 4, 2023

As the application of allometry continues to expand, variability in exponent has generated a great deal debate forest ecology. Some studies have reported counterintuitive values exponent, but sources such remained both unexplored and unexplained. Therefore, objectives our analyses were to: (1) uncover global patterns allometric variation stem height with diameter, crown radius diameter or height, depth volume aboveground biomass belowground biomass; (2) assess variations parameters taxonomic levels, climate zones, biomes historical disturbance regimes; (3) identify exponents. Here, we provide novel insights into tight co-variations between dimensions tree biomass. We also show striking similarity scaling across regimes consistent constraint hypothesis. that central tendency is toward 2/3 for 5/2–8/3 1 This indicative an integrated growth regulation acting tandem on allocation. demonstrate arise as artifacts small sample sizes ( N < 60), measurement errors, sampling biases inappropriate regression techniques. strongly recommend use larger > 60) representative samples target population when testing hypothesis about variation. caution against conflation statistical violations theoretical predictions.

Язык: Английский

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Functional and ecological diversification of underground organs in Solanum

Frontiers in Genetics, Год журнала: 2023, Номер 14

Опубликована: Окт. 10, 2023

The evolution of geophytes in response to different environmental stressors is poorly understood largely due the great morphological variation underground plant organs, which includes species with rhizomatous structures or storage organs (USOs). Here we compare and ecological niche patterns geophytic Solanum L., classified based on a functional definition using clade-based approach an expert-verified specimen occurrence dataset. Results from PERMANOVA Phylogenetic ANOVAs indicate that occupy drier areas, found hottest areas whereas USOs are restricted cooler montane tropics. In addition, appear be adapted fire-driven disturbance, contrast prolonged climatic disturbance such as unfavorable growing conditions drought cold. We also show rhizome-like leads changes relationship between range size breadth. Ancestral state reconstruction shows evolutionarily more labile compared USOs. Our results suggest enable plants shift their niches towards distinct extreme have evolutionary constraints.

Язык: Английский

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Preface to the Special Issue on African Flora in a Changing World: Integrating multiple dimensions of diversity

Annals of Botany, Год журнала: 2024, Номер 133(5-6), С. 643 - 648

Опубликована: Апрель 4, 2024

Africa is home to globally important biodiversity.Straddling the equator and extending temperate latitudes (at 37°N 34°S; not including oceanic islands such as Marion Prince Edward), continent accommodates a variety of ecosystems biomes, tropical forests, savanna montane grasslands, deserts, Mediterranean-type (Olson et al., 2011;Linder, 2014).The has remained relatively stable in Cenozoic period (66 2.5 million years ago, Ma), despite dramatic geological events, shifting coastlines, volcanism formation rift valley (Couvreur 2021).Africa rich diversity vascular plants, with over 65 000 species recorded on its surrounding (Qian 2021).This equates approximately 18.5% plant (Antonelli 2023).However, efforts catalogue African composition are uneven, certain regions (e.g.tropical east central Africa) being well catalogued others (e.g.Sudan) barely explored (Marshal 2016).At same time, increased ecological evolutionary research points varied patterns diversification assembly flora; however, there lack wider consolidation disparate knowledge.This Special Issue aims bring together pan-African build holistic synthesis knowledge ecology evolution plants.

Язык: Английский

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