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The Life Forms of Plants and Statistical Plant Geography
... A life form is an important physiognomic character that have been widely used in vegetation studies of any area. Raunkiaer (1934) used it as descriptive tool for classifying plant in different life forms based on the position and degree of perennating buds. According to this system, plant species can be grouped into five main classes: Phanerophytes, Chamaephytes, Hemicryptophytes, Cryptophytes and Therophytes. ...
... The percentage of various life form classes put together is known as the biological spectrum. Raunkiaer (1934) constructed a normal biological spectrum that act as a standard model against which different life form spectra could be compared. ...
... All species were assigned a suitable life form according to Raunkiaer's (1934) life form classification such as Therophytes (TH), Chamaephytes (CH), Cryptophyte (CR), Hemicryptophytes (H), and Phanerophyte (PH). ...
Weeds are one of the main production constraints in agriculture. A life form is an important physiognomic character that have been widely used in vegetation studies of any area. This study was performed to find out the weed flora of tea plantations in Dergaon, Assam which have negatively affect the crop quality and yield. A total of 85 plant taxa were found as weeds in tea plantations. Out of the recorded taxa 67 are dicots and 18 are monocots. Total 15 different genera were recorded under monocots and 55 genera were recorded under dicots. The most commonly growing weeds in tea plantations in this area were Axonopus compressus, Cynodon dactylon, Ageratum conyzoides, Melastoma malabathricum. Therophytes (40%) are the dominant life form followed by hemicryptophytes (33%), chamaephytes (10%), phanerophytes (9%) and cryptophytes (8%).
... The surveyed taxa's growth forms, life form categories, and life spans were identified [1, 19,20], and chorotypes were classified [21]. Specimens were dried and preserved as voucher samples, then deposited in the herbarium of the Biology Department, Faculty of Education, Aden University, Yemen. ...
... The mallow species surveyed in the study area are classified into three life form classes according to POWO [1], Al-Hawshabi et al. [9], Hassib [20], and Raunkiaer [21]. Chamaephytes were the most frequent life form (15 species = 50%), followed by Phanerophytes (9 species = 30%) and Therophytes, which were represented by six species (20%) ( Table 1). ...
... ses according to POWO [1], Al-Hawshabi et al. [9], Hassib [20], and Raunkiaer [21]. Chamaephytes were the most frequent life form (15 species = 50%), followed by Phanerophytes (9 species = 30%) and Therophytes, which were represented by six species (20%) ( Table 1). ...
This study presents a thorough revision of the Malvaceae s.l. (sensu lato) family within the Flora of the Toor Al-Baha District, Lahij Governorate, South Yemen. The documented taxa were subjected to morphological revision alongside an analysis of life forms and chorological affinities. Thirty taxa are categorized into 12 genera within four subfamilies. Each species is presented with its current classification, accepted names, synonyms (when applicable), vernacular names (when applicable), photographs, and distribution to aid in identifying and recognizing these species. The documented mallow species comprises 80% perennials and 20% annuals. Chamaephytes constituted the predominant life forms, comprising 50% of the total taxa surveyed. A phytogeographical analysis revealed that chorotypes with Sudano-Zambezian affinities are predominant, comprising 83.34% of the recorded mallows. The two subfamilies, Grewioideae and Sterculioideae, are distinguished by the lack of an epicalyx and the presence of an androgynophore, unlike the subfamilies Dombeyoideae and Malvoideae. The highest richness genera included Grewia, with seven taxa, and Hibiscus, Abutilon, and Corchorus, each comprising four species. The research presented nine artificial keys for wild mallows in the Lahij Governorate, comprising three for subfamilies and six for genera.
... Lower percentage values are shown by therophytes (17 taxa, 1.8%) and hydrophytes (5 taxa, 0.5%). A growth form spectrum of ornamental taxa categorized according to [12,13] (P, Phanerophytes; NP, Nanophanerophytes; Ch, Chamaephytes; H, Hemicryptophytes; G, Geophytes; T, Therophytes; and I, Idrophytes). ...
... In addition to species sensu stricto, the checklist also comprises forms, varieties, hybrids, and cultivars. For each taxon, the following details were noted as follows: family (according to [12]); growth form (according to [12,13]); geographical origin (derived from [12]); biome origin (according to [12]); and resident time and status (native/alien) in Italy (derived both from [14,15]). The taxa belonging to the floristic surveys from the existing literature [10,[20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30][31][32][33][34][35] have been updated in terms of nomenclature and standardized concerning synonymy in accordance with the POWO database. ...
... A growth form spectrum of ornamental taxa categorized according to[12,13] (P, Phanerophytes; NP, Nanophanerophytes; Ch, Chamaephytes; H, Hemicryptophytes; G, Geophytes; T, Therophytes; and I, Idrophytes). ...
Based on literature data and new field investigations, a checklist of the ornamental vascular flora of Sicily is presented. Trees, shrubs, herbaceous, and succulent plants growing in street trees, parks, private gardens, and historic villas of Sicily are included in the checklist. For each taxon, information on growth forms, geographical and biome origin, resident time, and status (native/alien) in Italy is provided. A total of 928 taxa (including 823 species s. str., 33 cultivars, 31 hybrids, 24 varieties, 9 subspecies, and 8 forms), belonging to 486 genera included in 138 families, were recorded. Fabaceae, Rosaceae, Asteraceae, Cactaceae, Asparagaceae, Arecaceae, and Malvaceae are the richest families in taxa. Phanerophytes are the prevalent growth form, and the main part of such flora consists of Asiatic and American taxa. Taxa from subtropical and tropical biomes showed a prevalent presence; this is a peculiarity which characterizes the Sicilian ornamental flora. Delonix regia emerges as a peculiar case, representing the only documented cases of open-air cultivation in both Sicily and the entire country. A significant percentage of taxa (41%) is included in the list of alien vascular flora of Italy, showing a strong predominance of casual and naturalized neophytes alien species.
... The plant cover or vegetation can be classified based on growth forms and/or life forms. The structure and overall appearance of a natural habitat is the by product of adaptations of plants to the specific climate as life-forms (Raunkiaer, 1934). The expression of the percentage distribution or relative proportion of different life-forms within a region is referred to as the "biological spectrum" (Cain, 1950;Mueller-Dombois & Ellenberg, 1974). ...
... The expression of the percentage distribution or relative proportion of different life-forms within a region is referred to as the "biological spectrum" (Cain, 1950;Mueller-Dombois & Ellenberg, 1974). The concept of the "biological spectrum" was introduced to represent both the distribution of life-forms within a flora and the phytoclimate in which these forms evolve (Raunkiaer, 1934;Raju et al., 2014). Biological spectra are also valuable for comparing plant communities across distant geographical areas and can serve as indicators of biotic interactions, climate, and habitat degradation (Mueller-Dombois & Ellenberg, 1974). ...
... twinners and creepers), herbs, shrubs, and trees. Lifeforms were determined according to the position of the perennation vegetative bud relative to ground level (Raunkiaer, 1934) as phanerophytes, chamaephytes, hemicryptophytes, cryptophytes and therophytes. ...
This study was carried out in newly declared human-impacted Chintamoni Kar Bird Sanctuary to document the life-forms and present the biological spectrum.The study enlists 149 flowering plant species belonging to 134 genera under 56 families. Of these, Rosids (56 species) are the most species dominant followed by Asterids (45 spp.) and Monocots (30 spp.) besides enriched with seven basal angiosperm species. The Apocynaceae are the most dominant family followed by Fabaceae, Malvaceae, Moraceae and Poaceae. Among the genera, Ficus was found as dominant with four species followed by Cyperus and Dioscorea (3 spp. each). As per growth forms, herbs dominate (51 spp.; 33.8%), followed by trees (47spp.;31.7%), shrubs (29spp.; 19.6%), and climbers (22 spp.; 14.9%). The Raunkiaer life-form analysis shows that phanerophytes make up 54% of the flora followed by 13% cryptophytes (geophytes), 12% therophyte, 11% hemicryptophytes and 10% chamaephytes. The study suggests that the region enjoys a hot and humid Phanerophytic climate. The selective planting of various fruit-bearing woody species contributed to the dominance of phanerophytes; historically the site was an orchard till it was declared a sanctuary in 1982. However, there were changes in the plant growth over the decades of protected status.
... Studying these life forms offers valuable insights into plant community structure and plant-environment interactions, independent of taxonomic classifications. In ecological research, analyzing plant life forms helps to understand climatic conditions, plant adaptations, and the geographical distribution of plant communities, reflecting overall vegetation structure (Raunkiaer 1934). Raunkiaer classified plants based on the position of their penetrating buds: Phanerophytes (Ph) have buds 25 cm or more above ground, including woody trees and shrubs; Chamaephytes (Ch) have buds up to 25 cm above ground, mostly small shrubs; Hemicryptophytes (He) have buds at ground level, protected by soil and leaves, including grasses; Geophytes (Ge) have buds below ground or submerged, characterized by tubers, rhizomes, or bulbs; and Therophytes (Th) are annual plants completing their life cycle during favorable seasons, typically found in desert grasslands and cultivated fields (Haider and Ibrahim 2022). ...
... Together, these factors highlight the importance of leaf size in understanding the complex relationships between plants and their environments. Leaf size classes are valuable for classifying plant associations, with spectra determined by categorizing mature leaves as described by Raunkiaer (1934). The classifications are as follows: Leptophyll (L) has a leaf size of 25 mm²; Naznophyll (N) is 225 mm²; Microphyll (Mi) measures 2,025 mm²; Mesophyll (Me) is 18,225 mm²; Megaphyll (Ma) ranges from 164,025 mm²; and Macrophyll (Ma) refers to leaf sizes greater than 164,025 mm². ...
... Hemicryptophytes' prevalence suggests they are keystone species in sustaining plant diversity and functioning in harsh environments. The documented flora was classified into different leaf types according to their size by Raunkiaer (1934). An abundance of microphyllous species in this study, particularly in Stand 1 (40%) and Stand 3 (50%), indicates their adaptive advantage in reducing water loss in dry conditions. ...
The present study, conducted between 2022 and 2023, aimed to document the floristic diversity, life forms, and leaf spectra of the vegetation from Gilgit to Raikot in the Gilgit District. Phytosociological analysis was performed to identify the dominant species, life forms, and leaf size spectra, with the area divided into four stands and thirty quadrats sampled per stand to calculate the Importance Value Index (IVI). A total of 181 phanerogamic species were recorded from 138 genera and 61 families, establishing a comprehensive inventory of the flora. In terms of habit
categories, herbs dominated with 134 species (74%), while hemicryptophytes led life forms with 74 species (40.9%). Microphylls (44.2%) and nanophylls (23.8%) were the most common leaf sizes. Hemicryptophytic herbs with microphyllous and nanophyllous leaves exhibit vital adaptations to cold climates, reducing water loss, resisting winds, and leveraging snow insulation. Polygonum maritimum, a dominant prostrate perennial with an IVI of 47.2, stabilizes soil, supports nutrient cycling, and indicates cold climatic conditions while contributing significantly to ecosystem
resilience and biodiversity. One-way ANOVA (P < 0.0001) revealed significant differences between Stand 3 and Stand 4, with Stand 4, a rocky, barren area, exhibiting lower diversity due to variations in altitude, soil, and vegetation.
This study provides essential baseline data on plant diversity and ecological structure in the Gilgit to Raikot region and the importance of the need for targeted conservation. Future research should monitor long-term environmental changes
and the effects of anthropogenic activities on biodiversity.
... Second, herbs evolve faster and could therefore also adapt to environmental change faster than woody plants (Smith and Beaulieu 2009). This ability has helped them to evolve a wide range of strategies and lifeforms in response to environmental variation, potentially suggesting greater turnover in herb than tree communities (Raunkiaer 1934). Third, their shorter stature also makes herbs possibly more dispersallimited than trees (Cain et al. 1998, but see Myers et al. 2004), which could also lead to relatively greater turnover in herb species than tree species with increasing geographic distance. ...
... In contrast to our predictions (H1 and H2), we found similar β-diversity patterns for both herbs and trees along the Mudumalai rainfall gradient, despite their inherent differences in traits (Díaz et al. 2016), evolutionary history (Smith and Donoghue 2008), life-history strategies (Raunkiaer 1934), and dispersal modes (Cain et al. 1998). The similarity in βdiversity patterns between herbaceous and woody plants in our study contrasts with prior studies from tropical and other regions. ...
Aim
Most of our current knowledge on tropical forest plant communities is based on trees, despite the substantial contribution of other lifeforms to plant diversity in these systems. In particular, there is a limited number of studies on understory herbaceous plants (herbs) in tropical forests. With their lower dispersal abilities, higher rates of evolution, and lower drought tolerance than trees, herbs are expected to exhibit different patterns of species composition across space. To compare the patterns and drivers of variation in species composition (β‐diversity) between these two plant groups, we surveyed tree and herb communities in 13 one‐ha plots along a rainfall gradient in a seasonally dry forest in India.
Location
Mudumalai National Park, India.
Methods
In each one‐ha plot, we censused all trees ≥ 1 cm DBH in each one‐ha plot, and herbs in 47–50 1 × 1 m subplots within each one‐ha plot. In both groups, we estimated among‐plot β‐diversity, which we decomposed into two components: turnover and nestedness. Then we partitioned the relative influences of spatial and environmental predictors, including rainfall, temperature, soil, and fire frequency, on β‐diversity.
Results
Contrary to our expectations, β‐diversity was remarkably similar for herbs and trees, and both groups exhibited high turnover along the gradient. Rainfall and temperature explained most variation in composition within both groups, while fire and soil explained less variation, and their effects differed between groups.
Conclusions
While trees and herbs show contrasting patterns of α‐diversity across the same rainfall gradient, our study suggests that both life forms are impacted strongly by environmental filtering, predominantly rainfall and temperature, resulting in similar patterns of β‐diversity. The high turnover observed in tree and herb communities, and the influence of rainfall and temperature in structuring these communities, should be considered when designing conservation and restoration strategies in the face of ongoing global change and other anthropogenic pressures on tropical forests.
... The status of exotic species and taxonomic nomenclature adhered to the Checklist of the Native and Alien Flora of Italy [58,66] and was cross-referenced with online databases such as WFO Plant [67], POWO [68], and Med-Checklist [69]. Life forms were expressed according to Raunkiaer's classification system [70], using the abbreviations reported in Pignatti et al. [60] and IPFI [71]. The chorology of plants was based on POWO [68], IPFI [71], or relevant literature. ...
... The chorology of plants was based on POWO [68], IPFI [71], or relevant literature. The habitus of plants was classified according to Raunkiaer's life forms [70], including in trees: scapose phanerophytes (P scap); in shrubs: caespitose phanerophytes (P caesp), nanophanerophytes (NP), frutescent chamaephytes (Ch frut), suffruticose chamaephytes (Ch suffr), and succulent chamaephytes (Ch succ); in climbers: liana phanerophytes (P lian). ...
Urban greenery is a key component of green infrastructure, contributing to environmental sustainability and urban well-being. Between 2019 and 2020, a comprehensive inventory of ornamental flora was conducted in Assemini (Sardinia, Italy), documenting 198 vascular plant taxa, including 155 exotic, 41 native, and 2 cryptogenic species from 65 families. Among the exotic species, most were neophytes (63%), and 14% were archaeophytes. In terms of life forms, scapose phanerophytes, with a tree-like growth habit, dominated (45%), while Mediterranean and American chorotypes were the most represented, each accounting for 21%. A total of 7356 plants were recorded, comprising trees (61.3%), shrubs (32.3%), and climbers (5.7%), belonging to 90 shrub, 89 tree, and 19 climber taxa. The highest number of plants was found in “Green Areas” and “Schools”, which also exhibited the greatest biodiversity, with 136 different taxa each. The most planted species were Quercus ilex, Nerium oleander, and Olea europaea. The survey also identified 21 allergenic, 36 toxic, and 35 mechanically harmful species, primarily located in “Green Areas” and “Schools”. Biodiversity analysis using the Shannon Index revealed significant diversity, with Fabaceae, Apocynaceae, and Fagaceae emerging as the most represented families. These findings highlight the importance of plant inventories in urban green space management for sustainable planning. Well-maintained green spaces can enhance ecological resilience, improve public health, and promote social cohesion in future urban developments.
... and below ground [3,4]. Phenology is mostly determined by the habitat and local climate (temperature and precipitation) in grassland ecosystems [5]; however it is also impacted by a variety of biotic and abiotic factors [6]. ...
... The listed species were further categorized into a suitable Raunkiaer's life form class based on the position of the perennating buds of plant species as phanerophytes (Ph), hemicryptophtyes (He), chamaephytes (Ch), geophytes (Ge), and therophytes (Th), respectively. Thereafter, it was compared with the Raunkiaer [3] normal biological spectrum and other previous studies. The plant species were also classified in different plant growth forms by IUCN (https://nc.iucnredlist.org/redlist/content/ ...
The seasonal phenological segregation observed among various species within a plant community can be interpreted as a form of niche differentiation that facilitates the coexistence of these species. In the present study, life forms and phenological attributes of dominant plant species in temperate semi-natural grasslands of Central Himalaya, India, were assessed between January 2022 and December 2022. This study was carried out in three sites in different forest zones, viz. oak, cypress and pine. In each site, plots measuring 0.5 hectares were established and phenological assessments were conducted within each of these plots. A total of 50, 36, and 49 herbaceous species were identified in the grasslands of oak, cypress and pine zones, respectively, with these species categorized into five distinct life form classes. In the grasslands of both oak and pine zones, hemicryptophytes emerged as the predominant life form, whereas in the cypress zone grasslands, it was found that chamaephytes take precedence. The differences observed in the classifications of life forms can be ascribed to the geographical distribution and the biotic interactions present in these sites. The three grasslands exhibit comparable climatic conditions and day lengths, resulting in no significant variations in soil temperature, light intensity or overall climatic factors. The majority of species commenced their flowering phase during the monsoon season, attributed to the favorable conditions characterized by warm, humid weather and adequate soil moisture. Various phenological events, including germination, growth, and senescence, are significantly affected by weather and climate, and their timing subsequently influences ecosystem processes in a reciprocal manner. This study provides valuable foundational data for ecological and environmental research, aiding in the comparison and distinction of plant compositions across the Himalayas and its ecosystems.
... • Arboreal stratum: made up of trees whose height is generally > 7 m; • Upper shrub stratum: consisting of tall shrubs or young trees with heights between 3 and 7 m; • Low shrub stratum: consisting of low shrubs or young trees between 1 and 3 m high; • Herbaceous stratum: made up of herbaceous species and champhytes; young seedlings of woody species, generally less than 1 m tall. According to Raunkiaer (1934), the identified species were identified by their biological type. The phytodiversity within the groves studied is evaluated by the Shannon-Weaver diversity index (H'), which varies between 0 and 5 bits per individual (GRALL & COIC, 2006;ZAMORA-CRESCENCIO et al., 2015). ...
Morphometric and ecological characterization of Atlas Pistachio stands (Pistacia atlantica desf.) in El Bayadh region (Algeria)
... El primero en hablar de la morfología funcional fue el botánico Christen Raunkiaer, quien en 1907 aplicó el concepto de formas de vida a las plantas (Raunkiaer, 1934). Según Raunkiaer, dichas formas de vida son la respuesta al clima y a sus fluctuaciones. ...
Antecedentes: las microalgas perifíticas se han utilizado ampliamente como bioindicadores del estrés ambiental. Objetivo: en este trabajo se contrastó la hipótesis de que las características morfofuncionales del ficoperifiton están relacionada con las condiciones físicas, químicas y bacteriológicas del agua en diferentes sistemas acuáticos del Complejo Cenagoso de Zapatosa (CCZ). Métodos: para ello, se evaluaron algunos aspectos de la morfología funcional de estas algas (dimensión lineal máxima, área superficial, relación superficie-volumen, biovolumen) y de rasgos de formas de vida (formación de colonias, organización en filamentos, presencia de exoesqueleto de sílice, ocurrencia de aerotopos, producción de mucílago y tenencia de flagelos) y se estudió su relación con distintas variables ambientales (oxígeno disuelto, temperatura, pH, conductividad, nutrientes, iones, demandas de oxígeno, carbono orgánico, sólidos disueltos y suspendidos, coliformes fecales y totales). Resultados: los rasgos funcionales no mostraron diferencias espaciales dentro del CCZ, ni se relacionaron de manera concluyente con las variaciones en las variables fisicoquímicas, excepto por un grado moderado de asociación positiva del biovolumen y el área superficial con las coliformes totales, y negativa del mucílago y la formación de colonias con la dureza total. Conclusiones: las condiciones de contaminación y deterioro de los distintos sitios del CCZ fueron homogéneas y no permitieron detectar respuestas claras de los rasgos funcionales ante los cambios en la calidad del agua. No obstante, la caracterización de la morfología funcional y de los rasgos biológicos del ficoperifiton del CCZ constituye una primera aproximación a la ecología funcional de este grupo, que permitirá valorar las modificaciones que se produzcan en el futuro ante las intervenciones humanas y los cambios climáticos y ambientales.
... The growth form, which is associated with plant strategy and climatic factors, can be determined through the canopy structure and height of the plant. On the other hand, the life form, which primarily describes the relation of the penetrating tissue to the ground surface, indicates a plant's adaptation to climate (Raunkiaer, 1934;Whittaker, 1975). Plant height, or the shortest distance between the ground and the upper boundary of the primary photosynthetic tissues of the plant, will also be measured since it can indicate environmental stress tolerance or avoidance (Grime, 2001). ...
Urban green spaces (UGS) play a critical role in enhancing biodiversity, mitigating environmental stressors, and promoting ecosystem resilience within highly urbanized areas. However, rapid urbanization in in megacities such as the Metropolitan Manila has led to the loss and fragmentation of these ecological frontiers, highlighting the urgent need to assess their ecological functions. This study investigates the plant functional diversity and ecological dynamics of two key urban forests in Metro Manila—Arroceros Forest Park and Las Piñas-Parañaque Wetland Park—by analyzing whole-plant and leaf trait-specific indicators to evaluate ecosystem functions and services. Functional diversity indices were employed to identify relationships among plant communities and assess how species' functional traits influence ecosystem stability. Results indicate that while species in both urban forests exhibit similar functions, variations in functional traits are driven by phenotypic plasticity, habitat filtering, and ecological differentiation. These factors influence community-based functional diversity, affecting species adaptability and resilience. The study highlights the importance of maintaining high functional diversity to support ecosystem services, emphasizing the role of urban forests in mitigating environmental challenges in rapidly developing cities. Findings from this research provide valuable insights for urban conservation strategies and reinforce the necessity of integrating functional diversity in urban ecological planning to enhance ecosystem resilience and sustainability but opens more possibilities in overall assessing the ecosystem along with abiotic factors and interactions with other faunal and microbial species that could affect its ecological dynamics.
... These changes result in reduced competition in the mid-story and understory layers and increased light and nutrient availability (Boerner and Brinkman 2003;Lettow et al. 2014;Black et al. 2018), which collectively promote plant species coexistence and enhance plant establishment via seed germination (Glasgow and Matlock 2007;Lamont et al. 2019). Herbaceous layer productivity also can respond positively to fire (Vander Yacht et al. 2017;Hutchinson et al. 2024) as many herbaceous species (i.e., graminoids and forbs) increase their abundance post-fire due to several life-history traits such as perennating meristems at or below the soil surface and promote higher relative growth rates (Raunkier 1934;Whigham 2004). These fire-mediated effects on the herbaceous layer are likely to have important implications for floral abundance, in turn benefiting bumble bee communities. ...
Background
Pollinators are declining due to habitat loss, pesticides, and climate change. Fire may be an effective management tool for enhancing pollinator habitat in fire-maintained ecosystems. Many studies have demonstrated that fire can promote understory plant biodiversity and cover, but considerably less is known about the effects of fire on floral abundance and pollinators, particularly in mixed-oak forests of the eastern USA. Our goal was to assess the long-term effects of repeated prescribed fire on floral abundance and the abundance of bumble bees, a globally important group of pollinators, in mixed-oak forests. We hypothesized that repeated prescribed fire would increase floral abundance, particularly the abundance of bumble bee host plants.
Results
We sampled 22 vegetation plots in the Wayne National Forest, Ohio, USA, that were part of a fire experiment initiated in 1995 with three treatments: frequent fire, periodic fire, and no fire. To determine if fire treatment, plant cover, and environmental variables were related to floral abundance, we fitted generalized linear models with a negative binomial distribution, and then used model selection using AICc. Total floral abundance and floral abundance of bumble bee host plants were significantly higher in plots with repeated fire relative to unburned plots. Plant cover and soil texture were also significant predictors of floral abundance: plots with higher herbaceous plant cover and fine-textured soils generally had higher floral abundance. We detected a relatively small number of bumble bees, had low power to detect differences in bumble bee abundance, and this may be why bumble bee abundance was similar between the repeated fire and no fire plots.
Conclusions
These results suggest that prescribed fire enhanced floral abundance for bumble bees and potentially other pollinator groups in our mixed-oak forest plots and may be an effective tool for enhancing pollinator habitat. Additional studies are needed to characterize the effects of different fire regimes on bumble bees and pollinators more broadly in mixed-oak forests of the eastern USA.
... The names of the inventoried species were subsequently verified while determining their family and origin status (exotic or native) in the available databases, notably the "African Plants Database," "International Plant Names Index (IPNI)," and "The Plant List" websites. Similarly, the life forms of the identified species were established according to Raunkiaer's definition [53], which takes into account the positioning of survival organs. Only the main categories were used, which provide some information on the stratification of vegetation and its persistence during unfavourable periods (such as the dry season): therophytes (Th), hemicryptophytes (Hem), geophytes (Ge), chamaephytes (Ch), epiphytes (Epi), and phanerophytes (Ph). ...
The environmental challenges of urbanization led to a growing interest in the analysis of biodiversity in cities. So far, the focus was on public green spaces, which are becoming increasingly scarce as governments lose control of urban growth. Therefore, there is growing interest in the as yet little known and documented contribution of private players to the urban biodiversity conservation. This study assesses the biodiversity of Concessions held by catholic Religious’ Groups (CRGs) in three cities (Bukavu, Kisangani and Lubumbashi) in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). CRGs are targeted due to the predominance of catholicism in the DRC and its key role in the socio-economic development of the country. This plant structure of CRGs analysis was based on a systematic inventory of the flora present in a total random sample of 70 CRGs. The results show that the average CRG area in Lubumbashi (1.1 ha) is smaller than those in Bukavu (3.7 ha) and Kisangani (5.2 ha). However, there is no link between CRG area and species richness. There is quasi-heterogeneity within and between cities in the CRGs plant composition, with a total of 220 species identified corresponding to 76 families and 185 genera. Plant diversity is dominated by phanerophytes and exotic species. This study highlights the importance of taking private players into account in the urban biodiversity conservation.
... One of the common methods for classifying life forms is based on the position of the renewal buds during unfavorable seasons. This classification method was proposed by Danish botanist Christen C. Raunkiaer and is known as the Raunkiaer life form system [34]. The results of the survey indicate that the surveyed area displays a diverse range of plant species, encompassing 14 families, 27 genera, and 36 species. ...
Factors such as climate change, fire, and overgrazing have been commonly considered the main causes of the global expansion of shrub invasion in grasslands over the past 160 years. Nevertheless, the influence of soil substrates on the progression of shrub encroachment has been insufficiently examined. This study examines the fundamental characteristics of the shrub-encroached desert steppe communities of Caragana tibetica in the Mongolian Plateau. Combining field surveys (field surveys and drone aerial photography) and laboratory experiments, using Spearman’s rank correlation analysis and structural equation modeling (SEM), this research systematically explores the impact of varying degrees of soil sandification on the survival of shrubs and herbaceous plants within these grassland communities. The findings indicate the following: (1) In the eight shrub-encroached grassland plots, the soil exhibited a significantly higher sand content compared to silt and clay, with the sand content generally exceeding 64%. (2) The coverage of shrub species is predominantly influenced by soil factors, particularly the soil sand content. (The path coefficient is 0.56, with p < 0.01). In contrast, herbaceous plants are more strongly influenced by climatic factors. (The path coefficient is 0.83, with p < 0.001). This study examines the response patterns of Caragana tibetica communities to edaphic and climatic factors, highlighting the pivotal role of soil sandification in the initiation and succession of shrub encroachment. The findings furnish a theoretical framework for forecasting future trends in grassland shrub encroachment and provide empirical evidence for the conservation and sustainable management of shrub-encroached grasslands.
... Family names follow PPG I [103] for pteridophytes, Pignatti et al. [104] for gymnosperms, and APG IV [105] for angiosperms. Life forms were assigned following Raunkiaer's classification [106], whereas chorology follows the abbreviations proposed by Pignatti et al. [104]. Alien categorizations were made based on the national standardized system [102] basing on the definition of Pyšek et al. [107]. ...
Mining activities and associated waste materials pose significant environmental challenges, including soil, water, and air contamination, along with health risks to nearby populations. Despite the harsh conditions of metal-enriched soils and nutrient-poor substrates, certain plants known as metallophytes thrive in these environments. This study examined the vascular flora of Sardinia’s abandoned mining sites, with a focus on identifying metallophytes and their potential role in phytoremediation. A comprehensive floristic checklist was compiled using literature, field surveys, and herbarium samples. Of the 652 taxa identified, 49% were metallophytes, with the majority categorized as facultative species. Notably, 27% of metallophytes were identified as suitable for phytostabilization, while 20% showed potential for phytoextraction. This study also highlighted the presence of endemic and endangered species, emphasizing the need for conservation efforts. The findings suggest that native metallophytes could play a key role in the ecological restoration of mining sites, though careful consideration of invasive species is necessary to avoid ecological disruption. This research provides valuable insights into the biodiversity of Sardinian mining sites and the potential for sustainable remediation strategies using native plants.
... Biological type was determined based on the work of Aké-Assi (2001;2002). The terminology used is that of Raunkiaer (1934), adapted to tropical regions. ...
In the municipality of Cocody (Abidjan), public green spaces are increasingly threatened by demographic pressure and urban expansion, reducing their availability and accessibility in favor of other priorities. To date, the lack of studies incorporating georeferenced data prevents the assessment of whether the remaining areas are sufficient to ensure residents' well-being. This raises a key question: How can Geographic Information Systems (GIS) contribute to the characterization of Cocody's green spaces? This study aims to answer this question by evaluating whether the available green space per capita aligns with urban planning and well-being standards. Specifically, the study describes the spatial distribution of green spaces in Cocody, assesses the ratio of green space area to population, determines their diversity, and identifies their uses. The methodology involved a field inventory, digitization of green space boundaries using recorded coordinates, and user surveys. The results indicate that Cocody has 42 public green spaces distributed across 16 of its 26 neighborhoods. The floristic diversity includes 169 plant species from 146 genera and 63 families. In terms of available green space per capita, the analysis reveals a very limited surface area, with a ratio of 0.14 m² of public green space per inhabitant. The city center (older neighborhoods) has a ratio of 0.44 m² per inhabitant, while the outskirts (newer neighborhoods) show only 0.06 m² per inhabitant. These figures remain significantly below WHO recommendations. Residents mainly use these green spaces for rest, benefiting from the shade they provide. These findings will help guide the development policy for green spaces in Cocody.
... Vol:. (1234567890) buds during the unfavourable season (Raunkiaer 1934), was used. The plant species were assigned the life forms such as phanerophytes, chamaephytes, hemicryptophytes, cryptophytes (geophytes, helophytes, or hydrophytes), and therophytes mainly based on field observations and wherever necessary relevant literature (Klimes 2003), web resources (Klotz et al. 2002;POWO 2024;EfloraIndia 2024), were also consulted. ...
Biological invasions pose a serious threat to biodiversity and ecosystem services, with their frequency expected to increase due to globalization and climate change. Regional inventories of alien species are crucial for monitoring and managing these invasions, especially in the world’s mountainous regions, which were once believed to be resistant to plant invasions but are now increasingly vulnerable to invasive species. This study presents the first comprehensive inventory and status assessment of the alien flora in Ladakh—a remote and unique biogeographic region in Indian Trans-Himalaya. Based on field data collected from 2019 to 2023 and supplemented by previous floristic studies and herbarium collections, here we present an inventory of alien flora in Ladakh. Our study includes information on invasion status (cultivated, naturalized, and invasive), biogeographic affiliation, habitat and life-form characteristics, and pathways of introduction. In total, we recorded 104 alien plant species, accounting for ~ 5.7% of the region’s flora. Of these, 24 alien species are under cultivation, while the remaining 80 are aliens growing in wild, with 55 naturalized and 25 invasive. The most species-rich families are Asteraceae (22 species), Amaranthaceae (11 species), Poaceae (7 species), Salicaceae and Fabaceae (5 species each). Most alien species in the region are native to temperate Asia (34 species), followed by Europe (30 species). The alien species primarily colonize human-dominated habitats, such as roadsides and agricultural fields. Additionally, we found that the elevational distribution of the alien species richness in the region exhibits a unimodal hump-shaped pattern, with the highest number of alien species (72 species) occurring between 2600 and 3000 m. The elevational width and maximum elevation of alien species was positively correlated with the maximum elevation in their native region. In an era of rising risks of climate change and rapid land-use transformation in the Himalayan highlands, this first assessment of the alien flora of Ladakh will foster further research, inform early eradication and guide pro-active plant invasion management in the region, with lessons for such environments elsewhere.
... El primero en hablar de la morfología funcional fue el botánico Christen Raunkiaer, quien en 1907 aplicó el concepto de formas de vida a las plantas (Raunkiaer, 1934). Según Raunkiaer, dichas formas de vida son la respuesta al clima y a sus fluctuaciones. ...
Background: Periphytic microalgae are commonly used as indicators of environmental stress. Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the relationship between the characteristics of phycoperiphyton and water’s physical, chemical, and bacteriological conditions in various aquatic systems of the Zapatosa Swamp Complex (ZSC). Methods: The research evaluated the functional morphology of these algae (such as maximum linear dimension, surface area, surface-volume ratio, and biovolume) as well as life form traits (including colony formation, filament organization, presence of silica exoskeleton, occurrence of aerotopes, mucilage production, and possession of flagella) and their correlation with different environmental variables (e.g., dissolved oxygen, temperature, pH, conductivity, nutrients, ions, oxygen demands, organic carbon, dissolved and suspended solids, fecal and total coliforms). Results: The study found that the functional traits did not exhibit significant spatial differences within the ZSC, and they were not conclusively related to variations in physicochemical variables, except for a moderate positive association of biovolume and surface area with total coliforms, and a negative association of mucilage and colony formation with total hardness. Conclusions: The pollution and deterioration conditions of the different sites in the ZSC were similar, which did not allow for the clear detection of responses of the functional traits to changes in water quality. Nevertheless, the characterization of the functional morphology and biological traits of the ZSC phycoperiphyton provides an initial understanding of the functional ecology of this group, offering insights that can help assess potential future modifications due to human interventions, as well as climatic and environmental changes.
... Life forms are represented according to the Raunkiaer system [21]. The biological types are according to Delipavlov et al. [8]. ...
Tri ushi is a mountain Ridge located in the Western Stara Planina Mountains (Western Bulgaria). A study of medicinal plants of this part of the Stara Planina Mts is being done for the first time. During the research conducted in 2024 on the territory of the Tri ushi Mountain Ridge, we identified 209 species of medicinal plants, which belong to 161 genera and 51 families. This represents 24.73% of the species, 36.26% of the genera and 43.22% of the families of medicinal plants in Bulgaria. Among the life forms, the most widespread are hemicryptophytes (46.89%). Among the biological types, perennial herbaceous plants prevail (56.46%). The described medicinal plants belong to 30 floral elements. Two species of Balkan endemics and 19 relict species were identified, of which 18 species are Tertiary relicts and one species is a Quaternary relict. The species with conservation status are 14 in number (6.70%). Anthropophytes are 149 species (71.29%). On the territory of the Tri ushi Mountain Ridge, we identified 5 invasive alien plant species (2.39% of medicinal plants), one of which is among the most dangerous invasive alien species threatening biodiversity in Europe. Poisonous plants and species causing side effects upon physical contact with them or their components were identified. The results obtained were compared with the data on medicinal plants on the Chepan Mountain. Both territories are located within the boundaries of BG0000322 Dragoman - a protected area of the Natura 2000 European ecological network.
... Se observó una baja presencia de representantes de la familia Poaceae, con solo 8 especies distintas (Anexo 1). Agrupando por formas de vida según Raunkiaer, 1934, se pudo observar un elevado porcentaje de especies Fanerófitas y Hemicriptófitas (Figura 2) las primeras conformadas en su mayoría por especies leñosas exóticas (Anexo 1). La forma de vida menos abundante fueron las Criptófitas. ...
Debido a alicientes económicos y ecológicos la superficie de bosques implantados a nivel mundial está en aumento. En América del Sur y particularmente en la llanura Pampeana Argentina, la mayor parte de estas plantaciones se llevan a cabo reemplazando pastizales. Es conocido que estas modificaciones en la forma de vida dominante pueden provocar diversos impactos ecosistémicos. Con el objetivo de describir la riqueza, cobertura y composición florística remanente, tras 100 años de ocupación forestal, se instalaron parcelas con diversas especies y planteos en un área del centro-sur bonaerense. Las forestaciones carecen de manejo silvícola y cuentan con un amplio rango de densidades, coberturas y áreas basimétricas. Se observó que la cobertura del sotobosque disminuye exponencialmente a medida que aumenta la cobertura forestal. Por otro lado, la riqueza florística y número de familias botánicas aumentan a medida que aumenta la densidad de árboles, pero con una composición florística dominada por especies exóticas. Se concluyó que las forestaciones provocan cambios en la riqueza, composición y cobertura de la vegetación, generando poca similitud con los pastizales serranos que reemplazan. Para reducir estos impactos, se destaca la importancia de la elección de especies, el tiempo de permanencia, planteos y manejo silvícola.
Globally the surface of forests is increasing due to economic and ecological inducements. In south America, and particularly in the Pampean plain (Argentina), the main part of the new afforestation has been carried out in substitution of grasslands. In order to describe the remaining floristic richness, coverage and composition of grasslands after 100 years of forestall occupation, several plots under different arboreal species were analyzed. The site is located in center-south of Buenos Aires province, Argentina. The afforestations weren't conduced properly in terms of silvicultural management and have a wide range of densities, coverage and basal area. It was observed that the understorey coverage decreases exponentially as forest coverage increases. On the other hand, the floristic richness, and the number of botanical families increases as the tree's density increases, but with dominance of exotic species. It was concluded that afforestation cause changes in the richness, composition and coverage of the understorey, generating little resemblance to the mountain grasslands that replace. In order to reduce these impacts, we highlight the importance of forestall specie selection, the duration, system of production and the sylvicultural management.
... The interest in what organisms 'do' irrespective of their ancestry and how this is reflected in their bodies is remarkably old and has persisted over the whole history of the natural sciences (e.g. Boisseaux et al., 2025;Grime, 1974;Humboldt & Bonpland, 1807;Raunkiaer, 1934;Theophrastus, 1916), with periods of higher or lower prominence. After being mostly a niche interest for several decades, the last 30 years or so have witnessed a boom in trait-based functional ecology, with a strong focus on plants, although increasingly extending to other organisms (Luza et al., 2023;Minelli, 2016;Schleuning et al., 2023). 5. Finally, I point to directions in which tighter links among these fields would be fruitful and a few ways to start incorporating the 'entangled' perspective in traitbased plant functional ecology, nature stewardship and climate change mitigation and adaptation. ...
Integrated phenotypes consist of multiple traits with enough coordination within and across organs to result in viable individuals, which not only respond to the surrounding environment but also modify it in myriad ways. It is the individual organisms that are the target of ecological sorting and evolutionary selection and the ones that affect other organisms, ecosystem properties and benefits and detriments to people.
These hardly controversial statements are at the basis of trait‐based plant functional ecology and evolutionary biology, and the notion of effect traits is arguably implicit in the concepts of extended phenotype, niche construction and indirect genetic effects developed in the context of evolutionary biology. Yet, the practices of trait‐based plant functional ecology and evolutionary ecology have remained largely disconnected. In addition, despite the abundant evidence of trait coordination at the whole‐organism level, an arguably important portion of trait‐based plant functional ecology is now focusing on isolated traits, response traits in particular.
Here, I revisit the concepts of specific response functions (SEFs) and specific effect functions (SRFs), previously developed in the context of trait‐based functional ecology, in the light of ‘genes to ecosystems’ approaches developed in evolutionary biology. I argue that SEFs can be fruitfully integrated with the concept of ‘extended phenotype sensu lato’, which relaxes the requirement of being heritable in the traditional sense or feeding back onto the fitness of the organism that bears the genes responsible for it.
I discuss connections and gaps between the bodies of literature on plant functional traits, phenotypic integration and ‘genes to ecosystems’ approaches and propose to explore an ‘entangled’ perspective: Within the integuments of a plant (or other organism), functional traits are coordinated in integrated restricted phenotypes. In addition, beyond their integuments, plants co‐determine their immediate environments via their SEFs. This extended phenotype sensu lato interweaves with those of co‐existing organisms of different species, co‐constructing and maintaining structures and microenvironments which can be conceived as joint multispecies extended phenotypes sensu lato.
Finally, I point to directions in which tighter links among these fields would be fruitful and a few ways to start incorporating the ‘entangled’ perspective in trait‐based plant functional ecology, nature stewardship and climate change mitigation and adaptation.
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... The methodological approaches and terminology of K. Raunkier [46] were used in the analysis of life forms. Species assessment in relation to moisture gradient was carried out using the ecological scale of A.P. Shennikov [47]. ...
The article presented the results of the assessment of the current state of Rhaponticum altaicum populations in the Karaganda and Akmola regions (Central and Northern Kazakhstan). The research provided the phytocenotic characteristics of habitats, biological features, and ontogenetic structure of populations, as well as data on the morphological variability of the species. The floristic composition of plant communities with Rh. altaicum was analyzed for the first time. In the plant communities with Rh. altaicum, 67 species from 38 genera and 23 families were identified. Most species were herbaceous perennials (92.5%) or hemicryptophytes (68.7%). Among the ecological groups, mesophytes (32.8%) dominated, and other groups were represented by transitional species: mesoxerophytes, xeromesophytes, mesogyrophytes, and hygromesophytes (49.2%). Therefore, in nature, Rh. altaicum occupied an intermediate place between meadow-bog and meadow communities. The species preferred moist meadows on slightly and moderately saline soils. In the ontogeny of Rh. altaicum, eight age-related states were identified, from seedlings to senile plants. The analysis of morphological indices allowed estimating that Rh. altaicum stem height was the most important; so, under unfavorable growing conditions, the stem height decreased. In the majority of populations, the upper leaf width was a highly variable trait, and the length and width of the lower leaf had low or moderate morphological variability. The highest positive correlation (significant at p = 0.05) was between plant height and lower leaf length, suggesting that taller plants had longer lower leaf blades. The studied populations were mainly dominated by virgin and medium-age generative plants. Sub-senile and senile plants were not detected, which is due to the difficulty of diagnosis as well as to the increasing anthropogenic load and narrow ecological amplitude of Rh. altaicum. Our study provided new insights into Rh. altaicum biology and ecology, thereby contributing to biodiversity conservation at a regional level.
... In this study, we classified life forms of plant species based on Raunkiaer's system (Raunkiaer, 1934), including phanerophytes, chamaephytes, hemicryptophytes, cryptophytes, and therophytes. The life form of each species was determined through field observations, herbarium specimens, and relevant literature. ...
In floristic research, the grid mapping method is a crucial and highly effective tool for investigating the flora of specific regions. This methodology aids in the collection of comprehensive data, thereby promoting a thorough understanding of regional plant diversity. This paper presents findings from a grid mapping study conducted in the Surkhan-Sherabad botanical-geographic region (SShBGR), acknowledged as one of the major floristic areas in southwestern Uzbekistan. Using an expansive dataset of 14,317 records comprised of herbarium specimens and field diary entries collected from 1897 to 2023, we evaluated the stages and seasonal dynamics of data accumulation, species richness (SR), and collection density (CD) within 5 km×5 km grid cells. We further examined the taxonomic and life form composition of the region's flora. Our analysis revealed that the grid mapping phase (2021-2023) produced a significantly greater volume of specimens and taxonomic diversity compared with other periods (1897-1940, 1941-1993, and 1994-2020). Field research spanned 206 grid cells during 2021-2023, resulting in 11,883 samples, including 6469 herbarium specimens and 5414 field records. Overall, fieldwork covered 251 of the 253 grid cells within the SShBGR. Notably, the highest species diversity was documented in the B198 grid cell, recording 160 species. In terms of collection density, the E198 grid cell produced 475 samples. Overall, we identified 1053 species distributed across 439 genera and 78 families in the SShBGR. The flora of this region aligned significantly with the dominant families commonly found in the Holarctic, highlighting vital ecological connections. Among our findings, the Asteraceae family was the most polymorphic, with 147 species, followed by the continually stable and diverse Poaceae, Fabaceae, Brassicaceae, and Amaranthaceae. Besides, our analysis revealed a predominance of therophyte life forms, which constituted 52% (552 species) of the total flora. The findings underscore the necessity for continual data collection efforts to further enhance our understanding of the biodiversity in the SShBGR. The results of this study demonstrated that the application of grid-based mapping in floristic studies proves to be an effective tool for assessing biodiversity and identifying key taxonomic groups.
... Ecologists have long struggled to group plant species meaningfully by traits rather than their taxonomic identity in trying to explain community assembly (Funk et al., 2017). Not surprisingly, during the last century, several frameworks have been used to classify plants based on traits and function (e.g., Raunkiaer, 1934;Grime, 1974;Wright et al., 2004). For grasses, apart from the frameworks cited above, classification based on photosynthetic type (C 3 or C 4 ), or lifespan (annual or perennial) are the most common typologies (e.g., Ripley et al., 2015). ...
Premise: Understanding relationships among grass traits, fire, and herbivores may help improve conservation strategies for savannas that are threatened by novel disturbance regimes. Emerging theory, developed in Africa, emphasizes that functional traits of savanna grasses reflect the distinct ways that fire and grazers consume biomass. Specifically, functional trade‐offs related to flammability and palatability predict that highly flammable grass species will be unpalatable, while highly palatable species will impede fire.
Methods: We quantified six culm and leaf traits of 337 native grasses of Texas—ahistorical savanna region that has been transformed by fire exclusion, megafaunal extinctions, and domestic livestock.
Results: Multivariate analyses of traits revealed three functional strategies. “Grazer grasses” (N = 50) had culms that were short, narrow, and horizontal, and leaves with high width to length (W:L) and low C to N ratios (C:N)—trait values that attract grazers and avoid fire. “Fire grasses” (N = 104) had culms that were tall, thick, and upright, and leaves that were thick, with low W:L, and high C:N—trait values that promote fire and discourage grazers. “Generalist tolerators” and “generalist avoiders”(N = 183) had trait values that were intermediate to the other groups.
Conclusions: Our findings confirm that the flammability–palatability trade‐offs that operate in Africa also explain correlated suites of traits in Texas grasses and highlights that the grass flora of Texas bears the signature of Pleistocene megafauna and theinfluence of fires that predate human arrival. We suggest that grass functional classifications based on fire and grazer traits can improve prescribed fire and livestock management of savannas of Texas and globally
... The various phytosociological parameters, including density, basal area, relative frequency, relative density, and importance value index (IVI), were calculated from the fundamental data using various formulae developed by Raunkiaer, 1934;Mishra, 1968;andMenon andBalasubramanyam, 1985. Chacko's (1965) formulae were used to calculate the recruitment, un-established regeneration, and established regeneration which are given hereunder: ...
The purpose of the current study, conducted in Rohru Forest Division between the year 2019 and 2020, was to examine the phytosociological and natural regeneration status of Rhododendron campanulatum D. Don at various altitudinal ranges and aspects in the Dodra Kwar and Khashdhar Forest Range (Rohru Forest Division). Three elevation zones were used to categorize the study area: E 1 =3000-3200 m, E 2 =3200-3400 m and E 3 =above 3400 m in both the northern and southern aspects. The phytosociological characteristics for trees and shrubs in each elevation and aspect were studied by establishing three sample plots, each measuring 0.1 hectare for trees, and five sub-quadrates, each measuring 5 m x 5 m for shrubs. There were 18 different plant species in both forest ranges. The density and basal area of trees, and shrubs were highest on the northern aspect as compared to the southern aspect. Maximum regeneration success (52.78%) was found for Rhododendron campanulatum at elevations of 3200-3400 m on northern aspect in the Khashdhar forest range.
... Phanerophyte Geophyte [117] Population Structure ...
This review summarizes the information that was available in the scientific literature as of 2023 on the biology, ecology, and effects of fire on Mexican bladdersage in North America.
... Phanerophyte [71,205] ...
This review summarizes the information that was available in the scientific literature as of 2024 on the biology, ecology, and effects of fire on white brittlebush in North America.
... Geophytes are plants with underground perennial organs (bulbs, corms, tubers, or rhizomes) which enable them to survive in unfavorable seasons (Raunkiaer, 1934 (1 species each). Herbs (67.64%) formed the predominant life form, followed by shrubs (8.82%), climbers (5.88%), trees (5.88%), and grasses (11.76%). ...
ABSTRACT
In India and across the globe, many communities practice diverse forms of nature
worship. One prominent tradition involves protecting forest areas maintained as sacred
groves, consecrated to various deities. This ancient practice was once widespread, and the
protected ecosystems now harbour numerous threatened, endangered, and rare plant and
animal species. In the present study, angiosperm flora was reported in the Poiyamozhi
Ayyanar Sacred Grove located at the foothills of Kurumalai Hills, Thoothukudi District,
Tamil Nadu, India. Plant species were collected with flowers, fruit, or both at frequent
intervals and were identified and confirmed with the available literature. The present study
enumerated a total of 186 species belonging to 147 genera in 49 families from 29 orders,
according to the Angiosperm Phylogeny Group IV classification. This study indicated that
Poiyamozhi Ayyanar Sacred Grove is floristically rich but remains botanically
underexplored.
... Geophytes were defined by Raunkiaer [11] as plants with an underground perennation organ and leaves that die back annually. Most of geophytes are occur within the monocotyledon orders and is rarely predominant in eudicot families. ...
Fruit and vegetables provide nutrition and food security, income-generating opportunities, ecosystem services, and contribute to cultural identities. Protecting these species, and by extension, demands urgent action. The present study is to understand the diversity of vegetables sold in the markets of Tirunelveli District Tamil Nadu. Field visits were made to the local markets in and around Tirunelveli covering nearly 30 km 2. A major survey was done at Tirunelveli Town Wholesale Market Complex, Palayamkottai Market complex, and various farmer markets (Ulaver Santhai). A total of 62 species belonging to 41 genera and 19 families were identified in the study. Out of 62 species, 61 belong to angiosperms and 01 to fungi. Cucurbitaceae is the dominant family with 11 species. Brassica largest genera share 10 species. Totally 20 species of geophytic vegetables were recorded in the study area. Out of them majority (45% of the species) were monocots, and family Brassicaceae, is dominant with 5 species. The present study concluded with an appeal for sufficient, sustained funding to ensure a global rescue plan for vegetable diversity can shift the research and development agenda to focus on nutrition and well-being.
Article history: Preserving isolated plant populations and defining their geographic range, especially for rare and threatened species, is vital in conservation ecology. The current study examined the ecological status and potential conservation trajectories of Juniperus oxycedrus subsp. macrocarpa (Sm.) Neilr in the only Libyan area with significant populations of this tree. The habitat was identified, and its climatic, edaphic, and vegetation characteristics were analyzed. The species' landscape distribution was studied, with regeneration and mortality percentage estimated, along with influencing factors. The results revealed that the soil in the area is predominantly sandy in texture and infertile. The accompanying vegetation cover is comprised of 112 species and dominated by dwarf plant species. Previous records of this tree species east of Derna city are no longer extant. The study documented 4135 scattered trees covering an area estimated at around 260 hectares, with another 24 individuals located along the road to Al-Qubah town. The average height of the trees was 2.33 m, while the average canopy area and volume per individual were 38.18 m 2 and 174.30 m 3 , respectively. The percentage of regeneration was estimated at 16.42%, while the mortality was 3.07%. Despite their apparent resilience to poor soil properties, arid climate, and proximity to the sea, this tree is primarily threatened by unsustainable human activities, resulting in habitat alteration and landscape modification. Therefore, urgent and efficient management measures are required to preserve this taxon at the national level. This should involve designating the study area as a protected zone to ensure long-term ecological conservation and sustainable management.
The present study explores the floristic composition and phenology of vegetation in district Dir Lower, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. This district features diverse biological and climatic conditions, creating a unique environment for ecological studies. The research was conducted from May to November in 2018 and 2019, documenting 206 plant species across 182 genera and 82 families. The dominant families were Lamiaceae, Asteraceae, and Poaceae. Using Raunkaier's life form classification, the study found a dominance of therophytes (41%) and nanophanerophytes (13%), indicating the local ecosystem's adaptation to annual climatic changes. In terms of leaf size spectrum, microphylls were the most abundant (39%), followed by mesophylls (27%) and Nanophylls (22%). The distribution of plant species in the research area reflects the adaptation of the local flora to specific environmental conditions. Phenological observations revealed two distinct flowering seasons: the primary season from May to August and the secondary season from September to November. During the first season, the majority of plants (85%), predominantly herbs, were in bloom. In contrast, the second season showed a smaller diversity of blooming plants, including six fern species. Fruiting patterns mirrored the flowering trends, with a higher fruiting rate observed from May to August (106 species) compared to September to November (100 species). This research provides a comprehensive overview of the floristic diversity, biological spectrum, and phenological patterns in district Dir Lower, contributing valuable information to plant ecology and conservation in the region.
The study was conducted to investigate tree diversity, life forms and leaf spectra during 2022 and 2023.Vegetation analysis was conducted in nine wards of Municipal Committee of Ganderbal and peri-urban locations within a 1-2 km vicinity of the wards. Random sampling of trees, shrubs and herbs was carried out using 10 m x 10 m, 5 m x 5 m and 1 m x 1 m quadrants, respectively. The study identified 115 species across 50 families, comprising 101 dicots, 8 monocots and 6 gymnosperms. Dominant families included Asteraceae (11.30 %), Rosaceae (9.56 %), Leguminosae (6.08 %) and Amaranthaceae (5.21 %). and were the most diverse genera, each with three species. Prunus Rosa Moreover, two species were recognized as endemic, with an additional 12 species classified as native to the study area. There was greater biodiversity in urban regions than in peri-urban areas, highlighting urbanisation's impact on plant richness and composition. Of the surveyed species, trees, shrubs and herbs were 225.22 , 19.13 and 51.30 % respectively emphasizing the prevalence of herbaceous vegetation. According to Raunkiaer's life form system, therophytes (34.78 %) were predominant, followed by nanophanerophytes (17.39 %), indicating a thero-phanerophytic phytoclimate. Microphylls (34.78 %) and simple leaves (66.09 %) were prevalent in the leaf size spectrum and leaf lamina type. The dominance of therophytes suggests an adaptation to harsh climate conditions and anthropogenic pressures in urban and peri-urban areas.
The article provides information on the geographical distribution of some wild species of the genus Allium L. distributed in the flora of Azerbaijan, as well as a detailed morphological analysis of their vegetative and generative organs. As a result of the ecological analysis, it was determined that the studied species are cryptophytes and most of them are distributed in the middle mountainous zone. In addition, considering that the wild species of the genus Allium L. we have selected have a great bioresource value, information about perspective of their use is also reflected in the article.
Wetland ecosystems play a crucial role in biodiversity conservation, maintaining hydrological balance, and providing essential ecosystem services. This study investigates the distribution, floristic composition, and ecological characteristics of wetland vegetation in Azerbaijan, based on scientific principles. Wetland phytocenoses have been recorded across various regions with diverse hydrological and Typheta phytocenoses as the dominant vegetation formations in Azerbaijan's wetland ecosystems. Wetland plants are highly sensitive to ecological changes, undergoing significant structural and compositional alterations in response to hydrological regime changes, nutrient enrichment, sediment accumulation, and pollutants. These shifts directly affect water chemistry, soil properties, and trophic interactions within ecosystems. The findings confirm that wetland plants serve as reliable bioindicators of ecosystem health. However, oil pollution, soil erosion, and anthropogenic alterations to land and water regimes have caused the degradation of some wetland ecosystems. To mitigate these threats and ensure resilience, the implementation of phytoremediation and ecological restoration measures is strongly recommended. This research provides essential scientific and practical foundations for the monitoring and conservation of Azerbaijan's wetland ecosystems.
Biodiversity is closely linked with ecological and environmental security. Degradation and depletion of biological resources is on increasing trend chiefly due to anthropogenic interference in the natural areas. Gandhamardan hills are declared as third Biodiversity Heritage Site of Odisha state after Mandasaru (Kandhamal) and Mahendragiri (Gajapati) and 37th of India on the backdrop of treasure trove of rich floral and faunal diversity, medicinally useful plants and an Ayurvedic hub having diverse biological, ecological and socio-economic implication for the folks of Odisha. Two historical monuments, i.e. Nrusinghanath and Harishankar Temple at the foot hill on the Northern and Southern slope of the hills, respectively, have colossal and traditional significance and serve as sacred groves for biodiversity conservation. These two shrines are the foremost pilgrimage locations of the state. Hiuen Tsang has described the hill shrines as Parimalagiri in his chronicles. Also, the hill is depicted in Ramayana as Hanuman lifted the hills to get medicinal plant Visalyakarani to cure Laxman from injury. On the other hand, people’s first movement and encounter against the Indian bauxite industry got success in the late 1980s to safeguard the Gandhamardan’s fragile and sensitive ecosystem while Bharat Aluminium Company explored supplementary bauxite ore on hills. Currently the rich natural resources of this unique landscape are in severe stress due to many human activities and climatic aspects. The folklore information linked with the bioresources of the hills are on decline although an Ayurvedic college is there near Nrusinghanath temple. The extended protection, proactive conservation measures and strategic management of the dynamic landscapes, minerals, hydrological, biological and other natural resources of the hills is of highest priority and importance for the Odisha state. This addresses United Nations Sustainable Development Goals No. 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16 and 17.
Целью исследования явилось изучение современного состояния популяций дикорастущих полезных растений и определение жизненных форм. Для достижения этой цели проводили инвентаризацию флоры дикорастущих полезных растений и анализ. Объектом исследования явилась флора полезных видов растений Чеченской Республики. Метод исследования: изучение природных популяций видов: экспедиционные, исследования, наблюдения в природе, определение ресурсов наиболее ценных видов. Результаты: В статье перечислены типы жизненных форм и анализ исследуемой флоры, насчитывающей 935 видов. Приводится классификация жизненных форм и соответствующих им видов. Более половины флоры составляют гемикриптофиты, гораздо меньше криптофиты. Среди фанерофитов (деревьев и кустарников) преобладают нанофанерофиты. Наименее представлены во флоре хамефиты. Таким образом, выявлено преобладание гемикриптофитов на открытых склонах - лугах, степях и тенденция возрастания их доли в субальпийском и альпийском поясах, криптофитов - в лесах. Хамефиты подчиняются той же закономерности, возрастая с высотной поясностью, терофиты проявляют обратную зависимость.
The purpose of the study was to study the current state of populations of wild useful plants and to determ ine life form s. To achieve this goal, an inventory of the flora of wild useful plants and an analysis were carried out. The object of the study was the flora of useful plant species of the Chechen Republic. The research method: is the study of natural populations of species: expedition, research, observations in nature, determ ination of the resources of the most valuable species. Results: The article lists the types of life form s and the analysis of the studied flora of 935 species. The classification of life form s and their corresponding species are given. M ore than half of the flora consists of hem icryptophytes, much less cryptophytes. Am ong the phanerophytes (trees and shrubs), nanophanerophytes predom inate. Hamefites are the least represented in the flora. Thus, the predom inance of hem icryptophytes on open slopes - meadows, steppes and the tendency of their share to increase in the subalpine and Alpine zones, cryptophytes - in forests was revealed. Hamefites follow the same pattern, increasing with altitude, therophytes exhibit an inverse relationship.
This study investigates the vascular plant diversity of the Ganga River watershed, a 2600 km-long vital water system extending from the Himalayas to the Bay of Bengal. The study was conducted along the Ganga River in 2023, with 26 selected sites covering a 10 km area on both sides and a 100 km distance between each site. Field surveys during pre-monsoon and post-monsoon seasons collected 13,000 plant specimens and identified 1117 species from 660 genera and 152 families. Among these, 876 species were native, and 241 were exotic. Dominant families include Poaceae, Fabaceae, Asteraceae, Malvaceae, and Lamiaceae, with herbaceous species prevalent along the riverbanks. Life-form analysis revealed a "thero-chamaeo-phanerophytic" phytoclimate, with therophytes, chamaephytes, and phanerophytes comprising a significant proportion of documented plants. A comprehensive systematic enumeration of each species' habit, nativity, and life-form is provided. This study highlights the adaptive resilience of the Ganga River ecosystem, shaped by its diverse flora, but underscores pressing conservation challenges, particularly habitat destruction and fragmentation due to urbanization and industrialization. Targeted conservation strategies, addressing habitat degradation, and promoting sustainable biodiversity management, are critical to safeguarding this ecologically and culturally significant watershed for future generations.
Field research in Duga Njiva was conducted during the growing season of 2023. A total of 372 species and subspecies of vascular plants were found. Compositae, Fabaceae, Lamiaceae, and Poaceae are among the most present families. The percentage supremacy of hemicryptophytes was determined in the biological spectrum of the flora of Duga Njiva. Phytogeographical analysis confirmed the dominance of European-Caucasian, Central European, and Eurasian floristic elements. The presence of six strictly protected and protected species was confirmed in the research area, as follows: Cephalanthera damasonium, Cephalanthera longifolia, Ilex aquifolium, Platanthera bifolia, Ruscus aculeatus, and Ruscus hypoglossum.
Вивчені особливості розвитку і росту вегетативної системи видів родів Hylotelephium H. Ohba і Sedum L. за різного рівня освітленості протягом сезонного розвитку в умовах степової зони України. Вплив тіньових умов зростання на досліджувані види виявлявся у зменшенні галуження пагонів, скороченні довжини однорічних пагонів, кількості листків на них та площі листкової поверхні, що призводило до зменшення загального габітусу рослин і зниження рівня декоративності очитків. Зроблено висновки про можливість культивування в тіні S. album та H. spectabile.
The present study was conducted between year 2023 and 2024 to study variation in tree species diversity and population dynamics of edge (EH) and interior (IH) habitats of a tropical semi-evergreen forest at the foothills of Eastern Himalayas by using random quadrat method. Altogether, 49 species of trees were recorded from the study sites, however, IH (38 species) had higher tree species than EH (35 species). The total tree density, total basal cover and Margalef’s richness index were higher in IH (500.00 stem ha−1, 367.86 m2 ha−1 and 7.43, respectively) than in EH (433.33 stem ha−1, 56.34 m2 ha−1 and 6.47, respectively). However, Shannon Weiner’s, Simpson’s and Pielou’s evenness indices were better in EH (3.15, 0.05 and 0.95, respectively) than in IH (3.08, 0.08 and 0.88, respectively). Similarity of tree species between the habitats was 55%. However, based on Hutchenson’s t-test, the habitats were not significantly different (P < 0.05) in terms of species diversity. Majority of tree species (≥ 85%) displayed contagious distribution in both the sites. Of the top five IVI tree species of each study sites, only one tree species in each study site showed good regeneration. Exploitation of trees for timber and NTFPs by the local villagers were observed in both sites. EH was disturbed and degraded due to various natural and anthropogenic pressures. The disturbance was amplified by ongoing dam construction. All these biotic and abiotic factors together pose a major threat to the forest sustainability and existence.
Urban forests are crucial for biodiversity and climate resilience. This study investigated the impact of human disturbances on carbon (C) stocks in un-conserved forests of Entoto Mountain, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, focusing on forest structure: important value index (IVI), species diversity (H’), regeneration pattern status, and C storage in aboveground biomass (AGB), belowground biomass (BGB), litter biomass (LB), and soil. Field data were collected from 35 quadrats across two altitudes, and human disturbances were observed, including firewood collection, tree cutting, soil excavation, and road and infrastructure inside the sample plot. Results indicate low species diversity dominated by Eucalyptus globulus Labill and Juniperus procera Hoechst. Ex Endl., with fair regeneration. Higher altitudes showed greater measured C stock (572.62 tC ha⁻¹) than lower altitudes (495.03 tC ha⁻¹), attributed to larger trees. C values in the upper altitude for AGB, BGB, LB, and soil (0–30 cm) were higher than at lower altitudes. The IVI showed a significant positive correlation with C in aboveground biomass, C in belowground biomass, and total C stock, whereas H’ also showed a significant (p < 0.05) positive correlation with the total number of trees. It is concluded that forest structures contribute to the C stock of this area. Given the importance of the un-conserved Entoto Mountain forest, it is recommended to prioritize the conservation of old-growth forest species in the area, as they demonstrate the highest capacity for C accumulation.
Mangrove vegetation was observed along the sheltered places of Andhra Pradesh coastline, coastal backwater formations and the estuarine complex of the Guntur Delta has been studied in detail. The importance and utility of mangrove ecosystems which provide adequate nutritional values, energy supply and provide the raw materials needed for building houses, producing wood material for making boats, fishing, significantly to social and economic benefit to the people living along the coastline are well-known.Vegetation analysis methods include systemic classification of the plant species, status of mangrove plant species which is based on relative frequency, species dominance which is based on Important Value Index(IVI), species-wise distribution pattern, Maturity Index Value (MIV) .There are 43 species belonging to four major vertebrate (mammals, aves, amphibians and reptiles) with significant wildlife importance in the study area. There was no migratory birds prevail for nesting and breeding activity in region. There is migration of birds to region only for food.Management of Mangrove Areas needs Restoration & Regeneration of Mangrove Vegetation in the two regions by the process i.e. digging "fish bone" type of canals, De-silting of canals and casualty replacement. There is a need to know the "pre environmental impact assessment" for the proposal of future development activities and K. Sasidhar, P. Brahmaji Rao-Studies on the Distribution of Mangrove Flora and Fauna at Nizampatnam and Palarevu EUROPEAN ACADEMIC RESEARCH-Vol. II, Issue 12 / March 2015 16232 industries and to take measures for the restoration and regeneration of mangrove vegetation.
Background and objective: This study aimed to identify trends in plant ecosystem changes and propose management measures to enhance biodiversity by monitoring the flora and existing vegetation in the Godeok Riverside Ecological Restoration Area along the Hangang River in Seoul, Korea, from 2003 to 2021.Methods: Flora identification took place in 2003, 2005, 2010, 2015, and 2021, aligning with Lee's studies (2003). The existing vegetation was also surveyed at the same intervals, plotting it on a 1:1,000 scale topographic map of Seoul according to the vegetation association of the dominant layers, whether woody or herbaceous.Results: Observations indicate a consistent decline in the number of species from 2003 to 2021. Naturalized species levels remained stable after a slight decrease in 2003, with ecosystem-disturbing plants consistently observed at 4-6 species. Since the stabilization of vegetation in 2005, there has been no significant change in species composition. Regarding changes in existing vegetation, the vegetation type was initially simple after the 2003 restoration. However, after stabilization in 2005, some planted native riparian species became established and formed communities, with the area of Salix pierotii communities notably increasing. Native wetland herbs have shown fluctuating trends since 2003, with an overall decrease. Naturalized herbs expanded in 2005 after restoration, but subsequently declined with continued management.Conclusion: The management plan for enhancing biodiversity proposes managing the riverside Salix pierotii community inside the restoration area based on the monitored growth of Salix pierotii and changes in understory vegetation. The waterside planting area, subject to disturbance and transitional vegetation changes, requires the introduction of native species, and the maintenance and removal of vegetation. For the primary disturbed area, the focus should be on conserving native plant vegetation and securing a buffer zone.
Mountains are important reservoirs of biodiversity and endemism on a global scale, but little is known about the altitudinal configuration of this diversity and its driving factors in arid mountains. We explored variations in composition, diversity, cover, and life forms of vascular plants along a complete altitudinal gradient (1300-4000 m a.s.l) in Sierra de Velasco, an arid mountain in northwestern Argentina. We evaluated the influence of environmental variables on plant diversity and cover. Field sampling was conducted in the northern sector of the Sa. de Velasco, on the western slope in eight 50 m wide altitudinal bands at 400 m elevation intervals. We used rectangular plots (20 × 4 m; n:10/altitudinal band) to register the vascular plants of all the growth forms, and linear transects (20 m long.; n:30/altitudinal band) to quantify the vegetation cover using the point intercept method. Diversity was calculated using hill numbers. Data analysis included non-metric multidimensional scaling (NMDS), indicator species analysis, generalized linear models (GLMs), and variance partitioning analysis. A total of 232 species from 51 families and 158 genera were registered. Species composition showed greater similarity at intermediate elevations. Plant diversity and cover exhibited a unimodal distribution, peaking at intermediate elevations (2100-2500 m). In contrast, life forms’ distribution showed divergent patterns. Therophytes and succulents predominated at low altitudes, phanerophytes and hemicryptophytes at medium altitudes, and chamaephytes and geophytes at high altitudes. The altitudinal patterns of plant diversity and cover were primarily driven by climatic factors. Conservation efforts in the Sierra de Velasco should focus on the middle and upper zones due to their high biodiversity and vulnerability to climate change.
Background and aims
Soil seed banks facilitate vegetation succession and affect the processes involved in restoring degraded land. This study investigated the dynamic characteristics of natural soil seed banks in abandoned mining areas, as well as the abiotic factors influencing seedling emergence and plant growth during ecological restoration.
Methods
We collected soil samples from various layers in mining areas abandoned for 2, 7.5, 15, and > 20 years. Seedling emergence was monitored to determine the viable seed density and species composition of seed banks at different succession states. We also measured soil physicochemical properties and evaluated heavy metal resistance among different plant.
Results
Transient seed banks had a higher seed density than persistent seed banks, and the similarity in species composition between persistent seed banks and aboveground vegetation gradually increased with succession time. There was no difference in plant metal resistance or life form from more than 20 years after recovery, while the reverse was true before this state. Soil TN, water content and pH influenced the species composition of soil seed banks, whereas soil metal concentrations had little effect.
Conclusion
Since the similarity between above-ground vegetation and soil seed banks is low, and plant characteristics show no significant differences in later succession, we suggest that seeding and improving soil conditions are advisable in the early succession, whereas seeding is unnecessary in the late succession. These findings deepen our understanding of the contributions of natural soil seed banks to ecological restoration and provide reference data for developing related management strategies.
A comprehensive plant survey in the District of South Waziristan for three consecutive years 2021-2023 was conducted to document the plant’s diversity and distribution patterns of plant communities. The study revealed the floristic compositions, habitats, biological spectrums, climatic preferences, chorological and phenological aspects of the plant resources. A very diverse flora comprised of 295 species from 220 genera belonging to 75 families were found. Of them Euphorbia talaina, Sulaimania otostegioides, and Scutellaria chamaedrifolia were recorded as endemics. Based on diversity the Asteraceae, Lamiaceae and Poaceae were leading families respectively with 47, 23, and 19 species. All other families possessed 5 or fewer number of species. The study uncovered a significant presence of 178 perennial and 216 herbaceous species. The region was dominated by Therophyte with 123 species, indicating the prevailing dry and harsh climate. Similarly, the leaf size spectrum showed 119 species to be microphyllous. 194 plant species were adapted to temperate climate, hence dominated by Irano-Turanian elements. The present investigation confirmed the diverse Habitats of these plants due to prevailing diverse climatic conditions, variations in altitude and landscapes features. This research marks the initial documentation of the area, offering fundamental data for prospective assessments concerning botanical resources.
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