Search Results (1,300)

Urban tree planting is widely promoted for its benefits, but the long-term condition of trees is poorly documented, especially as changing and often incompatible conditions, intensified by climate change, affect their ability to deliver those benefits. A case study in Topčider Park (since 1836) was conducted during 2025 through the evaluation of diversity, growth parameters, ornamental value, vitality, and total fresh biomass and the identification of tree taxa with high carbon-sequestration potential in Belgrade (Serbia). The data were statistically processed using descriptive statistics, the Shannon diversity and the Pielou evenness index, PCA, Spearman rank and Chi-square tests. The results indicated a wide distribution and high homogeneity of taxa, greater stability within Angiospermae and moderate stability within Gymnospermae, with PCA showing no correlations between growth parameters, vitality, and ornamental value, confirming the close proximity of all taxa. At the taxon level, London plane, English oak, Ginkgo and Bald cypress stood out in growth parameters, while the assessment of total fresh biomass for all 51 taxa highlighted London plane, Scots pine and Bald cypress as particularly productive and adaptive. Carbon sequestration and CO₂ reduction varied with total fresh biomass. The study offers evidence-based recommendations for selecting urban tree taxa to enhance ecosystem services and support climate-adaptation efforts in urban planning. Full article

Moso bamboo (Phyllostachys edulis) harvesting is labor-intensive and inefficient, while strip-cutting enables mechanized, cost-effective management and supports long-term production. Intensive strip-cutting disturbs bamboo ecosystems, altering soil, litter and understory vegetation. This may reduce long-term productivity despite moso bamboo’s rapid growth, especially in the mountainous areas like Anji, Zhejiang. To balance ecological and production goals, we evaluated strip-cutting widths of 3, 5, and 8 m under three slope classes, 5–14° (gentle, SL1), 15–24° (moderate, SL2), and 25–34° (steep, SL3), focusing on bamboo growth recovery and understory vegetation diversity. Compared with uncut control plots, the number of herbaceous and shrub species increased in all treatment plots. In 5 m moderate slope plots, shoot and culm numbers were 27% and 13% higher than those in the 3 m and 8 m plots, and 37% higher than uncut control plots. Herb species diversity, as reflected by the Shannon–Wiener (H′), Simpson (D), and Margalef richness (R) indices, was high in the narrowest clearcut strips under SL1 and SL3. Pielou’s evenness index (J) was high in the 3 and 5 m plots under SL2 and SL3. Shrub species diversity, as indicated by D and R, was high in 5 and 8 m plots under SL2 and SL3. Principal component analysis (PCA) indicated that under SL2, 5 m strip-cutting width with a score of 0.649 outperformed others. These results suggest that 5 m strip-cutting width under SL2 slope optimizes understory vegetation diversity and supports a synergistic outcome of “high shoot emergence–high culm formation” thereby achieving both ecological and production benefits. Full article

Parasitoids are key natural antagonists of forest insect pests and are gaining importance in integrated forest protection under increasing climate-related disturbances. This study aimed to quantify the influence of vegetation diversity and canopy structure on the abundance and diversity of the overall insect community responses to vegetation structure and to provide an ecological context. Second, detailed analyses focused on three focal parasitoid families (Braconidae, Ichneumonidae, Tachinidae), which are of particular relevance for integrated forest protection due to their central role in integrated forest protection and in pesticide-free regulation approaches for risk mitigation in forest ecosystems. Malaise traps were deployed at eight randomly selected broadleaf and coniferous sites, and insect samples from six sampling dates in summer 2024 were analyzed. The sampling period coincided with the full development of woody and vascular plants, representing the phase of highest expected activity of phytophagous insects and associated parasitoids. Vegetation surveys (Braun–Blanquet), canopy closure, and canopy cover were recorded for each site. Across all samples, five arthropod classes, 13 insect orders, and 31 hymenopteran families were identified, with pronounced site-specific differences in community composition and abundance. Our results suggest that broadleaf-dominated sites, characterized by higher plant species richness and greater structural heterogeneity, support a more diverse assemblage of phytophagous insects, thereby increasing host availability and niche diversity for parasitoids. Parasitoid communities generally showed higher diversity at broadleaf sites. Spearman correlations and multiple linear regressions revealed a strong negative relationship between canopy cover and total insect abundance ρ (Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient (Spearman ρ = −0.72, p = 0.042; p = 0.012, R² = 0.70), R² (coefficient of determination), whereas parasitoid diversity (Shannon index) and the relative proportion of Ichneumonidae were positively associated with canopy cover (ρ = 0.85, p = 0.008). In addition, canopy cover had a significant positive effect on overall insect diversity (Shannon index; p = 0.015, R² = 0.63). Time-series analyses revealed a significant seasonal decline in parasitoid abundance (p < 0.001) and parasitoid diversity (p = 0.018). Time-series analyses revealed seasonal dynamics characterized by fluctuations in parasitoid abundance and diversity and a general decrease over the course of the sampling period. The findings demonstrate that structurally diverse mixed forests, particularly those with a high proportion of broadleaf trees mixed forests with heterogeneous canopy layers can enhance the diversity of specialized natural enemies, while dense canopy cover reduces overall insect abundance. These insights provide an ecological basis for silvicultural strategies that strengthen natural regulation processes within integrated forest protection. Full article

Montane forests, characterized by complex terrain and diverse climates, serve as critical global biodiversity hotspots, particularly for birds and mammals. However, the patterns and underlying processes of bird and mammal diversity remain insufficiently studied in the montane forests of eastern China. This study employed infrared-triggered camera trapping to conduct a four-year field monitoring of birds and mammals, analyzing the effects of plant diversity and seasonal variations on the diversity of habitat-associated animals. Our results revealed that species-level habitat visit frequency in ground-dwelling birds exhibited a significant phylogenetic signal, particularly in spring and summer. Plant diversity metrics demonstrated significant positive correlations with corresponding bird metrics of species richness (SR), phylogenetic diversity (PD), and the standardized effect size of PD (Phylo SES PD). In contrast, for mammals, plant diversity metrics were significantly positively correlated with corresponding SR, mean pairwise phylogenetic distance (Phylo MPD), and mean nearest phylogenetic taxon distance (Phylo MNTD), as well as community structure metrics, including the net relatedness index (Phylo NRI) and nearest taxon index (Phylo NTI). Furthermore, the plant Shannon–Wiener index showed significant positive correlations with both bird and mammal metrics of SR, PD, and Phylo SES PD but significant negative correlations with Phylo MNTD. Seasonal variations triggered the mean altitudinal migration in ground-dwelling birds and mammals. There were significant differences in the diversity and community structure metrics of birds (Shannon–Wiener, Funct FNND, and PD) and mammals (Shannon–Wiener, Funct MPD, Funct FNND, PD, Phylo MPD, Phylo MNTD, and Phylo SES PD), which varied across different seasons. These findings emphasize that plant diversity and seasonal changes are closely related to the diversity and community structure of birds and mammals. They provide theoretical support for the role of habitat vegetation and seasonal dynamics in maintaining the stability and functioning of montane animal ecosystems, offering important insights for addressing habitat fragmentation and species migratory behavior. Full article

Murundus fields (wetland earth-mounds) represent a relatively understudied physiognomy in the Cerrado biome. This study aimed to evaluate the composition, life history, phytosociology, endemism, and conservation status of woody plant species in murundus fields in a forestry-dominated landscape in the Brazilian savanna. We established 40 plots, each measuring 50 × 20 m, where all live shrub-arboreal plants with a trunk diameter at the base of ≥1 cm and a height > 0.5 m were identified. Using these data, we calculated the absolute and relative values of density, dominance, and frequency, as well as the importance value index. In addition, we estimated Shannon’s and Simpson’s diversity indices and Pielou’s equability index. Our findings included 155 species, 69 genera, and 38 families in the study area. The invasive exotic species Pinus caribaea Morelet showed the highest importance value, followed by Jacaranda caroba (Vell.) DC., Miconia albicans (Sw.) Steud., Erythroxylum suberosum A.St.-Hil., and Miconia fallax DC. The pronounced presence of P. caribaea is a matter of concern and highlights the need for control measures, given its potential to hinder the regeneration of native species. We identified species occurring in various Cerrado phytophysiognomies, suggesting that murundus fields function as transitional habitats. This study underscores the importance of conserving species within the inadequately studied Cerrado physiognomy. Full article

The floodplain landscape of the lower Yellow River is jointly shaped by natural water-sediment processes and human activities. With intensified regulation by large reservoirs and increasing human development intensity, the landscape pattern of the floodplain has undergone significant changes. Clarifying the relative contributions of natural and anthropogenic factors, as well as their interactive mechanisms, is crucial for ecological management of the floodplain. Based on 40-year long-term land-use data and hydrological and meteorological observations, this study integrates landscape metrics, the human interference index (HI), grey relational analysis, and partial least squares regression to quantify the spatiotemporal dynamics of landscape pattern in the floodplain of the lower Yellow River and to elucidate the driving mechanisms underlying landscape-pattern evolution. The results indicate that (1) during the study period, the areas of cultivated land and built-up land in the floodplain continuously increased, whereas natural wetlands and grassland decreased accordingly. Taking 2000 as a breakpoint, the rate and direction of landscape change exhibited stage-dependent differences. (2) Landscape pattern metrics changed nonlinearly: the number of patches decreased first and then increased; the patch cohesion index increased first and then declined; and Shannon’s diversity index showed an overall downward trend. These changes suggest a process of landscape consolidation induced by agricultural cultivation, followed by re-fragmentation driven by the expansion of built-up land. (3) Driving-mechanism analysis shows that the HI is the primary driver of the current changes in floodplain landscape pattern. After the operation of the Xiaolangdi Dam, water-sediment conditions tended to stabilize and flood risk in the floodplain decreased, thereby creating favourable conditions for human activities. This study highlights the stage-dependent influences of natural and anthropogenic factors on floodplain landscape evolution under dam regulation and suggests that management strategies should be adapted to the current re-fragmentation phase, prioritizing the strict control of agricultural expansion and the restoration of ecological corridors to mitigate anthropogenic interference under stable dam regulation. Full article

This preliminary clinical study investigated the microbial composition of dental biofilms on healthy root surfaces and cavitated root caries lesions in two age cohorts: adults under 65 years and those aged 65 and older. The goal was to assess how aging and caries status influence root surface biofilm diversity and structure. For that, forty adults (23 women, 17 men) were enrolled. Biofilm samples were collected directly from clinically healthy and cavitated root surfaces. Microbial profiling was performed using 16S rRNA gene sequencing to evaluate diversity metrics and community composition. The results show that cavitated root surfaces harbored significantly higher microbial diversity compared to healthy root surfaces, as indicated by the Shannon diversity index. In contrast, healthy surfaces exhibited lower diversity and greater species dominance, confirmed by Simpson’s index. Age-related differences in biofilm composition were also evident, with older adults showing distinct microbial communities compared to younger participants. In conclusion, both age and cavitation presence significantly influence biofilm composition on root surfaces. These differences in microbial diversity and dominance may inform future clinical strategies for managing root caries, particularly in older adults. Further research is needed to assess the implications of these microbial patterns on treatment outcomes. Full article

Background/Objectives: The mammalian microbiota constitutes a reservoir of antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs), which can be shaped by environmental and anthropogenic factors. Although bat-associated bacteria have been reported to harbor diverse ARGs globally, the ecological and evolutionary determinants driving this diversity remain unclear. Methods: To characterize ARG diversity in wildlife exposed to contrasting levels of human influence, we analyzed homologs of resistance mechanisms from the Comprehensive Antibiotic Resistance Database in shotgun metagenomes of bat guano. Samples were collected from a colony exposed to continuous anthropogenic activity in Spain (Salamanca) and from a wild, non-impacted bat community in China (Guangdong). Metagenomic analyses revealed marked differences in taxonomic and resistome composition between sites. Results: Salamanca samples contained numerous hospital-associated genera (e.g., Mycobacterium, Staphylococcus, Corynebacterium), while Guangdong was dominated by Lactococcus, Aeromonas, and Stenotrophomonas. β-lactamases and MurA transferase homologs were the most abundant ARGs in both datasets, yet Salamanca exhibited higher richness and functional diversity (median Shannon index = 1.5; Simpson = 0.8) than Guangdong (Shannon = 1.1; Simpson = 0.66). Salamanca also showed enrichment of clinically relevant ARGs, including qacG, emrR, bacA, and acrB, conferring resistance to antibiotics critical for human medicine. In contrast, Guangdong exhibited a more restricted resistome dominated by β-lactamase and MurA homologs. Beta diversity analysis confirmed significant compositional differences between resistomes (PERMANOVA, R² = 0.019, F = 1.33, p = 0.001), indicating ecological rather than stochastic structuring. Conclusions: These findings suggest that anthropogenic exposure enhances the diversity and evenness of resistance mechanisms within bat-associated microbiomes, potentially increasing their role as reservoirs of antimicrobial resistance. Full article

Business diversity in proximity-based environments is emerging as an important requirement in urban planning, especially with the rise of concepts such as the 15-min city, which aim to enhance urban vitality. While many studies have focused on assessing vitality through the conditions defined by Jane Jacobs, few have specifically measured commercial diversity and analyzed its relationship with place popularity, attendance, and tourism activity. Using geo-localized data on businesses and Google Maps reviews in Paris, a diversity index was constructed based on Shannon entropy derived from business categories—Culture and leisure, Food and beverage, Retail stores, Local services—and explored its correlations through statistical analysis. The study reveals a higher level of commercial diversity in central areas compared to the outskirts, as indicated by spatial clustering analysis, along with a positive association between diversity and attendance. However, no significant relationship was observed between commercial diversity and the popularity of the selected establishments. These findings may inform policymakers and urban planners in designing more locally diversified cities and, more broadly, in promoting sustainable urban vitality. Full article

Global CO₂ concentrations are gradually increasing, and forests, as the main terrestrial carbon pool, are attracting growing attention in mitigating climate change. However, the impacts of forest types, species diversity, structural diversity, and environmental factors on the carbon sequestration mechanisms of subtropical forests remain unclear. This study established 45 forest plots (20 m × 20 m) in Lishui City, aiming to investigate the relationships between forest diversity, environmental factors, and carbon storage of subtropical forests among different forest types. Results showed that coniferous forests had the lowest species diversity (0.86), which exhibited extremely significant differences from broad-leaved forests (1.47, p < 0.01) and coniferous broad-leaved mixed forests (1.58, p < 0.01). The carbon storage of broad-leaved forests was 97.50 t·ha⁻¹, which was higher than that of coniferous broad-leaved mixed forests (77.08 t·ha⁻¹) and coniferous forests (75.57 t·ha⁻¹). The carbon storage of coniferous forests was significantly positively affected by species diversity (p < 0.05). Tree height was the most significant structural diversity factor affecting forest carbon storage (p < 0.05). The results of the structural equation model (SEM) showed that the proportion of broad-leaved trees in forests and structural diversity had a significant positive effect on carbon storage (p < 0.01). Species diversity had a non-linear relationship with carbon storage. The ecological niche complementarity effect and selection effect interacted with changes in species diversity. When the species diversity was lower than 1.12 (Shannon–Wiener index), the ecological niche complementarity effect dominated and promoted carbon sequestration; when it was above this threshold, the selection effect dominated and weakened carbon sequestration. This study recommends prioritizing the planting of broad-leaved tree species during afforestation and paying attention to the current status of forest diversity. Full article

From the 1950s to the 1970s, approximately 80,000 kg of tea seeds were introduced from mainland China to the Xizang Autonomous Region for experimental cultivation. To assess the genetic diversity patterns of these tea accessions following more than half a century of acclimatization to plateau environments, we analyzed genetic variation, population structure, and genetic distinctiveness among fifty tea germplasm using nine phenotypic traits and 30 SSR markers. Phenotypic analysis revealed a moderately high level of genetic diversity, as indicated by the mean Shannon diversity index (H′ = 1.29). Principal component analysis (PCA) indicated that phenotypic variation was not geographically structured across the collection sites. The SSR markers exhibited a high degree of polymorphism, with an average polymorphic information content (PIC) of 0.610 and a genetic diversity index (I) of 1.437, indicating substantial genetic variation. Analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) revealed that genetic differentiation occurred predominantly within populations, accounting for 91.49% of the total genetic variation. Similarly, 97.86% of the variation was attributed to differences within elevational gradients. Discriminant analysis of principal components (DAPC) and Bayesian population structure modeling (STRUCTURE) both identified two genetic clusters among the studied genotypes. Our results have practical implications for tea breeding programs by providing guidance for parental selection, informing germplasm collection management, and supporting the conservation of genetic resources. Full article

The aim of this study was to determine fungal diversity and composition in an area of high host diversity and identify the organisms involved in the appearance of symptoms in Pinus needles. Asymptomatic and symptomatic live needle samples were obtained from different Pinus spp. in an arboretum with confirmed presence of brown spot needle blight. The samples were analysed using high-throughput sequencing of fungal ITS2rDNA. Ascomycota dominated all samples, with Lophodermium as the most abundant genus, although it showed lower representation in symptomatic needles. Other genera with recognised pathogenic potential, including Lecanosticta, Pestalotiopsis, Cyclaneusma, Rhizosphaera, Neophysalospora, and Cenangium, were also detected, whereas the Dothistroma genus was absent despite its presence in the region. Alpha diversity was higher in asymptomatic needles, with a significant difference only for the Shannon index, while Bray–Curtis dissimilarity revealed significant shifts in community composition between needle types. Functional guilds were dominated by pathotroph–saprotroph trophic mode, and the functional guild ‘plant pathogen’ was the most abundant across samples. These findings identify fungal genera associated with symptomatic and asymptomatic needles and provide guidance for future targeted isolation and detailed morphological and molecular identification using more resolutive techniques, enabling a deeper understanding of pathogenic community presence and their potential synergistic interactions. Full article

This study explores shrub–herb configuration patterns in the northern and southern mountains of Lhasa and examines associations between slope aspect, soil properties, and plant community composition. By comparing plant communities on shady and sunny slopes (n = 15 plots), we found that shady slopes supported higher species diversity (Shannon index: 3.62 vs. 3.14) and more even distributions. Exploratory regression analyses suggested that soil moisture, salinity, and pH may be associated with the occurrence patterns of native woody species, though these relationships require validation with larger sample sizes. Principal component analysis identified several recurring shrub–herb associations, including Rosa sericea Lindl. with Cynoglossum amabile Stapf & Drummond and Argentina anserine (L.) Rydb., and Cotoneaster adpressus Bois with Taraxacum mongolicum Hand.-Mazz. and Carex myosuroides Vill. These associations exhibited higher co-occurrence frequencies across plots. Our findings provide preliminary guidance for shrub–herb configuration and ecological restoration in this region. This study offers baseline data and hypotheses for vegetation restoration, forestry greening, and ecological protection in the northern and southern mountain regions of Lhasa, though expanded research is needed to validate these exploratory patterns. Full article

Aside from languages having no form of written expression, it is usually the case with every language on this planet that texts are written in a single character. But every rule has its exceptions. A very rare exception is Japanese, the texts of which are written in the three kinds of characters. In European languages, no one can find a text written in a mixture of the Latin, Cyrillic, and Greek alphabets. For several Japanese texts currently available, we conduct a quantitative analysis of how the three characters are mixed using a methodology based on a binary pattern approach to the sequence that has been generated by a procedure. Specifically, we consider two different texts in the former and present constitutions as well as a famous American story that has been translated at least 13 times into Japanese. For the latter, a comparison is made among the human translations and four machine translations by DeepL and Google Translate. As metrics of divergence and diversity, the Hellinger distance, chi-square value, normalized Shannon entropy, and Simpson’s diversity index are employed. Numerical results suggest that in terms of the entropy, the 17 translations consist of three clusters, and that overall, the machine-translated texts exhibit entropy higher than the human translations. The finding suggests that the present method can provide a tool useful for stylometry and author attribution. Finally, through comparison with the diversity index, capabilities of the entropic measure are confirmed. Lastly, in addition to the abovementioned texts, applicability to the Japanese version of the periodic table of elements is investigated. Full article

Habitat degradation and fragmentation pose severe threats to biodiversity in protected areas, including the Giant Panda National Park (GPNP). Effective restoration strategies are urgently needed to enhance habitat connectivity and support the recovery of giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca David, 1869) populations. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of targeted artificial restoration measures on plant diversity and community structure in four typical degraded habitats within the Niba Mountain Corridor of the GPNP. Over a three-year monitoring period, vegetation surveys and infrared camera trapping were conducted across pure plantations and secondary forests, with/without bamboo, using suitable habitats as controls. The results showed that: (1) Artificial restoration significantly increased shrub layer species richness and Shannon–Wiener index in most degraded habitats, approaching control levels after two years, while herb layer diversity initially increased then declined due to shrub competition. (2) Sorensen’s similarity between degraded and suitable habitats increased over time, rising from 0.08–0.42 to 0.46–0.67 for the shrub layer and from 0.09–0.22 to 0.30–0.40 for the herb layer. (3) Key species showing high variability during restoration included Litsea pungens Hemsl., Actinidia spp., Salix spp., Rubus spp., Hydrangea macrophylla (Thunb.) Ser, Carex spp., and Elatostema involucratum Franch. et Savat. (4) Bamboo regeneration was enhanced with peak live shoots in 2024. (5) Increased activity of medium-to-large mammals, notably the tufted deer (Elaphodus cephalophus Milne-Edwards, 1872), may indicate initial stages of functional recovery for resources in the restored habitats. The results confirmed that differentiated artificial restoration can effectively promote species diversity recovery and habitat convergence, providing a scientific basis for optimizing GPNP corridor management and improving population connectivity for giant pandas. Full article