Assessment of the resilience of a Tartary Buckwheat (Fagopyrum tataricum) cultivation system in Meigu, Southwest China

Recent socioeconomic development, increased transport and new agricultural technology are endangering the survival of traditional agriculture and the Yi people’s traditional knowledge of cultivating Tartary buckwheat. The cultural heritage of Tartary buckwheat cultivation among the Yi communities needs to be investigated and protected before its loss. The main objectives of this study are to document the Tartary buckwheat cultivation system, to analyze the agroecosystem networks that support the current system, and to measure the resilience of the ecological, agricultural and social systems using relevant indicators. The Tartary buckwheat cultivation system in Meigu County uses a rotation system, in which various crops are planted alternatively (e.g., Tartary buckwheat, green manure and potato/corn), utilizing bunch planting and furrow drilling technology. Tartary buckwheat has an important position in the major festival activities among the Yi people’s communities. Network analysis on the current agricultural system, ecosystem and social system indicated that the system was stable. The mean score of ecological, agricultural and social stability were 2.50, 2.85 and 2.53, respectively, indicating moderately stability. In contrast, socio-ecological production landscapes and seascapes (SEPLS) resilience indicators in Meigu performed only moderately, with a score of 2.63. The assessment of the resilience of the Tartary buckwheat cultivation system can provide some guidance for policy makers to strengthen biodiversity conservation, sustainable agricultural production and livelihood development (e.g., land use, responding to extreme environmental stresses and improving education levels)

Conservation genomics of Casearia sylvestris Sw. in the Brazilian Savannah and Atlantic Forest of the State of São Paulo

Orientador: Maria Imaculada ZucchiTese (doutorado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Instituto de BiologiaResumo: As restaurações florestais e o estabelecimento de unidades de conservação têm sido os principais meios para a conservação dos biomas Cerrado e Mata Atlântica no Brasil mas pouca atenção tem sido dada à diversidade genética nas populações de espécies vegetais destas áreas. Por isso, realizou-se dois estudos com os objetivos de: 1) Avaliar a diversidade e estruturação genética de Casearia sylvestris Sw. em restaurações florestais e em remanescentes naturais de Mata Atlântica; 2) Estudar a diversidade e estruturação genética de populações naturais de C. sylvestris do Cerrado e Mata Atlântica do Brasil e verificar a ocorrência de seleção positiva nestas populações. Construiram-se e foram sequenciadas bibliotecas genômicas da espécie C. sylvestris Sw. utilizando as técnicas de genotyping-by-sequencing (GBS) e double-digested restriction associated DNA (ddRADseq). Calcularam-se estimativas de diversidade e diferenciação genética para todas as populações (número total de alelos, heterozigosidades, número de alelos privados, riqueza alélica, coeficientes de endogamia e índices de fixação) e o estudo de estruturação genética foi realizado através da análise discriminante de componentes principais (DAPC). Não houveram diferenças significativas entre as estimativas de diversidade e diferenciação genética calculadas no primeiro estudo indicando que as restaurações florestais têm oferecido condições de conservação da diversidade genética. No segundo estudo foi observado que as populações de C. sylvestris do Cerrado e Mata Atlântica estão geneticamente estruturadas. Além disso, relatou-se ineditamente a ocorrência de seleção positiva nas populações destes biomas. Conclui-se com estes dois estudos que o modelo o qual as restaurações florestais foram implementadas no Brasil tem possibilitado a conservação da diversidade genética das populações e que as diferenças nas características ambientais entre o Cerrado e Mata Atlântica podem levar a ocorrência de eventos microevolutivos que levam a adaptação local a estes biomasAbstract: Forest restorations and conservation units have been the main ways for the conservation of Brazilian Savannah (Cerrado) and Atlantic Forest biomes in Brazil, but little attention has been given to genetic diversity in the populations of plant species of these areas. Therefore, two studies were carried out with the objectives of: 1) Evaluate the genetic diversity and structure of Casearia sylvestris Sw. In forest restorations and in natural remnants of Atlantic Forest; 2) Study the genetic diversity and structure of natural populations of C. sylvestris from the Cerrado and Atlantic Forest of Brazil and verify the occurrence of positive selection in these populations. Genomic libraries of C. sylvestris were built and sequenced using genotyping-by-sequencing (GBS) and double-digested restriction associated DNA (ddRADseq) techniques. Estimates of genetic diversity and differentiation were estimated for all populations (total number of alleles, heterozygosities, number of private alleles, allelic richness, inbreeding coefficients and fixation indices) and the genetic structuring study was performed through the discriminant analysis of components (DAPC). There were no significant differences between the estimates of diversity and genetic differentiation calculated in the first study, indicating that forest restorations have offered conservation conditions of genetic diversity. In the second study it was observed that the populations of C. sylvestris from Cerrado and Atlantic Forest are genetically structured. In addition, the occurrence of positive selection in the populations of these biomes was reported. It is concluded with these two studies that the model that the forest restorations were implemented in Brazil has made possible the conservation of the genetic diversity of the populations and that the differences in the environmental characteristics between the Cerrado and Atlantic Forest can lead to the occurrence of microevolutionary events that lead local adaptation to these biomesDoutoradoGenetica Vegetal e MelhoramentoDoutor em Genetica e Biologia Molecular2013/05762-6;141039/2013-2FAPESPCNPQCAPE

Landscape genetics of Alnus glutinosa across contrasting spatial scales in a natural river system

The genetic diversity and genetic structure of populations, and the processes shaping gene flow within and between populations, are influenced by the landscapes they occur within. Within terrestrial landscapes, rivers and their riparian habitat are among the most dynamic, diverse and complex of landscapes and their linear structure appears as an interlinking feature across large landscapes. This thesis took a landscape genetics approach to examine the influence of river landscape features on Alnus glutinosa populations, a widespread keystone tree species of European riparian ecosystems. By accounting for the differing dispersal mechanisms of A. glutinosa (wind and water), landscape effects on seed- and pollen-mediated gene flow, genetic diversity, demographic and genetic structure were identified at different spatial scales of a large UK river catchment. Widespread gene flow within and between A. glutinosa populations was identified with no apparent limitation of wind-mediated pollen dispersal. Hydrochorous dispersal of seed between populations was evident, and found to increase genetic connectivity between riparian populations; however an isolation by distance effect was identified between populations located further apart from each other. No pattern of genetic diversity was found, with high levels of genetic diversity identified at all spatial and temporal scales. At the river-catchment scale no genetic clustering was observed, either within or between the six rivers studied. Demographic structuring within A. glutinosa populations was evident, and correlated with distance from the main river channel. Interactions between seed dispersal, hydrological disturbance, colonisation, and historical influences are discussed in relation to fine-scale spatial genetic structure between A. glutinosa sapling and adult generations. Central to the landscape genetics approach taken in this thesis was the incorporation of key A. glutinosa life history attributes. By incorporating gene flow analyses, species ecology and landscape features, the research presented here furthers our understanding of riverine landscape influences on their riparian populations at different spatial scales and can be used to inform management principles

Investigating Drivers of Genetic Structure in Plants: Global, Regional and Local Scales

Genetic structure within and among plant populations is a critical component of plant biodiversity, informing local adaptation, conservation, and incipient speciation. However, its drivers remain poorly understood, especially across different spatial scales. In my dissertation I examined factors that affect plant population genetic structure at global, regional, and local scales. At the global scale, I performed a literature review of population genetic differentiation (FST) in seed plants based on a 337-species dataset with data on FST and species traits. Using phylogenetic multiple regressions, I found that FST is higher for tropical, mixed-mating, non-woody species pollinated by small insects, and lower for temperate, outcrossing trees pollinated by wind. At the regional scale, I tested the effect of flowering asynchrony on genetic divergence between conspecific subpopulations of understory flowering plants in the Andean biodiversity hotspot. I documented flowering phenology for nine species at two sites over one year and inferred population genetic parameters with a genome-wide genotyping approach termed 2b-RAD sequencing. I found that species with higher flowering asynchrony between their subpopulations also show greater genetic divergence. At the local scale, I examined the effect of insect vs. hummingbird pollination modes on the fine-scale spatial genetic structure (SGS) of understory plants in the Andes. I focused on six species for which I confirmed putative pollinators through fieldwork and used the same genotyping technique as above. I found that insect pollination results in a stronger pattern of spatial autocorrelation among closely related individuals, relative to hummingbird pollination. Finally, I investigated the effect of animal pollination mode and latitudinal region on plant SGS, based on a 147-species global dataset. I found that pollination by small insects is significantly associated with stronger SGS relative to pollination by large insects and vertebrates, particularly in understory plants. Likewise, species from tropical regions have significantly greater SGS than species from temperate zones. Thus, factors that affect plant population genetic differentiation are also important for plant SGS. Overall, my findings shed light on the global drivers of genetic structure in plants, and point to important mechanisms for regional genetic divergence and local genetic connectivity in Andean flowering plants

Maaperän eroosion mallinnus ja vuoristoisen valuma-alueen ekologinen ennallistaminen Sichuanissa Kiinassa

Sichuanissa Tiibetin ylängön metsäkato on pysähtynyt mutta eroosio-ongelmat jatkuvat Viikin tropiikki-instituutin tutkija Ping ZHOU kartoitti trooppisen metsänhoidon alaan kuuluvassa väitöskirjatyössään maaperän eroosioalttiutta ja sen riippuvuutta metsäkasvillisuudesta Jangtsen tärkeää sivuhaaraa Min-jokea ympäröivällä n. 7400 neliökilometrin suuruisella valuma-alueella Sichuanin Aba-piirikunnassa. Aineistonaan hän käytti muun muassa satelliittikartoitustietoja ja mittaustuloksia yli 600 maastokoealalta. Tutkimuksen nimi suomeksi on "Maaperän eroosion mallinnus ja vuoristoisen valuma-alueen ekologinen ennallistaminen Sichuanissa Kiinassa". Aikaisempien tutkimusten perusteella oli tiedossa että metsien häviäminen tällä alueella pysähtyi jo 1980-luvun alussa. Sen jälkeen on metsien pinta-ala hitaasti kasvanut etupäässä sen vuoksi, että teollinen puunhakkuu luonnonmetsissä kiellettiin kokonaan v. 1998 ja 25 astetta jyrkemmillä rinteillä myös maatalouden harjoittaminen on saatu lopetetuksi viljelijöille tarjottujen taloudellisten houkuttimien avulla. Täten myös pelto- ja laidunmaata on voitu ennallistaa metsäksi. Ping Zhou pystyi jakamaan 5700 metrin korkeuteen saakka kohoavan vuoristoalueen eroosioalttiudeltaan erilaisiin vyöhykkeisiin rinteen kaltevuuden, sademäärän, kasvipeitteen ja maalajin perusteella. Noin 15 prosentilla tutkitun valuma-alueen pinta-alasta, lähinnä Min-joen pääuomaa ympäröivillä jyrkillä rinteillä, eroosioriski oli suuri tai erittäin suuri. Eri tyyppisellä kasvillisuudella oli hyvin erilainen vaikutus eroosioalttiuteen, ja myös alueen sijainti vuoriston eri korkeuksilla vaikutti eroosioon. Säästyneet lähes luonnontilaiset havumetsät, joita on etupäässä vuoriston ylimmissä osissa 2600-4000 metrin korkeudella, edistävät tehokkaasti metsän luontaista uudistumista ja levittäytymistä vaurioituneille alueille. Säilyneiden metsien puulajikoostumus antoi tutkimuksessa mahdollisuuden ennustaa metsien tulevaa kehitystä koko tutkitulla valuma-alueella sen eri korkeusvyöhykkeissä ja eri maaperätyypeillä. Ennallistamisen kannalta ongelmallisimpia olivat alueet joilta metsäpeite oli lähinnä puiden teollisen hakkuun vuoksi kokonaan hävinnyt ja joilla maaperä yleisesti oli eroosion pahoin kuluttama. Näillä alueilla ei ole tehty juuri mitään uudistamis- tai ennallistamistoimenpiteitä. Niillä metsien ennallistaminen vaatii myös puiden tai pensaiden istuttamista. Tähän sopivia ovat erityisesti ilmakehän typpeä sitovat lajit, joista alueella kasvaa luontaisena mm. sama tyrnilaji joka esiintyy myös Suomessa. Työssä tutkittiin yli kahdeksankymmenen paikallisen luontaisen puulajin (joista peräti noin kolmannes on havupuulajeja) ekologisia ominaisuuksia ja soveltuvuutta metsien ennallistamiseen. Avainasemassa työn onnistumisen kannalta ovat nyt paikalliset asukkaat, joiden maankäytön muutokset ovat jo selvästi edistänet luonnonmetsän ennalleen palautumista. Suomen Akatemia rahoitti vuosina 2004-2006 VITRI:n tutkimushanketta, josta Ping Zhou'n väitöskirjatyö muodosti keskeisen osan. Kenttätyö Sichuanissa avasi mahdollisuuden hedelmälliseen monitieteiseen yhteistyöhön ja tutkijavaihtoon Kiinan tiedeakatemian alaisen Chengdun biologiainstituutin (CIB) kanssa; tämä tieteellinen kanssakäyminen jatkuu edelleen.Protection and reclamation of eroding areas are essential features of watershed management. However, the identification of sites with an excessive erosion rate and the selection of suitable tree species for ecological restoration are often challenging tasks in a large-scale mountainous watershed. Geospatial modelling of soils and the vegetation can provide a new insight for soil erosion control and vegetation restoration at the landscape level. The aim of the present research was to quantitatively map the soil loss and to identify areas and tree species for ecological restoration in a selected watershed. More precisely, a grid-based approach was used to model the factors affecting soil erosion and to identify the most seriously degraded areas, and logistic regression was used to select tree species for restoration and to predict their development. The field study was performed using empirical data from an area of about 7,400 km2 in the Upper Min River (UMR) watershed, in the Upper Yangtze River Basin, in Sichuan, China. The UMR watershed forms the transition from the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau to the Sichuan Basin, with steep slopes and high peaks. Apart from the data from 625 sample plots of a field inventory, the study utilised, for estimating the soil loss, Landsat Enhanced Thematic Mapper (ETM+) imagery, the Digitized Elevation Model (DEM), soil erodibility values, and rainfall erosivity values. Forests at four levels of human impact were analysed for the following quantitative characteristics: stand volume, basal area, weighted diameter, weighted height, and biodiversity indices for tree species. The study further investigated the relationship between vegetation types and soil orders, predicted the occurrence percentages of tree species that have a potential for forest landscape restoration using logistic regression, identified the priority areas for rapid restoration, and pinpointed the difficult areas for forest restoration where low precipitation is a constraint. A quantitative model of different vegetation cover scenarios provided information on how erosion could be reduced by management interventions. The study demonstrated a considerable potential for an approach that combines information from a spatial grid system, ground inventory and historical records, for mapping the soil erosion rate and for identifying priority areas for ecosystem restoration. Raster maps were produced for describing the soil erodibility, rainfall erosivity, slope length and steepness, and the cover management factor, and the soil loss risks were quantified by constructing a map indicating the soil erosion potential. A digital map was developed indicating priority areas for rapid restoration and specifying difficult areas for ecological restoration with low precipitation as a limiting factor. The results can be applied for erosion control and ecological restoration in this degraded mountainous watershed and in similar areas elsewhere. In the present study, a total of 82 native tree species were observed in the UMR watershed; of these, about one third consisted of coniferous species. It was concluded that the remnant near-natural coniferous forests found at high (2,600-4,000 m) elevation can be used as a baseline for forest tree biodiversity and stand dynamics, and also for predicting the forest regeneration and restoration process at different elevations and on different soil types. The near-natural forests are also important seed sources in the process of natural expansion of forests to degraded lands

Apomixia determinando a estrutura genética de uma população de Plinia cauliflora no sudoeste do Paraná

CAPE

Applications of the IUCN Red List in evaluating global extinction risk of timber tree species.

Anthropogenic deforestation and habitat degradation are major pressures on biodiversity. The world’s wild-growth timber tree species additionally face pressure from unsustainable and illegal harvest practices. Despite the threats to these economically valuable species, our understanding of their extinction risk remains incomplete and outdated. In fact, many timber tree taxa are marketed under trade names only, making it difficult to identify those most at risk. An additional challenge is presented by limited data and the pressing need for rapid species assessment in order to inform conservation actions. However, the use of ‘big data’ is coming to the fore in ecological research, and offers a valuable chance to meet international assessment targets such as those of The Global Strategy for Plant Conservation (GSPC), which call for knowledge of the conservation status of all known plant species to guide conservation actions (GSPC Target 2), in addition to sustainable harvesting of all wild- sourced plant-based products (GSPC Target 12), by the year 2020 (CBD, 2012). This thesis therefore aimed to identify timber tree taxa in trade at the species level; to assess utility of occurrence records from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) in timber species range mapping; to assess current extinction risk of a priority subset of timber tree species by applying the IUCN Red List (Red List) of Threatened Species Categories and Criteria; and, lastly, to evaluate the uncertainty of these preliminary Red List assessments. Consolidation of open-access timber lists produced a ‘working list’ of 1,578 angiosperm timber taxa in trade. GBIF records were demonstrated to be a suitable low time-cost resource with which to estimate species extent of occurrence and prioritise range-restricted timber tree species for Red List assessment. In addition to GBIF datasets, Global Forest Change (GFC) satellite imagery was found to be a valuable resource for assessing timber tree species range size, habitat fragmentation, and population trends over time. Preliminary Red List assessments conducted for 324 timber tree species suggest that some 69% may be threatened with extinction if current rates of deforestation persist. Although GBIF and GFC ‘big data’ were found to introduce some uncertainty into timber tree Red List categorisations, quantitative comparison to assessments conducted using ‘expert’ datasets suggested that categorisations were not greatly impacted. Furthermore, these evaluations illustrated the scarcity and inaccessibility of more traditional sources of Red List assessment data for timber tree species. It is evident that if we are to meet GSPC and other conservation targets for timbers and other at-risk, poorly-known tree taxa, we must recognise that open-access ‘big data’ repositories represent a powerful opportunity for Red Listing

Threatened ecosystems of Myanmar. An IUCN Red List of ecosystems assessment. Version 1.0.

[Excerpt:] Myanmar's Red List of Ecosystems is a tool to understand our threats and plan for conservation and sustainable management. Forests constitute the dominant ecosystems in Myanmar, and we are blessed with high forest cover (42.92%) and diversity, with 36 of our 64 ecosystems identified as forest and mangrove. These forests and biodiversity underpin a range of ecosystem services which are central to Myanmar’s sustainable development, supporting human and resource needs, and contributing to a more stable climate. The loss of forests and our biodiversity leads to degradation and deterioration of ecosystem services and threatens Myanmar’s irreplaceable ecological heritage. We often discuss ecosystem services but this study documents Myanmar’s terrestrial ecosystem typology and spatial distribution for the first time. This is one of the first ecosystem red lists developed within ASEAN and this will inform our implementation for decades to come to inform legislation, land-use planning, protected area expansion, monitoring and reporting, and ecosystem management. To sustain our forests and our biodiversity we need to sustainably manage all of these incredible ecosystems

Town of Cape Elizabeth Maine Ordinances

Ordinances Cover: Addressing; Administrative Code; Bicycles; Boards and Committees; Coastal Water & Harbor; Commercial License & Permits; communications; Conservation; Construction; Dogs; Fire Protection; Firearms; General Assistance; General Provisions; Health & Sanitation; Marijuana; Misc Offenses; PACE; Personnel; Sewers; Shooting Ranges; Signs; Storm Water; Subdivision; Town Ways; Traffic; Zonin