Ecological Study in Two Quarried Limestone Karst Hills in Bogor West Java: Vegetation Structure and Floristic Composition

Many species extinctions have probably gone unnoticed on limestone that was destroyed before they could be sampled. Unless biodiversity surveys are intensified, the true magnitude of extinctions will never be ascertained. The objectives of this study were to determine tree species composition of limestone hills in Nyungcung and Ciampea; to determine quantitatively the dominant and less dominant species and to quantify floristic structure of the two limestone hills. Value of richness (Menhinick) and evenness in Nyungcung were 3.28 and 0.826 whilst in Ciampea were 3.29 and 0.823, respectively. In term of diversity (Shannon Wiener), Nyungcung seems to be more diverse than Ciampea as indicated by the higher value of diversity index. Nyungcung has 3.225 of diversity (Shannon Wiener) index while Ciampea has 2.859. The floristic composition of two sites was significantly different and mostly comprised Moraceae, Rubiaceae, and Euphorbiaceae. However, the highest presence of species were Antidesma montanum (Euphorbiaceae) and Chrysophyllum lanceolatum (Sapotaceae), and Pandanus sp. (Pandanaceae) in Nyungcung, whereas in Ciampea, Harpullia arborea (Sapindaceae), Ophiorhhiza canescens (Rubiaceae), and Allophyllus cobbe (Sapindaceae). Macaranga rhizinoides, O. canescens, A. montanum, and Turpinia montana , respectively , gained the highest importance values

A research agenda for seed-trait functional ecology

Trait-based approaches have improved our understanding of plant evolution, community assembly and ecosystem functioning. A major challenge for the upcoming decades is to understand the functions and evolution of early life-history traits, across levels of organization and ecological strategies. Although a variety of seed traits are critical for dispersal, persistence, germination timing and seedling establishment, only seed mass has been considered systematically. Here we suggest broadening the range of morphological, physiological and biochemical seed traits to add new understanding on plant niches, population dynamics and community assembly. The diversity of seed traits and functions provides an important challenge that will require international collaboration in three areas of research. First, we present a conceptual framework for a seed ecological spectrum that builds upon current understanding of plant niches. We then lay the foundation for a seed-trait functional network, the establishment of which will underpin and facilitate trait-based inferences. Finally, we anticipate novel insights and challenges associated with incorporating diverse seed traits into predictive evolutionary ecology, community ecology and applied ecology. If the community invests in standardized seed-trait collection and the implementation of rigorous databases, major strides can be made at this exciting frontier of functional ecology.Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation. Grant Number: R‐90470‐0

A research agenda for seed-trait functional ecology

Trait-based approaches have improved our understanding of plant evolution, community assembly and ecosystem functioning. A major challenge for the upcoming decades is to understand the functions and evolution of early life-history traits, across levels of organization and ecological strategies. Although a variety of seed traits are critical for dispersal, persistence, germination timing and seedling establishment, only seed mass has been considered systematically. Here we suggest broadening the range of morphological, physiological and biochemical seed traits to add new understanding on plant niches, population dynamics and community assembly. The diversity of seed traits and functions provides an important challenge that will require international collaboration in three areas of research. First, we present a conceptual framework for a seed ecological spectrum that builds upon current understanding of plant niches. We then lay the foundation for a seed-trait functional network, the establishment of which will underpin and facilitate trait-based inferences. Finally, we anticipate novel insights and challenges associated with incorporating diverse seed traits into predictive evolutionary ecology, community ecology and applied ecology. If the community invests in standardized seed-trait collection and the implementation of rigorous databases, major strides can be made at this exciting frontier of functional ecology

Effect of Substrate Moisture Content and Invasive Grass Competition on Native Fig (Ficus Fistulosa) Seedling Recruitment in Limestone Quarries

Challenges for restoration of degraded habitats on quarried limestone present in many countries including Indonesia. Ficus fistulosa as native species was chosen as a study species in the study of quarry restoration, as this species was shown in the previous study to have high importance value in Ciampea limestone forest in Bogor, West Java. To identify the effect of substrate moisture and competition from exotic Pennisetum grass to limestone restoration using native Ficus, we set up an experiment in the green house. Ficus above and belowground biomass were reduced because of the presence of Pennisetum grass and was affected by substrate moisture. Ficus biomass growth apparently was not favoured by higher irrigation. However, lower rate of irrigation led to the lower biomass of grass, meaning a lower competition from grass. On the other hand, it was apparent that the interaction of substrate moisture and presence of competition from grass reduced Ficus aboveground as well as belowground biomass. Furthermore, competition with grass was significantly reduced seedling's leaf and length. Nevertheless, the interaction effect of substrate moisture and competition did not lead to the reduction of Ficus seedling's leaf and length

The Natural Habitat of Begonia on the Island of Bali: Microclimate Preference in Two Forest Sites in Bedugul

A study on Begonia's ecology was conducted in two forest sites, a nature reserve and reboisation forest, respectively, in Bedugul Bali. The objective of the study was to describe Begonia species found in respective forest sites, to gather information on abiotic factors and to find the influences of these abiotic factors to the abundance of Begonia species. Three species were identified as B. multangula, B. Baliensis and B. longifolia. There were two form of B. longifolia, white and red. The multivariate analysis (PCA) showed that abiotic factors measured were relatively similar among plots. In addition, no particular abiotic factor, from multivariate analysis, showed specific influence on Begonia species frequency. Interestingly, the multivariate analysis also implied that B. latifolia has different microclimate preference between forms (white and red). The abundance, refers to the frequency, of all of species in two forests was similar (t-test, p=0.061). Pooling the data from the fourty plots (two forest sites) and white and red forms of B. longifolia together, B. multangula and B. longifolia found were similarly abundant between species (t- test, p=0.460)

Morphological Investigation on Cotyledons: Revealing Tribes Within Bignoniaceae

Morfologi kotiledon dari sebelas jenis tumbuhan suku Bignoniaceae diamati sebagai upaya untuk identifikasi lapangan. Kotiledon pada suku Bignoniaceae memiliki karakter unik dan jarang ditemukan pada suku tumbuhan lain. Ujungnya berbelah dua dan berbentuk hati. Karakter unik ini dapat digunakan untuk identifikasi tumbuhan di lapangan, terutama pada fase semai. Sudut kedua parakotiledon, sudut belahan pada ujung para-kotiledon, dan panjang parakotiledon dapat digunakan untuk membedakan tribus dalam suku Bignoniaceae. Namun demikian, penelitian lanjutan yang menggunakan lebih banyak jenis diperlukan untuk menguatkan hasil awal ini

The seed germination spectrum of alpine plants: a global meta-analysis

Assumptions about the germination ecology of alpine plants are presently based on individual species and local studies. A current challenge is to synthesise, at the global level, the alpine seed ecological spectrum. We performed a meta-analysis of primary data from laboratory experiments conducted across four continents (excluding the tropics) and 661 species, to estimate the influence of six environmental cues on germination proportion, mean germination time and germination synchrony; accounting for seed morphology (mass, embryo : seed ratio) and phylogeny. Most alpine plants show physiological seed dormancy, a strong need for cold stratification, warm-cued germination and positive germination responses to light and alternating temperatures. Species restricted to the alpine belt have a higher preference for warm temperatures and a stronger response to cold stratification than species whose distribution extends also below the treeline. Seed mass, embryo size and phylogeny have strong constraining effects on germination responses to the environment. Globally, overwintering and warm temperatures are key drivers of germination in alpine habitats. The interplay between germination physiology and seed morphological traits further reflects pressures to avoid frost or drought stress. Our results indicate the convergence, at the global level, of the seed germination patterns of alpine species

The seed germination spectrum of alpine plants: a global meta-analysis

International audienceAssumptions about the germination ecology of alpine plants are presently based on individual species and local studies. A current challenge is to synthesise, at the global level, the alpine seed ecological spectrum. We performed a meta-analysis of primary data from laboratory experiments conducted across four continents (excluding the tropics) and 661 species, to estimate the influence of six environmental cues on germination proportion, mean germination time and germination synchrony; accounting for seed morphology (mass, embryo : seed ratio) and phylogeny. Most alpine plants show physiological seed dormancy, a strong need for cold stratification, warm-cued germination and positive germination responses to light and alternating temperatures. Species restricted to the alpine belt have a higher preference for warm temperatures and a stronger response to cold stratification than species whose distribution extends also below the treeline. Seed mass, embryo size and phylogeny have strong constraining effects on germination responses to the environment. Globally, overwintering and warm temperatures are key drivers of germination in alpine habitats. The interplay between germination physiology and seed morphological traits further reflects pressures to avoid frost or drought stress. Our results indicate the convergence, at the global level, of the seed germination patterns of alpine species