A. Filipović, A. Mandić, A. Hadžiabulić, Hana Johanis, Antonio Stipanović, Helena Brekalo
Abstract The agricultural sector and growing food production needs rely on chemical fertilizers. This initially had positive effects on production, but over the last decade, the negative impacts of overuse have resulted in low crop productivity, increased pest and disease infestation, soil degradation, and consequent adverse effects on environmental parameters. As one of the possibilities in organic farming, we found vermicomposting as the most sustainable practice. For the assembly of vermicomposting, mature cattle manure was utilized in three different combinations with organic material and earthworm inoculations (the household waste, the grass clippings, and mixture). The experiment was set up by random block design in three replications. Analyses of qualitative parameters of the final product showed a pH reaction from neutral to slightly alkaline. The nitrogen compound varied between 2.7% and 2.9% and the organic carbon varied between 45.59% and 47.41%, showing a C/N ratio of 16.7‒16.67. The potassium content varied between 1.1% and 1.2% K2O, and the phosphorus content varied from 0.3% to 0.5%. The experiment gave quite good results of vermicomposting of household waste with manure, showing a neutral pH reaction, optimal content of ash and carbon with almost similar and good NPK contents and increased C/N ratio of 16.7, and with satisfying levels of trace elements and the heavy metal content under the limits. This combination of household waste and manure also showed best characterization of humic and fulvic acids in vermicompost, ranging from 1505 to 1778 cm−1 and from 729 to 998 cm−1, respectively. These results indicate that vermicomposting can increase the quality of the final product.
{"title":"Characterization and Evaluation of Vermicomposting Materials","authors":"A. Filipović, A. Mandić, A. Hadžiabulić, Hana Johanis, Antonio Stipanović, Helena Brekalo","doi":"10.2478/eko-2023-0012","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2478/eko-2023-0012","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract The agricultural sector and growing food production needs rely on chemical fertilizers. This initially had positive effects on production, but over the last decade, the negative impacts of overuse have resulted in low crop productivity, increased pest and disease infestation, soil degradation, and consequent adverse effects on environmental parameters. As one of the possibilities in organic farming, we found vermicomposting as the most sustainable practice. For the assembly of vermicomposting, mature cattle manure was utilized in three different combinations with organic material and earthworm inoculations (the household waste, the grass clippings, and mixture). The experiment was set up by random block design in three replications. Analyses of qualitative parameters of the final product showed a pH reaction from neutral to slightly alkaline. The nitrogen compound varied between 2.7% and 2.9% and the organic carbon varied between 45.59% and 47.41%, showing a C/N ratio of 16.7‒16.67. The potassium content varied between 1.1% and 1.2% K2O, and the phosphorus content varied from 0.3% to 0.5%. The experiment gave quite good results of vermicomposting of household waste with manure, showing a neutral pH reaction, optimal content of ash and carbon with almost similar and good NPK contents and increased C/N ratio of 16.7, and with satisfying levels of trace elements and the heavy metal content under the limits. This combination of household waste and manure also showed best characterization of humic and fulvic acids in vermicompost, ranging from 1505 to 1778 cm−1 and from 729 to 998 cm−1, respectively. These results indicate that vermicomposting can increase the quality of the final product.","PeriodicalId":53683,"journal":{"name":"Ekologia Bratislava","volume":"42 1","pages":"101 - 107"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-06-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"48754975","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Vladimir Andreevich Usoltsev, Hui Lin, Seyed Omid Reza Shobairi, Ivan Stepanovich Tsepordey, Zilin Ye
Abstract Forest ecosystems play an essential role in climate stabilization, and the study of their capabilities in this aspect is of paramount importance. How climate changes affect the biomass of trees and stands in transcontinental gradients is unknown today? The objective of this study was (a) to verify the operation of the law of the limiting factor at the transcontinental level when modeling changes in the biomass of trees and stands of the genus Betula spp. of Eurasia in relation to geographically determined indicators of temperatures and precipitation, and (b) to show the possibility of using the constructed climate-conditioned models of tree and stand biomass in predicting temporal changes in tree and stand biomass based on the principle of space-for-time substitution. As a result of the implementation of the principles of the limiting factor and space-for-time substitution, a common pattern has been established on tree and stand levels: in sufficiently moisture-rich climatic zones, an increase in temperature by 1 °C with a constant amount of precipitation causes an increase in aboveground biomass, and in moisture-deficient zones, it decreases; in warm climatic zones, a decrease in precipitation by 100 mm at a constant average January temperature causes a decrease in aboveground biomass, and in cold climatic zones, it increases.
{"title":"Climatically Determined Spatial and Temporal Changes in the Biomass of <i>Betula</i> spp. of Eurasia in the Context of the Law of the Limiting Factor","authors":"Vladimir Andreevich Usoltsev, Hui Lin, Seyed Omid Reza Shobairi, Ivan Stepanovich Tsepordey, Zilin Ye","doi":"10.2478/eko-2023-0006","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2478/eko-2023-0006","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract Forest ecosystems play an essential role in climate stabilization, and the study of their capabilities in this aspect is of paramount importance. How climate changes affect the biomass of trees and stands in transcontinental gradients is unknown today? The objective of this study was (a) to verify the operation of the law of the limiting factor at the transcontinental level when modeling changes in the biomass of trees and stands of the genus Betula spp. of Eurasia in relation to geographically determined indicators of temperatures and precipitation, and (b) to show the possibility of using the constructed climate-conditioned models of tree and stand biomass in predicting temporal changes in tree and stand biomass based on the principle of space-for-time substitution. As a result of the implementation of the principles of the limiting factor and space-for-time substitution, a common pattern has been established on tree and stand levels: in sufficiently moisture-rich climatic zones, an increase in temperature by 1 °C with a constant amount of precipitation causes an increase in aboveground biomass, and in moisture-deficient zones, it decreases; in warm climatic zones, a decrease in precipitation by 100 mm at a constant average January temperature causes a decrease in aboveground biomass, and in cold climatic zones, it increases.","PeriodicalId":53683,"journal":{"name":"Ekologia Bratislava","volume":"2 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"134995985","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Abstract Green spaces in an industrially polluted city are extremely important for the physical activity and mental health of its inhabitants. The study aim was to analyze the urban green space dynamics and the greening degree of different functional zones typical for a big Ukrainian industrial city (Dnipro, Ukraine). This article used the remote sensing methods and geographic information systems (GIS) to assess the percentage of green spaces in the city of Dnipro, its eight districts, parks, ravines, and sanitary protection zones. The Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) was used for mapping the urban green spaces within the ravines, parks, and sanitary protection zones. According to our results, 67% of Dnipro city is greened (NDVI >0.3). On average, there are 219 m2 of green spaces per person, which is 24 and 4 times more than the minimum and optimal values recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO), respectively. It was found that the NDVI values were significantly lower in the territories of sanitary protection zones, compared to the other functional zones. The results of NDVI analysis indicate a significant variation of the studied parameter during the vegetative season, with two typical peaks of the green space vegetative activity. The peak of plant vegetative activity occurs in the first decade of June, followed by slight decline for 2–3 weeks, then there is another increase in the activity, reaching the maximum in mid-July. Even in autumn, the photosynthetic activity remains relatively high for most of the urban areas, declining only from mid-October. In addition, a method and algorithm for estimating and standardizing the level of the urban area greening based on the remote sensing methods and zonal statistics tools are proposed.
{"title":"A GIS Assessment of the Green Space Percentage in a Big Industrial City (Dnipro, Ukraine)","authors":"Yuriy Buchavyi, V. Lovynska, A. Samarska","doi":"10.2478/eko-2023-0011","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2478/eko-2023-0011","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract Green spaces in an industrially polluted city are extremely important for the physical activity and mental health of its inhabitants. The study aim was to analyze the urban green space dynamics and the greening degree of different functional zones typical for a big Ukrainian industrial city (Dnipro, Ukraine). This article used the remote sensing methods and geographic information systems (GIS) to assess the percentage of green spaces in the city of Dnipro, its eight districts, parks, ravines, and sanitary protection zones. The Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) was used for mapping the urban green spaces within the ravines, parks, and sanitary protection zones. According to our results, 67% of Dnipro city is greened (NDVI >0.3). On average, there are 219 m2 of green spaces per person, which is 24 and 4 times more than the minimum and optimal values recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO), respectively. It was found that the NDVI values were significantly lower in the territories of sanitary protection zones, compared to the other functional zones. The results of NDVI analysis indicate a significant variation of the studied parameter during the vegetative season, with two typical peaks of the green space vegetative activity. The peak of plant vegetative activity occurs in the first decade of June, followed by slight decline for 2–3 weeks, then there is another increase in the activity, reaching the maximum in mid-July. Even in autumn, the photosynthetic activity remains relatively high for most of the urban areas, declining only from mid-October. In addition, a method and algorithm for estimating and standardizing the level of the urban area greening based on the remote sensing methods and zonal statistics tools are proposed.","PeriodicalId":53683,"journal":{"name":"Ekologia Bratislava","volume":"42 1","pages":"89 - 100"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"43918551","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Abstract Many abandoned villages in Central Europe are now covered with forest. These abandoned villages can be indicated by their different species composition compared to the surroundings. We were interested in whether these differences could be indicated by geobiocoenological plots (400 m2). Phytocoenological samples were taken from geobiocoenological plots located on the former buildings, in the village square and in gardens. Based on significant fidelity (Fisher’s exact test at P = 0.05 significance level) and differential species coverage (ONE WAY ANOVA at P = 0.05 significance level), indicator species for the former buildings and former village square could be determined. The former buildings were indicated by species requiring higher soil nutrient content and higher pH, such as Anemone ranunculoides and Stachys sylvatica. The former village square site was indicated by species adapted to acid soils with less competitive abilities that could not compete on the more fertile soils of the former buildings, e.g. Maianthemum bifolium and Dryopteris carthusiana. Based on these results, it can be concluded that the influence of forest plant communities by medieval settlement activities can be phytoindicated using geobiocoenological plots of 400 m2. This method can be applied especially in areas with acid soils, e.g. where there is a large difference in the amount of plant-available nutrients in the soil
{"title":"Is it Possible to Indicate the Influence of Medieval Settlement Activities on Forest Phytocoenoses by Using 400 m2 Geobiocoenological Plots?","authors":"J. Ondráček, J. Štykar","doi":"10.2478/eko-2023-0009","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2478/eko-2023-0009","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract Many abandoned villages in Central Europe are now covered with forest. These abandoned villages can be indicated by their different species composition compared to the surroundings. We were interested in whether these differences could be indicated by geobiocoenological plots (400 m2). Phytocoenological samples were taken from geobiocoenological plots located on the former buildings, in the village square and in gardens. Based on significant fidelity (Fisher’s exact test at P = 0.05 significance level) and differential species coverage (ONE WAY ANOVA at P = 0.05 significance level), indicator species for the former buildings and former village square could be determined. The former buildings were indicated by species requiring higher soil nutrient content and higher pH, such as Anemone ranunculoides and Stachys sylvatica. The former village square site was indicated by species adapted to acid soils with less competitive abilities that could not compete on the more fertile soils of the former buildings, e.g. Maianthemum bifolium and Dryopteris carthusiana. Based on these results, it can be concluded that the influence of forest plant communities by medieval settlement activities can be phytoindicated using geobiocoenological plots of 400 m2. This method can be applied especially in areas with acid soils, e.g. where there is a large difference in the amount of plant-available nutrients in the soil","PeriodicalId":53683,"journal":{"name":"Ekologia Bratislava","volume":"42 1","pages":"75 - 80"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"42400704","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Abstract The present paper seeks to study the diversity and ant community composition of some Algerian islands. This study is considered as the first exhaustive survey of ant species of Algerian islands since 1957. The survey was carried out in the spring and summer seasons between April and July of two years 2014 and 2015. Vegetation richness, island area, mainland distance, and elevation variables were measured for each island. Relative abundance (RA), frequency of occurrence (FO), as well as species richness (S), Shannon’s diversity index (H), and equitability (E) for each island were used to compare the diversity pattern among islands. Patterns of species composition and community structure were compared among the sampling islands through ordination analysis (nonmetric multidimensional scaling [NMDS]). SIMPER analysis using a Bray–Curtis similarity index matrix was performed to determine the contribution of each ant species to the dissimilarities among islands. Canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) was performed to highlight the impact of environmental variables on the ant community. All analyses were computed by using PAST software. Two sampling methods (pitfall trap and hand collecting) were used, which led to the identification of 1039 individuals belonging to 16 species. Diversity indexes were different among islands. Ant community was significantly different between islands of the two regions Bejaia and Jijel. Three species contributed to 50.74% of the differences between islands of the two regions. Part of the ant community composition was influenced directly or indirectly by three environmental variables: vegetation richness, island area, and mainland distance. It is important to point out the absence of two invasive ants, Linepithema humile and Paratrechina longicornis, in our islands.
{"title":"Diversity and Ant Community Composition in Some Algerian Islands","authors":"L. Aissat","doi":"10.2478/eko-2023-0003","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2478/eko-2023-0003","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract The present paper seeks to study the diversity and ant community composition of some Algerian islands. This study is considered as the first exhaustive survey of ant species of Algerian islands since 1957. The survey was carried out in the spring and summer seasons between April and July of two years 2014 and 2015. Vegetation richness, island area, mainland distance, and elevation variables were measured for each island. Relative abundance (RA), frequency of occurrence (FO), as well as species richness (S), Shannon’s diversity index (H), and equitability (E) for each island were used to compare the diversity pattern among islands. Patterns of species composition and community structure were compared among the sampling islands through ordination analysis (nonmetric multidimensional scaling [NMDS]). SIMPER analysis using a Bray–Curtis similarity index matrix was performed to determine the contribution of each ant species to the dissimilarities among islands. Canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) was performed to highlight the impact of environmental variables on the ant community. All analyses were computed by using PAST software. Two sampling methods (pitfall trap and hand collecting) were used, which led to the identification of 1039 individuals belonging to 16 species. Diversity indexes were different among islands. Ant community was significantly different between islands of the two regions Bejaia and Jijel. Three species contributed to 50.74% of the differences between islands of the two regions. Part of the ant community composition was influenced directly or indirectly by three environmental variables: vegetation richness, island area, and mainland distance. It is important to point out the absence of two invasive ants, Linepithema humile and Paratrechina longicornis, in our islands.","PeriodicalId":53683,"journal":{"name":"Ekologia Bratislava","volume":"42 1","pages":"17 - 25"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"44031979","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Abstract The growing interest of researchers in the topic of biocultural diversity has resulted in the research field expanding from its initial focus on places inhabited by indigenous communities to rural and then to urban landscapes. The aims of this study are to summarize and review the current state of knowledge on biocultural landscape (BCL), present a spectrum of human activities leading to their formation, and based on that, focus on typology of these landscapes. Moreover, the connections between cultural ecosystem services (CES) and BCLs were examined, and the research on these unique landscapes in individual countries and the proportion of studied landscape types were graphically displayed. BCLs are threatened all over the world; therefore, there is a need to identify and recognize them, and provide them with effective legislative protection.
{"title":"Human–Nature Relationships in Defining Biocultural Landscapes: A Systematic Review","authors":"Z. Baránková, J. Špulerová","doi":"10.2478/eko-2023-0008","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2478/eko-2023-0008","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract The growing interest of researchers in the topic of biocultural diversity has resulted in the research field expanding from its initial focus on places inhabited by indigenous communities to rural and then to urban landscapes. The aims of this study are to summarize and review the current state of knowledge on biocultural landscape (BCL), present a spectrum of human activities leading to their formation, and based on that, focus on typology of these landscapes. Moreover, the connections between cultural ecosystem services (CES) and BCLs were examined, and the research on these unique landscapes in individual countries and the proportion of studied landscape types were graphically displayed. BCLs are threatened all over the world; therefore, there is a need to identify and recognize them, and provide them with effective legislative protection.","PeriodicalId":53683,"journal":{"name":"Ekologia Bratislava","volume":"42 1","pages":"64 - 74"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"47107113","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
S. Benhissen, N. Belkhiri, Z. Hedjouli, Abdelmadjib Yagoub Asloum, Siham Bounadji, Wafa H’abbachi, K. Rebbas
Abstract Recent years have seen the re-emergence of vector-borne diseases, representing more than 17% of infectious diseases globally. Most of these diseases can be prevented by vector control measures. Series of difficulties which are linked to the fight. Plant insecticides can present interesting alternatives to the chemical insecticides currently used in the fight against these pests. In the first part, we have inventoried the vector species in the region of El Kantara, Biskra, by conducting surveys of three sites. The second part focuses on the biological control of the larvae of the most abundant species in the region, that is, Culiseta longiareolata. The faunal inventory of the species of Culicidae in the three sites of El Kantara showed seven species belonging to three genera. The genus Culiseta was the best represented, particularly with the species C. longiareolata (89.91%). The toxicological activity of the ethanoic extracts of the seeds of Peganum harmala and Citrullus colocynthis was studied in synergy against the larvae of Culiseta longiareolata at different concentrations. The mortality rate increased over time to reach more than 70% after 5 days.
{"title":"Systematic and Toxicological Study with Synergy of the Mosquitoes in EL Kantara Region (Biskra, Southern Algeria)","authors":"S. Benhissen, N. Belkhiri, Z. Hedjouli, Abdelmadjib Yagoub Asloum, Siham Bounadji, Wafa H’abbachi, K. Rebbas","doi":"10.2478/eko-2023-0002","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2478/eko-2023-0002","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract Recent years have seen the re-emergence of vector-borne diseases, representing more than 17% of infectious diseases globally. Most of these diseases can be prevented by vector control measures. Series of difficulties which are linked to the fight. Plant insecticides can present interesting alternatives to the chemical insecticides currently used in the fight against these pests. In the first part, we have inventoried the vector species in the region of El Kantara, Biskra, by conducting surveys of three sites. The second part focuses on the biological control of the larvae of the most abundant species in the region, that is, Culiseta longiareolata. The faunal inventory of the species of Culicidae in the three sites of El Kantara showed seven species belonging to three genera. The genus Culiseta was the best represented, particularly with the species C. longiareolata (89.91%). The toxicological activity of the ethanoic extracts of the seeds of Peganum harmala and Citrullus colocynthis was studied in synergy against the larvae of Culiseta longiareolata at different concentrations. The mortality rate increased over time to reach more than 70% after 5 days.","PeriodicalId":53683,"journal":{"name":"Ekologia Bratislava","volume":"42 1","pages":"10 - 16"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"69199587","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Abstract We investigated the properties of the sounds recorded on the territory of the National Park “Homilshanski Lisy” (Kharkiv region, Ukraine). Recordings were made at five points (in mature, middle-aged, and young oak forests, overgrown clear-cut and aspen forests). Data collection was carried out using on-site positioning of AudioMoth autonomous recorders, located on trees at a height of 1.5 m. The recording was made from April 11 to July 10, 2020, for 3 h in the morning and evening with a 5-min duration followed by a 10-min pause (24 recordings per day). Six acoustic indices (AIs) were calculated: Acoustic complexity index (ACI), acoustic diversity index (ADI), acoustic evenness index (AEI), bioacoustic index (BI), normalized difference soundscape index (NDSI), and acoustic entropy index (H). For the analysis, we used the Friedman test as well as a nonparametric analysis of the variance of the distance matrix and Tukey’s test. The results of the analysis showed the statistical significance of the influence of forest type, date and time of recording, as well as the effect of their pairwise interactions on all six acoustic indices, both in the morning and evening. For three indices – ACI, BI, and NDSI – the highest average values were noted in a mature oak forest and the lowest was in overgrown clear-cuts. We performed a PCA to reduce the number of variables and obtain insight into the variable relevance. The cumulative percentage of variance, explained by the first three principal components, is 84.5%. The first principal component is associated with H, BI, AEI, and ADI. The second and third principal components are associated with NDSI and ACI. The obtained results correspond to the results of quantitative bird counts carried out earlier in this area.
{"title":"A Soundscape Assessment of the Oak Forests in the National Park “Homilshanski Lisy” (Northeastern Ukraine)","authors":"Andrey Atemasov, T. Atemasova","doi":"10.2478/eko-2023-0007","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2478/eko-2023-0007","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract We investigated the properties of the sounds recorded on the territory of the National Park “Homilshanski Lisy” (Kharkiv region, Ukraine). Recordings were made at five points (in mature, middle-aged, and young oak forests, overgrown clear-cut and aspen forests). Data collection was carried out using on-site positioning of AudioMoth autonomous recorders, located on trees at a height of 1.5 m. The recording was made from April 11 to July 10, 2020, for 3 h in the morning and evening with a 5-min duration followed by a 10-min pause (24 recordings per day). Six acoustic indices (AIs) were calculated: Acoustic complexity index (ACI), acoustic diversity index (ADI), acoustic evenness index (AEI), bioacoustic index (BI), normalized difference soundscape index (NDSI), and acoustic entropy index (H). For the analysis, we used the Friedman test as well as a nonparametric analysis of the variance of the distance matrix and Tukey’s test. The results of the analysis showed the statistical significance of the influence of forest type, date and time of recording, as well as the effect of their pairwise interactions on all six acoustic indices, both in the morning and evening. For three indices – ACI, BI, and NDSI – the highest average values were noted in a mature oak forest and the lowest was in overgrown clear-cuts. We performed a PCA to reduce the number of variables and obtain insight into the variable relevance. The cumulative percentage of variance, explained by the first three principal components, is 84.5%. The first principal component is associated with H, BI, AEI, and ADI. The second and third principal components are associated with NDSI and ACI. The obtained results correspond to the results of quantitative bird counts carried out earlier in this area.","PeriodicalId":53683,"journal":{"name":"Ekologia Bratislava","volume":"42 1","pages":"55 - 63"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"49108311","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Abstract We elucidated the reaction of ruderal vegetation community to environmental changes. It made it possible to assess the level and nature of the synanthropic vegetation dynamics, fluctuation processes, and also to indicate the scenarios of evolution of ruderal communities throughout the environmental changes, in particular, climate changes. In this study, we used the original methods: synphytoindications and estimation of the climate change impact and the species reaction according to their ecological strategy. Dataset included 1200 phytosociological relevés of different synanthropic habitat types (borders of fields, ruderal areas, and railway tracks). As a result of vegetation analysis, we obtained 16 alliances of ruderal vegetation belonging to the six classes and two natural vegetation derivatives of the Sedo-Scleranthetea Br.-Bl. 1955 and Festuco-Brometea Br.-Bl. & Tx. 1943. Evaluation of ecological indicator value changes in relation to 1, 2 and 3 °C increase in average annual temperatures allowed to determine how significant is the threat to the existence of ruderal communities. It is particularly noticeable in the thermal regime, and some changes in edaphic properties of soil, especially acidity (pH). Under the conditions of climate changes and ecological indicator value changes, such communities could be easily restored both in the appropriate conditions of the region and outside it, that is, shifting their range. But thanks to this strategy, the emergence of new species and, as a result of this, the formation of completely new vegetation types is possible.
{"title":"Impact of Climate Change on Ruderal Communities in the Conditions of Ukraine","authors":"Y. Didukh, N. Pashkevych, O. Kucher, O. Chusova","doi":"10.2478/eko-2023-0005","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2478/eko-2023-0005","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract We elucidated the reaction of ruderal vegetation community to environmental changes. It made it possible to assess the level and nature of the synanthropic vegetation dynamics, fluctuation processes, and also to indicate the scenarios of evolution of ruderal communities throughout the environmental changes, in particular, climate changes. In this study, we used the original methods: synphytoindications and estimation of the climate change impact and the species reaction according to their ecological strategy. Dataset included 1200 phytosociological relevés of different synanthropic habitat types (borders of fields, ruderal areas, and railway tracks). As a result of vegetation analysis, we obtained 16 alliances of ruderal vegetation belonging to the six classes and two natural vegetation derivatives of the Sedo-Scleranthetea Br.-Bl. 1955 and Festuco-Brometea Br.-Bl. & Tx. 1943. Evaluation of ecological indicator value changes in relation to 1, 2 and 3 °C increase in average annual temperatures allowed to determine how significant is the threat to the existence of ruderal communities. It is particularly noticeable in the thermal regime, and some changes in edaphic properties of soil, especially acidity (pH). Under the conditions of climate changes and ecological indicator value changes, such communities could be easily restored both in the appropriate conditions of the region and outside it, that is, shifting their range. But thanks to this strategy, the emergence of new species and, as a result of this, the formation of completely new vegetation types is possible.","PeriodicalId":53683,"journal":{"name":"Ekologia Bratislava","volume":"42 1","pages":"39 - 46"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"42173245","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Paola Sofia Reyes-Morales, C. Lara, C. Castillo-Guevara, M. Cuautle
Abstract Ants have historically been classified into “functional groups” (FGs) to facilitate their interpretation as bioindicators. A particularly popular classification scheme is the one proposed by Andersen, based on the Australian myrmecofauna. These classification criteria suggest that ant abundance is linked to stress and disturbance, such that their affinity to and tolerance of particular conditions enables them to inhabit specific ecological contexts. Herein, we aimed to validate whether the climatic affinity postulated by the FG approximation can suggest FG composition and abundances in Mexican ant communities, such as has been previously evaluated by studies in other regions worldwide. In a protected natural area with a history of anthropogenic pressure, we evaluated the variation in temperature and humidity of two habitat types during consecutive years: a native oak forest and an induced grassland. The ant communities of the two sites were monitored using three collected methods (baits, pitfalls, and direct observations) and classified into FGs under Andersen’s criteria. We found 34 ant species. The induced grassland site (28 species) was more species rich, more diverse, and had higher ant abundance than the oak site (21 species). There was a similarity in species composition between the sites (44.78%). In the oak forest, FGs related to cold temperatures were the most abundant, while in the induced grassland, heat-tolerant FGs were most abundant. Our findings support that Andersen’s functional group classification is useful in suggesting habitat use in Mexican ant species. Likewise, our data are in accordance with previous findings that both the presence and abundance of FGs must be considered for an adequate application of this classification scheme.
{"title":"Does the Ant Functional Group Classification Really Work? A Validation in Two Contrasting Habitats from Central Mexico","authors":"Paola Sofia Reyes-Morales, C. Lara, C. Castillo-Guevara, M. Cuautle","doi":"10.2478/eko-2023-0004","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2478/eko-2023-0004","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract Ants have historically been classified into “functional groups” (FGs) to facilitate their interpretation as bioindicators. A particularly popular classification scheme is the one proposed by Andersen, based on the Australian myrmecofauna. These classification criteria suggest that ant abundance is linked to stress and disturbance, such that their affinity to and tolerance of particular conditions enables them to inhabit specific ecological contexts. Herein, we aimed to validate whether the climatic affinity postulated by the FG approximation can suggest FG composition and abundances in Mexican ant communities, such as has been previously evaluated by studies in other regions worldwide. In a protected natural area with a history of anthropogenic pressure, we evaluated the variation in temperature and humidity of two habitat types during consecutive years: a native oak forest and an induced grassland. The ant communities of the two sites were monitored using three collected methods (baits, pitfalls, and direct observations) and classified into FGs under Andersen’s criteria. We found 34 ant species. The induced grassland site (28 species) was more species rich, more diverse, and had higher ant abundance than the oak site (21 species). There was a similarity in species composition between the sites (44.78%). In the oak forest, FGs related to cold temperatures were the most abundant, while in the induced grassland, heat-tolerant FGs were most abundant. Our findings support that Andersen’s functional group classification is useful in suggesting habitat use in Mexican ant species. Likewise, our data are in accordance with previous findings that both the presence and abundance of FGs must be considered for an adequate application of this classification scheme.","PeriodicalId":53683,"journal":{"name":"Ekologia Bratislava","volume":"42 1","pages":"26 - 38"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"46338307","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
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