DOCSLIB.ORG

Utilizing Novel Grasslands for the Conservation and Restoration Of

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Utilizing Novel Grasslands for the Conservation and Restoration Of Iowa State University Capstones, Theses and Graduate Theses and Dissertations Dissertations 2014 Utilizing novel grasslands for the conservation and restoration of butterflies nda other pollinators in agricultural ecosystems John Thomas Delaney Iowa State University Follow this and additional works at: https://lib.dr.iastate.edu/etd Part of the Biodiversity Commons, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Commons, Natural Resources and Conservation Commons, and the Natural Resources Management and Policy Commons Recommended Citation Delaney, John Thomas, "Utilizing novel grasslands for the conservation and restoration of butterflies and other pollinators in agricultural ecosystems" (2014). Graduate Theses and Dissertations. 14097. https://lib.dr.iastate.edu/etd/14097 This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Iowa State University Capstones, Theses and Dissertations at Iowa State University Digital Repository. It has been accepted for inclusion in Graduate Theses and Dissertations by an authorized administrator of Iowa State University Digital Repository. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Utilizing novel grasslands for the conservation and restoration of butterflies and other pollinators in agricultural ecosystems by John Thomas Delaney A dissertation submitted to the graduate faculty in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY Major: Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Program of Study Committee: Diane M. Debinski, Major Professor David M. Engle Mary A. Harris Amy L. Toth Brian J. Wilsey Iowa State University Ames, Iowa 2014 Copyright © John Thomas Delaney, 2014. All rights reserved. ii Dedication I dedicate this dissertation to all of my family, friends, and mentors who have helped me along in this journey. Specifically, I would like to acknowledge my parents (Ron and Jody), my brother (Shawn), and my partner (Jason). This work could not have been completed without their love and support. iii TABLE OF CONTENTS ABSTRACT ................................................................................................................................ v CHAPTER 1: GENERAL INTRODUCTION ............................................................................... 1 Dissertation Organization ............................................................................................................ 5 CHAPTER 2. CROSS-TAXON CONGRUENCE FOUND BETWEEN PLANTS AND TWO PHYTOPHAGOUS INSECT TAXA IN GRASSLANDS OF THE MIDWESTERN UNITED STATES .......................................................................................................................................... 8 Abstract ....................................................................................................................................... 8 Introduction ................................................................................................................................. 9 Methods ..................................................................................................................................... 12 Results and Discussion .............................................................................................................. 15 Conclusion ................................................................................................................................. 18 CHAPTER 3: TRACKING THE TEMPORAL TRAJECTORY OF BUTTERFLY AND PLANT COMPOSITION TO RESTORATION MANAGEMENT UTILIZING DOMESTIC CATTLE GRAZING AND FIRE ................................................................................................. 26 Abstract ..................................................................................................................................... 26 Introduction ............................................................................................................................... 27 Methods ..................................................................................................................................... 30 Results ....................................................................................................................................... 34 Discussion ................................................................................................................................. 36 Conclusion ................................................................................................................................. 41 CHAPTER 4: MANAGEMENT FOCUSED ON INCREASING HABITAT HETEROGENEITY IN GRASSLANDS HAS UNEXPECTED RESULTS FOR BUTTERFLIES ............................................................................................................................ 54 Abstract ..................................................................................................................................... 54 Introduction ............................................................................................................................... 55 Methods ..................................................................................................................................... 59 Results ....................................................................................................................................... 64 iv Discussion ................................................................................................................................. 66 Conclusion ................................................................................................................................. 70 CHAPTER 5: SEASONAL SUCCESSION OF FLORAL RESOURCES IN FOUR GRASSLAND TYPES IMPORTANT FOR POLLINATOR CONSERVATION IN THE TALLGRASS PRAIRIE ECOREGION ....................................................................................... 84 Abstract ..................................................................................................................................... 84 Introduction ............................................................................................................................... 85 Methods ..................................................................................................................................... 88 Results ....................................................................................................................................... 91 Discussion ................................................................................................................................. 93 CHAPTER 6. GENERAL CONCLUSION ................................................................................ 111 Bibliography ............................................................................................................................... 117 v ABSTRACT Biodiversity is declining globally and one of the primary drivers is agricultural intensification. Conservation and restoration of biodiversity in agricultural ecosystems is going to rely on the enhancement of uncultivated land such as grasslands. The majority of grasslands within agricultural ecosystems have been degraded and now consist of a mix of native and exotic plant species. These altered grasslands have been categorized as novel grasslands because they are composed of plant species from around the globe that have little history of evolutionary interaction. Further research is needed to understand the utility of these novel grasslands for the conservation and restoration of wildlife in agro-ecosystems. This dissertation provides results from studies on butterfly and other insect groups, as well as floral resources, in grasslands typical of agro-ecosystems in the tallgrass prairie ecoregion. We report: 1) the diversity of one group of insects (based on either species richness or composition) did not predict any of the other insect taxa (ants, butterflies, or leaf beetles) in grasslands representing a spectrum in vegetation quality with different management regimes, but insect species composition correlated with composition of vegetation for the two phytophagous insect groups (butterflies and leaf beetles), 2) over seven years of fire and grazing treatments on novel grasslands the butterfly communities became more similar to native prairies, as did the composition of plant functional groups, indicating that restoration of historic ecological processes to novel grasslands may lead to butterfly communities and plant functional group compositions that better mimic historical systems, 3) a treatment employing heterogeneous application of fire and grazing (patch-burn grazing) did result in increased habitat heterogeneity (compared to a treatment that employed a homogenous fire and grazing regime), but did not translate to greater diversity of butterflies, and 4) novel grasslands, reconstructed prairies, and native prairies differed in their seasonal floral resource availability in vi a variety of ways. This research highlights the importance of considering the potential worth, and need for further research of, novel grasslands for the conservation and restoration of biodiversity in agro-ecosystems. 1 CHAPTER 1: GENERAL INTRODUCTION The decline of the tallgrass prairie since the early 19th century has been estimated at 82-99%, which is the greatest reported loss of any of the major North American ecosystems (Samson and Knopf 1994). The primary cause of this loss was the conversion of prairie for agricultural production (Mutel 2008). The remaining grasslands in the Midwestern
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Panicledleaf Ticktrefoil (Desmodium Paniculatum) Plant Fact Sheet
    Plant Fact Sheet Hairstreak (Strymon melinus) eat the flowers and PANICLEDLEAF developing seedpods. Other insect feeders include many kinds of beetles, and some species of thrips, aphids, moth TICKTREFOIL caterpillars, and stinkbugs. The seeds are eaten by some upland gamebirds (Bobwhite Quail, Wild Turkey) and Desmodium paniculatum (L.) DC. small rodents (White-Footed Mouse, Deer Mouse), while Plant Symbol = DEPA6 the foliage is readily eaten by White-Tailed Deer and other hoofed mammalian herbivores. The Cottontail Contributed by: USDA, NRCS, Norman A. Berg National Rabbit also consumes the foliage. Plant Materials Center, Beltsville, MD Status Please consult the PLANTS Web site and your State Department of Natural Resources for this plant’s current status (e.g. threatened or endangered species, state noxious status, and wetland indicator values). Description and Adaptation Panicledleaf Ticktrefoil is a native, perennial, wildflower that grows up to 3 feet tall. The genus Desmodium: originates from Greek meaning "long branch or chain," probably from the shape and attachment of the seedpods. The central stem is green with clover-like, oblong, multiple green leaflets proceeding singly up the stem. The showy purple flowers appear in late summer and grow arranged on a stem maturing from the bottom upwards. In early fall, the flowers produce leguminous seed pods approximately ⅛ inch long. Panicledleaf Photo by Rick Mark [email protected] image used with permission Ticktrefoil plants have a single crown. This wildflower is a pioneer species that prefers some disturbance from Alternate Names wildfires, selective logging, and others causes. The sticky Panicled Tick Trefoil seedpods cling to the fur of animals and the clothing of Uses humans and are carried to new locations.
    [Show full text]
  • Experimental Evidence That Evolutionarily Diverse Assemblages Result in Higher Productivity
    Experimental evidence that evolutionarily diverse assemblages result in higher productivity Marc W. Cadotte1 Department of Biological Sciences, University of Toronto Scarborough, Toronto, ON, Canada M1C 1A4; and Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada M5S 3B2 Edited by Harold A. Mooney, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, and approved April 22, 2013 (received for review January 28, 2013) There now is ample experimental evidence that speciose assemblages in polyculture against the expected performance from its mono- are more productive and provide a greater amount of ecosystem cultures (22, 23). Polycultures also might appear more productive services than depauperate ones. However, these experiments often compared with monocultures via a selection effect—if highly conclude that there is a higher probability of including complemen- productive species dominate the polyculture, displacing low- tary species combinations in assemblages with more species and lack productivity species (22). Thus, if distantly related species show a priori prediction about which species combinations maximize reduced resource overlap, then we should observe greater com- function. Here, I report the results of an experiment manipulating plementarity when they are combined. the evolutionary relatedness of constituent plant species across Here, I report the results of a biodiversity–ecosystem func- a richness gradient. I show that assemblages with distantly re- tion experiment that explicitly manipulated the phylogenetic
    [Show full text]
  • Butterflies of the Wesleyan Campus
    BUTTERFLIES OF THE WESLEYAN CAMPUS SWALLOWTAILS Hairstreaks (Subfamily - Theclinae) (Family PAPILIONIDAE) Great Purple Hairstreak - Atlides halesus Coral Hairstreak - Satyrium titus True Swallowtails Banded Hairstreak - Satyrium calanus (Subfamily - Papilioninae) Striped Hairstreak - Satyrium liparops Pipevine Swallowtail - Battus philenor Henry’s Elfin - Callophrys henrici Zebra Swallowtail - Eurytides marcellus Eastern Pine Elfin - Callophrys niphon Black Swallowtail - Papilio polyxenes Juniper Hairstreak - Callophrys gryneus Giant Swallowtail - Papilio cresphontes White M Hairstreak - Parrhasius m-album Eastern Tiger Swallowtail - Papilio glaucus Gray Hairstreak - Strymon melinus Spicebush Swallowtail - Papilio troilus Red-banded Hairstreak - Calycopis cecrops Palamedes Swallowtail - Papilio palamedes Blues (Subfamily - Polommatinae) Ceraunus Blue - Hemiargus ceraunus Eastern-Tailed Blue - Everes comyntas WHITES AND SULPHURS Spring Azure - Celastrina ladon (Family PIERIDAE) Whites (Subfamily - Pierinae) BRUSHFOOTS Cabbage White - Pieris rapae (Family NYMPHALIDAE) Falcate Orangetip - Anthocharis midea Snouts (Subfamily - Libytheinae) American Snout - Libytheana carinenta Sulphurs and Yellows (Subfamily - Coliadinae) Clouded Sulphur - Colias philodice Heliconians and Fritillaries Orange Sulphur - Colias eurytheme (Subfamily - Heliconiinae) Southern Dogface - Colias cesonia Gulf Fritillary - Agraulis vanillae Cloudless Sulphur - Phoebis sennae Zebra Heliconian - Heliconius charithonia Barred Yellow - Eurema daira Variegated Fritillary
    [Show full text]
  • Chrysomela 43.10-8-04
    CHRYSOMELA newsletter Dedicated to information about the Chrysomelidae Report No. 43.2 July 2004 INSIDE THIS ISSUE Fabreries in Fabreland 2- Editor’s Page St. Leon, France 2- In Memoriam—RP 3- In Memoriam—JAW 5- Remembering John Wilcox Statue of 6- Defensive Strategies of two J. H. Fabre Cassidine Larvae. in the garden 7- New Zealand Chrysomelidae of the Fabre 9- Collecting in Sholas Forests Museum, St. 10- Fun With Flea Beetle Feces Leons, France 11- Whither South African Cassidinae Research? 12- Indian Cassidinae Revisited 14- Neochlamisus—Cryptic Speciation? 16- In Memoriam—JGE 16- 17- Fabreries in Fabreland 18- The Duckett Update 18- Chrysomelidists at ESA: 2003 & 2004 Meetings 19- Recent Chrysomelid Literature 21- Email Address List 23- ICE—Phytophaga Symposium 23- Chrysomela Questionnaire See Story page 17 Research Activities and Interests Johan Stenberg (Umeå Univer- Duane McKenna (Harvard Univer- Eduard Petitpierre (Palma de sity, Sweden) Currently working on sity, USA) Currently studying phyloge- Mallorca, Spain) Interested in the cy- coevolutionary interactions between ny, ecological specialization, population togenetics, cytotaxonomy and chromo- the monophagous leaf beetles, Altica structure, and speciation in the genus somal evolution of Palearctic leaf beetles engstroemi and Galerucella tenella, and Cephaloleia. Needs Arescini and especially of chrysomelines. Would like their common host plant Filipendula Cephaloleini in ethanol, especially from to borrow or exchange specimens from ulmaria (meadow sweet) in a Swedish N. Central America and S. America. Western Palearctic areas. Archipelago. Amanda Evans (Harvard University, Maria Lourdes Chamorro-Lacayo Stefano Zoia (Milan, Italy) Inter- USA) Currently working on a phylogeny (University of Minnesota, USA) Cur- ested in Old World Eumolpinae and of Leptinotarsa to study host use evolu- rently a graduate student working on Mediterranean Chrysomelidae (except tion.
    [Show full text]
  • Atlas of the Flora of New England: Fabaceae
    Angelo, R. and D.E. Boufford. 2013. Atlas of the flora of New England: Fabaceae. Phytoneuron 2013-2: 1–15 + map pages 1– 21. Published 9 January 2013. ISSN 2153 733X ATLAS OF THE FLORA OF NEW ENGLAND: FABACEAE RAY ANGELO1 and DAVID E. BOUFFORD2 Harvard University Herbaria 22 Divinity Avenue Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138-2020 [email protected] [email protected] ABSTRACT Dot maps are provided to depict the distribution at the county level of the taxa of Magnoliophyta: Fabaceae growing outside of cultivation in the six New England states of the northeastern United States. The maps treat 172 taxa (species, subspecies, varieties, and hybrids, but not forms) based primarily on specimens in the major herbaria of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut, with most data derived from the holdings of the New England Botanical Club Herbarium (NEBC). Brief synonymy (to account for names used in standard manuals and floras for the area and on herbarium specimens), habitat, chromosome information, and common names are also provided. KEY WORDS: flora, New England, atlas, distribution, Fabaceae This article is the eleventh in a series (Angelo & Boufford 1996, 1998, 2000, 2007, 2010, 2011a, 2011b, 2012a, 2012b, 2012c) that presents the distributions of the vascular flora of New England in the form of dot distribution maps at the county level (Figure 1). Seven more articles are planned. The atlas is posted on the internet at http://neatlas.org, where it will be updated as new information becomes available. This project encompasses all vascular plants (lycophytes, pteridophytes and spermatophytes) at the rank of species, subspecies, and variety growing independent of cultivation in the six New England states.
    [Show full text]
  • Native Plants to Support Bumblebees at Risk
    Research-based native plants to support MA bumblebee species at risk. Plants supporting butterfly and other bee species at risk are also indicated. List created by Dr. Robert J Gegear, UMASS Dartmouth ([email protected]). Pollen Sources 'At risk' species BLOOM TIME BUMBLEBEES BUTTER OTHER LATIN NAME COMMON NAME PLANT TYPE SUN SOIL Early Mid Late B. B. B. FLIES BEES MAMJJASOterricola fervidus vagans Hypericum ascyron Great St. John’s-wort Herb. perenn. Full-Part Med NA Hypericum majus Greater St. John’s-wort Herb. perenn. Full-Part Med, Wet NA Hypericum punctatum Spotted St. John’s-wort Herb. perenn. Full-Part Med, Dry NA Hypericum prolificum Shrubby St. John’s-wort Shrub Full-Part Med, Dry NA Rosa acicularis Bristly rose Shrub Full-Shade Med, Dry NA Rosa blanda Smooth rose Shrub Full-Part Med, Dry NA Wet, Med, Rosa carolina Carolina rose Shrub Full-Part NA Dry Rosa nitida Shining rose Shrub Full-Part Wet, Med NA Rosa palustris Swamp rose Shrub Full-Part Med NA Rosa virginiana Virginia rose Shrub Full-Part Med NA Rubus odoratus Flowering raspberry Shrub Full-Part Med NA Salix discolor Pussy willow (male) Shrub Full Med NA Salix humilis Prairie willow (male) Shrub Full-Part Med, Dry NA Salix lucida Shining willow (male) Shrub Full-Part Med, wet NA Salix occidentalis Dwarf prairie willow (male) Shrub Full-Part Med, Dry NA Salix petiolaris Meadow willow (male) Shrub/sm tree Full-Part Med NA Dry, Med, Salix bebbiana Bebb willow (male) Shrub Full-Part NA Wet Spiraea alba White meadowsweet Shrub Full-Part Wet, Med NA Spiraea tomentosa Steeplebush Shrub Full-Part Wet NA BLOOM TIME BUMBLEBEES Nectar sources BUTTER OTHER Early Mid Late LATIN NAME COMMON NAME PLANT TYPE SUN SOIL B.
    [Show full text]
  • SPIXIANA ©Zoologische Staatssammlung München;Download
    ©Zoologische Staatssammlung München;download: http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/; www.biologiezentrum.at SPIXIANA ©Zoologische Staatssammlung München;download: http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/; www.biologiezentrum.at at leaping (haitikos in Greek) for locomotion and escape; thus, the original valid name of the type genus Altica Müller, 1764 (see Fürth, 1981). Many Flea Beetles are among the most affective jumpers in the animal kingdom, sometimes better than their namesakes the true Fleas (Siphonaptera). However, despite some intensive study of the anatomy and function of the metafemoral spring (Barth, 1954; Ker, 1977) the true function of this jumping mechanism remains a mystery. It probably is some sort of voluntary Catch, in- volving build-up of tension from the large muscles that insert on the metafemoral spring (Fig. 1), and theo a quick release of this energy. Ofcourse some Flea Beetles jump better than others, but basically all have this internal metafemoral spring floating by attachment from large muscles in the relatively enlarged bind femoral capsule (see Fig. 1 ). In fact Flea Beetles can usually be easily separated from other beetles, including chrysomelid subfa- milies, by their greatly swollen bind femora. There are a few genera of Alticinae that have a metafemoral spring and yet do not jump. Actually there are a few genera that are considered to be Alticinae that lack the metafemo- ral spring, e. g. Orthaltica (Scherer, 1974, 1981b - as discussed in this Symposium). Also the tribe Decarthrocerini contains three genera from Africa that Wilcox (1965) con- sidered as Galerucinae, but now thinks to be intermediate between Galerucinae and Alti- cinae; at least one of these genera does have a metafemoral spring (Wilcox, personal communication, and Fürth, unpublished data).
    [Show full text]
  • Aullwood's Prairie Plants
    Aullwood's Prairie Plants Taxonomy and nomenclature generally follow: Gleason, H.A. and A. Cronquist. 1991. Manual of Vascular Plants of the Northeastern United States and Adjacent Canada. Second ed. The New York Botanical Garden, Bronx, N.Y. 910 pp. Based on a list compiled by Jeff Knoop, 1981; revised November 1997. 29 Families, 104 Species (98 Native Species, 6 Non-Native Species) Angiosperms Dicotyledons Ranunculaceae - Buttercup Family Anemone canadensis - Canada Anemone Anemone virginiana - Thimble Flower Fagaceae - Oak Family Quercus macrocarpa - Bur Oak Caryophyllaceae - Pink Family Silene noctiflora - Night Flowering Catchfly* Dianthus armeria - Deptford Pink* Lychnis alba - White Campion* (not in Gleason and Cronquist) Clusiaceae - St. John's Wort Family Hypericum perforatum - Common St. John's Wort* Hypericum punctatum - Spotted St. John's Wort Primulaceae - Ebony Family Dodecatheon media - Shooting Star Mimosacea Mimosa Family Desmanthus illinoensis - Prairie Mimosa Caesalpiniaceae Caesalpinia Family Chaemaecrista fasiculata - Partridge Pea Fabaceae - Pea Family Baptisia bracteata - Creamy False Indigo Baptisia tinctoria - False Wild Indigo+ Baptisia leucantha (alba?) - White False Indigo Lupinus perennis - Wild Lupine Desmodium illinoense - Illinois Tick Trefoil Desmodium canescens - Hoary Tick Trefoil Lespedeza virginica - Slender-leaved Bush Clover Lespedeza capitata - Round-headed Bush Clover Amorpha canescens - Lead Plant Dacea purpureum - Purple Prairie Clover Dacea candidum - White Prairie Clover Amphicarpa bracteata
    [Show full text]
  • The Taxonomy of the Side Species Group of Spilochalcis (Hymenoptera: Chalcididae) in America North of Mexico with Biological Notes on a Representative Species
    University of Massachusetts Amherst ScholarWorks@UMass Amherst Masters Theses 1911 - February 2014 1984 The taxonomy of the side species group of Spilochalcis (Hymenoptera: Chalcididae) in America north of Mexico with biological notes on a representative species. Gary James Couch University of Massachusetts Amherst Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.umass.edu/theses Couch, Gary James, "The taxonomy of the side species group of Spilochalcis (Hymenoptera: Chalcididae) in America north of Mexico with biological notes on a representative species." (1984). Masters Theses 1911 - February 2014. 3045. Retrieved from https://scholarworks.umass.edu/theses/3045 This thesis is brought to you for free and open access by ScholarWorks@UMass Amherst. It has been accepted for inclusion in Masters Theses 1911 - February 2014 by an authorized administrator of ScholarWorks@UMass Amherst. For more information, please contact [email protected]. THE TAXONOMY OF THE SIDE SPECIES GROUP OF SPILOCHALCIS (HYMENOPTERA:CHALCIDIDAE) IN AMERICA NORTH OF MEXICO WITH BIOLOGICAL NOTES ON A REPRESENTATIVE SPECIES. A Thesis Presented By GARY JAMES COUCH Submitted to the Graduate School of the University of Massachusetts in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of MASTER OF SCIENCE May 1984 Department of Entomology THE TAXONOMY OF THE SIDE SPECIES GROUP OF SPILOCHALCIS (HYMENOPTERA:CHALCIDIDAE) IN AMERICA NORTH OF MEXICO WITH BIOLOGICAL NOTES ON A REPRESENTATIVE SPECIES. A Thesis Presented By GARY JAMES COUCH Approved as to style and content by: Dr. T/M. Peter's, Chairperson of Committee CJZl- Dr. C-M. Yin, Membe D#. J.S. El kin ton, Member ii Dedication To: My mother who taught me that dreams are only worth the time and effort you devote to attaining them and my father for the values to base them on.
    [Show full text]
  • An Annotated Checklist of the Coleoptera of the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center, Maryland
    B A N I S T E R I A A JOURNAL DEVOTED TO THE NATURAL HISTORY OF VIRGINIA ISSN 1066-0712 Published by the Virginia Natural History Society The Virginia Natural History Society (VNHS) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the dissemination of scientific information on all aspects of natural history in the Commonwealth of Virginia, including botany, zoology, ecology, archaeology, anthropology, paleontology, geology, geography, and climatology. The society’s periodical Banisteria is a peer-reviewed, open access, online-only journal. Submitted manuscripts are published individually immediately after acceptance. A single volume is compiled at the end of each year and published online. The Editor will consider manuscripts on any aspect of natural history in Virginia or neighboring states if the information concerns a species native to Virginia or if the topic is directly related to regional natural history (as defined above). Biographies and historical accounts of relevance to natural history in Virginia also are suitable for publication in Banisteria. Membership dues and inquiries about back issues should be directed to the Co-Treasurers, and correspondence regarding Banisteria to the Editor. For additional information regarding the VNHS, including other membership categories, annual meetings, field events, pdf copies of papers from past issues of Banisteria, and instructions for prospective authors visit http://virginianaturalhistorysociety.com/ Editorial Staff: Banisteria Editor Todd Fredericksen, Ferrum College 215 Ferrum Mountain Road Ferrum, Virginia 24088 Associate Editors Philip Coulling, Nature Camp Incorporated Clyde Kessler, Virginia Tech Nancy Moncrief, Virginia Museum of Natural History Karen Powers, Radford University Stephen Powers, Roanoke College C. L. Staines, Smithsonian Environmental Research Center Copy Editor Kal Ivanov, Virginia Museum of Natural History Copyright held by the author(s).
    [Show full text]
  • Hypericum Scruglii Bacchetta, Brullo & Salmeri, Is It a Possible Natural
    Hypericum scruglii Bacchetta, Brullo & Salmeri, is it a possible natural resource against Fibromyalgia? Mauro Giovanni Carta, Maria Manconi, Gianluigi Bacchetta, Germano Orrù, Maria Cristina Deiddda, Mario Musu, Gabriele Finco, Abstract Background Fibromyalgia (FM) is today a serious public health issue. Tested treatments have shown limited efficacy. Oxidative stress probably interacting with the glutamatergic / gamma - Aminobutyric acid balance may play a role. Antidepressants improve sleep and mood especially those with double action on serotonin and norepinephrine, but these are also those with a greater risk of manic switch considering the high frequency of comorbidity with bipolar disorders. Methods This narrative review tries to evaluate, on the basis of in vitro and animal studies, the potential utility in fibromyalgia of Hypericum Scruglii, an endemic species peculiar to the island of Sardinia. Results The studies that have verified the antidepressant efficacy of Hypericum Perforatum and the first attempts of its use in fibromyalgia are reported as well as the studies that found the phloroglucinol derivatives from Hypericum longistylum (well-known in traditonal Chinese medicine) that facilitate the differentiation of neural progenitor cells, and increase the efficiency of differentiation into serotonergic neurons. Conclusions The advantage of Hypericum Scruglii may be represented by the anti-oxidant potential revealed to be greater than in other species of the same genus. The paper also describes new approaches to improving the oral bioavailability of very poor water-soluble molecules of hypericum extracts. Introduction Fibromyalgia (FM) is a central sensitization syndrome with around 3% of prevalence in western societies, especially frequent in women [1]. The best-known symptom is chronic widespread pain; other syndromes such as fatigue, anxiety, mood disorders, and dysregulation of biological rhythms with sleep disturbances frequently accompanied by pain [2].
    [Show full text]
  • Meadow and Woodland Toolkit
    Meadow & Woodland Toolkit PEOPLE FOR POLLINATORS EXISTING CONDITIONS People for Pollinators is a 8,700 sq.ft planted mead- particular) but also with regards to aesthetics and the ow surrounded by fencing, with a planted shrub visitor experience. layer on the south side of the fence, adjacent to woodland edges and open fields abutting the Lincoln LLCT’s goals for the site include expanding public Public Schools property. The site is situated on the education and programming; access to the location, northernmost portion of a 10.2-acre site owned and therefore, needs to be more clear and welcoming. protected by LLCT. The soils are mesic and nearly The meadow is currently surrounded by an 8 ft. tall all of the site is in full sun. chain link fence, with only one gate for entry, sit- uated on the northern side. The fence was initially Since 2016, LLCT has managed the site for native installed to prevent deer browse and to deter dog pollinators by direct seeding and planting a variety of forbs, graminoids and shrubs. Approximately 25- 35% of the fenced in meadow remains as non-native grasses and common weeds. After an initial survey of plant species diversity on the site by Evan Abramson and Adam Kohl of Landscape Interactions in 2019, Dr. Gegear sur- veyed the site for bumblebees and at-risk butterflies multiple times in 2020. While pollinator populations at the site were categorized as “high abundance, high diversity” by Dr. Gegear, a lot of room remains for improvement, not only in native plant species diver- sity (early season pollen sources and host plants in 38 LINCOLN POLLINATOR ACTION PLAN Off-Site Emergent Wetland Lincoln Public School Parking Lot PASTURE Path to Site walkers from allowing their dogs off leash.
    [Show full text]